245 | Voyeur Beach Resort

245 | Voyeur Beach Resort

Anna Blue is the founder and CEO of Blue Moss Group, where she helps organizations connect growth with purpose. With leadership experience spanning hospitality, nonprofits, advocacy, and media, Anna brings a unique perspective to hospitality through her work at the intersection of business strategy, social impact, and influence. Susan and Anna talk about creator culture, corporate authenticity, and hospitality's people problem. *** What You'll Learn: *** • Why imposter syndrome is a systems problem, not a confidence problem • What makes hospitality feel cult-like in the best possible way • Why social impact strategies fail when employees are treated like line items • Why consumers can spot performative culture messaging instantly • Why business influencers now matter as much as traditional trade media • How podcasts and creators helped Anna build credibility in hospitality • Why great company cultures never need to brag about themselves • Why trying to talk to everyone online usually backfires • Why hospitality's biggest issue is still how it treats its people *** The Takeaway: Hospitality brands can't fake culture, purpose, or influence, because people can tell the difference instantly. The future belongs to companies that treat their employees well, embrace authentic storytelling, and understand the growing power of creators in shaping the industry. Anna Blue on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-blue/ Hospitality Creator Summit https://thehospitalitycreators.com/

244 | Pigeon Shoot Out

Zack Gharib is the President of Red Roof, bringing decades of leadership experience across Marriott, Wyndham, Vacasa, and beyond. From a chance encounter with a hotel GM in Athens to leading one of hospitality's biggest tech transformations, Zack shares what it really takes to succeed in today's lodging landscape. Susan and Zack talk about AI automation, franchisee profitability, and vacation-rental versatility. What You'll Learn: • What vacation rentals taught him about operational chaos • How AI is reshaping economy and mid-scale hotels • Why hotel websites suddenly matter way more • How ChatGPT is changing hotel booking behavior • What hotels can learn from Airbnb-style personalization • Why internal communication systems still fail teams • Learning when to say "no" to shiny new tech • Why smiles and room inspections still win • Predictions for the future of non-luxury hotels • The franchisee-brand relationship problem nobody solves • What real alignment between brands and owners should look like *** The Takeaway: Hospitality fundamentals still matter most, but the operators who win will use technology and AI to make those fundamentals faster, cheaper, and more personalized. Zack Gharib on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/zack-gharib/ Red Roof https://www.redroof.com/

243 | Run Through Walls

Lucy Lieberman is a longtime digital innovator who has spent her career jumping into emerging technology before the rest of the market catches up — from early websites and streaming to loyalty platforms and AI-powered travel. She's led digital transformation for brands like IHG, Amex, and FAO Schwartz, and she most recently served as CEO of Michelin Guide Hotels during one of the toughest moments in travel history. In this episode, recorded live at the Female Founders in Hospitality Summit in early March 2026, Susan and Lucy talk about positioning, pivots, and future-proofing. What You'll Learn: • How to spot market shifts before everyone else • How to tell the difference between "too early" and "bad idea" • Why great tech still fails without behavior change • When to build products people don't know to ask for yet • Why features and amenities never create loyalty • How to turn a crowded category into a category of one • Why to focus on problems instead of preferences • What it's like to lead a travel company through a crisis • How to create a North Star teams can actually rally around • Why luxury travel exploded after COVID • Why authenticity keeps getting more valuable & the surprising comeback of analog • Why you have to keep asking "why" • How to become the kind of founder who can run through walls *** The Takeaway: Breakthrough companies win by obsessing over friction, unmet needs, emotional connection, and the "why" behind customer behavior — not by chasing technology, features, or trends for their own sake. Being early only matters if you're solving a real problem people genuinely care about. Lucy Lieberman on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucylieberman/

242 | Dog Treat Explosion

Emily Goldfischer is a hospitality PR veteran turned media entrepreneur and co-founder of hertelier, a platform amplifying women's voices in the hotel industry. After a decade shaping brand narratives at Loews Hotels and a pivot into journalism in London, she uncovered a glaring gap in female representation at the top. Susan and Emily talk about advocacy, research, and storytelling. What You'll Learn: • Why personalized pitches outperform mass outreach • How to align your story with the right audience • Spotting trends like a PR pro (and why it matters) • Leadership lessons from working under iconic industry women • The "where are the women?" moment that sparked hertelier • Building a media brand from scratch during a pandemic • Why audience growth is harder than content creation • What 19% female leadership really reveals about hotels • The myth of motherhood as the main career barrier • How bias shows up—regardless of life choices • Why hospitality's pipeline leaks at the top • Simple ways to advocate for yourself at work • How companies can fix broken promotion pipelines • Why flexibility beats performative policies *** The Takeaway: The lack of women in leadership isn't caused by one issue (like motherhood). It's the result of systemic bias and structural barriers, and fixing it requires intentional, measurable change. Emily Goldfischer on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilygoldfischer/ hertelier https://www.hertelier.com/

241 | Little Bit of Fire

Jelani Millard is the founder of the Wapechi Collection, a travel-focused investment platform blending hospitality, real estate, and emerging tech ventures. With roots in finance, he's carved a unique lane exploring how travel really works—from boutique hotels in Ghana to "Pay Me in Plane Tickets." Susan and Jelani talk about unpacking travel's hidden truths through stories, systems, and sacrifices. What You'll Learn: How a Ghana hotel project turned into a community-powered success story What travel influencers aren't telling you about their lifestyles Why building a media brand takes patience before profit What separates forgettable content from truly resonant storytelling Why facts—not fluff—win in modern media How involving your audience sharpens your voice and vision Why travel media is shifting from "pretty pictures" to deeper truths Why hospitality storytelling needs more transparency and less gloss *** Our Top Three Takeaways 1. The "travel influencer dream" is far less glamorous than it looks. Behind the curated images is a reality defined by hustle, financial instability, and trade-offs. Many creators are making conscious sacrifices—like forgoing traditional milestones or relying on inconsistent income streams—to sustain that lifestyle, which is very different from the effortless image presented online. 2. The future of travel media is shifting from "where to go" to "why it exists." Jelani sees a growing appetite for deeper, more analytical storytelling that examines the history, economics, and power dynamics behind travel experiences. Instead of just highlighting beautiful destinations, the next wave of media will unpack questions like who benefits, who is excluded, and how these systems came to be. 3. Building a meaningful media brand requires patience, clarity, and truth. Jelani has intentionally delayed monetization to allow the platform to evolve organically and better understand its audience and identity. His core philosophy is to lead with facts, tell honest stories, involve the audience, and offer perspective or solutions, because that's what creates content that actually resonates and endures. Jelani Millard on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jelani-m-8935a973/ Pay Me in Plane Tickets https://www.paymeinplanetickets.com/ Wapechi Collection https://www.wapechi.com/