Virtual GM - A Hotel Management Podcast

Vibrant Management
  • 5.0 (12)
  • MANAGEMENT
  • UPDATED DAILY

Welcome to Virtual GM, the ultimate podcast for anyone looking to elevate their game in the modern hospitality industry! Whether you're a boutique hotel owner, VRBO manager, Airbnb administrator, front desk staff, or just someone trying to navigate the ever-changing landscape of the hospitality world, this podcast is for you! Each episode is packed with valuable insights, expert advice, and real-life stories from industry leaders and innovators. We'll cover everything from how to effectively market your property and increase bookings, to how to provide top-notch customer service and stand out in a crowded market. But it's not all business - we'll also be having a lot of fun along the way. Expect witty banter, relatable anecdotes, and plenty of laughs as we take a fresh and entertaining approach to discussing the hospitality industry. Produced and distributed by Vibrant Management - a company dedicated to helping hoteliers and vacation rental managers thrive in the modern world - Virtual GM is your go-to source for all things hospitality. So, join us, and let's elevate your game! and visit us on our website: www.thevibrantteam.com

  1. 16H AGO

    🎄 Episode 21: Holiday Hospitality & Christmas Movie Showdown

    In this Christmas-morning episode, Cody & Meagan dive into what makes a stay truly special at the holidays — from guest expectations to festive touches — and wrap things up with their own Christmas movie showdown 🎬. 🎁 What’s Inside: 🔹 Segment 1: What Guests Want for Christmas A warm welcome, cozy ambiance, and thoughtful touches that turn a stay into a holiday memory.How small hotels and rentals can anticipate guest needs during the holidays.🔹 Segment 2: Holiday Touches Guests Remember Ideas for holiday décor, welcome gifts, seasonal amenities, and atmosphere upgrades that delight without breaking the bank.How to balance festive spirit with comfort and good service.🔹 Segment 3: Quick Wins for Hosts Easy-to-implement actions: holiday-themed emails, festive check-in gifts, curated guides to local holiday events, holiday-special pricing.Tips to create holiday magic even with limited staff or budget.🔹 Segment 4: Meagan & Cody’s Top 5 Christmas Movies They each share their top five holiday films — and a bonus pick — for festive movie night recommendations. Feel free to vote in the comments for YOUR favorite! Meagan’s Picks: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever — IMDB The Santa Clause — IMDB Home Alone — IMDB How the Grinch Stole Christmas — IMDB The Christmas Chronicles — IMDB Cody’s Picks: National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation — IMDB The Night Before — IMDB Jingle All the Way — IMDB Elf — IMDB A Christmas Story — IMDB 🎬 Bonus Movie: Die Hard — IMDB Whether you’re running a boutique inn, a vacation rental, or a hotel — or just love holiday vibes — this episode offers practical tips to create festive magic for your guests. And if you’re in the mood for movie night, we’ve got you covered. Previous Marketing Episode: https://www.buzzsprout.com/admin/1992151/episodes/16086739-marketing-tips-to-end-the-year-strong Happy holidays — and may your guests (and your movie night) be merry and bright! ✨ Follow us on Instagram - @thevibrantteam @virtualgmpodcast Checkout our website - www.thevibrantteam.com

    13 min

  2. DEC 18

    🎧 Episode 20: The Hidden Power of Asset Management — Featuring Walter Peseski of Garfield Public/Private

    In this episode, Cody sits down with special guest Walter Peseski (LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/walter-peseski/), Senior Vice President of Asset Management at Garfield Public/Private—one of the most respected firms in the development and public/private partnership space. With more than 30 million square feet developed, over $11 billion in financing structured, and $2 billion in successful public/private projects, Garfield brings unmatched expertise to how hospitality assets are managed, financed, and optimized. Walter, a 20-year hospitality veteran with leadership experience at Disney, Hilton, and Wyndham, offers a rare and insightful look into how hotels truly operate behind the scenes—and what owners don’t know they should be asking. 🔹 Segment 1: Why Third-Party Asset Management Matters Walter explains why most owners aren’t hoteliers—and how a strategic asset manager protects the owner's interests, ensures operational transparency, and asks the hard questions management companies often overlook. 🔹 Segment 2: How Public/Private Partnerships Shape Hospitality From urban redevelopment to tourism infrastructure, Walter breaks down how these partnerships work, why they matter, and how they’re shaping the next generation of hotel projects. 🔹 Segment 3: Balancing Revenue Growth with Expense Control A favorite topic: why brands and management companies are often incentivized only around revenue—and how that can hurt profitability. Walter shares how to keep both sides aligned and protect NOI. 🔹 Bonus: Walter’s Top 3 Hilton Properties To wrap up, Cody asks Walter to share his three favorite Hilton properties to visit for vacation—perfect inspiration for your next trip. This conversation is packed with insights for hotel owners, general managers, developers, and anyone wanting a deeper understanding of how great hotels stay great. Follow us on Instagram - @thevibrantteam @virtualgmpodcast Checkout our website - www.thevibrantteam.com

    51 min

  3. DEC 11

    🎧 Episode 19: Story-Driven Hospitality Branding

    In this episode, Cody & Meagan dive into the powerful role storytelling plays in hospitality branding. A great story can turn a stay into an experience—and create lasting emotional connections with your guests. They break down how to craft a compelling brand story that truly resonates and builds loyalty. 🔹 Segment 1: Why Story Matters Why do stories stick? Cody & Meagan explain how stories shape guest expectations, create emotional bonds, and differentiate your property in a crowded market. 🔹 Segment 2: What Makes a Brand Story Work Not all stories are created equal. They cover the key elements that make a story authentic, memorable, and relevant to your target guests. 🔹 Segment 3: Examples from Real Properties Cody & Meagan highlight inspiring examples, including the Adobe Desert Motel, a standout in storytelling-driven branding. Check them out: Website: adobedesertmotel.com Instagram: @adobedesert 🔹 Segment 4: How to Build Story Into Touchpoints From website copy to guest interactions, Cody & Meagan share practical tips on weaving your brand story consistently across every guest touchpoint. Whether you’re launching a new property or refreshing an existing brand, this episode will help you craft a story that sticks. Follow us on Instagram - @thevibrantteam @virtualgmpodcast Checkout our website - www.thevibrantteam.com

    17 min

  4. DEC 4

    🎧 Episode 18: Smart Upsells Without Feeling Slimy

    In this episode, Cody & Meagan tackle one of the trickiest parts of hospitality—upselling. When done poorly, upselling can feel pushy or “slimy” to guests, but when done right, it can enhance the guest experience and boost your revenue. Cody & Meagan break down how to make upsells feel natural, helpful, and even welcome—so your guests feel cared for, not sold to. 🔹 Segment 1: What Makes an Upsell Feel Bad Explore common pitfalls that turn upselling into an annoyance, and why guests reject offers that feel insincere or timed poorly. 🔹 Segment 2: The Helpful Human Approach Learn how framing upsells as friendly recommendations can build trust and improve guest satisfaction. 🔹 Segment 3: Timing is Everything Find out when to present upsell opportunities for the best response—from pre-arrival messaging to check-in and beyond. 🔹 Segment 4: How to Implement Today Get actionable tips on setting up automated pre-arrival texts with curated offers, adding celebration packages, and personalizing recommendations without being “salesy.” Upselling done right = more revenue + a better guest experience. Guests appreciate thoughtful suggestions—and you’ll love the boost to your bottom line! Follow us on Instagram - @thevibrantteam @virtualgmpodcast Checkout our website - www.thevibrantteam.com

    12 min

  5. NOV 27

    🎧 Episode 17: Turkey, Touchdowns & Trash Talk: Our Ultimate Thanksgiving Draft

    Thanksgiving Special! In this festive episode, Cody & Meagan celebrate the holiday by going head-to-head in a Thanksgiving Snake Draft to build the best Thanksgiving dish lineup ever. Meagan drafts: Turkey, Ham, Hand-Made Rolls, Gravy, Broccoli Casserole, Cranberries & Funeral Potatoes. Cody drafts: Mashed Potatoes, Green Bean Casserole, Brisket, Homemade Mac & Cheese, Salad, Deviled Eggs & Homemade Apple Pie. Who built the better Thanksgiving plate? Let us know in the comments! Then, the tradition continues as Cody & Meagan make their Thanksgiving Day football picks: Packers vs Lions: Meagan picks Packers, Cody picks LionsChiefs vs Cowboys: Meagan picks the Cowboys, Cody picks the ChiefsBengals vs Ravens: Meagan and Cody both pick RavensKick back, enjoy the holiday, and laugh along as we debate dishes, make predictions, and celebrate another year of gratitude with all of you. Happy Thanksgiving! Follow us on Instagram - @thevibrantteam @virtualgmpodcast Checkout our website - www.thevibrantteam.com

    12 min

  6. NOV 20

    🎧 Episode 16: Reputation Management in 2026: Responding, Recovering & Reinforcing Trust

    In this episode, Cody & Meagan dive into one of the most mission-critical topics for hotels heading into 2026: Reputation Management. Guest expectations are higher than ever—and reviews now live everywhere, from Google to TikTok to niche travel communities. Whether you're a boutique inn or a full-scale resort, your reputation is your revenue. Cody & Meagan break down the exact framework Vibrant uses to help properties protect, strengthen, and rebuild trust with guests—no matter what comes your way. 🔹 Segment 1: Where Reputation Lives Now The landscape has changed. Reviews don’t just sit on Google anymore—they’re on Instagram Stories, Reddit threads, influencer vlogs, and private travel groups. Cody & Meagan outline the new digital “ecosystem of opinion” and what hotels must monitor in 2026. 🔹 Segment 2: The 3R Review Method — Reflect, Reassure, Repair A simple, powerful formula every hotel can use: Reflect: Acknowledge what the guest experienced.Reassure: Show your commitment to their comfort and care.Repair: Share what you’ve done or will do to fix the issue.This method helps properties transform even tough reviews into trust-building moments. 🔹 Segment 3: Off-Script Stories Cody & Meagan dive into real-life examples where teams went off-script—in good ways and not-so-good ways. These stories highlight the impact of human moments, tone, and timing in reputation management. 🔹 Segment 4: Proactive Strategy You can’t just respond—you must anticipate. This segment explores how to build a proactive plan: Monitoring across platformsEncouraging positive reviews strategicallyTraining staff on service recoveryCreating "reputation rituals" that keep quality consistentWhether you're fighting back from a tough season or looking to elevate an already great reputation, this episode will help you master the trust game in 2026. Follow us on Instagram - @thevibrantteam @virtualgmpodcast Checkout our website - www.thevibrantteam.com

    17 min

  7. NOV 6

    Season 3, Episode 15: The Greatest Hits — Our Most Downloaded Episodes from Every Year!a

    In this special episode, Cody takes a nostalgic (and inspiring!) look back at the most downloaded Vibrant Guest Management Podcast episodes from each of the last four years. From the very first season to the latest breakthroughs in AI, these episodes represent the best conversations, insights, and moments our listeners couldn’t get enough of. Here are the top picks: 🏨 Tools You Need to Get Started in Hospitality (July 12, 2022) 👉 Listen Here 📈 4 Ways To Boost Your Hotel Advertising with Director of Marketing Leah Roberts (November 27, 2023) 👉 Listen Here 🧳 Owner Opportunities: Must-Haves for Building a Successful Property (June 20, 2024) 👉 Listen Here 🤖 The Future of Hospitality with AI – Featuring Logan Nicholson of Talsey AI (March 27, 2025) 👉 Listen Here Cody reflects on what made each episode stand out—whether it was the actionable takeaways, expert guest insights, or the timeless advice that continues to help property owners level up. If you’re new to the show, this is the perfect place to start. And if you’ve been with us since the beginning, it’s a chance to revisit the episodes that shaped our journey together. Follow us on Instagram - @thevibrantteam @virtualgmpodcast Checkout our website - www.thevibrantteam.com

    11 min

  8. OCT 30

    🎃 Episode 14: Scare Screen Picks: Cody’s Top 5 Halloween Movies (with IMDB links!)

    Just in time for Halloween, Cody gets spooky and shares his top 5 all-time Halloween movies. These are films that deliver chills, laughs, nostalgia—and a little bit of magic for the season. Here’s the lineup: Halloween (1978) — IMDBThe Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) — IMDBHocus Pocus - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107120/?ref_=ls_t_1Halloweentown — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0173886/Beetlejuice — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094721/Cody talks about what makes each film special—the scares, the heart, the laughs—and why each holds a spot on their Halloween watchlist. Whether you prefer full horror, family fun, or quirky fantasy, this episode has something for everyone falling under the Halloween moonlight. Follow us on Instagram - @thevibrantteam @virtualgmpodcast Checkout our website - www.thevibrantteam.com

    11 min
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5
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

Welcome to Virtual GM, the ultimate podcast for anyone looking to elevate their game in the modern hospitality industry! Whether you're a boutique hotel owner, VRBO manager, Airbnb administrator, front desk staff, or just someone trying to navigate the ever-changing landscape of the hospitality world, this podcast is for you! Each episode is packed with valuable insights, expert advice, and real-life stories from industry leaders and innovators. We'll cover everything from how to effectively market your property and increase bookings, to how to provide top-notch customer service and stand out in a crowded market. But it's not all business - we'll also be having a lot of fun along the way. Expect witty banter, relatable anecdotes, and plenty of laughs as we take a fresh and entertaining approach to discussing the hospitality industry. Produced and distributed by Vibrant Management - a company dedicated to helping hoteliers and vacation rental managers thrive in the modern world - Virtual GM is your go-to source for all things hospitality. So, join us, and let's elevate your game! and visit us on our website: www.thevibrantteam.com

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