The Hotel Investor Playbook
Episodes
The Revenue Expert Managing $125M Says You're Leaving 40% on the Table | Jasper Ribbers E74
17 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Jasper Ribbers went from trading equities on Wall Street to traveling to 100 countries as a digital nomad, funding it all from a single Airbnb apartme...
What Hotel Investors Can Steal From a Land Investor Who's Done 400 Deals | Brent Bowers E73
10 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What does a land investor who's done 400+ deals have to teach hotel investors? More than you'd expect.In this episode, you'll discover ...
An Overlooked Strategy That Makes $7M Hotel Deals Actually Pencil | Ben Wolff E72
24 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Fear of making the wrong move is why most aspiring hotel investors never get started. And ironically, that hesitation is costing them more than any mi...
Former Hotel Analyst Built AI to Fix the Problem He Lived Every Day | Ziggy Hallgarten E71
17 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
If you're still tracking your hotel pipeline in Excel and spending two hours screening each deal, you're working harder than you need to. Zi...
How to Scale to 4 Hospitality Properties Without Raising Millions in Capital | Sam Degenhard E70
10 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What if there's a way to scale a hospitality portfolio without having to own the real estate? For operators looking to grow quickly without raisi...
This 3-Step System Automated His Real Estate Business to 4 Hours a Month | Mark Podolsky E69
03 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Most investors think they're building a business, but they're actually building themselves a job. The truth? If you died tomorrow, your &quo...
How Small Hotels Use Staff Content to Drive Direct Bookings | Scott Eddy E68
27 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Most hotel owners think the only way to reduce OTA dependency is to throw more money at Facebook ads or hire expensive marketing agencies. But the rea...
How an Ex-Space Force Engineer Bought a $2.45M Motel With 10% Down | Jordan Malara E67
20 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Most first-time motel buyers don't lose money on the purchase price. They lose it by underestimating CapEx, guessing on underwriting, and assumin...
How a Pilot Bought a $10M Hotel Without Managing a Single Employee | Curt Marker E66
13 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Think you need hotel operations experience to invest in boutique hotels? That belief may be the only thing standing between you and building serious c...
Securities Attorney Reveals Why Most Hotel Syndicators Are Breaking the Law | Bethany LaFlam E65
06 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Most first-time hotel syndicators are already breaking the rules; they just don't know it yet. If you've ever taken money from friends and f...
Stop Treating Your Front Desk Like An Expense. It's A Profit Center | Geoffrey Toffetti E64
30 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Stop treating your front desk like an expense; it's costing you hundreds of thousands in property value. The biggest mistake boutique hotel owner...
Why Most Investors Never Buy Their First Hotel (And How You Actually Can) | Brian Resendez E63
23 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Why do so many people dream about buying a hotel but never actually close one?In this episode, Michael sits down with Brian Resendez, CEO of SVN North...
Global Resort Design CEO: Stop Wasting Capex on the Wrong “Upgrades” | Scott LaMont E62
16 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Boutique hotel investors often lose money in the same place: they renovate what’s visible, and ignore what actually drives guest behavior.In this ep...
The 3 Distress Signals That Make the Next 12 Months a Buyer’s Market | Suraj Bhakta E61
09 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Is now a terrible time to buy a hotel, or the best buying window you will get this decade?In this episode, Michael sits down with Suraj Bhakta, CEO of...
7 AI Tools That Let You Buy and Operate Hotels (With No Staff and No Time) | Jake Heller E60
02 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Most boutique hotel investors are running lean. No analyst team. No data department. No six-figure tech budget. Yet the demands of buying and operatin...
The Private Island Resort Built With Sweat, Not Millions | Odis Martin E59
25 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Turning an international hospitality dream into reality sounds exciting, until you’re standing on a swampy patch of land in Belize, wondering how ma...
How to Get Brokers to Send You Deals | Hunter Johnson E58
18 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Most hotel investors struggle to get brokers to take them seriously. The result is the same handful of buyers getting the first look at every good dea...
The Husband and Wife Duo that Scaled from 5 Airbnbs to 2 Boutique Hotels (Without Burning Out) | E57
11 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Want to know what it’s like to go from short-term rentals to owning boutique hotels while still maintaining a healthy relationship?This week on the ...
Hotel Technology You Can Install To Boost NOI | Sue Graves E56
04 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Looking for hotel technology that can actually increase profit and reduce expenses without hiring an IT department?This week on the Hotel Investor Pla...
How to Replace a Six-Figure Job with Boutique Hotel Investing | Tim Ensmann E55
28 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ever dreamed of quitting your six-figure job to build real wealth through hotels? This episode shows you what it actually takes.Tim Ensmann, founder o...
Real Estate Syndications 101: How Investors and Operators Actually Get Paid | Michael Russell E54
21 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ever wonder where the money actually goes in a hotel deal?In this episode, Michael Russell breaks down real estate syndications in plain English. How ...
What It Really Takes to Buy Your First Hotel in 90 Days | Jacobo Hernandez E53
14 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When most people say they want to buy a hotel, it’s just talk.Jacobo Hernandez sold his entire $10M short-term rental portfolio, packed his car, and...
Building a Lifestyle Hotel Brand in Costa Rica | Bill Graf E52
07 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We’ve all dreamt of quitting our bland corporate jobs to buy a hotel in Costa Rica… well, today’s guest did that.After leaving a private equity ...
The “Hotel Guru” on Where to Invest Next & How to Fund Deals | Bob Rauch E51
30 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The hotel industry is changing: costs are rising, AI is here, and investors are getting more selective.This week on the Hotel Investor Playbook, we sa...
Why 2026 Looks Rocky for U.S. Hotels And Where Smart Investors Can Hit Big | Jan Freitag E50
23 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Where is the hotel market headed in 2026, and how can investors succeed in a challenging environment?This week on the Hotel Investor Playbook, we sat ...
How to Craft a Hotel People Will Actually Remember | Bashar Wali E49
16 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The most powerful part of a hotel stay isn’t the design or the amenities, it’s the feeling guests take home.That’s the philosophy of Bashar Wali...
What Makes a Hotel Succeed or Fail? | Naveed Khan E48
09 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How do you turn a struggling hotel into a profitable asset?This week on the Hotel Investor Playbook, we sit down with Naveed Khan, co-founder of Londo...
From CEO of Days Inn to Launching Marriott’s Autograph Collection | Richard Kessler E47
02 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Few people have left a mark on hospitality like Richard Kessler.He started his hospitality career by helping scale Days Inn into a household name as t...
How To Use Social Media To Raise Capital And Find Deals | Soli Cayetano E46
26 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What if your first hotel deal could be funded almost entirely through Instagram?This week’s guest, Soli Cayetano AKA lattes.and.leases on Instagram,...
Intuition, Joint Ventures, and Building Hotels That Last | Brandon Gore E45
19 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Most hotel investors default to syndication — raising capital from dozens of limited partners and layering in complex waterfalls. But what if there’...
The Marketing Playbook Every Small Hotel Owner Needs | Steph Weber E44
12 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Think great marketing is only for big hotels with big budgets? Think again.In this episode, we talk with Steph Weber, a marketing and branding expert ...
The Beginner's Guide To Building Wealth In Hospitality | Jonathan Mueller E43
05 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Think you need a perfect plan to start investing in hospitality? Think again.In this episode, we sit down with Jonathan Mueller, an everyday investor ...
Hotel Marketing Decoded: What Every Owner Needs to Know | Anthony Chiaravallo E42
29 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Is your marketing helping your hotel or just draining your budget?In this episode, we sit down with Anthony Chiaravallo, founder of Vallo Media, who h...
Syndication Simplified: The Strategy That Builds Generational Wealth | Desiree Doubrox E41
22 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ever wondered how people raise millions to buy real estate without using their own money?In this episode, Desiree Doubrox breaks down the world of syn...
A Masterclass In Experiential Hospitality With The Bolt Farm Treehouse Founders | Tori and Seth Bolt E40
15 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Instead of chasing bookings, the founders behind Bolt Farm Treehouse create an obsession amongst their guests, and they do it with love at the center ...
$187M Hotel Portfolio by Age 30: How to Choose the Right Deals, Brands, and Ops Model | Sujay Mehta E39
08 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Thinking about buying or operating a hotel, but not sure where to start?Sujay Mehta built a $187M hospitality portfolio by betting on himself, startin...
Turning Passion into Profit in Rural Hospitality | Dave Cook E38
01 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What does it take to build a successful hospitality business in a small rural town, with no outside investors? Dave Cook, founder of Barn Door Hostel ...
Bootstrapped Hospitality: Scaling Your Hotel Portfolio Without Major Capital | Austin Phippen E37
24 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s guest bought a roadside motel in a town of 900 people and turned it into a thriving hospitality brand.In this episode of the Hotel Investor ...
Building a Scalable Outdoor Hospitality Brand Through Franchising | Brian Linton E36
17 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Hotel Investor Playbook, Mike and Nate sit down with Brian Linton, co-founder of Finding Promised Land, Camp Ferncrest, and The...
How to Know If Your CPA Is Helping You or Holding You Back | Kelly Tate E35
10 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Not sure if your tax advisor is actually optimizing your returns, or just filing forms? In this episode of the Hotel Investor Playbook, we’re joined...
Why Hostels Are an Untapped Investment Opportunity in the U.S. | Mike & Nate E34
03 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We're proving why hostels are one of the most powerful investment models in real estate. In this episode, Mike and Nate break down exactly why th...
The Strategic Power of Third-Party Hotel Management | Bryan Fish E33
27 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You don’t need to be an expert in everything to scale in hospitality, just need to align with the right consultants, operators, and partners who’v...
He Managed $320M for a Family Office - Then Walked Away to Build His Own Empire | Reilly Brennan E32
20 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
After helping scale a family office real estate portfolio from $3 million to over $320 million, Reilly Brennan walked away from the comfort of a W-2 j...
Building a $6M Micro Resort with Only 3% Down Using a USDA Loan | Ian Joseph E31
13 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we dive into an uncommon but powerful financing strategy that could change how boutique hospitality projects get funded. Ian Joseph, ...
The Ultimate Guide To Financing Your Next Hotel Deal | Suraj Desai E30
06 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Hotel Investor Playbook, we sit down with Suraj Desai, a hospitality finance expert who has helped close hundreds of hotel deal...
Buying Hotels Is Just the Start: How to Build a Lasting Hospitality Brand | Keir Weimer E29
29 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Hotel Investor Playbook, we sit down with Keir Weimer, founder of Weekender Hotels, to unpack how he’s building a boutique ho...
Hotel Investing Insights from the CEO of One of America’s Top Hotel Brokerage Firms | Suraj Bhakta E28
22 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What does it really take to scale from your first hotel acquisition to managing a hospitality portfolio worth tens or even hundreds of millions?In thi...
Saturday Special: Behind the Curtain at Malama Capital | Mike & Nate E27
19 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this special Saturday edition, we’re flipping the script. No guest today — just Mike and Nate giving you a behind-the-scenes look at what’s g...
How Sky McLean Built a $500M Hotel Brand from Scratch | Sky McLean E26
15 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What do you do when you get fired from your job and get escorted out with a cardboard box? If you’re Sky McLean, you build one of the fastest-growin...
Glamping for Profit: Low Cost, High Cash Flow, Massive Upside | Zac Willms E25
08 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What if you could double your money in one season with glamping tents? Zac Willms is pulling it off — and building a profitable outdoor brand in the...
Olympic Discipline, Million-Dollar Loss, and Building a Hospitality Portfolio | Adam G Dailey E24
01 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
From Olympic Trials to Losing Millions—And Bouncing Back With a Boutique Hotel EmpireIn this episode of Hotel Investor Playbook, Mike and Nate are j...
From Motel Renovation to 300K Followers: The Innvestors Story | Brett McManus E23
25 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when two young investors decide to buy a rundown motel, renovate it themselves, and document the entire journey online? For Brett and Cas...
Ground-Up Boutique Hotel Development in San Francisco - High Risk, Higher Reward? | Mike Demson E22
18 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Could you really buy a hotel development site in Fisherman’s Wharf, San Francisco—at a fire-sale price—and turn it into a boutique hotel with a ...
What It Takes to Build a Revolutionary Hospitality Business | Brian Meyer E21
11 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What if your next hospitality investment didn’t sit on land?In this episode, Mike and Nate sit down with Brian Meyer, founder and CEO of Flow Home—...
Cost Segregation Made Simple: Unlock Massive Tax Savings in Real Estate | Brian Bigham E20
04 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
“Do you enjoy paying taxes? Would you like to learn how to keep more of your hard earned money?In this episode of The Hotel Investor Playbook, Mike ...
From First Responder to Ground-Up Developer: An Inspiring Journey | Andrew Owlett E19
25 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ever dreamt of creating your luxury resort from scratch? In this episode, we’re diving deep into the world of ground-up hospitality development with...
How AI is Disrupting Hotels—And Why Small Operators Have the Advantage | Ari Smith E18
20 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
💡 AI is revolutionizing hospitality, but not how you think.The big hotel chains? They’re struggling to adapt. The real advantage? It belongs to s...
Buying, Financing & Operating a Seasonal Boutique Hotel | Ryan Edwards E17
11 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
🏨 How do you turn a seasonal boutique hotel into a $2M value-add opportunity?In this episode of The Hotel Investor Playbook, we sit down with Ryan ...
The Glamping Boom: Hype, Profits, & Pitfalls | Edward Haynes E16
05 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Luxury glamping—game-changing investment or overhyped trend?In this episode of The Hotel Investor Playbook, we sit down with Edward Haynes, a specia...
From Vision to Execution: Our Framework for Hospitality Success | Mike & Nate E15
28 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Do you feel like you’re always busy but never really making progress? In this episode of The Hotel Investor Playbook, we explore how to transform yo...
Lessons Learned from a Failed Motel Deal | Tanya Rooney E14
21 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when a hotel investment doesn't go as planned?In this candid episode of the Hotel Investor Playbook, we chat with Tanya Rooney about...
Turning $400K into $10M: Lessons in Fear, Failure, and Direct Bookings | E13
16 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What does it take to transform $400,000 into $10 million in hospitality assets while building a brand that wins awards in just a few years? In this sp...
How a Property Manager Can Help You Maximize Your Hotel Profits | Bryan Tubaugh E12
07 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join us as we sit down with Bryan Tubaugh, a seasoned hotel management expert, to explore the common pitfalls of self-management, the benefits of brin...
Leveling Up: How To Turn STR Success into Boutique Hotel Ownership | Kim Herrlein E11
31 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Are you ready to take your short-term rental success to the next level? In this episode of The Hotel Investor Playbook, we sit down with Kim Herrlein,...
How to Drive 70% Direct Bookings: Strategies for Hotel Investors | Kerri Gibson E10
17 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Are you tired of paying high fees to online travel agencies (OTAs)? Imagine driving 70% of your bookings directly—and keeping more of your revenue. ...
Building a Winning Investment Thesis for Hotel Success | Mike & Nate E9
10 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join Mike and Nate, founders of Malama Capital, as they explore the critical role of a well-defined investment thesis in the hospitality industry. Wi...
How to Build a Hotel: Expert Insights into Real Estate Development | Zeke Freeman E8
03 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ever wondered what it takes to transform an empty building or raw land into a thriving hotel? In this episode of The Hotel Investor Playbook, we’re ...
How to purchase your first hotel while working a full-time job | Alex Kang E7
27 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we dive deep into the inspiring journey of Alex Kang, who purchased his first boutique hotel with no prior experience while maintaini...
Should You Operate a Branded Hotel or Go Independent? | Neil Shah E6
19 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
With over 100,000 hotels in the United States, approximately 70% operate as branded or flagged hotels. But why is that? If you’re considering purcha...
How to Source, Underwrite, and Purchase Your First Boutique Hotel | Gideon Spencer E5
12 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Hotel Investor Playbook, hosts Mike and Nate sit down with Gideon Spencer, the principal of Stonemont Capital, who purchased a ...
The Hotel Investing Guide to Operational Excellence | Mike & Nate E4
05 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Hotel Investor Playbook, Michael and Nathan dive into the essential topic of hospitality operations, exploring the less-discuss...
Transitioning From Investing in STRs Into Boutique Hotels | Kassidy Warren E3
29 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Hotel Investor Playbook, Mike and Nate introduce Kassidy Warren, a former corporate executive who transformed his life by divin...
Are Hospitality Investing Mastermind Conferences Worth It? | Mike & Nate E2
22 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, hosts Michael Russell and Nathan St. Cyr delve into the value of attending mastermind conferences and networking events. They reflect...
Hotel Investing: The Best of Both Worlds | Mike & Nate E1
15 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Hotel Investor Playbook, Michael Russell and Nathan St. Cyr share insights into the lucrative world of boutique hotel investmen...
Trailer: Welcome to the Hotel Investor Playbook!
30 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this premiere trailer of The Hotel Investor Playbook, hosts Michael Russell and Nathan St Cyr dive into what their new podcast is all about. Get to...