Welcome to Suite Success: Masters of Hospitality, a Skift Podcast, where we unlock the secrets behind the world's most successful hotel and hospitality brands. Hosted by industry expert Katie Cline, each episode features exclusive interviews with top executives, seasoned leaders, and trailblazing innovators in the hospitality world. Together, they reveal the strategies that drive guest loyalty, enhance customer experiences, and set their brands apart in a competitive market. Whether you’re a seasoned hospitality professional or aspiring to break into the industry, Katie will distill each conversation into actionable steps that you can implement in your own business. Tune in weekly to elevate your hospitality game and achieve your own 'suite' success. Presented by Lodgify and Bilt.
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140 Years. Four Generations. Inside One of America’s Last Great Family Resorts.
Thursday, July 2, 2026 • Duration 56:20
On this episode of Suite Success, host Katie Cline sits down with Bob Beach, fourth-generation steward of Basin Harbor, one of America’s last great family-owned resorts. Now celebrating its 140th season, the lakeside Vermont property has remained in the same family since 1886—a remarkable feat in an industry increasingly dominated by global hotel brands.
Bob shares the incredible history of the resort, from his great-aunt Ardelia Beach’s bold decision to purchase the property in the 1880s to the unexpected tragedy that brought him back to the family business after he’d planned to leave for good. He also reflects on leading the resort through family ownership transitions, evolving guest expectations, and the COVID-19 pandemic, when Basin Harbor came closer than ever before to losing everything.
This episode is brought to you by Lodgify & Bilt
Timestamps:
00:00 Welcome to Suite Success
00:37 Meet Bob Beach
01:36 Dirty Dancing Vibes
04:33 Ardelia’s Founding Story
08:21 Lake Champlain Shipwrecks
11:08 Hotel Life
13:20 Bob Joins the Business
18:15 Hospitality Lessons
21:20 Stewardship
25:00 Kids Camp
27:11 Staying Independent
28:12 Cottages Built to Last
29:42 Studless Construction Secrets
30:54 Retrofitting and Expanding
34:12 Modern Upgrade Mindset
34:54 Becoming the Historian
37:36 Maritime Museum Origins
39:50 COVID Crisis and Comeback
44:17 Family Turning Point
48:01 Staffing Realities
52:38 Suite Summary
Connect with Bob:
Basin Harbor on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/basin-harbor/
Basin Harbor Resort Website: https://www.basinharbor.com/
Links:
Apple Podcasts - Link
Spotify - Link
Suite Success Website - Link
Connect with Katie
CEO of Fairmont & Raffles: Luxury Isn't What You Think It Is
Thursday, June 25, 2026 • Duration 41:38
On this episode of Suite Success, host Katie Cline sits down with Omer Acar, CEO of Raffles and Fairmont Hotels & Resorts. Throughout his remarkable career, Omer has held leadership roles at Four Seasons, Harrods, The Ritz Paris, and more, while living and working everywhere from Hawaii and California to Egypt, London, Paris, and now New York.
Together, they explore how luxury hospitality has evolved from a focus on opulence and perfection to something far more powerful: emotional connection.
Omer shares why great hotels make people feel seen, valued, and understood, why the best service often reveals itself when things go wrong, and how brands can modernize without losing the heritage that made them iconic in the first place.
They also discuss the future of luxury travel, the continued importance of experiences over possessions, and why technology will never replace genuine human connection.
This episode is brought to you by Lodgify & Bilt
Timestamps:
00:00 Welcome to Suite Success
00:38 Meet Omer Acar
01:21 Early Passion for Hotels
04:36 Club Med and Choreography
06:49 Scaling Culture
08:16 Hawaii
09:50 Global Career Lessons
13:21 What Luxury Really Means
16:44 Modernizing Heritage Brands
19:02 Service Recovery
20:51 Doorman Secrets
23:29 Luxury Trends
26:39 Emotional Personalization
29:35 Growth Plans for Raffles & Fairmont
36:05 Suite Summary
Connect with Omer:
Omer's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/omer-acar-a9685810/
Raffles & Fairmont Hotels and Resorts Website: https://www.raffles.com/
Links:
Apple Podcasts - Link
Spotify - Link
Suite Success Website - Link
Connect with Katie
Inside the Data-Driven Strategy Powering One of the World’s Fastest-Growing Luxury Destinations
Thursday, June 18, 2026 • Duration 46:20
On this episode of Suite Success, host Katie Cline sits down with Rodrigo Esponda, Managing Director of the Los Cabos Tourism Board, to explore the data-driven strategy behind one of the world’s fastest-growing luxury destinations.
Over the past decade, Los Cabos has achieved nearly 130% growth in visitation while simultaneously strengthening its luxury positioning, protecting its natural environment, and increasing visitor spending. Rodrigo shares how destination marketing has evolved far beyond advertising and storytelling into a sophisticated blend of analytics, stakeholder alignment, infrastructure planning, and long-term economic development.
Katie and Rodrigo discuss how Los Cabos uses data to identify emerging travel trends, influence investment decisions, secure new airline routes, and shape the future of the destination. Rodrigo also explains why the region prioritizes quality over quantity, the role AI is playing in destination management, and how thoughtful tourism development can create meaningful economic opportunities for local communities.
This episode is brought to you by Lodgify & Bilt
Timestamps:
00:00 Welcome to Suite Success
00:38 Meet Rodrigo Esponda
01:34 From Architecture to Tourism
04:15 Modern Destination Marketing
07:35 Data Trends and Experiences
10:16 AI Powered Visitor Insights
13:24 Luxury Shift
19:10 Social Media Storytelling
22:02 Sustainable Growth Strategy
26:28 Building Nonstop Airlift
29:22 Crisis Management
32:37 Future of Los Cabos
41:01 Suite Summary
Connect with Rodrigo:
Rodrigo's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/responda/
Los Cabos's Website: https://www.visitaloscabos.travel/
Links:
Apple Podcasts - Link
Spotify - Link
Suite Success Website - Link
Connect with Katie
Inside NYU IHIF 2026: What CEOs, Investors & Industry Leaders See Next
Thursday, June 11, 2026 • Duration 49:29
On this episode of Suite Success, host Katie Cline takes listeners inside the 2026 NYU International Hospitality Investment Forum (NYU IHIF), one of the most influential gatherings in global hospitality, travel, and hotel real estate.
Featuring exclusive conversations with Alexi Khajavi, Group President of Hospitality and Operational Real Estate at Questex; Robert O'Leary, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Travel and Tourism; and Omer Acar, CEO of Raffles & Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, this special roundup episode explores the trends, challenges, and opportunities shaping the future of hospitality.
From investor sentiment and artificial intelligence to luxury travel, mega-events, and the enduring power of human connection, Katie uncovers why industry leaders remain optimistic about the future despite economic uncertainty and global volatility.
You'll hear why travel demand continues to defy expectations, what hospitality investors representing more than $700 billion in assets are focused on, how the FIFA World Cup and Olympic Games are expected to influence tourism for years to come, and why the next era of luxury hospitality will be defined by personalization, flexibility, and meaningful human connection.
Whether you're a hotel owner, investor, operator, developer, or simply passionate about the future of travel, this episode offers a front-row seat to the conversations shaping hospitality's next chapter.
This episode is brought to you by Lodgify & Bilt
00:00 Welcome to Suite Success
00:34 NYU IHIF 2026 Overview
03:22 Meet The Guests
04:17 What is NYU IHIF
08:02 Big Themes
15:53 Alexi Khajavi on Underdiscussed Labor Politics
19:57 Why Midscale Hotel Returns Are Defying Expectations - Alexi Khajavi
22:50 Robert O'Leary on What's Driving Global Travel Demand
24:05 Travel Tailwinds, Mega Events, and Tourism Growth - Robert O'Leary
29:21 How Destinations Are Preparing for the World Cup - Robert O'Leary
33:51 Robert O'Leary on Building a National Travel Strategy
39:55 Omer Acar on the Strength of Luxury Travel Demand
43:40 The Future of Luxury Experiences According to Omer Acar
45:02 Conference Takeaways
Connect with the guests:
Alexi Khajavi's LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/alexihuntleykhajavi
National Travel and Tourism Office: https://www.trade.gov/national-travel-and-tourism-office
Omer Acar's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/omer-acar-a9685810/
NYU IHIF's Website: https://www.ihifamericas.com/
Links:
Apple Podcasts - Link
Spotify - Link
Suite Success Website - Link
Connect with Katie
The Billion-Dollar Business Hidden Inside a Jimmy Buffett Song
Thursday, June 4, 2026 • Duration 46:01
On this episode of Suite Success, host Katie Cline interviews John Cohlan, CEO and Co-Founder of Margaritaville, to explore how a single Jimmy Buffett song evolved into a global lifestyle brand spanning hotels, resorts, cruises, active adult communities, restaurants, consumer products, and more.
John shares the unlikely story of how a Princeton graduate and Georgetown-trained lawyer who never practiced law found himself partnering with Jimmy Buffett to build one of hospitality’s most recognizable brands. Along the way, they discuss why Margaritaville isn’t really in the hotel or restaurant business—it’s in the business of emotion.
From brand extensions and company culture to customer loyalty and the power of escapism, this conversation is a masterclass in creating a brand people don’t just buy from—they believe in. Along the way, John shares stories from his nearly 30-year friendship and partnership with Jimmy Buffett, offering a rare behind-the-scenes look at the man, the music, and the philosophy that inspired one of hospitality's most beloved brands.
This episode is brought to you by Lodgify & Bilt
Timestamps:
00:00 Welcome to Suite Success
00:37 Meet John Cohlan
01:34 From Studying Law to Meeting Jimmy Buffett
04:28 Universal CityWalk
06:35 Building a State of Mind
08:08 Emotion as the Product
12:04 Why “Margaritaville” Endures
16:32 The Business Today
20:05 Brand Extensions
21:51 Training and Culture Systems
25:52 Lyrics and Guest Connection
29:46 Marketing Escapism
33:55 Future Growth
40:18 Suite Summary
Connect with John:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/margaritaville/
Margaritaville's Website: https://www.margaritaville.com/
Links:
Apple Podcasts - Link
Spotify - Link
Suite Success Website - Link
Connect with Katie
How This Entrepreneur Turned Hospitality Into a $90 Million Fitness Empire
Thursday, May 28, 2026 • Duration 56:15
On this episode of Suite Success, host Katie Cline sits down with entrepreneur and boutique fitness executive Adam Shane for a conversation about hospitality, wellness, entrepreneurship, and the power of immersive experiences. Adam is the owner of Yoga Joint New York, a premier chain of infrared-heated fitness and hot yoga studios.
Adam started his career in investment banking and corporate finance on Wall Street. But despite the prestige of that path, he found himself drawn to something entirely different: the sense of community and emotional connection he experienced in fitness spaces. After roles with Town Sports and Equinox, Adam eventually became the most successful global franchisee in the Barry's system, scaling seven Bay Area studios into a business valued at more than $90 million before later joining the company’s executive team as Executive Vice President of Operations and Chief Development Officer.
Together, Katie and Adam explore how boutique fitness evolved from traditional gym culture into a fully immersive hospitality experience — one rooted in emotion, design, community, and human connection. Adam shares how pivotal moments at SoulCycle, Barry’s, and now Yoga Joint shaped the trajectory of his career and taught him how to identify brands with massive growth potential.
This episode is brought to you by Lodgify & Bilt
00:00 Welcome to Suite Success
00:37 Meet Adam Shane
01:34 From Wall Street to Fitness
02:42 Corporate Real Estate
04:06 “Start in the Mailroom”
06:40 Boutique Fitness Awakening
10:17 Hospitality is Everywhere
13:18 Finding Barry’s
17:53 Franchise Mindset
19:58 Moving to San Francisco
21:13 Four Walls Economics
24:47 Scaling to Seven Studios
26:33 COVID and a New Chapter
28:34 Discovering Yoga Joint
29:53 Workout Experience
30:20 Brand Research
32:11 Values and Partnership
33:52 New York Expansion Plan
35:33 How to Pick Locations
36:45 Entrepreneur Mindset
41:32 Future of Wellness
51:39 Suite Summary
Connect with Adam:
Adam's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-shane14/
Adam's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adamjshane/?hl=en
Yoga Joint's Website: https://www.yogajoint.com/
Links:
Apple Podcasts - Link
Spotify - Link
Suite Success Website - Link
Connect with Katie
The Cold DM That Sparked a Real Estate Movement
Thursday, May 21, 2026 • Duration 44:39
On this episode of Suite Success, host Katie Cline sits down with Grace Gudenkauf and Amelia McGee, co-founders of WIIRE (Women Invest in Real Estate), the fast-growing community helping women pursue financial and time freedom through real estate investing and entrepreneurship. What started with a cold Instagram DM between two strangers in Iowa has since grown into a movement serving thousands of women through retreats, masterminds, education, and community.
Together, they discuss why so many aspiring investors are waiting for permission to get started, how community can completely transform what feels possible, and why creating “W2-optional” lives has become such a powerful motivator for women seeking more flexibility. Grace and Amelia also share the behind-the-scenes story of building WIIRE organically from the ground up, hosting retreats before they felt fully ready, and learning how hospitality principles—from onboarding to first impressions—have shaped every aspect of their business.
The conversation also explores co-founder dynamics, the confidence gap in investing, how women often approach business and risk differently, and why being surrounded by people “moving in the same current” can accelerate growth in ways you never imagined. Plus, they share lessons from their book, The Self-Managing Landlord (https://amzn.to/49enAme), and explain why hospitality and customer service are at the heart of successful property management.
This episode is brought to you by Lodgify & Bilt
WIIRE Summer Retreat: $200 off with code KATIE - Wiire.com/summercamp
Timestamps:
00:00 Welcome to Suite Success
00:39 Introducing Grace Gudenkauf and Amelia McGee
01:26 How it Started: A Cold DM
02:47 First Meetup
03:28 Start Before You’re Ready
05:36 Hosting a Retreat
08:34 Gatlinburg Lessons
10:45 Co-Founder Workflow
17:41 Onboarding with Hospitality
20:10 WIIRE Summer Camp
24:12 Women Invest Differently
29:59 The Self-Managing Landlord
40:15 Suite Summary
Connect with Grace & Amelia:
Grace's LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/grace-gudenkauf-321186112
Amelia's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amelia-mcgee-b1a1b464/
WIIRE's Website: https://wiire.com/
Links:
Apple Podcasts - Link
Spotify - Link
Suite Success Website - Link
Connect with Katie
How This Founder’s Cancer Diagnosis Sparked One of the World’s Most Unique Wellness Retreats
Thursday, May 14, 2026 • Duration 40:54
On this episode of Suite Success, host Katie Cline sits down with Marina Efraimoglou, the founder of Euphoria Retreat, to uncover the deeply personal story behind one of the world’s most unique wellness destinations.
Before founding Euphoria Retreat, Marina built a powerful career in finance, becoming the first chairwoman of a Greek bank. But everything changed when she was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma at just 29 years old, with a 20–25% chance of survival. What followed wasn’t an overnight pivot, but a 15-year journey of healing, studying, and redefining what success really means.
In this conversation, Marina shares how that diagnosis became the catalyst for a completely new approach to health, leadership, and hospitality—one that blends ancient Greek philosophy, Chinese medicine, and modern science into what is now known as the Euphoria Methodos.
This episode explores what it really takes to build something truly differentiated in a crowded market and why the most meaningful concepts are often the ones that are allowed to unfold over time.
This episode is brought to you by Lodgify & Bilt
00:00 Welcome to Suite Success
00:39 Meet Marina Efraimoglou
01:53 Cancer Diagnosis
03:19 Conscious Capitalism
04:29 Finding Her Calling
10:31 Leadership and Balance
15:41 Building Euphoria Retreat
18:14 Key Points of Differentiation
21:11 Euphoria Methodos
25:50 Seasonal Programming
26:54 Biomarker Testing
31:47 Wellbeing Festival
37:00 Suite Summary
Connect with Marina:
Marina's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marina-efraimoglou-5787a0ba/
Marina's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marinaefrai/
Euphoria Retreat's Website: https://www.euphoriaretreat.com/
Links:
Apple Podcasts - Link
Spotify - Link
Suite Success Website - Link
Connect with Katie
How to Buy a Hotel (Without Being Rich)
Thursday, May 7, 2026 • Duration 53:27
On this episode of Suite Success, host Katie Cline sits down with Davonne Reaves—hotel owner, asset manager, and founder of The Vonne Group—to break down how hotel deals actually get done.
From her start at the front desk to managing over $1 billion in hotel assets, Davonne has built a career rooted in understanding both the operational and financial sides of the business. Today, she’s focused on making hotel ownership more accessible and showing others what’s truly possible.
This conversation goes beyond surface-level advice. Davonne unpacks the realities of the capital stack, how investors play a role in funding deals, and why most people are thinking about “affordability” all wrong. She also shares why starting smaller is often the smartest move, and how building the right team can make or break a deal.
The result is a clear, honest look at what it really takes to buy a hotel—and why it might be more within reach than most people think.
This episode is brought to you by Lodgify & Bilt
00:00 Welcome to Suite Success
00:38 Meet Davonne Reaves
03:04 Path to Ownership
05:10 Asset Management Lessons
08:39 First Hotel Deal
12:25 Capital Stack Basics
17:27 Crowdfunding
22:36 Asset Management Explained
25:52 Hotels Need Humans
26:57 Service Scores Collapse
28:37 You Cannot AI Hospitality
29:50 Start Small Strategy
32:06 How to Pick the Right Investment
33:58 Big Brands versus Independent
35:13 Pitching Lenders
37:05 Build the Right Team
39:39 First Deal Fundamentals
40:44 Passive Investing
49:14 Suite Summary
Connect with Davonne:
Davonne's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davonnereaves
The Vonne Group's Website: https://thevonnegroup.com/
Vesterr's Website: https://vesterr.com/
Links:
Apple Podcasts - Link
Spotify - Link
Suite Success Website - Link
Connect with Katie
How This Owner Bought a Property with No Money Down and Turned it into a Top 50 Hotel
Thursday, April 30, 2026 • Duration 42:24
On this episode of Suite Success, host Katie Cline sits down with Jim Nagle, owner and managing partner of the Drake Oak Brook, an Autograph Collection Hotel, to unpack one of the most unconventional paths into hotel ownership. From starting as a Chicago attorney and bus driver to acquiring a legacy hotel with no money down, Jim’s story challenges everything we think we know about risk, experience, and what it really takes to win in real estate.
But this isn’t just a story about a deal—it’s about proximity, persistence, and the mindset required to see opportunity where others see uncertainty. In fact, a visit to Richard Branson’s Necker Island offered a front-row seat to world-class brand building and reframed how he thought about opportunity.
Today, The Drake Oak Brook is recognized as one of the Top 50 hotels by Condé Nast Traveler, but getting there required navigating the Great Recession, rebuilding during COVID, and redefining what hospitality means at its core.
This episode is brought to you by Lodgify & Bilt
00:00 Welcome to Suite Success
00:37 Meet Jim Nagle
01:48 From Law to Real Estate
03:38 Mentor and Mindset
05:14 Buying the Drake Brand
06:21 Necker Island Lessons
08:59 Pulling the Trigger
11:38 CTA Bus Driver Days
13:21 Drake Decline and Ponzi Scheme
14:28 Rebuilding Through Crises
19:31 Hard Times
20:18 COVID Renovation Hustle
21:07 Discovering Hidden Talent
24:45 Hospitality Learning Curve
26:34 Top 50 In The World
29:41 Scholarships For Families
31:48 Expanding Into Africa
37:43 Suite Summary
Connect with Jim:
Jim's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-nagle-b6777368/
The Drake Oak Brook's Website: https://www.thedrakeoakbrookhotel.com/
Links:
Apple Podcasts - Link
Spotify - Link
Suite Success Website - Link
Connect with Katie
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