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With audio entertainment formats beyond radio becoming more popular like audio books and streaming music services, podcast listeners have also grown significantly.
According to the podcasting platform Buzzsprout, North America and the Asia Pacific region have the highest number of listeners in the world. With 274.8 million podcast listeners around the world at the beginning of COVID-19, insights from Insider Intelligence has shown that the pandemic has made this number grow by almost 55%, and is estimated to continue to rise in the next few years. It’s no wonder that this type of entertainment is a good source of news, entertainment and, for some, a career path.
And we can understand why: it’s free and there’s a plethora of topic choices and presenters. It’s pretty much impossible not to find the right podcast for you. We at SuitePad found some amazing podcasts out there and we made a list of six that we recommend, so you can choose your favorite from our list.
1. Slick Talk
US-based
Slick Talk, a Hospitality.FM production hosted by Wil Slickers, is a podcast show that brings experts from all around the hospitality world and they share their trials and triumphs with the audience, which Wil refers to as “slick talkers”. Industry news and updates, as well as vacation rentals are regular subjects, and certain episodes provide a fresh new perspective on hospitality topics, such as “The Vacation Rental Industry Is Not What We Think It Is...”, or “The Mind of a "Non-Traditional Revenue Manager”.
My favorite episode: Tech Should Remove Friction with Josh Liebman
The best quote from Josh Liebman I can take from this episode is “convenience leads to loyalty”, which holds true in all facets of the service sector. In this episode, they talk about how to create a better, more seamless, and more personalized experience in the hotel and attractions (theme parks and zoos) industries.
I cannot agree more with Josh here, given that SuitePad strives to make the hotel guests’ stays as comfortable and hassle-free as possible.
2. All in the Industry
US-based (NYC)
Shari Bayer of Bayer Public Relations is the host of Heritage Radio Network program All in the Industry. The podcast presents and highlights industry professionals - “behind the scenes talent” as she calls them - primarily restaurateurs, but also hotel furniture solutions suppliers, non-profit organizations, authors and writers, bartenders, and more. Each episode has a very clear running script and Shari begins with a PR tip before introducing her guest and having a discussion with them. Then, to add some extra fun to the podcast, she and her guest play a speed round game. After the game they discuss industry news where Shari brings up articles or episodes of industry shows for example. She then proceeds with sharing a solo dining experience.
My favorite episode: Fany Gerson, La Newyorkina and Fan-Fan Doughnuts
You will surely want to taste Fany’s Mexican sweets and doughnuts after listening to this episode. Fany Gerson introduced flavors of another country to Americans by opening two bakeries in New York City. This inspiring tale of a prospective international student building a successful company in New York City will encourage others to follow in her footsteps.
3. Ehotelier
Australia-based (Sydney)
Ehotelier.com is the “global portal for industry professionals” and also has an eLearning platform for hoteliers. As added content, they launched their podcast in the thick of the pandemic in 2020 and it has been rapidly expanding with great guests and excellent topics. The host Matthew Stephens invites hospitality leaders to share their stories and their insights about news, trends and developments of the industry.
My favorite episode: Exceeding guests' expectations in the contactless world with Moritz von Petersdorff-Campen
Moritz, co-founder and managing director of SuitePad, joins this episode and discusses the best ways to communicate with your guests during their stay and why it’s so essential, especially during and after a pandemic like COVID-19.
Exceptionally, I will add another episode to my favorites because this one also has a great topic.
My favorite episode: How to partner design and sustainability to create a luxury guest experience with Rena Udomkunnatum & Bill Bensley
Rena, CEO of Elysian Developments Co. and Bill from Bensley speak about sustainability in the hotel industry, a subject that is gaining popularity. In this episode they talk about their very own experiences developing sustainable hotels in the Asian region, and how to create a hotel concept that not only exudes luxury but also values the local environment, economy and culture.
SuitePad and Zenios Zeniou from Destsetters recently co-presented a webinar entitled “The ABCs of Sustainability and Ways it can Positively Impact the Guest Experience” in which Zenios discussed his latest sustainable hotel development project in Greece. Download and watch the free webinar recording here.
4. No Vacancy
US-based (NYC)
No Vacancy, hosted by Glenn Haussman, is a podcast that gives a behind the scenes look into the hotel industry. Glenn conducts entertaining and engaging interviews with industry experts, leaders, educators and influencers. With some big names in the mix, you can be sure to get true insider tips and opinions about many different topics, such as travel and hotel news, as well as industry tips. The podcast also contains episodes from live conferences and events.
My favorite episode: Inspiring Women in Hospitality with Emily Goldfisher
She is the CEO and founder of Hertelier, an online news platform that inspires women leaders in the hotel industry. She joins the show to discuss some really interesting experiences as well as her opinion on the current state of women in the hospitality sector.
5. Hospitality Hangout
US-based
Hospitality Hangout brings a more casual, fun and friends-just-talking style of entertainment. Hosted by Michael Schatzberg - who they refer to as the restaurant guy - and his “brother from another mother” Jimmy Frischling - who they refer to as the finance guy. Topics covered include hospitality, the food service, technology, innovation and capital. They invite guests onto the podcast including CEOs, restaurant owners, travel experts, tech pioneers and more. They discuss innovations and predictions in the industry and they also broadcast live from summits and conferences like Food On Demand in Las Vegas and FSTEC in Grapevine, Texas.
My favorite episode: Optimizing the Customer Experience with Tim McLaughlin
In this episode, Tim discusses the use of technology to enhance their customers’ dining experience. He mentions kiosks, softwares to automate all payments online and on-table tablets (sound familiar?). My experience with on-table tablets was in an all you can eat Asian buffet restaurant where you can order up to 10 items on the menu and wait at least 15 minutes before placing another order on the tablet. This relieves the service staff’s workload and makes the customer experience more enjoyable and unique.
6. Redefine Hospitality
UK-based (London)
Hosted by Alexander Novicov, Redefine Hospitality is an insightful podcast featuring interviews with global leaders sharing stories and experiences about how to become a “purpose-driven brand”, meaning that they want to inspire other industry professionals to make a positive impact by gaining new insights and ideas and reevaluating their methods.
My favorite episode: How to Create the World's Highest Guest Satisfaction Hotel with Adele Gutman
Obviously, guest satisfaction is what we seek most in hospitality - it’s even in the name. In this episode, Adele Gutman outlines key factors that can help you to achieve this. Her tips include paying very close attention to your guests’ requests and feedback, taking action, and communicating as effectively as you can. She says that is the key to the best relationships between the hotel staff and their guests, which I 100% agree to.
Bonus Update
Brought to you by HOTELS Magazine, the Innovative Hotelier Podcast features in-depth discussions with leading hospitality professionals, covering the latest developments, innovations, and best practices in the hospitality industry. Hosted by Robin Trimingham, the podcast presents enlightening conversations that will challenge your perspective, expand your horizons, and ignite your creativity in the realm of hospitality. The program includes episodes on the ethics of AI in the hospitality industry, the impact of blockchain technology on hotel room bookings, ongoing global HR challenges, and much more.
Of course, this list is not exhaustive as there are too many great hospitality podcasts out there to put in one list. But we at SuitePad believe that these ones give a good overview of the different types of english-speaking audio entertainment about hospitality in general. Happy listening!
- Published on July 4th, 2022
