The Modern Hotelier David Millili & Steve Carran

Ever walked into a Starbucks and immediately thought “this looks like every other Starbucks?” Probably not. But, the painstaking effort organizations go to to maintain brand standards is manual and phenomenal. 
Huibin Yu is the founder of Fohlio. Fohlio is building a better path to digitize the process of product data management, specification, procurement, brand standards, and inventory. Creating tech in an industry that is the last frontier for technology and defining the industry standard.
In this episode, we talk about about some of the challenges that hotels face in product data management, specification, procurement, brand standards, and inventory.
In this episode, you'll learn about:
The challenges hotels and design firms face in managing specifications, procurement, and project timelines across multiple brands and locations.How Fohlio's platform helps organizations streamline their specification and procurement workflows while enabling collaboration between teams.The importance of data visibility, cost control, and value engineering in hospitality design and construction projects.The role of an international, diverse team in providing multilingual support to global clients.
Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn pageThe Modern Hotelier is produced, edited, and published by Make More Media
Sponsor spot
Fohlio: https://www.fohlio.com/
Fohlio is building a better path to digitize the process of product data management, specification, procurement, brand standards, and inventory. Creating tech in an industry that is the last frontier for technology and defining the industry standard.
Links:Huibin Yu on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/huibinyu/
Fohlio: https://www.fohlio.com/

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/69Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-...
Connect with Steve and David:Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E...David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mil...

Amaury Piedra assumed the role of managing director in August 2020, where he leads Central Florida’s largest all-suite convention hotel located in the heart of the nation’s number one convention and tourist destination. Piedra is a bilingual veteran of the hospitality industry with 25 years of sales and operations experience leading Four Diamond lifestyle hotels, convention hotels, and multi-unit complexes in the U.S. and Caribbean, including properties for Wyndham Hotels and Resorts and Starwood Hotels and Resorts. During his career, he has actively participated in major renovations and worked in conjunction with ownership groups and management companies to reposition properties, grow revenues and profitability, while assisting in maximizing the value of the assets.
In today's episode, David Millili and Steve Carran sit down with Amaury Piedra, the managing director of Caribe Royale in Orlando. Amaury shares his fascinating career journey, from starting as a valet to leading the $140 million transformation of Caribe Royale into a 4-diamond property. He provides insights into culture-building, instilling a hospitality mindset in staff, adapting to changing guest needs through technology and experiences, and the bold vision that drove Caribe Royale's remarkable reinvention. With over 25 years of experience at hotels like Wyndham and Starwood, Amaury offers a wealth of wisdom for hoteliers looking to elevate their properties and lean into the future of hospitality.
In this episode, you'll learn about:
The Transformative Initiatives at Caribe Royale.What is the importance and impact of the property app in improving guest experiences?What are the strategic leadership and operational approaches?
Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn pageThe Modern Hotelier is produced, edited, and published by Make More Media
Links:Amaury on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amaury-piedra-68547678/Caribe Royale Orlando: https://www.cariberoyale.com/

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/68Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-...
Connect with Steve and David:Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E...David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mil...

Diana Geseking is the General Counsel for Restaurant Technologies, where she advises the senior leadership on a wide array of legal issues. She oversees various legal functions across the business and brings diversified experience in contract negotiation, business transactions, corporate governance, intellectual property, risk mitigation, compliance and regulatory matters, privacy, advertising/marketing, employment and labor, and litigation management. She joined Restaurant Technologies in 2019. Diana is a graduate of the University of Michigan Law School. She holds a bachelor's degree from Amherst College.
On this episode, Steve and David are joined by Diana Geseking. Diana discusses her company's automated oil management system that helps restaurants increase efficiency, safety, and sustainability by delivering fresh cooking oil, filtering it, and recycling used oil into renewable fuels. They dive into Restaurant Technologies' partnership with Chevron, the impressive statistics around their oil recycling efforts, and how their solutions allow restaurants to meet environmental and social governance (ESG) goals. Diana also shares entertaining stories from her background playing rugby and being a campus police assistant during college.
Get ready to be inspired by her story of determination, innovation, and commitment to making a difference.
In this episode, you'll learn about:
The Restaurant Technologies' InitiativesHow do these technologies contribute to the broader goals of sustainability in the restaurant industry?What are some practical small-scale practices that restaurants can implement to complement technological solutions?Why is digital presence important for professionals today, especially in leadership positions?This episode is sponsored by Restaurant Technologies: https://www.rti-inc.com/
Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn pageThe Modern Hotelier is produced, edited, and published by Make More Media
Links:Diana Geseking on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/diana-geseking-652692b/
 Restaurant Technologies: https://www.rti-inc.com/

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/67Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-...
Connect with Steve and David:Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E...David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mil...

In this episode, David and Steve give their thoughts on some of the most notable trends and topics during the month of April in the Hospitality Industry. They cover:
International Hospitality Institute AwardsHilton Acquiring Sydell GroupBlackstone Pouncing on Hotel Real EstateState of the Union - AprilSummer Demand for US HotelsTropicana Las Vegas closesThe Lafayette Named Hotel of the Year by Esquire Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn pageThe Modern Hotelier is produced, edited, and published by Make More Media
Links:Hilton Acquiring Sydell GroupBlackstone Pouncing on Hotel Real EstateState of the Union - AprilSummer Demand for US HotelsTropicana Las Vegas closesThe Lafayette Named Hotel of the Year by Esquire 

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/66Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-...
Connect with Steve and David:Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E...David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mil...

The Modern Hotelier Podcast and The Virtual GM Podcast come together for a special crossover episode hosted by Nick Horgan. This lively discussion brings together the hosts of the two popular hospitality podcasts - Steve Carran and David Millili from The Modern Hotelier, and Spencer Halford and Cody Adent from The Virtual GM Podcast.
Nick puts the four hosts in the hot seat, digging into their backgrounds, hospitality experiences, and the origins of their podcasts. They share entertaining stories from behind the scenes. The group also reminisces about their favorite hotel stays and highlights what people may not know about the demanding realities of working in the hospitality industry. With fun banter and candid insights, this episode offers a fresh perspective on four influential voices in the hospitality industry. It celebrates their podcasting journeys while showcasing their passion for delighting guests and pushing the boundaries of hospitality.
In this episode, you'll learn about:
Their Career Backgrounds and Entry into HospitalityThe Conception and Growth of PodcastingThe Virtual GM Concept and Its Operational InsightsPersonality Types and Interpersonal DynamicsThe Importance of Service in the Hospitality IndustryJoin the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn pageThe Modern Hotelier is produced, edited, and published by Make More Media
Links:Cody Adent on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/codyadent/Spencer Halford on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencer-halford-%E2%98%85-543393101/Vibrant Management: https://thevibrantteam.com/

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/65Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-...
Connect with Steve and David:Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E...David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mil...

Seema Jain is the Founder and CEO of Seva Global – Growing Business Through Cultural Competency. She has years of experience helping companies become more culturally competent when engaging with people from different backgrounds. In her past role as Senior Director, Multicultural Affairs at Marriott International, Seema had responsibility for developing tools and resources for Marriott associates and hotel properties to enhance cultural competencies to better serve the company's diverse guests and customers. She is also a co-founder of two non-profit organizations – the Supporting Excellence in Education Foundation (SEED), which awards scholarships to high school students, and the Young Jains of America (YJA), a national youth organization created to share Jain heritage and culture.
In this episode, Seema discusses her personal background as a first-generation American, her career journey from healthcare to hospitality, and her passion for promoting cultural competency in organizations. She shares insights on the benefits of cultural competency for employee engagement, customer satisfaction, and financial performance. This episode provides valuable perspectives on diversity, inclusion, and cultural intelligence in the hospitality industry and beyond.
In this episode, you'll learn about:
How to deal with tough economic times while in a leadership roleThe importance of cultural competency in hospitalityWhy it is important to empower people at workThe openness to future collaboration and networking opportunities
Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn pageThe Modern Hotelier is produced, edited, and published by Make More Media
Links:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seemajain/Seva Global: https://www.seva-global.com/
For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/64Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-...
Connect with Steve and David:Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E...David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mil...