Hospitality Daily Podcast

Josiah Mackenzie
  • 4.8 (43)
  • Business
  • Updated Daily

Stay informed and inspired to delight people and grow your business with daily conversations with interesting people doing interesting things. Hosted by Josiah Mackenzie.

  1. 2h ago

    The Energy of Excellence - Jeff Wielgopolan, Meadowood Napa Valley

    Jeff Wielgopolan, Service Director at Meadowood Napa Valley & The Napa Valley Reserve and former Senior Vice President of Learning & Development at Forbes Travel Guide, joins us to explore what excellence looks and feels like in hospitality.  He explains why you often sense the quality of a hospitality experience within the first minutes, and how team energy, attentiveness, and simple acts of service shape the guest experience.  You’ll hear examples from Meadowood and Raffles Warsaw, plus Jeff’s story of a bartender who remembered him five years later and why those personal connections keep guests coming back. Previous episodes with Jeff:  The Fundamentals of Service in Luxury Hospitality: Listen here  The Experience That Earned Us Michelin’s Three Key Distinction: Listen here A few more resources: If you're new to Hospitality Daily, start here. You can send me a message here with questions, comments, or guest suggestionsIf you want to get my summary and actionable insights from each episode delivered to your inbox each day, subscribe here for free.Follow Hospitality Daily and join the conversation on YouTube, LinkedIn, and Instagram.If you want to advertise on Hospitality Daily, here are the ways we can work together.If you found this episode interesting or helpful, send it to someone on your team so you can turn the ideas into action and benefit your business and the people you serve! Music for this show is produced by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

    The Energy of Excellence - Jeff Wielgopolan, Meadowood Napa Valley

  2. 14h ago

    Summer Road Trip Reflections: What Stood Out Driving Coast to Coast - Josiah Mackenzie

    This summer, Hospitality Daily founder Josiah Mackenzie did something he’d wanted to do for years: drive across the U.S. coast to coast. In this episode, he shares some of the experiences that stood out to him, what he appreciated as a guest, and how an evening gone wrong reminded him how important hospitality is. Mentioned in this episode:  evo Hotel Salt Lake City Conversation with Kevin Masse of Small State Provisions Share with Josiah what stood out to you about your travels here A few more resources: If you're new to Hospitality Daily, start here. You can send me a message here with questions, comments, or guest suggestionsIf you want to get my summary and actionable insights from each episode delivered to your inbox each day, subscribe here for free.Follow Hospitality Daily and join the conversation on YouTube, LinkedIn, and Instagram.If you want to advertise on Hospitality Daily, here are the ways we can work together.If you found this episode interesting or helpful, send it to someone on your team so you can turn the ideas into action and benefit your business and the people you serve! Music for this show is produced by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

    Summer Road Trip Reflections: What Stood Out Driving Coast to Coast - Josiah Mackenzie

  3. 4d ago

    The Hotel Investor The Wall Street Journal Spotlighted for Using AI to Listen to Guests - Drew Bridges, JMI Realty

    In this episode, Drew Bridges, principal at JMI Realty, shares the process behind one of the hotel deals the Wall Street Journal recently covered, including how he uses AI to read thousands of guest reviews and understand what is actually broken in a hotel before buying it. You’ll hear how Drew uses guest feedback to identify investment opportunities, how the same analysis showed him that the elevators at the Hilton Garden Inn Austin Downtown were a real capital problem while the air conditioning primarily needed better preventative maintenance, and how he evaluates the operator who will ultimately serve those guests. Drew also shares why JMI is focused on distressed hotels right now, where he sees opportunity in urban markets, why he believes human service will remain essential as AI advances, and how his team is already putting AI to work across hotel operations. Mentions in this show include: Avion Hospitality, Hotel Van Zandt, Hotel Indigo Nashville - The Countrypolitan, ElevenLabs, Twilio, and Claude Code. A few more resources: If you're new to Hospitality Daily, start here. You can send me a message here with questions, comments, or guest suggestionsIf you want to get my summary and actionable insights from each episode delivered to your inbox each day, subscribe here for free.Follow Hospitality Daily and join the conversation on YouTube, LinkedIn, and Instagram.If you want to advertise on Hospitality Daily, here are the ways we can work together.If you found this episode interesting or helpful, send it to someone on your team so you can turn the ideas into action and benefit your business and the people you serve! Music for this show is produced by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

    The Hotel Investor The Wall Street Journal Spotlighted for Using AI to Listen to Guests - Drew Bridges, JMI Realty

  4. Aug 15

    How to Make Hotel Wellness Practical and Profitable - Emily Johnson, Erica Huss, and Jen Veralle

    In this episode, Emily Johnson, founder of Elevate Hospitality Collective; Erica Huss, creator of All Too Well; and Jen Veralle, founder of Mindful Drinking Movement and Sauna and Sobriety, share a practical approach to hotel wellness that doesn't start with a big CapEx budget. They explore why the guest room may be the most powerful wellness facility on a property, how a thoughtful non-alcoholic beverage program can create incremental revenue, and how guided sauna and community experiences can give guests restorative ways to connect without depending on alcohol. This is a practical look at building wellness into the complete guest journey using rooms, F&B programs, existing spaces, and the knowledge already present within hotel teams. The conversation also examines how owners and operators can connect those choices to guest feedback, incremental spend, loyalty, and repeat business. Learn more about our guest experts: Elevate Hospitality CollectiveErica Huss and All Too WellJen VeralleWhy We Should Rethink Drinking Culture, Jen's TEDx talkSauna and SobrietyJen's writing about saunaRelated research and examples: RLA Global and HotStats 2026 Wellness Real Estate ReportHow a dedicated NA menu changed beverage sales at Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia A few more resources: If you're new to Hospitality Daily, start here. You can send me a message here with questions, comments, or guest suggestionsIf you want to get my summary and actionable insights from each episode delivered to your inbox each day, subscribe here for free.Follow Hospitality Daily and join the conversation on YouTube, LinkedIn, and Instagram.If you want to advertise on Hospitality Daily, here are the ways we can work together.If you found this episode interesting or helpful, send it to someone on your team so you can turn the ideas into action and benefit your business and the people you serve! Music for this show is produced by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

  5. Aug 7

    How AI Is Changing My Work and Life as a Hotel Leader - Matt Schwartz, Sage Hospitality Group

    What does AI adoption personally mean for a hospitality technology leader? In this episode, Sage Hospitality CTO Matt Schwartz explains how he is using AI to manage email, meetings, calendar demands, and other work so he can get back time for his company, family, and personal well-being. Matt also shares how he keeps building AI fluency by learning from peers inside and outside hospitality, following technology companies and industry thinkers, and making continuous learning part of his routine. Listen to our series with Matt: Part 1: The Weekend Class That Changed My CareerPart 2: How We’re Leading AI Adoption With a Human-First ApproachPart 3: Our 4-Layer AI Framework: Data, Reporting, Insights, ActionLearn more about the Destination AI Forum in Washington, DC (where Matt will be speaking) More resources: OpenAI AcademyOne Useful Thing — Ethan MollickTLDR technology newslettersDestination AI Forum in Washington, DC A few more resources: If you're new to Hospitality Daily, start here. You can send me a message here with questions, comments, or guest suggestionsIf you want to get my summary and actionable insights from each episode delivered to your inbox each day, subscribe here for free.Follow Hospitality Daily and join the conversation on YouTube, LinkedIn, and Instagram.If you want to advertise on Hospitality Daily, here are the ways we can work together.If you found this episode interesting or helpful, send it to someone on your team so you can turn the ideas into action and benefit your business and the people you serve! Music for this show is produced by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

    How AI Is Changing My Work and Life as a Hotel Leader - Matt Schwartz, Sage Hospitality Group

  6. Aug 6

    Planning for Profit: How to Budget for AI - Matt Schwartz, Sage Hospitality Group

    In this episode, Sage Hospitality CTO Matt Schwartz explains how hospitality leaders can evaluate AI investment by connecting it to expense reductions, revenue, GOP, and NOI. Listen to our series with Matt: Part 1: The Weekend Class That Changed My CareerPart 2: How We’re Leading AI Adoption With a Human-First ApproachPart 3: Our 4-Layer AI Framework: Data, Reporting, Insights, ActionLearn more about the Destination AI Forum in Washington, DC (where Matt will be speaking) More: Uber caps employee AI spending after blowing through budget in four months — TechCrunchWhere AI Actually Pays Off in Hospitality, and What Owners Should Demand — Ben RafterHow a Revenue Manager-Turned-CEO Drives Profit as Market Conditions Shift — Ben CampbellDestination AI Forum in Washington, DC A few more resources: If you're new to Hospitality Daily, start here. You can send me a message here with questions, comments, or guest suggestionsIf you want to get my summary and actionable insights from each episode delivered to your inbox each day, subscribe here for free.Follow Hospitality Daily and join the conversation on YouTube, LinkedIn, and Instagram.If you want to advertise on Hospitality Daily, here are the ways we can work together.If you found this episode interesting or helpful, send it to someone on your team so you can turn the ideas into action and benefit your business and the people you serve! Music for this show is produced by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

    Planning for Profit: How to Budget for AI - Matt Schwartz, Sage Hospitality Group

  7. Aug 5

    How We Choose Technology Partners in the AI Era - Matt Schwartz, Sage Hospitality Group

    Every technology partnership is a bet, especially when AI is changing what software can do and which providers may remain relevant. In this episode, Sage Hospitality CTO Matt Schwartz explains how he evaluates hotel technology partners -- and who he chooses to work with. Listen to the series: Part 1: The Weekend Class That Changed My CareerPart 2: How We’re Leading AI Adoption With a Human-First ApproachPart 3: Our 4-Layer AI Framework: Data, Reporting, Insights, ActionLearn more: The Bitter Lesson versus The Garbage Can — Ethan MollickSage Hospitality’s CTO on Infusing AI Into the Hotel Tech Stack — Hotel Tech InsiderHow To Get Better Results From Technology — Mark FancourtDestination AI Forum in Washington, DC A few more resources: If you're new to Hospitality Daily, start here. You can send me a message here with questions, comments, or guest suggestionsIf you want to get my summary and actionable insights from each episode delivered to your inbox each day, subscribe here for free.Follow Hospitality Daily and join the conversation on YouTube, LinkedIn, and Instagram.If you want to advertise on Hospitality Daily, here are the ways we can work together.If you found this episode interesting or helpful, send it to someone on your team so you can turn the ideas into action and benefit your business and the people you serve! Music for this show is produced by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

    How We Choose Technology Partners in the AI Era - Matt Schwartz, Sage Hospitality Group

  8. Aug 4

    Our 4-Layer AI Framework: Data, Reporting, Insights, Action - Matt Schwartz, Sage Hospitality Group

    Sage Hospitality CTO Matt Schwartz shares the four-layer framework guiding the company's AI strategy: data, reporting, insights, and action. He explains why hotel data must be brought together and normalized before AI can produce useful analysis or support operational decisions. The framework moves from a reliable data foundation toward a future in which AI agents can take action, with the ultimate goal of giving property teams more time with guests and their other associates. Listen to the series with Matt: Episode 1: The Weekend Class That Changed My CareerEpisode 2: How We’re Leading AI Adoption With a Human-First ApproachLearn more: Read Ethan Mollick’s essay, The Bitter Lesson versus The Garbage CanSee how Actabl approaches hotel data normalizationLearn more about the Destination AI Forum in Washington, DC where Matt is speakingMore on hotel data and AI with Actabl: Why Actabl’s Approach to Hotel Data Earned a Patent and Prepares Hotels for AIHow Hotel Companies Turn AI Into Competitive AdvantageHow Innovative Hotel Companies Are Building Better AI Through Forward-Deployed Engineering A few more resources: If you're new to Hospitality Daily, start here. You can send me a message here with questions, comments, or guest suggestionsIf you want to get my summary and actionable insights from each episode delivered to your inbox each day, subscribe here for free.Follow Hospitality Daily and join the conversation on YouTube, LinkedIn, and Instagram.If you want to advertise on Hospitality Daily, here are the ways we can work together.If you found this episode interesting or helpful, send it to someone on your team so you can turn the ideas into action and benefit your business and the people you serve! Music for this show is produced by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

    Our 4-Layer AI Framework: Data, Reporting, Insights, Action - Matt Schwartz, Sage Hospitality Group
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4.8
out of 5
43 Ratings

About

Stay informed and inspired to delight people and grow your business with daily conversations with interesting people doing interesting things. Hosted by Josiah Mackenzie.

Information

  • Creator
    Josiah Mackenzie
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    1.3K
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Hospitality Daily Podcast
  • Show Website
    Hospitality Daily Podcast

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