The Turndown: The Podcast for Hoteliers

What does it take to build Europe’s largest hostel chain while keeping stays affordable? Oliver Winter, Founder & CEO of a&o Hostels, joins The Turndown to discuss the decisions behind its growth and how he’s responding to rising costs and changing guest expectations. The conversation explores: Growing from a 164-bed property in Berlin to 46 hostels across Europe. Protecting margins when guests are reluctant to pay more. Where guests see value, from social spaces to premium hostel experiences. Developing future managers and widening the talent pool. Connecting sustainability investments with operating savings.

What makes a boutique hotel a compelling experience and a strong business? Tim Ensmann, founder and managing partner of Boutique Hotel Fund, joins The Turndown to explain the thinking behind The PineTree Hotel’s transformation, from investing in shared experiences to building direct demand and predictable group revenue. He shares the decisions behind its reported 98% direct bookings, the challenges of financing an independent hotel, and how he’s taking the model into new properties.

Hotels are rethinking almost everything: technology, revenue management, distribution, AI, and how they compete for demand. But Caryl Helsel, Founder and CEO of Dragonfly Strategists, believes the industry cannot afford to lose one thing in the process: hospitality itself. In this episode of The Turndown, Caryl joins Sébastien Leitner to discuss: Why hotels invest in new technology but often fail to change the way they work How poor RMS configuration can quietly leave significant revenue on the table Why revenue management is evolving into broader commercial leadership What hotels need to consider before deflagging and going independent Why AI search could create a major opportunity, or risk, for independent hotels How something as simple as the wrong word on a website can make a hotel invisible to AI How AI can help hotel teams identify operational problems and remove repetitive work Where automation should stop, and why human hospitality still matters   Related reading: Revenue marketing: The future of profit-driven hotel growth 6 hotel marketing trends: How to prepare your hotel AI visibility checklist

Jason Edwards, Director of Hospitality & Advisory Services at Première Advisory Group, has spent more than two decades in hospitality and 15 years in project management, leading technology integrations, revenue initiatives, and complex hotel transitions. In this episode of The Turndown, Jason looks at what happens after a hotel decides to change its technology. From getting operational teams ready to navigating deflagging, distribution, and go-live pressure, he explains why the technology itself is only one part of making change work. Topics include: Why hotel tech decisions can outpace operational readiness What makes technology implementations succeed or fail The realities of deflagging and going independent All-in-one vs. best-of-breed technology stacks When hotels have too many systems What owners should actually ask vendors about AI Why marketing, distribution, and photography still matter Measuring the real value of each booking channel   Related reading: 24-hour implementation: How Première Advisory Group and Cloudbeds redefine hotel technology deployment Hotel management software implementation: How to migrate, train, and go live successfully  

Hospitality futurist Simone Puorto joins The Turndown to challenge the hotel industry’s obsession with buying more technology. He argues that hotels do not need another layer of software, but fewer disconnected systems, better data, and a clearer understanding of where technology genuinely improves the guest and employee experience. The conversation explores key subtopics, including: AI and its real impact on hospitality Hotel tech overload and system fragmentation The future of search and booking Why some properties may benefit from simplifying their tech stack   Follow Simone Puorto: Linkedin Hospitalitynet Sign up for Simone's newsletter YouTube   Related reading: AI hotel management software: Why connected data matters more than features PMS integrations: What they mean for hotels in 2026 Guest profiles: The foundation of personalized experiences