Behind the Stays

In this episode, Zach sits down with Shaun Shirazian, CEO of Lodgify, for an unfiltered conversation about what’s next in hospitality tech—and what’s not changing. Shaun shares how a meaningful moment on a San Diego balcony more than a decade ago sparked his passion for short-term rentals, and how that guest connection still drives his work building tools for small operators around the globe.

We unpack Lodgify’s long-standing missi...

Welcome back to our special two-part series recorded live at the VRMA Executive Summit in Miami Beach. This gathering brought together some of the sharpest minds and boldest voices in vacation rental management, and we made it our mission to capture real-time insights on what’s top of mind for the leaders shaping this space.

In Part 2, we continue our hot-take conversations with a new lineup of industry experts, diving into the the...

1. What’s a ...

James McBride is not just a hotelier — he's a visionary storyteller, a daring innovator, and a relentless champion of authentic luxury experiences. What started as his bold vision to redefine hospitality on a remote Indonesian island has become an award-winning global phenomenon, with Nihi Resorts capturing the imagination of travelers worldwide. As the co-founder of Nihi alongside legendary serial entrepreneur Chris Burch (co-...

If you’ve ever dreamed of running marketing for one of the most iconic resorts in the Caribbean—or just wanted a peek behind the scenes of what it actually takes to make a destination “hot”—today’s episode is for you.

My guest is Jason Kycek, the Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing at the legendary Casa de Campo in the Dominican Republic. And while Jason’s resume includes time with some of the most respected names in hospi...

What started as a furlough-era side project on Instagram is now a full-fledged media brand reaching over 400,000 boutique hotel obsessives — and Brandon Berkson, founder of Hotels Above Par, is just getting started.

In this episode, we dive into:

• Brandon’s unshakable obsession with boutique hotels (he used to play hotel as a kid — not kidding)

• How a background in PR shaped his approach to storytelling, strategy, and aesthet...

Cory Schisler isn’t just building beautiful hotels and restaurants — he’s rethinking what hospitality actually feels like.

He’s worked with brands like Proper and Viceroy, co-founded The Madrona in Healdsburg, and has a sharp eye for the subtle — and not-so-subtle — ways hospitality has evolved (and where it still needs to catch up).

In this episode, we unpack: – The early experiences that shaped Cory’s hospitality worldview – How...

Before founding creative studio Corner Booth, Carolyn co-founded Casetta Group, the acclaimed boutique hospitality brand known for transforming forgotten roadside motels into soulful, design-forward stays that actually reflect the communities they’re in. But her journey started far from the boardroom — as a cocktail server at the Ace Hotel in New York, where she first experienced the magic of what a hotel could be when it’s built w...

Khalid Meniri didn’t come from hospitality — but maybe that’s exactly why he was able to see its most obvious blind spot so clearly.

A designer and technologist by trade, Khalid is the founder of Selfbook, the beautifully elegant booking platform that’s quietly powering the next generation of high-end hotels.

In this episode, you’ll hear the remarkable story of how a glass cube on Fifth Avenue (yes, the Apple Store) first inspired ...

Steve Carran never set out to become one of the most recognized voices in hospitality media. But what started as a scrappy experiment to engage hoteliers during his time in sales has now blossomed into The Modern Hotelier — one of the industry’s most beloved podcasts and a new video media brand that’s putting a fresh lens on hospitality storytelling.

In this episode, you’ll hear the fascinating backstory behind how Steve and his co...

If you’ve scrolled Instagram or Design Milk anytime in the last few years, you’ve probably come across a hotel that made you stop scrolling. Not because it was just beautiful, but because it felt like a world. A story. And chances are... that hotel was built by Ash.

In this episode, I sit down with Ari Heckman, founder & CEO of Ash — one of the most distinctive hospitality brands redefining how hotels, neighborhoods, and even ...

What if the future of storytelling isn't about bigger platforms — but sharper taste? What if the real shift happening in media isn't just economic... but moral?

Today, you’re about to meet Rafat Ali — founder and CEO of Skift, one of the most respected travel media brands in the world. But his story didn’t start there.

Rafat grew up in India, a shy kid who stuttered — and somehow rewrote his future with nothing but words and a rel...

When the COVID-era short-term rental boom hit, a new class of creators quietly redefined hospitality marketing — and today, three of the best in the business join me for a conversation you won't want to miss.

In this episode, I sit down with Hayden Hughes, Nicky Hughes, and Mike Iannetta — three pioneers who helped transform treehouses, A-frames, and glamp-sites from hidden gems into viral, booked-out brands. We unpack how they red...

In this episode, I’m joined by Arthur Colker, Founder of StayFi, and Philip Kennard, CEO of FutureStay, to unpack one of the most talked-about moves in short-term rental history: Airbnb’s newly sharpened Off-Platform and Fee Transparency Policy.

Depending on who you ask, it’s either a long-overdue consumer protection measure... or a strategic power grab designed to lock in lifetime guest value at all costs.

Arthur and Philip bring ...

In this solo episode, Zach shares seven powerful, non-obvious lessons shaping the next era of hospitality—insights drawn from conversations with some of the most forward-thinking operators, creatives, and strategists in the space.

From the rise of emotional loyalty and transformational stays to the power of digital atmosphere and placemaking over property management, this episode challenges traditional assumptions and inspires fres...

You’ve heard of luxury glamping. You’ve seen treehouses and mirror cabins. But you haven’t seen anyone doing it like this.

In this episode, I sit down with Meredith Garrett — founder of Stay Minty and Stellara — to explore how she’s redefining what it means to deliver luxury in nature. You may know her for her wildly creative short-term rental brand Stay Minty, with its kaleidoscope of high-design vacation homes and glamping domes....

Picture this: You’re road-tripping through the Pacific Northwest, and you pull up to a stunning, cliffside micro-resort where elk roam the grounds and the ocean waves crash in the background. Or maybe you’re in the heart of a bustling city, checking into a boutique hotel that oozes local charm and creativity. The problem? These days, everyone from massive chains to up-and-coming brands wants a piece of that “boutique” magic.

In thi...

Imagine growing up in a world where hospitality wasn't just a business — it was family. Where your childhood was spent in boardrooms with industry pioneers, and your teenage years were marked by co-founding an association that would go on to redefine boutique hotels worldwide.

Today’s guest, Ariela Kiradjian, has dedicated her life to answering the question: What does it mean to truly preserve the soul and individuality of independ...