The Stage Debate Podcast

AAHOA Election: Exclusive Candidate Interview

Join host Isaac Weinberger on The Stage Debate Podcast for a special election-focused episode featuring a debate between candidates running for Secretary of AAHOA, the Asian American Hotel Owners Association. This episode features Dhiren Masters, Partner at The Lion Group DFW, and Mahendra (MZ) Patel, Founder of MHO Hotels and AAHOA Regional Director, as they share their backgrounds, leadership experience, and vision for the future of AAHOA and the hospitality industry. The conversation covers key topics including hotel profitability, rising operating costs, franchising challenges, legislative advocacy, member engagement, and the evolving role of first- and second-generation hotel owners. With perspectives rooted in both decades of experience and next-generation thinking, this episode offers valuable insights for hotel owners, real estate investors, and hospitality professionals looking to understand the future of the industry.

Trust, Relationships, & Playing the Long Game

Join host Isaac Weinberger on The Stage Debate Podcast for an insightful conversation with Michael Procopio, CEO of The Procopio Companies, a fourth-generation real estate development and construction firm founded in 1949. Michael shares how the company evolved from a small family homebuilder into a vertically integrated multifamily platform with more than $1 billion in ground-up development, and explains how partnerships with institutional capital including The Carlyle Group helped fuel that growth. This episode covers raising private equity, identifying overlooked submarkets before they take off, build-to-rent single family communities in the Northeast, improving NOI through in house property management, applying hospitality principles to multifamily housing, leadership lessons, mentorship, and balancing business success with family priorities. Perfect for real estate developers, multifamily investors, capital raisers, and entrepreneurs looking for practical insights on scaling a real estate company in today’s market.

Strategies for Success in Hospitality

Join host Isaac Weinberger on The Stage Debate Podcast for an insightful conversation with Zack Gharib, President of Red Roof. Zack shares his journey into hospitality and breaks down what it takes to lead a 700+ hotel brand in today’s competitive market. This episode covers hotel franchising vs. independent hotels, franchisee relationships, cost pressures, technology, brand standards, and strategies hotel owners need to succeed in 2026. Zack also explains how Red Roof supports franchisees through scale, transparency, and disciplined growth. Perfect for hotel owners, franchisees, hospitality investors, and real estate professionals looking for practical insights on navigating the hotel industry.

The Shifting Hospitality Landscape

Join host Isaac Weinberger on The Stage Debate Podcast for a high-impact conversation with Ricky Raman of PeachState Hospitality and Saagar Parikh of Spark GHC as they share their journeys, development strategies, and real-world insights on navigating today’s hotel market. Ricky discusses PeachState’s focus on disciplined development, market intelligence, and building durable lender and brand relationships, while Sagar brings a Wall Street-honed perspective on capital, culture, investor relations, and long-term thinking. Together they break down the challenges of financing new construction, entering unfamiliar markets, understanding brand saturation, and managing risk in a shifting hospitality landscape. The episode also spotlights Project Scarlet, Spark GHC’s innovative Marriott Tribute hotel and apartment concept in downtown Cleveland, and concludes with honest, practical advice for new hotel investors on curiosity, relationships, transparency, and playing the long game.

Strategy, Savings, and Selection

Join host Isaac Weinberger on the Stage Debate Podcast for an exciting episode in our Hospitality Series, featuring Ravi Patel, Chief Executive Officer of SINA Hospitality; Ashok Patel, VP of Development at Jamsan Hotel Management; and Chico Patel, Co-CEO of Wealth Hospitality Group. Dive into their inspiring stories as second and third generation hoteliers building impressive portfolios across the U.S. in 2025. Discover insights on overcoming early struggles, navigating COVID's impact, ground-up development vs. acquisitions, financing challenges in a post-pandemic world, brand selection strategies, and innovative amenities to enhance guest experiences. Gain valuable advice for aspiring hoteliers on hard work, market exploration, and balancing product, people, and debt. Ideal for hotel investors, developers, operators, and entrepreneurs looking for actionable hospitality wisdom on growth, resilience, and industry trends.