The Inn Crowd – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode of The Inn Crowd, we’re heading to the Saskatchewan prairies to explore the story behind one of Canada's most unique destination resorts — Dakota Dunes Resort.

Joining me is Joy Caron, Director of Sales and Marketing, to share how the resort intertwines Indigenous culture, community, and modern luxury into a truly unforgettable guest experience. From architecture inspired by the Whitecap Dakota Nation to new innovations like a cosmic geodesic dome and a world-class thermal spa, this conversation will inspire anyone passionate about the future of meaningful travel.

In this episode, you’ll learn: ✅ How Dakota Dunes Resort uses Indigenous storytelling to create authentic guest experiences ✅ The role of Whitecap Dakota Nation heritage in the resort’s design and programming ✅ Creative ways they’re expanding into experiential travel, wellness tourism, and adventure ✅ How they're building loyalty through culture-driven programming like powwow presentations and stargazing ✅ Innovative projects on the horizon — including Canada’s first Cosmic Dome experience and a luxury thermal spa ✅ Trends in Indigenous-led tourism and destination marketing

🌐 Dakota Dunes Resort dakotadunesresort.com

👩‍💼 Connect with Joy Caron on LinkedIn Joy Caron LinkedIn

🏨 Learn more about the Whitecap Dakota Nation whitecapdakota.com

🎙️ Connect with Jamie Mattingly & Duval Street Media 🌐 duvalstreetmedia.com 💬 Jamie on LinkedIn

Hotel owners, listen up—if you’re planning a renovation or development project, this is the episode you didn’t know you needed. This week, I’m joined by Danielle Foley, Founder and CEO of PDB Collaborative, a firm that serves as the owner's right hand in hotel projects across the country.

Danielle shares what an Owner’s Rep really does (and why so many developers wish they’d hired one sooner). From preventing seven-figure mistakes to translating a vague “vibe” into a budget-aligned design plan, Danielle breaks it all down with clarity, calm, and real-world examples.

• What an Owner’s Rep actually does—and why you need one before you break ground

• The most common (and costly) mistakes hotel owners make during renovations

• How to save money without sacrificing guest experience

• The power of local storytelling and thoughtful design in driving direct bookings

• Why tech, landscaping, and even smell are shaping the future of hotel design

• Danielle’s favorite real-world projects and what made them work so well

🎙 Guest: Danielle Foley Founder, PDB Collaborative 🌐 www.pdbcollaborative.com 🔗 Connect with Danielle on LinkedIn

💼 Host: Jamie Mattingly Founder, Duval Street Media 🌐 www.duvalstreetmedia.com 🔗 Connect with Jamie on LinkedIn

💡 Know someone who’d be a great guest on The Inn Crowd? Submit them here: www.duvalstreetmedia.com/theinncrowd

How bold branding, empowered teams, and a love for dogs helped Staypineapple redefine boutique hospitality. In this episode of The Inn Crowd, Jamie Mattingly sits down with Dina Belon, President of Staypineapple—a boutique hotel brand known for its cheeky personality, unforgettable design, and pet-obsessed culture. From their “Naked Experience” to handwritten guest notes, Staypineapple has carved out a loyal following through humor, heart, and hyper-personalization.

Dina shares how they empower team members to go off-script, why surprise and delight isn't just a marketing slogan—it’s a mindset—and how being unapologetically bold has helped the brand attract the right guests (and happily repel the wrong ones).

Whether you’re a hotelier, marketer, or just love a great guest experience, this episode is packed with ideas and insights.

• Why being dog-obsessed isn’t just cute—it’s a growth strategy

• How Staypineapple empowers team members to create legendary surprise-and-delight moments

• Why personality-driven branding increases guest loyalty

• The power of saying, “We’re not for everyone”—and meaning it

• How Dina thinks about guest personalization beyond preferences

• Why a teabag and a box of Kleenex might be more meaningful than a comped cocktail

• What happens when your social media strategy is built by your guests

• Dina’s vision of Staypineapple as a mix of Steve Martin and Audrey Hepburn

• Ideas you can steal to make your hotel—or any brand—more memorable and magnetic

Come for the dogs, stay for the pineapple robes, and leave with a masterclass in modern hospitality. Dina Belon Linkedin  www.Staypineapple.com

In this episode of The Inn Crowd, I sit down with the brilliant Margie Jordan, Founder of Jordan Executive Travel, to talk about what it truly means to create transformational, luxury travel experiences—and how hoteliers can tap into that mindset to better connect with today’s high-end guests.

Margie is a veteran of the travel industry with a gift for combining luxury, authenticity, and cultural immersion into every itinerary. From private Michelin-star cooking classes to sharing tea with nomadic families in Morocco, she’s redefining what luxury travel can look and feel like.

Whether you’re a hotelier, marketer, or destination brand, this episode will give you actionable insights into what modern travelers are really looking for—and how to meet (or exceed) those expectations.

🎧 Listen in to learn:

• How Margie curates unforgettable experiences that reflect each traveler’s lifestyle

• The role of storytelling and long-form content in luxury travel marketing

• Smart SEO and blogging strategies that attract intentional, high-quality traffic

• The power of local partnerships in creating deeper guest connections

• Creative ways to personalize guest experiences (even at scale)

• Why aligning your property with a feeling—not just a place—can drive loyalty

📍 Guest: Margie Jordan Founder + Travel Advisor, Jordan Executive Travel 🌐 jordanexecutivetravel.com 🔗 Margie on LinkedIn

🎙 Host: Jamie Mattingly Founder of Duval Street Media – Marketing for Hotels & Tourism Brands 🌐 duvalstreetmedia.com 🔗 Jamie on LinkedIn

🏡What does it take to turn a small vacation rental business into a multi-million dollar powerhouse?

Josh Hatter, CEO of Curated Vacation Properties (CVP) and a 2023 & 2024 Inc. 5000 honoree, joins The Inn Crowd Podcast to share the strategies, challenges, and lessons he learned while scaling his company.

In this episode, we dive into:

• The journey from rental arbitrage to property ownership – and why he made the switch.
• The key to scaling a vacation rental business without burning out.
• Direct booking strategies – how to drive more revenue without relying on OTAs.
• The power of guest experience & personalization – what truly sets great hospitality brands apart.
• The biggest mistakes short-term rental owners make (and how to avoid them).
• What it takes to land on the Inc. 5000 list – twice!

Whether you're a vacation rental owner, hotelier, or entrepreneur, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help you grow your business.

🔗 Connect with Josh Hatter: 👉 LinkedIn: Josh Hatter on LinkedIn 👉 Website: Curated Vacation Properties (CVP)

🎧 Listen now & learn from one of the best in the business!

We’re always looking for hoteliers, hospitality experts, and travel industry leaders to share their insights. If you’d like to be a guest, submit your request here: 👉 The Inn Crowd Podcast

📩 Let’s Connect! 👉 LinkedIn: Jamie Mattingly 👉 Website: Duval Street Media