Defining Hospitality Dan Ryan

Joining the show this week is an industry titan who is shaping the next generation of hospitality professionals. Our guest is none other than Founder of the Radical Innovation hospitality awards, Founder and Chairman of the Hardy Group, John Hardy!

John joins Host Dan Ryan to discuss the importance of innovation and creativity. John reflects on his journey, the challenges, and triumphs of innovative hospitality development, and the future trends shaping the industry. Discover his insights on creating unique, experiential hotels and the importance of continual innovation.
Takeaways: 
Hospitality is about how you treat guests whether they are in your house or hotel. It is about making them feel comfortable, providing for their needs, and surprising them with extras. Innovation in the hotel industry often comes from outsiders rather than industry insiders, encouraging radical thinking. Creativity thrives when intuition guides decision-making, paving the way for unconventional ideas to flourish.Innovation often arises from challenging industry norms and embracing creativity. Embrace unconventional thinking and foster a culture of innovation to drive progress and success in your endeavors.The shift towards experiential accommodations like AutoCamp and Airbnb reflects a growing trend among younger consumers who are less brand loyal. To stay competitive, big brands are adapting to offer unique experiences tailored to this trend.Embrace risk, dedication, and innovative ideas to drive success. The people who will drive the industry forward are those who are willing to put in the time and effort and aren’t afraid to risk failure. In challenging times with fluctuating interest rates, it's an opportunity to elevate deal-making skills and seize smarter opportunities for future success. Success lies in mastering both the risk and reward game throughout fluctuating cycles.Quote of the Show:
“I never let somebody second guess what I thought was the right thing to do.” - John HardyLinks:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-hardy-3a677812/ Website: https://www.radicalinnovation.io/ Website: https://www.jhgi.com/ Shout Outs:
15:46 - I. M. Pei15:49 - Philip Johnson15:51 - William B Tabler16:03 - Morris Lapidus16:18 - Hilton: https://www.hilton.com/en/ 17:52 - Hyatt Atlanta: https://www.hyatt.com/grand-hyatt/en-US/atlgh-grand-hyatt-atlanta-in-buckhead 18:02 - Trammell Crow 20:24 - Marriott: https://www.marriott.com/default.mi 25:12 - Barry Sternlicht: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barry_Sternlicht 26:42 - Bill Kimpton31:26 - Westin Hotels: https://westin.marriott.com/32:15 - HD Magazine: https://hospitalitydesign.com/ 32:30 - Mike Mazigian32:31 - Simon Turner32:34 - Jim Woods32:46 - Wing Chow40:34 - UNLV: https://www.unlv.edu/ 40:39 - NYU: https://www.nyu.edu/ 48:48 - Autocamp: https://autocamp.com/49:03 - Airbnb: https://www.airbnb.com/ 54:51 - Steve Higgins54:54 - W Hotels: https://w-hotels.marriott.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

Hospitality is about intuition and reading the customer. Are you doing too much, or are you not doing enough for them? The guest on this episode has left an impact on leading luxury lifestyle brands in hospitality, food and beverage, design, and wellness over the course of his 30-year career. Please welcome the Vice President of Food and Beverage Concept and Brand Development at the Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, Michael Doneff.

Michaell joins Dan Ryan as they discuss the significance of a unique dining experience. Michael shares the power of storytelling in brand development, the importance of company culture, and offers advice for aspiring professionals in the hospitality industry.
Takeaways: 
Customers want to come into an environment where they feel understood, appreciated, and heard. Your job is to create an experience that exceeds their expectations.For early-stage brands, everything boils down to storytelling, and you get to see that story come to life from the name to the logo.If a brand is constructed correctly and thoughtfully, then it's usually meant to last. But it's only as good as its execution.A brand should check off all the boxes, even in the small areas of hospitality. Making sure that their employees are genuine, truly love what they do, and love taking care of their guests.An employee should have intuitive skills to know what the customer needs and if they could be doing more for them, but they should also know what the customer doesn't need and if they’re doing too much.As a brand, you should strive to have your mission statement and values be true throughout every level of your company, and every team member should be living out these things.Don't be afraid to ask questions, push boundaries, and try things, but also don't be afraid to fail at them and find a new way of trying to do things.Quote of the Show:  
“We’re in a world where you can tell when things are scripted.” - Michael DoneffLinks:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeldoneff/ Website: https://www.fourseasons.com/ Shout Outs:
2:09 - Villa De Leon11:26 - Jean-Pierre Coffe16:28 - Danny Meyer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dhmeyer/ 19:24 - SBE: https://www.sbe.com/ 19:34 - Canyon Ranch: https://www.canyonranch.com/ 19:29 - Viceroy Hotel Group: https://www.viceroyhotelsandresorts.com/ 20:28 - Michael Douglas20:39 - Susan Magrino Agency: https://www.magrinopr.com/ 21:57 - Jeffrey Bilhuber: https://www.jeffreybilhuberllc.com/ 22:09 - Richard Pandiscio25:08 - Island Outpost: https://www.islandoutpost.com/ 26:59 - W Hotels: https://w-hotels.marriott.com/ 27:09 - Barry Sternlicht: https://www.starwoodpropertytrust.com/team/ 27:10 - Rande Gerber27:21 - Ian Schrager37:55 -José Andrés Group: https://joseandres.com/ 38:42 - World Central Kitchen: https://wck.org/ 44:05 - Arnie Malham: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arniemalham/ 44:08 - Worth Doing Wrong: https://www.worthdoingwrong.com/ 50:11 - Marriott: https://www.marriott.com/ 50:12 - Accor: https://group.accor.com/en 
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

For a vision to come to fruition, there must be a level of persistence to make it happen. Here to share his insight is a designer skilled in interior and custom furniture. Please welcome the Owner and Founder of CRÈME, Jun Aizaki.
Host Dan Ryan and guest Jun Aizaki discuss CRÈME’s award winning Gourd project. Jun dives into how he finds inspiration for new projects, shares his early career and what led him to be a successful designer, and reveals advice to future innovators on the mentality needed to be successful.

Takeaways: 
Hospitality revolves around the service you provide for guests, and the problems you solve for them. By providing meaningful solutions, you make someone’s life richer, more interesting, and more practical.Persistence is key when it comes to stating your vision. Having the mentality of not taking no for an answer goes a long way, by forcing yourself to try different directions, you may stumble upon new solutions. When it comes to working towards what you want, you may have to put in extra time and effort. While it may not be time that your getting paid for, if you continue to put in the extra hours, the results will pay offWhen creating a new project, inspiration should come from the uniqueness of the environment around you. Each design should tell a story and be special in order to capture the eyes of others.Creativity can strike at any moment, and having a way to capture it is crucial. Keeping a sketchbook or digital tablet on you at all times allows you to put pen to paper whenever an idea pops into mind. The gourd project was born out of a need to replace single use plastic drinking cups in the hospitality industry. By growing a gourd in a cup shaped mold, you are left with a disposable option that biodegrades safely. Good design comes from the minds of many, rather than a solo visionary. Encouraging communication and empowering your team creates products that draw on the strength of diverse backgrounds.Quote of the Show:
“If you can dream something up, there's always a way to get there.” - Jun AizakiLinks:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/creme.design/?hl=en LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jun-aizaki-a2820b5/ Website: https://cremedesign.com/ 
Shout Outs:
1:28 - Kimpton Theta: https://www.hoteltheta.com/ 7:06 - The Rockwell Group: https://www.rockwellgroup.com/ 13:04 - David Allen: https://www.amazon.com/stores/David-Allen/author/B001ILIG4C?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true17:06 - Kimpton Eventi: https://www.hoteleventi.com/ 24:58 - Laurent Tourondel: https://www.laurent-tourondel.com/ 25:52 - DLJ Capital: https://www.dljrecp.com/ 25:53 - Andy Rifkin31:45 - Bermanfalk: https://www.bermanfalk.com/ 35:37 - Sheraton Kagoshima: https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/kojsi-sheraton-kagoshima/overview/ 40:20 - Morris Lapidus53:19 - Kosciuszko Bridge53:52 - Pulaski Bridge01:03:59 - Margaret McMahon: https://www.watg.com/people/margaret-mcmahon/ 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

As an advisor, helping guide your clients to the project of their dreams can be challenging yet rewarding. Here to shed light on the advisory process is a Principal and Managing Director at Weitzman, Keith Brenan! 

Keith joins Host Dan Ryan to discuss the nuances of investing in hospitality properties, and some of the many considerations that clients may have. Keith also shares the difference between institutional and mom and pop investors, the best way to mix hospitality and office space, and how to pick the perfect amenities. 
Takeaways: 
While hospitality touches on many different aspects, at its core, it is about welcoming and understanding. Hospitality is about the ability to welcome into a space and exceed their expectations in terms of what they expect from human interaction. Hospitality as an investment class presents some unique challenges. As your tenants are essentially checking in and out on a daily basis, quality amenities alone don’t cut it. To truly make hospitality excel as an investment, the human element must be there.Advisors see two typical types of investors, institutional and mom and pop investors. Institutional investors are typically assessing if they want to get involved with hospitality, while mom and pop investors already have a vision and need help implementing it. Having the right amenities makes a great project. By tying the value of the amenity to the development of the building creates a cohesive experience for guests. Unique amenities serve as a focal point for guests when choosing a place to stay. Many investors are not only considering the current role of a hospitality asset, but how the building may need to transform over the years. As topics like adaptive reuse become more popular, more investors are looking for flexible assets. When mixing hospitality and office space in a single building, hospitality needs to be on the top half, however, elevated lobbies present unique challenges. Consider how guests enter the building, and simplify the path they take to get to the lobby. As an advisor, your main role is to show people all the details and help them make an informed decision. While telling someone no on a project can be disappointing, it’s better than letting someone go down a path towards eventual failure. Quote of the Show:
“It's a way of welcoming and it's a way of understanding. It's providing human interaction often in a physical space.” - Keith BrenanLinks:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keith-brenan-cre-61222811/ Website: https://www.weitzmanusa.com/ Shout Outs:
1:32 - Aggie Zamir: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aggie-zamir-a750982b/ 1:33 - ALIS: https://www.burba.com/ALIS 29:38 - Marriott: https://www.marriott.com/default.mi 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

Our guest this week has over 30 years of hospitality experience in international operations, capital markets, and strategic development. Please welcome to the show, CEO and Owner of Olson Kundig, Hemanshu Parwani!

Hemanshu joins Host Dan Ryan to dive into the importance of showing up with intent. Hemanshu shares why designers should chase meaningful work rather than all out growth, the need to take care of those who take care of others, and how mountaineering inspires his work. 
Takeaways: 
Hospitality for many, comes close to being a religion. Built out of a devotion to caring for others, hospitality is about how you make someone feel in a space, and how you build memories with them. When in a space, people are either thinking about what memories this space reminds them of, or how the space will build new memories for them. Building spaces around the formation of memories will leave guests with unforgettable experiences. A guaranteed way to make your guests remember your experiences is by making them feel as if they were one of your group. Allowing your guests to feel like they can be their authentic selves creates satisfaction.The ethos of being an innkeeper is taking care of people. Care extends not just to your guests, but the people who are taking care of your guests. A team that is well cared for will provide even better service to guests. Everything you do should be with intent. Knowing why you are doing something is the foundation to any action. Good design comes from an intimate understanding of why you are designing. While growth is good, it should not be the end all to your pursuits. Chase aspirational, meaningful work in design, and growth will follow. Instead of simply seeking to grow, seek a challenge that forces you to work creatively.Mutual learning is an important aspect of design, and helps you be more intentional about what you do. Keeping an open mind and showing genuine interest in other’s work allows you to learn quickly. Quote of the Show:
“Growth is not something that we are chasing. We are chasing aspirational, meaningful work in design.” - Hemanshu ParwaniLinks:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hemanshuparwani/ Website: https://olsonkundig.com/ 
Shout Outs:
1:22 - ALIS: https://www.burba.com/ALIS 18:20 - Bill Marriott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jwmarriottjr/ 20:49 - Harvard Business School: https://www.hbs.edu/ 21:56 - Ian Schrager: https://www.instagram.com/ianschrager/ 21:58 - Adrian Zecha39:59 - Bashar Wali: https://www.linkedin.com/in/basharwali/ 48:55 - Barry Sternlicht49:29 - W Hotels: https://w-hotels.marriott.com/ 50:02 - 1 Hotels: https://www.1hotels.com/ 51:18 - HD Expo: https://hdexpo.hospitalitydesign.com/ 52:24 - Populus: https://populusdenver.com/ 53:06 - Sonu Shivdasani: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonu-shivdasani-obe-a46217/ 54:34 - Bermanfalk: https://www.bermanfalk.com/ 59:07 - Ed Viesturs: https://www.instagram.com/ed_viesturs/?hl=en 1:02:05 - Aggie Zamir: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aggie-zamir-a750982b/ 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 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