Foundry Talks: The Hospitality Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Jacki Brown has spent 20 years in marketing, from consumer brands like Shark Vaccum and Ninja Blender to the B2B hospitality tech world. Today she runs Jacki Brown Marketing, a fractional consultancy helping hospitality tech companies build the marketing foundations they need to actually grow.

In this episode, Jacki and Rachel dig into why so many hotel tech companies are getting their messaging wrong and what it takes to fix it. Jacki shares how she approaches positioning from both sides of the table, having marketed to hotels and now helping tech vendors understand how to reach them. They get into why narrowing your target audience is the hardest thing for founders to do and why it's non-negotiable, the number one thing Jacki does before touching any marketing strategy (hint: it involves the sales team), and how hotel tech messaging has swung from feature dumps to vague value statements and where it needs to go next. They also talk about why data fragmentation is still the biggest pain point she hears from hotels heading into 2026, the difference between selling to a management company versus an independent property, and what genuinely great hospitality looks like when everything else goes wrong.

Resources mentioned: Jacki Brown Marketing at jackibrownmarketing.com and her free training deck Introduction to Hospitality for Tech Leaders at jackibrownmarketing.com/resources/introduction-to-hospitality-for-tech-leaders

In this episode of Foundry Talks, we sit down with Scott Cleveland, Director of Marketing at USA Camping Company, to explore how AI is reshaping outdoor hospitality. From scaling a growing portfolio of campgrounds and glamping resorts to building smarter marketing systems with a lean team, Scott shares how automation, segmentation, and data analysis are driving measurable growth. We discuss what is fueling the glamping boom, how reviews influence booking decisions more than many operators realize, and why product and pricing still matter more than any marketing tactic.

If you work in hospitality, travel, or oversee multiple properties, this conversation offers a practical look at using AI strategically without losing the human element. Scott walks through the tools, tech stack decisions, and lessons learned from scaling from just a handful of properties to a rapidly expanding outdoor brand, along with what the future of camping and experiential stays may look like next.

What happens when three co-founders sit down to reflect on 20 episodes of hospitality industry conversations? In this milestone episode, Rachel Stojanovski reunites with Derrick Hales and Trey Evans, her guests from episode one, to unpack the biggest learnings, surprises, and patterns that have emerged from their conversations with hospitality leaders.

Discover the common threads running through every guest interview, what's genuinely surprised the founders about the current state of hospitality marketing, and get an exclusive sneak peek at findings from the upcoming 2026 industry report. If you're a hotelier, marketing professional, or anyone working in hospitality, this behind-the-scenes look at the conversations shaping the industry offers valuable insights you won't want to miss.

Hosted by Rachel Stojanovski with co-founders Derrick Hales and Trey Evans.

In this episode of Foundry Talks, Rachel sits down with Christine Malfair, consultant, coach, and founder of Malfair Marketing. With a background as a hotel general manager, Christine has lived the reality of stretched teams and endless marketing shoulds. She now helps hotels cut through the noise with lean marketing strategies that focus on what truly works. Together they explore why OTA dependence costs more than just commission, how to turn first-time guests into loyal ones, simple ways to remove friction from the guest journey, and how hoteliers can find clarity and focus in an overwhelming landscape. If you have ever felt the pressure to do more with less, this conversation will give you a roadmap to smarter, more sustainable hotel marketing.

What makes guests return to Alisal Ranch year after year? Lia Carhartt, Director of Marketing, explains how the 10,500-acre, family-owned property minutes from Solvang creates an emotional connection through authenticity, nostalgia, and simpler times, without sacrificing modern comfort. Lia walks us through a thoughtful brand refresh that elevated Alisal’s luxury profile while staying true to its Western roots, and how “sense of place” shows up in everything: native-plant bath amenities, partnerships with local wineries, and menus grounded in the Central Coast.

We also unpack programming that drives both bookings and loyalty with deeper conversation on BBQ Bootcamps, women’s retreats, wellness weekends, and festive activations like a Hanukkah dinner, alongside a varied playbook for UGC and influencer trade stays. Finally, Lia shares how cross-department buy-in, guest surveys, and engagement metrics measure success, and why spring is the season that captures Alisal at its green, wildflower-studded best.

Idaho is having a moment of tremendous growth and State Controller Brandon Woolf is in the engine room. In this episode, we dig into how the state pays 37,000 employees, manages billions in public funds, and turns 2.5 million acres of endowment lands, especially timber, into sustained support for K–12 schools. Woolf breaks down what’s really driving the boom, which revenues tourism actually touches, and why openness matters, from the Transparent.

We also talk about trade-offs: housing affordability, infrastructure, preserving agriculture, water and power constraints, and extending broadband to rural communities. Woolf shares how his team experiments with AI to spot savings in travel and procurement, and why Idaho keeps rainy-day reserves ready for the long haul. Whether you’re eyeing Idaho to visit, relocate, or invest, this is a grounded look at the state’s growth and several insider secret activities.

In a world where every brand is vying for attention, what actually cuts through?

In this episode of Foundry Talks, Rachel Stojanovski sits down with Ottocina Ryan, Editor-in-Chief of Santa Barbara Life & Style Magazine, to explore how hospitality brands can create partnerships that feel meaningful, not just transactional.

They unpack what media professionals really look for in hotel collaborations, how editorial integrity plays into influencer strategy, and why some brands stand out while others fall flat.

If you're in marketing, PR, or guest experience, this conversation offers clear and candid insight into how to build trust with media and why that still matters more than ever.

In this episode of Foundry Talks, host Rachel Stojanovski chats with Santa Barbara veterans Kirsten VanBrunt (KVB) and Andra Escola about crafting luxury meetings, iconic weddings, and incentive trips that feel rooted in place. They unpack how human connection, early trust, and cross-department collaboration turn complex logistics into smooth execution, plus why great DMC partners are the key to transforming “on-property” agendas into Santa Barbara experiences.

KVB and Andra share a modern planner’s checklist, varied activities, easy-to-love amenities, and teams that can deliver under pressure, while explaining how properties can sell weddings visually with blank-canvas spaces and locally inspired welcome events. They also touch on AI as a fast ideation tool, post-COVID “last-minute” challenges, and the importance of timelines and team buy-in. It’s a crisp masterclass in turning logistics into lasting memories.

In this episode of Foundry Talks, host Rachel Stojanovski sits down with Karina Hardwick, Director of Human Resources at Acme Hospitality, a leading restaurant and hospitality group based in Santa Barbara, California. Together they dive into what really drives retention, culture, and connection across teams in both restaurants and hotels. Drawing on nearly two decades of experience, including 14 years with Four Seasons and a pivot into healthcare during the height of COVID, Karina shares how emotionally intelligent leadership, personal connection, and proactive feedback loops are redefining what it means to lead people-first brands. They explore why internal culture is the foundation of guest experience, what to do about burnout beyond offering perks, and how recognition, cross-training, and humility can transform retention. Whether you're running a restaurant, managing a property, or leading HR for a growing brand, this episode delivers real-world strategies to build teams that care and stay.

In this episode of Foundry Talks, host Rachel Stojanovski welcomes back Sarah Stahl, co-founder of Market Movers, to challenge the way hospitality brands approach marketing. Drawing from in-depth audits across hotels and vacation rentals, Sarah explains why so many teams are overwhelmed by disconnected tactics and underwhelmed by results. Together, they unpack the real meaning of “guest experience marketing,” how to build a content library that reflects your property's values, and why storytelling should replace generic mission statements. They explore the evolving role of AI in guest discovery, the pitfalls of ignoring mobile conversion, and the compounding cost of unclear brand strategy. Whether you’re a GM, revenue leader, or brand manager, this episode offers a practical 30, 60, 90-day action plan to recalibrate your marketing, reconnect with your audience, and drive meaningful direct bookings.