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Welcome to SMACK!
Just like our name, everything we do here is a little different and yet you’ll probably have more fun here than elsewhere. SMACK Hospitality Media is your one-of-a-kind source for hospitality and tourism-related edutainment. It is our mission to provide fun and engaging content for industry professionals in modern media formats.
With our podcast we aim to give everybody around the world the chance to meet key decision-makers and trailblazers of the hospitality industry. Chasing that ambitious goal, our hospitality podcast airs twice a month between September and July.
So, join the conversation, tune in and never ever lose your curiosity.
Enjoy the show!
Just like our name, everything we do here is a little different and yet you’ll probably have more fun here than elsewhere. SMACK Hospitality Media is your one-of-a-kind source for hospitality and tourism-related edutainment. It is our mission to provide fun and engaging content for industry professionals in modern media formats.
With our podcast we aim to give everybody around the world the chance to meet key decision-makers and trailblazers of the hospitality industry. Chasing that ambitious goal, our hospitality podcast airs twice a month between September and July.
So, join the conversation, tune in and never ever lose your curiosity.
Enjoy the show!
89 Episodes
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Fahad Abdulrahim Kazim, CEO of Millennium Hotels & Resorts MEA, joined Fritz at the FHS in Riyadh for a chat about Saudi Arabia’s booming travel market, the plans of Millennium Hotels & Resorts in the middleeast and African region, and the future of brand evolution.
Fahad found his true calling in hospitality through numbers. He went from accounting to real estate and landed in hospitality with a passion for showcasing Saudi Arabia’s beauty to the world.
The Vision 2030 and the country’s transformation coming with it are spectacular. Today’s travelers crave authentic experiences, and Saudiarabia delivers – stunning landscapes, rich culture, and history. And the food! Ever tried local Saudi honey? It’s not just about breakfast; it’s about tasting the essence of the land. 🍯
Millennium thrives in sustainability and unforgettable experiences – including local produce, farm visits, and cultural interactions. Guests book more than just a room; they book a story. For Fahad, it’s the best of both worlds – memorable experiences and earth care.
Stick around for the “not so easy” SMACK questions challenge at the end, which Fahad bravely faced and successfully conquered. 😉
Enjoy the show!
A business affair of data and sustainability.
Meet Caroline Tiveus, Senior Vice President of Sustainable Business at Pandox - one of the forefront players in bringing the #hopsitalityindustry to the next level sustainability-wise.
Caroline and Flo discussed the work she is doing to help hotels reduce their CO2 emissions, along with how different standards throughout the EU affect business decisions, and how it is time to take proper action instead of just #greenwashing.
Caroline doesn't just talk the talk; she manages several #hotelproperties throughout Europe and implements direct actions in all departments and teams. Her work showcases how businesses can actually save money while at the same time, becoming more eco-friendly.
Even though she doesn’t consider herself an activist, she proves every day that passion and data work hand in hand. For her, the most important part is doing meaningful work, to be able to look her children in the eye, and actually be proud.
Tune in to the full episode!
Enjoy the show!
Let’s say 2023 was not quite the year of deal-making within the industry.
Then what does the future have in stock for #hospitality and #realestate?
Alexi Khajavi President Hospitality, Travel and Wellness at Questex set down with Flo at last week’s IHIF to discuss trends, the role of technology and his personal “meandering” career journey.
Alexi and his team are deeply embedded in the #hospitalityindustry and run events to inform and connect industry insiders around the globe. With the help of the Investor Sentiment Index and at least one ear on the track at all times, they have been spotting trends from afar for 25 years.
And they have good news: there are great opportunities for the industry - in trends like senior living and also, strangely enough, in the epidemic of loneliness that is roaming the world.
Like Flo said, “This was a really inspiring and insightful conversation.” , so we highly recommend you tune in to the full episode.
Enjoy the show!
Have you ever wondered what grows in the desert?
We have. So we sent Phil to talk to someone who knows - Atul Chopra, Founder and CEO of FreshOn Table, who supplies restaurants and hotels in UAE with fresh greens and other edibles.
Minimum emissions, maximum nutrition is his motto and led him to create a company that connects farmers to #chefs - so close, that they can harvest on demand.
Atul has a lot to tell about circular economy and agritech, because six hours from field to kitchen don’t come from nothing. It takes a lot of data analysis, entrepreneurial expertise and education to get this loop going.
As Phil found out, there is a lot more we can learn from Atul, who moved from banknotes and Excel sheets to soil, water, and baby carrots. The serial entrepreneur calls 16 African countries his “playgrounds” and has lived in many more countries.
Besides this, Phil outs himself as a country boy – you better tune in to this episode!
Enjoy the show!
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This is real, luxurious, family business!
We had not only one but two guests on the show! Sir Rocco Forte, Chairman and Lydia Forte, Group Director of F&B at Rocco Forte Hotels brought some great topics and giggles to this episode with Fritz, recorded at the famous The Browns Hotel in London on Sir Rocco’s birthday.
The #RoccoForte vibe isn't just a concept, it's a way of life and you can hear this in every word. Decades of family dedication have created this brand. Each hotel tells a story, blending local heritage with personalized service that leaves guests and staff feeling like part of the family.
Lydia and Sir Rocco spilled a bunch of secrets on how the #luxuryhotel brand developed over the years and their take on F&B and the impact (new) restaurants have on the whole identity of a hotel concept. Of course, Fritz had to ask about the future of the 5-star collection, following the recent announcement of a partial sale to Saudi Arabia’s wealth fund PIF.
We are so excited about this episode that we are about to swing from the chandelier.
Tune in to the full episode on our website.
Enjoy the show!
This was a first!
As you might know by now, we had the pleasure of teaming up with YHS and hosting the very first SMACK Live! #podcast event with Patrick Mendes, CEO at ACCOR for Premium, Midscale & Economy in Europe and North Africa.
Patrick shared a lot of insights with Fritz and the students at EHL about his career path (which he actually started off by quitting #hospitality and the #hotelbusiness), and the possibilities the ACCOR world has to offer but especially the “PME” – Premium, Midscale and Economy sector, which seems to be generally, slightly underrated.
He talked about his personal experience in Latin America and about heartfelt topics that he likes to personally support such as #diversity and #inclusion. The adventures he witnessed in #hoteldevelopment from the West to the East and of course also about what’s cooking at ACCOR’s development these days, as well as #paris2024 and #loyaltyprograms.
Patrick lifted the secrets about ACCOR’s vast structure of brands and regions and answered a gazillion questions from the students during a live Q&A and in individual chats after the recording.
Do listen closely to what he says about #worklifebalance, especially if you are aiming for a #clevel position!
Best now, if you tune in to the episode yourself!
Enjoy the show!
𝐎𝐡 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧, 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲!
From the toast and marmalade mise en place at her parent's hotel on the Scottish coast to creating a female-influenced, bar- & restaurant empire with multiple locations in London is a very short version of describing Jillian MacLean’s career path.
Jillian, founder of Drake & Morgan, and Pat had an inspiring chat about how hospitality is the ultimate playground to dream big and to give everybody a chance to succeed. Jillian saw a market gap and jumped right on it. She and her sister set the stage for a series of bars and restaurants across London, all celebrating the fabulous side of life. Their product is powered by women, with drinks, dishes, and designs tailored to up-to-date trends that ladies love.
And as Jillian puts it: “At the end of the day, what is hospitality? It's a fun industry. It's drinks and food and looking after people.”
Grab a seat and a cocktail and enjoy the show!
Who has united 530 hotels, resorts, and eight kick-ass brands under one roof? 🏩
William Heinecke, aka Bill, Founder & Chairman of Minor Hotels and Fritz broke down the evolving world of hospitality at last year's FHS in Abu Dhabi. They talked about newly rising #traveldestinations like Saudi Arabia, bucket list trips, and the growing importance of the #foodindustry. 🥗
Bill’s mission: Authentic #hotel experiences, honoring the country’s cultures and traditions, and choosing destinations off the beaten path with the effort to recognize each location’s beauty and heritage. All inspired by his inborn passion for the industry, his love for unfamiliar locations in #hoteldevelopment, and his vision for the multi-hotel-brand chain’s future.👣
Enjoy the Show!
Josiah Mackenzie, Host of Hospitality Daily, and Florian held a Double Trouble Super Trooper podcast episode, co-hosting and exchanging their passion and inspiration for hospitality. They are telling stories about the early beginnings of SMACK and the Hospitality Daily podcast.
Inspired by the many conversations they have had with some of the greatest minds in the industry, they explored the latest technology and their favorite brand concepts, while comparing some of the similarities and differences between Europe and the U.S. in the world of hospitality.
From traveling with budget airlines through the hostels of Europe to creating a daily inspiration for hospitality enthusiasts, Josiah listened to a gut feeling he had, saw the opportunities the industry has to offer, and created Hospitality Daily in the process. His fundamental belief that “Hospitality roots in the sense of place” has driven the success of the format, shining a spotlight on all sides of the industry.
Rethinking space and technology, fostering a sense of community, and focusing on reconnecting people with the spirit of hospitality, are just a few examples of why the two would not trade their life in hospitality for any other profession.
Enjoy the show!
Yes, you can do things differently! Even in the hotel business.
Listen to 2024’s first smack episode and learn from YOTEL CEO Hubert Viriot how the brand has established a new status quo in the travel business over the past decade.
YOTEL has been rocking its own way from the beginning, by focusing on highly tech-savvy customers and the future of traveling, instead of sticking to beaten paths. Some of its milestones: being the first non-luxury brand in an eternity to construct a new property in New York and making hourly hotel bookings sexy again.
Hubert has not only seen this baby grow, but is said to be majorly responsible for pushing YOTEL from a unique airport hotel to a global player.
Winter wonderland vibes coming your way! 🏰 🌟
Gabriela Schmidle, Founder and CEO of mts vienna (Marketing Tourism Synergy Vienna) and organizer of the Schloss Schönbrunn Christmas Market in Vienna, joined Pat for a jolly chat about the business side of these unique events.
What happens when Airbnb meets hotel management?
Well, confessions were made by Dr. Ellen Madeker Head of Public Policy for Germany, Austria & Switzerland (DACH) & Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) at Airbnb and Phil during a live podcast recording at the Berlin Travel Festival.
A lot has changed in the apartment rental business and sharing economy in the last couple of years and some of that is thanks to Airbnb, which has given a face to a formerly often overlooked part of the hospitality industry and offered a new economic lifeline to a bunch of people.
Attention please: “Hospitality Rising”
That’s the title of Mark McCulloch’s campaign, which is addressing the painful topic of #staffshortage in the UK hospitality scene in an unseen way. And one thing is for sure: This is a game-changer in how employment in #hospitality is seen, not just in the UK, but potentially everywhere. If you want to know how to convert one in three GenZlers to potential hospitality-fans you better tune in to this SMACK episode.
This episode will leave you hungry for more! 😋
Emma Banks Vice President, F&B Strategy & Development Europe, Middle East, and Africa at Hilton joined us for an episode of SMACK at the recent Future Hospitality Summit in Abu Dhabi hosted by the Bench to tell us her story. Fritz and Emma discussed the gourmet plate of all hospitality topics: F&D. Wait, F&D?! Yes, Food & Drinks as Emma rightfully calls it. Let’s be honest: has anyone ever used the word “beverage” in a normal context?
Emma and Fritz talked about the most important meal of the day, breakfast and its impact on customer satisfaction. Emma’s love and hate relationship for buffets, and how to generate an ethical and fiscal win for hotel owners and customers by reducing food waste with the help of AI. 🗑 She explained that food waste makes up an incredible one-third of global carbon emissions – and we couldn’t agree more with her and her team that The future of hospitality is sustainability, not only in terms of food waste and plastic reduction, but also in terms of sourcing locally and responsibly.
Her love for #hospitality clearly showed as she talked about her own career path, including what went wrong with the original plan of becoming a criminal pathologist, and the possibilities that the industry offers for those in love with F&D. As Emma said: If you want a career full of color, hospitality is for you! 🫵 😁
Enjoy the show!
Do you ever run out of battery? This man surely doesn’t!
We are proud to welcome Dr. Jeffrey O - Chairman of the Directors Board at St. Justine, President of the International Hospitality Institute, coach, mentor, writer, and simply put: One of the most influential people in #hospitality.
Have you ever been to a large arena and thought to yourself, “Damn – this place is huge.”?!
John Langford, the COO of Anschutz Entertainment Group for Europe, knows all about that feeling as he is responsible for the operations of some of the largest arenas in Europe, including The o2 in London, Mercedes Benz Arena in Berlin and the Barclaycard Arena in Hamburg. We are beyond proud that he took the time to join us on the podcast and shared his story with us.
Philip and John had a beautiful conversation about John’s career path, the importance of live music and the immense responsibility that comes with it. John, who grew up in South Africa explained how he got into managing well-known arenas that host world stars on a regular basis. He lived in Alaska, South Africa, and the United Kingdom, while constantly traveling the world. His love for live music is evident, especially after his experience at a Michael Jackson concert he couldn't attend, but still managed to somehow be there. Curios? You should be.
He also told us about the interesting and impressive way of responsibly handling the sustainability part of arena operations. Philip and John finished off by sharing their love for beer and the German Reinheitsgebot.
Enjoy the show!
Welcome Tao Tao, co-founder and COO of GetYourGuide, the revolutionary of travel experiences and one of the best people to hang out with if you need top travel advice in any city on this planet.
For the opening of SMACK's fifth season, Florian had the honor of hosting Tao Tao and discussing his founder story, the tough times GetYourGuide had to face during the past couple of years, and what experiences mean to the travel industry today.
Hey there, Hospitality Fans!
We missed you… and didn’t want to wait until Season 5 starts in September, so we sat our 4 hosts down together and sent them on a trip down memory lane. It’s been 4 years already – yeah, that’s right: 4 years since SMACK first started.
Pat, Flo, Phil, and Fritz reminisced in a bit of nostalgia and a lot of laughter going through the past 4 seasons of their favorite SMACK moments thus far. From how everything started, in times when Phil was still in a suit, and our mother ship wasn’t called Studio49 yet. By the way: We swear we’ve worked on the microphone situation by now.
Join us on this journey as we rewind the last 4 podcast seasons and get a healthy dose of "wait-did-they-actually-do-that”-moments, stay tuned for the highest highs and lowest lows of SMACK history.
As always: Enjoy the show!
Back with another podcast episode you simply don’t want to miss. Join us on a heartfelt journey as Phil sits down with Ronisha Goodwin, the Director of Global Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for Hyatt Corporation, at the Proud Experience conference in Los Angeles.
Prepare to be moved by Ronisha's inspiring story of discovering her passion for hospitality through a TV show and her mission to foster inclusivity and belonging for Hyatt's guests, colleagues and partners worldwide.
Together Phil and Ronisha embark on a captivating exploration of diversity in the United States and Germany, shedding light on the much-needed progress within the hospitalityindustry, the role of mentors, and the evolution of Human Resources, from tracking diversity to challenging discriminatory environments in the workplace and embracing flexibility.
Wrapping up the episode, Phil grants Ronisha a wish, for which Ronisha envisions a future that is driven by the realization that race and ethnicity, sexual orientation, and immigration status are not things that need to divide us and in which we know that we can all rise together.
Enjoy the show!
Here’s one very inspiring SMACK podcast episode. Pat had the chance to chat with Jeremy McCarthy, Group Director of Spa & Wellness at Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group and they cruised through a bunch of topics, that will make you feel well - from innovation in Spas to #positivepsychology and general life advice.
What does a day at work of someone look like, who is responsible for all the good stuff? Jeremy McCarthy oversees the strategy and marketing of wellness-, spa-, and fitness offers, as well as kids’ clubs, water sports, and activities of the 36 hotels and resorts of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group. He is also majorly involved in the design and development of new projects worldwide. Jeremy and Patrizia had a chat about the difference between wellness and well-being, and discussed what positive psychology has in common with spa- and wellness institutions.
They explored how the past couple of years and technology have changed the spa industry and what is the best way to guide guests through today’s wellness experiences, while slaloming between the necessary digital connection and its greatly desired absence. Jeremy and Patrizia also got to the root of what differentiates Mandarin Oriental from other luxury brands, as well as Jeremy’s personal path through the world of well-being.
Don’t miss his advice on lifelong learning, the up-and-coming spa destinations, and last but not least how to propose perfectly to your significant other.
Enjoy the show!
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