Podcast
Hospitality Daily Podcast
Hosted by Josiah Mackenzie · EN
Stay informed and inspired to delight people and grow your business with daily conversations with interesting people doing interesting things. Hosted by Josiah Mackenzie.
23episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
How We Choose Technology Partners in the AI Era - Matt Schwartz, Sage Hospitality Group
1w ago00:09:02Tap to summarizeEvery 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
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Our 4-Layer AI Framework: Data, Reporting, Insights, Action - Matt Schwartz, Sage Hospitality Group
1w ago00:10:31Tap to summarizeSage 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
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How We're Leading AI Adoption With a Human-First Approach - Matt Schwartz, Sage Hospitality Group
1w ago00:18:28Tap to summarizeGiving people access to AI does not guarantee that they will use it or that your organization will benefit. Sage Hospitality CTO Matt Schwartz explains why he sees AI adoption as a change-management challenge and walks through how he and his team are helping both on-property and home-office leaders build AI fluency.Matt also shares how Sage measures progress toward its adoption goals, addresses fear and resistance to AI, and focuses its AI initiatives on a human-first goal: helping their people spend less time in front of screens and more time with guests and their teams.Links:Connect with Matt Schwartz on LinkedInLearn more about Sage HospitalityBuild your AI fluency with OpenAI AcademyLearn more about ChatGPT EnterpriseLearn more about the Destination AI Forum in Washington, DC (where Matt will be speaking)Other episodes you may enjoy:AI & Hotel Tech Bets for a People-First Approach with Dina BelonWhy Hotels Buy Technology but Still Struggle to Get Results with Mark Fancourt 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
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The Weekend Class That Changed My Career - Matt Schwartz, Sage Hospitality Group
2w ago00:09:46Tap to summarizeBefore Matt Schwartz became Chief Technology Officer at Sage Hospitality, a weekend HTML class changed the trajectory of his career. In the first episode of our six-part series with him, Matt shares how that unexpected experience led him from environmental economics into technology and ultimately hospitality technology leadership.Learn more about the Destination AI Forum in Washington, DC (where Matt will be speaking)Want more?Learn more about Sage HospitalityListen to Matt discuss bringing AI into the hotel technology stack on Hotel Tech Insider [Podcast]Podcast episodes with Sage founder Walter Isenberg: The Letter That Turned a Young Dishwasher into a Hospitality LeaderThe Dana Crawford Playbook 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
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A Brand Builder Turned Baker on Building Community - Kevin Masse
2w ago00:22:30Tap to summarizeKevin Masse is the founder and owner of Small State Provisions (IG: @SmallState), a Connecticut bakery and café built around one simple idea: create a place where people want to gather. In this conversation, Kevin shares how a career in marketing, advertising, and food media shaped his approach to hospitality, why thoughtful design and local sourcing matter, and how he's navigating the transition from hands-on baker to visionary leader as the business grows. Listen to hear practical insights on building community, creating memorable guest experiences, and scaling without losing what makes a business special. 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
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FDEs: How Innovative Hotel Companies Are Building Better AI - Joseph McGroarty, Actabl [Sponsor Bonus]
2w ago00:16:51Tap to summarizeIn this sponsor bonus episode, Joseph McGroarty of Actabl shares what he learned working on site with a hotel company in the Forward Deployed Engineering model. He explains how observation and careful listening revealed the language, workflows, and operating knowledge needed to build AI around how hotel teams work and make decisions. You'll also hear how Actabl's Altitude product provides verified answers about hotel and portfolio performance, and why co-creation between hotel companies and technology providers helps move AI from a promising product to technology that defends a company's differentiators and drives real value. You may also enjoy:How Hotel Companies Turn AI Into Competitive Advantage - Steven Moore and Joseph Benjamin explain Actabl’s Forward Deployed Engineering model and how hotel companies move from AI experimentation to business outcomes.Why Our Approach to Hotel Data Earned a Patent and Prepares Hotels for AI - Joseph McGroarty, Clark Brayton, and Pritesh Patel explain Actabl’s normalized hotel data layer and how AI relies on a strong data foundation.AI That Works for Hotel Leaders Is Finally Here - Stephen German shares how Actabl built Altitude to let hotel leaders ask questions about business performance and receive verified answers they can trust. 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
Transcribe →Great Guest Experiences Start With Employee Wellbeing - Emily Johnson, Joli Barfield, and Kristi Ellingsworth
2w ago00:40:57Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Emily Johnson, the Founder and CEO of Elevate Hospitality Collective, brings together Joli Barfield, Corporate Director of Human Resources, and Kristi Ellingsworth, Director of Hospitality, both at Dartcor Enterprises, to explore why great guest experiences begin long before a guest arrives.Drawing on experience across hotels, restaurants, HR and operations, they explain why employee wellbeing is more than a benefits program. It's a leadership and operational practice that shapes everything that matters in hospitality. You'll hear why so many guest-facing wellness initiatives fall short, how Dartcor is building employee wellbeing into daily operations, and practical ideas leaders can apply through manager development, pre-shift meetings, and simple tools for handling pressure on the ground.If you're looking to build stronger teams, reduce burnout, and create better guest -- and employee -- experiences, this conversation offers a practical framework for where to start.Learn more:Why the guest experience breaks before reaching the guest, and how to fix it (Emily Johnson in HOTELS Magazine)Nervous System Regulation in Hospitality: A Commercial Playbook for HoteliersThe Yield of Calm: The ROI of Mental Health in HospitalityElevate Hospitality Collective on SubstackBLS JOLTS quits rates by industry 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
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What I'm Learning From AI Companies as a Hotel Leader - Christina Poon, Detroit EDITION
3w ago00:06:44Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Christina Poon, the General Manager at the Detroit EDITION, shares what watching AI companies can teach hospitality leaders: continuous improvement as a way to win in a business that's "always done it this way," AI as a research tool, and rethinking how you communicate with the next generation joining your team. 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
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Three Ways Hotels Strengthen Their Communities - Christina Poon, Detroit EDITION
3w ago00:11:45Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Christina Poon, the General Manager at the Detroit EDITION, shares the three layers of impact a hotel can make on its city: a gathering place, an economic engine, and a career catalyst that keeps talent home. You'll hear what she learned advocating for the neighborhood on the board of the Union Square Partnership, including the 14th Street mural painted by a couple hundred volunteers, and the city-first strategy behind the Detroit EDITION. 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
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The Guest Experience Begins Before the Hotel Opens - Christina Poon
3w ago00:14:18Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Christina Poon, the General Manager at the Detroit EDITION, shares how she's building a great hotel guest experience before the property opens. She talks about recruiting leaders in a place where she started with zero network, hiring for attitude plus operational readiness, and designing the guest experience while the building is still under construction. You'll hear why she meets every candidate one-on-one instead of relying on CVs, plus the W Hotels chef collaboration that shows what curated guest moments can deliver. 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
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