Marketing expert Eve Weatherburn of Brand Journey builds the capability of teams to design, deliver and promote experience-led brands that come to life. In this fascinating conversation, Eve shares fresh perspectives on hotel branding from 30+ years leading brand strategies across Asia Pacific, Europe, and the US for major groups including Radisson, IHG, and Anantara. Learn what hotels can adopt from retail, why most hotel brands try to please everyone (and shouldn't), how to capture leads before booking, and why hiring outside the industry brings breakthrough ideas. Eve challenges the "that's how we've always done it" mindset and explains the seven P's of marketing that many hotel marketers never touch. Essential listening for hotel leaders, marketers, and anyone ready to think differently about brand experience.Need help developing your hotel team's revenue management and commercial skills? Visit www.sknappconsulting.comHotelier Huddle is hosted and produced by Shannon Knapp and produced and edited by Heidi Egger.
00:00 Marketing Intro, Insights for Hoteliers00:18 Brand Strategy: Defining A Target Audience00:48 Connecting Brand Strategy to Team Execution02:42 Fresh Perspectives: How Other Industries Market05:27 The Seven P's of Marketing in Hotels08:20 Final Thoughts and Toast to Hoteliers
What if the key to better hotel revenue management isn't more spreadsheets, but fewer rate changes? In this refreshingly candid episode, Revenue & Distribution Manager Matt Camp challenges the industry's obsession with over-engineering every decision.
From using anecdata as a legitimate data source to asking whether you're revenue managing or day trading, Matt shares hard-won wisdom from 25 years in hospitality, including stints pricing everything from luxury wilderness lodges to city hotels.
Learn why your property's authenticity matters more than fighting your natural market, why curiosity outweigh credentials in building revenue careers, and how making a bed with housekeeping might be the best thing you do for your strategy this week.
If you've ever felt trapped in a cycle of constant rate tinkering, this episode is your permission slip to step away from the screen.
Want to improve your hotel team’s revenue management and commercial acumen? Visit www.sknappconsulting.com
Hotelier Huddle is hosted and produced by Shannon Knapp and produced and edited by Heidi Egger.
00:00 Intro to Hotel Revenue Management
02:59 The Art and Science of Pricing
06:04 Understanding Market Dynamics
08:57 Matt’s Career Journey and Learning Experiences
11:46 Importance of Curiosity in Revenue Management
15:08 Role of Technology in Revenue Management
18:06 Lessons from Early Career Experiences
20:51 Final Thoughts and Toast to Hoteliers
Award-winning hotel general manager Greg Brady shares 8 essential leadership lessons from 30+ years running properties including Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour (Australasian Hotel of the Year). Learn how to build lasting culture, stay calm during emergencies, build top performing teams, challenge outdated practices, and prioritise people over profits. Greg's unconventional path from teacher and police officer to top GM offers practical insights for hotel managers, hospitality students, and anyone leading teams.
Want to improve your hotel team’s revenue management and commercial acumen? Visit www.sknappconsulting.com
Hotelier Huddle is hosted and produced by Shannon Knapp and produced and edited by Heidi Egger.
Chapters
0:00 Meet Greg Brady: from Teacher to Award Winning Hotel General Manager
4:15 Lesson 1: One Quality a Hotel General Manager Needs to Succeed
6:14 Lesson 2: The Qualities That Can and Can't Be Taught
8:15 Lesson 3: Question Outdated Practices (The Minibar Problem)
11:07 Lesson 4: Gain Diverse Experience Across Hotel Types
12:55 Lesson 5: Show Calm Confidence During Emergencies
17:02 Lesson 6: The Secret to Creating Winning Hotel Loyalty Perks
18:45 Lesson 7: Culture Needs Constant Attention or It Will Drift
21:34 Lesson 8: Be Prepared for Unexpected Events
24:55 A Toast to Hospitality Workers
Dr David Haberlah has a geology PhD, taught third graders in Northern Queensland, and now leads AI globalisation at a major hotel tech company. He joins Shannon to discuss artificial intelligence in hospitality.
Learn why AI models have different personalities, how to handle employee data security, and how to match guests with experiences they'll actually love. Discover what to implement now, why fragmented hotel tech holds you back, and why live music and art are having a revival.
In this episode of the Hotelier Huddle, Shannon Knapp interviews hotel sales and marketing leader Tracy Martin, founder of the Wisdom Well, discussing her journey in the hospitality industry, the transition to hotel consulting, and the importance of integrity and guest experience. They explore sales strategies, the challenges of going solo, and the unique demands of hotel management, culminating in a toast to hoteliers everywhere.
00:00 Introduction to Tracy Martin
04:58 Evolution to Hotel Consultant: The Wisdom Well
10:11 Sales Challenges in the Hospitality Industry
14:59 Navigating Career Progression in Hospitality
20:07 Managing Guest Complaints and Expectations
24:57 The Entrepreneurial Leap: Going Solo
30:11 Final Thoughts and Toast to Hoteliers
Welcome back to the Hotelier Huddle — the hotel podcast for people running their own hotel or accommodation business, and for hoteliers ready to take the next step in their careers.
In this episode, host Shannon Knapp talks with Tamie Matthews, founder of RevenYou and a veteran revenue strategist, about the real puzzles behind hotel profits.
You’ll hear:
* Why chasing 100% occupancy isn’t always the best strategy
* Tamie’s candy analogy for understanding revenue (it’s fun and makes sense!)
* How trust, content parity, and OTA algorithms shape hotel bookings
* Career advice for rookies on starting with big brands vs independents
* The one “go to jail” rule Tamie has when it comes to staff respect
Whether you’re just starting out in the hotel industry or looking for a fresh perspective, this chat is packed with stories and lessons you can use straight away.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
00:34 How Tamie Books Travel
02:57 Converting Direct Bookings
06:02 The Most Ridiculous Thing a Client Has Expected
11:17 Do We Focus Too Much On 100% Occupancy?
15:28 The OTA Algorithm Truth Serum
27:09 Learning from Different Hotel Departments
30:57 Sales vs. Revenue Management
33:08 Tamie's Superpower
33:16 Identifying Superpowers in Hoteliers
In this episode of Hotelier Huddle I speak with Alexia Kalis, CEO of the Kalis Group and owner operator of 8 hospitality venues in Tasmania, Australia. She generously shares sage tips and tricks for achieving success and staying out of the weeds!
Your Host: Shannon Knapp, CHIA, established SKNapp Consulting to capitalise on her decades of experience in hotel industry reservations, revenue optimisation, distribution and commercial management systems.
Visit: www.sknappconsulting.com to learn about training and consultation services
In this episode of Hotelier Huddle, a seasoned tourism and hotel sales manager and a revenue consultant discuss the evolution of the two disciplines and the importance of relationships, mentors, and incentives.