Hospitality Leaders - Interviews with leaders, entrepreneurs, and supporters of hospitality.

Chris Cano

On the Hospitality Leaders Podcast, we bring you insightful conversations with leaders in the hotel, casino, attraction, food service, and event industries. We discuss the state of the industry today, and look at trends that show the direction the industry is heading in the future. Subscribe and be sure to check out our website for more resources at HospitalityLeadersPodcast.com

  1. 18 FEB

    A Sustainable Future with Amy Wald Founder of Greenluxe

    In this episode, Chris interviews Amy Wald, founder of GreenLUX and host of the Sustainable Hospitality podcast. Amy discusses her background, the founding of GreenLUX, and the critical role her consultancy plays in promoting sustainable practices within the hospitality and tourism industry. Topics include the importance of sustainability certifications, practical steps for implementing sustainable practices, and the growing traveler demand for eco-friendly accommodations. Amy also highlights the importance of effective storytelling in sustainability marketing and discusses trends such as wellness integration and nature-based solutions. Additionally, she shares insights on how even small businesses can start their sustainability journey. Finally, Amy offers personal advice for continuous learning and professional growth.00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome00:52 Amy Wald's Background and GreenLUX01:56 Sustainable Hospitality Trends04:36 GreenLux's Approach to Sustainability09:54 Practical Tips for Small Businesses12:28 Storytelling and Marketing Strategies15:25 BWH Hotels' Sustainability Commitment18:01 Future Trends in Sustainability25:22 Advice and Personal Insights28:46 Conclusion and Contact Information

    30 min

  2. 3 FEB

    Building a Brand with Summer Vasilas Co-Founder of Waxing the City

    In this engaging discussion, Summer Vasilis, co-founder of Waxing the City, delves into the inception and growth of the company. With nearly three decades in the beauty industry, Summer outlines her journey from starting in a small Denver salon to collaborating with Purpose Brands, which includes well-known names like Orange Theory and Anytime Fitness. She highlights the importance of maintaining core values, exceptional client experiences, and a career-focused culture for the success of the brand. Summer's insights extend to training programs, community involvement, and leadership principles that contribute to the 94% client satisfaction rating and remarkable franchise growth. A must-listen for aspiring entrepreneurs and beauty industry professionals. 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 00:49 Summer Vasilis: Background and Journey 02:10 Founding Waxing the City 02:54 Partnership with Purpose Brands 03:55 Franchising and Expansion 06:31 Keys to Success and Core Values 08:45 Training and Career Growth 15:24 Community Involvement 18:46 Advice for Franchisees and Entrepreneurs 22:28 Maintaining High Client Satisfaction 27:05 Personal Growth and Recommendations 32:21 Final Thoughts and Contact Information

    34 min

  3. 30 JAN

    Building a Destination with Scott Dring President & CEO at Visit Dublin

    In this episode, we're joined by Scott Dring, President and CEO of Visit Dublin, Ohio. Scott shares his journey into the hospitality industry, from aspiring sports writer to leading one of Ohio's top destination marketing organizations. Hear about exciting developments in Dublin, such as the new Bridge Park area, innovative marketing campaigns, and the community's robust travel and tourism academy. Scott also discusses the economic impact of tourism, the importance of workforce development, and the unique attractions that Dublin has to offer. Whether you're interested in hospitality trends or planning your next trip to Dublin, Ohio, this conversation is packed with insights and recommendations. 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 00:34 Scott's Journey to Visit Dublin02:16 Overview of Visit Dublin 02:59 Promoting Dublin's Unique Campaigns 04:42 Year-Round Attractions in Dublin 07:54 Future Developments in Dublin 10:44 Workforce Development Initiatives 14:50 Trends in the Hospitality Industry 17:45 Advice for Local Business Owners 20:03 Scott's Personal Recommendations 24:21 Learning and Growth in the Industry 29:57 Final Thoughts and Contact Information

    31 min
  4. Perspectives From Hospitality's Ground Floor with Madison Martin at Hilton

    30/05/2023

    Perspectives From Hospitality's Ground Floor with Madison Martin at Hilton

    This episode features a conversation with Madison Martin, Senior Event Manager at Hilton, who’s here to talk about the experiences of some of hospitality’s front-line workers. While I often get the chance to speak with organizational founders and CEOs, Madison brings a ground-level perspective that is sometimes missing in discussions about the evolving needs and expectations of hospitality workers. As Madison tells it, many organizations often neglect the tangible benefits that most employees are looking for in a post-Covid work environment. Competitive salaries, health insurance, parental leave and better working hours are all top priorities these days. You can’t build a healthy company culture if you’re not meeting your staff’s basic needs, and Madison was outstanding in illuminating how hospitality leaders can work towards doing exactly that.   Hilton | Website - https://stories.hilton.com/ Chris Cano | LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrismcano/ Upshift | LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/upsh%C4%B1ft/ If you enjoyed today’s show, please leave a 5-star review. For more information and links to all of the resources mentioned in today’s episode, visit HospitalityLeadersPodcast.com #Hospitality #Foodservice

    19 min
  5. Making Hospitality Skills Useful Anywhere with Peter Ricci at Florida Atlantic University

    22/05/2023

    Making Hospitality Skills Useful Anywhere with Peter Ricci at Florida Atlantic University

    I’m pleased to welcome Peter Ricci, Clinical Associate Professor and Director for the Hospitality & Tourism Management Program at Florida Atlantic University, to hear about the FAU hospitality certificate program. One of the hallmarks of Peter’s approach to hospitality education is its versatility in its practical applications. People from all kinds of industries outside of hospitality have something to glean from Peter’s program. As Peter sees it, hospitality isn’t just an industry but a philosophy of customer service that’s transferable to any organization. He instills a desire for excellence in all his students that they can utilize in any role or business. Not only that, but he also helps students find a place within the industry with skills that aren’t traditionally associated with hospitality. Hospitality will always need accountants and HR leaders, and financial advisors and talent recruiters will always benefit from the commitment to customer service that defines hospitality. Peter Ricci | Email - peter.ricci@fau.edu Florida Atlantic University | Website - https://www.fau.edu/ FAU Hospitality Certificate Programs | Website - https://business.fau.edu/undergraduate/minors-certificates/certificates/hospitality-and-tourism-management/ Chris Cano | LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrismcano/ Upshift | LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/company/upsh%C4%B1ft/ If you enjoyed today’s show, please leave a 5-star review. For more information and links to all of the resources mentioned in today’s episode, visit HospitalityLeadersPodcast.com #Hospitality #FoodService

    36 min
  6. Building Mission-Centric Teams with Kate Porter at the Las Vegas Natural History Museum

    15/05/2023

    Building Mission-Centric Teams with Kate Porter at the Las Vegas Natural History Museum

    For the difficult work required in the hospitality industry, it’s essential to have a team that’s passionate about the organizational mission. That’s what I discussed on this episode with Kate Porter, Co-Executive Director at the Las Vegas Natural History Museum. To create a guest-facing experience that’s fun and exciting, a lot of back-end work has to be done by a dedicated staff. If you don’t love what you do, burnout in that environment can be one bad day away. That’s why Kate goes out of her way to put together a team of people who are excited by the opportunity to create that guest experience, not deterred by the work it requires. By offering continual opportunities for professional development, Kate keeps her staff engaged and passionate, even on the hard days. It’s an outstanding leadership style. Kate Porter | LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-porter-7aa2371b/ Las Vegas Natural History Museum | LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/las-vegas-natural-history-museum/ Las Vegas Natural History Museum | Website - https://www.lvnhm.org/ Las Vegas Natural History Museum | Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/lvnhmuseum/ Las Vegas Natural History Museum | Facebook -https://www.facebook.com/LasVegasNaturalHistoryMuseum/ Las Vegas Natural History Museum | Twitter - https://twitter.com/LVNHMuseum Las Vegas Natural History Museum | email - dino@lvnhm.org Chris Cano | LinkedIn -https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrismcano/ Upshift | LinkedIn -https://www.linkedin.com/company/upsh%C4%B1ft/ If you enjoyed today’s show, please leave a 5-star review. For more information and links to all of the resources mentioned in today’s episode, visit HospitalityLeadersPodcast.com #Hospitality #FoodService

    22 min
  7. Sleep-Friendly Food Options with Sean Folkson at Nightfood

    08/05/2023

    Sleep-Friendly Food Options with Sean Folkson at Nightfood

    On this episode, I’m pleased to welcome Sean Folkson, Founder and CEO of Nightfood, to talk about how Sean’s organization is pioneering new healthy choices for hotel guests. Nightfood is a range of sleep-friendly snacks that provide guests with a healthier alternative to satisfy their late-night cravings. Nightfood manufactures cookies, ice cream, chips and more to accommodate all kinds of customer tastes. To Sean, this is an important step in diversification for hotels. It’s an opportunity for them to capitalize on wellness trends and cater to guests that want more than junk food options in the lobby store. As he sees it, it’s part of a holistic approach to guest services that most hotels already engage in. Investing in the best mattresses, pillows, blackout curtains and white noise machines is all part of an attempt to give guests a better night's sleep. Nightfood is just one more outstanding step in that same direction. Sean Folkson | LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/seanfolkson/ Sean Folkson | Twitter - https://twitter.com/seanfolkson Nightfood | LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/nightfood-inc/ Nightfood | Website - https://nightfood.com/ Chris Cano - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrismcano/ Upshift - https://www.linkedin.com/company/upsh%C4%B1ft/ If you enjoyed today’s show, please leave a 5-star review. For more information and links to all of the resources mentioned in today’s episode, visit HospitalityLeadersPodcast.com #Hospitality #Foodservice

    21 min
  8. Using Tech in Direct Response Marketing with Joe Gray at SalesHop.io and Glacier Hospitality

    01/05/2023

    Using Tech in Direct Response Marketing with Joe Gray at SalesHop.io and Glacier Hospitality

    On this episode, I’m joined by Joe Gray, Co-Founder of SalesHop.io and VP of Sales at Glacier Hospitality, to hear how he’s using technology in conjunction with direct response marketing to reach new markets for his family’s hotel group. Joe’s parents got into the hotel business before Joe was 10 years old, and he’s been a part of their sales and marketing team since college. After Covid-19, Joe struck out on his own to learn from career professionals in the marketing space. He founded SalesHop.io before returning to the family business, armed with an important new sales tool. Direct response marketing is a method of reaching out to potential customers that is designed to elicit an immediate response. Whether it’s opening an email or clicking a social media link, this kind of marketing gets customers to engage with your organization right away. As technology, and especially AI, evolves in the hospitality industry, Joe encourages hospitality leaders to use their new digital tools to make their direct response marketing strategies more streamlined and efficient. Joe Gray - https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-gray-10b245153/ SalesHop.io - https://www.linkedin.com/company/saleshop-io/ Chris Cano - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrismcano/ Upshift - https://www.linkedin.com/company/upsh%C4%B1ft/ If you enjoyed today’s show, please leave a 5-star review. For more information and links to all of the resources mentioned in today’s episode, visit HospitalityLeadersPodcast.com #Hospitality #Foodservice

    24 min
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On the Hospitality Leaders Podcast, we bring you insightful conversations with leaders in the hotel, casino, attraction, food service, and event industries. We discuss the state of the industry today, and look at trends that show the direction the industry is heading in the future. Subscribe and be sure to check out our website for more resources at HospitalityLeadersPodcast.com

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