Host Steve Turk interviews Jessica and Damien Zouaoui, founders of Oakwell Beer Spa in Denver, a social wellness concept combining a craft beer and wine self-pour taproom with four private spa suites featuring infrared saunas, rain showers, and hydrotherapy tubs infused with hops, malt, and herbs, plus optional zero-gravity robotic massage chairs and room-service refills.

They share their hospitality backgrounds, leaving corporate jobs in New York City, and traveling to 25 countries to find a scalable U.S. concept after discovering a beer spa in Poland in 2018.

They detail market research that led to Denver, funding challenges solved through Denver’s economic development loan program and a nonprofit SBA lender, difficulty securing a lease, and a DIY buildout using auctions during COVID. Oakwell opened February 26, 2021, emphasizing five-star yet non-stuffy service, adding non-alcoholic options, and aiming to franchise within a year.

00:00 Podcast Welcome

00:33 Sponsor Lodgify

01:38 Meet Oakwell Founders

02:10 Beer Spa Explained

02:36 Suites And Addons

04:22 First Hospitality Jobs

05:44 Quitting Corporate Life

07:20 World Trip For Ideas

10:18 Discovering Beer Spa

12:34 Why It Clicked

14:49 From Idea To Plan

17:09 Funding And Finding Space

20:29 Landing the Space

20:52 SBA Loan Reality

21:35 From Church to Spa

22:39 DIY Build and Auctions

25:18 Opening Day Playbook

26:58 Michelin Casual Service

29:35 Touchless Spa Model

33:09 Wellness and Moderation

36:15 Franchise Plans Ahead

37:28 Leap of Faith Advice

39:09 Wrap Up and Sponsor

Host Steve Turk welcomes Tim Major, CEO of Operto, to discuss how AI is reshaping hospitality through “agentic teammates” designed role by role to assist or replace specific hotel tasks.

Tim shares his path from early hospitality exposure as a Volkswagen tour guide in Vancouver/Whistler to building computers, creating award-nominated music-industry websites, founding a hospitality-focused development company that was acquired by RoomKey, and rising from VP roles to CEO.

He explains RoomKey’s early PMS integrations (including with Expedia), the industry’s fragmented tech landscape, and how RoomKey was acquired by Full Steam to consolidate and standardize PMS capabilities across North America. Tim describes using multiple LLMs across departments, AI-driven productivity and potential burnout, and why Operto focuses on outcomes—especially direct bookings, distribution, fraud detection in brand-search ads, and surfacing real-time operational insights—while avoiding AI that harms guest experience. He emphasizes hotels being discoverable in LLMs and advises professionals to start using AI tools now.

00:00 Podcast Welcome

00:33 Sponsor Lodgify

01:38 Meet Tim Major

02:26 Aperto AI Agents

03:57 First Hospitality Taste

05:34 Early Tech Roots

06:36 Music Websites Breakthrough

08:09 Founding in Hospitality Tech

09:48 RoomKey Career Rise

11:40 Mentors and Learning

13:42 Hard Lessons Contracts

14:58 Full Steam Consolidation

17:47 Joining Maestro AI Strategy

18:50 Building Aperto AI Native

21:26 AI Shift Reflections

22:33 Everyday AI Workflows

24:39 Adoption Gaps and Burnout

25:47 Hospitality AI Strategy

27:06 Distribution Monitoring Agents

27:53 Stopping Brand Ad Fraud

31:21 Back of House Automation

32:16 Unifying Hotel Data

35:56 Personalized Direct Booking

38:42 Wellness Itinerary Curation

40:16 Next 12 Months Focus

41:58 Career Advice and Wrap

Host Steve Turk welcomes listeners to The Hospitality Mentor Podcast, brought to you by sponsors Lodgify and Biscayne Coffee, He interviews Adam Tuttle, co-founder of Yipy, described as the industry’s first hospitality standards management system that centralizes hotel standards by role, adds analytics, and supports inspections and audits.

Adam shares his early hospitality work in a Nevada casino, his first professional role as an Eiffel Tower elevator operator in Las Vegas, and studying hospitality at UNLV. He moved from Caesars Entertainment to help open a La Quinta, gaining broad operational and sales exposure. Through mentorship, he joined Four Seasons, worked in multiple markets including opening Four Seasons Orlando at Disney World, and later returned to Las Vegas.

After reconsidering his GM path, he launched a consulting business and then created Yipy to solve persistent standards and measurement challenges, building it with co-founder Phil Erickson and client-driven development. Adam discusses Yipy’s pre-seed $1M raise, partnerships including Leading Hotels of the World, Marriott approved vendor status, and excitement about AI, and closes with advice on relationships and networking.

00:00 Podcast Welcome

00:33 Sponsor Lodgify

01:38 Meet Adam Tuttle

01:54 What Is YPI

02:50 First Hospitality Job

03:56 Choosing Hospitality

05:21 Vegas During Recession

07:46 Opening La Quinta

10:07 TripAdvisor Success

11:53 Mentorship To Four Seasons

14:25 Learning Luxury Service

16:19 Go To Grow Culture

18:27 Four Seasons Disney Magic

22:03 Entrepreneurial Turning Point

23:50 Starting Consulting Business

24:39 Landing First Clients

25:19 Leaving Ops for Consulting

26:14 Landing First Clients

27:31 Finding a Consulting Niche

28:22 Just Do It Mindset

29:16 Why Yippy Was Born

29:47 Proving Training ROI

31:44 Building the First Tool

32:43 From Tool to Platform

34:51 Coding Reality Check

36:02 Customer Led Product Design

37:09 Hoteliers in Tech

38:27 Funding and Big Partnerships

41:38 AI and the Standards Database

44:20 Advice to Younger Self

46:24 Wrap Up and Sponsor

Host Steve Turk welcomes Sean McCarron, General Manager of Conrad Orlando at Evermore, to discuss Sean’s path through luxury hospitality and what it takes to lead and open award-winning resorts. Sean shares how he entered hospitality through a Ritz-Carlton management trainee program at Pentagon City (placed as a bartender), discovered hotel school in Switzerland after soul-searching in college, and committed his career to luxury service.

He explains his passion for food and beverage, his moves across cities and cultures, and his transition from Ritz-Carlton to Four Seasons via a recruited lateral move that led to 16 years with Four Seasons, multiple hotel openings, and progression into hotel management. Sean describes opening Four Seasons Baltimore as his first hotel manager role and later moving to Las Vegas, then leaving Four Seasons to become GM of Waldorf Astoria Orlando with Hilton, where he focused on training teams in luxury, building a people culture, improving service and guest loyalty, and achieving Forbes Four Star for the resort.

He details joining Conrad Orlando nearly 19 months pre-opening as the first employee, leading the opening within the broader Evermore Orlando Resort featuring a 17-million-gallon, eight-acre freshwater lagoon, beach areas, vacation rentals, golf courses, and a spa, and emphasizes leadership through daily walkthroughs, balanced meetings, guest and team engagement, and the principle of “inspect what you expect.”

Sean discusses Hilton’s focus on technology and AI to make team members’ jobs easier and free up time for guest relationships, how the resort differentiates itself as a destination beyond theme parks, and recent recognitions including AAA Five Diamond (2025), Forbes Four Star for the hotel and resort, Forbes Four Star for the spa, and a Top 20 ranking in Spas of America’s Top 100 for the second year in a row. He closes with career advice: excel in your current role while acting for the job you want, continually ask what could be done differently or better, and never forget to give back through mentoring and development.

00:00 Welcome to The Hospitality Mentor Podcast

00:33 Sponsor Break: Lodgify All-in-One for Hospitality

01:38 Meet Sean McCarran, GM of Conrad Orlando

01:56 First Hospitality Job: Ritz-Carlton Trainee to Bartender

02:27 Finding Hospitality: Hotel School in Switzerland & Love for Luxury

04:16 Why Food & Beverage: A Lifelong Passion for Cuisine

05:07 Moving Cities & Building a Luxury Career (Ritz-Carlton Years)

06:15 Switching Brands: Recruited to Four Seasons + 16-Year Run

07:55 From F&B to Hotel Leadership: Mentors, Openings & Becoming a GM

12:21 Vegas Chapter: Hospitality Epicenter & Celebrity Chef Scene

14:40 Leaving Four Seasons: Waldorf Astoria Orlando GM & Hilton Luxury

18:45 Waldorf Highlights: Culture, Team Growth & Forbes 4-Star Win

20:28 Building Conrad Orlando: Pre-Opening, Evermore Lagoon & Mega-Resort Vision

24:55 Leadership Playbook: ‘Inspect What You Expect’ + Daily Walks & Meetings

27:56 Tech, AI & the Future of Hospitality Teams

30:17 Standing Out in Orlando: Owning the ‘Off Day’ as a Destination Resort

32:41 Big Accolades: AAA Five Diamond + Forbes Four Star (Hotel & Spa)

35:21 What’s Next: Maturing the Resort & Raising the Bar

37:04 Advice to Young Sean: Act for the Job You Want & Keep Giving Back

39:34 Wrap-Up, Share the Episode + Sponsor: Biscayne Coffee

In this exciting episode of The Hospitality Mentor Podcast, host Steve Turk sits down with Alexander Kandalaft, the General Manager of the Intercontinental Seattle Bellevue. Discover how this all-in-one platform, Lodgify, can help short-term rental hosts and hospitality operators stay organized.

Alexander shares his journey in the hospitality industry, from his early days as a PBX operator at Boston University to managing luxury hotels in Singapore and the US. Learn about the unique offerings at the Intercontinental Seattle Bellevue, including their high-end culinary experiences and the innovative Saks Fifth Avenue personal shopping suite.

Don't miss out on Alexander's insights on building trust with your team, navigating international hospitality landscapes, and staying ahead in the competitive world of luxury hotels.

Make sure to check out this episodes sponsor Lodgify and for 20% off use code THM20

00:00 Introduction to Lodgify: The Ultimate Hospitality Management Tool

01:00 Welcome to The Hospitality Mentor Podcast

01:47 Alexander Kala's Journey in Hospitality

03:18 From Student to General Manager: Early Career Insights

05:30 Climbing the Ranks: From Stewarding to Management

09:23 International Moves and Leadership Lessons

13:09 Experiencing Singapore: Professional and Personal Growth

17:15 Navigating COVID-19: Challenges and Adaptations

20:52 Housekeeping Team's Return Post-COVID

21:51 Task Force Assignments in New York

23:53 Moving to Seattle Bellevue

25:24 Becoming a General Manager

30:03 Unique Offerings at the Bellevue Property

34:11 Balancing Hotel Guests and Residents

36:39 Intercontinental's Global Reputation

38:06 Excitement for the Upcoming Year

39:37 Advice for Aspiring Hoteliers

Join our host Steve Turk as we explore the dynamic and inspiring career journey of Deniz Dorbek, the founder of the Regulus Collective, in this episode of The Hospitality Mentor Podcast. Starting from her first job as a front desk agent in Istanbul, Deniz narrates her ascent through various roles in the hospitality industry across multiple countries.

Deniz shares her insights on revenue management, the importance of mentorship, coping with global crises, and her exciting new venture in hospitality technology and lifestyle branding.

Don't miss her incredible stories and invaluable advice for anyone in the luxury hospitality sector.

Special thanks to our sponsor, Lodgify, for supporting this episode. Use code THM20 for a 20% discount on all Lodgify yearly and bi-yearly plans!

01:08 Welcome to The Hospitality Mentor Podcast

01:18 Meet Denise Dobe: Founder of The Regulus Collective

02:27 Denise's Journey Begins: From Istanbul to Edinburgh

05:21 Exploring Revenue Management and Global Opportunities

07:13 Challenges and Growth in Thailand and Dubai

18:18 Navigating Crisis and Leadership in Jordan

20:49 Homecoming: Leading in Istanbul

23:36 A Warm Welcome Back Home

24:11 Golden Era of Turkish Hospitality

24:46 Transition to London and Wyndham Hotels

25:50 Building a Commercial Engine from Scratch

28:00 Promotion to Vice President

28:46 Navigating the COVID-19 Crisis

34:35 Stepping into Operations with Hyatt

39:22 Becoming a CEO in Hospitality Tech

40:50 Founding Regulus and Future Plans 44:53 Advice to Young Professionals

Join us on an exciting episode of The Hospitality Mentor Podcast as host Steve Turk dives into the incredible journey of Francesco Balli, co-CEO of Grove Bay Hospitality Group. Discover the unique paths that led Francesco and his partner from being CPAs to successful restaurateurs, the challenges they overcame, and the wisdom they've gathered along the way.

This episode is a must listen for anyone interested in the hospitality industry, as Francesco shares insights on building a business, the impact of AI, and the exciting future of their ventures.

Special thanks to our sponsor Lodgify for making this episode possible. Don't miss out on this inspiring conversation!

00:00 Introduction to the Hospitality Mentor Podcast

00:44 Sponsor Spotlight: Lodgify

01:38 Guest Introduction: Francesco Bali

02:08 Francesco's Early Career and First Job in Hospitality

02:28 The Journey from CPA to Hospitality

02:51 Family Influence and Entrepreneurial Spirit

04:34 The Leap from Ernst and Young to Areas USA

15:36 Navigating the Concession World

18:40 The Birth of Grove Bay Hospitality Group

24:27 Acquiring the Airport Restaurant

26:06 Winning the Coconut Grove Contract

28:01 Launching Glass and Vine

30:37 Partnering with Top Chef Jeremy Ford

33:11 Expanding with Stubborn Seed and Stiltsville Fish Bar

35:01 Venturing into Airport Concessions

41:10 Future Prospects and AI in Hospitality

42:57 Advice for Young Entrepreneurs

Join host Steve Turk in this exciting episode of The Hospitality Mentor Podcast as we sit down with Adam Sperling, the General Manager of the iconic Charles Hotel in Cambridge's Harvard Square. From starting as a front desk agent to leading one of the most admired independent hotels, Adam shares his incredible journey, the importance of mentorship, and the unique challenges and rewards of managing an independent hotel.

Discover how Adam navigated various roles, adapted to different ownerships, and continuously innovated to stay ahead in the hospitality industry. Don't miss his valuable advice for aspiring hospitality professionals and the exciting future plans for Charles Hotel. Tune in to learn why independent hotels hold a special place in the industry and get inspired by Adam's passion for excellence in hospitality management!

00:00 Introduction to Lodgify: The Ultimate Hospitality Management Tool

01:05 Welcome to The Hospitality Mentor Podcast

01:16 Meet Adam Sperling: General Manager at The Charles Hotel

02:31 Adam's Journey: From Front Desk Agent to General Manager

04:27 The Knickerbocker Hotel and Early Career Lessons

05:43 Mentorship and Career Growth at The Omni Ambassador East

07:38 The DoubleTree Experience and the Warm Cookie Story

11:01 Leadership Lessons and the Path to General Manager

19:11 The Independent Hotel Spirit: Hotel Tria and Beyond

25:09 The Big Break That Wasn't

26:17 Strategic Career Moves

31:00 Staying Motivated for 17 Years

32:30 Adapting to Different Ownerships

37:05 A New Opportunity at the Charles Hotel

40:07 The Value of Independent Hotels

47:44 Advice to My Younger Self