Podcast
The Hotel Investor Playbook
Hosted by Michael Russell · EN
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.
31episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
From $50 in His Bank Account to a 140-Key Hotel in Italy | Emanuele Pani E83
3d ago00:34:09Tap to summarizeWhat happens when you find a deal that could change everything, but you've drained your bank account just to close it?In this episode, you'll hear exactly how one operator went from cleaning parking lots to owning the building, and what that journey taught him about risk, focus, and building a business that doesn't need you in it every day.A vertically integrated hospitality operator who built an 84-door portfolio across two countries and is now pursuing a 140-key historic hotel in Sardinia, Italy, joins us to share how he thinks about scaling from short-term rentals into boutique hotels. Emanuele Pani's path from maintenance guy to multi-market operator is full of hard-won lessons most investors learn too late.In this episode, you'll discover:Why STR investors drastically under-budget when they buy their first hotel (and what it actually costs)How to find off-market deals by doing something most investors won'tThe capital stack strategy for financing a hotel deal in Europe as a U.S.-based investorWhy the first hire matters more than the first system when scaling operationsThe shiny object mistake that slowed his growth for 4 years and how to avoid itHow to structure a hybrid hotel and residence model to reduce acquisition riskIf you're serious about making the leap from short-term rentals into boutique hotels, this episode will save you from the most expensive assumptions investors make on their first deal. Don't skip the part about what breaks first when you try to scale.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 Emanuele Pani:Instagram: @epani.mindsetLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emanuele-pani-0b2970105/Connect with Michael on Instagram or LinkedIn.Email Us at info@hotelinvestorplaybook.comVisit the Hotel Investor Playbook InstagramInvest with Malama CapitalSubmit a deal
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This Contractor Built a $6M Hospitality Brand With $90K and Zero Outside Investors | Chris Broomfield E82
1w ago00:36:02Tap to summarizeMost people assume you need outside investors, a big budget, or a prime location to build a profitable hospitality brand. This episode proves otherwise.In this episode, you'll learn exactly how one builder went from working as a contractor to owning a luxury micro resort that nets over half a million dollars a year, with no syndication, no partners, and no fancy market.A builder and founder who bootstrapped a five-cabin luxury brand from $90,000 out of pocket joins the show to break down how he did it. Chris Broomfield built Evergreen Cabins in a town of 3,000 people in rural New York, starting with a piece of land bought from a friend and materials scraped from his contracting jobs. Today, the brand has a couple of hundred thousand Instagram followers, a 40,000-person email list, and a portfolio valued at nearly $6 million.In this episode, you'll discover:Why sweat equity can outperform raising capital, and what the math actually looks like when you build it yourselfHow a single guest's TikTok generated 7 million views and booked the property out for three years straightThe pricing mistake that likely cost Chris $200,000 to $300,000, and how to avoid it with dynamic pricing toolsHow he went from 100% Airbnb-dependent to nearly 90% direct bookings using a $100 lead magnet and email marketingWhy he turned down investor after investor, and what that decision means for his eventual exit at a $10M targetThe 10% savings rule he now teaches his 14-year-old son, and why he believes anyone can do thisIf you've been sitting on the idea of building a micro resort or boutique hospitality concept and keep telling yourself you don't have enough capital to start, this episode will either light a fire under you or call your bluff. Don't miss Chris's breakdown of exactly what it costs to operate five luxury cabins, and what it really takes to get to a $500K gross income without a single outside dollar.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 Chris Broomfield:Website: evergreencabins.coEmail: info@evergreencabins.comInstagram: evergreen_cabinsConnect with Michael on Instagram or LinkedIn.Email Us at info@hotelinvestorplaybook.comVisit the Hotel Investor Playbook InstagramInvest with Malama CapitalSubmit a deal
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Stop Deferring Your Joy: How High-Performing Leaders Stay Sharp Without Burning Out | Mike Messeroff E81
2w ago00:35:57Tap to summarizeYou hit your targets. You built the business. So why does it still feel like something's missing?In this episode, you'll discover why deferring your happiness until the next deal, the next promotion, or the next milestone is quietly destroying your leadership, your team culture, and your returns.A personal freedom coach who has spent 30 years in hospitality and now works exclusively with CEOs and top executives joins the show to share the self-leadership framework that changes how high-achievers show up at work and at home. His approach isn't about slowing down. It's about not losing your life chasing a goal you never actually defined.In this episode, you'll discover:Why money amplifies who you already are, and why that's a problem if you're running on emptyThe 2-3 minute morning practice that measurably reduces reactivity and improves decision-makingWhy "work-life balance" is a myth, and the reframe that actually works for ambitious operatorsHow a present, grounded leader produces better team performance, higher morale, and fewer fires to put outThe gratitude practice that rewires how your brain responds to setbacksWhy deferring joy is a skill you've been accidentally training for decadesIf you're serious about building something that lasts without sacrificing the life you're building it for, this episode will give you a practical starting point. Don't skip it just because it doesn't have a cap rate in the title.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 Mike MesseroffWebsite: https://www.mikemesseroff.comWebsite: https://www.thecircleoffreethinkers.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikemesseroffLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikemesseroff/Connect with Michael on Instagram or LinkedIn.Email Us at info@hotelinvestorplaybook.comVisit the Hotel Investor Playbook InstagramInvest with Malama CapitalSubmit a deal
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How 2 Women Turned a $1.2M Zillow B&B Into a $4M Treehouse Hotel (No Investors) | Ashley LaRocque E80
3w ago00:43:53Tap to summarizeWhat 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 LaRocqueWebsite: https://stayatjuniper.comInstagram: 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.comVisit the Hotel Investor Playbook InstagramInvest with Malama CapitalSubmit a deal
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The $600K Treehouse Earning $200K a Year | Dustin Feider E79
Apr 2900:38:38Tap to summarizeIn 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 FeiderWebsite: https://www.o2treehouse.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustinfeiderConnect with Michael on Instagram or LinkedIn.Email Us at info@hotelinvestorplaybook.comVisit the Hotel Investor Playbook InstagramInvest with Malama CapitalSubmit a deal
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The Hotel-to-Apartment Strategy That Turned $8.5M Into $18.9M in 19 Months | Ryan Sudeck E78
Apr 2200:44:26Tap to summarizeWhat 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 SudeckWebsite: http://sageinvestment.comEmail: ryan@sageinvestment.groupLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryansudeck/Connect with Michael on Instagram or LinkedIn.Email Us at info@hotelinvestorplaybook.comVisit the Hotel Investor Playbook InstagramInvest with Malama CapitalSubmit a deal
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What a $75M Commercial Investor Wished He Knew Before Opening His First Boutique Hotel | Tyler Cauble E77
Apr 1400:49:54Tap to summarizeExperienced 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 CaubleWebsite: https://www.tylercauble.com/ & https://saltranchhotel.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tylercauble/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/tylercaubleInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/commercial_in_nashville/Connect with Michael on Instagram or LinkedIn.Email Us at info@hotelinvestorplaybook.comVisit the Hotel Investor Playbook InstagramInvest with Malama CapitalSubmit a deal
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An STR operator's $4 million bet on building a boutique hotel in Colombia | Tim Hubbard E76
Apr 700:48:28Tap to summarizeWhat 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 HubbardWebsite: 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.comVisit the Hotel Investor Playbook InstagramInvest with Malama CapitalSubmit a deal
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Under $1.5M in Revenue? You Don't Own a Business, You Own a Job | Greg Emmert E75
Mar 3101:08:07Tap to summarizeMost 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 EmmertGreg 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 EmmertConnect 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.comVisit the Hotel Investor Playbook InstagramInvest with Malama CapitalSubmit a deal
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The Revenue Expert Managing $125M Says You're Leaving 40% on the Table | Jasper Ribbers E74
Mar 1700:39:35Tap to summarizeJasper 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 RibbersJasper 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 RibbersConnect 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.comVisit the Hotel Investor Playbook InstagramInvest with Malama CapitalSubmit a deal
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