Join me, Steve Turk, on the Hospitality Mentor podcast as we dive into the personal stories of some of the world's best Hospitality Professionals. We follow the journey of their ups, downs and wild turns and find out what it truly takes to make it in the amazing world of hospitality.
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June 4, 202655 min
From Nightlife to Wellness: Milan Mijatovic on Building SILA Miami
Host Steve Turk interviews Milan Mijatovic, founder of SILA Miami. Milan explains SILA as a social wellness club in Upper Buena Vista featuring longevity services (float tank, hyperbaric oxygen, lymphatic suit, red light therapy, bioscan/bodywork), outdoor classes (yoga, Pilates, functional strength, kettlebells), and contrast therapy (cold plunges and a 14-person sauna). He recounts starting in hospitality as a dishwasher at Atlanta’s Dante’s Down the Hatch, moving to Chicago to become a bartender and competition mixologist, then relocating to Miami where he worked at the Versace Mansion reopening, Regent Cocktail Bar alongside Julio Cabrera, and as a cachaça brand ambassador. After nightlife management at Rockwell and reflecting on industry excesses, a trucking-business detour, and a renewed focus on recovery and nature, he launched SILA without a formal business plan, emphasizing community support, systems, and a goal of a second location and future beach flagship.00:00 Podcast Welcome00:31 Sponsor Lodgify01:34 Meet Milan02:48 What Is Sila04:13 Steve Joins Sila05:17 First Hospitality Job09:52 Chicago Hustle12:13 Cocktail Roots14:18 Mixology Rise15:31 Miami Calling17:31 Cuba Turning Point20:58 Versace And Regent22:32 Brand Ambassador Era23:48 Nightlife Management26:43 Surviving The Scene28:59 Wellness Seeds30:11 COVID Pivot to Trucking31:34 Owning the Leap33:17 Back to Nightlife Again34:31 Wellness Aha Moment35:35 Cold Plunge Origins38:11 Third Shot at Business40:25 CELA Vision and Nature42:37 Finding the Perfect Space46:08 Building Sila Community50:08 Next 12 Months Vision51:57 Trust the Journey52:59 Closing and Sponsor
May 22, 202652 min
Larry Korman on Building AKA Hotel Residences, Intentional Hospitality, and Scaling Service Driven Living
Host Steve Turk welcomes Larry Korman, co-CEO of Korman Communities and president of AKA Hotel Residences, to discuss his lifelong path in hospitality and residential real estate, from childhood work in the family business to leading a five-generation legacy. Korman explains how his father’s pie-shaped Philadelphia apartments sparked the furnished-apartment concept, later branded as Korman Suites, and how Larry and his brother built Korman Communities and evolved the model into luxury hotel residences under AKA, now spanning 16 properties over 22 years. He shares formative training in England, insights from Japanese hospitality, and a leadership philosophy centered on earning respect by doing frontline work, supporting teams and staying on property. Korman details AKA’s partnership with Airbnb that helped shape Airbnb Luxe, a strategy of optimizing cash flow, and plans to repurpose iconic hotels, expand in Florida, and grow globally with a strong health and wellness focus.00:00 Podcast Welcome00:31 Sponsor Lodgify01:34 Meet Larry Korman02:03 Early Hospitality Roots02:57 Five Generation Legacy04:11 Birth of Furnished Stays04:51 Branding Korman Suites07:03 Design Passion Duke Days08:17 Old School Training09:28 Japan Hospitality Lessons12:27 Earning Team Respect15:21 COVID Leadership Onsite16:29 Synergy And Marketing20:31 Why Residences Win23:14 Airbnb Luxe Partnership27:07 Scaling AKA And Ave30:03 Collaboration Culture30:49 Leading Without Dashboards31:28 On Site Hospitality32:29 Home Away From Home33:36 Brother Partnership Split35:28 Growth Through Repurposing38:34 Miami Florida Expansion40:01 Global Wellness Vision43:08 Hospitality Role Models45:30 Keeping Teams Loyal49:33 Advice To Younger Self50:54 Wrap Up Sponsor Biscayne Coffee
May 1, 202652 min
Chef David Burke: From Dishwasher to NYC Three-Star Chef, and his Restaurant Empire
Host Steve Turk revisits an archived Hospitality Mentor Podcast episode featuring award-winning chef and restaurateur David Burke, who shares his path from dishwasher at a Sheraton to culinary school, Europe, and major New York kitchens. Burke recounts being mentored by a country club chef named Jose, attending the CIA, traveling through Europe, and working in top French restaurants and pastry school despite language barriers. He describes returning to the U.S. to work with, Daniel Boulud, and Charlie Palmer, then becoming executive chef at The River Café, earning a three-star New York Times review with a notable photo and winning the 1988 Tokyo culinary Olympics. Burke discusses opening and expanding restaurants, learning business under Alan Stillman, fighting for signature dishes like his pork shank, navigating partnerships, mentoring teams, and advising young cooks to stay focused, learn constantly, document, embrace mistakes, and find balance.Thank you to our sponsor Lodgify for this episode. Make sure to try Lodgify with our promo code THM60. 00:00 Welcome to the Podcast00:33 Sponsor Lodgify Platform01:35 Chef David Burke Intro02:19 First Kitchen Job03:25 Jose Tough Lesson06:34 Parents and Early Drive10:14 Culinary School Path11:21 CIA Mindset and Growth12:57 Europe Opportunity16:13 Chefs and Styles Abroad18:59 Back to New York Rise21:33 Leading River Cafe24:48 Finding Personal Style26:08 Critics and Pressure27:37 Fearless Creativity Basics28:23 NYT Three Star Breakthrough29:21 Chocolate Butterfly Story30:25 Park Avenue Cafe Deal31:34 Miami Beach Opening Chaos33:22 Pork Shank Menu Fight35:13 First Restaurant Renegades37:21 Expansion Partner Fallout38:21 Choosing Business Partners40:14 How Chef Culture Changed43:52 Cookbooks Nightlife Pitfalls45:56 Building Restaurants Today47:08 Mentoring Creative Chefs48:13 Advice To Young Dishwasher50:45 Closing Thanks Sponsor
April 17, 202647 min
Raul Leal on Building a Hospitality Career: From Miami Dishwasher to CEO of Starwood Hotels
Host Steve Turk introduces an archived 2022 Hospitality Mentor Podcast episode featuring Raul Leal, then CEO of SH Hotels & Resorts (now CEO of Starwood). Leal recounts starting at Miami’s Everglades Hotel working with his Cuban-immigrant father, setting early goals to become a GM, and progressing through front desk and food-and-beverage roles, including managing a Sheraton with a major nightclub, before becoming a GM in La Jolla and later leading larger Sheraton properties in Denver, Chicago, Cleveland, and Miami. He describes launching and scaling Teton Hospitality and its boutique arm, Desires Hotels, driven by frustration with legacy-brand sameness and belief in internet-driven distribution. Leal shares how meeting Richard Branson led him to build Virgin Hotels from scratch, and why he later joined Starwood/SH Hotels to lead brands including 1 Hotels, Baccarat Hotels, and Treehouse, emphasizing sustainability, better back-of-house spaces, mentorship, clear goals, and kindness in leadership.Try Lodgify with a 60 percent discount on all their yearly and bi-yearly plans with our code THM60 , and that's THM6000:00 Podcast Welcome00:33 Sponsor Lodgify01:38 Archive Episode Setup02:10 First Hospitality Job04:12 Choosing Hospitality Career05:18 Learning Without College05:55 Climbing Into Management08:21 First GM Move West09:27 Mentors And GM Life10:24 Big Hotels Career Ladder11:59 Entrepreneurial Leap14:10 Building Boutique Portfolio15:47 Travel Reality Check17:40 Why Launch Desires20:26 First Boutique Wins21:43 Lifestyle Hotel Edge23:00 Richard Branson Connection23:43 Meeting Richard Branson25:12 Consulting Turns Into Leadership26:41 Inside Virgin Culture28:45 Building Virgin Hotels From Scratch31:00 Choosing The First Property32:24 Chicago Launch And Expansion34:20 Leaving Virgin For SH Hotels36:16 SH Brands And Sustainability40:31 Growth Plans And Openings41:28 Reimagining Back Of House44:04 Advice For Young Leaders45:46 Closing And Sponsor Message
April 9, 202656 min
Elizabeth Mullins on Building Luxury at Scale: From Ritz Carlton and Disney to Evermore Hospitality
Host Steve Turk welcomes Elizabeth Mullins, President of Evermore Hospitality, who shares her start as a server at New Hampshire’s Lobster Shack and her first hotel role as a Ritz-Carlton Boston management trainee after earning hospitality and business degrees. Mullins recounts being inspired by a childhood Ritz-Carlton visit, spending 28 years with Ritz-Carlton as it grew from six to 99 hotels, opening multiple properties across Asia, becoming a GM multiple times, and later an area vice president. Recruited to Disney, she led global hotel development, renovations, premium services, and worked through the pandemic including the NBA bubble. She then helped open New York’s Fifth Avenue Hotel as COO/Managing Director, learning independent distribution and culture measurement, before joining Evermore after being approached for her luxury-and-scale expertise. She describes Evermore’s “togetherness” concept, Conrad Orlando anchor, 300+ villas/homes around an 8-acre Crystal Lagoon, extensive amenities, and plans for growth, and closes with career advice on courage, speaking up, integrity, and hospitality as a lifestyle.This episode was brought to you by Lodgify. Use code THM60. 00:00 Podcast Welcome00:33 Sponsor Lodgify01:38 Meet Elizabeth Mullins02:00 First Hospitality Jobs03:17 Ritz Spark at Five05:44 Ritz Career Growth09:28 Asia Expat Adventure17:04 Service Lessons Abroad18:54 Leaving for Disney21:07 Disney Hotels Role23:15 Frictionless Check In26:14 Independent Hotel Leap28:36 Independent Hotel Wins29:17 No SOP Reality Check30:06 Distribution Lessons30:54 Agritourism Marketing Advice32:34 Building Culture Systems35:25 Evermore Recruitment Story38:49 Togetherness Travel Concept42:27 Evermore Scale and Amenities44:53 Service Model Evolution46:50 Growth Plans and Year Three49:23 Advice to Younger Self53:58 Wrap Up and Sponsor
March 23, 202641 min
Oakwell Beer Spa Founders Jessica & Damien Zouaoui on Building a Social Wellness Day Spa
Host Steve Turk interviews Jessica and Damien Zouaoui, founders of Oakwell Beer Spa in Denver, a social wellness concept combining a craft beer and wine self-pour taproom with four private spa suites featuring infrared saunas, rain showers, and hydrotherapy tubs infused with hops, malt, and herbs, plus optional zero-gravity robotic massage chairs and room-service refills.They share their hospitality backgrounds, leaving corporate jobs in New York City, and traveling to 25 countries to find a scalable U.S. concept after discovering a beer spa in Poland in 2018.They detail market research that led to Denver, funding challenges solved through Denver’s economic development loan program and a nonprofit SBA lender, difficulty securing a lease, and a DIY buildout using auctions during COVID. Oakwell opened February 26, 2021, emphasizing five-star yet non-stuffy service, adding non-alcoholic options, and aiming to franchise within a year.00:00 Podcast Welcome00:33 Sponsor Lodgify01:38 Meet Oakwell Founders02:10 Beer Spa Explained02:36 Suites And Addons04:22 First Hospitality Jobs05:44 Quitting Corporate Life07:20 World Trip For Ideas10:18 Discovering Beer Spa12:34 Why It Clicked14:49 From Idea To Plan17:09 Funding And Finding Space20:29 Landing the Space20:52 SBA Loan Reality21:35 From Church to Spa22:39 DIY Build and Auctions25:18 Opening Day Playbook26:58 Michelin Casual Service29:35 Touchless Spa Model33:09 Wellness and Moderation36:15 Franchise Plans Ahead37:28 Leap of Faith Advice39:09 Wrap Up and Sponsor
March 19, 202644 min
Tim Major CEO of Operto on AI Agents, Direct Bookings, and the Future of Hotel Technology
Host Steve Turk welcomes Tim Major, CEO of Operto, to discuss how AI is reshaping hospitality through “agentic teammates” designed role by role to assist or replace specific hotel tasks. Tim shares his path from early hospitality exposure as a Volkswagen tour guide in Vancouver/Whistler to building computers, creating award-nominated music-industry websites, founding a hospitality-focused development company that was acquired by RoomKey, and rising from VP roles to CEO. He explains RoomKey’s early PMS integrations (including with Expedia), the industry’s fragmented tech landscape, and how RoomKey was acquired by Full Steam to consolidate and standardize PMS capabilities across North America. Tim describes using multiple LLMs across departments, AI-driven productivity and potential burnout, and why Operto focuses on outcomes—especially direct bookings, distribution, fraud detection in brand-search ads, and surfacing real-time operational insights—while avoiding AI that harms guest experience. He emphasizes hotels being discoverable in LLMs and advises professionals to start using AI tools now.00:00 Podcast Welcome00:33 Sponsor Lodgify01:38 Meet Tim Major02:26 Aperto AI Agents03:57 First Hospitality Taste05:34 Early Tech Roots06:36 Music Websites Breakthrough08:09 Founding in Hospitality Tech09:48 RoomKey Career Rise11:40 Mentors and Learning13:42 Hard Lessons Contracts14:58 Full Steam Consolidation17:47 Joining Maestro AI Strategy18:50 Building Aperto AI Native21:26 AI Shift Reflections22:33 Everyday AI Workflows24:39 Adoption Gaps and Burnout25:47 Hospitality AI Strategy27:06 Distribution Monitoring Agents27:53 Stopping Brand Ad Fraud31:21 Back of House Automation32:16 Unifying Hotel Data35:56 Personalized Direct Booking38:42 Wellness Itinerary Curation40:16 Next 12 Months Focus41:58 Career Advice and Wrap
March 6, 202648 min
Adam Tuttle on Yipy, Four Seasons, and Building a Hospitality Standards Management System
Host Steve Turk welcomes listeners to The Hospitality Mentor Podcast, brought to you by sponsors Lodgify and Biscayne Coffee, He interviews Adam Tuttle, co-founder of Yipy, described as the industry’s first hospitality standards management system that centralizes hotel standards by role, adds analytics, and supports inspections and audits. Adam shares his early hospitality work in a Nevada casino, his first professional role as an Eiffel Tower elevator operator in Las Vegas, and studying hospitality at UNLV. He moved from Caesars Entertainment to help open a La Quinta, gaining broad operational and sales exposure. Through mentorship, he joined Four Seasons, worked in multiple markets including opening Four Seasons Orlando at Disney World, and later returned to Las Vegas. After reconsidering his GM path, he launched a consulting business and then created Yipy to solve persistent standards and measurement challenges, building it with co-founder Phil Erickson and client-driven development. Adam discusses Yipy’s pre-seed $1M raise, partnerships including Leading Hotels of the World, Marriott approved vendor status, and excitement about AI, and closes with advice on relationships and networking.00:00 Podcast Welcome00:33 Sponsor Lodgify01:38 Meet Adam Tuttle01:54 What Is YPI02:50 First Hospitality Job03:56 Choosing Hospitality05:21 Vegas During Recession07:46 Opening La Quinta10:07 TripAdvisor Success11:53 Mentorship To Four Seasons14:25 Learning Luxury Service16:19 Go To Grow Culture18:27 Four Seasons Disney Magic22:03 Entrepreneurial Turning Point23:50 Starting Consulting Business24:39 Landing First Clients25:19 Leaving Ops for Consulting26:14 Landing First Clients27:31 Finding a Consulting Niche28:22 Just Do It Mindset29:16 Why Yippy Was Born29:47 Proving Training ROI31:44 Building the First Tool32:43 From Tool to Platform34:51 Coding Reality Check36:02 Customer Led Product Design37:09 Hoteliers in Tech38:27 Funding and Big Partnerships41:38 AI and the Standards Database44:20 Advice to Younger Self46:24 Wrap Up and Sponsor
February 13, 202641 min
Inside the Conrad Orlando at Evermore with GM Sean McCarron on Opening, Service Culture & Forbes Awards
Host Steve Turk welcomes Sean McCarron, General Manager of Conrad Orlando at Evermore, to discuss Sean’s path through luxury hospitality and what it takes to lead and open award-winning resorts. Sean shares how he entered hospitality through a Ritz-Carlton management trainee program at Pentagon City (placed as a bartender), discovered hotel school in Switzerland after soul-searching in college, and committed his career to luxury service. He explains his passion for food and beverage, his moves across cities and cultures, and his transition from Ritz-Carlton to Four Seasons via a recruited lateral move that led to 16 years with Four Seasons, multiple hotel openings, and progression into hotel management. Sean describes opening Four Seasons Baltimore as his first hotel manager role and later moving to Las Vegas, then leaving Four Seasons to become GM of Waldorf Astoria Orlando with Hilton, where he focused on training teams in luxury, building a people culture, improving service and guest loyalty, and achieving Forbes Four Star for the resort. He details joining Conrad Orlando nearly 19 months pre-opening as the first employee, leading the opening within the broader Evermore Orlando Resort featuring a 17-million-gallon, eight-acre freshwater lagoon, beach areas, vacation rentals, golf courses, and a spa, and emphasizes leadership through daily walkthroughs, balanced meetings, guest and team engagement, and the principle of “inspect what you expect.” Sean discusses Hilton’s focus on technology and AI to make team members’ jobs easier and free up time for guest relationships, how the resort differentiates itself as a destination beyond theme parks, and recent recognitions including AAA Five Diamond (2025), Forbes Four Star for the hotel and resort, Forbes Four Star for the spa, and a Top 20 ranking in Spas of America’s Top 100 for the second year in a row. He closes with career advice: excel in your current role while acting for the job you want, continually ask what could be done differently or better, and never forget to give back through mentoring and development.00:00 Welcome to The Hospitality Mentor Podcast00:33 Sponsor Break: Lodgify All-in-One for Hospitality01:38 Meet Sean McCarran, GM of Conrad Orlando01:56 First Hospitality Job: Ritz-Carlton Trainee to Bartender02:27 Finding Hospitality: Hotel School in Switzerland & Love for Luxury04:16 Why Food & Beverage: A Lifelong Passion for Cuisine05:07 Moving Cities & Building a Luxury Career (Ritz-Carlton Years)06:15 Switching Brands: Recruited to Four Seasons + 16-Year Run07:55 From F&B to Hotel Leadership: Mentors, Openings & Becoming a GM12:21 Vegas Chapter: Hospitality Epicenter & Celebrity Chef Scene14:40 Leaving Four Seasons: Waldorf Astoria Orlando GM & Hilton Luxury18:45 Waldorf Highlights: Culture, Team Growth & Forbes 4-Star Win20:28 Building Conrad Orlando: Pre-Opening, Evermore Lagoon & Mega-Resort Vision24:55 Leadership Playbook: ‘Inspect What You Expect’ + Daily Walks & Meetings27:56 Tech, AI & the Future of Hospitality Teams30:17 Standing Out in Orlando: Owning the ‘Off Day’ as a Destination Resort32:41 Big Accolades: AAA Five Diamond + Forbes Four Star (Hotel & Spa)35:21 What’s Next: Maturing the Resort & Raising the Bar37:04 Advice to Young Sean: Act for the Job You Want & Keep Giving Back39:34 Wrap-Up, Share the Episode + Sponsor: Biscayne Coffee
February 6, 202642 min
From PBX Operator to Hotel General Manager: Alexander Kandalaft's Luxury Hospitality Journey
In this exciting episode of The Hospitality Mentor Podcast, host Steve Turk sits down with Alexander Kandalaft, the General Manager of the Intercontinental Seattle Bellevue. Discover how this all-in-one platform, Lodgify, can help short-term rental hosts and hospitality operators stay organized.Alexander shares his journey in the hospitality industry, from his early days as a PBX operator at Boston University to managing luxury hotels in Singapore and the US. Learn about the unique offerings at the Intercontinental Seattle Bellevue, including their high-end culinary experiences and the innovative Saks Fifth Avenue personal shopping suite.Don't miss out on Alexander's insights on building trust with your team, navigating international hospitality landscapes, and staying ahead in the competitive world of luxury hotels.Make sure to check out this episodes sponsor Lodgify and for 20% off use code THM2000:00 Introduction to Lodgify: The Ultimate Hospitality Management Tool01:00 Welcome to The Hospitality Mentor Podcast01:47 Alexander Kala's Journey in Hospitality03:18 From Student to General Manager: Early Career Insights05:30 Climbing the Ranks: From Stewarding to Management09:23 International Moves and Leadership Lessons13:09 Experiencing Singapore: Professional and Personal Growth17:15 Navigating COVID-19: Challenges and Adaptations20:52 Housekeeping Team's Return Post-COVID21:51 Task Force Assignments in New York23:53 Moving to Seattle Bellevue25:24 Becoming a General Manager30:03 Unique Offerings at the Bellevue Property34:11 Balancing Hotel Guests and Residents36:39 Intercontinental's Global Reputation38:06 Excitement for the Upcoming Year39:37 Advice for Aspiring Hoteliers
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