Checkin' In – The Hospitality & Tourism Podcast

Checkin' In Podcast Ep.8 - Hospitality Education and Leadership with Dr. O

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2550260/fan_mail/new] In this episode of Checkin’ In, Dr. Peter Ricci was joined by guest cohost Jessica Platts for a conversation with one of the most recognized voices in global hospitality leadership, Dr. Jeffrey O. Dr. Jeffrey O is an internationally renowned CEO, leadership coach, educator, author, and President of the International Hospitality Institute, the leading advocacy and standards organization serving the global hospitality industry. He is also the founder of the International Hospitality Hall of Fame and has been recognized as one of the Top Ten Most Influential People in Hospitality worldwide. This conversation explored leadership at the highest levels of hospitality, executive presence, mentorship, global industry trends, and what separates good organizations from truly exceptional ones. The episode also covered Dr. Jeffrey O’s START Model™, his experience advising major hospitality organizations, and his perspective on where the industry is headed next. With decades of executive leadership experience and influence across the global hospitality community, this episode offers valuable insight for hospitality professionals, operators, educators, and aspiring leaders alike. You can follow Peter Ricci at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterriccihospitality/ You can follow Jeremy Nichols at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremycnichols/ https://www.youtube.com/@JeremyNichols

Checkin' In Podcast - Destination Marketing Meets Big Data

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2550260/fan_mail/new] Checkin In Hospitality & Tourism Podcast – Episode 7 Destination Marketing Meets Big Data Recorded live on Wednesday, April 29th at 11:00 AM This episode is a deeper look at how data is actually shaping tourism strategy today and what it means for hospitality leaders on the ground. This episode features: Ktimene Axetell, CEO of Arrivalist An economist and seasoned MarTech leader with 25 years of experience, Ktimene leads Arrivalist’s strategy and product evolution, helping position the platform as a leader in visitor intelligence, media attribution, and behavior analytics. Her background includes leadership roles with Sony Pictures Digital, Napster, IAC Advertising Solutions, and Epsilon, along with hands on destination experience with Amelia Island CVB where she earned the HSMAI Platinum Award in Sustainability. Her work bridges global media, tourism strategy, and real world application of data in destination marketing. Jacob Pewitt Yancey, Head of Analytics at Arrivalist Former Director of Consumer Insights & Analytics at VISIT FLORIDA, Jacob led the team responsible for measuring marketing performance, shaping statewide tourism strategy, and tracking the overall health of Florida’s tourism economy. An economist by training, his background spans multiple Florida state agencies, with a focus on turning complex data into clear, actionable insights that decision makers can actually use. Together, we will get into: How destination marketing is evolving with real behavioral data, not assumptions What tourism demand actually looks like right now and where it is shifting How operators and destinations should be thinking about attribution and ROI Where marketing dollars are working and where they are being wasted What hospitality leaders should be paying attention to over the next 12 to 24 months This will be a practical, grounded conversation for hotel, resort, and tourism leaders who want a clearer view of what is actually driving demand and how to adjust strategy accordingly. You can follow Peter Ricci at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterriccihospitality/ You can follow Jeremy Nichols at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremycnichols/ https://www.youtube.com/@JeremyNichols

Checkin In (the Hospitality & Tourism Podcast) - Ep 6 with Private Club Leadership

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2550260/fan_mail/new] In Episode 6 of Checkin' In: The Hospitality and Tourism Podcast, hosts Jeremy Nichols and Dr. Peter Ricci sit down with respected voices in the private club world to unpack an industry that most people never see from the inside. Joining us are Michael McCarthy ECM, CEO and General Manager of Addison Reserve Country Club in Delray Beach, one of the top-ranked country clubs in the nation and the world, and Kelly Grabowsky, CCM, Managing Director of the Florida Chapter of the Club Management Association of America, the largest CMAA chapter in the country representing over 1,100 members across 360-plus clubs statewide. Together, they pull back the curtain on what the private club industry actually looks like, from country clubs and golf clubs to yacht clubs, tennis clubs, military clubs, city clubs, and equity communities. The landscape is wider than most people realize, and the career paths within it are more distinct, more intentional, and more rewarding than many give them credit for. We also get into the bigger picture: how is the club industry responding to the same forces reshaping hospitality broadly? Revenue optimization, technology, flexible staffing, shifting member expectations, and generational change in leadership are all in play. This is an industry that has historically operated on tradition, and it is navigating real pressure to evolve without losing what makes it unique. If you work in hospitality, manage a club, are considering a career in the private club space, or simply want a sharper understanding of how this industry operates, this is a conversation worth your time. You can follow Peter Ricci at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterriccihospitality/ You can follow Jeremy Nichols at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremycnichols/ https://www.youtube.com/@JeremyNichols

Check'in In with Leaders of Hotel HR

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2550260/fan_mail/new] In this episode of Check'in In, Peter Ricci and I bring together a senior level hotel HR panel to talk about where people strategy is headed in 2026 and beyond. Joining us: • Caroline Warren, Chief People Officer at Pyramid Global Hospitality • David Klein, SVP Global Talent & Organizational Development at Universal Destinations & Experiences • Lexy Coley, Corporate Director of Talent Development at Omni Hotels & Resorts • Michael Wiszowaty, Senior Manager University Relations & Recruiting at Marriott International This is a conversation with leaders operating at true scale across global brands, management companies, and iconic destinations. Between them, they oversee talent acquisition, leadership development, succession planning, culture, and organizational strategy, impacting thousands of employees. We will be discussing what hotel HR looks like right now, what is changing, and what operators, owners, and executives need to be thinking about as we move deeper into 2026. If you care about leadership pipelines, retention, development, culture, and building real talent infrastructure in hospitality, this one is for you. You can follow Peter Ricci at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterriccihospitality/ You can follow Jeremy Nichols at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremycnichols/ https://www.youtube.com/@JeremyNichols

Check'In In on the State of Food and Beverage with Sam Bakhshandehpour & Sarah King

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2550260/fan_mail/new] Check'in In with the State of Food and Beverage In this episode, Peter Ricci and Jeremy Nichols sit down with two senior leaders shaping the future of hospitality to get a clear, grounded take on where Food and Beverage stands today and where it is headed next. Joining the conversation are Sam Bakhshandehpour, Global CEO of José Andrés Group, and Sarah King, Chief People Officer at Darden. Together, they share real world insight on operating pressure, talent strategy, culture, growth, and what leaders need to be thinking about as we move into 2026. This is an honest, executive-level conversation about what is working, what is broken, and what smart operators should be doing right now. You can follow Peter Ricci at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterriccihospitality/ You can follow Jeremy Nichols at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremycnichols/ https://www.youtube.com/@JeremyNichols