The Hospitality Mentor – Détails, épisodes et analyse

In this episode of the Hospitality Mentor Podcast, host Steve Turk interviews Fernando Rojas, partner of Agency BE. Fernando shares his unique journey from his early passion for banking in Ecuador to his flourishing career in the hospitality and events industry. He discusses his adventurous move to the UAE, the challenges of launching an event company in Miami, and his current project, the World Travel Expo (WTE Miami) 2024, highlighting how curiosity and risk-taking have driven his success. Listeners can expect insights on entrepreneurial perseverance, the evolution of Agency BE, and the importance of the WTE Miami show.

00:00 Introduction to the Hospitality Mentor Podcast

00:37 Meet Fernando Rojas: Partner of Agency BE

01:21 Current Projects: World Travel Expo 2024

02:53 Fernando's Journey: From Banking to Hospitality

07:29 Life in the UAE: Cultural Experiences and Challenges

13:47 Starting a New Life in Miami

15:24 The Birth of Agency BE

20:37 Challenges and Lessons in the Event Industry

23:44 The Turning Point: Winning the Fontainebleau Contract

24:38 Overcoming Fear and Embracing Curiosity

26:43 The Dynamic World of Event Management

30:17 The Evolution of Blooming Events

33:58 Launching the World Travel Expo

46:12 Advice to Young Entrepreneurs

50:13 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In this episode of the Hospitality Mentor Podcast, host Steve Turk sits down with Cesar Wurm, Vice President of Commercial, Premium Brands for IHG® Hotels & Resorts and an accomplished author. Cesar shares his unique journey from an overnight room service assistant in Sao Paulo to a key figure in the hospitality industry. Listeners will gain insights into Cesar's career progression, his struggles with addiction, and how he overcame them. The discussion also touches on the industry's challenges, resilience, and the importance of being true to oneself. Cesar’s story is both inspiring and educational, providing valuable lessons for both seasoned professionals and newcomers in hospitality.

00:00 Introduction to the Hospitality Mentor Podcast

00:35 Meet Cesar Wurm: Vice President of Commercial for IHG

01:14 Cesar's First Job in Hospitality

05:20 The Journey from Room Service to Sales

05:31 Transitioning to International Experience

09:52 Returning to Sheraton as Director of Sales

12:31 Joining Starwood Hotels

16:08 The Move to Trust Hospitality

19:11 Joining Intercontinental Hotels

26:51 Teaching and Giving Back to the Community

29:43 Aligning Personal and Professional Causes

30:18 Returning to IHG: A Career Move

33:10 Navigating New Roles and Responsibilities

35:03 Driving Business in the Hospitality Industry

38:00 Challenges and Opportunities in Hospitality

42:04 The Power of Addiction: A Personal Journey

54:37 Advice for the Next Generation

01:01:13 Final Thoughts and Contact Information

Chatting with Hotel Innovator Ryan Rivett. Dive into the exciting world of hotel life with Ryan Rivett, the brain behind MyPlace Hotels. We're talking about how he started a unique hotel brand, his adventures in the business, and what it takes to stand out in the busy world of hospitality.

Ryan opens up about his grandad's legacy with Super 8 Motels and how MyPlace Hotels is changing the game in staying overnight. Join us for a journey through the ins and outs of creating a place that feels like ‘My Place’ every time you visit.

Listen in for a behind-the-scenes look at the hotel business, straight from a pro.

In this week's episode, Steve is joined by Raul Leal, Chief Executive Officer at SH Hotels & Resorts. Prior to leading SH Hotels & Resorts, Raul was the President & CEO of Virgin Hotels where he oversaw the launch of five Virgin-branded hotels and began the development of 10 more. Raul's resume is chalk full of other impressive roles, such as President/Partner-Hotel Owner at Desires Hotels and General Manager of Interstate Hotels & Resorts. Throughout this episode, Raul shares his inspiring career journey and what he has learned while building some of the biggest hotel and hospitality brand names. Raul talks about his early jobs in the hotel industry, when he caught the entrepreneurial bug, how he met Richard Branson and began working for Virgin Hotels, projects he is currently working on, how mentorship has influenced his career, and so much more.

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In today's episode, Steve is joined by Chef Donatella Arpaia. Chef Donatella has made a name for herself, opening up some of New York City's top restaurants and appearing consistently on TV as an Iron Chef Judge. Now based in Miami, Chef Donatella is opening up her first restaurant in South Florida, Noma Beach at Redfish. Throughout this episode, Donatella talks about how she successfully built a career as a restaurateur after she made the decision to leave her job as an attorney. You will hear about the different restaurants she has opened, why she decided to go to culinary school, how she became a judge on Iron Chef, why she left New York to come down to Miami, and what her vision is for her Noma Beach at Redfish.

RealTime Reservation Offer

This episode is brought to you by our podcast partners at RealTime Reservation. Their inventory management system is best in class for hotels and resorts to manage their non-room inventory.

The web-based application allows for creative upselling of overnight and daytime visitors with add-ons and pre-planned packages. Hotel guests and non-guests can reserve cabanas, pool chairs, activities, amenities, excursions, events, day passes, and much more.

To learn more check them out here!

TrayAway Offer

Enhance your guest experience while ensuring beautiful hotel hallways are never cluttered with dirty room service trays. Use Promo Code TURK10 for a 10% discount on all TrayAway products and services

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today's episode, Steve is joined by Adam Harris, CEO and Cofounder of Cloudbeds. With a diversified finance, transmedia marketing, and web technologies background, Adam's previous roles range from being a technology investment banker, a technology consultant to emerging business, and the founder of numerous technology start-ups. Since launching in 2012, the awardwinning Cloudbeds Hospitality Platform combines operations, revenue, distribution, and growth marketing tech tools to help hoteliers and hosts grow revenue, streamline operations, and deliver top tier guest experiences.

Throughout this episode, Adam talks about his background working with tech startups, the inspiration to create Cloudbeds, what painpoints Cloudbeds helps to solve in the hospitality industry, how the industry continues to evolve with technology, what he has learned throughout his career, and more.

RealTime Reservation Offer

This episode is brought to you by our podcast partners at RealTime Reservation. Their inventory management system is best in class for hotels and resorts to manage their non-room inventory.

The web-based application allows for creative upselling of overnight and daytime visitors with add-ons and pre-planned packages. Hotel guests and non-guests can reserve cabanas, pool chairs, activities, amenities, excursions, events, day passes, and much more.

To learn more check them out here!

TrayAway Offer

Enhance your guest experience while ensuring beautiful hotel hallways are never cluttered with dirty room service trays. Use Promo Code TURK10 for a 10% discount on all TrayAway products and services

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today's episode, Steve is joined by Cessie Cerrato, public relations and social media marketing expert. Prior to founding her own agency, Cessie C. Communications, Cessie led global PR, and social media influencer brand partnerships in her role as Vice President of Public Relations for Palace Resorts and Le Blanc Spa Resorts, a chain of ten luxury resorts in Mexico and Jamaica. During her career, she has delivered impressive public relations results for top brands including Visit Mexico, Visit Cancun, Aeromexico, Expedia, Avis Budget Group, the Israel Ministry of Tourism, Hotel Wales New York, ESPN Deportes and Bacardi. Since starting her own agency, Cessie C. Communications, she has drives results for clients in the lifestyle, beauty, travel, and hospitality sectors.

Throughout this episode, Cessie shares her career journey in marketing and PR. She talks about her early jobs in hospitality, what it was like working PR for hotels in Miami, what gave her the courage to move to New York City, why relationship building is pivotal for growing your business, the impact social media has had on PR and marketing, and what it's been like since starting her own agency.

RealTime Reservation Offer

This episode is brought to you by our podcast partners at RealTime Reservation. Their inventory management system is best in class for hotels and resorts to manage their non-room inventory.

The web-based application allows for creative upselling of overnight and daytime visitors with add-ons and pre-planned packages. Hotel guests and non-guests can reserve cabanas, pool chairs, activities, amenities, excursions, events, day passes, and much more.

To learn more check them out here!

TrayAway Offer

Enhance your guest experience while ensuring beautiful hotel hallways are never cluttered with dirty room service trays. Use Promo Code TURK10 for a 10% discount on all TrayAway products and services

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today's episode, Steve is joined by Jennifer Kaminski. With more than 19 years of experience, Jennifer has developed a niche in directing and leading on-trend lifestyle and luxury brands as it relates to their strategies involving digital marketing, brand management, PR, social media, content creation, and partnerships. She is the Founder & Managing Director at Social Thinking, a marketing and branding agency as well as the Managing Partner at 2 Korean Girls, a Korean ghost kitchen in Miami.

Throughout this episode, Jennifer talks with Steve about her marketing career and what led her sister and her to create 2 Korean Girls. She talks about the changes she saw in marketing with the rise of social media, the process building a ghost kitchen, how packaging and branding has impacted 2 Korean Girls success, and more.

RealTime Reservation Offer

This episode is brought to you by our podcast partners at RealTime Reservation. Their inventory management system is best in class for hotels and resorts to manage their non-room inventory.

The web-based application allows for creative upselling of overnight and daytime visitors with add-ons and pre-planned packages. Hotel guests and non-guests can reserve cabanas, pool chairs, activities, amenities, excursions, events, day passes, and much more.

To learn more check them out here!

TrayAway Offer

Enhance your guest experience while ensuring beautiful hotel hallways are never cluttered with dirty room service trays. Use Promo Code TURK10 for a 10% discount on all TrayAway products and services

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today's episode, Steve is joined by his friend and fraternity brother, Memphis Garrett. Since their days together at Florida State University, Memphis has created a successful career in hospitality for himself and is now the founder and CEO of Garrett Hospitality Group. He has opened around 40 restaurants and nightclubs throughout his career and has launched some of South Florida’s most acclaimed food and beverage concepts. Throughout this conversation, Memphis talks with Steve about how he was motivated to make hospitality a career, working with SBE, why he decided to start Garrett Hospitality Group, and what his advice is for other hospitality professionals.

RealTime Reservation Offer

This episode is brought to you by our podcast partners at RealTime Reservation. Their inventory management system is best in class for hotels and resorts to manage their non-room inventory.

The web-based application allows for creative upselling of overnight and daytime visitors with add-ons and pre-planned packages. Hotel guests and non-guests can reserve cabanas, pool chairs, activities, amenities, excursions, events, day passes, and much more.

To learn more check them out here!

TrayAway Offer

Enhance your guest experience while ensuring beautiful hotel hallways are never cluttered with dirty room service trays. Use Promo Code TURK10 for a 10% discount on all TrayAway products and services

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Steve is joined by Jeffrey Klein, the Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer at Williams Island. Williams Island in South Florida offers a private, exclusive, and amenity-rich lifestyle to residents that prefer the finer things in life. Prior to working at Williams Island, Jeffrey was the Vice President and Managing Director at the JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa, Vice President of Operations, Food & Beverage at Fontainebleau Miami Beach, and the Director of Food & Beverage at Loews Hotels & Co. Throughout this conversation, Jeffrey talks with Steve about how he went from managing a Dairy Queen at the start of his career to working for some of the best companies in hospitality. You will hear about the transitions between Jeffrey's different roles, what he learned from each of them, and how mentorship has played a foundational role in his hospitality career.

RealTime Reservation Offer

This episode is brought to you by our podcast partners at RealTime Reservation. Their inventory management system is best in class for hotels and resorts to manage their non-room inventory.

The web-based application allows for creative upselling of overnight and daytime visitors with add-ons and pre-planned packages. Hotel guests and non-guests can reserve cabanas, pool chairs, activities, amenities, excursions, events, day passes, and much more.

To learn more check them out here!

TrayAway Offer

Enhance your guest experience while ensuring beautiful hotel hallways are never cluttered with dirty room service trays. Use Promo Code TURK10 for a 10% discount on all TrayAway products and services

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices