Slick Talk: The Hospitality Podcast
This is the podcast for anyone and everyone in the Hospitality industry that loves what they do and wants to grow, learn, and experience all the cool things the world of hotels, restaurants, vacation rentals and travel have to offer! On the show you will hear many special guests and special topics in our industry! Welcome to Slick Talk
I connected with Toby late last year during the launch of the Destinationaire Awards and I fell in love with his companies Instagram because of the beautiful properties and high attention to detail!
Toby is a dreamer and an experience builder and it shows in his work! In this episode, you'll hear about the challenges but then you'll hear about the beautiful moments that he is able to make by going above and beyond and creating a destination! When you're in a beautiful beach town and your guests rarely go to the beach and spend most of their time at the property, you must be doing something right.
This episode is part of the Hostfully Highlight Series and I couldn't be more excited to have the opportunity to share the awesome stories of property managers like Toby!
Mentioned in this episode:
Hostfully Website - Use my code SLICKTALK20 for $100 off and much more with their digital guidebooks!
Rowledge Associates was founded by Adam Rowledge following a successful career in the hospitality industry, during which he established a reputation for achieving operational excellence and commercial success by taking an employee-centric approach to business.
Named Independent Hotelier of the Year by the Independent Hotel Show Awards in 2018, Adam has also been awarded British Travel & Hospitality Hall of Fame Young Manager of the Year in 2017 and an Acorn Award in 2012. These awards were recognition of his leadership which led to further prestigious awards for his team and individual colleagues.
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Sarah Dandashy is recognized as one of the leading concierges in the world. People seek her out for her travel tips, advice, and knowledge of trends from the “frontlines of travel.”
Award-winning, she was named “Best Young Concierge” by Les Clefs d’Or International, making her the Miss Universe equivalent of the concierge profession.
She has worked at some of the most prestigious hotels, including The London West Hollywood, Four Seasons Washington DC, L’Ermitage Beverly Hills, and The Peninsula Beverly Hills.
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Michael Driedger is the Co-Founder of Operto and CEO of Airsset Technologies. If you're a consistent listener of the show you would have heard his previous episode when he joined me to talk about Operto and how it's changing the game for short-term rental managers and hotels.
In this episode, we catch up with Michael about what he's been up to since stepping into a new role and helping solve issues surrounding air quality. I really enjoy my conversations with Michael so get ready for us to uncover a lot in this episode!
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Sponsored by Hostfully! Uses SLICKTALK20 to get an exclusive discount!
Mike Liverton is a serial entrepreneur with two decades of experience and a proven track record in creating strong organizational cultures with guest-centric values enabling sustainable and scalable business growth.
Born and raised in England, He moved to Canada in 2006. He quickly became involved in the short-term rental property market and realized that the fragmented nature of the market and legacy software platforms provided a significant opportunity to revolutionize technology and services in the property management and distribution vertical.
Emmanuel Lavoie is an engineer, entrepreneur, and investor with 15 years of experience in the management of business and technical projects. As COO at Jetstream Hospitality Solutions, he focuses on maximizing business growth and driving innovation.
In 2012 Leavetown.com was launched and in 2017 their market-leading technology and full-service solution was branded Jetstream. They have grown globally with offices and teams in North America, Europe, the Philippines, and now full circle, they also have offices in the UK.
This episode was a blast to record! They've got a really cool story of having bought Jetstream back from Red Awning at the beginning of the Pandemic and are now 100% employee-owned and I am glad to be one of the firsts to capture it!
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UrHip provides the best fully furnished, short-term rentals in Philadelphia! In this episode featuring Steve Patterson, the founder, we discuss more ways that businesses have been impacted by COVID19 and what the key strategies were for Steve and his team in order for them to still be here today!
Thank you Hostfully for connecting me to the operators that are making a difference in our industry and allowing me to share their stories!
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Hostfully is a podcast Headline Sponsor - Use my code SLICKTALK20 for access to beautiful digital guidebooks and their property management platform!
Tom Smyth - the owner of Dream Luxury Serviced Apartments, multiple construction companies, author & 10x coach, speaker & mentor with the Grant Cardone Licensee Program! This man has accomplished so much and overcome many challenges in his life.
This episode is great for entrepreneurs who want to hear from someone who has never given up and is building a legacy.
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The more and more I have connected with Sheheryar on LinkedIn & in the recording of this podcast, the more I get inspired and excited for the future of the next generation of hospitality. Sheheryar is a great example of overcoming the odds and pushing yourself to grow in the industry you love. He and I have similar experiences, outlooks, and backgrounds in our careers. I hope this episode inspires you the way Sheheryar has inspired me!
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Madi Rifkin is the CEO and founder of Mount Locks, a micro-fleet and technology made for hospitality providers in the hotel and short-term rental industry.
Hear her story as she started out as a young entrepreneur at the age of 12 and how it lead her to "unlocking" her passion for solving problems, building teams, and re-thinking the way businesses can create new and remarkable experiences.
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Vered Raviv Schwarz is President & COO of property management platform Guesty, where she brings nearly 20 years of experience in global operations to overseeing teams including Customer Experience, Finance, Operations, Legal, HR, Customer Success, Data & Analytics, and Strategic Partnerships. Prior to Guesty, Vered was COO of Fiverr where she grew the company from 40 employees to over 400 in her six-year tenure. In her free time, she serves on the advisory boards of several startups and participates in mentorship programs focused on female entrepreneurship.
In this episode, Vered and I discuss her background and what she's learned from her previous adventure at Fiverr, and how it carries over to her new position at Guesty. We also uncover their findings from their industry report that surveyed 500+ professionals in hospitality on the state of confidence in the short-term rental ecosystem.
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When you think you've heard it all, you get amazing stories like Nick's. Constantly having to be on their toes because the market they operate in is completely different from what we normally see... the tropics have plenty of beauty but plenty of challenges to overcome.
In this episode of the Hostfully Highlight Series, you'll hear how Nick Halverson, Founder of Osa Property Management in Costa Rica, explains how he and his team have handled their business during COVID and how they improved their operations during the early days of the pandemic when we had more downtime to figure out how we were going to recover for the long term.
Thank you Hostfully for connecting me to the operators that are making a difference in our industry and allowing me to share their stories!
Mentioned in this episode:
Hostfully is the podcasts Headline Sponsor - Use my code SLICKTALK20 for access to beautiful digital guidebooks and their property management platform!
Osa Property Management Website
Christoph Hutter is the brains and creative behind the term "non-traditional revenue manager" and you'll hear why. Tune in to hear his story and passion for hotels, revenue management, and strategy execution.
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Kyle Allison has actually been someone I have paid attention to in hospitality & media since I actually started doing Slick Talk as a young hotel manager out on the Oregon coast!
In this episode, we dive into his extensive background in the hotel space and what he has been able to accomplish at such a young age! For our next generation of hospitality professionals, this is a message and podcast for you!
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Ken Patel has been claimed the "Elon Musk of Hospitality," so it felt totally natural to have him on with me, Wil Slickers, the "Joe Rogan of Hospitality."
Tune in as we talk tech, humanization, and changes to come with how hotels operate for the future as Ken Patel and his team build the first every technology hotel management company!
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Jim Sheehan is a prime example of a natural-born entrepreneur who just has the mind and mindset for business. Founding a tech company to now running a scaling professional vacation rental management company in the midst of COVID19, this is the conversation I have been looking forward to as we talk about key things like automation and building proper systems.
This episode is part of the Hostfully Highlight Series where I interview property managers that have embraced their software and create sustainable businesses that make a difference in the industry! Use my code SLICKTALK20 to get their digital guidebooks (they're amazing!) or $100 their property management platform!
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This special episode is included in the Vacation Rental Mastermind Series: Operators Edition, where Sarah Franzen with Natural Retreats talks all things revenue management with me! Sarah has a great background and story from both hotels and vacation rentals, so it was a ton of fun to get her perspective!
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This is a Slick Talk Bonus episode featuring Chris Maughan, the CEO of I-PRAC, David Jacoby, the President of Hostfully, and Andrew Kitchell, the CEO of Wheelhouse!
These three industry experts talked about the three categories they specialize in and answered some questions from others in the industry on the newest social platform, Clubhouse!
Mentioned in this episode:
Hostfully (Use my code SLICKTALK20 to get $100 off!)
The BIG Giveback - A new podcast created by Wil Slickers, coming to all platforms soon!
Julie George is a name you will get used to hearing and seeing if you haven't already!
Author of Million Dollar Host and now a Consultant in the STR Industry, Julie George listed her first property on Airbnb in 2016. Less than 3 years later she was managing 130 properties on Airbnb for property owners and had amassed in excess of $8 million dollars in bookings. In late 2019 Julie sold her property management business to a larger company (Hometime). Julie now is considered one of the world's leading experts in Short Term Rentals and mentors other budding entrepreneurs on how to build a successful business in the sharing economy.
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Sponsored by Hostfully - Use my code SLICKTALK20
Clubhouse Invites! DM me on Instagram to claim yours! (Only to the first 5!)
In this episode, we cover the inner workings of a rising brand in the industry that has taken on (as I like to call it) the role of hybrid!
Kasa's Founder, Roman Pedan, and I discussed their journey as this startup has successfully overcome challenges during the pandemic.
Roman founded Kasa Living, Inc. in August 2016. He brings a unique blend of real estate, hospitality, and technology experience to the business that makes him well-positioned to lead it into the future.
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Andrew has been in & around the hospitality space for 10+ years.
To start, he paid for his first business - a publishing business that designed language guides for travelers - by renting out his room on Airbnb.
From there, he has founded & led Lyric, Wheelhouse, Beyond Pricing, and other brands in the STR space.
Tune in as we discuss the depths of dynamic pricing for short-term rentals!
This episode is sponsored by Hostfully! I couldn't ask for a better sponsor because Hostfully and Wheelhouse have an amazing partnership with API connections! See the links below to get started! Don't forget to use my code, SLICKTALK20 for Hostfully's digital guidebooks and property management platform!
Mentioned in this episode:
Hostfully - Use code SLICKTALK20
A Life That I Dream Of
Many of us in the hospitality industry are dreamers that see a beautiful world of excitement and endless opportunities. Hospitality professionals make that dream happen because it's true; the world is beautiful and has endless possibilities, and we showcase that through our services, properties, and so much more!
Will Parry, Co-Funders and now CEO of ALTIDO tells us the early stages of his journey into the ALTIDO brand that manages short-term rental properties all over the UK and Europe! You may also hear that sometimes, to create something like this, all it takes is a little bit of juice!
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Entrepreneurism runs deep in the veins of the short-term rental operators and creators in this hospitality segment, and Merilee Karr is a perfect example of that. For this VRMS: Operators Edition episode, Merilee Karr, the founder of UnderTheDoormat, tells us her journey into the vacation rental industry and how (in more ways than not) her business has helped unite our beautifully diverse segment of the hospitality industry by creating Hospiria and TrustedStays!
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Parker Stanberry is the Founder of Oasis, a vacation rental management company with hundreds of properties around the world. You've probably heard of Oasis from publications like Skift and many others for their recent (and significant) pivot they made during the COVID19 pandemic. Oasis was one of the first management companies to create a tiered subscription booking option called the Oasis Passport.
Tune in to hear more and see why I picked Parker to be the one to kick off the Vacation Rental Mastermind Series: The Operators Edition here on Slick Talk: The Hospitality Podcast.
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Starting February 3rd, 8 am PST; I will be releasing an episode for the series called "The Vacation Rental Mastermind Series: Operators Edition."
I did the series last year and focused on service providers like NoiseAware, Breezeway, and AirDNA. After the wild year of 2020, I am focusing on the property manager giants taking the pandemic head-on.
Tune in every Wednesday at 8 am PST, and don't miss out!
In this episode, Tyann Marcink-Hammond and I talk about why it's so important more now than ever before to build a vacation-short term rental brand rather than just a business.
Mentioned in this episode:
Hostfully, show sponsor: Use code SLICKTALK20
Shawn Soole, creator or Soole Hospitality, joins me on the show to discuss his background and how his life pre-covid and post-covid has changed, and what he and his team are doing for their clients in the F&B segment of the hospitality sphere to combat covid as we continue to gear towards recovery.
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No stranger to the show, I invite the newest CEO of Operto, a tech solution for operators and owners alike in the hotel and vacation/short-term rental segment of hospitality, to discuss his extensive background in tech as an executive and as an entrepreneur to now the CEO of Operto.
In this episode, you will hear how his perspective brings in a new set of eyes for the company and why creating a team that can thrive is the best thing you can do for your business in any industry.
My amazing friends at Hostfully sponsor this episode! If you use the code SLICKTALK20, you will get two months free on their digital guidebooks or $100 when you sign up to use their Property Management Platform! If you click this link, you can download their recent Industry Report and how professional managers are actually seeking tech solutions like Operto to grow their operations and profitability!
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This is a replay of Monday's episode on Good Morning Hospitality!
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Welcome to the future... okay, maybe not the future because there are no flying cars (yet) and all that good stuff, but we are now in 2021, and unfortunately, the events from 2020 aren't going away in the snap of a finger.
Join us this week as we continue in the ongoing conversation of hospitality and the future we see coming to life. Last week, the three of us discussed our year in review and did some reflection; now, we are looking ahead and moving forward.
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Nick understands the term hustle and keep going!
We all were hit hard with how the world turned back in March and April but many have kept pushing on and making hundreds, if not thousands of decisions a day, in order to keep our businesses open and our clients/customers happy. Nick and his team with Ready Strong Meals are not part of the 60% permanent closure rate we've seen so far. Listen to his story and how he has kept his mentality at a top performance in order to pivot and make his business sustainable for the years to come.
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As 2020 comes to a close, we are still hopeful and keep looking forward to the great things to come in the new year. We would love to get your thoughts on the past year and of course hear what you think 2021 will bring to the hospitality industry.
In this episode, my co-hosts & talk about our biggest learnings from the past year and how it played a roll in our personal and professional lives. Next week, join us as we discuss 2021.
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Episode Supporter/Sponsor: Hostfully
Humphrey Bowels, the co-founder of Guardhog Technologies joins me to discuss the journey leading up to 2020 and how he has looked at this year for the positive things like the new goats at his farm house, the idea of taking away a star rating review system, and the importance of making trust and transparency available for everyone in the industry.
Guardhog is also doing a fantastic $10,000 giveaway to a business in need during this last year. All you have to do is go to this website and submit the reason why you deserve it!
This episode is sponsored by my favorite people at Hostfully! Use my code SLICKTALK20 and get 20% their digital guidebooks!
Mentioned in this episode:
Leo Walton on Good Morning Hospitality
NoiseAware mentioned by Wil
Tejal Patel is a 3rd generation hotelier by choice and a strong leader in the hospitality industry! It was a breath of fresh air to talk to her about her journey as she has grown through many challenges, victories, and struggles a like! Tejal and I both discuss our mental health and how to avoid burn out but then also dive into the qualities of an affective leader.
Tejal also went from hotel employee to hotel owner! You will hear her talk about how she plans on bridging that gap of the employees and ownership!
Mentioned in this episode:
Hotel.School Course Giveaway! First 50 people to redeem the code "GMH2020" with get their course for FREE from Hotel.School
Juliana Hahn is a content creator and copywriter specialized in writing for the hospitality and tourism industry. Before diving into the world of copywriting several years ago, she studied hotel management and worked in hotels around the globe. Today she leverages her industry experience to craft engaging content for hospitality tech companies, hotels and online publications. You can find her at www.hospitality-copywriting.com
This episode is sponsored by Hostfully, a digital guidebook and property management platform that was created to help short term rental property managers optimize their operations and profits! Use my code SLICKTALK20 for 20% off their digital guidebooks!
Mentioned in this episode:
Slick Talk Website & Socials: https://linktr.ee/Slicktalk
Julianas Website: www.hospitality-copywriting.com
Julianas LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julianahahn/
Travis is the Head of Business Development for US & Canada regions for Marriotts Homes & Villas program and we discuss some of the outcomes during 2020 with COVID19 in the Vacation Rental market and what we both "hope" for in the future to come in this next year!
Mentioned in this episode:
Marriott Homes & Villas (https://homes-and-villas.marriott.com/)
Slick Talk Website & Socials (www.slicktalkthepodcast.com)
David Lund has been helping hotels understand their financials for a while now and in this exclusive interview on the podcast, he gives the top insights on how to interview a hotel GM in order to make sure they will not only be good leaders for the hotel but they will be financial leaders and lead the charge by making sure all departments understand the importance of proper budgeting, forecasting, and operations!
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It's one thing to have a seat at the table but it's completely another thing to always be dragging your chair around with you to put at the table when the time comes. Do you have your chair? You should because you don't want to miss this episode as Dana Lubner, Head of Advocacy at Rent Responsibly, sits down to talk with me about the importance of advocacy in the short term rental industry and what it looks like to be actively living it out!
I also want to give a big thank you and shoutout to the shows sponsor, Hostfully! Thank you for helping make all of this possible! I love you guys!
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A man that needs no introduction to the show, Jeremy Gall has joined me to talk about trends from the year and not only that but the rise of quality control when it comes to property standards, maintenance, and upkeep as it will be something that leads us into 2021 and the forever rise of professionalism in the short term rental industry.
This episode is sponsored by Hostfully and they have nothing but amazing things to say about Breezeway as well! Thank you Hostfully for supporting the podcast and everything Slick Talk!
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I chat with Patricia from Hotel.School!
We talk about the importance of brain-based micro learning and hospitality re-skills & up-skills! Make sure to listen because there is also something going on for both of my hotel and vacation rental audience!
Patricia has an extensive background in hospitality and brings her amazing experience and management skills to light when we discussed the creation and overall impact Hotel.School has had during the times of national lockdowns and stay at home.
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Patricia's email for anyone wanting to find out more: patricia@hotel.school
Hannah Smith is a Senior Consultant at STR (I am a huge geek/fan of STR from my hotel management days) and she was able to join me to discuss all the data and findings they are discovering over at STR! In this episode, you will hear us talk about what the road to recovery looks like, key things hotels are doing in order to get occupancy, short term and long term trends and the newest Q3 Updated Forecast!
Go to the Slick Talk blog to see the PDF Data Deck that Hannah put together for all of you to see while you listen!
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I wanted to put this on Slick Talk because I love including you all in what else is going on with me and other things that I am involved in! I don't know how many of you know this yet but, I have a 2nd show/podcast called Good Morning Hospitality! It goes live every Monday morning with my two co-hosts, Michael Goldin from NoiseAware & Michael Ros from Bidroom.com! I would love your support (thank you all for those who already follow everything going on!) by liking the socials and subscribing on YouTube!
I put together an audience survey as well! It only takes two minutes to answer these six questions and it means the world to me to be able to update and enhance the content for you all!
Cindy has been a serial entrepreneur since she was 19! A true go-getter! She was the first to develop a new kind of residential hospitality and co-founded Niido and Natiivo residential communities designed for homesharing which resulted in a first-ever partnership with Airbnb, Brookfield Property Partners & Citibank.
Now Co-Founder of Orion Haus, Cindy and her team are changing the landscape of how we look at the housing & vacation rental market by providing a solution that encourages their renters to list their unit on marketing sites like Airbnb, VRBO, and others!
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As you see above in the title of this episode, Michael Tingsager from Hospitality Mavericks Podcast and myself dive in on his incredible journey in the industry. We talked about his upbringing in the industry and how his career evolved over the years and what jumping into the podcast world did for him and his businesses.
Michael & I are both apart of the Hospitality Game Changers Group with Josh Kopel from Full Comp, Adam Knight from Proven Principles Podcast and Shaun De Vries with Open Pantry. All of these guys have been on my show and vise versa and we are honored with the ability to team up and join forces from all walks of life and experience in the hospitality industry!
Join our community with over 250 Hospitality Game Changers today!
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Heather Richer & myself talk about the creation and purpose of ASTRHO (Association For Short Term Rental Homeowners) and the important role this platform and community provides to this segment of hospitality and why it's important for homeowners, as a stakeholder in the industry, to have these tools, resources, courses, and a community.
There is so much to cover in this episode, so I highly recommend that if you're a short term rental homeowner, that you sign up and join the platform to learn more. If you're a property manager, get your owners connected so they can be more involved and to understand the roles they play in the short term rental industry.
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As promised, we are back with Part 2 of the Data Driven Recovery series featuring Tanya Pratt from Oracle Hospitality! In this second episode, Tanya and myself focus on taking the data we saw from Oracle's Data Driven Recovery Report as discussed in episode 1 and how it will carry on into the upcoming years as hotels, travel, and hospitality as a whole recovers from COVID19 and what trends we see being apart of a long term solution leading into 2021 and so on.
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Tanya Pratt from Oracle Hospitality and I discuss the data they found in their recent survey in partnership with Skift about the recovery of the hospitality industry. In this first episode of a two part series, we will dive into the findings of their Data Driven Recovery Report and how the impact COVID19 has shaped the drive to destination market!
This is a two part series so make sure you subscribe to Slick Talk on whatever platform you listen on so that you don't miss the exciting episode(s) to come!
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When I think of the term "setting standards" I think back to the days of Army basic training and school with my platoon sergeant saying those words to me multiple times a day... "we set the standard and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. You're in control of what standards you live up to so set your standards higher than what anyone or anything could set for you"
Robin & Heather Craigen are setting standards with how they have built and displayed Moving Mountains. In this episode you're gonna hear the most influential words that you could find today. The amount of knowledge and passion Robin has for what he and his team do on a daily basis is just incredible and exactly the reason why he was declared a Destinationaire earlier this year.
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Back in April I had the pleasure of interviewing Jessica for a different series I was working on. Unfortunately I never published that series but little did I know that she would pop up on my radar once again for the Destinationaire Award!
Jessica and her two daughters run Barefoot Vacation Rentals based in California! We first met through the Rent Responsibly team and I love getting to see their story play out!
In this episode we will talk about professional management, industry advocacy, and what Jessica and her team did to get through these hard times during COVID19!
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Bob & Ian are the creators of Casal dei Fichi and are a great example of what the power of creative freedom can do for your life, community, and industry! As one of the first recipients of the Destinationaire Award earlier this year, in this episode you will find out what make Bob & Ian fit the Destinationaire standards and how you can make a difference by implementing simple eco-friendly changes to your business!
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We have talked about them and the awards on many episodes leading up to this but I am excited to officially introduce you all to three of the Destinationaire Award winners from this year! Their episodes will go out individually so watch as they publish and get ready for some amazing content from these three! Thank you Bob, Jessica, and Robin for doing what you do in the industry and setting the standard!
A topic that isn't talked about a lot (in my opinion) and so when Dr. Judy reached out to me about doing this episode, I agreed immediately because I wanted to learn more about this topic and some actionable takeaways.
To learn more about the course and other resources use the following links below.
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If you haven't heard already, I have a second show called Good Morning Hospitality with my two amazing co-hosts, Michael Ros from Bidroom and Michael Goldin from NoiseAware! Both of these guys have been on Slick Talk and we hit it off and decided we wanted to bring a new show to the industry! We go live every Monday morning at 7am PST on Facebook & YouTube! You can also grab the audio directly on any podcast platform just like Slick Talk!
Here is a glimpse into how the show goes and what we talk about each week! Your top hospitality news, stories, and thoughts are now in one amazing show and one hell of a way to start your week!
Grab your coffee and sit back!
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On the show we have discussed so many things that managers and operators can do in order to build direct brand, direct bookings, and of course how to use specific tools for revenue strategy. StayFi is now one that has proven to help independent and big managers do that for their business!
Tune in as Arthur, CEO and Co-Founder, and I discuss how they put it into action with their clients!
A full demo is soon to come on the Podcast website as well!
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StayFi Promo for Slick Talkers
Simone Puorto is a former hotel General Manager, consultant, author of two best-selling books on hotel marketing, contributor for the major blogs in the industry, and MBA lecturer for schools such as Les Roches, ESSEC, and LUISS. He is the founder and CEO of Travel Singularity, the consulting firm whose vision is to solve the growing needs for connecting the dots between digital disruption and existing technologies in hotels. Over his career, spanning across over 20 years, he consulted for international hotel groups such as Divani Hotels Collection in Greece, Library Hotels Collection in New York, and The Pavilions Hotels & Resorts in Asia and Europe, helped to consolidate one of the largest hotel chains in Italy, and he advised for countless travel tech companies worldwide.
In this episode we talk about the current things happening in the hotel world and what Simone will be speaking on at the I Meet Hotel Virtual Event that is on October 29th and is free to ALL! I have it linked here in the show notes and on my socials! Please tune in to the Destination Italy event! You wont want to miss it!
I've "opened up my doors" to any audience members that want to have a chance to talk to me one on one! 2020 hasn't been easy for us in hospitality but we have a solid community and I want to get to know you all! You can book a time to chat with me by clicking this link! If you just wanted to talk about this episode or anything under the sun, just book your time!
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Why Real Estate? Why Virtual Assistants? Why property managers should get leverage this in their business?
Dan Ramsey, CEO of MyOutDesk, tells me about his experience with running a business and how the moment he brought on virtual assistants, his business and life changed for the best.
I've "opened up my doors" to any audience members that want to have a chance to talk to me one on one! 2020 hasn't been easy for us in hospitality but we have a solid community and I want to get to know you all! You can book a time to chat with me by clicking this link! If you just wanted to talk about this episode or anything under the sun, just book your time!
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I love that the phrase "This is how we've always done things" is no longer a term that is being used and it's now transformed to "We've never done this before but we can make it work one way or another."
The Chicago Gray Hotel has been demonstrating this new phrase since the beginning of COVID19 on such a limited amount of staffing but just as much heart and passion to continue to serve their guests, team, and community. I sat down with Joel Contor, the Director of Sale & Marketing, and discussed whats been the biggest take aways from all of this and what they've done to keep their doors open. Day use rooms/whole floors of the hotel, hybrid meetings and out door spaces are all coming together to create a whole new experience!
I've "opened up my doors" to any audience members that want to have a chance to talk to me one on one! 2020 hasn't been easy for us in hospitality but we have a solid community and I want to get to know you all! You can book a time to chat with me by clicking this link! If you just wanted to talk about this episode or anything under the sun, just book your time!
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Fülhaus, a design and furnishing service for hotels, apart-hotels, and short-term rentals in Canada, the USA, and Europe, has launched a new concept as Montreal’s first direct-to-consumer furniture rental service.
Andria and I had a great discussion on how now more than EVER, design plays such a huge role in what guests are looking for when staying at a property. The standards of a clean and functional place to stay are no longer the only things travelers are looking for as almost all of us are spending way more time indoors than usual.
I also wanted to say that I've "opened up my doors" to any audience members that want to have a chance to talk to me one on one! 2020 hasn't been easy for us in hospitality but we have a solid community and I want to get to know you all! You can book a time to chat with me by clicking this link!
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Fullhaus mentioned in ShortTermRentalz.com
Good Morning Hospitality Live Morning Show!
Hospitality Game Changers Facebook Group!
Return On Rentals Virtual Event with my friends at NoiseAware!
Blanche is an award winning certified Interior Designer with over 24 years of experience in residential, hospitality and commercial design and is the owner of B. garcia Designs based in Montclair, New Jersey. She is a “Green Design” LEED Accredited Professional through the United States Green Building Commission. She is also a “WELL AP” design professional which utilizes healthy concepts to promote human health and wellness within the built environment.
Blanche was also the principal designer featured in the popular Travel Channel reality series, “Hotel Impossible” for five seasons, where she helped tackle the job of revamping hotels along with host, Anthony Melchiorri.
Mentioned In This Episode:
Slick Talk Website & Social Medias
Anthony Melchiorri from Hotel Impossible
Are you ready to change how you play the game? The hospitality industry rises to the challenge and we want you to join us.
Learn more here on the Slick Talk Blog!
Andrew Bates and his team saw sophisticated homeowners leave a second home empty for 48 weeks each year because they did not want Internet strangers sleeping in their bed, and using their dishes. This makes complete sense to us.
They began studying this Internet stranger anxiety to help our friends earn income from an asset they already had. How can we use our expertise in travel distribution, technology, and data science to improve the chance of a safe stay?
Tune in and find out what it takes to improve vacations and making them safer for ALL stakeholders!
Mentioned In this episode:
Moriya Rockman, founder and CMO of Smiling House Luxury Switzerland, managing over 2.500 properties in 65 destinations in 24 countries.
As a Media creative and PR expert, Moriya was involved in the Business Development of many companies.
4 years ago, together with her husband Ira, they founded Smiling House and Smiling Flats Holiday Rentals.
Both companies are busy with creating a bridge between Legacy Travel Players and holiday rental professionals, especially in the luxury and premium segment.
In this episode we talked about how her business has actually seen a rise in booking and revenue during these times of COVID19 and how they've been able to stand out by working with many others in the industry!
Mentioned In This Episode:
Dustin is a wild adventurer at heart from childhood and all the way to the current day. On this episode we talk about his natural love of being in the trees and his passion for building treehouses that are more than just a play area for kids but is truly a destination for all the wanderers and travelers around the globe!
We talk about his mission and concept with the newly launched Treewalkers brand under O2 Treehouse and how launching a Start Engine funding campaign in the middle of the pandemic actually gave them more drive and unexpected results than initially anticipated.
Do you want to invest in an amazing hospitality concept that is going to be more than a trend by becoming a sustainable way of travel, hosting, and innovation for generations to come!? Click here to see their funding campaign and become a real stakeholder today!
Also, sign up for the virtual Q&A Happy Hour happening via Zoom and the first 10 people to sign up, I will purchase your drink of choice! It's free and I will bring on past guests from the show to chat with us!
Mentioned in this episode:
Marcus Cornelious - Director of Sales and Marketing at the Sheraton Grand Hotel in Chicago.
What a guy to have on the show. He brings so much insight to how a bigger hotel like his (with over 1200 guest rooms) has been impacted by the COVID19 virus and even though they are still closed, he mentions something that is key for the outcome of all of this...
"We are no longer able to say that this is how things have always been and how we've always done it. I try to put systems in place and I can't because things are changing everyday and I have to throw out our playbook and constantly try new things. It's like we're not a corporate business anymore, we're really independent entrepreneurs of our own independent hotel. It's really quite exciting!"
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The man who was my first industry guest on the podcast has joined me again to talk about whats going on in todays world and how maybe hotels can learn something from the vacation rental industry. Adam Knight also has this episode on his podcast since it was a crossover so go give it some love and check out the Proven Principles Podcast!
Mentioned in this podcast:
An inception of podcasting! Adam Knight from Proven Principles Podcast invited Michael Tingsager from Hospitality Mavericks Podcast and myself all talked about how podcasting in the Hospitality Industry has impacted our businesses and careers for the best!
In this episode:
This guest shouldn't need any introduction. As you all can tell from the episode title, this episode is in memory of Anton Zilberberg the founder of Autohost. Unfortunately he passed away 4 days after recording this episode and the whole community and his family is heartbroken beyond belief.
This episode won't be sponsored or have any promotions on it. We want you all to just tune in and enjoy the amazing content and laughs Anton brought to the show. This is for you Anton, your family, and legacy.
Please send your love, prayers, thoughts out to his family, community, and team as we continue learning how to live without him by our side.
Michael Driedger is the CEO of Operto and we had the opportunity to sit and talk about how vacation rentals and hotels can benefit from using smart tech like Operto to help save money by implementing their devices and software to help with power effienceiis and automating the way we make sure we aren't over spending when it comes to utilities. From my hotel background, this is an absolute game changer, especially in these COVID times we are in now.
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For the second time featuring NoiseAware on the show, Michael Goldin the Director of Business Development and myself talk about the short, mid, and long term affects on the short term rental market with COVID19 and the current trends and chain of events that possibly are speeding up the evolution of the STR industry as a whole.
This episode is sponsored by Hostfully so make sure you check them out and use my promo code SLICKTALK20 to get 2 months free on their amazing guidebooks!
Mentioned in this episode:
A natural-born entrepreneur, Michael started his first company at the age of 18. From the age of 24, he worked for 4 years for a large international enterprise and was responsible for a turnover of 45 million euros per year. Thereafter he founded the online travel agency, Travelservice. Currently, he is CEO and co-founder of Bidroom, the world’s first membership-based zero commission hotel booking platform for frequent travelers.
In this episode we build off of the new (and working) approach Michael and his team at Bidroom have taken to change the way things currently are when it comes to OTAs, commission battles, and delivering the proper catered experience with 3rd party providers.
We are giving away FREE tickets to Bidrooms event brand, I Meet Hotel! It's a virtual conference for all hoteliers globally and we want you (yes, all of you) to take advantage of this! So, ALL Slick Talkers get a free ticket if you use this promo code! SlickTalk-IMH is the code and I hope to virtually see you all there!
In this episode:
I Meet Hotel - Virtual Conference & Free Tickets with code: SlickTalk-IMH
Shaun, Open Pantry Co’s founder has been an industry leader in Melbourne’s hospitality industry for over 20 years. Shaun has been a venue owner himself, he knows the commitment, effort and experience required to develop a concept into an award-winning, and profitable venture. He also knows how to develop a process to get there that’s enjoyable and rewarding for all involved.
This episode is a podcast crossover! You will hear us both discuss our industry experiences and background and how we have seen everything in the motion of hotels, accommodation, restaurants, cafes, you name it, we talked about it!
If you are truly in love with hospitality, I highly suggest you listen to this! All thoughts and feedback welcomed regarding anything you hear in this episode.
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What have we seen hotel and short term rental managers struggle with pre-COVID? What are we still seeing them struggle with during and post- COVID? What can we do as an industry to move forward and keep these pain points in the past? Brian Butler from EZcare and I talk about what he and I have seen and how you can apply these actionable skills to your business and actually come out on top when this is all said and done.
This episode is made possible by my friends at Hostfully! If you're looking at managing these pain points from this episode, Hostfully is definitely a great start! Plus they integrate with EZcare if you're interested in signing up with them as well!
Mentioned in this episode:
It is always a pleasure to talk to my friend Josh Kopel. A return guest on the show and an amazing hospitality innovator, Josh and I talk about what is needed coming from this global pandemic and current state of the industry as we are no longer settling for the way things used to be but how they need to be as we move forward as an industry.
You will not want to miss this.
Brought to you by Typsy! An amazing online learning platform for the whole hospitality industry! It's free until September 30th so go sign up today!
Mentioned in this episode:
Working in the hotel industry: We love it. We hate it. We can't escape it.
It's a Love Hate relationship with a lot of us in this industry. There is a lot we Love and there is some we Hate. Author of this hospitality book Love Hate Hotels, Tony Matthews, joins me and all of you Slick Talkers out there about his journey in the industry, the concept of the book and what he has done through his social media platform in order to build a business while still servicing the hotel world.
This episode is sponsored by Cleaning Certification by VR Scheduler! Use my code SlickTalk20 for 20% off and use this certification to help increase trust, confidence, and bookings!
Mentioned in this episode:
Building a true business isn't easy. It's hard work. It takes time. Chris Maughan is a man that knows this. Welcome back to the show Chris. Ceo and founder of AES in Cannes France and I-PRAC based in London and Cannes, we sit down and talk about the current state of the industry and how the rising tide is happening with trust and confidence at the forefront.
Chris and his I-PRAC team are also the headlining sponsors for the Destinationaire Award and on this episode you will hear the winners!
Sponsored by Cleaning Certification! Use my code SlickTalk20 for 20% off!
Mentioned in this episode:
Chris Maughan
Guidebooks, Property Management Platform, and overall well rounded company with a mission! That mission is to provide the best experience for guests and hosts! David Jacoby, President of Hostfully, sits down with me to discuss his personal journey leading up to the creation of Hostfully and where they are at today!
I am proud to also share that Hostfully is a Sponsor and Partner of the show! So go to Hostfully and use my code SlickTalk20 for 20% off their guidebooks AND two months free!! You wont regret this decision! Not only are we partners on the podcast but we also use Hostfully with my company, StayLux!
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A lover of food and "being on the other side of the bar", Jonathan Plowright saw a chance to make a difference and to make a different career change and started Typsy! Based in Australia but globally known, Typsy is a online learning platform for hospitality businesses and professionals to sharpen individual skills and to send out training and other company video content to make sure everyone is up to speed on current business operations.
In this episode Jonathan speaks about why he thinks a shift to "blended learning" is key for hospitality businesses and how Typsy can help!
I am also proud to say that Typsy and Slick Talk: The Hospitality Podcast are official partners! So go show these guys and gals some love and join today for free until September 30th!
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Crazy how plans change! This episode should've been recorded back in April of this year but of course, COVID happened and well, lets just say better late than never! Sapphire is the Director of Marketing for hospitality company, Wishbox! In this episode you'll hear all about the amazing tool hospitality providers (AKA Destinationaires™) use this in order to save time, increase revenue and profitability, and help keep the guest experience as a top priority!
Thank you to the show sponsor Cleaning Certification by VR Scheduler for providing all the Slick Talkers out there with an amazing offer of 20% off of the Cleaning Certification Course in order to help increase guest trust and occupancy during this time of COVID19 and beyond! You guys rock, so go use my code SLICKTALK20 for 20% off!
Mentioned in this episode:
The actual man, myth, and Legend! Eric Moeller is the co-founder of STR Legends and Profit Academy and during our episode we talk about his journey and the amazing things that have come through the power of mindset and being around the right people through Masterminds! Not only that but the true ability to see that growth doesn't always mean profitability, sometimes you need to trim the fat in order to truly optimize the property performance and guest experience!
Welcome to Season 5 of Slick Talk: The Hospitality Podcast
This episode is brought to you by the Cleaning Certification created by VR Scheduler. Use my code SLICKTALK20 to get 20% off and increase your occupancy with a trusted badge to showcase to your guests that you are the right and SAFE place to stay during these times of COVID19.
Mentioned in this episode:
Growing your business is always a good thing... unless you don't make any profit! This weeks episode was a special one because Simon Lehmann is a Legend in our industry and we got to talk about running your hospitality business the right way by not losing the guest and team experience and also remaining profitable! This episode is KEY during these times of COVID19 and you will hear why once you press play!
Thank you to one of my sponsors, Hostfully! Hostfully is a great property management software that helps you own your guest experience with the ability to brand and create remarkable guidebooks for your guests! Digital guidebooks are so important and needed more than ever with COVID19. Use the code: SLICKTALK20 to save 20% and to enhance your property operations with a Slick guidebook!
Mentioned in this episode:
Hostfully - Use code SLICKTALK20
Vacation Rentals. Boutique Hotel. Destinationaire! Michael Sjorgen is a man of both worlds when it comes to hospitality! Not only does he manage properties and run a hotel but he coaches others to do the same by changing their mindset! I've been following his journey for a few years through social media and just overall been a big fan of what he does.
In this episode you'll learn how he got into the industry, the craziness of renovating and rebranding a hotel, and what he has learned from his journey of STRs and how he applies it to todays world of being a Destinationaire in the midst of COVID19!
Mentioned in this episode:
STR Secrets Podcast (Michaels recently launched podcast!)
The Cove At Rockport (Newly launched hotel!)
We all have those people we look up to in life (at least I hope we all do!) and this episode has been in the making for over a year now! Ryan Snyder is a true Destinationaire! From hotels, restaurants, and beer crafting, Ryan shares his life journey with us and leading to what it takes to really become a storyteller in the ways of showcasing the unique and remarkable experiences we can create in the industry and within our local community!
On a personal note- I worked for Ryans properties in Cannon Beach, OR and knew there was something special there! As I grew in my career and moved on to different positions and getting to where I am today as a full time podcaster and business owner, Ryan has ALWAYS supported the show by sending me emails about episodes he liked and going into conversations about specific topics, and just being a mentor whenever I had questions or ideas! I've mentioned Ryan or Martin North a few times on the show just because of how much I think they truly represent the hospitality industry in a positive way!
This episode is sponsored by Renue Systems! Back in April, I had their CEO, David Grossman, on the show to discuss their impact during these times of COVID19 and what their doing to help their hotel partners get up and running again with their cleaning and sanitizing services! Go to their website and tell them I sent you!
Mentioned in this episode:
With extensive software development background, the owner and creator of VRScheduler, Jill Mason, joins me on the show to discuss her story that has lead her to collaborate with other industry professionals to bring the Cleaning Certification course to life. Designed to help hospitality providers in the short term rental and hotel space understand proper procedures and guidelines on how to clean a property during these times of COVID19 and as businesses/travel start to open back up!
Jill and I discussed many sub topics in this episode so make sure to give it a full listen! Anyone wanting to get the course can use my link here or reach out to either of us and we can get you on the right path! For every course purchased, $1 will be added to the Housekeeper relief fund created by Rented.com and for those who can't afford a course, I would love to help you and take care of the cost!
Mentioned in this episode:
With an extensive background in finances, Andrew McConnell the CEO of Rented.com, joins me on the show to talk about revenue management in the short term rental space by sharing our input and experiences of the importance of revenue management and how not only is every decision a brand decision, but how every decision is also a revenue decision.
You'll also here a little bit about how communicating your story/brand as a destination will greatly impact your business when it comes to the bottom line of great service (hospitality) and great revenue!
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The importance of booking direct is always going to be a favorite topic of mine and with many recent events, Damian & I finally sat down with one another (virtually of course) to talk about the Book Direct Movement and the amazing conference he has created for industry professionals to speak, share, and learn about how to gain and keep more direct bookings for their vacation rental, hotels, B&B, etc.
Not only will you hear more about Damian and his background but you will also notice that I will be a speaker during the upcoming Book Direct Show and I couldn't be more thankful to do so! Damian and myself have been in contact with each other prior to all the COVID19 stuff happening in the world and met in person in London for the Shortyz Awards and I am glad we are finally getting this discussion to all of you Slick Talkers out there!
Click here to sign up for the Book Direct Show and you will get to take advantage of my SLICK10 code for 10% off of your ticket purchase! Just use SLICK10 at your time of checkout!
Episode links:
Book Direct Show Website - Use SLICK10 for 10% off!
Book Direct Facebook Community Group
Announcement! If you would like to participate in the community blog on the Slick Talk website just click here and reach out about becoming a guest blogger to have your professional industry content showcased!
OMFGCO is a company based in Portland Oregon that "Builds Brands For Visionaries" and after this conversation with two of the co-founders (Jeremy & Fritz) I fully understood that statement. The three of us engaged in a conversation I found to be unique while very exciting! Most branding/marketing businesses wouldn't fully understand what it means to create an experience like these guys do.
Tune into this episode to hear us talk about the importance of branding and how "every decision is a brand decision."
OMFGCO is a complete studio and team of branding experts and interior designers that are some of the masterminds behind ACE Hotel, The Laylow Autograph Collection, and Stumptown Coffee!
Mentioned in this episode:
Fair and reasonable rules around short-term rentals are not only possible but essential for hosts, managers, and our communities.
Rent Responsibly helps short-term rental groups and their cities create the balance that actually works for a sustainable future for all.
Taking advantage of the free time at hand, David Krauss and myself sat down to discuss what it really takes to create a sustainable industry for all stakeholders involved in short term rentals and hospitality. We discuss his origin and roles prior to forming Rent Responsibly all the way to what action it takes in order to protect the assets and segment of hospitality we all know and love... the true key to protect the STR world is that it takes EVERYONE to be involved.
Play your part by taking this quick survey (literally only takes 4 minutes and 59 seconds out of your day and trust me, we all have the time) and help us better the future of short term rentals for ourselves and the next runners up to join the community.
All Mentioned In The Episode:
Survey Link - Complete by April 28th to be the voice for your city!
AirDNA Site - Use their newest market tools to keep up with the current data during the time of COVID19
March 24th, 2020 I was able to sit down with David Grossman, President of Renue Systems, to not only talk about what Renue Systems does in the hospitality industry but also regarding COVID19 and the next steps regarding cleaning procedures for hotels and how he and I see the industry shifting during and after this COVID19 pandemic.
"At Renue Systems, we can help you give them the cleanliness they want-and deserve. While you get professional-quality, on-time, on-budget care for your hotel or resort’s assets." -Renue President, David.
As the Vacation Rental Mastermind Series wraps up, I was in Florida on a part vacation and part work trip prior to the Coronavirus and met with Erica Mueller, CEO & Founder of Vrolio. Vrolio offers a full suite of tools, investment information, and data analytics on short-term rental properties. Their goal is to offer short-term rental investors a single place to buy and sell investment properties. In this episode you'll hear Erica and I talk about the amazing Star Wars house that we filmed/recorded at and what it takes to become an STR investor.
To book a stay at the Star Wars House, use the direct booking link to save 13% off!
When investing in STR properties, having a noise monitoring solution to protect your asset is key! Use my code SLICKTALK to get 15% off on your NoiseAware devices!
As a Certified Hospitality Revenue Manager (strategist is my preferred term), I was able to sit with Scott, the CEO & Founder of AirDNA, and geek out over his vacation rental data & analytic platform and the workings of its creation while discussing the fundamentals of revenue strategy and how his platform helps properties understand their markets and how to grow and increase their revenue.
To learn more about the tools provided by AirDNA you can go to their site here or check out the exclusive demo Scott and I did on the Slick Talker Community Facebook page!
Episode #8 of the Vacation Rental Mastermind Series:
Jeremy Gall founded FlipKey.com in 2006, and grew it into one of the world’s largest vacation rental listing and review sites before TripAdvisor’s acquisition in 2013. In working with thousands of vacation rental property managers, Jeremy saw a shift starting to take place - guests were expecting higher-quality properties and more concierge service.
Jeremy figured that these changing consumer dynamics would place a heavier burden on property managers, and that professionals would require purpose-built tools to handle heightened standards of property care and more service interactions. Breezeway was born soon after in 2016 with the mission to power the future of property care and service.
In this episode of Slick Talk, you will hear Jeremy and myself talk about his journey and our perspectives on the state of the industry and where we expect it to pivot as we believe the barrier of entry is rising. Jeremy is a pioneer in the industry and so to have this conversation and "geek out session" was beyond cool! Didn't even feel like I was recording an episode! Check out how Breezeway can help you and your property, hotel or vacation rental alike, Breezeway has the solution you need!
Jasper Ribbers, author of Get Paid For Your Pad and Podcast Host as well as one of the creators of STR Legends, sits down with me on Episode 7 of the Vacation Rental Mastermind Series to discuss the ways to level up your STR business and the journey of how he got to where he is today. If you haven't already listened to his podcast or seen his blog, you need to! Such a good amount of tools and resources!
This episode of Slick Talk is sponsored by NoiseAware, the only 100% privacy safe party prevention solution to help all hosts and managers to ensure the safety of their guests and properties! To learn more about how NoiseAware can help you, go to their site and when you purchase any of their devices, just use the promo code: SLICKTALK to get 15% off your purchase!
We've all heard the stories of a party gone wrong. There are so many "what ifs" that go through our head on how it could've been prevented. Well there is a solution for all Short Term Rental hosts and managers and that solution is NoiseAware. The only 100% privacy safe noise monitoring solution.
I got to go and spend some time with the NoiseAware team in Texas at their headquarters and sat down with Madison, Director of Marketing, and talked about there story, the rise of the brand, and what it actually means to be 100% privacy safe! Tune in and hear how NoiseAware can help you with your vacation rental business and the ways it helps prevent you from having to ask yourself the "what if" questions.
For all my listeners, we are giving you a discount code to use if you'd like to purchase any NoiseAware devices for your property! The team at NoiseAware and myself are always available to help answer questions and make sure you and your guests are taken care of! Use promo code: SLICKTALK to get 15% off your purchase!
With the amazing growth in travel, Chris Maughan the CEO of I-PRAC, had experienced a heartbreaking experience with some travelers that were scammed out of thousands of dollars while going on a family vacation and when he saw this, Chris knew he had to do something. As an expert in the short term rental industry and being the hospitality provider that he is, he knew it wouldn't get better by just talking about it. It would only get better by taking action.
Chris and I dive into a passionate conversation about fraud protection and verification. This is a topic that is discussed in the industry but not to the level that it should be. I-PRAC and myself want to open that conversation to all who care about the industry and our guests.
Join I-PRAC today to build trust with your guests!
Click Here and Join The Slick Talkers Community
This podcast is proudly sponsored by AirDNA click here to learn more!
Creating processes and tools to better benefit your guests and team is incredibly challenging sometimes. In this episode I sit down with Michael Robinson who is co-founder of StayShare! Stay Share’s unified platform increases revenue by empowering group bookings, split payments, insurance services and full integrations that improve the guest experience. They lower your risk and liability through their multi-guest insights and intelligent fraud detection. All with the security that the blockchain has to offer. I really enjoyed this episode and getting to know Michael and his team through some partnerships happening with the podcast and my other business called StayLux!
Vote for Slick Talk in the ShortyzAward show!
Become an OFFICIAL Slick Talker!
AirDNA is a proud sponsor of this podcast! To get on their tools mentioned in this episode, click here!
Episode 3 of the Vacation Rental Mastermind Series: Ingrid from TravelNest and I sit and discuss why its key to diversify your property on different channels and its importance when trying to reach different markets and guests! This is a very useful and important practice for anyone with one or more properties! We also get to see an inside look on what it takes for a company like TravelNest when it comes to partner relationships and how key of a role it is to ensure that everyone is on the same page and same goal!
Episode 2 of the Vacation Rental Mastermind Series is a very fun and exciting one as we (Meg from TravelNest & Myself) sat down and created our ways that you can make your STVR listing work in your favor to increase your bookings! This episode was created and designed for anyone who is really new or is looking to enhance their current listing! There is so much to cover but I think the TravelNest team has everyone covered! To learn more about TravelNest and what they can do to help you manage your listing(s) on more than one channel, just click here!
Also, don't forget to vote for Slick Talk for the #ShortyzAwards! Click here to vote!
Matt Landau is the host of Unlocked Podcast and the creator of VRMB (Vacation Rental Marketing Blog)! I consider him the worlds leading expert of vacation rentals! He and I sat down and discussed the "101 of hosting" and what it takes in this exciting journey and rise of the vacation rental sector of hospitality! This is a 10 episode/week series with the Masterminds involved in Vacation Rentals and so to start it off, Matt Landau was the perfect guest to have with me in the launch of the series that was all inspired by a blog post that Slick Talk was featured in! Tune in every week for the next 10 weeks in order to hear from Masterminds and the show sponsors! To see more about AirDNA click here! More to come out on the show with them and you can see it all by becoming an official "Slick Talker" through my online community coming soon!
Also, please vote for Slick Talk in the 2020 #ShortyzAward! Click here to vote!
Are you into Vacation Rentals? Are you into hospitality? Well, you're not going to want to miss this epic 10 episode series on Slick Talk!
I have sat down and talked with some of the biggest players in the Vacation Rental side of hospitality and we discussed anything and everything. From hosting and maximizing your property, management companies, tech, and fraud prevention for you and your guests, this series is a must listen to! What better way to start off the new year and decade!
More than 1 million vacant positions (and still growing faster than any other industry) hospitality is one of many industries that are struggling with a worker shortage. A new job is added every 2.5 seconds and employers are looking for candidates with very specific skills to fill positions who will thrive in a demanding, fast-paced environment.
Although it might seem like there aren't enough quality workers to fill every position, employers in the industry still have reason for hope as they look to build out their workforce. At least, that’s the belief of Ron Mitchell, CEO of Virgil, which owns Hcareers - a redesigned hospitality job platform.
Listen to this episode of Slick Talk: The Hospitality Podcast to see what Hcareers is all about and how you or an employer can really use this re-launched tool to your advantage!
Mike Acker, the professional speaker and author of "Speak With No Fear" is not only amazing at what he does but has been a close friend and mentor of mine from my early trouble maker days to the man I am today. Podcasting isn't as scary as speaking in front of a live crowd but the tools and fundamentals are applicable. I personally have applied these methods to how I podcast and couldn't be more thankful!
Give this episode a listen and I hope you enjoy!
Tidbits for the Emerging Hospitality Professional was designed to aid in the professional development for the next generation of hospitality professionals. The tidbits are useful and vital to developing and navigating a successful career in the hospitality industry. This book will benefit students and faculty of hospitality education by providing resources and strategies to excel academically and professionally in the hospitality industry. Tidbits for the Emerging Pineapple Professional serves as a guiding agent for career and professional development and the best practices in the hospitality environment. The resources provided are transferable to other business-related industries such as retail, sports management and entertainment. Hospitality students and emerging hospitality professionals will find this book as a solid road map to building a successful and meaningful career in the hospitality industry.
Highly recommend this book! If you want to win a FREE copy then just text "slicktalk" to 31996 and we will announce the winner January 3rd on all the social media platforms!!
I had the pleasure of having Melissa on my show during a very busy week! She is so talented in this subject as she should be because she has built her business off of this method and it works! A little bit about her:
Melissa Agnes is an author, keynote speaker, and strategic advisor to some of the world’s leading brands. She has worked with organizations from NATO to Hilton and just about everything in between. Her book “ Crisis Ready: Building an Invincible Brand in an Uncertain World ” is taught in higher education courses around the world, including in Harvard University and Homeland Security courses. About Crisis Ready (Melissa’s book): No matter the size, type, or industry of your business, Crisis Ready was designed to provide your team with the insight into how to be perfectly prepared for anything life throws at you. Organizations that are crisis ready are more than just resilient. They’re INVINCIBLE. Crisis Ready is the ultimate roadmap to business invincibility.
To find out more, go to here site: https://melissaagnes.com
So often marketers and hoteliers miss key points and aspects of the overall experience and in this episode, I was on the award winning Fuel Hotel Marketing Podcast with some amazing leaders in this industry! We put together our Top 5 Ways to Bridge The Gap Between Marketing and Operations and how that can be applied to any and every property!
So if you listen to my show then you need to also listen to Fuel Hotel Marketing Podcast as well! You will not regret it!
Aurmur is the changing and setting the standard on how guests check in with their unique smart lock system and automation for ensuring the little details for all guests are as smooth as can be. I had the pleasure of meeting with Curtis, the owner of Aurmur, and we talked about what has happened with his experience as an Airbnb & VRBO host in the Seattle market that created his unique tech and software for enhancing the guest experience along with the host experience and making it easier to be a better host.
Check out Aurmur and their unique services and of course, the Checkout Button!
As a hotelier and industry nerd, I have followed UP Hotel Agency on social medias because they have been doing things differently and I was attracted to them as a brand and a company making a noticeable difference in the industry! As my first international guest, David Ohandjanian and myself dive deep into hotel marketing and what that looks like in todays world for hotels and properties in general.
I love the Award Winning value David and his team bring to the industry and I think this is the episode all hoteliers should use to break down the tools that are available to them to make sure they secure direct bookings more than the OTA's do and of course engages the whole team in order to secure that human to human connection.
UP Hotel Agency site: uphotel.agency
Podcast site: slicktalkthepodcast.com
Want to attend the live podcast shows in Olympia Washington? Click Here!!
It's not often I get to do an episode with someone I have worked with before and so when Joshua and I connected about doing an episode, I knew we had to do it! I love the knowledge and depth Joshua brings to the table! This is a must listen!
Joshua Rockwell is the Assistant Director of Food & Beverage at the Omni Tucson National Resort, located in Tucson Arizona. Josh leads the food & beverage division for the resort, including: banquets & catering, three restaurants, a full service pool bar, In-Room Dining, and the servicing of two PGA golf courses.
Josh has worked in the hospitality industry for the past 20 years in numerous high end hotels and resorts including Hyatt Hotels, Marriott International, and Omni Hotels & Resorts, among others. Inside of those 20 years Josh served in the United States Navy as a Structural Mechanic of fighter jets and was deployed overseas for his entire service. After serving in the military Josh completed his bachelor degree in Hospitality Business Management at Washington State University.
"Leadership is a mindset, not a title"
To see what Omni Hotels is like check them out here!
Josh is available help anyone curious about the hospitality industry and answer questions about food & beverage operations or where the best places to eat in Arizona might be. He can be reached at joshua.rockwell@omnihotels.com.
Seth and I linked up on Instagram and got to talk about the ever-changing side of the industry called SEO and the powerful ways to use it at your best to increase your direct bookings and of course, getting the most bang for your buck for any of the independent properties out there in hotel and vacation rental markets!
To see the video go to: openroadhospitality.com/video
Thank you to River Inn at Seaside for letting us record on your beautiful property!
What a pleasure it was to have Victor from AllTheRooms on the show! We covered a lot of ground in this episode! From their origin story to growth and market shifts and changes in the industry, including hotel and short term rental markets!
AllTheRooms is the world’s first vacation rental search engine.
Search from a comprehensive list of top providers and more than 14,000,000 homes, cabins, cottages, condos, and beach houses in every nook and cranny on the globe.
Interviewed On My Own Show: The back story everyone has been waiting for and requesting! Chandler and I dive into my background and what sparked the idea of Slick Talk: The Hospitality Podcast. Listen and tell me your thoughts! Also, get ready for Podcast Merch! Link is on my website to pre-order!
I give some helpful hints and tips to make sure you, your team, and property get the most out of a much needed renovation!!
@WilSlickers on Instagram
YouTube: : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxvV_lhIlRdkUirSigRWxOQ/about?disable_polymer=1
Join me as I interview Emily Peterson the Estate Manager of this beautiful 22,000 sq ft Castle just 15 minutes outside of my home town and where I grew up!
www.GraystoneCastle.com
www.slicktalkthepodcast.com
As promised in my episode with Gabby, all the links to learn how to get involved in Stop The Silence a nonprofit in Spokane Washington as well as a platform to share your story if you or a loved on have ever been involved in domestic violence. This is something close to my heart as I have many friends and family that has needed help while being stuck in a horrible situation. So follow the links to learn more!
Industry update report! Do you think you would ever check-in to a hotel with everything and anything Taco Bell? Well, now you can starting August 9th in Palm Springs California!
This episode I had the pleasure to interview Drew Glover the CEO and Co-Founder of Welcome,
Welcome, curates moments for you to enhance the guest experience for your Airbnb, vacation properties, hotels, and any place of business!
We get to dive into Welcomes origin story and the future of the brand and what is to come! I have had a few big names and guest speakers on the show and I don't think I have been this excited to have someone on as I have been for this episode in particular! I guess you could say Drew and I got to nerd out on the hospitality industry and of course, enhancing guest experience!
"You don't need a box to enhance moments, you just need to look for them and take action!" - Drew Glover
Listen all the way through to hear a nice little surprise and of course, don't forget to like and subscribe!
www.getwelcomebox.com
www.slicktalkthepodcast.com/giveaway
My most well-known guest on Slick Talk! What an exciting episode to really dive into what the industry is all about and how to make the most out of the guest experience, receive more referrals and creating brand loyalty. Plus, Bill and I reveal a little industry secret called "Price Matching"
Many of you know what Price Matching is but do you know the value it brings to your property and your guests?
I am super excited to feature this hotel company! As a recent discovery for me on Instagram (@wilslickers) was Proper Hotels. This unique and game changer company has earned the 2nd Hospitality Spotlight on Slick Talk: The Hospitality Podcast!
I love their look, design, class, and overall brand that sets the standard for luxury lifestyle properties out there! To see more go to:
Back again for our 2nd episode out of 3 for our Restaurant Series. Scott Stanfield (thegmcoach.com) do a deep dive into proper training and how to get the most out of bringing on new staff members and ensure team culture will allow your staff to grow and create great experience in every aspect. Scott and I go a little longer on this episode because when it comes to this specific topic there is a lot to cover and lets be honest... we brought the heat! Great episode! Make sure to like and subscribe and share this with any and everyone in the industry. Scott and I will also have FREE training material on both of our websites!
slicktalkthepodcast.com
thegmcoach.com
I have been joined with 20+ year restaurant veteran, expert, and owner of The GM Coach (gmcoach.com), Scott Stanfield!
We dive into interviewing process for good workers and leaders as well as what to look for when hiring for any position! Great tips and tricks with a little bit of heart! This is episode one of three so make sure you don't miss out! Like & Subscribe Slick Talk: The Hospitality Podcast
www.slicktalkthepodcast.com/podcast
www.gmcoach.com
On this episode of Slick Talk: The Hospitality Podcast, I announce one of many awesome guest speakers I have coming on the show for our Three episode series as well as another guest that will be announced on a later date!
With this episode I quickly cover the main topics that have owners and brand leaders worried about the change in the industry and how they will adapt. Not only that but the concerns of increased labor costs, Airbnb, and the new aged travelers!
www.slicktalkthepodcast.com/podcast-sponsor
Finally an episode I get to go into my nerdy side of the industry and some topics I have passion about as a Hospitality Young Professional!
Listen and hear about how your property can gain more revenue and also working on preparations for the next downturn.
The topics of 2019 happen at the ALIS (Americas Lodging Investment Summit) and did I like the topics I heard! Offering Purpose, Tech Trials and Errors, and Covering The Safety Features I Recently Talked About In The Previous Episode: Safety. Signs. Security.
Welcome to Season 2! This episode is to cover multiple areas of safety in the industry. Safety as a staff, safety for guests, and all the way to sex trafficking. What are the big brands doing? What will smaller brands do to follow suit?
First solo episode in a while! Listen to my quick episode on how to really get started and do well in the vacation rental market for those of you looking to gain an extra stream of income or complete/start a passion project!
My first ever Hospitality Spotlight goes to a great local company called Martin North. With a well known collection of properties, I'll dive into why I picked them to receive the first spotlight feature!
Adam Knight and I dive into what the current market is like and how you or your employers can step it up to reduce turn-over rates and keep talented and driven staff to run a successful operation.
