Lodging Leaders

Belinda O’Kelly brings a decade of experience, a comprehensive skill set and dedicated design focus to O’Kelly + Kasprak. She is a licensed architect in Illinois, as well as a LEED accredited professional with a specialty in building design and construction. David Kasprak has been leading the highest quality restaurant, hotel, and retail design teams read more

Liat Siegel is Owner/Founder of Hadar Interiors Inc., a fearless mother of 5 and a trailblazing entrepreneur. She works with businesses to brand their interiors and set themselves apart from the competition. Liat uses interior design to revitalize a space and modernize it for the digital age. In This Episode, Liat Reveals … * The power of strategic, data-driven design, and Liat reveals her ROED Method – Return on Emotional Design – what it is, and why it’s important. * The first step hoteliers should take for those about to do a renovation or a facelift on their property. * What you stand to gain if you invest in strategic interior design services versus the traditional methods, and what you stand to lose if you don’t make that investment. * What she thinks will be the next big trend. Resources & Links Mentioned in this Episode * Hotelier Lounge Podcast Liat Siegel * LinkedIn * Email: info@hadarinteriors.com Hadar Interiors * Website * Twitter * Facebook * Instagram * LinkedIn

Liat Siegel is Owner/Founder of Hadar Interiors Inc., a fearless mother of 5 and a trailblazing entrepreneur. She works with businesses to brand their interiors and set themselves apart from the competition. Liat uses interior design to revitalize a space and modernize it for the digital age. In This Episode, Liat Reveals … The power of read more

Shruti Gandhi Buckley is global head of Hampton by Hilton. In her role, Buckley is responsible for the overall brand strategy, which includes driving brand growth and development, diversifying and increasing revenue and sustaining customer loyalty. With a deep understanding of the hospitality business, Buckley fosters innovation and success for Hampton by Hilton, Hilton’s largest brand, which has more than 2,300 properties globally with 620 on the horizon, marking the largest pipeline in brand history. In This Episode, Shruti Reveals … * The vision behind Hilton’s expansion into the Middle East, and why they chose Dubai as the location for the largest property in their portfolio. * The property itself, and as you heard in the opening soundbite, they paid attention to every detail. * The market in Dubai, and the kind of travelers they expect this property will attract. * They have a female GM – Nayla Chowdhury – at the helm of the new Dubai property, and Shruti gives advice to women looking to succeed in the hospitality industry. * And, we talk about what’s next for Hampton by Hilton. Resources & Links Shruti Gandhi Buckley * LinkedIn Hilton * Corporate Website * Twitter * Facebook * LinkedIn

Shruti Gandhi Buckley is global head of Hampton by Hilton. In her role, Buckley is responsible for the overall brand strategy, which includes driving brand growth and development, diversifying and increasing revenue and sustaining customer loyalty. With a deep understanding of the hospitality business, Buckley fosters innovation and success for Hampton by Hilton, Hilton’s largest read more

Known to many as Mr. Persuasion, Jeff Tippett is a subject matter expert on persuasive communications. Speaking to international audiences through keynotes and seminars, Jeff helps attendees increase their effectiveness, gives them powerful tools to help reach their goals, and empowers attendees to positively impact their organizations or businesses. In 2014, Jeff founded Targeted Persuasion, an award-winning public affairs + communications firm. He has worked with renowned brands like Airbnb, The National Restaurant Association, and The League of Women Voters. Jeff believes that we all live or die based on our ability to persuade. In This Episode, Jeff Reveals … * The superpower of persuasion, and the difference between persuasion and manipulation. * How to help others find their win (so you win), and he offers some helpful tips for assisting an unhappy guest. * The correlation between how customers view a given brand … and how they consider that brand when they book in the future, and how we can make a memorable connection with a guest that leads to brand loyalty. * How to position your messages so that people say yes, and how to craft a call to action that people can’t resist. * A heartfelt story of his experience with an international adoption, and he connects that profound message for people within the lodging industry. Resources & Links Jeff Tippett * Email: jeff@jefftippett.com * Website * Twitter * Facebook * Instagram * LinkedIn * YouTube

Known to many as Mr. Persuasion, Jeff Tippett is a subject matter expert on persuasive communications. Speaking to international audiences through keynotes and seminars, Jeff helps attendees increase their effectiveness, gives them powerful tools to help reach their goals, and empowers attendees to positively impact their organizations or businesses. In 2014, Jeff founded Targeted Persuasion, read more

Julia Felton is the Founder of Business HorsePower, which delivers leadership and team development to CEO’s, entrepreneurs and executives. Julia is a veteran of the hospitality industry having been the creator the HotelBenchmark Survey which provided the lodging industry with monthly statistics on its performance. She took that business from an idea on a piece of paper to the global market leader providing data to hoteliers in all regions across the world, apart from North America. In 2008 that business was sold to STR and became STR Global. Julia holds a degree in Hospitality Management and has also worked in a variety of luxury five star hotels across the world. She is an international speaker and a best-selling author. In This Episode, Julia Reveals … * The business case for organizational alignment through improving team engagement. * Why employee engagement is becoming so important right now, the percentage of the workforce that are not engaged, and what that means to your bottom line. * Some of the common myths around employee engagement. * The key elements of an engaged organization – what that looks like – and the benefits of having a highly engaged workforce. Resources & Links Mentioned in this Episode * Engaged Purpose Workbook (Free) * Free Engagement Assessment Julia Felton * Email: julia@businesshorsepower.com * LinkedIn * Twitter * Facebook * YouTube Business HorsePower * Website * Facebook

Julia Felton is the Founder of Business HorsePower, which delivers leadership and team development to CEO’s, entrepreneurs and executives. Julia is a veteran of the hospitality industry having been the creator the HotelBenchmark Survey which provided the lodging industry with monthly statistics on its performance. She took that business from an idea on a piece read more

Jeffrey Davidson is engaging, thought-provoking, and sometimes gets so excited you think he forgot to breathe. Jeffrey has been exploring the boundaries of world-class teams for over 20 years. As a recognized expert in strengthening leaders and building teams, he has worked with 100s of teams, taught thousands, and consulted with multiple Fortune 100 corporations. A dynamic presenter, Jeffrey speaks at conferences across the United States and Canada, and audiences love his interactive, high-energy talks because they include humor and real-life stories of success … and his many brushes with failure. Jeffrey’s goal is simple, he wants you to be outstanding … and he wants your team to be even better. In This Episode, Jeffrey Reveals … * The UNASKED questions every employee needs answered … things like: * Does this job have meaning and what is it? * How do we know we’re working on the right stuff? * What’s your definition of success? * The first thing a busy manager should do to turn their team from MEH to STAND-OUT … it’s about creating and sharing a meaning statement. * How to connect with your team, outside of an annual performance review, in a clear, positive manner – where you constructively share with them what they can build upon, and where they can refocus. * How creating a culture where your team asks for feedback from other teammates and their boss on a weekly basis makes them more receptive to it. Resources & Links Jeffrey Davidson * Email: jeffrey@greatteamsltd.com * LinkedIn Leading Great Teams * Website * Twitter * Email: events@GreatTeamsLtd.com * Phone: (972) 965-1830 * Address: 2628 Rolling Mdw Carrollton, TX 75010

Jeffrey Davidson is engaging, thought-provoking, and sometimes gets so excited you think he forgot to breathe. Jeffrey has been exploring the boundaries of world-class teams for over 20 years. As a recognized expert in strengthening leaders and building teams, he has worked with 100s of teams, taught thousands, and consulted with multiple Fortune 100 corporations. read more

Bijal Patel guides San Jose-based Coast Redwood Hospitality, which owns and operates a portfolio of multiple real estate and hotel projects. He is a third-generation hotelier who signed his first franchise agreement while a senior in high school and earned the prestigious Certified Hotel Administrator (CHA) designation at age 20. He enthusiastically gives back to his chosen industry, serving currently as an officer of the California Hotel & Lodging Association (CH&LA) as well as being active in the 17,000-member Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) as an Ambassador for the North Pacific Region and as a member of the Young Professionals Committee. In This Episode, Bijal Reveals … * His unique perspective on the state of our industry right now … and in the months ahead * His choice of hospitality as a career … which wasn’t always his first choice * His ideas about being a third-generation hotelier * His recent dinner meeting with UN Ambassador Nikki Haley Resources & Links Bijal Patel * Email: bijal@coastredwoodgroup.com * LinkedIn * Instagram * Twitter * Facebook (profile) * Bijal for AAHOA Young Professional Director Facebook Page Coast Redwood Hospitality * Website Mentioned in this Episode * California Hotel & Lodging Association (CH&LA) * Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA)

Bijal Patel guides San Jose-based Coast Redwood Hospitality, which owns and operates a portfolio of multiple real estate and hotel projects. He is a third-generation hotelier who signed his first franchise agreement while a senior in high school and earned the prestigious Certified Hotel Administrator (CHA) designation at age 20. He enthusiastically gives back to read more

Nick Lawniczak has more than 10 years of experience specializing in the luxury hospitality market. Over the years, he’s worked on a wide array of projects ranging from residential remodels, note rebranding, commercial tenant improvements, shopping centers and the development of new high rise luxury condominiums. Nick feels his greatest strength is his ability to build meaningful and trusting relationships which, he believes, is the key to gaining the confidence and support of the team and departments. In This Episode, Nick Reveals … * His career journey, and he shares some of the typical job responsibilities he has had while serving as Director of Engineering for multiple companies. * Several tips for avoiding common ADA pitfalls that can impact your bottom line. * The importance of developing key relationships with local governmental agencies, like fire and police, but also developing relationships within other departments at the property. * Staffing challenges he’s face, and a few things he’s done to foster higher engagement and improve employee retention. * Some creative ways to recapture revenue for your department. Resources & Links Nick Lawniczak * Email: lawniczaks@icloud.com * LinkedIn

Nick Lawniczak has more than 10 years of experience specializing in the luxury hospitality market. Over the years, he’s worked on a wide array of projects ranging from residential remodels, note rebranding, commercial tenant improvements, shopping centers and the development of new high rise luxury condominiums. Nick feels his greatest strength is his ability to read more