Most hotel investors default to syndication — raising capital from dozens of limited partners and layering in complex waterfalls. But what if there’s a smarter, simpler path?

This week’s guest, Brandon Gore, is building The Outlier Hotel, a 10-cabin luxury retreat in Arkansas designed to last 100 years. Instead of chasing the traditional syndication model, he’s structuring the project as a joint venture — lowering pressure, creating strong cash flow, and unlocking tax advantages that limited partners usually can’t access.

In this episode, we dig into:

• How intuition plus data shaped Brandon’s decision to buy land on a hunch
  
  
• The financial model behind The Outlier (ADR, occupancy, and NOI)
  
  
• Why joint ventures can sometimes outperform syndications
  
  
• How accelerated depreciation makes this deal especially compelling
  
  
• What it takes to build hotels that align with your values and your legacy

This is part business case study, part lesson in trusting your instincts — and a rare look at how different deal structures can change the game for hospitality investors.

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About Brandon:

Brandon Gore is a designer, builder, and entrepreneur known for blending craftsmanship with innovation. He is the founder of Gore Design Co., Hard Goods, the Concrete Design School, and EarthForm Rammed Earth, where he has pioneered sustainable building with concrete and rammed-earth construction. Today, he is developing The Outlier Hotel in Eureka Springs, Arkansas—a boutique property that reflects his vision for timeless design and lasting architecture. Brandon has also shared his expertise as a TEDx speaker, podcast host, and judge on the design competition show Framework.

Connect with Brandon:

Instagram:@outlierhotel & @hardgoodsco

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/goredesignco/

Website: Gore Design Co. & Brandon Gore

Connect with Mike and Nate:

Invest with Mike & Nate: malama-capital.com/invest
Submit a deal: https://www.malama-capital.com/deal-submission
Instagram: @the_hotel_investor_playbook
Contact Us: info@hotelinvestorplaybook.com