Defining Hospitality Dan Ryan

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

If you’ve ever gazed across the New York City skyline, you’ve likely admired the work of this week’s guest. His work has defined modern luxury apartments. Please welcome to the show, Chief Design Officer at Extell, Roy Kim!

Roy sits down with Dan to explore his journey in the world of hospitality, and how Extell is leading the world of development. Roy also shares why service outweighs design, the importance of considering the view in the design process, and how to build a team of experts. 

Takeaways: 
Hospitality has two components, spatial and service. In many cases, the service aspect outweighs design. The way you treat and take care of guests will stay with them longer than the design choices. When choosing amenities for a project, you need to consider two different types. First are common amenities missing from the area, and second are unique amenities that will help draw people to the building. When laying out a building, consider the sequences of spaces that a guest will experience. The flow that a guest takes will combine with the fit and finish to create an overall feeling of a quality space. When designing the layout of a building it’s important to consider the view from each room. Often overlooked in the design process, the view plays a large part in how a resident feels about their apartment. While having consistent room layouts makes operations easier, you may end up with small gaps. Assessing the layouts more individually allows you to maximize your square footageA design team does not need to be large to be successful. To maximize the potency of your team, ensure that each employee is an expert. Additionally, all your decision makers need to actually be making decisions. 
Quote of the Show:
“Without the service there really is no hospitality.” - Roy KimLinks:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roy-kim-894b284/ Website: https://extell.com/ Shout Outs:
02:07 - One Manhattan Square: https://onemanhattansquare.com/ 03:45 - Ananda: https://www.anandaspa.com/ 04:32 - Macklemore: https://macklemore.com/ 08:44 - Michael Lindenbaum: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindenbaummichael/ 09:52 - The Alden at 225 Central Park West09:57 - Roman and Williams: https://www.romanandwilliams.com/ 10:44 - Gary Barnett11:46 - Meyer Davis: https://www.meyerdavis.com/ 11:50 - Gray Davis11:51 - Will Meyer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-meyer-7685677/ 14:40 - Park Hyatt NYC: https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/hotel/new-york/park-hyatt-new-york/nycph 14:44 - Hyatt Times Square: https://www.hyatt.com/hyatt-centric/nycts-hyatt-centric-times-square 15:09 - One57: https://one57.com/ 15:38 - La Palestra: https://www.lapalestra.com/index.php 31:20 - Rockwell: https://www.rockwellgroup.com/ 34:07 - The Orion: https://www.theorion42condo.com/ 48:07 - University of British Columbia: https://www.ubc.ca/49:28 - Patricia & John Patkau https://www.patkau.ca/ 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