Episodes
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Kevin Fedarko is a magazine writer, adventurer, and author of A Walk in the Park: The True Story of a Spectacular Misadventure in the Grand Canyon. Kevin traversed the 800-mile distance of the Grand Canyon over a year and was surprised that he lived to write about it. Susan and Kevin talk about silence, light, and hubris.
What you'll learn about in this episode:
How to pack light Who helped Kevin avoid certain death Why the Grand Canyon is so difficult to hike What the transformational power of silence is What makes the Grand Canyon's landscapes and silence such valuable, fragile resources When Kevin realized the journey would evolve from a magazine article to a full book Why Kevin believes difficult experiences, like his hike, lead to deeper personal growthRate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts
"I love Top Floor!" If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps other people like us find the show and makes our guests feel good about being on it.Tap to give us five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Be sure to let me know what you liked most about the episode! Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast or restart automatic downloads. It's the best way to make sure you don't miss out.
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Tim Hentschel is the founder of HotelPlanner, which sought to digitize the analog process of booking group business in hotels. HotelPlanner has changed a lot since it launched, and Tim is now exploring other ways to digitize analog processes in the hotel industry. Susan and Tim talk about automating relationships, over-managing rate strategy, and innovating in a tech resistant industry.
What you'll learn about in this episode:
Why AI might not fully replace human agents in high-touch services. How the flexibility of gig work is gamified for customer service agents. How AI is being integrated into HotelPlanner's customer service operations. Why the hospitality industry is resistant to fully automating meeting space bookings. What challenges revenue management systems face during high-demand events like the Olympics.Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts
"I love Top Floor!" If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps other people like us find the show and makes our guests feel good about being on it.Tap to give us five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Be sure to let me know what you liked most about the episode! Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast or restart automatic downloads. It's the best way to make sure you don't miss out.
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Episodes manquant?
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Adam Tuttle is a luxury hotel veteran and founder of Yipy, an app that helps hotels digitize their service standards so that nothing gets missed. After working with a multitude of hotels of all types, Adam realized that the burden of managing standards from multiple sources was too big, so he came up with a way to combine them in one spot. Susan and Adam talk about why luxury hotels are so expensive and what to do when confronted with royal vomit.
What you'll learn about in this episode:
Where Susan picks up trash What service should feel like When Adam picked the hotel business How much luxury hotel rooms sell for Why there are so many standards in the hotel industry
Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts
"I love Top Floor!" If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps other people like us find the show and makes our guests feel good about being on it.Tap to give us five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Be sure to let me know what you liked most about the episode! Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast or restart automatic downloads. It's the best way to make sure you don't miss out.
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Mindi Cooke is fashion executive turned reunitor of lost things. As SVP of Business Development at Reunitus, Mindi helps airlines, ski mountains, and hotels use software to match lost items with their owners. Susan and Mindi talk about stuffed animals, iPads, and Chanel.
What you'll learn about in this episode:
Where to label your suitcase. What percentage of lost luggage is found. How hotels outsource lost-and-found services. Which lost items are most important to return. Why Unclaimed Baggage pays for lost items in advance.Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts
"I love Top Floor!" If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps other people like us find the show and makes our guests feel good about being on it.Tap to give us five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Be sure to let me know what you liked most about the episode! Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast or restart automatic downloads. It's the best way to make sure you don't miss out.
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Matt Casella is a former finance guy and restaurant automation entrepreneur who serves as President of Richtech Robotics. The company creates robots who cook, clean, and serve drinks, including their latest invention, Adam. Susan and Matt talk about automation, experience, and the perils of opening a restaurant.
What you'll learn about in this episode:
Who is Adam? When to ignore advice Why finance sometimes leads to food What recipe Matt is best at preparing How to improve upon past humanoid robotsRate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts
"I love Top Floor!" If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps other people like us find the show and makes our guests feel good about being on it.Tap to give us five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Be sure to let me know what you liked most about the episode! Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast or restart automatic downloads. It's the best way to make sure you don't miss out.
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Andrea Piana is committed to a sustainable, zero-waste economy, so it may come as a surprise to learn that he is CEO of a more than 400-year-old textile company, Piana Technology. Andrea has created a new bed that is made with non-woven fiber, is 100% recyclable, and is designed to give hotel guests a luxurious night's sleep. Susan and Andrea talk about thinking, innovating, and skiing.
What you'll learn about in this episode:
How non-woven fabrics and calming molecules help sleep How Andrea got interested in sustainability Why personal values can guide a company What a circular economy means to Piana Where 50K mattresses per day end upRate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts
"I love Top Floor!" If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps other people like us find the show and makes our guests feel good about being on it.Tap to give us five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Be sure to let me know what you liked most about the episode! Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast or restart automatic downloads. It's the best way to make sure you don't miss out.
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Ali Krupnik is founder of MyWellCo, a wellness events company. Ali is passionate about bringing wellness to corporate events without it having to be yoga. Susan and Ali talk about floating in a chair and fighting phone stress.
What you'll learn about in this episode:
How to lower stress When to bring your pillow Who hires MyWellCo for events What you can do for better sleep Why wellness is not the same thing as yogaRate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts
"I love Top Floor!" If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps other people like us find the show and makes our guests feel good about being on it.Tap to give us five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Be sure to let me know what you liked most about the episode! Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast or restart automatic downloads. It's the best way to make sure you don't miss out.
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Jennifer Barnwell is president of Curator Hotel and Resort Collection, a consortium of about 100 independent hotels across the US who have joined forces to create more buying power and give consumers one place to find independent lifestyle hotels. Curator's mission is to help independent hotels stay independent, and Jen has enough industry experience to lead the way. Susan and Jen talk about number crunching and bank fraud.
What you'll learn about in this episode:
What lifestyle hotels are How buying power helps independents When data helps and hurts the hotel business Where to look for experiences that are truly unique Who are the best people (hint: starts with H, ends with otel)Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts
"I love Top Floor!" If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps other people like us find the show and makes our guests feel good about being on it.Tap to give us five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Be sure to let me know what you liked most about the episode! Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast or restart automatic downloads. It's the best way to make sure you don't miss out.
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John Bianchi is founder of STR Search, a data analytics company that helps real estate investors determine which properties are best positioned for cash flow. With more than $75 million in deals and a (self-reported) 100% success rate, John is the short-term rental industry's expert on what makes a successful Airbnb business. Susan and John talk about hottubs, dining tables, and rental arbitrage.
What you'll learn about in this episode:
Who should clean your rental units How to juggle multiple business interests Why treehouses will never go out of style What to add to your STR to make it succeed Where memories are created in a rental houseRate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts
"I love Top Floor!" If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps other people like us find the show and makes our guests feel good about being on it.Tap to give us five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Be sure to let me know what you liked most about the episode! Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast or restart automatic downloads. It's the best way to make sure you don't miss out.
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Seema Jain is founder and president of Seva Global, a cultural competency training and consulting company. After using her own cultural competency to move major market share during the 2008 recession, Seema developed programs to enhance cultural competence across Marriott hotels. Susan and Seema talk about pickles and vegetarian food.
What you'll learn about in this episode:
How to think the breakfast buffet Why you might give up an aisle seat When to apologize for a cultural faux pas Who has recession-proof business for hotels What you're responsible for as an entrepreneurRate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts
"I love Top Floor!" If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps other people like us find the show and makes our guests feel good about being on it.Tap to give us five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Be sure to let me know what you liked most about the episode! Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast or restart automatic downloads. It's the best way to make sure you don't miss out.
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Ashli Johnson is finally holding a conference for Black and Brown hospitality leaders, and the world will be better for it. An industry mainstay with experience across operations, real estate, consulting and academia, Ashli's latest project, Hued 2024, will connect and inspire hoteliers of color. Susan and Ashli talk about academia, intersectionality, and sugar babies.
What you'll learn about in this episode:
Where to start networking What conferences do for hotel careers How one front desk agent got a new car Which experiences make degrees more valuable Why Michael Phelps almost ended Ashli's careerRate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts
"I love Top Floor!" If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps other people like us find the show and makes our guests feel good about being on it.Tap to give us five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Be sure to let me know what you liked most about the episode! Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast or restart automatic downloads. It's the best way to make sure you don't miss out.
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Bruce Jordan has been in the hotel business since age 12, and he's picked up so many tricks along the way that he put them into a book. The Hotel Revenue Bible is a hotelier's guide to under-the-radar ideas that will make your property more profitable. Susan and Bruce talk about gas leaks, upsales, and labor costs.
What you'll learn about in this episode:
How to save money on electricity and internet Where hotels go wrong with labor When to start upselling guests What the 49 cents rule is Why rewards matterRate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts
"I love Top Floor!" If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps other people like us find the show and makes our guests feel good about being on it.Tap to give us five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Be sure to let me know what you liked most about the episode! Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast or restart automatic downloads. It's the best way to make sure you don't miss out.
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Alex Alioto is co-founder and head of growth at whimStay, a last-minute booking platform for short-term rental stays, and Noel Russel is chief marketing officer at the company. Susan talks with them about how they see the importance of travel and where the industry is headed.
What you'll learn about in this episode:
Where to visit for under-the-radar wine country How consumers think about last-minute travel Why nomadism is more accepted now than ever When to listen to the voices in your head What Alex and Noel hope for from AIRate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts
"I love Top Floor!" If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps other people like us find the show and makes our guests feel good about being on it.Tap to give us five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Be sure to let me know what you liked most about the episode! Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast or restart automatic downloads. It's the best way to make sure you don't miss out.
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Cory Mortensen is a travel writer and explorer who has published three books, the most recent called Embracing Bewilderment. Cory spent two years traveling around the world and having adventures, from eating stew in a farmer's backyard to being held at gunpoint by an authoritarian military regime. Susan and Cory talk about how photography is sometimes rude and how traveling can calm your fears.
What you'll learn about in this episode:
How ancient aliens maybe did stuff When to pitch a tent in a new country Where you don't lose your common sense Why travel friendships can be like therapy What kind of tickets to always book in advanceRate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts
"I love Top Floor!" If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps other people like us find the show and makes our guests feel good about being on it.Tap to give us five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Be sure to let me know what you liked most about the episode! Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast or restart automatic downloads. It's the best way to make sure you don't miss out.
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Ludovic Siouffi is founder and CEO of Fox Fold, a company that makes toilet paper and facial tissue dispensers that lower costs and reduce waste. After many years in finance, Ludo joined forces with three co-founders to reinvent toilet paper. Susan and Ludo talk about creating a supply chain, leaning on a co-founder, and discovering a secret on the loading dock.
What you'll learn about in this episode:
When to contact your investors What is hard about folding tissue Why Ludo feels sorry for solo-preneurs How to keep your ideas safe from imitators Where to look for thrown-away toilet paper rollsRate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts
"I love Top Floor!" If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps other people like us find the show and makes our guests feel good about being on it.Tap to give us five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Be sure to let me know what you liked most about the episode! Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast or restart automatic downloads. It's the best way to make sure you don't miss out.
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Chris Green is the author of The River Guide to Leadership and former President of Remington Hospitality. In his exit interview on Top Floor, he spills the beans about the hotel business, including dishing hte dirt on several hotel company CEOs. Susan and Chris talk about leadership, problem-solving, and lavender fields.
What you'll learn about in this episode:
How to write a book Who is the best hotel company CEO What to share in your exit interview When great financial returns are an art Why being direct is the kindest thing you can doRate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts
"I love Top Floor!" If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps other people like us find the show and makes our guests feel good about being on it.Tap to give us five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Be sure to let me know what you liked most about the episode! Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast or restart automatic downloads. It's the best way to make sure you don't miss out.
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Rebecca Dean has had concurrent career paths in healthcare and hospitality, which positioned her perfectly to found Healthpitality. A virtual medical practice, Healthpitality exists to serve hospitality employees, especially restaurant workers, who traditionally struggle to access healthcare. Susan and Rebecca talk about rifles, co-pays, and the future of insurance.
What you'll learn about in this episode:
When to protest sidework Why you need an annual checkup How to keep staff members happy Who benefits from high-cost healthcare What legal restrictions govern medical practicesRate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts
"I love Top Floor!" If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps other people like us find the show and makes our guests feel good about being on it.Tap to give us five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Be sure to let me know what you liked most about the episode! Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast or restart automatic downloads. It's the best way to make sure you don't miss out.
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Gary Saperstein is a 30 year restaurant veteran and founder of Out in the Vineyard, a travel and event company that brings the LGBTQ+ and winemaker communities together in Califonia's Wine Country. For more than 16 years, Gary has put on Gay Wine Weekend, a three-day extravaganza that builds community and raises money for charities like Face to Face. Susan and Gary talk about how the gay community was made visible, starting with a twilight T-Dance.
What you'll learn about in this episode:
How to entertain non-drinkers in Sonoma Valley Why T-Dances hold a place of importance in gay history Who hotels need to be marketing to, especially for weddings Where to sneak away for a romantic rendezvous at a winery When to go to Gay Wine Weekend (spoiler: it's July 19-21, 2024!)Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts
"I love Top Floor!" If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps other people like us find the show and makes our guests feel good about being on it.Tap to give us five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Be sure to let me know what you liked most about the episode! Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast or restart automatic downloads. It's the best way to make sure you don't miss out.
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Oliver Winter is founder and CEO of A&O Hostels, the largest privately-owned chain of hostels in Europe, with 40 properties in 25 cities. After a brush with "travel shame" during the pandemic, Oliver began to understand the threat that the climate crisis poses to the future of travel demand. As a result, he resolved to make A&O carbon neutral by 2025. Susan and Oliver talk about the carbon footprint of the lodging business.
What you'll learn about in this episode:
How marmalade impacts carbon footprint When the best time to start a business is What mistakes to avoid in opening a hostel Why the fall of the Berlin wall gave Oliver confidence Who to ask for the best ideas to transform your businessRate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts
"I love Top Floor!" If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps other people like us find the show and makes our guests feel good about being on it.Tap to give us five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Be sure to let me know what you liked most about the episode! Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast or restart automatic downloads. It's the best way to make sure you don't miss out.
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Scott Greenberg is a motivational speaker, former Edible Arrangements owner, and author of "Stop the Shift Show: Turn Your Struggling Hourly Workers into a Top-Performing Team." As the former owner of multiple Edible Arrangement stores, Scott has learned that approaching your hourly staff with a salaried mindset is a recipe for failure. Susan and Scott talk about what's still wrong with dining out and hard vs. soft needs.
What you'll learn about in this episode:
How to decide when to give someone a raise Who makes up the best audience for a speaker What bosses should do when managing Gen Z employees What Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs has to do with pizza parties Which new service consultants should consider adding to their offeringRate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts
"I love Susan, Top Floor, and the Loading Dock." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps other people like us find the show and makes our guests feel good about being on it.Tap to give us five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Be sure to let me know what you liked most about the episode! Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast or restart automatic downloads. It's the best way to make sure you don't miss out.
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