Rebecca Weinstein is the Director of Design at Highgate, a trailblazing hospitality firm known for developing bespoke hotel brands, predicting trends, and running hotels effectively. Highgate is currently taking over 3-5 hotels each month. They're betting on life springing back to normal, and on places like New York and Miami, while also diversifying their portfolio with strategies built to meet this moment.

With the Delta variant looming in the not-so-distant background, Amy shares how to take advantage of this "post-pandemic" moment, however fleeting, by making the latest trends in hospitality marketing work for your property in the months ahead. From installing a text messaging app, to queueing up life cycle emails, this actionable podcast episode will prepare you for fall, and help you set your marketing strategy and budget for the year ahead. All in less than 20 minutes.

Moniqua Lane checks back in with Amy on post-pandemic hotelier life, current projects, and future hospitality plans. Moniqua shares some silver linings born out of the pandemic, including The Citizen Tucson Hotel, her upcoming UNESCO-backed food hall partnership, a glamping project on an Arizona winery, and why representation matters when it comes to DMOs. Moniqua first appeared on episodes 21 and 22 to talk about The Downtown Clifton Hotel in September 2020.

In this clip from episode 41, Natasha Graves shares the story behind VacayAbility. Turns out, many hotels and destinations are missing out on a massive market: accessible travel.

Graphic designer, Ryann Kivel, is joins Amy to talk through the new rules of graphic design. How technology has disrupted the industry, for better or worse. We’ll learn about Napkin Ink and why she built it. We’ll get some actionable tips along the way. Plus, you’ll finally get the scoop on Sauced Marketing.

In this sneak peek from episode 39, the founder of Traverse Journeys, Ashley Blake), posits that travel is transformative both for the traveler and the communities visited.


It’s been a year of podcasting, and a year of pandemic life. In this episode, Amy shares the lessons that she’s learned, and the changes that have informed her hotel marketing strategies over the last 12 months. Amy shares examples of how each of these lessons has played out in practice, and how to harness these marketing strategies in the future.

I’m so excited to welcome Natasha Graves to the show. Natasha is the founder of VacayAbility, a tourism website dedicated to making travel more accessible, and more welcoming, for all. It’s about time, right?

This month, and every month, we honor all the women across the world rewriting the hospitality industry. In episode 40, we're highlighting 16 interviews with women in travel and hoteliers making history. Featured guests: Frances Kiradjian, Ariela Kiradjian, Amy Ogden, Alyssa Ramos, Eve Dreher, Aditi Verma, Moniqua Lane, Lindsay Paige Stein, Jamila Ross, Jessica Blotter, Sarah Dandashy, Robin Staten, Austen Tosone, Sonia Thompson, and Davonne Reaves.

Bonus footage from my conversation with Davonne Reaves is here. In the time since I interviewed Davonne, she's launched a scholarship fund and her own podcast. As Davonne puts it, "it's bigger than me."

In 10 minutes, you're going to learn how to make your hotel (and truly any brand) more inclusive with Sonia Thompson. You're also going to witness the magic of two women putting their heads together.

Davonne Reaves is the founder and chief hospitality strategist of The Vonne Group, where she helps aspiring hotel owners achieve their dreams. She’s a woman on a mission—and I’m so excited to hear her story today.

With the proliferation of social media apps, what makes content great? What makes content shareable? Austen Tosone joined me to answer these questions, and help you level up your social strategy.

Sonia Thompson, marketing strategist, author, and founder of Belonging University, joins the show to fill in the blanks about inclusive marketing. Sonia's real world examples and actionable strategies will help you make your hotel more inclusive, STAT.

Find out how Robin Staten, founder of Tiny Urban Escapes, is making a positive change in our industry, by empowering more women to own, design, and manage hotels, and build them better than before.⁠

Digital content creator, Austen Tosone, shares her story, and dives into video, including tips for creating dynamic video content for hotels and travel. 

Robin Staten, founder of Tiny Urban Escapes, joins Amy to talk about her female developed, owned, and managed luxe boutique hotel company focused on creating one-of-a-kind experiences by transforming upcycled shipping containers into private suites.

Join Amy Draheim and Sarah Dandashy for a lightning round: 8 hospitality trends that will shape 2021. These hotel industry experts talk through the Airbnb effect, contactless everything, virtual meetings, sustainability, social media as a bonafide communication channel, and flexibility.

In our kick off to 2021 and season 3, Sarah Dandashy joins the show to dissect the top travel trends of 2021. How will the travel industry begin to rebound? What steps are being taken to ensure the travel industry's recovery? From flexible cancellation policies to hotel lobbies as COVID testing facilities, one thing is certain: our industry will recover stronger—and more tuned into travelers' mindsets—than ever before.

I didn't realize when I started a podcast, that it would become a time capsule. We've compiled all 13 interviews with 14 brilliant minds into a snapshot of the year. Watch the five minute video, or listen to the full episode.