The Turndown: The Podcast for Hoteliers

Jacqueline Nunley: Innovation, adaptation, and the future of hospitality

Jacqueline Nunley has been at the forefront of revolutionizing travel industry technology for over two decades. As the Industry Advisor for Travel & Hospitality at Salesforce, she has dedicated her career to guiding companies to transform with innovative solutions. She shares her perspective on the importance of discovering and adopting new tools, the impact technology has on hospitality job roles, and the future of travel – including potential disruptions that may occur.  
Additional resources on this topic: 
14 hotel technology trends that every hotelier needs to know
PMS Technology: The evolution and future of the hospitality platform

Bianca Brasdorp: Running a thriving business as a woman in hospitality

From business setbacks to viral TikToks, Bianda Brasdorp has experienced a full spectrum of challenges and triumphs on her journey to becoming the successful owner of multiple female-only hostels in Europe. She shares her experience and recommendations for aspiring hostel owners, including coming up with a unique concept, making the most of social media marketing, and maintaining a positive mindset when facing obstacles and criticism. 
Additional resources on this topic: 
TikTok for hotels: 9 best practices & examples to get you started
8 ways hostel marketing should differ from hotel marketing

Anne-Julie Karcher: Unlocking the potential of social media influencers for hotels

Love them or hate them, social media influencers are on the rise. As the co-founder of Anorak Travel, an influencer company focused on the tourism industry, Anne-Julie Karcher has made a career of strategically matching hoteliers with influencers who can help them reach their marketing goals. She provides insights into the costs and budgeting of influencer marketing and how to choose influencers who match your target audience. 
Additional resources on this topic: 
8 hotel marketing trends & how properties can prepare
Instagram for hotels: what to post, features to use, and examples to inspire

Sebastien Leitner: Reflections from a lifelong career in hospitality

In our inaugural season of The Turndown podcast, host Sebastien Leitner has led conversations with hospitality leaders from all corners of the industry. Now, we’re turning the tables and putting Sebastien in the guest seat to get to know more about his illustrious hospitality career that spans hotel management, travel distribution, technology partnerships, and beyond. Get to know more about his passion and future vision for the industry, plus the other career path he almost followed instead.  
Additional resources on this topic: 
State of Independent Lodging Report 
CloudTalks: Strengthening Your Distribution Strategy with the Right Channel Mix 

Jason Pinto: Revolutionizing hotel revenue management with AI and Machine Learning

What’s the difference between Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning? Jason Pinto, Co-founder and COO at Pace Revenue, can not only answer that question in a way that’s easy to understand, he can also explain how these tools are impacting revenue management in the hotel industry. He shares how AI-and-ML-backed technology is bringing hotel revenue managers greater results, more informed decision-making, and even better storytelling. 
Additional resources on this topic: 
The ultimate guide to hotel revenue management 
What is a hotel compset and why is it important for pricing? 

Richard Brosal: The challenges of meeting rising guest expectations post-pandemic

Richard Brosal is a hotelier who operates without “bricks or mortars.” As Co-Founder & Owner of Jet Luxury Resorts, a niche hospitality company in the condo hotel space in Las Vegas, Richard has the unique challenge of not only keeping guests happy but also satisfying the owners and investors of the properties he runs. He shares how rising inflation, costs, and guest expectations have presented hurdles in running a hospitality business in today’s post-pandemic world – plus details about his surprising and impressive morning routine.  
Additional resources on this topic: 
How to meet – and exceed – guest expectations 
Managing hotel guest communications for the modern traveler 
 

Luka Berger: Exploring shifting standards in housekeeping, from automation to upselling

Having worked as a housekeeper in the past, Luka Berger, Founder & CEO of Flexkeeping, is passionate about bringing technology to properties that are still managing housekeeping using pen and paper. With some hotels either canceling, upselling, or charging for housekeeping, Luka also discusses solutions for forecasting staffing needs, plus the difference between implementing green initiatives vs greenwashing in housekeeping. 
 
Additional resources on this topic: 
Housekeeping training manual and SOP
Housekeeping Checklist

Julie Cheetham: How to measure your hotel’s sustainability impact

When we hear the word “sustainability,” we often think of green initiatives and the environment. Julie Cheetham, Founding Member & Managing Director of Weeva, a digital system for managing sustainability in tourism, helps hoteliers take a more holistic approach to sustainability, encompassing not only conservation, but also commerce, community, and culture. Julie discusses measuring your property's full sustainability impact, plus how to make positive choices as a traveler when it comes to choosing destinations and excursions.
 
Additional resources on this topic:
The top green certifications for your eco hotel (global & regional)
11 hotel eCommerce strategies for selling more rooms online