How I Became the #1 Influencer in Hospitality

This article title feels pretentious. 😅 I don’t love that. But I wanted to get your attention to share some things that I hope help you.

A couple of weeks ago, the International Hospitality Institute named me the world’s #1 influencer in hospitality. To be frank, I’ve always felt a little skeptical about lists like these. I appreciate the recognition, but how do you really rank influence?

But here’s the truth: Hospitality Daily became the #1 hospitality podcast not because of me, but because of you—and the tens of thousands of people in this community.

That’s the real reason I’m writing this. I want to share what I’ve learned about influence, not in the “social media follower” sense, but in the way that actually drives real change.

So, if you want to be influential—to make an impact, to drive positive change in your industry, business, or community—here’s what I’ve learned so far about this…

🎧 Prefer to hear this from me in audio? Listen here now to the Hospitality Daily Podcast

Hospitality Daily started with a simple observation:

Hospitality is beautiful. But it’s also hard.

If you’ve ever worked on the front lines of hospitality, you know this. It’s rewarding, but it’s also emotionally and physically demanding.

And over time, I realized something: People in hospitality need constant inspiration to keep going.

That’s the gap I wanted to fill. That’s why I started Hospitality Daily—to remind people why they do this work and to fuel them with ideas, lessons, and stories.

👉 If you want to be influential, don’t focus on being influential. Focus on solving a real problem.

Ask yourself:

• What’s missing in your industry?
• What’s something that frustrates you?
• What pain point, if solved, would make a huge difference?

That’s where influence starts.

When I started Hospitality Daily, I wasn’t a hotel GM. I wasn’t leading a hospitality company.

But I was good at media, marketing, and storytelling.

That’s what I leaned into.

A lot of people think they need a fancy title or a huge audience to be influential. That’s not true.

You already have strengths. Use them.

• If you’re great at building relationships, use that to connect people.
• If you’re great at solving problems, start sharing your insights.
• If you’re great at writing, start publishing your thoughts.

The key is to work with what you naturally do well.

Because if you try to force yourself into a role that doesn’t fit, it won’t last. But if you tap into what you already know and love, your influence will feel natural—and it will be sustainable.

One of the biggest mistakes people make when trying to build influence?

They think they have to be on video.

Or start a podcast.

Or write long articles.

That’s not true.

You have to pick a format that works for you.

For me, video isn’t my favorite. I don’t love being on camera.

But what I do love is conversations. That’s why I started a podcast.

For you, it might be different. Maybe you love writing. Maybe you love video. Maybe it’s something else entirely.

The key to consistency is choosing a format you actually enjoy.

Ask yourself:

• Do I love writing? → Start posting regularly on LinkedIn.
• Do I love speaking? → Start a podcast or get on the events circuit.
• Do I love video? → Start recording short clips to share insights.

Experiment. Try different things. When you find the medium that fits, double down on it.

This might be the most important lesson of all.

Real influence comes from being useful.

If you look at the most impactful people in hospitality, they aren’t constantly promoting themselves. They’re helping others.

That’s how you build trust. That’s how you build a reputation.

For me, that meant focusing on conversations—bringing in voices from across hospitality to share their experiences, lessons, and ideas.

For you, it might be different. But whatever it is—make sure you’re actually helping people.

Don’t focus on getting attention. Focus on being useful.

Ask yourself:

• What do I know that could help others?
• What’s something I’ve learned that others might benefit from?

Because, at the end of the day, helping people is the fastest way to build real influence.

Here’s something I had to learn the hard way:

It’s not enough to create great content—you have to make sure people see it.

For me, LinkedIn became a huge opportunity.

I started posting regularly, sharing insights, and engaging with others in the industry. Over time, that built awareness and credibility.

And here’s the thing: You don’t have to be everywhere. But you do need to be somewhere.

• Pick one platform—LinkedIn, a newsletter, whatever—and start sharing.
• Post once or twice a week. Engage with others. Add value.

Over time, you’ll build influence.

So let’s recap:

1. Influence starts with solving a real problem.
2. Use your unique strengths—what you already do well.
3. Choose a content format that works for you.
4. Be useful—help others.
5. Make sure your message reaches the right people.

And if you take nothing else from this, remember this:

Real, meaningful influence isn’t about being famous—it’s about being useful.

The most influential people aren’t always the loudest. They’re the ones solving real problems.

So here’s my challenge to you: What problem are you going to help solve?

I’d love to hear your thoughts, questions, and comments on all of this. Message me here on LinkedIn, or comment below….