The Hospitality Mentor Hospitality.FM

 Today, you will learn the fantastic story of Ashish Verma’s career in hospitality. Ashish is the Senior Vice President of the Luxury Division for the Unbound Collection at Hyatt Hotels. He shares his inspiring journey in the hospitality industry, starting as a management trainee for Oberoi Hotels in India after a back injury altered his initial dreams of becoming a professional tennis player. Ashish's path in hospitality took him from India to various global destinations, including Paris and New York, working with renowned hotel brands such as Oberoi, Hyatt, and Dream Hotel Group. Throughout his career, Ashish has learned the importance of passion, commitment, and continuous improvement in achieving excellence. His story highlights significant moments, such as being promoted to general manager during Hurricane Katrina at the Windsor Court Hotel and spearheading the successful rebranding and positioning of the Chatwal New York.
Connect with Ashish on LinkedIn
Don’t forget to check out Good Morning Hospitality - Steve and Sarah’s live show every Wednesday morning!
Connect with Steve on LinkedIn
RealTime Reservation Offer
This episode is brought to you by our podcast partners at RealTime Reservation. Their inventory management system is best in class for hotels and resorts to manage their non-room inventory.
The web-based application allows for creative upselling of overnight and daytime visitors with add-ons and pre-planned packages. Hotel guests and non-guests can reserve cabanas, pool chairs, activities, amenities, excursions, events, day passes, and much more.
To learn more check them out here!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Radi Garov, the General Manager at Soho Beach House in Miami, joins Steve in this episode to talk about his inspiring journey in the hospitality industry. Starting as a banquet server after moving from Bulgaria to the U.S., Radi climbed the ladder through hard work, learning, and mentorship. He shares his experiences working in various positions and hotels, from his first job at C Trail Golf Resort to leading roles at FAENA and eventually Soho House. Radi talks about the unique challenges and learning opportunities at each step, including moving into luxury hospitality, mastering service standards, opening new restaurants, and adapting to the private membership model at Soho House. 
Don’t forget to check out Good Morning Hospitality - Steve and Sarah’s live show every Wednesday morning!
Connect with Steve on LinkedIn
RealTime Reservation Offer
This episode is brought to you by our podcast partners at RealTime Reservation. Their inventory management system is best in class for hotels and resorts to manage their non-room inventory.
The web-based application allows for creative upselling of overnight and daytime visitors with add-ons and pre-planned packages. Hotel guests and non-guests can reserve cabanas, pool chairs, activities, amenities, excursions, events, day passes, and much more.
To learn more check them out here!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to another office hours session! Before Steve dives into the Q&A, he shares his experiences from the ongoing challenge of visiting 50 hotels in 50 days, focusing on finding unique, accessible amenities in hotels. 
Steve then answers questions from listeners, addressing subjects like using technology to improve customer experiences, managing high guest turnover in vacation rentals, staff training for maintaining service standards, and the effectiveness of loyalty programs. He gives advice on creating innovative strategies for hotels to partner with local businesses, the financial benefits of sustainable energy, and the potential of social media for boosting visibility and bookings in the hospitality sector. 
Don’t forget to check out Good Morning Hospitality - Steve and Sarah’s live show every Wednesday morning!
Connect with Steve on LinkedIn
RealTime Reservation Offer
This episode is brought to you by our podcast partners at RealTime Reservation. Their inventory management system is best in class for hotels and resorts to manage their non-room inventory.
The web-based application allows for creative upselling of overnight and daytime visitors with add-ons and pre-planned packages. Hotel guests and non-guests can reserve cabanas, pool chairs, activities, amenities, excursions, events, day passes, and much more.
To learn more check them out here!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Steve is sitting down with Omri Shalev, the CTO and co-founder of Reeco. Reeco is a company aiming to simplify the hospitality industry's operational side. Omri shares his journey from falling in love with coding in Mexico City at 15, through his various roles in startups and big tech companies like Samsung and Microsoft, to co-founding Reeco. Reeco's mission is to streamline hospitality operations by integrating purchasing, invoice management, recipes, and inventory count into one platform, leading to significant time and cost savings for hotels. Throughout this episode, Omri provides insights into the entrepreneurial mindset, emphasizing the importance of consistency, adding value to the world, and the evolution of technology in the hospitality industry.
Don’t forget to check out Good Morning Hospitality - Steve and Sarah’s live show every Wednesday morning!
Connect with Steve on LinkedIn
RealTime Reservation Offer
This episode is brought to you by our podcast partners at RealTime Reservation. Their inventory management system is best in class for hotels and resorts to manage their non-room inventory.
The web-based application allows for creative upselling of overnight and daytime visitors with add-ons and pre-planned packages. Hotel guests and non-guests can reserve cabanas, pool chairs, activities, amenities, excursions, events, day passes, and much more.
To learn more check them out here!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tune in to hear the most downloaded episode of The Hospitality Mentor podcast, an interview with Mary Rogers! She is now the Managing Director and Area General Manager for these hotels: Montage Healdsburg, Pendry San Diego, Pendry West Hollywood. Mary has had an incredible career in hospitality, from starting at the age of 13 working at a small bed and breakfast in Ireland to managing the Fontainebleau Miami Beach, one of the world's most luxurious hotels. Throughout this conversation, Mary talks about the different roles she has worked in hotels, the importance of building relationships, and what her advice is for young hoteliers.
Don’t forget to check out Good Morning Hospitality - Steve and Sarah’s live show every Wednesday morning!
Connect with Steve on LinkedIn
RealTime Reservation Offer
This episode is brought to you by our podcast partners at RealTime Reservation. Their inventory management system is best in class for hotels and resorts to manage their non-room inventory.
The web-based application allows for creative upselling of overnight and daytime visitors with add-ons and pre-planned packages. Hotel guests and non-guests can reserve cabanas, pool chairs, activities, amenities, excursions, events, day passes, and much more.
To learn more check them out here!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gabriel Perez, COO of Lodging for the Indigo Road Hospitality Group, shares his extensive journey in the hospitality industry, beginning as a pool bar attendant in Venezuela. With experiences ranging from managing operations at the Intercontinental Hotel to navigating the challenges of condominium hotels and the impacts of the 2008 financial crisis, Gabriel provides valuable insights into the rewards and complexities of a career in hospitality. He emphasizes the importance of culture, giving back, and creating memorable guest experiences, even amid tribulations like the COVID-19 pandemic. Gabriel also discusses his current role with the Indigo Road Hospitality Group, detailing their focus on creating hospitable cultures and expanding their boutique hotel portfolio.
Don’t forget to check out Good Morning Hospitality - Steve and Sarah’s live show every Wednesday morning!
Connect with Steve on LinkedIn
RealTime Reservation Offer
This episode is brought to you by our podcast partners at RealTime Reservation. Their inventory management system is best in class for hotels and resorts to manage their non-room inventory.
The web-based application allows for creative upselling of overnight and daytime visitors with add-ons and pre-planned packages. Hotel guests and non-guests can reserve cabanas, pool chairs, activities, amenities, excursions, events, day passes, and much more.
To learn more check them out here!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices