Richard Hyde l Swiping Right on Luxury & Small Hotels
Swiping Right on Luxury & Small Hotels.
The wait is finally over… As you might know, Richard Hyde, COO of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, took the hot seat SMACK Live at Young Hoteliers Summit at #EHL in Lausanne and here comes his podcast episode.
From his slide into hospitality to building what he calls the “Tinder of Hotels” – matching dream stays with the perfect guests – Richard spilled the tea about working with SLH with style, wit, and a whole lotta love for the world of small luxury.
This exclusive SMACK Live episode dives into:
- What a day in the life of a COO really looks like (spoiler: it involves strategy, sales, numbers, and his amazing team).
- The secret life of SLH’s mystery inspectors (yes, they’re real – and no, they’re not paid).
- The new Unplugged Collection: massive phone detox, luxury edition.
- His dream hotel: small, warm, Italian, and family-style hospitality that sticks with you forever.
Also, if you’re someone who tries to dodge long emails and Zoom marathons to have real conversations instead: Richard might just be your new role model.
So tell us… If hotels were on Tinder, who would you swipe right on?
Enjoy the show!
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56:59
Adam Crocini – Hilton | Crafting Iconic F&B Experiences & CIA Anecdotes
Are you ready for some stories about waffles, wellness, and the CIA?
Adam Crocini isn’t just shaping Hilton’s F&B scene across 8,000+ properties - he and his team have also been pushing those legendary DIY waffles like true breakfast evangelists. Yes, the iconic Hampton by Hilton ones.
As SVP of Global Design, Wellness, and Food & Beverage at Hilton, Adam oversees everything from restaurant concepts to wellness initiatives. But don’t let the fancy title fool you - he believes real hospitality leadership starts at the bottom, sleeves rolled up, hands in the action. No shortcuts here!
Adam and Fritz met up at the Taste of Hilton F&B Conference in Istanbul, where Adam dished out some insider stories about his work and his involvement with the Culinary Institute of America...
From his early days in the kitchen to running Michelin-starred operations and massive casino resorts, Adam has seen it all. And now, he’s on SMACK to tell you all about it...
Enjoy the show!
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49:14
Glenn Haussman - No Vacancy | From Hip-Hop to Hospitality and Hustling Behind the Mic
Buckle up, hospitality fans, this episode is double trouble on the mic!
Glenn Hausman, Podcast Host and initiator of THE No Vacancy Podcast, joined Flo to discuss how one moves from editing hip-hop videos to running one of the biggest podcasts in #hospitality.
Flo and Glenn chat about personal branding, career moves, and why AI will never be able to replace real human connections. Glenn gets real about his early struggles, the podcast boom, and the importance of showing up as your true self.
If you’re looking for a lesson on authenticity, passion, curiosity, and how to skyrocket your own personal-brand… then listen closely to this one!
What moment during a hotel stay makes you most excited? 🤩
Enjoy the show!
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38:40
Glenn Mandziuk - World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance | Leading the Green Revolution in Hospitality
What do sustainability, the future of hospitality, and King Charles III have in common?
Turns out, more than you’d think – and Glenn Mandziuk, CEO of the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, is here to spill the tea (or should we say, the royal Earl Grey?).
In this episode, Glenn met with Phil to chat about what sustainability really means for #hospitality and tourism and how ‘the Alliance’ is planning to get the whole industry on board to go #netpositive. From practical tips to planet-sized challenges, he keeps it real about why going green isn’t just a trend – it’s the only future.
Glenn paints a clear picture of how hospitality can step up and lead the way to a greener planet – with actionable insights for big and small players to tackle issues like modern slavery, food waste, and other sustainability topics – one initiative at a time.
Hit play and join the conversation!
Enjoy the show!
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48:59
Nick Cavanaugh | Weather Proof Bookings: From Stormy Clouds to Stress Free Travels
How to avoid cranky customers and rainy days 🌧☂
Ever wondered what happens when a #climate scientist becomes a travel enthusiast? Meet Nick Cavanaugh, who turned his PhD in atmospheric physics into a solution for weather-impacted #travelplans. In this Breaktime episode, Lisa chatted with the founder and CEO of Sensible Weather, who is planning to make travel more predictable one booking at a time with "weather guarantees" - automatic reimbursements when Mother Nature doesn't cooperate with your vacation plans.
From analyzing snowfall in Berlin to protecting beach days in Hawaii, Nick's innovative approach combines complex weather data with simple, consumer-friendly insurance products. His company helps guests overcome dampened travel experiences, whether they're planning a ski trip or a golf getaway.
Enjoy the show!
Welcome to SMACK!
Just like our name, everything we do here is a little different and yet you’ll probably have more fun here than elsewhere. SMACK Hospitality Media is your one-of-a-kind source for hospitality and tourism-related edutainment. It is our mission to provide fun and engaging content for industry professionals in modern media formats.
With our podcast we aim to give everybody around the world the chance to meet key decision-makers and trailblazers of the hospitality industry. Chasing that ambitious goal, our hospitality podcast airs twice a month between September and July.
So, join the conversation, tune in and never ever lose your curiosity.
Enjoy the show!
Österreich