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The Hospitality Mentor

The Hospitality Mentor

Hosted by Steve Turk

BusinessManagementSocietyCulture
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Episodes

182

Latest episode

Aug 2026

Language

EN

About the show

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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60 recent
August 7, 202642 min

Josef Forstmayr on Building Round Hill Hotel and Villas in Jamaica into a Timeless Luxury Resort

Host Steve Turk introduces Josef Forstmayr, managing director of Round Hill Hotel and Villas in Jamaica. Forstmayr shares growing up working in his parents’ Austrian farm restaurant, attending hotel school in Salzburg, and arriving in Jamaica in 1979 as a German tutor before quickly becoming an assistant manager and advancing to GM roles, including rebuilding Trident after Hurricane Allen. Hired in 1989 to convert Round Hill from a winter-only operation to a year-round resort, he describes evolving the property into a family- and group-friendly luxury destination guided by “timeless elegance, understated luxury, warm Jamaican heart,” with design input from shareholder Ralph Lauren and tech perspective from Bob Pittman. He emphasizes Jamaica’s authentic luxury, staff legacy across generations, strong community investment and charity work, rapid recovery after Hurricane Melissa, and advises young hoteliers to learn multiple languages to build international careers.00:00 Welcome to the Podcast00:31 Sponsor Lodgify Message01:34 Meet Josef in Jamaica01:57 First Job and Jamaica Move04:13 Hurricanes and Career Growth06:11 Transforming Round Hill Year Round09:02 Growing Up in Family Restaurant11:23 Why He Stayed in Jamaica14:27 Round Hill Owners and Design19:08 Evolving with Core Values23:53 Real Jamaica Beyond Cruises29:52 Community Hikes and Belonging31:27 Running Long Term with Locals33:32 Giving Back and Hurricane Recovery36:33 Future of Authentic Luxury Jamaica39:27 Advice Learn More Languages42:04 Wrap Up and Where to Visit

July 31, 202614 min

Miami Beach Hotels, Brightline Train to Orlando, Disney Travel Tips + Baya Miami & The Hospitality Power Breakfast

In this “random show” episode of The Hospitality Mentor Podcast, Steve Turk shares a multi-generational Miami Beach staycation at the Marriott Stanton South Beach, highlighting the South of Fifth location, Michelin star-winning The Den inside Azabu, and strong beach service and guest acknowledgment as a key hospitality lesson. He also recommends the Loews Miami Beach Hotel’s Sushi Bar inside Bar Collins, praising Chef Khaleel Ali and the value of standout culinary “hidden gems” in big hotels. The family then takes the Brightline train from Miami to Orlando for a Disney trip, emphasizing assigned seating, onboard amenities, and the productivity and low-stress benefits versus driving. In Orlando, he reviews the Signia by Hilton (connected to Waldorf Astoria) as a strong value with great rooms, pool, restaurants, and fireworks views, noting slower bus transport to the parks, and shares a Disney day tip: book an air-conditioned sit-down meal like the Brown Derby. He announces the launch of staybaya.com for Baya, his upscale resort on a tropical fruit farm in Miami’s Redland area targeting a mid-year opening next summer with a $50 VIP program offering 40% discounts, and he confirms plans for a Hospitality Power Breakfast series, with the first eight-person event hosted at The Moor in the Design District.Thank you to this episode's sponsor, Lodgify. Make sure to use promo code THM60 for 60% off. 00:00 Welcome and Topics00:39 Sponsor Lodgify 01:25 Miami Beach Staycation02:37 South Beach Service Lesson03:54 Loews Sushi Find05:28 Brightline to Orlando07:31 Signia Hotel Review09:41 Disney Dining Tip11:05 Train Back and Florida Travel12:08 Baya Resort Announcement13:31 Hospitality Power Breakfast14:14 Wrap Up and Subscribe

July 24, 202616 min

The Random Show: Soggy Dollar Bar Lessons, Florida Stays, and the Hospitality Power Breakfast

In a solo “random show” episode, Steve shares recent travel experiences and hospitality takeaways. He recaps six weeks of travel from HITEC in San Antonio to San Francisco with the Baya team, a visit to One Thread Farm, scouting land in Desert Hot Springs, and a last-minute trip to St. John in the US Virgin Islands, noting “island time” and the national-park beaches. A highlight is chartering to Jost Van Dyke to swim ashore to the Soggy Dollar Bar, home of the original Painkiller, and lessons on memorable arrival, history, and premium branding. He previews upcoming stays at Marriott Stanton Miami Beach and a family trip to Disney via Brightline, discussing hotel and Disney upsells and reducing purchase friction. He announces a new Hospitality Power Breakfast launching next month at The Moore in Miami, and gives a Baya Miami update, including site work, a 2027 opening plan, and an upcoming website launch. This episode is brought to you by Lodgify with code THM60 for 60% off yearly products 00:00 Solo Random Show00:25 Sponsor Lodgify01:36 Travel Whirlwind Recap02:34 Island Time St John03:24 Soggy Dollar Adventure04:33 Painkiller And Vibes07:06 Lessons And Branding08:07 Miami Beach Birthday Stay09:01 Brightline To Disney10:14 Upsells And Disney Planning12:05 Hospitality Power Breakfast13:32 Launching At The Moore14:47 Topics And Third Places15:44 Baya Miami Update16:17 Wrap Up And Farewell

July 10, 202647 min

Mario Del Duca on Growing Nuba in the Americas, Luxury Travel, and Why Relationships Matter More Than AI

Host Steve Turk interviews Mario Del Duca, Managing Director of Nuba, a 30+ year-old luxury travel company focused on high end outbound leisure that expanded into the Americas via acquisitions in Mexico and Miami. Mario oversees the Americas and says the business has nearly tripled under his leadership. Mario shares his nontraditional path from banking in London/New York to an MBA at IE in Madrid, entrepreneurship in Mexico, and a year and a half of world travel that led to social media driven hotel partnerships and eventually becoming an independent travel consultant before Nuba acquired his agency. They discuss serving high and ultra-high net worth clients, the importance of client profiling and problem solving, using technology and AI to enhance (not replace) advisors, growth plans across Latin America, and travel trends like Japan and slower, secondary destination travel.The Hospitality Mentor Podcast is sponsored by Lodgify (60% off yearly/bi-yearly plans with code THM60)00:00 Podcast Welcome00:31 Sponsor Lodgify01:34 Meet Mario Del Duca01:53 What Is Nuba03:31 From Banking To Travel07:22 Quitting Banking For MBA10:54 Entrepreneur Roots12:02 Moving To Mexico13:03 Remote Work World Travel17:44 From Influencer To Advisor20:50 Luxury Advisor Reality Check22:31 Owning Client Problems23:51 Perks and Lifestyle24:48 Remote Discipline26:25 Nuba Client Profile29:51 Designing Bespoke Trips32:38 AI Versus Human Touch37:18 Growth and Hiring Advisors40:48 Hot Destinations Trends44:37 Career Advice Closing

June 25, 202642 min

Nikheel Advani on Building Grace Bay Resorts: Mentorship, Luxury Service, and Branded Residences in Turks and Caicos

Host Steve Turk interviews Nikheel Advani , co-founder and COO of Grace Bay Resorts, who shares how he entered hospitality at 16 after his father pushed him to work, leading to dishwashing, banqueting, and founding a small events company in Singapore. He trained at UMass Amherst, worked in restaurants and hotels, joined a Pizza Uno turnaround team, then spent years with Ritz-Carlton opening multiple properties and emphasizing mentorship. He became hotel manager at Singapore’s Raffles, helped elevate its global ranking, then moved to Turks and Caicos to build a hotel into Grace Bay Resorts, focusing on training, local talent, service excellence, food and beverage, airlift, and a luxury branded-residence model that funds development and gives owners hotel access and rental income. It's an amazing episode with fantastic stories and pieces of advice that you should listen to today. A big thank you to our sponsor, Lodgify. Make sure to use promo code THM60 when you sign up at Lodgify00:00 Sponsor Lodgify01:07 Meet Nikheel Advani01:48 First Hospitality Job02:08 Dad’s Tough Lesson03:21 Starting a Company at 1604:42 Choosing Hotel School07:18 UMass and Working Through School08:42 Pizza Turnaround Years10:09 Breaking Into Ritz Carlton11:48 Mentors That Changed Everything14:42 Leaving for Raffles Singapore16:24 Running an Iconic Hotel17:28 Profit Meets Guest Experience18:35 Leap to Turks and Caicos20:57 Caribbean Service Reset21:55 Risk and Ownership Leap22:55 Partners and Fast Decisions23:56 Awards and Signature Wins25:43 Building Local Talent28:29 Selling a New Destination31:46 Airlift and Island Strategy34:08 Next Projects Pipeline36:06 Branded Residences Model38:59 Advice and Farewell

June 17, 202618 min

Live from HITEC San Antonio: Hospitality Creator Summit Highlights, Content Strategy, and Tech Trends

Live from HITEC in San Antonio, the Steve Turk and Sarah Dandashy recap the inaugural Hospitality Creator Summit, created by Anna Blue and Anthony Melchiorri, which drew 200+ attendees for a full day of networking and creator-focused education. Sara shares first impressions of the high-energy event, meeting online peers in person, and the supportive, low-ego atmosphere. A panel on “behind the brand deal” featured Margaritaville and My Place Hotels discussing how brands choose creators, partnership paths from in-kind to paid, and the challenge of tracking bookings driven by content, including working with small-audience creators for fit and aesthetic. They note sessions on newsletters and podcasting milestones, HITEC’s creator booth with interview and green-screen setups, and floor trends like better booth experiences, fewer AI buzzwords but more specific integrations, data consolidation, and room automation savings, plus a push for brands to create personality-driven, value-first content.A big shout out to our sponsor Lodgify! Starting June 17th to June 30th, use promo code THM60 for 60% off00:00 Live From HITEC00:21 Sponsor Shoutout - Lodgify 00:58 Creator Summit Recap02:55 Brand Deals Panel05:09 Creator Growth Tips05:50 Meet Tyler Behind Scenes06:37 Content Booth Setup07:31 HITEC Floor Highlights08:27 Tech Trends And AI09:57 Venue Vibes San Antonio10:16 Creators Take Over10:57 Booth Snacks and Vibes11:24 Why Brands Need Content12:55 Make Value Not Ads14:19 One Post Big Impact16:05 HCS First Day Energy17:54 After Party and Wrap

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

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