DJ to “Hotelier of the Year”: Meet Claudio Meli
📛 Sept. 28, 2025: Claudio Meli, General Manager of THE PLACE Firenze, is named Virtuoso's "Hotelier of the Year" for 2025.
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Josiah Mackenzie
1089 posts
Why “Giving a ****” Is Non-Negotiable for Leadership and Excellence in Hospitality – Dina Belon, Staypineapple
📚 Dina Belon, President of Staypineapple, speaks with Danica Smith about her leadership philosophy centered on "caring deeply." This conversation highlights how aligning personal values with guest experience, culture, and sustainability is key to creating meaningful memories and leading with conviction. Dina emphasizes that leaders must embody their beliefs to inspire their teams effectively. Hospitality leaders can gain practical insights from her value-driven approach to leadership.
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Dina Belon’s 30-Day Hotel Turnaround Plan, Cities as Amenities, Community Engagement, Win/Win Partnerships & More
🏨 Dina Belon, President of Staypineapple, discusses her strategy for the first 30 days of leading a new hotel. She emphasizes using the local environment as part of the guest experience by integrating cultural elements, parks, and businesses. Engaging hotel associates for creative solutions and forming community partnerships can enhance guest satisfaction and positively impact the local area.
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The Real Power of Our AI Workflow Comes From People – Dina Belon, Staypineapple
💻 Dina Belon, President of Staypineapple, discusses the creation of "Chat Pineapple," an AI tool that integrates guest insights. This initiative emphasizes the importance of a culture that enables creativity, converting surveys and guest histories into unique experiences. Belon highlights the significance of the human element in personalizing hospitality services. The conversation also touches on pre-stay guest responses and scaling a culture of surprise and delight.
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Why I Hate Kiosks (And How to Choose Tech Partners to Compete with Big Brands) – Dina Belon, Staypineapple
📖 Dina Belon, President of Staypineapple, discusses the role of technology in guest experiences with Danica Smith. Dina argues against using kiosks in her hotels, emphasizing the importance of personal interaction. The conversation explores how independent hoteliers can compete with large brands by selecting appropriate tech partners.
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“Do the Next Right Thing”: Why Staypineapple Leads Without SOPs – Dina Belon
🛌 Dina Belon, President of Staypineapple, discusses team empowerment with Danica Smith in a podcast episode. Staypineapple eliminates SOPs and scripts, centralizes administrative tasks, and utilizes intuitive technology to enhance team focus on guests. The company prioritizes authenticity over uniforms and rigid rules to help staff thrive. Listen to gain insights into fostering a supportive work environment that benefits both employees and customers. 🎧
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How Staypineapple Enables Every Employee to Surprise and Delight – Dina Belon, Staypineapple
💬 Dina Belon, President of Staypineapple, discusses with guest experience correspondent Danica Smith how Staypineapple's culture emphasizes employee empowerment over standard operating procedures. By interviewing every employee to understand their passions and connecting these with guest stories, Staypineapple creates deeply personal guest experiences. This approach fosters authenticity and personal engagement, highlighting empowerment as the core of their culture. Music for the show is produced by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound.
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Elevating Women and Redefining Leadership: Barbara Muckermann at Kempinski
📓 Barbara Muckermann, CEO of Kempinski Hotels, shares insights on elevating women into leadership and building trust. She emphasizes turning perceived weaknesses into strengths and advocates for creating opportunities over protections for women leaders. Her advice includes playing to strengths, thorough preparation, and developing an authentic leadership style.
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Kempinski Hotels: What’s Magical & What’s Next – Barbara Muckermann
🏨 Emily Goldfischer interviews Barbara Muckermann, CEO of Kempinski Hotels, in the latest episode of *Hospitality Daily*. Barbara discusses her first year leading Kempinski, the world’s oldest luxury hotel brand, reflecting on lessons from her cruise industry career. She reveals insights into Kempinski’s culture, emphasizing an asset-heavy growth approach and future positioning. Hospitality leaders will gain new perspectives on service and strategy in a competitive market.
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Kempinski CEO Barbara Muckermann on Leadership, Legacy, and Reinvention
📄 Barbara Muckermann, the first female CEO of Kempinski Hotels, a 162-year-old luxury hotel group, shares her journey from the cruise industry to hospitality leadership. In a conversation with Emily Goldfischer for *Hospitality Daily*, she discusses leading through crises and balancing heritage with innovation. For more insights, visit [hertelier](https://www.hertelier.com/post/barbara-muckermann-kempinski-1). Follow *Hospitality Daily* on [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@hospitalitydaily), [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/hospitalitydaily/), and [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/hospitality_daily/).
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