Top Floor – Details, episodes & analysis

Mike Messeroff spent three decades in hospitality and was JetBlue’s first intern before swapping corporate partnerships for a life of travel and a career behind the bar. A low point in paradise led him to mindfulness, daily meditation, and ultimately leadership coaching for hospitality executives. Today, he’s launching the Self Hospitality Collective, offering bite-sized audio guidance and practical practices for leaders. Susan and Mike talk about meditation, mindfulness, and modern management.

What You'll Learned About:

• JetBlue’s first intern by “accident”? Mike turns a chance aisle chat with the CEO into a career.

• Daydreaming of beach life? Mike says you’ll pack your baggage either way, so do the inner work first.

• Breckenridge paradox: daily skiing + dream town ≠ joy; anxiety became the wake-up call.

• “Happiness is uncaused.” (Yes, that line stops the show—and your doom-scroll.)

• Self Hospitality = treating yourself like the VIP in your lobby: restocked, respected, and not running on fumes.

• Meditation is non-negotiable. Even 3 minutes builds that “magic gap” between trigger and response.

• Gratitude hack: you can’t be stressed and thankful at the same time.

• For the “no-woo” crowd: real-world ROI—lower cortisol, better focus, fewer dish-smashing meltdowns.

• Micro-practices for brutal days: one conscious breath, a three-minute reset, a mindful reminder (“I’m here to solve problems”).

Our Top Three Takeaways

1. Inner Work Comes Before Outer Change

Mike’s story shows that changing your surroundings, whether by moving to a beach in the Caribbean or skiing daily in Colorado, doesn’t guarantee happiness. Wherever you go, you bring yourself with you. True fulfillment comes from addressing patterns like negative self-talk, stress, or self-medication. External shifts may feel exciting, but without the inner work, they won’t resolve deeper struggles.

2. Self-Hospitality Is Essential for Leaders

Mike’s concept of self hospitality is about treating yourself like your most honored guest. Just as hoteliers go above and beyond for VIPs, leaders should extend that same care inward: practicing consistent meditation (even for just three minutes), cultivating gratitude, setting clear boundaries, and pursuing personal passions. When leaders nurture themselves, they can give from a place of overflow rather than depletion—ultimately benefiting their teams, guests, and organizations.

3. Joy and Happiness Are Our Natural State

Mike emphasizes that happiness is “uncaused," meaning we are born joyful, but stress, fear, and external pressures layer over it. Through mindfulness practices like meditation and gratitude, leaders can reconnect with that natural state and create a “magic gap” between stress and response. This not only prevents burnout but also models healthier, more sustainable leadership in an industry prone to overwork and high stress.

Mike Messeroff on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikemesseroff/

The Carpe Diem Company
https://www.mikemesseroff.com/

Other Episodes You May Like: 

130: Guard Dog Negotiations with Melissa Maher
https://www.topfloorpodcast.com/episode/130

88: Dating App Surprise with Karen Laos
https://www.topfloorpodcast.com/episode/88

192: Fluff and Fold with Shelley Brown
https://www.topfloorpodcast.com/episode/192

Josh Kremer is the co-founder of Paradero Hotels, a Baja-born luxury brand blending boutique resorts with destination management to create immersive, off-grid experiences. A classically trained chef who pivoted into real estate private equity, Josh brings both palate and P&L to building small-scale, high-touch hospitality. Susan and Josh talk about remote resorts, resourceful resourcing, and refined service.

What You’ll Learn About:

• From chef whites to term sheets: Josh Kremer’s zigzag from kitchens to Blackstone to founding Paradero Hotels.

• Why “experiential luxury” beats “bikinis + margaritas," and how Paradero designs trips that spill far beyond the property line.

• Off-beach on purpose: picking a site framed by five ecosystems to unlock creative freedom (and way better adventures).

• Oasis IRL: how Baja’s mountains create desert lagoons—and a top birdwatching haven—without cartoon mirages.

• The unsexy backbone of remote hospitality: fiber pulls, buried power lines, backup gen, daily procurement runs, and a fleet of guide-led vehicles.

• Scale by listening: adults-only → groups/events → families → homes; growing to 92 keys while keeping density low.

• Where guests are pointing next: Riviera Maya (not in Cancun), Riviera Nayarit, plus eyes on Oaxaca, San Miguel, and Valle de Guadalupe.

• Hiring where others won’t: local-first, import managers when needed, and invest in great staff housing for a “soft landing.”

• The 10x Rule: whatever effort you think it’ll take, multiply by ten (site selection alone jumped from ~20 to 800!).

• A perfect Paradero day: sunrise views → surf coaching → chef-driven breakfast → pool + temazcal → farm tasting → cliffside sunset → stargazing net.

1. Expect 10x More Work Than You Think

Josh stresses what he calls the “10x rule”: however much effort you think a project will take, multiply it by ten. From evaluating 800 sites before selecting one to interviewing 20 architects before choosing a partner, the reality of launching a hospitality venture is far more demanding than anyone could have anticipated. The lesson applies broadly: if you’re starting something ambitious, prepare for an order of magnitude more persistence, patience, and problem-solving than your first instinct suggests.

2. Culture Shapes Business—and Guest Experience

Having lived in both Mexico and the U.S., Josh highlights how family-centric culture in Mexico contrasts with the U.S.’s emphasis on individualism. Understanding and respecting those differences helps him build both teams and guest experiences. The broader takeaway: Leaders who work across borders, or even within different communities, need to tune in to local cultural values. This can guide not only how you manage staff but also how you design meaningful customer experiences.

3. Operating in Remote or Nontraditional Locations Requires Creative Infrastructure

Running a semi-remote property is as much about mastering logistics as it is delivering luxury. Josh described pulling fiber from a distant city, burying power lines to protect the guest experience, and organizing daily supply runs. The big lesson is that unconventional opportunities often require unconventional solutions. If you’re drawn to an out-of-the-box idea, success may depend on investing early and heavily in the unglamorous operational backbone.

Josh Kremer on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-kremer-bb904a26/

Paradero Hotels
https://www.paraderohotels.com/

Other Episodes You May Like: 

159: 15-Day Career with Gustavo Viescas
https://www.topfloorpodcast.com/episode/159

165: Purple Flower Luxury with Florence Li
https://www.topfloorpodcast.com/episode/165

74: Calm and Nurturing Ghost with Trisha Pérez Kennealy
https://www.topfloorpodcast.com/episode/74

Kim DiMarco is a veteran textile executive and the founder of Somato Textiles, a brand reimagining hospitality fabrics through creativity, sustainability, and heart. With over 30 years of global industry experience, Kim brings a rare mix of business acumen and design passion to every swatch she touches. Susan and Kim talk about pattern psychology, people-first operations, and planet-friendly practices.

What You'll Learn About:

How Kim hustled her way into the textile industry by volunteering in a basement

Why wild hotel carpet patterns were never just about hiding stains

What makes hospitality textiles tougher (and smarter) than your couch fabric

Kim’s fresh take on fabric pricing—with a menu full of vintage restaurant references

How she’s turning old textiles into air-freshening, tire-strengthening biochar

The real reason white bedspreads aren’t going anywhere

Why building a company around people, not profit, can still be wildly successful

A hilarious, heartfelt cold pitch to Danny Meyer—complete with branded sweatshirts

Her top advice for entrepreneurs: go slow, stay scrappy, and follow the spark

It’s the 200th episode, and who better to celebrate with than the show’s most frequent flyer—literally—Cat Meek! Restaurateur, sommelier, real estate investor, travel advisor, and Susan’s sister, Cat shares the hilariously chaotic and wanderlust-filled story of her “adult gap year.” From a surprise St. Croix slideshow pitch to mimosa-fueled airport lounge reviews, it’s a memory-loaded milestone you don’t want to miss.

What You’ll Learn About:

✈️ How a missed seasonal business contract turned into a 25-trip travel spree
🎶 Boom boom trips, concert pilgrimages, and impromptu flights to Vegas and Greece
🧳 Top travel hacks: wear-out shoes, always carry a fold-up bag, and negotiate everything
🌍 Ranking the best (Greece) and worst (sorry, St. Croix) stops on the gap-year globe trot
🔮 Travel predictions: more cruises, a marathon in California, and a Delta One lounge tour of dreams

Chuck Kelley is a seasoned hotelier who’s done it all—from F&B to executive leadership across the globe. Now a partner at Cayuga Hospitality Consultants, he helps independent hotels tackle their trickiest challenges. Susan and Chuck talk about career pivots, consulting pitfalls, and crispy critters.

🦂 From busboy to big boss—how Chuck climbed the hospitality ladder.

🦂 The sideways move that changed his whole career (and wasn’t supposed to happen).

🦂 Why independent hotels need more help than they think and where to find it.

🦂 The hardest part of solving problems? Admitting there is one.

🦂 What owners get wrong about consultants, and how to get your money’s worth.

🦂 The scariest thing Chuck ever ate on the job. Spoiler: it had a stinger.

Other Episodes You May Like: 

19: Welcome to Last Call with Stephanie Smith
https://www.topfloorpodcast.com/episode/19

102: Elmer on Ice with Mandy Murry
https://www.topfloorpodcast.com/episode/102

174: Apron on a Fence with Mitch Prensky
https://www.topfloorpodcast.com/episode/174

In this second batch of HITEC interviews, Susan invites a new group of hotel tech leaders into the Top Floor recording booth to deliver their best Elevator Pitches—and a few unforgettable stories. From AI-powered concierges to spa booking solutions and a piano-playing manager who couldn’t play piano, this episode blends industry insight with plenty of personality. Plus, you’ll find out exactly how a monkey became part of a hotel’s guest communication demo.

Featured guests:

James Hansen, Vice President of Business Development, REECO

Eric Lutz, Co-Founder & CEO, OLIVE

Shawn Tarter, President, RealTime Reservation

Mark Cederloff, CEO, VSR Network Technologies

Mike Medsker, Founder, SIV

Jen Barnwell, President, Curator Hotel & Resort Collection

Tess McGoldrick, Senior Vice President, Travel & Hospitality, Revenue Analytics

Tanya Pratt, Global Vice President, Oracle Hospitality

Stephen Chen, CEO, Phunware

In this special HITEC edition of Top Floor, we’re riding the elevator with hospitality tech leaders who know how to make a pitch. From PMS platforms to AI concierges, we cover real-world tools and real-life chaos, including fainting coworkers, bat encounters, and nightclub drama. Whether you're here for the insights or the insanity, this episode delivers both!

Featured in Part One:

David Fox with Quore

Mark Lewis-Brown with Zucchetti North America

Estella Hale with Zucchetti North America

Christian Arias with Hapi

Doug Ralston with True Omni

Ethan Wiseman with Sabre

Sandrine Zechbauer with RMS

Mahendra Doshi is a journalist, historian, and author who came to the U.S. from India in 1967 with just $8 and a dream. From working in Nevada casinos to launching a trailblazing Indian newspaper, he chronicled immigrant stories long before they were trending. Susan and Mahendra talk about his latest book, Surat to San Francisco, which uncovers the incredible rise of Patel hoteliers in America.

What You'll Learn in This Episode
🧑‍🌾 Why one surname dominates the U.S. hotel industry—and what it really means
💸 How a five-dollar gamble turned into a lifelong journey of storytelling
🕵️‍♀️ How oral history can unearth the truths the internet forgets
🏨 The surprising link between World War II and the rise of Indian hoteliers
🎬 How a community story made its way to the red carpet at Tribeca

Guise Bule spent nearly two decades in tech and cybersecurity before pivoting to hospitality, where his personal experience as a frequent traveler and dog owner inspired a new mission. He founded Roch Dog, a certification agency that applies objective data to evaluate hotels for their dog-friendliness. Susan and Guise talk about standards, service, and shifting expectations in the world of pet travel.

What You'll Learn About:

🐶 How hotel pet policies often mislead travelers

🐶 Why a data-driven certification system beats subjective reviews

🐶 The surprising benefits of offering thoughtful dog amenities

🐶 How transparent rankings can create a competitive advantage

🐶Practical tips for hotels to improve dog-friendliness instantly

Chris Tripoli is a veteran restaurateur, consultant, and podcast host with decades of hospitality experience under his belt. From teenage busboy to industry sage, he's seen it all—launching concepts, advising entrepreneurs, and mentoring the next generation. Susan and Chris talk about hospitality, hiring, and hitting the bullseye with your brand.

What You'll Learn About

🍽️ The #1 mistake restaurant owners make.
🧃 The secret to balancing fast, frictionless service with personalized hospitality.
🎭 Why teaching new staff the "onstage/backstage" mindset is non-negotiable.
📊 Value ≠ cheap. What guests really want when they talk about “value.”
💡 “Say yes now, figure it out later”—his golden rule for unforgettable guest service.
🌍 That time he landed a restaurant project in Saudi Arabia... by being American (and good with women).