Josiah Mackenzie

🏦 Staypineapple Hotels, recognized by the Seattle Times as the best place to work in the Pacific Northwest, is led by president Dina Belon and chief growth officer Mike Hirschler. The company stands out due to its people-focused culture, encouraging authenticity among team members and their Surprise and Delight program, which empowers staff to provide exceptional guest experiences without a budget limit. They focus on hiring for cultural fit and emotional intelligence, rather than task skills, aiming to retain talent that embodies their mission. Their approach includes no uniforms for front office staff, using preferred pronouns, and fostering friendships in the workplace. Staypineapple also engages employees in creating unique guest experiences, like curated local guides, based on team members' interests. This strategy has led to increased repeat business, reduced acquisition costs, higher top-line revenue, and a supportive, enjoyable work environment.

🏥 Samantha Hardcastle, founder and creative director of The Storied Experience, shares insights on story-driven hospitality in an episode dated Aug. 24, 2024. Key insights include the creation of experiences that align with guests' aspirations (02:57), the importance of a hotel's mission and reconnecting with its original purpose (05:16), the impact of the environment on behavior (06:10), activating hotel spaces to provoke curiosity (08:09), aligning with tourism and experiential elements (11:03), incorporating local history interactively (14:37), and embracing regenerative travel principles for community impact (16:42).