Hospitality Folks

Alicia Dick Wahlberg

Hospitality Folks is a weekly video podcast about the people, ideas and technology shaping the future of hospitality, travel and tourism. Hosted by Alicia Dick Wahlberg, each episode goes beyond the job title to explore the unexpected career paths, bold choices, failures, lessons and human stories behind the people building and leading with hospitality at heart. From hotel managers and founders to innovators, entrepreneurs and industry changemakers, this is where we talk about the real people behind the industry. Come for the hospitality. Stay for the unexpected journeys.

  1. 13. Okt.

    Why Trust Beats Hype Every time with AI & Hospitality

    What makes a great salesperson in hospitality tech? According to Arne Hegstad, it might have very little to do with having sales experience. In this episode of Hospitality Folks, we sit down with Arne Hegstad, Chief Craft Officer at Suusify, to explore his 17-year journey with VisBook, the unexpected story of how he entered hospitality technology, and what he has learned about building teams, growing businesses, and earning trust in the hospitality industry. We discuss why some of his best salespeople came from hotel operations rather than traditional sales backgrounds, how asking candidates about their dreams can reveal what truly motivates them, and why understanding a hotel's real challenges matters more than pushing another product. We also get into the gap between hospitality technology and hotel operations, the problem with adding AI without solving real needs, how technology companies can earn hoteliers' trust, and what it takes to expand across Europe and the US. Key takeaways from this conversation:• Why the best salespeople might not have a sales background• The interview question that reveals a person's inner motivation• Why hospitality tech needs to solve real operational problems• How hotels can assess and build trust in new technology providers• The difference between AI hype and meaningful innovation• What international expansion really takes• Why getting out of your comfort zone can change your career Arne's story is a reminder that careers rarely follow a straight line, great teams start with understanding people, and the best business relationships are built on trust. Connect with Arne Hegstad:https://www.linkedin.com/in/arne-hegstad-12293338/ Connect with Alicia Dick Wahlberg, host of Hospitality Folks:https://www.linkedin.com/in/aliciadickwahlberg/ Learn more about Suusify:https://www.suusify.com/

  2. 13. Mai

    From Dishwasher to Director — Why the Best Kitchens Run on Mentorship, Not Fear | Adam Mali

    What separates a truly great kitchen from a toxic one? According to internationally experienced culinary leader Adam Mali, it comes down to one choice every leader has to make: do you lead with fear, or do you lead with humanity? Adam has spent decades at the highest levels of hospitality across Europe and North America — working alongside multiple Michelin-starred chef Pierre Gagnaire, shaping fine dining concepts for luxury hotel groups, and quietly amassing the kind of knowledge that only comes from time spent in both palace kitchens and the unassuming neighbourhood restaurants he loves most. A fluent French speaker with a deep affinity for European culinary culture, Adam brings a rare global perspective to a conversation the industry badly needs to have. He speaks candidly about the "badass chef" culture he once participated in, the moment a frightened young stage knocked over a bread starter and changed his leadership philosophy forever, and why hospitality is failing its own people through ghosting, burnout, and a profound lack of mentorship. This is a conversation about fine dining, kitchen culture, what great recruitment actually looks like — and the kind of leadership that builds teams worth staying for. 🔗 Adam Mali on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adammalichef/ 🔗 Alicia Dick Wahlberg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aliciadickwahlberg

    From Dishwasher to Director — Why the Best Kitchens Run on Mentorship, Not Fear | Adam Mali

Info

Hospitality Folks is a weekly video podcast about the people, ideas and technology shaping the future of hospitality, travel and tourism. Hosted by Alicia Dick Wahlberg, each episode goes beyond the job title to explore the unexpected career paths, bold choices, failures, lessons and human stories behind the people building and leading with hospitality at heart. From hotel managers and founders to innovators, entrepreneurs and industry changemakers, this is where we talk about the real people behind the industry. Come for the hospitality. Stay for the unexpected journeys.