Teague Talks Podcast

This week on Teague Talks, the deep dive into family-built hospitality continues with a focus on the next wave of leadership at Auro Hotels. After Part 1 with industry visionary HP Rama, Teague sits down with HP’s nephew, DJ Rama, President & CEO, and great nephew, Keval Rama, Senior Associate—leaders carrying Auro forward while staying true to the company’s founding values.

DJ shares Auro’s humble beginnings, the weight of ste...

Teague travels to Greenville, South Carolina, for a conversation with HP Rama, Founder and Chairman of Auro Hotels. HP’s journey began with just $2 in his pocket and a vision that would lead him to co-found Auro Hotels—formerly JHM Hotels—with his brothers. What started more than five decades ago as a single roadside motel evolved into a global enterprise spanning nearly 40 hotels across two countries, each anchored in intentional ...

Teague heads west to Phoenix for a conversation with Sam Fox—the visionary force behind Author & Edit Hospitality and Fox Restaurant Concepts. Known for building some of the most beloved restaurants across the country, Sam now brings his creative lens to hotels with The Global Ambassador, his first foray into hospitality that rethinks the food and beverage experience and avoids the pitfalls many hoteliers face. With more than ...

Teague travels to Nashville to sit down with Anup Patel, Managing Director at Tara Investments, inside the firm’s recently opened dual-branded Canopy and Homewood Suites in the heart of The Gulch. Anup shares how his family’s journey from textiles in the UK to U.S. hotel ownership led to over $275 million in developments and acquisitions, including this $150 million flagship project. From balancing family and business to navigatin...

Growing up around the hotel business, Amar Shah and Rahul Rohatgi never felt called to operate properties themselves. Instead, they felt compelled to tell the stories behind them—and how South Asians helped reshape the trajectory of the American hospitality industry. In this episode, Teague sits down with the directors of "The Patel Motel Story," a short-film making waves at the Tribeca Film Festival. For Amar, a self-described “c...

Teague travels to Wrightsville Beach to sit down with Mike Weiss and Ben Weinberg, the visionaries behind Trailborn and founders of Castle Peak Holdings. These Goldman Sachs alums share how they built a vertically integrated hospitality platform, from development to operations, and landed a deal with Marriott with just four open properties. Trailborn is reimagining experiential lodging with thoughtfully designed hotels in iconic ...

With 20+ years in Wall Street investment banking and a sharp eye for brand growth, Phil Zrihen—Brand COO and Head of Americas at Ennismore—brings a strategic lens to lifestyle hospitality. Through immersive design, integrated F&B, and a culture-driven operating model, he shares how Ennismore is building brands that owners want to invest in and travelers want to experience.

With 180+ properties open and 140+ in the pipeline, Phi...

There’s a reason the Savannah Bananas have a 3 million-person ticket waitlist. And there’s a reason their next game is set to draw 80,000 fans. It’s more than the wild choreography or the sea of yellow—it’s a business model built entirely around one thing: the fan. Teague sits down for an exclusive interview with founder and entrepreneur Jesse Cole to explore how the Bananas have reimagined what a sport...

After announcing that the Hunter Conference will be moving to the Signia by Hilton Atlanta—Teague sits down with Hilton’s President & CEO, Chris Nassetta, for a candid conversation. After serving over 250 million guests last year, Hilton is expanding its footprint with 8,400+ properties across 140 countries—and more in the pipeline. Chris shares why he believes we’re in a "new golden age of travel", how Hilton continues to thr...

Teague Talks? More like Teague Tip-Off! This month, Teague takes it to the next level for an unstoppable conversation with Mit Shah, the Founder and CEO of Noble, at the Atlanta Hawks' elite training facility. Mit’s journey is a masterclass in ambition, from working the front desk at his parents’ motel to building one of hospitality’s most respected private equity firms with over $6.0 billion in assets. They go deep on family-drive...

NEW YEAR, NEW TEAGUE TALKS! Kicking off Season Five of Teague Talks, Teague sits down in the new Regent Santa Monica Beach with Andre Zotoff, CEO of Strategic Hotels & Resorts, to explore his journey from a 16-year-old restaurant worker in Germany to a leader in luxury hospitality. Overseeing a portfolio of 13 iconic properties, Andre discusses how his culinary, operational, and cultural backgrounds shape his leadership at Stra...

This week, Teague sits down in the brand new Regent Santa Monica Beach during its opening week for a conversation with IHG's Leanne Harwood, SVP, Managing Director, Luxury & Lifestyle Americas. With a luxury and lifestyle portfolio spanning 700 hotels across 70 countries, Leanne highlights IHG's goal to establish themselves as the core player in the space by bringing back the iconic Regent brand to the shores of America. Leanne...

This week, Teague chats with Al Patel, President of Baywood Hotels, for an inside look at managing a vast portfolio of 125 properties, with over 10 new hotels under construction and an additional 20 projects in the pipeline. From growing up in the business to leading one of the biggest hotel management companies today, Al shares what Baywood is currently focused on, the details behind the newly-developed Moxy Miami Wynwood, and his...

With the election right around the corner, Teague sits down with AHLA's Kevin Carey and Chirag Shah to discuss what we know so far about how the presidential race may shape the future of the hospitality industry. From economic policy shifts to critical workforce decisions, they dive into the potential implications on the horizon and what they could mean for hospitality leaders, real estate, and travel alike. Tune in to learn how to...

This week, Teague sits down with Rob Blood, Founder of Lark Hotels, for a candid conversation about the evolving boutique and independent hotel space. Recently awarded seven Michelin Keys within his portfolio, Rob shares how he began as an innkeeper in his mid-20s, what motivated him to purchase his first property in Kennebunkport, and how he transformed a nine-room inn into a profitable business that manages over 30 design-focused...

This week, Teague chats with Lindsey Ueberroth, Chief Executive Officer of Preferred Hotels & Resorts. Lindsey leads the world's largest independent hotel brand, which represents more than 600 distinctive hotels spanning 80 countries. With rapid growth in the boutique and independent space, Lindsey shares her insights on hotels de-flagging, travel trends, and the benefits of being independent while still receiving brand support...

Teague travels to Athens, GA, where college football is in full swing, to sit down with James Whitley, COO and Co-Founder of Landmark Properties, the leader in student housing. From flipping houses as a college student to building Landmark into an industry powerhouse, James shares the inspiration behind his recent venture into the hotel space, including his purchase of the iconic Old Edwards Inn and the transformation of an abandon...