What’s your favorite podcast? If you’re like most Americans, you’ve listened to a podcast before, and maybe you’re among the 31% of Americans who listened to a podcast in the last week. Podcast listenership has exploded in the past two decades, with over 60% of American adults now having listened to one, up from just 11% in 2006. Listening to podcasts is a great way to learn; many auditory learners can more easily grasp and remember concepts by listening versus reading, and many people choose to listen to podcasts to pass the time on your commute or when doing household chores. Plus, podcasts often feature the most cutting edge research and the most of-the-moment trends, making them a more timely source of information than books.
While some podcast fans go for the true crime or pop culture podcasts, hotel industry leaders will find plenty of career and business inspiration in these 26 hotel and hospitality podcasts. Featuring interviews with experts and executives, rundowns on the latest trends, and best practices you can adopt, listening to one of these podcasts might open your ears to the next game-changing idea for your hospitality business.
Essential Hotel & Hospitality Podcasts
Short on time? If you’re only going to listen to a few podcasts – or even just a few episodes – these are the essentials you won’t want to miss.
Checking In with Anthony and Glenn: Two industry experts, Travel Channel's Anthony Melchiorri and No Vacancy Live! host Glenn Haussman, combine forces to deliver this podcast that covers a variety of industry topics. Recent episodes range from conference recaps (a recent episode covered the Hunter Hotel Conference) to interviews with leaders (like Chris Green, President of Remington Hospitality). Spotify
⭐️ Hotel Tech Insider: Diving into the intersection between hospitality and technology, Hotel Tech Insider interviews a different industry leader on each episode. Created by industry software website HotelTechReport, this podcast goes into detail on how hoteliers reach their goals by leveraging specific technology solutions. Recent episodes feature executives from HRI Hotels and Falkensteiner Hotel Group.
Website | Spotify | Apple
Hotel Tech Insider: A show about the future of hotels and the technology that powers them
Sample Episodes:
🎙️ Margaritaville's Chief Data Officer on the Tech Enabled Moments of Delight | Listen here
🎙️ Accor CTO's Hotel Tech Masterclass: Cyber Security, Sustainability and More | Listen here
🎙️ Outsite's CTO on Building the Future of Remote Work Hotels | Listen here
🎙️ Strawberry's Head of Hotel Systems on Switching and Piloting New Tech | Listen here
🎙️ Raus Co-Founder on the Future of Tech Enabled Glamping | Listen here
The Turndown: Presented by Cloudbeds, "The Turndown Podcast" is an essential resource for those in the hospitality sector, especially hoteliers and accommodation providers seeking to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of the industry. Each episode dives into the latest trends, insights, and innovations, featuring in-depth interviews with thought leaders and experts across the hospitality world. From groundbreaking technology and operational strategies to guest experience enhancements and market analysis, this podcast covers a wide range of topics to help you stay ahead in the competitive hospitality industry. Spotify
Hospitality Daily: Another daily podcast, but this one features short conversations (usually between 15-30 minutes) with a fascinating figure from the hospitality industry. Host Josiah Mackenzie chats with folks like Nikki Glass, a Kimpton GM, and Kristie Goshow, Chief Commercial Officer at KSL Resorts on recent episodes. This podcast will give you plenty of inspiration and food for thought in just a few minutes per day. Spotify
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Hotel Marketing Podcasts
Want to take your hotel’s marketing strategy to the next level? You don’t need to earn a marketing degree to learn the tricks of the trade. Both marketing executives and junior marketing associates can stay current on marketing trends and ideas by listening to these industry-focused podcasts.
Suite Spot: A Hotel Marketing Podcast: Produced by Travel Media Group, this bi-weekly podcast, hosted by brand ambassador Ryan Embree, focuses on all things marketing in the hotel industry. Episodes range from long-form interviews with industry leaders (like the AHLA’s President Chip Rogers) to themed conversations like the top trends in guest sentiment, making it a good one for Directors of Marketing and CMOs to add to their rotation.
Website | Spotify
The Hotel Marketing Show: Presented by Hotelchamp, a software vendor that helps hotels get more direct bookings, The Hotel Marketing Show features interviews with industry leaders and actionable advice for how to better position, brand, and market your property. Don’t miss the recent episode with Maurice Ajanaku, the Global Brand Marketing Director from citizenM Hotels, which goes in depth on how to create a cohesive digital and physical experience.
Hospitality Digital Marketing: Although the most recent episode of Loren Gray’s Hospitality Digital Marketing podcast came out in August 2023, it’s still a treasure trove of best practices, interviews, and marketing strategies that’s not to be missed. Along with many special guests, Gray covers topics like content creation, audience creation, and benchmarking to help you make the best marketing decisions as you can for your hospitality business.
Website | Apple Podcasts
Defining Hospitality: Hosted by Dan Ryan, who has over three decades in the hospitality industry under his belt, this podcast explores the meaning of hospitality through interviews with a variety of leaders and innovators. Many episodes focus on branding and design, like conversations that feature Hawaiian hotel designer Michelle Jaime and Damien Perrot, Accor’s Global Chief Design, Technical Services & Innovation Officer.
Website | Spotify
Vacation Rental Podcasts
Whether you’re a seasoned property manager or a first-time Airbnb host, you’ll get tons of value out of these podcasts created for (and often by) vacation rental owners, operators, and managers.
STR Data Lab: Presented by vacation rental data firm AirDNA, this podcast covers everything you need to know to start a short-term rental business or scale one up. Hosted by AirDNA’s Chief Economist Jamie Lane, episodes often feature special guests who have built their own vacation rental portfolios and share their real-world experiences. Don’t miss the recent episode that recaps earnings reports from companies like Expedia and Vrbo.
Website | Spotify
No Vacancy The Podcast: In this weekly podcast, host Natalie Palmer (who’s also an Airbnb Superhost) shares tips and advice to help you make your short-term rental business more efficient, scalable, and profitable. She speaks with not only fellow hosts, but also technology vendors and industry experts who reveal secrets to their success, which sometimes go against the grain. Recent episodes cover insurance issues, ADUs, and how to hack Airbnb’s algorithm.
Website | Spotify
Short Term Rental Secrets: Mike Sjogren and Emanuele Pani of STRSecrets.com break down the short-term rental industry for newcomers and veterans alike who have the goal of reaching financial freedom. They dig into actionable topics and strategies like email marketing, renovation budgets, and online listings, and many episodes feature special guests who have already made it big.
Website | Spotify
The STR Sisterhood: Airbnb Superhost Stacey St. John hosts this inspirational podcast featuring nuggets of wisdom from women leaders in the short-term rental industry – and from her own experience building a portfolio of short-term rentals. In an industry that can feel heavily male-dominated, it’s refreshing to hear from women who have forged their own path and found success.
Website | Spotify
Food & Beverage Podcasts
Hungry for a podcast that covers the ins and outs of the F&B industry? These podcasts will surely satisfy the craving for insights from leading chefs and restaurateurs.
Hospitality Hangout: This long-running podcast is in its 11th season, but hosts Michael Schatzberg (the Restaurant Guy) and Jimmy Frischling (the Finance Guy) still keep the topics and themes fresh. Many episodes highlight trends, innovation, and technology in the food and beverage industry, like the recent conversations with Steven Song, the Chief Financial Officer at Luke’s Lobster, and Herb Ring, the National Foodservice Director of The Hershey Company. Website | Spotify
All In The Industry: Hosted by public relations guru Shari Bayer and produced by Heritage Radio Network, All In The Industry is a weekly podcast featuring interviews with hospitality industry talent, often focusing on chefs and restaurateurs. Shari has featured notable chefs Andrew Zimmern and Elizabeth Blau on recent episodes. Website | Spotify
Extra Serving: Presented by Nation’s Restaurant News, this industry-specific podcast is a must for restaurateurs who want to stay current on the latest trends, innovations, and news in the restaurant space. Episodes feature interviews with leaders of major chains and restaurant groups as well as analysis of recent headlines, regulatory changes, and new technology. Website | Spotify
Travel Industry Podcasts
Encompassing not only hotel and restaurant sectors, but also covering topics related to air travel, destination marketing, and meeting and events, these broader travel-focused podcasts help you stay up-to-date on one of the world’s biggest industries.
The Skift Travel Podcast: With wide-ranging episodes covering all things travel, this podcast from industry news outlet Skift is a great one if you want to keep a pulse on macro trends that affect the hospitality industry. Recent episodes dive into megatrends that will cause waves in 2024, such as AI, robots, and climate change, and you’ll hear from executives from companies like Google and Trip.com. Website | Spotify
No Vacancy Live!: Host Glenn Haussman sits down with travel industry executives and thought leaders to take a behind-the-scenes look at some of the biggest companies in the space, from hotel companies to cruise lines. Haussman often takes his show on the road, with recent episodes sharing live conversations from conferences and events that he’s attended. Website | Spotify
Slick Talk | The Hospitality Podcast: Wil Slickers, the founder of the HospitalityFM podcast network, hosts this exciting podcast, which covers all the coolest innovations in the travel industry, from the latest technology to new types of accommodations. Don’t miss the recent roundtable episode that discusses outdoor hospitality and how to create novel guest experiences. Website | Spotify
Skift Daily Briefing: Looking for a bite-sized podcast that will tell you the latest news and trends in the travel industry? Skift’s Daily Briefing is your show. In under 5 minutes, Skift’s veteran reporters share all the updates you need to know in the hotel, air, OTA, and meetings and events sectors of the industry. Spotify
Niche Podcasts for the Hospitality Industry
Looking for something more unique? These podcasts go deep into a specific facet of the hospitality industry, making them especially relevant and informative for professionals in a particular niche.
Hospitality Forward: Hosted by Hanna Lee. President of Hanna Lee Communications, and Michael Anstendig, a veteran food and beverage writer, this unique podcast shares conversations with and insights from travel writers and journalists. Guests have included writers and editors from esteemed publications like Travel+Leisure, Fast Company, and Food & Wine, giving hoteliers an interesting perspective on public relations and media in the hospitality industry. Website | Spotify
The Real Estate Law Podcast: Proving that podcasts about law don’t have to be boring, hosts Jason Muth of Straightforward Short-Term Rentals and attorney and broker Rory Gill delve into topics around short-term rentals, real estate investing, and brand building. Recent episodes cover strategies for tax deductions and how to leverage retirement funds for real estate investments. Website | Spotify
The Hotelie Podcast: Created by students at Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration, this podcast will give you insight into the next generation of hoteliers. The podcast features interviews with both Cornell professors and hotel industry leaders, opening your ears to some diverse viewpoints. Website | Spotify
Hospitality Mavericks: Want to learn from industry leaders who might not have followed a traditional career path? Host Michael Tingsager speaks with founders, executives, and experts who have done things differently but found success in the hospitality industry nonetheless. Recent episodes feature Larry Korman, President of AKA Hotel Residences, and Simon Wanler, co-founder and CEO of Bastard Burgers. Website | Spotify
The Deal Ranch: This bi-weekly podcast showcases interviews with successful real estate investors and executives. Hosted by Matt Lutz, recent conversations include Sandy Davis, President & CEO of Myrtle Beach Regional Economic Development Corporation, and Kellan Florio, CIO at VICI Properties Inc. (the largest real estate owner on the Las Vegas Strip). Website | Spotify
Skift Ideas: Hosted by Skift founder Rafat Ali and Colin Nagy, a Skift writer, this podcast explores innovation in the travel industry. Along with special guests like Michael Fuerstman, Co-Founder and Creative Director of Pendry Hotels & Resorts, they take a close look at design, marketing, sustainability, and more, with new episodes every other week. Website | Spotify
Modern Hotelier: As the name suggests, this podcast is all about staying at the forefront of innovation in the hotel industry. Hosts David Millili and Steve Carran interview leaders from hotel companies and technology companies to help you stay ahead of what’s coming next. You won’t want to miss their conversation with Peter Ricci, Director of the Hospitality & Tourism Management Program at Florida Atlantic University! Spotify
Which podcast will you check out first? Did we miss any standout recommendations? Listening to a hospitality industry podcast is an excellent way to uplevel your skill set, stay in tune with industry trends, and gain inspiration from industry leaders.
For those working in the hospitality and travel industries, leveraging podcasts as a learning tool is immensely beneficial. Hospitality podcasts, such as "No Vacancy" hosted by Glenn Haussman, "Slick Talk" with Wil Slickers, and the "Lodging Leaders Podcast" featuring industry veterans like Jon Albano and Steve, offer a wealth of knowledge. These platforms provide a unique opportunity to hear directly from hospitality leaders, industry experts, and influencers who share their years of experience, insights, and the latest trends shaping the world of hospitality.
Listening to these podcasts allows hoteliers and hospitality professionals to discover innovative strategies in hotel management, guest experience enhancement, revenue management, digital marketing, and sustainability practices. For instance, the "Hotel Marketing Podcast" and "Hospitality Marketing Podcast" delve into effective public relations and social media tactics that can help boost bookings and overall hotel business performance.
In weaving together the threads of our discussion on the influence and breadth of podcasts within the hotel and hospitality industry, we find a tapestry rich with insights, innovation, and inspiration. The landscape of this dynamic field, marked by evolving trends and the steadfast pursuit of enhancing the guest experience, finds a resonant voice in the medium of the hospitality podcast. From the short bites of "Hospitality Daily" hosted by Josiah Mackenzie to the industry-leader conversations with Glenn Haussman in "No Vacancy," these podcasts stand as pivotal platforms for hoteliers and hospitality professionals to gain invaluable knowledge.
Particularly notable is the unique blend of horror and hospitality explored in podcasts like "Bloody FM," where special guests such as West Rodri and composer Zach Tatom-Drake add an unexpected twist to conventional themes, much like the thrilling narratives spun by Christa Lewis in "Pacific Obadiah." This creative approach not only entertains but also enriches the dialogue within the hospitality community, proving that innovation knows no bounds.
Platforms like Spotify and Apple Podcasts serve as the digital crossroads where the paths of hotel owners, industry leaders, and next-generation hospitality leaders intersect. Here, discussions delve into the critical aspects of hotel management, from revenue management and hotel operations to the art of bookings and the nuances of guest experience. Moreover, the "Hotel Marketing Podcast," with its sharp focus on leveraging social media and digital strategies, underscores the importance of visibility and engagement in driving success.
In the heart of California, a hub for innovation and trendsetting in the travel industry, the echoes of these podcasts resonate, offering guidance, foresight, and a sense of community to hospitality professionals. The patronage of listeners, whether through platforms like Patreon or the direct feedback loops of social media, fuels the ongoing dialogue and exploration of industry trends, thought leadership, and the enduring quest for excellence in hospitality.
As we reflect on the contributions of voices like Mark Whitten in the lobby of innovation, or the forward-thinking perspectives of hospitality podcast hosts like Josiah Mackenzie and Glenn Haussman, it's clear that podcasts in the hotel and hospitality industry are a great source of information. They are a catalyst for growth, a beacon for the next generation of industry experts, and a gathering place for those committed to crafting exceptional experiences in the world of travel. In the harmony of these diverse voices and stories lies the future of the hospitality industry, continuously shaped by the insights and aspirations of its community.
Moreover, industry leaders on platforms such as Spotify and Apple Podcasts discuss case studies and valuable insights on pricing, bookings, and hotel operations, offering a real-world perspective that is crucial for anyone in the hotel industry. With episodes featuring hospitality leaders like Josiah Mackenzie and Anthony Melchiorri, listeners can learn about successful hotel management and marketing strategies, including how to leverage platforms like LinkedIn for networking and professional growth.
The "Hospitality Daily Podcast" and "Hospitality Hangout" are other must-listen resources for industry professionals seeking to stay abreast of industry trends, thought leadership, and the dynamic nature of the hospitality sector. These podcasts often feature entrepreneurs and innovators discussing the future of travel, the importance of sustainability, and how to adapt to changing market demands.
Hospitality and travel podcasts serve as a crucial educational resource, offering listeners the chance to learn from the best in the industry. By tuning into these weekly podcasts, those in the hospitality business can gain valuable insights, discover new trends, and learn best practices from seasoned professionals and industry insiders, all of which are essential for staying competitive in the fast-paced hospitality and travel industries.