The Hotel Investor Playbook

Michael Russell
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Welcome to The Hotel Investor Playbook, hosted by real estate investor and hospitality operator Michael Russell. Michael is the co-founder of Malama Capital and Howzit Hostels, and has built a personal real estate portfolio exceeding $20 million.With an operator-first mindset, Michael brings a practical perspective to hotel investing. On the show, he breaks down what it actually takes to scale from short-term rentals into boutique hotels, covering deal sourcing, operations, capital strategy, and risk.Each week, Michael shares real lessons from the field as he builds toward a $400 million real estate business, giving listeners an honest look at the decisions, challenges, and strategies behind the growth. Subscribe and follow along as he documents the journey in real time.

  1. How 2 Women Turned a $1.2M Zillow B&B Into a $4M Treehouse Hotel (No Investors) | Ashley LaRocque E80

    2D AGO

    How 2 Women Turned a $1.2M Zillow B&B Into a $4M Treehouse Hotel (No Investors) | Ashley LaRocque E80

    What if you bought a rundown bed and breakfast on Zillow, moved in the next day, and turned it into Colorado's first luxury treehouse hotel, all without raising a single dollar from outside investors? That's exactly what Ashley LaRocque and her wife did. And six years later, their property is booked through 2027, generating six-figure wedding revenue they never saw coming. A former TV producer who left corporate life to build something from scratch, Ashley shares the unfiltered story of what it actually takes to develop a boutique hospitality asset when banks say no, permits take years, and the build costs keep climbing. In this episode, you'll discover: Why buying an existing B&B beats building from scratch on raw landThe 3-step permitting process that took 6 years and nearly $4M all-in to completeHow a wedding venue they never planned for now drives 50% of total revenueWhy Ashley joined her county's planning commission, and what she sees developers get wrong every timeThe SBA loan structure that lets them avoid a $350K down paymentWhat 80-90% occupancy actually looks like at a 5-room boutique lodge in a supply-constrained marketIf you're serious about building a hospitality asset that creates real long-term wealth, this episode will show you what bootstrapped development actually looks like, and whether it's the right path for you. If you found value in this episode, take 30 seconds to leave us a review here. It helps more people find the podcast and keeps us bringing on great guests. Connect with Ashley LaRocque Website: https://stayatjuniper.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stayatjuniper/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-larocque-65397114/ Connect with Michael on Instagram or LinkedIn. Email Us at info@hotelinvestorplaybook.com Visit the Hotel Investor Playbook Instagram Invest with Malama Capital Submit a deal

    44 min
  2. The $600K Treehouse Earning $200K a Year | Dustin Feider E79

    APR 29

    The $600K Treehouse Earning $200K a Year | Dustin Feider E79

    In this episode, you'll discover how a single ultra-niche lodging unit can outperform a full hotel on cash-on-cash returns and what that signals for boutique investors paying attention. A treehouse designer whose work has been featured in the New York Times, Architectural Digest, and HGTV joins us to break down the real numbers behind experiential lodging. Dustin Fighter has spent two decades building one-of-a-kind suspended structures, and his original pine cone treehouse, 60 feet in the air and $600K to build, is now generating over $200K per year at $850/night. In this episode, you'll discover: Why a single $600K unit can deliver 30% cash-on-cash returns unleveraged, and whether it actually scalesThe 3 biggest obstacles that kill treehouse hospitality deals before they start: permitting, insurance, and bank financingHow crowdfunding raised $600K from 700 investors and why equity outperformed revenue shareThe pre-booking capital strategy that lets you fund the build before you break groundWhy banks won't touch tree-supported structures and what builders are doing insteadHow tariffs are driving up construction costs and forcing a pivot back to high-end custom buildsIf you're interested in high ADR niches where limited supply drives outsized returns, don't skip the unit economics breakdown. The math speaks for itself. If you found value in this episode, take 30 seconds to leave us a review here. It helps more people find the podcast and keeps us bringing on great guests. Connect with Dustin Feider Website: https://www.o2treehouse.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustinfeider Connect with Michael on Instagram or LinkedIn. Email Us at info@hotelinvestorplaybook.com Visit the Hotel Investor Playbook Instagram Invest with Malama Capital Submit a deal

    39 min
  3. The Hotel-to-Apartment Strategy That Turned $8.5M Into $18.9M in 19 Months | Ryan Sudeck E78

    APR 22

    The Hotel-to-Apartment Strategy That Turned $8.5M Into $18.9M in 19 Months | Ryan Sudeck E78

    What if the most overlooked apartment deal in your market is already built, it's just flagged as a hotel? In this episode, you'll discover how a valuation gap between hotels and multifamily creates forced equity of 40 to 50% before you change a single wall, and why most investors completely miss it. A CEO who has completed over 30 hotel-to-apartment conversions across six states joins us to break down the exact strategy his firm has used to generate a 20% annualized return since inception. Ryan Sudeck and his team at Sage Investment Group turned an $8.5M distressed hotel into $18.9M in 19 months with a 38% annualized return and have since scaled the model to over 3,000 units and 500 investors. In this episode, you'll discover: Why a hotel trading at a 12 cap automatically becomes more valuable the moment you convert it to residential, and how to calculate the forced equity before you buyThe exact buy box Sage uses: room count, location signals, and the zoning step that most investors skip, which kills dealsHow to identify hotels in the "death spiral" before they hit the market and why Sage rarely buys on-marketThe invasive due diligence process they use to eliminate budget blowouts behind the wallsWhy the evergreen fund model outperforms syndications for this strategy, and how distributions work from day oneThe community impact case study in Tacoma that took a street responsible for 10% of Washington state murders to zero violent crimeIf you're a hotel investor, a multifamily operator, or someone sitting on capital looking for a differentiated real estate strategy, this episode will change how you look at every distressed property you drive past. Don't miss the valuation math breakdown in the first ten minutes; it's genuinely one of the clearest arbitrage setups we've had on this show. If you found value in this episode, take 30 seconds to leave us a review here. It helps more people find the podcast and keeps us bringing on great guests. Connect with Ryan Sudeck Website: http://sageinvestment.com Email: ryan@sageinvestment.group LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryansudeck/ Connect with Michael on Instagram or LinkedIn. Email Us at info@hotelinvestorplaybook.com Visit the Hotel Investor Playbook Instagram Invest with Malama Capital Submit a deal

    44 min
  4. What a $75M Commercial Investor Wished He Knew Before Opening His First Boutique Hotel | Tyler Cauble E77

    APR 14

    What a $75M Commercial Investor Wished He Knew Before Opening His First Boutique Hotel | Tyler Cauble E77

    Experienced real estate investors make the jump into hospitality every year. Most of them underestimate what they're getting into. In this episode, you'll hear what it actually looks like when a seasoned commercial operator buys his first boutique hotel, and what he'd do differently. A commercial real estate investor who built a $75M portfolio across retail, self-storage, flex space, and adaptive reuse projects shares the unfiltered story of acquiring, renovating, and opening Salt Ranch, a 48-key boutique hotel in Nashville. Tyler Cauble had zero hospitality experience going in, and he's not shy about what that cost him. In this episode, you'll discover: How he got financing after 50 lender rejections by redesigning a $17M project down to $10.5MWhy old buildings will always surprise you, and how to protect yourself with the right contingencyHow tariffs added $150,000 in unexpected costs and what he'd build into his underwriting todayThe partner debt strategy he used instead of a capital call when costs ran over budgetWhat he learned from interviewing 25 hotel management companies before selecting oneWhy does he say investing $50K in education before your first deal will outperform almost any returnIf you're considering making the jump from commercial real estate into hospitality, or want to learn from someone who did it with eyes wide open, this one is worth your time. If you found value in this episode, take 30 seconds to leave us a review here. It helps more people find the podcast and keeps us bringing on great guests. Connect with Tyler Cauble Website: https://www.tylercauble.com/ & https://saltranchhotel.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tylercauble/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/tylercauble Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/commercial_in_nashville/ Connect with Michael on Instagram or LinkedIn. Email Us at info@hotelinvestorplaybook.com Visit the Hotel Investor Playbook Instagram Invest with Malama Capital Submit a deal

    50 min
  5. An STR operator's $4 million bet on building a boutique hotel in Colombia | Tim Hubbard E76

    APR 7

    An STR operator's $4 million bet on building a boutique hotel in Colombia | Tim Hubbard E76

    What does it actually cost to build a boutique hotel from scratch in a foreign country? More than you think, and not just financially. A short-term rental operator running 220+ properties across 40 cities is now three years into building a 20-unit boutique resort in Medellin, Colombia. No bank financing. A licensing process that restarted from zero. And a price tag is climbing toward $4.5 million. Tim Hubbard joins the show to walk through every layer of this project with total transparency. In this episode, you'll discover: The real cost breakdown of a ground-up international hotel development and why it ballooned past initial estimatesWhy foreign investors can't get bank financing in Colombia, and how Tim structured the deal without itHow a licensing change wiped out months of progress and what it taught him about developing abroadThe partnership structure that made this project possible, and what Tim wouldn't have attempted aloneHow his virtual management company, Corzly, operates 220+ STRs across 40 cities at 5-10% feesWhere AI is actually delivering results in hospitality operations today, and where it still breaks downIf you've ever visited a city and thought about building something there, this episode is the honest version of what that journey actually looks like. Connect with Tim Hubbard Website: https://corzly.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-hubbard-str/ Podcast: https://strriches.com/ If you found value in this episode, take 30 seconds to leave us a review here. It helps more people find the podcast and keeps us bringing on great guests. Connect with Michael on Instagram or LinkedIn. Email Us at info@hotelinvestorplaybook.com Visit the Hotel Investor Playbook Instagram Invest with Malama Capital Submit a deal

    48 min
  6. Under $1.5M in Revenue? You Don't Own a Business, You Own a Job | Greg Emmert E75

    MAR 31

    Under $1.5M in Revenue? You Don't Own a Business, You Own a Job | Greg Emmert E75

    Most people who buy their first hospitality property don't realize they just bought themselves a 90-hour-a-week job. The difference between owning a business and being trapped inside one comes down to a single number most investors never bother to calculate before they sign. In this episode, you'll learn the exact revenue threshold your property needs to hit before you can hire real staff, implement real systems, and actually step away from day-to-day operations. A 26-year campground owner and operator who won 8 consecutive industry awards and now consults for investors and operators across North America breaks down what most first-time buyers get dead wrong. Greg Emmert has evaluated hundreds of deals and knows exactly where the line is between a profitable business and an expensive hobby. In this episode, you'll discover: The minimum revenue number that separates real business owners from glorified employeesWhy "armchair quarterback syndrome" costs first-time hospitality investors more than any bad dealThe infrastructure trap that can turn your dream property into an undevelopable piece of dirtHow the work exchange model can supplement your labor force without destroying your payrollWhy banks are now requiring third-party management before they'll write a check on hospitality assetsThe one thing experienced operators do before every acquisition that most beginners skip entirelyIf you're serious about buying a hospitality asset and actually owning it instead of working inside it, this episode will save you from the most expensive lessons in the business. Don't learn them on your own dime. About Greg Emmert Greg Emmert is the Founder and Principal Consultant at Vireo, bringing over 30 years of award-winning experience to the outdoor hospitality sector. As the former owner and operator of the 240-site Homerville KOA in Northeast Ohio for 26 years, he guided the property to consistent profitability, Net Promoter Scores in the high 80s, and eight consecutive KOA President’s and Founder’s Awards. Today, Greg leverages his extensive hands-on background to help park owners and investors navigate market feasibility, pressure-test acquisitions through rigorous due diligence, and build scalable Standard Operating Procedures. Recognized as the 2019 Outstanding Environmental Educator and a passionate "bird-nerd," he also specializes in helping operators tap into the conservation economy to design premium, nature-based guest experiences that drive intense loyalty. Connect with Greg Emmert Connect with Greg on LinkedIn. Visit their Website. Learn how to use AI to underwrite faster, streamline operations, automate the busy work, and make better decisions. Start your 7-day free trial of the AI for CRE Collective here. Connect with Michael on Instagram or LinkedIn. Email Us at info@hotelinvestorplaybook.com Visit the Hotel Investor Playbook Instagram Invest with Malama Capital Submit a deal

    1h 8m
  7. The Revenue Expert Managing $125M Says You're Leaving 40% on the Table | Jasper Ribbers E74

    MAR 17

    The Revenue Expert Managing $125M Says You're Leaving 40% on the Table | Jasper Ribbers E74

    Jasper Ribbers went from trading equities on Wall Street to traveling to 100 countries as a digital nomad, funding it all from a single Airbnb apartment in Amsterdam. Today, he manages pricing strategy for over $125 million in annual short-term rental bookings and co-founded Freewyld, a micro-resort brand in Idyllwild, California that's pulling $190 RevPAR against a $97 market average. In this episode, Jasper reveals which STR markets worldwide are generating the best returns right now, why 99% of operators are leaving up to 40% of their revenue on the table with "set it and forget it" pricing, and breaks down the exact financials behind his micro-resort. Whether you're scaling a short-term rental portfolio or looking to break into hospitality investing, this episode is loaded with real data, real numbers, and real strategies you can use this week. About Jasper Ribbers Jasper Ribbers is a former corporate equity trader turned hospitality entrepreneur, currently serving as the Co-Founder of Freewyld and the Head of Revenue Management at Freewyld Foundry. As a pioneer in short-term rental revenue optimization, he leverages his background in econometrics to actively oversee pricing strategies for over $125 million in annual bookings globally. He is widely recognized as the author of the foundational industry book Get Paid for Your Pad and host of its accompanying podcast, which has amassed nearly 2 million downloads across more than 700 episodes. Today, Jasper is dedicated to helping property operators maximize their profits through dynamic pricing routines and scale their portfolios from single-family units to commercial boutique micro-resorts. Connect with Jasper Ribbers Connect with Jasper on LinkedIn. Follow Jasper on Instagram. Visit their website, Freewyld and Freewyld Foundry. Learn how to use AI to underwrite faster, streamline operations, automate the busy work, and make better decisions. Start your 7-day free trial of the AI for CRE Collective here. Connect with Michael on Instagram or LinkedIn. Email Us at info@hotelinvestorplaybook.com Visit the Hotel Investor Playbook Instagram Invest with Malama Capital Submit a deal

    40 min
  8. What Hotel Investors Can Steal From a Land Investor Who's Done 400 Deals | Brent Bowers E73

    MAR 10

    What Hotel Investors Can Steal From a Land Investor Who's Done 400 Deals | Brent Bowers E73

    What does a land investor who's done 400+ deals have to teach hotel investors? More than you'd expect. In this episode, you'll discover how the same principles behind finding off-market sellers, creating value through entitlements, and building passive income apply directly to hospitality investing, even if you've never bought a single acre of dirt. A former Army officer turned land-investing expert joins us to break down how he built a machine that generates $44,000 a month in passive income, then intentionally tore it down to focus on fewer, higher-margin deals while working just five hours a day. In this episode, you'll discover: Why the sellers who accept below-market offers aren't desperate, they're motivated, and the distinction matters for hotel acquisitions tooThe 3-step market selection framework that identifies where deals are actually moving before you spend a dollarHow shifting from high-volume, low-margin transactions to low-volume, high-profit deals changed everythingThe infrastructure plays a role in turning raw land into turnkey assets, and why hotel developers should be paying attentionWhy scaling your team is often the problem, not the solutionThe 10 am-3 pm boundary that forced a complete redesign of a 7-figure businessIf you're serious about building a real estate portfolio that funds your lifestyle instead of consuming it, this episode will challenge how you think about time, scale, and where the real leverage is hiding. About Brent Bowers Brent Bowers is a former US Army Officer, CEO of ZechBuysHouses LLC, and the founder of The Land Sharks, a premier coaching program dedicated to helping investors build legacy wealth through vacant land. Seeking a way to spend more time with his family after multiple military deployments, Brent pivoted from traditional real estate to raw land, utilizing creative seller financing and mobile home packages to build a massive passive income machine. Having completed nearly 400 successful land deals, he now mentors aspiring entrepreneurs on how to achieve financial and lifestyle freedom without the typical headaches of tenants, toilets, or termites. Brent passionately leads his business and life based on Bob Burg’s philosophy: "Your influence is determined by how abundantly you place other people's interests first". Connect with Brent Bowers Connect with Brent on LinkedIn. Subscribe to his YouTube channel or follow him on Instagram. Visit their Website. Learn how to use AI to underwrite faster, streamline operations, automate the busy work, and make better decisions. Start your 7-day free trial of the AI for CRE Collective here. Connect with Michael on Instagram or LinkedIn. Email Us at info@hotelinvestorplaybook.com Visit the Hotel Investor Playbook Instagram Invest with Malama Capital Submit a deal

    40 min
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About

Welcome to The Hotel Investor Playbook, hosted by real estate investor and hospitality operator Michael Russell. Michael is the co-founder of Malama Capital and Howzit Hostels, and has built a personal real estate portfolio exceeding $20 million.With an operator-first mindset, Michael brings a practical perspective to hotel investing. On the show, he breaks down what it actually takes to scale from short-term rentals into boutique hotels, covering deal sourcing, operations, capital strategy, and risk.Each week, Michael shares real lessons from the field as he builds toward a $400 million real estate business, giving listeners an honest look at the decisions, challenges, and strategies behind the growth. Subscribe and follow along as he documents the journey in real time.

Information

  • Creator
    Michael Russell
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    81
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Hotel Investor Playbook
  • Show Website
    The Hotel Investor Playbook

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