This Earth Day, Dan Ryan welcomes back JoAnna Abrams, founder and CEO of MindClick, to make the case that sustainability isn't just good for the planet, it's good for business. JoAnna reveals how MindClick's product intelligence platform transforms the sustainability data already hiding in hotel FF&E purchases into a competitive weapon, winning corporate travel contracts, boosting sustainability ratings, and growing real revenue. With stories from the ground, including Hyatt Centric Fisherman's Wharf, and eye-opening stats on what ditching polystyrene packaging actually means for waste, this episode proves that going green and going profitable are finally pointing in the same direction. 🌍

About the Guest:

JoAnna Abrams is the founder and CEO of MindClick, a product intelligence platform helping hospitality companies unlock sustainability data across their supply chains. A multi-award winning trailblazer at the intersection of sustainability, supply chain, and finance, she has been recognized by Lodging Magazine as a female industry innovator, named a 2026 Inc. 500 Female Founders honoree, and selected for both the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership and the Imagine Program funded by former Unilever CEO Paul Polman.

Chapters:

00:46 Welcome JoAnna Abrams

02:00 Defining Hospitality Revisited

05:00 The ROI of Sustainability

07:30 EU Regulation Driving Corporate Demand

11:00 How Hotels Win Corporate Business with Sustainability

14:00 MindClick and Green Key Global

16:00 The Alo Index Platform Explained

19:00 Revenue Impact: 7–17% Market Share Increase

22:00 Training Sales Teams to Tell the Story

25:00 A Riskless Path for Hotel Owners

28:00 Connecting Guests and Frontline Staff

31:00 The Huntington Hotel Case Study

36:00 Polystyrene Elimination: The Numbers

40:00 Embodied Carbon and FF&E's Outsized Impact

44:00 What Hotels Can Control

47:00 Asset Value, Appraisals, and Resilience

50:00 Inc. 500, Cambridge, and the Road Ahead

52:00 How to Connect with MindClick

Quote of the Show:

"Today's suppliers need to understand that they're no longer just selling a product. They're selling a product with a story." - JoAnna Abrams

Building a hotel, brand, or guest experience? Reach out to Dan on LinkedIn or hit reply on the Substack to share what you’re working on.

Links:

• Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@defininghospitality?sub_confirmation=1
• Substack: https://www.defininghospitality.live/
• JoAnna Abrams’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannaabrams/
• MindClick: https://www.mindclick.com/
• Metropolis Magazine Article: https://metropolismag.com/viewpoints/four-new-roadblocks-on-the-path-to-sustainable-buildings/
• Dan Ryan LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thedailydanryan/

#DefiningHospitality #Sustainability #HospitalityDesign #HotelBusiness #GreenHospitality #SupplyChain #MindClick #CorporateTravel #HotelRevenue

In this episode of Defining Hospitality, Dan Ryan sits down with Walter Peseski, Senior Vice President of Asset Management at Garfield Public Private, to explore the often misunderstood world of hotel asset management and public private partnerships. Sponsored by BERMANFALK, this discussion uncovers how cities, universities, and hospitals are leveraging creative financing structures to build hotels that serve as economic catalysts for entire communities.

About the Guest:

Walter Peseski is the Senior Vice President of Asset Management at Garfield Public Private, a firm specializing in public private partnerships for hotels, convention centers, and cultural infrastructure. With over 20 years of experience in hotel operations and asset management, Walter has built a career bridging the gap between public entities and private developers to bring transformative hospitality projects to life. An adjunct professor at Dallas Baptist University and contributor to Hotels Magazine, Walter is passionate about educating the next generation on the full scope of opportunity that exists within the hospitality industry that goes far beyond the front desk.

Chapters:

01:00 Introducing Walter Peseski

02:00 What Does Hospitality Mean to You?

03:00 The Valentine's Day Server Story

05:00 When Was the Last Time Service Was Memorable?

06:00 What Makes Garfield Public Private Unique?

09:00 The Role of Asset Management vs. Hotel Management Companies

13:00 How Ownership Groups Get Involved

15:00 When Does Third Party Asset Management Make Sense?

17:00 Hotels Are a Different Beast Than Multifamily

19:00 Navigating Brand Standards & CapEx

21:00 Hilton's Carrot and Stick Fee Structure

23:00 Downscaling Brands & the "Under Demolished" Theory

27:00 Blind Spots Small Operators Miss

29:00 The F&B Double Edged Sword

33:00 When Brand Standards Become a Straitjacket

34:00 What Makes a Good Deal vs. a Great Deal in Public Private

36:00 Why Cities Invest in Hotels

38:00 Where Garfield Is Seeing the Most Opportunity

39:00 How Cities Finance These Projects With Bonds

42:00 The Sweet Spot: Upscale to Upper Upscale

43:00 Why Walter Started Teaching

45:00 Career Advice for Anyone Entering Hospitality

49:00 What Walter Is Most Excited About

51:00 How to Connect With Walter & Outro

Quote of the Show:

"It's not how fast can we increase the value of this hotel and flip it. It's how can this hotel contribute to the community." - Walter Peseski

Building a hotel, brand, or guest experience? Reach out to Dan on LinkedIn or hit reply on the Substack to share what you’re working on.

Links:

• Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@defininghospitality?sub_confirmation=1
• Substack: https://www.defininghospitality.live/
• BERMANFALK: https://www.bermanfalk.com/
• Ed Bakos LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edmond-bakos-62102014/
• Champalimaud Design: https://www.champalimaud.design/
• Help preserve a generation of American history: https://www.tunisonfoundation.org/donate
• Dan Ryan LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thedailydanryan/

Tags:

#DefiningHospitality #AssetManagement #PublicPrivatePartnership #HotelDevelopment #HospitalityBusiness #HotelInvestment

In this episode of Defining Hospitality, Dan Ryan sits down with Ed Bakos, CEO of Champalimaud Design, to explore the evolving dimensions of hospitality in the design world. Sponsored by BERMANFALK, this discussion uncovers how the nuances of design, from emotional exchanges to anticipating guest needs, define luxury and authenticity in the hospitality industry today.

About the Guest:

Ed Bakos is the CEO of Champalimaud Design, a New York-based firm renowned for its innovative approach to hospitality design. With over 30 years of experience, Ed has continually pushed the boundaries of what luxury and hospitality can achieve through strategic and emotionally resonant design. His commitment to fostering talented teams and creating memorable experiences makes his work a benchmark in the industry.

Chapters:

00:46 Welcome Ed Bakos

02:12 What Hospitality Means

04:04 Early Career Origins

07:30 First W Hotel Breakthrough

11:07 Heavenly Bed Innovation

14:13 Alexandra Legacy

18:31 Mosaic Team Culture

24:49 Flat Hierarchy Best Ideas

27:20 Project Example Clarity

28:29 Ideas From Anywhere

29:10 Designing Anticipated Needs

31:23 Service Defines Luxury

32:44 Turning Constraints Into Magic

34:59 Building A Creative Culture

37:02 Managing Creative Anxiety

40:47 Choosing The Right Clients

44:29 Aviation Passion And Purpose

49:08 Flying The C47 Across Atlantic

50:58 Remembering History And Closing

Quote of the Show:

"Design is a relationship between different things. Why do certain combinations of things provide us with more satisfaction? Certain combinations in certain settings are… highly successful and can be highly successful." - Ed Bakos

Building a hotel, brand, or guest experience? Reach out to Dan on LinkedIn or hit reply on the Substack to share what you’re working on.

Links:

• Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@defininghospitality?sub_confirmation=1
• Substack: https://www.defininghospitality.live/
• BERMANFALK: https://www.bermanfalk.com/
• Ed Bakos LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edmond-bakos-62102014/
• Champalimaud Design: https://www.champalimaud.design/
• Dan Ryan LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thedailydanryan/

Tags:

#DefiningHospitality #HospitalityDesign #HotelDesign #GuestExperience #DesignAnticipation #HotelInnovation

In this episode of Defining Hospitality, Dan Ryan sits down with Thomas Oh, Co-Founder & General Manager of Perilla Korean American Steakhouse, and Daphne Shin, Founder & Principal Designer of the Ruimte, two passionate creators working at the intersection of culture, cuisine, and design. Sponsored by BERMANFALK, the episode delves into the unique approach Thomas and Daphne take to blend Korean cultural elements into their business ventures in Chicago.

About the Guests:

Thomas Oh is the co-founder and director of operations at Perilla Korean American Steakhouse. With a mission to introduce Korean culture through dining experiences, Thomas highlights the seamless integration of Korean and American culinary elements at Perilla.

Daphne Shin is the founder and principal designer of the Ruimte, an interior design firm. Through her design work at L7 Hotel, Daphne strives to create environments where every guest, regardless of background, feels at home.

Chapters:

02:26 Defining Hospitality

04:38 Building L7 Chicago

06:33 Designing Perilla Steakhouse

15:26 Korean DNA in the Hotel

19:40 Reception in Chicago

24:49 The K Wave Momentum

27:28 Entrepreneur Lessons

30:08 Teamwork Solves Problems

30:43 Exhaust System Collaboration

32:13 Sponsor Sustainability Note

32:48 Immigrant Path to Hospitality

34:56 Little Victories in Service

38:17 Design vs Operations Reality

42:15 Dream Projects and Timelessness

46:35 Hotel and Restaurant Synergy

49:43 How Lotte Found Them

51:09 Luck Meets Hard Work

53:27 Closing Thanks and Farewell

Quote of the Show:

"It's exciting for me and for the team here, for them to come into our space… We're not screaming this is Korean to them, but they're loving the design of this restaurant and the hotel." - Thomas Oh

Building a hotel, brand, or guest experience? Reach out to Dan on LinkedIn or hit reply on the Substack to share what you’re working on.

Links:

• Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@defininghospitality?sub_confirmation=1
• Substack: https://www.defininghospitality.live/
• BERMANFALK: https://www.bermanfalk.com/
• Thomas Oh LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-oh-b6164570/
• Daphne Shin LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daphne-shin-1a223b44/
• Daphne Shin Email: daphne@theruimte.com
• Dan Ryan LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thedailydanryan/

Tags:

#hospitality #Koreancuisine #design #Kwave #defininghospitality #podcasting #ChicagoDining

In this episode of Defining Hospitality, Dan Ryan sits down with Michaelangelo L’Acqua, a global entertainment director and music/lifestyle branding expert, to discuss hospitality as “infrastructure” built through sound, motifs, and emotional arcs across dayparts. Sponsored by BERMANFALK, this conversation dives into shifting luxury expectations, analog-era craft, and mentoring creatives within business-driven environments.

Michelangelo shares how sound serves as the unseen architect in the world of hospitality, crafting emotional journeys for guests.

About the Guest:

Michaelangelo L'Acqua is a Global Entertainment Director and Founder of his creative strategy agency, L'Acqua Agenzia. With a legacy of working with iconic brands like Virgin Voyages and W Hotels, he brings decades of experience in music branding and luxury lifestyle curation. Known for pioneering concepts like the Sonic Identity Brand Bible, L'Acqua remains a leading voice in integrating sound as a critical component of the hospitality experience, continuously shaping the future of how spaces sound and resonate with their audience.

Chapters:

01:17 Whale Shark Memories

02:51 What Hospitality Means

03:52 Sonic Architect Idea

05:09 Motifs and Brand Magic

07:04 Building a Sonic Bible

10:18 Sound Drives Revenue

12:32 Mentors and Early Grind

14:29 Tom Ford Breakthrough

17:37 From Fashion to Hotels

20:30 Analog Era Work Ethic

23:04 Staying Relevant in Luxury

27:27 Timeless Formulas and Flow

30:57 Building Sonic Brand DNA

33:04 Virgin Voyages Layer Cake

36:59 W Hotel Reinvents Hospitality

39:45 Finding Local Tastemakers

41:29 Mentorship Over Ego

44:44 Sound Beats Brick

48:07 Next Decade Soundtrack

50:49 Timeless Meets New

53:30 Hall of Fame Tangent

55:46 Wrap Up And Connect

Quote of the Show:

"I truly believe that there are moments I can really tap into unconscious feelings within somebody. And if I can do that… you're gonna walk away from that experience and say that was a great night. I don't know why, but it was just special." - Michelangelo L’Acqua

Building a hotel, brand, or guest experience? Reach out to Dan on LinkedIn or hit reply on the Substack to share what you’re working on.

Links:

• Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@defininghospitality?sub_confirmation=1
• Substack: https://www.defininghospitality.live/
• BERMANFALK: https://www.bermanfalk.com/
• Michelangelo L’Acqua LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelangelo-lacqua/
• Starwood Hotels: https://www.starwoodhotels.com/
• Dan Ryan LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thedailydanryan/

Tags:

#DefiningHospitality #HospitalityDesign #HotelDesign #GuestExperience #SonicArchitect #HotelInnovation

In this episode of Defining Hospitality, Dan Ryan sits down with Saxton Sharad to explore how hospitality and hotel design are evolving for today’s guest experience. Sponsored by BERMANFALK, this conversation dives into micro vacations, invisible hospitality, and how modern leadership is reshaping the way hotels connect with travelers.

Saxton shares how Hideaway Inns is redefining hospitality by blending local authenticity, frictionless experiences, and thoughtful design to meet the expectations of millennials and Gen Z guests.

About the Guest:

Saxton Sharad is the Founder and CEO of Revival Hotels and Hideaway Inns, where he’s building a portfolio of design-forward boutique properties in destinations like Mount Sunapee, Mount Snow, and Lenox. He previously helped scale Graduate Hotels and has worked across major brands, but is now pioneering a high-margin “invisible hospitality” model that’s delivering additional operating profit across his properties.

Chapters:

01:15 Office Vibes And Intentionality

03:03 Defining Hospitality

05:58 Origins Of The Philosophy

07:51 Unplugging And Micro Breaks

09:18 Hideaway Inns Vision

11:00 Millennial Travel Shift

14:15 Building From Guest Research

17:02 Authenticity And Giving Back

25:59 Invisible Hospitality Platform

30:30 Innkeeper Model Explained

36:11 Owner Economics And Margins

39:58 Lease Deal Sweeteners

40:36 Scale And Tech Advantage

44:35 Innkeeper Career Model

46:53 Fixing Hospitality Turnover

48:15 Design Led Growth Plan

50:00 Fandom And Regional Focus

56:21 Revival Management Focus

58:41 Invisible Or Full Service

01:01:35 Authenticity Through Local Art

01:03:27 Berkshires Travel Pitch

01:07:59 Wrap Up And Thanks

Quote of the Show:

“ I don't care how talented you are or how much money you have in your pocket, you cannot be good at everything. Step into what you're good at, find that strength, and live that strength.” - Saxton Sharad

Building a hotel, brand, or guest experience? Reach out to Dan on LinkedIn or hit reply on the Substack to share what you’re working on.

Links:

• Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@defininghospitality?sub_confirmation=1
• Substack: https://www.defininghospitality.live/
• BERMANFALK: https://www.bermanfalk.com/
• Saxton Sharad LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saxton-sharad-cha-6642a49/
• Hideaway Inns: https://www.hideawayinns.com/
• Dan Ryan LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thedailydanryan/

Tags:

#DefiningHospitality #HospitalityDesign #HotelDesign #GuestExperience #MillennialTravel #BoutiqueHotels #HotelInnovation

How do relationships shape the hospitality industry?

In this episode of Defining Hospitality, Dan Ryan explores how relationships fundamentally shape the hospitality industry with guest Stephanie Hopkins. As an experienced interior designer and brand specialist, Hopkins shares insights into her extensive career and the essential role that relationships and strategic growth play in navigating the complexities of hospitality.

Takeaways:

• Relationships often transcend profession. Stephanie explains that once you get involved in hospitality, it's challenging to leave because it becomes ingrained in your soul.
• Varied experiences can lead to a dynamic career path. Stephanie's journey from design to brand specialist and back highlights the diverse opportunities within the hospitality industry.
• Relationships hold significant value. Throughout her career, Stephanie learned to leverage relationships and networks, which allowed her to effectively navigate complex brand environments and developer needs, saving valuable time and resources.
• Brand development ties to long-term success. Stephanie emphasizes the importance of understanding and maintaining a brand's essence, going so far to say 'no' to potential changes that could dilute a brand’s core
• Diversified portfolios show skill. B2 Design Co’s portfolio spans across multiple sectors like multifamily, senior living, student housing, and hospitality, showcasing their ability to adapt and thrive by integrating hospitality concepts into various living environments.
• Storytelling in design ensures a cohesive experience. Successful projects often have a well-grounded design narrative that is consistently implemented across all stages.

Quote of the Show:

“Being able to ascertain… is that going to compromise the essence of the brand? You have to get to that point and you may have to say no to some really powerful ownership groups.” - Stephanie Hopkins

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-hopkins-28445a71/
• Stephanie’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/steph_the_hop/
• B2 Design Co’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/b2design.co/
• Company website: https://www.b2designco.com/

Shout Outs:

• 1:13 - Tony Chi - https://tonychi.com/
• 1:14 - Marriott - https://www.marriott.com/
• 1:15 - Moxie Brand - https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/moxy-hotels/
• 1:16 - B2 Design Co - https://b2dc.com/
• 17:10 - Hyatt - https://www.hyatt.com/
• 21:20 - Marriott Bonvoy - https://www.marriott.com/loyalty.mi
• 30:33 - Tulane University - https://www.tulane.edu/

🏨✨ Defining Hospitality is Sponsored by Berman Falk https://www.bermanfalk.com/ - Check out their impact page! 🌍🌱 https://www.bermanfalk.com/impact/

Ways to Tune In:

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0A2XOJvb6mGqEPYJ5bilPX
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/defining-hospitality-podcast/id1573596386
• Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZGVmaW5pbmdob3NwaXRhbGl0eS5saXZlL2ZlZWQueG1s
• Amazon Music: ​​https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/8c904932-90fa-41c3-813e-1cb8f3c42419
• Transistor: https://www.defininghospitality.live/