Defining Hospitality Dan Ryan

This week’s guest helps people detox, destress, and discover while surrounded by nature. Through meditation, breathwork, yoga, workshops, and more, he creates an environment of rejuvenation. Joining the show this week is Founder of Onze Retreats, Leon Emmett!

Leon dials in from the Jungle to join Host Dan Ryan on a journey of hospitality and self reflection. Leon shares the importance of motivating others through action, the need to trust the process, and why everyone should spend time outside of their comfort zone. 
Takeaways: 
The deepest feeling of hospitality can be felt when you are in someone’s family home. When someone opens their home to you, they are opening their heart to you and showing warmth and unconditional love. Healing retreats allow people an opportunity for more than just a relaxing day of yoga and meditation. Creating a welcoming space allows for guests to self reflect and realize their own potential for growth. Despite motivational words, many people need to make the decision to change of their own volition. Rather than merely provide motivation, living your values and inspiring others through your own actions can help them take the next step. Hospitality attracts people from all walks of life, and having services to reflect that is important. Having a written list or experience portfolio allows guests to customize their ideal retreat. As life ebbs and flows, it’s important to trust the process. As there are highs and lows, observe what is happening and choose to be in the middle. Making the best of your situation helps keep you grounded. It’s only when you’re out of your comfort zone when you start to experience what’s possible. Through guidance, you can try new experiences and open yourself up to vulnerability, paving the way for improvement. 
Quote of the Show:
“Where do we spend most of our time and how much of our time do we spend on the periphery of our comfort zone?” - Leon EmmettLinks:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onzeretreats/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leon_emmett/ 
Shout Outs:
16:05 - Dan Brulé: https://breathmastery.com/ 18:56 - Wim Hof: https://www.wimhofmethod.com/ Ways to Tune In: 
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0A2XOJvb6mGqEPYJ5bilPXApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/defining-hospitality-podcast/id1573596386Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZGVmaW5pbmdob3NwaXRhbGl0eS5saXZlL2ZlZWQueG1sAmazon Music: ​​https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/8c904932-90fa-41c3-813e-1cb8f3c42419

If you’ve ever gazed across the New York City skyline, you’ve likely admired the work of this week’s guest. His work has defined modern luxury apartments. Please welcome to the show, Chief Design Officer at Extell, Roy Kim!

Roy sits down with Dan to explore his journey in the world of hospitality, and how Extell is leading the world of development. Roy also shares why service outweighs design, the importance of considering the view in the design process, and how to build a team of experts. 

Takeaways: 
Hospitality has two components, spatial and service. In many cases, the service aspect outweighs design. The way you treat and take care of guests will stay with them longer than the design choices. When choosing amenities for a project, you need to consider two different types. First are common amenities missing from the area, and second are unique amenities that will help draw people to the building. When laying out a building, consider the sequences of spaces that a guest will experience. The flow that a guest takes will combine with the fit and finish to create an overall feeling of a quality space. When designing the layout of a building it’s important to consider the view from each room. Often overlooked in the design process, the view plays a large part in how a resident feels about their apartment. While having consistent room layouts makes operations easier, you may end up with small gaps. Assessing the layouts more individually allows you to maximize your square footageA design team does not need to be large to be successful. To maximize the potency of your team, ensure that each employee is an expert. Additionally, all your decision makers need to actually be making decisions. 
Quote of the Show:
“Without the service there really is no hospitality.” - Roy KimLinks:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roy-kim-894b284/ Website: https://extell.com/ Shout Outs:
02:07 - One Manhattan Square: https://onemanhattansquare.com/ 03:45 - Ananda: https://www.anandaspa.com/ 04:32 - Macklemore: https://macklemore.com/ 08:44 - Michael Lindenbaum: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindenbaummichael/ 09:52 - The Alden at 225 Central Park West09:57 - Roman and Williams: https://www.romanandwilliams.com/ 10:44 - Gary Barnett11:46 - Meyer Davis: https://www.meyerdavis.com/ 11:50 - Gray Davis11:51 - Will Meyer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-meyer-7685677/ 14:40 - Park Hyatt NYC: https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/hotel/new-york/park-hyatt-new-york/nycph 14:44 - Hyatt Times Square: https://www.hyatt.com/hyatt-centric/nycts-hyatt-centric-times-square 15:09 - One57: https://one57.com/ 15:38 - La Palestra: https://www.lapalestra.com/index.php 31:20 - Rockwell: https://www.rockwellgroup.com/ 34:07 - The Orion: https://www.theorion42condo.com/ 48:07 - University of British Columbia: https://www.ubc.ca/49:28 - Patricia & John Patkau https://www.patkau.ca/ Ways to Tune In: 
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0A2XOJvb6mGqEPYJ5bilPXApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/defining-hospitality-podcast/id1573596386Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZGVmaW5pbmdob3NwaXRhbGl0eS5saXZlL2ZlZWQueG1sAmazon Music: ​​https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/8c904932-90fa-41c3-813e-1cb8f3c42419

Joining the podcast this week is the force behind some of IHG’s most dynamic brands. She’s a hospitality veteran who works to create seamless end-to-end guest experiences. Meet Karen Gilbride, Vice President of Avid Hotels, Atwell Suites, and Garner Hotels at IHG. 

Karen joins Host Dan Ryan to explore IHG’s newest brand Garner, and the design philosophy behind it. Additionally, Karen shares the power that mentorship programs can have, the nuances of designing for staff and employees, and how to build a brand. 
Takeaways: 
Hospitality is the feeling you get when you visit someone's house and feel welcomed and cared for. Everyday the hospitality industry works to make you feel like you’re visiting a close friend when you stop by a hotel.While new construction suits a lot of owners, there is a need to provide owners with a conversion pathway as well. By taking existing properties, owners can update old buildings and save on costWhen designing a hotel room, starting with foam core helps you get an initial feel for the size and shape of the room. Once you have that established, consider where the furniture goes, and how the guests will flow through the room. When building a brand you have two customers to think about. First is the guest who may check in on a given night, the second is the owner. If you can’t get an owner to invest in the brand, there won’t be a hotel for a guest to check in to. When picking furniture for a hotel, it’s important to not only consider the guest, but the hotel staff who have to interact with it as well. If a side table looks nice, but is too heavy to move, it quickly becomes an obstacle to clean around. Any guest experience is about attention to details and understanding what your standards are. If you’re only going to do 5 main things, understand what they are, and execute them to perfection.Having a strong foundation of people is crucial for any business, but doubly so in hospitality. Through mentoring programs, new and rising talent can be recognized, and given the resources they need to flourish. Quote of the Show:
“I realized that it really is about high attention to detail and standards, being clear about what the standards are, training people against it, and then executing.” - Karen GilbrideLinks:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-gilbride-379b976/ Website: https://www.ihg.com/garner-hotels/hotels/us/en/reservation Website: https://www.ihg.com/hotels/us/en/reservation Shout Outs:
6:37 - Intercontinental Park Lane London: https://parklane.intercontinental.com/ 7:20 - Scott Norwood7:28 - New York Giants: https://www.giants.com/ 9:58 - Candlewood Suites: https://www.ihg.com/candlewood/hotels/us/en/reservation 16:48 - Kimpton Hotels: https://www.kimptonhotels.com/31:59 - Cornell: https://www.cornell.edu/ 36:22 - Crowne Plaza: https://www.ihg.com/crowneplaza/hotels/us/en/reservation 37:22 - Fordham University: https://www.fordham.edu/ 57:00 - Holiday Inn: https://www.holidayinn.com/ 1:01:00 - Statler Hotel: https://statlerhotel.cornell.edu/ Ways to Tune In: 
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0A2XOJvb6mGqEPYJ5bilPXApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/defining-hospitality-podcast/id1573596386Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZGVmaW5pbmdob3NwaXRhbGl0eS5saXZlL2ZlZWQueG1sAmazon Music: ​​https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/8c904932-90fa-41c3-813e-1cb8f3c42419

Joining the show this week are Co-Founders with a focus on bringing experiential and sustainable accommodations to the outdoors. Please welcome to the show, Co-Founders of Castle Peak Holdings, and Co-Founders of Trailborn, Michael Weiss and Ben Weinberg!

Mike, Ben, and Dan sit down to discuss the story behind Trailborn, and the importance of authenticity. Mike and Ben share the need to stay vertically integrated, the ways to cut through the fog, and how to make your hotels feel like a part of the natural landscape. 
Takeaways: 
The hospitality business is the memory making business. Every experience should be focused on authentically creating memories that guests will take with them for the rest of their lives. Hospitality is about making people feel effortlessly taken care of. Through an understanding of who the guest is, you can prepare for their needs, ensuring a feeling of magic when the guest arrives. When your backdrop is the Rockies or Arches National Parks, your hotels should feel like a part of the landscape. Working with local design firms to imbue the aesthetic of the area into the hotel creates a unique experience for your guests tied to that location. Designing thoughtfully and beautifully revolves around meeting the needs and wants of a guest. While this may not be the strictly most profitable strategy, having rounded amenities creates guests that want to come back. Fog in business is unavoidable. Rather than getting lost, you need to provide clarity. Assess the problem, have the right tools and processes in place, and work towards a concrete solution, even if it takes time. When managing a hotel, instilling trust is the most important thing you can do. Your guests need to trust that you will deliver on what you promised and your team needs to trust that you will maintain your vision. Vertical integration in this market is essential to operation. By owning all operations, it allows you to align the guest experience with what you promise, and it holds you accountable by removing any potential blame of 3rd parties. Quote of the Show:
“When we think about design, it's not just the physical design of the space, it's the design of the entire experience.” - Mike“Self awareness and humility is critical to winning in hospitality.” - BenLinks:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikedweiss/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-weinberg-29644156/  Company website: https://www.staytrailborn.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/staytrailborn/  Shout Outs:
7:34 - Goldman Sachs: https://www.goldmansachs.com/ 9:06 - Estes Park: https://www.visitestespark.com/ 9:09 - Rocky Mountain National Park: https://www.nps.gov/romo/index.htm 12:48 - Theodore Roosevelt13:48 - Ken Burns: https://kenburns.com/ 20:07 - Colorado Cherry Company: https://www.coloradocherrycompany.com/ 20:13 - Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/ 33:23 - Warren Buffett44:13 - Deutsche Bank: https://www.db.com/ 44:37 - ALIS: https://www.burba.com/ALIS Ways to Tune In: 
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0A2XOJvb6mGqEPYJ5bilPXApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/defining-hospitality-podcast/id1573596386Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZGVmaW5pbmdob3NwaXRhbGl0eS5saXZlL2ZlZWQueG1sAmazon Music: ​​https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/8c904932-90fa-41c3-813e-1cb8f3c42419

This week’s guest specializes in working with local governments to help bring projects to completion. With over 30 years of experience, he knows how to help cities and counties develop crucial assets. Welcome to the show, Chief Development Officer and Head of Design and Construction at Garfield Public/ Private, Steve Galbreath!

Steve joins Host Dan Ryan to discuss the ways a hotel can impact a local community. Steve shares why a hotel serves more than just its guests, the methods to use a hotel to benefit small businesses, and the nuances of working with city governments. 

Takeaways: 
At its core, hospitality is about making spaces for people. However, it doesn’t revolve around just the customer. Hospitality needs to focus on the whole community, the city, and the workers. Before putting in a new hotel, it’s important to have a thorough plan based on market research. If there are other hotels in the area, it’s crucial to understand how your project will intertwine with what is currently in place.  For many counties, a well thought out hotel can be a major tourist attraction. To pull off a project successfully requires an intimate understanding of the town’s needs, and a connection to key players in the hospitality industry. When working with local governments on a project, contract lengths are often longer than a given official holds office. Maintaining a good relationship as positions change hands is crucial to the success of a project. The job of a hotel is not just to house guests, but to prop up other businesses as well. As travelers come in, they will visit bars and restaurants downtown. Planning location accordingly helps weave the hotel into the fabric of the city. A great way to get a hotel's profitability up and running is to start booking businesses at a local convention center as soon as you start breaking ground. By starting early, you ensure the hotel doesn’t sit underutilized for the first few months. An exciting aspect of the hospitality industry is to see staff grow and evolve within the industries. Most brands want to grow their talent and it’s common for a bartender or room manager to become a GM 10 years down the line. Quote of the Show:
“We're not in the business of convincing people to do these projects. We're in the business of helping them do it when they've got the resolve to do it.” - Steve GalbreathLinks:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephengalbreath/ Website: https://garfieldpublicprivate.com/ 
Shout Outs:
4:48 - Abilene DoubleTree: https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/abidtdt-doubletree-abilene-downtown-convention-center/ 4:54 - Weston Irving: https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/daliw-the-westin-irving-convention-center-at-las-colinas/overview/ 4:57 - Hyatt Regency Conroe: https://www.hyatt.com/hyatt-regency/en-US/iahrc-hyatt-regency-conroe 5:00 - Hyatt Regency Baytown: https://www.hyatt.com/hyatt-regency/iahrb-hyatt-regency-baytown-houston 8:10 - RTKL: https://www.callisonrtkl.com/ 8:12 - Sheraton San Juan: https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/sjusi-sheraton-puerto-rico-resort-and-casino/overview/ 8:19 - Jerry Faley8:30 - The Diplomat Fort Lauderdale: https://www.diplomatresort.com/ 9:45 - Carl Long: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-long-pmi/ 10:52 - Overton Lubbock: https://www.overtonhotel.com/ 10:55 - Texas Tech University: https://www.ttu.edu/ 17:27 - ExxonMobil: https://www.exxon.com/en 17:28 - Chevron: https://www.chevron.com/sustainability 21:02 - Abilene Convention Center Hotel Corporation28:10 - Perini Ranch: https://www.periniranch.com/ 34:00 - Jefferson City, MO: https://www.jeffersoncitymo.gov/ 34:41 - Robert Hanna: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-hanna-536a192/ 53:53 - Toyota Music Factory: https://www.toyotamusicfactory.com/ 1:01:34 - Conrad Hilton1:03:23 - Buddy Holly Hall: https://www.buddyhollyhall.com/ Ways to Tune In: 
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0A2XOJvb6mGqEPYJ5bilPXApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.

Joining the show this week is a partner who enjoys helping people disrupt the hospitality space, and who has represented billions of dollars in acquisitions. Please welcome to the show, Partner and Co-Leader of the Hospitality Industry Team at Baker Hostetler, Jeff Diener!

Jeff sits down with Dan Ryan to discuss the role of a partner in the hospitality industry. Jeff shares tips for partners who are looking to emulate his skills in the industry, the importance of spending time with your clients to learn about them, and what the future holds for property investments. 
Takeaways: 
At its core, hospitality is about providing someone with customized service. It involves creating the right combination of satisfaction, comfort, security and enthusiasm for each individual client. Understanding the value of relationships and collaboration in the hospitality industry can lead to more successful outcomes. Embracing a service-oriented mindset is crucial for anyone looking to thrive in the world of hospitality.When negotiating deals for smaller clients, you are typically negotiating on their behalf, whereas with large clients you are negotiating with them. Understanding what a brand cares about and how to get them on board are integral skills. One of the most important things you can do with your client is spend time with them in both formal and informal settings. As you spend time together, you better understand what matters to your clients, and can speed up further aspects of the project. Looking towards the future of deals that are yet to come, many owners are buying properties and wanting to make adjustments. When working with owners, understand the story they are trying to convey, to help them make the necessary changes. Investing in real estate requires a shift in mindset post-COVID, where traditional assets like offices and multifamily properties may not always guarantee returns. Diversifying across asset classes can be key to maximizing returns in the current market.Embrace market turbulence as an opportunity for growth and value creation when looking at properties. Stay informed, stay prepared, and capitalize on deals to thrive in a dynamic environment.Quote of the Show:
“It's getting more and more involved in their business, and that's where the joy is.” - Jeff DienerLinks:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-diener-0132564/ Website: https://www.bakerlaw.com/ Shout Outs:
3:38 - Cornell: https://www.cornell.edu/ 10:59 - W Union Square: https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/nycnu-w-new-york-union-square/experiences/ 11:03 - Marriott: https://www.marriott.com/default.mi 13:11 - ULI European Hospitality Council: https://europe.uli.org/ 20:21 - Hilton: https://www.hilton.com/ 26:46 - Ohana Real Estate Investors: https://ohanare.com/ 26:55 - Peter Fischer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-fischer-438ba97/ 30:42 - Chuck Feeney30:47 - Warren Buffett30:50 - Bill Gates30:53 - Duty Free Shopping: www.dfs.com 30:58 - Atlantic Philanthropies: https://www.atlanticphilanthropies.org/ 31:58 - Bob Goldman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-goldman-13986812/ 33:03 - Homewood Ski Resort: https://www.skihomewood.com/ 35:02 - Apple: https://www.apple.com/ 35:23 - Tiffany’s: https://www.tiffany.com/ 40:03 - ALIS: https://www.burba.com/ALIS 46:32 - The Peninsula Hotels: https://www.peninsula.com/en/default 55:32 - Adam Smith1:02:48 - BakerHostetler: https://www.bakerlaw.com 1:03:08 - Christie Pink: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cpink449/ 1:03:10 - Ritz Carlton: https://www.ritzcarlton.com/ 1:04:08 - Horst Schulze: https://www.linkedin.com/in/horstschulze/ 1:07:08 - Keith BrennanWays to Tune In: 
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0A2XOJvb6mGqEPYJ5bilPXApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/defining-hospitality-podcast/id1573596386Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZGVmaW5pbmdob3NwaXRhbGl0eS5saXZlL2ZlZWQueG1sAmazon Music: ​​https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/