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As you can tell by the title of this episode, this is the last episode of Travel Redefined.
It has been an incredible experience interviewing top leaders and change makers in the hospitality industry and I hope you've enjoyed listening to their insights. Throughout this final episode, I share my thoughts on how I see travel being redefined and give an exciting announcement about a new show on the horizon that I will be co-hosting.
Thank you to everyone who listened to Travel Redefined - connect with me on social media to learn more about the new show!
Connect with Sarah:
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How has the hospitality workforce changed? How can employers best support their employees and create a thriving culture? These are questions that Julie Farnsworth, the Senior Vice President of People & Culture for Crescent Hotels and Resorts, joins me to discuss in this episode.
Julie Farnsworth is a passionate human resources professional, with over 30 years of leadership experience in both private and public sector. Having worked in Food & Beverage and Rooms operations, as well as human resources in the hotel business, Julie has honed her leadership style to be one that is collaborative, approachable & authentic.
Throughout this conversation, Julie talks about her career in hospitality, changes that she has seen in the next generation of hospitality employees, questions that applicants are asking in interviews, ways that she is retaining employees, how travel is being redefined, the value of culture within a company, and so much more.
Connect with Sarah:
Follow Sarah Dandashy on Instagram
Check out Sarah's #1 Amazon Best Selling book - Hospitality From Within
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Connect with Julie
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Check out Crescent Hotels and Resorts on Instagram -
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Do you have travel plans for spring break?
Typically spring break is the first vacation of the year for travelers and every year there are different trends when it comes to where people are going and how they're getting there. Tune in to hear my forecast for the 2023 spring break travel trends!
Connect with Sarah:
Follow Sarah Dandashy on Instagram
Check out Sarah's #1 Amazon Best Selling book - Hospitality From Within
Connect on LinkedIn
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What does "impact hospitality" mean?
In this episode, I am joined by Donte Johnson, Award-winning Area Director + General Manager at Hotel Revival, to chat about the Impact Hospitality Initiative in Baltimore.
Donte Johnson began his career in the hospitality industry in 2001 with Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants in DC. He has held several positions including concierge, director of guest services, area revenue manager and assistant general manager. In 2008, Johnson was the youngest employee ever promoted to general manager for Kimpton Hotels. In that role he received awards for creativity and community service, which would become the foundational pillars of his unique brand of hospitality.
Throughout this conversation, Donte talks about what the Impact Hospitality Initiative in Baltimore is, the effects that they are seeing from it, his approach to retaining employees, what sets Hotel Revival apart from other hotels, what 5 star service means to him, how travel is being redefined, and more.
Connect with Sarah:
Follow Sarah Dandashy on Instagram
Check out Sarah's #1 Amazon Best Selling book - Hospitality From Within
Connect on LinkedIn
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Connect with Donte
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How have African Americans shaped the hospitality industry?
In this episode, I am joined by Calvin Stovall to answer this question and chat about his upcoming book that dives further into the stories of African Americans within the history of hospitality. Calvin is a keynote speaker, author and hospitality historian with ICONIC Presentations. He has nearly 30 years of experience in the hospitality and non-profit service industries.
Throughout this conversation, Calvin talks about why he decided to write this book, the eye-opening research for the book, surprising findings and stories, how travel is being redefined, what five star service means to him, and so much more.
Connect with Sarah:
Follow Sarah Dandashy on Instagram
Check out Sarah's #1 Amazon Best Selling book - Hospitality From Within
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Website
Connect with Calvin
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Iconic Presentations Website -
Are you a content creator - whether part-time, full-time, or just as a hobby - that loves to travel?
If so, you need to check out Travis, a travel startup with a mission to empower a new generation of creators to earn through travel. Just like how content creators have been able to earn money through checkout codes and affiliate links with beauty, fashion, and other companies, Travis is making it possible for creators to do the same with travel brands.
In this episode, I am joined by Nicole Tj, CEO and co-founder of Travis. With 10 years of experience as a creator, influencer manager and strategy consultant at Deloitte Digital with a focus on tourism, she combines her industry experience with frustrations as a traveler, to pioneer a creator-led commerce future for the $800B online travel industry. Nicole talks about the creator economy, how Travis works with creators, trends for the travel and content creator space, and so much more.
Connect with Sarah:
Follow Sarah Dandashy on Instagram
Check out Sarah's #1 Amazon Best Selling book - Hospitality From Within
Connect on LinkedIn
Website
Connect with Nicole
LinkedIn
Travis Website -
Do you like to stay at boutique hotels when you travel? Next time you’re in Atlanta, check out The Darwin Hotel.
Situated in what is now one of the hippest neighborhoods in the city, The Darwin Hotel gives travelers the opportunity to choose their own East Side Atlanta adventure. They provide a cozy, creative home base for Atlanta travelers and promote authentic Atlanta by supporting local businesses and featuring local artisans in the hotel.
In this episode, I am joined by the owner of The Darwin Hotel, Shyam Patel, and General Manager, Alfonce McKinney. They share how The Darwin Hotel was created, the unique themed suites in the hotel, how they attract and retain employees, different ways local businesses and artisans are weaved into their guests' experience, how travel is being redefined, and more.
Take the Listener Survey: https://b5074ntfg57.typeform.com/to/lPT2UeEJ
Connect with Sarah:
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Check out Sarah's #1 Amazon Best Selling book - Hospitality From Within
Connect on LinkedIn
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Check Out The Darwin Hotel
Book a Stay at The Darwin!
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Are you looking for a travel agent to help plan your next vacation? Or do you absolutely love planning trips yourself?
No matter which side you fall on, Fora, "The Modern Travel Agency", is here to help you. Anyone with a passion for travel can earn real money as a Fora travel agent, whether it's as a side hustle, full-time job, or anywhere in between. Or if you're looking for help with your next trip, Fora's travel agents make it simple for you to travel like an insider, with amazing perks and recommendations that are backed by data.
Fora's co-founder, Henley Vazquez, is here with me today to talk about how Fora is making it's mark on the travel industry. During this episode, Henley and I talk about her journey to co-founding Fora, who would be a good fit to join Fora as a travel agent, trends that she sees for travel in 2023, what she considers 5-star service, how travel is being redefined, and more.
Take the Listener Survey: https://b5074ntfg57.typeform.com/to/lPT2UeEJ
Become a Fora Travel Agent: Get VIP access with your application on the top of the pile by using code Travel Redefined in your application on the last question.
Connect with Sarah:
Follow Sarah Dandashy on Instagram
Check out Sarah's #1 Amazon Best Selling book - Hospitality From Within
Connect on LinkedIn
Website
Connect with Henley
Facebook
LinkedIn
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For over 125, Kempinski Hotels have been creating welcoming, luxury, experiences for guests around the world.
Aref Sayegh, General Manager of Kempinski Hotel Cancún, joins me on this episode to talk about the incredible brand reputation that Kempinski has with both employees and guests. Aref is a results-driven leader with proven track record of successfully managing luxury hotels, clubs, and residence operations. Throughout his career, Aref has demonstrated an ability to mentor and develop staff in order to maximize talent and provide service excellence. Prior to working at Kempinski Hotel Cancún, Aref lived and worked in China for five years across Kempinski properties.
During this episode, Aref and I talk about his career journey that led him to work for Kempinski properties, how Kempinski attracts and retains their employees, the Kempinski DNA that contributes to their success, what 5 star service means to him, and so much more.
Take the Listener Survey: https://b5074ntfg57.typeform.com/to/lPT2UeEJ
Connect with Sarah:
Follow Sarah Dandashy on Instagram
Check out Sarah's #1 Amazon Best Selling book - Hospitality From Within
Connect on LinkedIn
Website
Connect with Aref
Facebook
Instagram
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What are your travel plans for 2023?
In this solo episode, I am sharing my travel forecast for 2023. I talk about the travel trends that we saw in 2022, the types of trips and vacations people will be taking in 2023, and what to expect when traveling this upcoming year.
Take the Listener Survey: https://b5074ntfg57.typeform.com/to/lPT2UeEJ
Connect with Sarah:
Follow Sarah Dandashy on Instagram
Check out Sarah's #1 Amazon Best Selling book - Hospitality From Within
Connect on LinkedIn
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While the snacks in hotel lobby shops may satisfy cravings, they do us no favors when it comes to the quality of our sleep and health.
Sean Folkson, founder and CEO of Nightfood, joins me for today's episode to talk about how Nightfood products are changing the game of hotel snacking. Nightfood ice cream and cookies are sleep-friendly with an average of 70% less sugar, 70% fewer calories, and only 10% of the fat of traditional ice cream. Nightfood also contains 100mg of tryptophan per serving, added Vitamin B6, Calcium, Zinc and Magnesium which are research-backed for improving sleep quality. Within a few months of their launch into hotel distribution, sleep-friendly Nightfood ice cream pints have landed on the lobby shop shelves of some of the largest hotel chains in the country. In many, Nightfood sleep-friendly pints are already outselling legacy brands like Haagen Dazs and Ben & Jerry’s.
During this episode, Sean and I talk about Nightfood and how it's pioneering the sleep-friendly nighttime snack category. We talk about the limited snack options that hotels offer, why sleep-friendly snacks are important, the passion behind Nightfood's mission, the ice cream and cookie Nightfood products, and more.
Connect with Sarah:
Follow Sarah Dandashy on Instagram
Check out Sarah's #1 Amazon Best Selling book - Hospitality From Within
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Connect with Sean
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Facebook
Instagram
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Do you have loyalty towards an airline in order to increase your traveling perks and score some free flights? Well then you're tuning in to the right episode to hear from Mark Ross-Smith about the future of airline loyalty programs.
Mark ‘Mr Loyalty’ Ross-Smith, is an award-winning global airline loyalty industry leader. Currently, Mark is CEO & Co-founder at Loyalty Data Co, the parent brand of StatusMatch.com and is the Author, Founder of industry news site “Travel Data Daily." Mark’s experience in airlines runs deep as he previously headed up the Malaysia Airlines Enrich Loyalty Program, delivering consecutive year record financial success to the airline. His unique approach to loyalty innovation has received industry acclaim and his work is referenced in major media including CNN, BBC, South China Morning Post, The Star, The Economist, Financial Times, Executive Traveler, Skift and many more.
During this episode, Mark and I talk all about airline loyalty programs. You will hear the story of how he became involved in the airline travel space, the role that data plays in airline companies, what he sees for the future of airline loyalty programs, his companies Travel Data Daily and StatusMatch, advice for travelers that are in loyalty programs, and so much more.
Connect with Sarah:
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Check out Sarah's #1 Amazon Best Selling book - Hospitality From Within
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Connect with Mark
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Travel Data Daily Website
StatusMatch.com -
Have you ever stayed at a hotel or short-term rental and fallen in love with a product or piece of furniture that was there? Meet Minoan, a company that is at the frontier of a new way of shopping that they call "Native Retail"- when you discover new products in the environments where they are being used for what they were designed to do
In this episode, I'm so excited to be joined by Marc Hostovsky, the CEO and founder from Minoan. Fueling his passion for people and products, Marc created Minoan as an all in one, free, ordering platform that short-term rentals and boutique hotels can use to buy from 200+ brands at steep discounts and skip the logistics of tracking, customer service, etc. Minoan turns these properties into a shoppable experience so guests can order the items they loved from their stay, and the property partners can make a little extra money.
During this episode, Marc and I have an awesome conversation about how retail and furnishings impact hospitality and travel experiences for the consumer. Marc talks about his traveling experience that inspired him to start Minoan, how Minoan works, ways that retail is changing, how Minoan helps hotels and short-term rental hosts, how travel has changed, retail trends that he is seeing for hotels and short-term rentals, and so much more.
Click here to get $25 credit towards your first purchase using Minoan!
Connect with Sarah:
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Check out Sarah's #1 Amazon Best Selling book - Hospitality From Within
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Connect with Marc
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Minoan Website -
It's no secret that the hospitality industry is going through a major staffing crisis.
In today's episode I'm joined by Josh Rubinstein, Founder and Managing Director of JPR Human Capital, a recruiting firm working to fill open hospitality jobs with the right people. James began his hospitality career in boutique hotel and stand-alone restaurant operations and managed various Michelin-starred and James Beard award-winning restaurants, giving him a unique perspective on executive search. He pivoted his career and became a recruiter, working at Korn Ferry as a Managing Consultant, Executive Search for Travel, Hospitality & Leisure. In 2021 Josh joined the Passionality Group and in 2022, was appointed Partner, Head of Strategic Growth Partnerships. Simultaneously, Josh founded JPR Human Capital, an innately different search firm focusing on the relationship first.
During this episode, Josh and I have an incredible conversation about how he is working to recruit and retain top talent for the travel and hospitality industry. He shares how important relationship building has been throughout his career and building his company, what he looks at when placing a candidate, how important finding the right talent is in hospitality, how travel is being redefined, and more.
Connect with Sarah:
Follow Sarah Dandashy on Instagram
Check out Sarah's #1 Amazon Best Selling book - Hospitality From Within
Connect on LinkedIn
Website
Connect with Josh
LinkedIn
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What are your holiday travel plans?
In this solo episode, I am talking about what to expect when traveling during this holiday season. Whether you are flying or driving to your destination, it is important to understand the current trends and data around travel so you have an idea of what to expect. Plus, in honor of this episode being released the week of Thanksgiving, I want to say a big thank you to each and every one of you that tunes in every week!
Connect with Sarah:
Follow Sarah Dandashy on Instagram
Check out Sarah's #1 Amazon Best Selling book - Hospitality From Within
Connect on LinkedIn
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How can hotels use content creation as a way to build their brand and improve their guest experience?
To answer this question, I'm joined by Calvin Tilokee, CEO and Creative Director of Revpar Media. Revpar Media focuses on helping hospitality businesses take a strategic approach to their social media, create authentic engagement, and build an audience that will convert to guests. Calvin's expertise comes from his personal success building large followings across memes, travel and self-development brands.
During this episode, Calvin and I talk all things content creation for the hospitality industry. He shares what led him to create Revpar Media, how he works with hotel properties, the biggest mistakes hotels make when it comes to content creation, creating a content strategy, determining ROI for social media, how social media has impacted the hotel industry, how travel is being redefined, and so much more.
Connect with Sarah:
Follow Sarah Dandashy on Instagram
Check out Sarah's #1 Amazon Best Selling book - Hospitality From Within
Connect on LinkedIn
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Connect with Calvin
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Meme Account
Instagram
Revpar Media Website -
How do you stay energized while traveling?
Whether it's multiple coffee stops throughout the day or a quick stop at the convenient store for an energy drink, there are so many drinkable energy-boosting options. Until now... meet your new travel partner Punch'd! Punch'd Energy is the first caffeine gummy on the market. The CEO and Founder of Punch'd, John Pinelli, joins me today to talk all about how consuming clean, chewable energy can elevate your travels.
During this episode, John and I talk about how energy impacts the travel experience. He shares what Punch'd products are, why it is healthier and cleaner than other caffeine products in the market, how Punch'd can help maintain energy no matter how busy you are while traveling, why clean caffeine options are important to have for travelers in airports and hotels, and more.
Connect with Sarah:
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Check out Sarah's #1 Amazon Best Selling book - Hospitality From Within
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Connect with John
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Punch'd Website - Use Code SARAH15 for 15% off! -
What should independent hotels be focusing on? The Independent Lodging Congress was an incredible experience that left me with a new perspective on how to be successful today as an independent hotel.
In this solo episode, I am recapping the big takeaways I learned while at the Independent Lodging Congress. I talk about the importance of immersive experiences, strategic design, how to be a social hub as a hotel, the value of having a sense of purpose for hospitality employees, what I learned from Bill Walsh's talk, and more.
Connect with Sarah:
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Check out Sarah's #1 Amazon Best Selling book - Hospitality From Within
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Check Out The Independent Lodging Congress
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As a traveler, do you seek out boutique hotels when planning your lodging?
The rise in popularity of boutique hotels is one that continues to grow, not only in the number of travelers who prefer them but also the number of incredible properties travelers can choose from. Today, I am joined by Silvia da Blas of Único Hotels. Único Hotels is a luxury lifestyle hotel collection with 5 properties in Spain, each offering their own unique experience for travelers.
During this episode, Silvia and I have an amazing conversation about Único Hotels and the ways that boutique hotels can stand out. She talks about the Único Hotels property portfolio, what makes each property unique, what travelers can expect when they stay at one of the properties, how they are dedicated to creating unique experiences for guests, why boutique hotels are so popular, ways that the properties have pivoted to appeal to travel trends, and so much more.
Connect with Sarah:
Follow Sarah Dandashy on Instagram
Check out Sarah's #1 Amazon Best Selling book - Hospitality From Within
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Website
Connect with Silvia
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What are the generational differences when it comes to travel?
The travel industry has evolved drastically each decade and the travelers experience has changed along with it. Each generation has a wildly different set of expectations and habits when it comes to traveling. To give you a taste of the generational contrast with travel, my mother, a Baby Boomer, joins me, a Millennial, on this episode of Travel Redefined.
During this episode, my mother and I chat about changes in travel that she has seen throughout her life, her travel habits and routines today, what five star service means to her, how luxury service has changed over the years, and more.
Connect with Sarah:
Follow Sarah Dandashy on Instagram
Check out Sarah's #1 Amazon Best Selling book - Hospitality From Within
Connect on LinkedIn
Website
Connect with Kay
LinkedIn - Vis mere
