The Modern Hotelier

What’s happening across the hospitality industry right now? 
In this episode of The Modern Hotelier Hospitality Hot Topics, Steve Carran and David Millili sit down with Richard Sandoval, CEO of Spire Hospitality, to unpack the latest trends and biggest stories shaping the hospitality industry—from Airbnb’s growing move into hotels and OYO’s fake hotel listings to Hilton and Marriott’s push into wellness and experiential travel. They also dive into Google’s $10 million acquisition of Spirit Airlines’ data, the growing value of data and AI in travel, and what automation means for the future of hotel operations. 
Richard also shares his vision for Spire Hospitality, the importance of the owner-operator model, and why, even as AI transforms the industry, genuine human connection, hospitality, and personalized guest experiences will remain at the heart of the business.
 In this episode, you’ll learn more about: 
Airbnb partners with Lark Hotels
OYO takes bookings for fake rooms
Hilton launches Signia Restore & Marriot's Luxury Collection Unveils Expeditions
Google buys Spirit Airlines data for $10 million
What's new at Spire Hospitality

Watch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/oKdibg8m2z4

Links:
Richard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-sandoval-434234184
Spire Hospitality: http://www.spirehotels.com/
For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/325
Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-..
Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn page
Connect with Steve and David:
Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E...
David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mil.

How do you scale a boutique hotel company without losing the creativity, personality, and local connection that make independent hospitality so special?
In this episode, David Millili and Steve Carran sit down with Jorgan von Stiening, President of Palisociety, to explore the strategy behind scaling a successful boutique hotel company while staying true to its brand and guest experience.
Jorgan shares his journey from accounting and hospitality consulting at Ernst & Young to joining Palisociety and helping the company grow from three hotels to a much larger portfolio across multiple brands and markets. He also breaks down Palisociety’s partnership with Design Hotels and Marriott Bonvoy, explaining how the company is using Marriott’s global reach and loyalty base while maintaining its independent identity.
In this episode, you'll learn:
How to scale boutique hotels without losing their identity
Why systems and SOPs are critical to independent hotel success
The business value of in-house design, marketing, and branding
How Marriott Bonvoy is changing Palisociety’s customer acquisition strategy
What major events like the 2028 Olympics could mean for Los Angeles hotels
This episode is sponsored by Sip Tea: https://sip-tea-path.com/
Watch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/HNlQ5NDIyJo

Links:
Jorgan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jorganvonstiening/
Palisociety: http://palisociety.com/
For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/324
Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-..
Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn page
Connect with Steve and David:
Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E...
David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mil.

What does it really take to own a hotel, and how can more people gain access to hotel investing?
In this episode of The Modern Hotelier, Davonne Reaves, founder and CEO of The Vonne Group and Vesterr, shares her journey from working on the front lines of hospitality to becoming a hotel owner, investor, entrepreneur, and advocate for greater access to hotel ownership.
Davonne explains how her grandmother’s hospitality influenced her career, what she learned at Hyatt Regency Atlanta, and how hotel consulting and asset management opened her eyes to the business of hotel ownership. She also shares why she created Vesterr to connect commercial real estate deal sponsors with investors.
David, Steve, and Davonne also explore the growing role of AI in hotel investing—and why some parts of the acquisition process still require a human touch.
Davonne shares candid advice for young entrepreneurs and women entering the industry: stay authentic, keep learning, find mentors, work hard, and never let someone else's “no” stop you.
In this episode, you'll learn:
What working in hotel operations taught her about ownership
How to evaluate a hotel investment opportunity
Why the sponsor, location, brand, and operator matter
Where human expertise remains essential in hospitality
Advice for aspiring hotel owners and young entrepreneurs
Watch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/v4Ju_rdcVd8

Links:
Davonne on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davonnereaves
Vesterr: https://www.vesterr.com/
For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/323
Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-..
Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn page
Connect with Steve and David:
Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E...
David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mil.

In this episode, Steve Carran and David Millili sit down with David Bowd, co-founder and owner of Salt Hotels, for a candid conversation about hospitality, leadership, design, service, and the future of independent hotels.
David shares how growing up in a small village in Staffordshire, England, and working in a local pub sparked his passion for hospitality. He also talks about leaving school at 16, discovering that the kitchen wasn’t for him, and building a career that would take him through some of the most influential lifestyle hotels in the world, including St. Martin’s Lane and Sanderson, as well as working alongside hospitality icons Ian Schrager and André Balazs.
David explains why he founded Salt Hotels and the philosophy behind combining thoughtful design, personalized service, and a strong sense of place. He also shares why memorable hotels are ultimately created by people—not just beautiful spaces—and tells a powerful story about turning a hotel disaster into an unforgettable guest experience.
In this episode, we discuss:
The philosophy behind Salt Hotels
Why people and service create memorable hotel experiences
How independent hotels can build visibility and commercial success
AI’s role in hospitality and the importance of human connection
Why every hotel should feel connected to its location
Watch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/gB-NcS4Aj18
This episode is sponsored by Sip Tea: https://sip-tea-path.com/
Links:
David Bowd on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidbowd/
Salt Hotels: https://www.salthotels.com/
For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/322
Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-..
Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn page
Connect with Steve and David:
Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E...
David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mil.

How can hotels make smarter purchasing decisions, control costs, and use technology to work more efficiently?
In this episode, David Millili and Steve Carran sit down with Jesse Messitte, Vice President of Strategy and Business Operations at Avendra International, for a great conversation about the world of hospitality procurement.
Jesse shares his journey from working at Hyatt to spending more than two decades at Avendra, and how his background in data, technology, and hospitality shaped the way he approaches procurement.
Jesse talks about his career advice for hospitality professionals who want to make the move from hotel operations into technology.
It’s a practical conversation about procurement, technology, AI, and the behind-the-scenes work that can ultimately help hotels deliver a better experience for their guests.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
How group purchasing organizations help hotels reduce costs and improve purchasing performance
What hoteliers should consider when selecting procurement technology
Why hotels should focus on business objectives before adopting new technology
The best practices for creating consistent and efficient procurement processes
Whether you're a hotel owner, operator, management company, or hospitality technology professional, this episode offers practical insights into making procurement more strategic and using technology to help hotels thrive.

Watch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/xhOk-Xcmzrc
This episode is sponsored by Avendra International: https://www.avendra.com/en/us/
 
Links:
Jesse on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jesse-messitte/
Avendra International: https://www.avendra.com/en/us/
For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/321
Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-..
Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn page
Connect with Steve and David:
Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E...
David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mil.