Lobby Talks

Can you really lead a hotel from a distance?In hospitality, leadership can look very different depending on where you sit. In this episode of Lobby Talks, we go behind the scenes with four hotel leaders working across finance, sales and marketing, human resources, and operations to explore what happens when leadership is physically close to the operation.How does being on property change the way leaders make decisions? How does it affect associate experience, guest experience and workplace culture? And can you truly understand the business of a hotel without understanding the people and operation behind the numbers? Host and General Manager, Ravi Sharma sits down with Debra, Rachell, Lee and Bryan to talk about their careers, their roles and the realities of leading a full-service hotel and event operation.This conversation is for hotel managers, General Managers, department heads, hospitality executives, emerging leaders and anyone interested in the people and decisions behind the guest experience.Because behind every room, event, meal, guest score and financial report is a team of people making it happen. You're not simply overseeing the work. You're part of it.🎙️ Lobby Talks is a podcast by hotel and event professionals exploring hospitality, leadership, innovation, travel, events and the people shaping the industry.

This week on Lobby Talks, we’re joined by Keller Taylor, CVE!As Vice President of the BOK Center and Arvest Convention Center, Keller gives us an inside look at the business of events in Tulsa.We’re talking about what it takes to plan and execute events at two of Tulsa’s most recognizable venues, the challenges that come with large-scale events, and what makes the Tulsa market unique.Keller also shares his perspective on Tulsa’s growth as an events destination, the role major venues play in attracting visitors and events to the city, and what meeting planners should know when considering Tulsa for their next event.If you’re interested in event planning, venue operations, hospitality, or the growth of Tulsa’s meetings and events industry, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.🎧 Listen to the latest episode of Lobby Talks!#LobbyTalks #KellerTaylor #BOKCenter #ArvestConventionCenter #TulsaEvents #EventPlanning #MeetingPlanners #HospitalityIndustry

Technology is changing not only how hotels operate, but how events are produced and how guests experience convenience.In Part 2 of Hotel Technology: The Future of Hospitality, Lobby Talks continues the conversation with two very different perspectives on innovation.🎛️ Jim and Pedro from Inspire Event Solutions joins us to talk about the evolution of event technology, the AV trends planners are asking for, creative solutions to event challenges, integrating new technology with legacy systems, changing attendee expectations, and the growing influence of AI on the audiovisual industry.🚁 Bobby Healy, founder of Manna Air, takes us into the future of drone delivery and explores how autonomous delivery could impact hotels, resorts, food delivery, guest amenities, staffing, operations, and the overall guest experience.From the technology powering the event itself to the technology delivering what guests need, this episode explores how innovation is creating new opportunities across hospitality.This is Part 2 of our Hotel Technology conversation. In Part 1, we explored AI-powered concierge robotics with IntBot and smoking/vaping detection technology with REST.🎙️ Subscribe to Lobby Talks and join us as we explore the technology, trends, and people shaping the future of hospitality.#LobbyTalks #HotelTechnology #HospitalityTechnology #EventTechnology #HospitalityInnovation #FutureOfHospitality #EventPlanning #AVTechnology

Technology is changing hospitality, from AI-powered concierge robots that interact directly with guests to smart technology working behind the scenes to protect hotel rooms and improve operations.In Part 1 of our Hotel Technology: The Future of Hospitality conversation, Carly talks with two companies tackling very different challenges in the hotel industry.First, Sharon Yang, Chief Technology Officer at IntBot, joins us to talk about AI-powered concierge robots, including Tulse, the robot guests can meet at Marriott Tulsa Southern Hills. We discuss how robots are supporting hotel associates, improving guest service, and creating new possibilities for the guest experience.Then, Michael Linton, Chief Revenue Officer and General Counsel at REST, explains how their technology helps hotels detect smoking and vaping in guest rooms and respond to incidents before they become bigger operational problems.We'll explore how hotels are using technology today, how guests and staff are responding, and what these innovations could mean for the future of hospitality.This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation. Tune in to the next episode for Part 2 as we continue exploring the technologies shaping the future of hospitality, meetings, and events.Learn more:🤖 IntBot: https://www.intbot.ai/🚭 REST: https://restsensor.com/demoEmail: [email protected] Lobby Talks for more conversations about hospitality, events, technology, tourism, and the people behind the experience.

What separates great travel content from content people instantly scroll past?In this episode of Lobby Talks, travel photographer Chris Warren Palmer and cinematic videographer Pedro (Peter Thomas) share the creative process behind producing compelling visual stories around the world. From working with minimal gear to managing demanding travel schedules and creating content that serves both artistic expression and business objectives, they reveal what life as a professional travel creator really looks like.We discuss the essential equipment every creator should carry, camera workflows, battery management, storage solutions, client collaborations, destination storytelling, and how photographers and filmmakers can develop a recognizable style while staying adaptable to every project.Whether you're an aspiring travel photographer, filmmaker, content creator, tourism marketer, hotel marketer, or creative entrepreneur, this conversation offers practical advice for building a sustainable creative career and producing content that makes an impact.Topics Covered:• Travel photography• Cinematic videography• Travel filmmaking• Content creation workflow• Camera gear and travel essentials• Photography and videography tips• Brand storytelling• Hospitality and tourism marketing• Destination content creation• Creative entrepreneurship• Social media strategy for creators• Building a career as a travel creatorWhether you're creating content for clients, marketing destinations, or simply looking to sharpen your creative process, this conversation offers practical insights into the mindset, preparation, and storytelling behind impactful visual content.To explore more of Chris Warren Palmer's work, visit Shop Photography Art | C WARREN GALLERY LLC, experience his collection of fine art photography, and learn more about his creative journey.Connect with Peter Thomas: Follow Peter on LinkedIn to see more of his travel videography, creative work, and adventures behind the camera.🔗 Peter Thomas on LinkedIn: Peter Thomas | LinkedIn #LobbyTalksPodcast #HospitalityPhotography #TravelVideography #CreativeCareer #TravelContentCreation #VisualStorytelling