Hospitality Leaders - Interviews with hotel, event, and food service experts
76 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 1 year ago -On the Hospitality Leaders Podcast, we bring you insightful conversations with leaders in the hotel, casino, attraction, food service, and event industries.
We discuss the state of the industry today, and look at trends that show the direction the industry is heading in the future.
Subscribe and be sure to check out our website for more resources at HospitalityLeadersPodcast.com
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Episodes
Hiring for Culture with Kristine Goodwin, General Manager at Hyatt Place
May 31, 2022 17:12 - 23 minutes - 32.4 MBOn this episode of the Hospitality Leaders podcast, I welcome Kristine Goodwin, General Manager at Hyatt Place. Working in a hotel can involve a lot of hard work and long hours. It can be easy to let that amount of labor drag staff morale down. Kristine knows that as well as anyone because she started out on the front desk of a hotel. That’s why she’s so intentional about creating an uplifting and encouraging company culture. The kind of lighthearted joking and silly games that Kristine ha...
Building for the Future with Ryan Klaasen of El Dorado Cantina and Smoke & Fire Restaurant
May 23, 2022 04:05 - 22 minutes - 31.1 MBOn this episode of the Hospitality Leaders podcast, I’m joined by Ryan Klaasen, Chief Operating Officer at El Dorado Cantina and Co-Founder of Smoke & Fire Restaurant. While Ryan is certainly proud of the work he’s done to build both of the businesses he’s a part of, he also knows that he can’t be in charge forever. To maintain success in the long term, Ryan has to build up a future generation of leaders that can continue the work he has started. This mindset leads Ryan to constantly look ...
Connecting with Your Community with Siobhan Steiermann of Las Vegas Ballpark
May 16, 2022 04:17 - 24 minutes - 33.1 MBOn this episode of the Hospitality Leaders podcast, I’m joined by Siobhan Steiermann, Vice President of Ticket Operations at Las Vegas Ballpark, to hear some of the ways she connects with the community both inside and outside of her organization. The last two years have made many feel disconnected. Isolation and solitude have made meaningful interaction and community all the more important, especially in the workplace. Siobhan and her team make an effort to engage each other, and the commun...
Building Longevity with Chuck Johnson of the Las Vegas Aviators Baseball Team
May 09, 2022 07:29 - 23 minutes - 32 MBOn this episode of the Hospitality Leaders podcast, I’m joined by Chuck Johnson, General Manager of the Las Vegas Aviators Baseball Team. Besides a brief stint working behind the scenes in an unofficial capacity, Chuck has been a part of the Aviators team for nearly 30 years. Many of his colleagues in leadership positions have served for similarly long tenures; the longevity of the team has allowed Chuck and his peers to cultivate a culture and a consistency in their work environment that f...
Changing the Narrative with Jeff Keeley of InterContinental Kansas City at The Plaza
May 02, 2022 05:08 - 24 minutes - 33.2 MBOn this episode of the Hospitality Leaders podcast, I had the opportunity to speak with Jeff Keeley, General Manager at InterContinental Kansas City at The Plaza, about some of the ways he’s trying to change the popular perception of the hospitality industry. In days past, there was a stigma of immobility with hospitality jobs, especially hotel positions. Being a dishwasher or a hotel receptionist was thought of as a final destination and there was no ladder to climb if you found yourself i...
Cultivating Creativity with Joshua Abelson of The Industrial Event Space
April 21, 2022 08:58 - 22 minutes - 30.6 MBOn this episode of the Hospitality Leaders podcast, I’m joined by Joshua Abelson, Co-Owner and General Manager of The Industrial Event Space. Joshua’s business is defined by its creativity. The Industrial Event Space works with clients to create truly unique events for each and every customer. That embedded creativity allowed Joshua to adapt well to Covid-19, putting on non-traditional events that let customers continue to gather and enjoy an entertainment experience in a safe and accessibl...
Hospitality and the Digital Experience with Kimberly Beaudin of the Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame
April 13, 2022 11:34 - 26 minutes - 24.6 MBOn this episode of the Hospitality Leaders podcast, I’m joined by Kimberly Beaudin, CEO at the Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame, to hear her perspective on the increasing role of technology in the hospitality industry. The College Football Hall of Fame is steeped in the latest technology available, from RFID systems to an immersive virtual reality exhibit. These systems allow Kimberly and her team to personalize the guest experience to an utterly astounding degree. This personaliza...
Hiring Awesome! with Brett Batterson of Orpheum Theatre Group
April 08, 2022 20:10 - 21 minutes - 29.5 MBOn this episode of the Hospitality Leaders podcast, I’m joined by Brett Batterson, President and CEO of the Orpheum Theatre Group. Throughout the show, we hear some of the ways he’s responded creatively to the adversity facing the hospitality industry these last few years. As performing arts venues, the theaters Brett manages faced some of the toughest challenges of the pandemic. Whereas many businesses were able to make minor adjustments to their practices in order to continue operating as...
Being an Authentic and Purposeful Leader with Abigail Poklar of COSI
March 14, 2022 21:36 - 26 minutes - 37 MBOn this episode of the Hospitality Leaders podcast, Abigail Poklar, Chief Development Officer at COSI, opens up about her authentic leadership style. COSI is a science and technology center with a clearly defined mission. They engage and transform their local community through education. That mission defines a core set of values that Abigail attempts to live by, but that she also tries to instill in her team. It’s a culture shaped by the values of the organization, and by the way those valu...
Leadership in an Evolving Culture with Anthony Santiago of China Grill Management
March 09, 2022 10:00 - 31 minutes - 42.8 MBOn this episode of the Hospitality Leaders podcast, I’m joined by Anthony Santiago, Director of Operations at China Grill Management, to discuss some of the cultural shifts in the hospitality industry. While it may seem as though the Covid pandemic was the beginning of a new way of doing business, Anthony says that this is not the case. In reality, changes in restaurant culture had been a long time coming. Covid simply highlighted many of the issues that had existed all along. The initial ...
Focusing on Communication and Celebration with Melissa Kaiser of DISCOVERY Children's Museum
March 01, 2022 10:00 - 23 minutes - 32.9 MBOn this episode of the Hospitality Leaders podcast, I’m joined by Melissa Kaiser, CEO of DISCOVERY Children’s Museum, to discuss the unique challenges faced by an organization that primarily caters to children. DISCOVERY Children’s Museum is located in Las Vegas, Nevada, and Melissa’s team channels the performative culture of the city in all their interactions with their guests. It can be a fun and rewarding environment, but also an exhausting one. In this kind of workspace, communicating ...
The Power of Informal Communication with Tom Gallagher of Columbus Country Club
February 21, 2022 05:00 - 23 minutes - 31.7 MBOn this episode of the Hospitality Leaders podcast, I’m joined by Tom Gallagher, General Manager at Columbus Country Club. We discuss the ways Tom’s style of communication strengthens his team. Contrary to much of the hospitality industry, Columbus Country Club became a haven of sorts for guests during the Covid-19 pandemic. This was due largely to the commitment shown by Tom’s team to enhance their guests’ experience. Tom has cultivated a work environment where his team is passionate abou...
Employee-Driven Culture with Bradd O'Brien of Howl at the Moon
February 07, 2022 05:00 - 20 minutes - 28.1 MBOn this episode of the Hospitality Leaders podcast, I’m joined by Bradd O’Brien, President of Howl at the Moon, an entertainment bar specializing in live musical performances. Howl at the Moon has locations in major cities all across the country as well as a partnership with Norwegian Cruise Line. Despite their status as an industry giant, Bradd and his partner, Jimmy, have maintained a familial culture within their business. From small personal touches, like getting to know his staff perso...
Leading by Example with Jeff Crabiel of The Westin Nashville / Bobby Hotel
January 31, 2022 16:18 - 23 minutes - 32.9 MBOn this episode of the Hospitality Leaders podcast, I’m joined for an inspiring conversation with Jeff Crabiel, Area General Manager at The Westin Nashville / Bobby Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee. Jeff began his hospitality journey in his hometown of Kalamazoo, Michigan, and he quickly moved to Orlando to learn what it was like to work in big resorts and how to run large, full-service resort properties. In 2012 he moved to Nashville, which led to the position he holds today. Jeff is facing ...
Being an Employee-Centric Organization with Kent Johnson of Baltimore Country Club
January 24, 2022 21:10 - 24 minutes - 33.4 MBOn this episode of the Hospitality Leaders podcast, I’m joined by Kent Johnson, General Manager/COO of Baltimore Country Club, for an inspiring conversation about his employee-centric organization. Listening to this conversation makes it clear why the BCC is regularly found on “Best Places to Work” lists year after year. When Covid hit, the leadership team was unsure of the future like everyone else. There was a state-mandated shut down on March 16, and Kent and his team implemented their f...
Fishing in a Different Pond with Ramon Reyes of the Omni Atlanta Hotel
January 20, 2022 17:25 - 30 minutes - 41.4 MBOn this episode of the Hospitality Leaders podcast, I’m joined by Ramon Reyes, General Manager at Omni Atlanta Hotel. Ramon has an infectious spirit when it comes to talking about the hospitality industry, and he brings over 25 years of experience to the conversation. Ramon talks at length about the staffing challenges that everyone in the industry is facing these days. He makes an interesting point that people are leaving the industry for different reasons, and instead of complaining about...
Mission Driven Creativity with Dr. Jeremy Goodman of Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium
January 09, 2022 17:00 - 20 minutes - 18.8 MBOn this episode of the Hospitality Leaders podcast, I’m joined by Dr. Jeremy Goodman, President & CEO at Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium. Jeremy is one of the few people who is literally living his childhood dream of wanting to run a zoo. He was an animal sciences major in veterinary school, and worked his way up from small zoos to his current position in Pittsburgh. Like everyone, the onset of the pandemic was scary for Jeremy and his team. Unlike many other businesses, they couldn’t keep t...
Empowering a Team to Fuel Growth with Roger Igo of the Bell Tower Group
January 03, 2022 16:42 - 22 minutes - 31.3 MBOn this episode of the Hospitality Leaders podcast, I’m joined by Roger Igo, President and CEO at the Bell Tower Group in Houston, Texas. The Bell Tower on 34th is the region’s leading venue for hosting weddings and other special events. The company has several other online properties, including a search engine for other venues in the Houston area, a catering brand, and a charity called Keep on Going that raises money for Alzheimer’s research. Roger reports that wedding bookings have rebou...
Helping Leaders Grow with Bruce Harkey of Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
December 21, 2021 18:41 - 22 minutes - 31.3 MBOn this episode of the Hospitality Leaders podcast, I’m joined by Bruce Harkey, president and CEO at Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, a botanical landmark and cultural attraction in Columbus, Ohio. It features exceptional plant collections and gardens, seasonal exhibitions, and an array of educational opportunities for visitors of all ages. Bruce started work at a greenhouse at age 15 and went on to get a horticulture degree as well as a business degree. He landed a job wit...
Building Resilience in Your Team with Leah Rossi of Wyndham Destinations
November 14, 2021 17:00 - 22 minutes - 30.4 MBOn this episode of the Hospitality Leaders podcast, Leah Rossi, assistant general manager at Wyndham Destinations in Austin, Texas, joins me to talk about her career in the hospitality industry and how she values the human element when it comes to dealing with her team members. She also shares a fascinating story about resilience, which involves two hurricanes ten days apart, among other challenges. Like everyone in the industry, Leah is facing challenges with staffing when it comes to ramp...
Finding and Keeping Top Leadership Talent with Mike Hogan of Marriott
November 08, 2021 17:00 - 23 minutes - 31.9 MBOn this episode of the Hospitality Leaders podcast, Mike Hogan, general manager at Cincinnati Marriott Northeast, joins me to talk about his career in the hospitality industry, the effect the pandemic has had on business, and his philosophy on finding, hiring, and retaining top talent. Mike has been in the industry for more than 25 years, working in several different markets. Several years ago he wound up in Cincinnati and has stayed there to raise his family. He currently works at two dist...
Developing Talent in Your Community with Juan Fernandez of 21c Museum Hotels
October 25, 2021 17:00 - 39 minutes - 54.1 MBOn this episode of the Hospitality Leaders podcast, Juan Fernandez, general manager of 21c Nashville Museum hotel, joins me to talk about his lifelong career in the hospitality industry. Juan’s career started when he was a boy. Growing up in Milwaukee, his family ran restaurants and bars, and he would go into work to help out however he could. He got into the Hilton manager training program while he was still in college, and was elevated to his first GM job at the age of 25. When I ask Jua...
Creating Memorable Guest Experiences with Leah Fields-Nester of Hyatt House
October 18, 2021 06:00 - 26 minutes - 36.1 MBOn this episode of the Hospitality Leaders podcast, host Chris Cano is joined by Leah Fields-Nester, Assistant General Manager at Hyatt House Charlotte/Center City. A second-generation hotelier, Leah has worked in a few different cities but has spent her entire career with the same company, which is unusual in the hospitality industry. She started as a night auditor and worked her way up the ranks to her current position as AGM at Hyatt House in Charlotte. Leah has an infectious enthusiasm...
Developing Great Leaders with Jelle Vandenbroucke of JW Marriott Houston
October 17, 2021 17:00 - 25 minutes - 34.7 MBOn this episode of the Hospitality Leaders podcast, host Chris Cano welcomes Jelle Vandenbroucke, General Manager at JW Marriott Houston Downtown, to talk about his career path and his philosophy on leadership development of his managers and staff. Born in Belgium, Jelle took an early interest in cooking, and enrolled in culinary school at the age of 15. After graduation, he worked in several kitchens in the US, UK, Dubai, and France, all in a luxury setting. Always wanting to grow, he expl...
A Passion for the Craft with Chef Scott Craig of Myers Park Country Club
October 08, 2021 04:00 - 32 minutes - 44.9 MBOn this episode of the Hospitality Leaders podcast, host Chris Cano welcomes Chef Scott Craig, Director of Culinary Operations, Myers Park Country Club in Charlotte, North Carolina. Chef Scott talks about his background, which didn’t include culinary school. He caught the cooking bug while studying for a psychology degree in college at Virginia Tech, and he began his career as an apprentice at the Baltimore Country Club. Chef Scott has always seen value in culinary competitions, and he cre...
Welcome to the Hospitality Leaders Podcast
September 08, 2021 11:56 - 3 minutes - 4.54 MBWelcome to the Hospitality Leaders podcast with host Chris Cano. Each episode of the podcast will feature insightful conversations with leaders in the hospitality, event, and food service industries. Chris has spent more than 20 years in the hospitality industry, and almost every leader he has met has told him at some point that they “could write a book” on the bizarre encounters they’ve had with guests or team members. Those books never seem to materialize. Instead, books on the industry w...