The ROI Masterclass

Liat Siegel
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Investing
  • Updated Semiweekly

Welcome back to another episode of the ROI masterclass podcast, where we talk about building abundance and growing our businesses in real estate.

  1. 4d ago

    Most Hotel Renovations Aren't ROI — They're Erosion

    The operators we interview every week are in this room. Come join Sold Out Stays for free skool.com/soldoutstays/about —————— Hotel ROI isn't what most owners think it is and Michael Blank has spent a career proving it. Michael Blank is a hotel investor and operator based in DC who has worked across operations, hospitality consulting, banking, and ownership at two public companies before starting his own shop with a partner. In this episode of ROI Masterclass, he breaks down why most renovations are avoiding erosion rather than generating return, why RevPAR is the easiest and weakest benchmark to chase, and what he learned touring dirty rooms instead of clean ones. He explains the operational math behind bunk beds, the mountain bike lockers that captured demand in a cookie-cutter Northwest Arkansas hotel, the Florida economy hotel with no brand and no visibility that runs 80% occupancy on a 4.8 rating, and the four things every hotel has to get right before anything else: a great bed, strong warm water pressure, good Wi-Fi, and a clean room. Michael also makes the case that hospitality is designing for image instead of function and that guests don't get a voice until it's too late. Connect with Michael: michael@woodmottlodging.com (please confirm spelling before publishing) #HadarInteriors #ROIMasterclass #HotelInvesting #DesignForROI #RevenueLeak #DeadMoney #HospitalityROI

  2. 6d ago

    The Design Detail Housekeeping Will Never Forgive

    The operators we interview every week are in this room. Come join Sold Out Stays for free skool.com/soldoutstays/about —————— A $500 hotel room can land on the bill at $700 — and April Cheng says the service better be worth $700. In this episode of ROI Masterclass, host Liat Siegel of Hadar Interiors sits down with April Cheng, founder of Travel Chic World, joining from Hawaii. April built her agency on personalized, relationship-driven travel planning after starting at a hotel front desk out of college, moving through account sales at the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, and running the convenience store and retail division for the Sullivan Family of Companies in district management and HR. She breaks down what actually makes a property bookable — cleanliness, layout, furniture, and whether the design matches the guest's personality — and why she only books properties rated three stars or higher with vetted reviews or personal experience. She explains why decor has to meet practicality, from hiding an outlet inside the design to making sure nobody trips over a styling piece. She makes the case that every front-facing employee, down to the valet and bell desk, should be trained on why the property chose its colors, its furniture, and its brand aesthetic — because that knowledge sells rooms. She also shares the amenity shifts she's tracking: kitchens and condo-style accommodations, free breakfast that can be worth more than $100 a day at a high-end property, resort credits, spa and wellness demand, and balcony requests driven by a post-COVID appetite for fresh air. For anyone building or buying, her advice is to be on the ground — walk the blocks, meet the neighborhood, and design something true to the area. ⏱️ Topics covered: front desk lessons, customer service as differentiation, rebuilding after losing all sales in 2020, hotel design and layout as booking criteria, staff training on brand aesthetics, housekeeping feedback and turnover time, amenity trends, aloha spirit, and milestone-driven client relationships. #ROIMasterclass #HadarInteriors #HotelDesign #HospitalityBusiness #DesignForROI

  3. Aug 11

    The CapEx Mistake That's Killing Multifamily Returns Right Now

    The operators we interview every week are in this room. Come join Sold Out Stays for free skool.com/dealmakers —————— Most operators are still renovating like it's 2021. Steeve Breton says that might be the single biggest mistake you can make in this market. Steeve Breton, President of Velocity Capital, has invested over $500 million in multifamily assets since launching in 2017 — and he's watched this market get brutally tight in real time. In this episode, Steeve breaks down exactly how operators are surviving high interest rates, why he paused most CapEx spending across his portfolio, how he's using preferred equity to protect investor capital, and what the $1.5 trillion in upcoming commercial loan maturities means for everyone holding real estate right now. He also unpacks the opportunity zone strategy that lets investors defer taxes, pull out their original principal, and reset their portfolio — and why networking is the only real edge left in finding off-market deals. If you own, operate, or invest in real estate, this is required listening before your next capital decision. Guest: Steeve Breton Linkedin: Steeve Breton #RealEstateInvesting #MultifamilyInvesting #CapEx #PreferredEquity #OpportunityZones #RealEstatePodcast #HadarInteriors #VelocityCapital #MarketCycles #WealthBuilding #PassiveIncome #RealEstateSyndication #1031Exchange #PropertyManagement #ValueAdd

  4. Aug 4

    How one conversation resulted in 400K annual increase for this Airbnb Owner

    What if a single design change to your Airbnb could generate $400,000 in additional projected revenue? That's exactly what happened for commercial real estate investor and fund manager Cherif Medawar — after one conversation about aesthetics changed how he saw his entire portfolio. About This Episode: In this episode of the ROI Masterclass, Liat Siegel sits down with Cherif Medawar, commercial real estate investor, fund manager, author, educator, and the largest owner of historic properties in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, with over 30 years of experience building, acquiring, and transforming real estate across residential, retail, mixed-use, hospitality, and commercial asset classes. Cherif shares the defining philosophy behind his career: the money isn't in the property, it's in the structure. From his early days working at the Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles to becoming the right-hand man to a billionaire at just 21 years old, to building a $100M real estate fund, Cherif breaks down the exact frameworks he uses to assess risk, structure deals, and scale businesses without losing himself in the process. Key Topics Covered: The 6-part risk mitigation framework Cherif uses on every investment (safety, cash flow vs. cash out, liquidity, reserves, plan B/C/D, and diversification) How a $70,000 aesthetic investment in Puerto Rico Airbnb units is projected to generate $400,000 in additional annual revenue The three stages of wealth: working for money, working the money, and letting the money work for you How to buy vacant single-tenant commercial buildings and convert them into cash-flowing or cash-out plays The strategy-structure-system-automation-scale-sustainability framework for building a business you can sell or pass on Why your guest reviews are your best punch list — and how Cherif used complaints to 10x his 14-room hotel's revenue before selling it The Airbnb algorithm insight most operators don't know: higher-pixel cameras result in immediate higher ranking Connect with Cherif Medawar: 🌐 cmrei.com 📺 YouTube: Search "Cherif Medawar" (3,500+ videos) -------- The operators we interview every week are in this room. Come join us. Link in bio. #RealEstateInvesting #CommercialRealEstate #AirbnbStrategy #RealEstateFund #STRoperator #BoutiqueHotel #ROI #WealthBuilding #Entrepreneurship #RealEstatePodcast #CherifMedawar #ROIMasterclassWhat if a single design change to your Airbnb could generate $400,000 in additional projected revenue? That's exactly what happened for commercial real estate investor and fund manager Cherif Medawar — after one conversation about aesthetics changed how he saw his entire portfolio. About This Episode: In this episode of the ROI Masterclass, Liat Siegel sits down with Cherif Medawar, commercial real estate investor, fund manager, author, educator, and the largest owner of historic properties in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, with over 30 years of experience building, acquiring, and transforming real estate across residential, retail, mixed-use, hospitality, and commercial asset classes. Cherif shares the defining philosophy behind his career: the money isn't in the property, it's in the structure. From his early days working at the Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles to becoming the right-hand man to a billionaire at just 21 years old, to building a $100M real estate fund, Cherif breaks down the exact frameworks he uses to assess risk, structure deals, and scale businesses without losing himself in the process. Key Topics Covered: The 6-part risk mitigation framework Cherif uses on every investment (safety, cash flow vs. cash out, liquidity, reserves, plan B/C/D, and diversification) How a $70,000 aesthetic investment in Puerto Rico Airbnb units is projected to generate $400,000 in additional annual revenue The three stages of wealth: working for money, working the money, and letting the money work for you How to buy vacant single-tenant commercial buildings and convert them into cash-flowing or cash-out plays The strategy-structure-system-automation-scale-sustainability framework for building a business you can sell or pass on Why your guest reviews are your best punch list — and how Cherif used complaints to 10x his 14-room hotel's revenue before selling it The Airbnb algorithm insight most operators don't know: higher-pixel cameras result in immediate higher ranking Connect with Cherif Medawar: 🌐 cmrei.com 📺 YouTube: Search "Cherif Medawar" (3,500+ videos) -------- The operators we interview every week are in this room. Come join us. Link in bio. #RealEstateInvesting #CommercialRealEstate #AirbnbStrategy #RealEstateFund #STRoperator #BoutiqueHotel #ROI #WealthBuilding #Entrepreneurship #RealEstatePodcast #CherifMedawar #ROIMasterclass

  5. Jul 28

    Your Hotel's Slow Death Starts the Day You Skip the Renovation

    Why Skipping Your Hotel Renovation Is a Slow Death — And What to Do Instead | Tommy Beyer With over 20 years in hospitality from valet at a four-diamond resort to VP of Operations overseeing 15–20 hotels and co-founding a private REIT. Tommy Beyer has seen exactly what separates hotels that thrive from those that quietly fall apart. In this episode, Tommy breaks down the costly mistakes hotel owners make when they defer renovations, cut corners on PIPs, or piecemeal their CapEx spend. He explains why good general managers will eventually walk away from properties that aren't being maintained, why the brand on your building matters less than people think, and how to renovate smarter — not just bigger. Tommy also gets into flag changes, franchise negotiations, new build vs. existing acquisitions, and what it really takes to drive rate above your comp set rather than just catching up to it. What you'll learn: Why deferred maintenance becomes a "death throttle" for hotel revenue How to time a flag change strategically around your renovation cycle Why piecemeal renovations cost more and deliver less The one thing that drives owners to finally do the PIP How to hire the right team before the first dollar is spent What it takes to push rate above the competition not just match it Connect with Tommy: 🌐 bhospitalityadvisors.com 🔗 LinkedIn: Tommy Beyer #HotelInvesting #HospitalityROI #AssetManagement #HotelRenovation #BoutiqueHotel #RealEstateInvesting #STR #HotelOperations #CapExStrategy #ROIMasterclass

  6. Jul 23

    The Co-Working Space That Fills Itself — Fully Booked in 6 Months!

    What if your space was so well-designed that it closed deals before you even opened your mouth? Mauricio Ruiz, founder of Worked Up, a co-working space in New Jersey, built exactly that. After launching 20+ businesses across industries including signage, branding, and hospitality, Mauricio identified a massive gap in his local market: co-working spaces that were either boring white boxes or inaccessible city locations. So he built something intentional, elevated, and different — and filled it to near-capacity within six months. In this episode of the ROI Masterclass, Liat Siegel sits down with Mauricio for the show's very first in-person recording to unpack: How entrepreneurial instincts started at age 9 in Peru — selling fireworks, running backyard movie nights, and stocking beer and cigarettes for family parties Why environment and aesthetics aren't just "nice to have" — they directly drive occupancy, retention, and word-of-mouth How a TikTok video he never planned went viral locally and converted viewers into paying members The construction lessons he learned the hard way as a first-time GC — and what he'd do differently Why he believes design is one of the single most undervalued investments in any business His 3-point framework for anyone building a co-working space or experience-driven business The long-term vision: 3–5 locations, potential franchising, and eventually a private equity firm focused on helping entrepreneurs grow Mauricio's story is one of grit, intentionality, and the relentless belief that spaces shape the people inside of them. —————— Join the Deal Makers Community — start your free trial today at stan.store/hadar #coworking #entrepreneurship #realestateinvesting #ROI #designmatters #workspacedesign #businessgrowth #smallbusiness #boutiquehospitality #communitybuilding #startupstory #worklifebalance

  7. Jul 21

    The Golden Age of Multifamily Is Over — Now What

    The Golden Age of Multifamily Is Over — Now What A $5 million equity raise is actually harder to close than a $20 million one. Capital broker Sitta Dumbuya breaks down exactly why and what sponsors need to know to get their deals funded in today's market. With a background in engineering and years of hands-on experience in multifamily acquisitions, operations, and now capital strategy, Sitta Dumbuya brings a rare, grounded perspective to the financing side of real estate. In this episode, Sitta unpacks why the post-2022 capital markets have fundamentally changed the game for sponsors, what institutional equity partners are actually looking for before they issue a term sheet, and why most sponsors are approaching capital the wrong way. Key Takeaways: → Why interest rate increases created a persistent spread between buyers and sellers — and how it's reshaping deal flow → The shift from high-leverage bridge debt to lower-leverage, fundamentals-driven underwriting → Why institutional capital wants to "bet on the jockey, not the horse" — and what that means for your track record → How to tell the story that moves a deal from spreadsheet to signed term sheet → Why raising $5M in equity is harder than raising $20M — and how institutional check sizes drive that dynamic → The incentive misalignment problem with third-party property management — and what to do about it → Sitta's 3-part capital-raising framework: storytelling, information discipline, and tailored ask 🔗 Work with us: stan.store/hadar #RealEstateInvesting #CapitalRaising #MultifamilyInvesting #RealEstatePodcast #HadarInteriors #CommercialRealEstate #STR #BoutiqueHotel #PassiveIncome #RealEstateDevelopment #PropertyManagement #ROI #Entrepreneurship

  8. Jul 17

    104 Rejections Later How a Stay at Home Mom Built Jersey City’s Most Unique Coworking Space

    104 Rejections Later How a Stay at Home Mom Built Jersey City’s Most Unique Coworking Space She heard "no" from 104 landlords before a single one said yes. Eight days after opening Narra Collective, she was in the operating room with a ruptured appendix and she still built the space to 100 members, 100% private suite occupancy, and an 18-person waitlist. In this episode of the ROI Masterclass, Sheila breaks down how she stacked revenue streams across private suites, event space memberships, hot desks, and after-school programming and how she achieved a 70% tour-to-member conversion rate with a team of four. She also gets real about knowing your numbers, when to pivot, and why community is the product. 🔗 Work with us: stan.store/hadar 📍 Learn more about Narra: joinnara.com 📧 hello@joinnara.com #DesignForROI #STRDesign #BoutiqueHotel #HospitalityDesign #RealEstateInvesting

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About

Welcome back to another episode of the ROI masterclass podcast, where we talk about building abundance and growing our businesses in real estate.

Information

  • Creator
    Liat Siegel
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    73
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Liat Siegel
  • Show Website
    The ROI Masterclass