What Rental Cars Taught Me About Selling Rooms

Two Habits That Will Change How You Lead | Heidi Gempel

What if two simple habits could change everything about how you lead? In this episode, Shannon sits down with Heidi Gempel — executive coach, former VP or revenue and distribution management at Minor Hotels, and founder of HGE International to talk leadership, courage, and the habits that separate good leaders from great ones. Whether you're a hotelier or not, this one's for you. In this episode we cover: 00:00 Introduction 00:50 Heidi's career journey — from Le Méridien to founding HGE International 04:21 Why she made the leap from corporate VP to executive coach 08:14 On taking the entrepreneurial leap — risk, freedom and reward 09:11 The human side of hotel revenue management 10:17 How human bias affects automated revenue forecasting 12:37 Why leaders hide behind data — and how to stop 14:29 The leadership gap AI is making worse 15:25 How technology is changing promotion decisions 16:25 Why revenue managers are still the "rate police" (and how to change that) 21:55 Heidi's 15-minute challenge — two habits every leader needs 22:35 Habit one: ask one good question instead of reacting 23:10 Habit two: reflect on the decisions you're avoiding 27:31 How Heidi defines success now vs. early in her career 29:21 Thinking in seasons, not quarters 31:00 A toast to hoteliers About Heidi Gempel: Heidi Gempel is an ICF certified executive coach, certified results coach, strategic facilitator, and trainer, and the founder of HGE International. Heidi works with leaders across the hospitality industry to unlock their potential and build lasting performance. 🔗 HGE International: https://www.hge-international.com/coach-heidi-gempel About Hotelier Huddle: Hotelier Huddle is the podcast for hospitality professionals who want real conversations about leadership, revenue, and what it takes to thrive in the hotel industry. Hosted by Shannon Knapp, and produced by Heidi Egger. Need help developing your hotel team’s revenue management and commercial skills? Visit www.sknappconsulting.com 🔔 Subscribe so you never miss an episode.

What Rental Cars Taught Me About Selling Rooms

Mike Godfrey on Filters, Shoulders, and Trusting Pace: 🚗 Career Journey Across Two Facets of Travel 🎯 The Car Rental Lesson: Embracing Minimum Length of Stay 🔧 Minimum Stay as Filter, Not Force 😰 Don't Panic Over Empty Books 📊 Focus on What Matters 🚛 The "Jargon Junkie Crap Truck" Moment Host: Shannon Knapp Producer: Heidi Egger Need help developing your hotel team’s revenue management and commercial skills? Visit www.sknappconsulting.com CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro to Revenue Management and Guest Background 04:39 Comparing Revenue Management in Hotels and Car Rentals 07:20 Adapting Yield Management Techniques from Car Rentals to Hotels 10:44 The Importance of Length of Stay Controls 13:55 Understanding Booking Pace and Demand Management 18:57 Evolving Metrics in Revenue Management 23:42 Defining Events and Their Impact on Revenue 26:48 Communicating Revenue Strategies to Owners and GMs 31:26 Final Toast to Hoteliers and Career Reflections

You're a Rock Star (Someone Had to Tell You)

⭐"Hoteliers have boardroom-grade skills but are too busy changing rates and putting out fires to notice. Janet McBain [https://www.linkedin.com/in/janet-mcbain-41773b51/]'s message to every professional at every level: stop underrating yourself. Whether you're a night auditor or a regional GM, you've been brilliant this whole time! Host: Shannon Knapp Producer: Heidi Egger Need help developing your hotel team’s revenue management and commercial skills? Visit www.sknappconsulting.com CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction to Janet McBain and Her Journey 05:02 Transition from Hospitality to Facilities Management 09:58 The Importance of Professionalism in Building Management 15:01 Translating Hotel Management Skills to Broader Careers 20:02 The Value of Education and External Validation 24:53 Navigating Relationships in Facilities Management 30:09 Final Thoughts and Toast to Hoteliers

How I Grew 48 Hotels Worth $1.8 Billion (Career Advice for Hoteliers) with Andrew Turner

In this episode of the Hotelier Huddle podcast I spoke with Andrew Turner: 📈 How my former boss grew a hotel empire by hiring people smarter than himself (and then I did the same in the Revenue team!) 🏆 Why a receptionist beating senior executives for Employee of the Year reveals everything about building great hotel culture where people want to work 👂 The career advice every hospitality professional needs: Listen more, speak less, and find mentors who refuse to accept "it can't be done" 🏨 Strata vs traditional hotels and apartments vs resorts: Learn the hard math and stop treating them the same to avoid costing companies millions **This episode is sponsored by Brand Journey; helping you design and develop differentiated experience-led brands. https://www.brandjourneypartner.com** Host: Shannon Knapp Guest: Andrew Turner, Head of Development, Minor Hotels Producer: Heidi Egger Subscribe for more conversations with hospitality professionals who are shaping the industry's future. Also available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Need help developing your hotel team's revenue management and commercial skills? Visit www.sknappconsulting.com CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction to Andrew Turner 01:11 Career Journey and Achievements 10:37 Lessons from Working in Asia 18:09 Advice for New Ideas and Brands 23:33 Understanding Different Hotel Operations 28:50 The Importance of Role Models 34:25 A Toast to Hoteliers

Hotel Owner Insights: 23 Years Of Building Balance

🏨 Why owner-operators of boutique properties are never truly off duty, and how to find joy in every moment when late-night emergencies are part of the lifestyle ☕ The 23-year breakfast ritual that transforms staff culture: how sharing daily meals creates genuine familial warmth that guests can actually feel 💻 How computer engineering skills unexpectedly saved a boutique hotel: from IT infrastructure to structured problem-solving in rural hospitality operations ❤️ "Go in with your heart, but leave with your head": navigating the dangerous romance of beautiful properties when 15 hotels around you are in bankruptcy 👨‍🍳 From cooking breakfast daily to building teams: one hotelier's journey from doing everything himself to creating a culture where 25 rooms feel like staying with family ⚠️ The hidden cost of perfectionism in hospitality: why emerging hoteliers need to hear about burning out before they learn to trust their teams; 90-95% perfection from others beats solo burnout every time. Host: Shannon Knapp Guest: Jean Christophe Buillet, Owner Operator A Sunset Chateau ResortProducer: Heidi Egger. Subscribe for more conversations with hospitality professionals who are shaping the industry's future. Also available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Need help developing your hotel team's revenue management and commercial skills? Visit www.sknappconsulting.com CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction to Hospitality and Hard Work 03:11 The Journey of a Hotelier 04:45 The Immersive Lifestyle of Hospitality 08:53 Negotiating With Vendors 12:40 From Engineering to Hospitality 15:08 Staffing a Boutique Resort 15:47 Navigating Real Estate and Hospitality 21:07 Creating Memorable Guest Experiences 22:58 The Unseen Hard Work Behind Hospitality