In this episode of The Digital Concierge, Holly sits down with Emma Sleight, Head of Content at The World’s 50 Best - the global authority celebrating the very best in food, drink, and hotels.Emma shares what it really takes to get on The World’s 50 Best list, why storytelling is at the heart of every great experience, and how hospitality brands can build communities that last.We dive into:✨ The truth behind The World’s 50 Best and how the lists are actually created✨ Why “focusing on what you do best” is the most powerful growth strategy✨ How 50 Best celebrates people, not just places✨ Lessons on investing in your content, audience, and authenticity✨ The evolution of digital storytelling across bars, hotels, and vineyards✨ What hospitality can learn from 50 Best’s approach to global storytellingWhether you’re in hospitality, marketing, or simply fascinated by how global brands connect through experience and emotion - this episode will inspire you to think differently about storytelling and success.🎧 Listen now wherever you listen to podcasts.👉 Subscribe to The Digital Concierge for more conversations at the intersection of business, travel, and hospitality.
In this episode of The Digital Concierge, Holly sits down with Pramukshi Kariyawasam, an award-winning marketing & PR consultant named Hospitality Marketer of the Year Middle East 2024 and one of the Top 30 PR Hotshots.
With 15 years in the industry - Pramukshi has witnessed hospitality’s biggest transformation: the shift from traditional PR to digital-first storytelling.
We dive into:
✨ The evolution from print ads & glossy brochures to digital ecosystems
✨ The rise of influencers and how hotels should balance influencer content vs. brand-owned storytelling
✨ Why authenticity and “staying human” are more important than ever in an AI-powered world
✨ How hotels can create omnichannel digital identities and avoid relying on “last click” ROI
✨ Lessons in consistency, brand identity, and building guest relationships across platforms
Whether you’re in hospitality, marketing, or just fascinated by how brands adapt in the digital era, this is an episode you don’t want to miss.
👉 Subscribe to The Digital Concierge for more conversations at the intersection of business, travel, and hospitality.
What does true wellness look like in today’s high-speed world? 🌍
In this episode, we sit down with Vickum Nawagamuwage, founder of Santani Wellness Resort in Sri Lanka - a pioneering destination that has redefined what modern wellness can look like.
What began as one man’s search for realignment has turned into one of the world’s most celebrated wellness retreats, blending architecture, nature, and philosophy into a space for deep healing.
Vickum shares his personal journey, the lessons from building Santani, and why true wellness must be physical, mental, and emotional. We talk about the “architecture of silence,” the shift from hunter-gatherer rhythms to high-speed lives, and how balance is the foundation of resilience.
Whether you’re in hospitality, passionate about wellness, or simply navigating burnout in today’s world - this one’s full of wisdom and perspective you won’t want to miss. ✨
🎧 Tune in now on Spotify, YouTube, and all major platforms
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This is your digital toolbox and storybook for hospitality.
Welcome to The Digital Concierge.
In this episode, we sit down with Stephenie Moritel, Hotel Manager of La Samanna, Belmond’s world-renowned Caribbean retreat.
At just 22, Stephanie arrived with two suitcases, fresh out of university, ready to trade the Pacific for the Caribbean. What began as her first “real job” as a concierge, quickly turned into a remarkable climb through the ranks, leading one of the most celebrated resorts in the region.
Stephenie shares candid stories from her remarkable journey, the evolution of guest expectations, the truth about working with influencers, and what it really takes to keep a luxury hotel at the top of its game.
Whether you’re in hospitality, dreaming of a career abroad, or just curious about life behind the scenes at a Caribbean legend - this one’s packed with inspiration and insider wisdom. 🎧
💡 Tune in now on Spotify, YouTube, and all major platforms
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This is your digital toolbox and storybook for hospitality.
Welcome to The Digital Concierge.
Everyone’s talking about guest experience. Few are getting it right.In this episode, guest experience strategist Danica shares how hotels can use real guest data to improve operations, avoid bad campaigns, and build brands people trust and return to. From tech overload to tone-deaf marketing campaigns, she breaks down where brands go wrong and how to fix it.You’ll hear:• How to use guest data to shape your entire brand strategy• The massive mistake hotels make with digital personalisation• Real examples of brands ignoring reviews - and paying for it• The surprising power of just getting the basics right• What makes influencer partnerships actually work for your brand• The cycle of listening, delivering, and standing out💡 Tune in now on Spotify, YouTube, and all major platforms📩 Sign up to the newsletter for weekly insights and takeaways📲 Follow @thedigitalconciergebyfds for episode drops, behind-the-scenes, and moreThis is your digital toolbox and storybook for hospitality.Welcome to The Digital Concierge.
What if you built a brand around the life you actually wanted?
In this episode of The Digital Concierge, we sit down with Paris Norriss, aka @GuyInDubai - TV host, keynote speaker, and founder of a global travel production brand now featured on airlines, streaming platforms, and screens around the world.
We talk about:
🌍 Why the best ideas start with your own curiosity
⚡️ Building authentic brand partnerships that feel real
💥 The grind of pitching, funding, and producing when no one’s saying yes
💡 How to stay resourceful when the budget’s low but the vision is big
From shipwreck dives to Red Bull air races, Paris proves that there’s no Plan B - just the life you’re willing to fight for.
🎧 Listen now on Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.
What does it take to design a guest experience that’s truly unforgettable?
In this episode, experience designer Victoria Taylor shares her philosophy of helping brands become “The Only” in the category.
From her signature storytelling framework, to why subtlety often speaks louder than spectacle, Victoria unpacks how luxury destinations can earn a lasting place on a guest’s memory grid.
- Why true guest experience starts by “walking the floor”
- How to craft a “memory grid” moment that lasts decades- How to balance history, happenings, and heart in your storytelling
- Lessons from Gleneagles and how subtlety beats shouty marketing every time
- Why the best brands know when to tune out trends and stay true to themselves
- How cross-team insights instead of top-down create authenticity
💡 Tune in now on Spotify, YouTube, and all major platforms
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📲 Follow @thedigitalconciergebyfds on Instagram & TikTok for episode drops, behind-the-scenes, and everything we’ve got in store
This is your digital toolbox and storybook for hospitality.
Welcome to The Digital Concierge.
What if your brand couldn’t post another photo of a product, a space or a service for six months, could your brand still thrive online?
In this episode, we chat with Asya, Managing Partner at Barcelona- and NYC-based creative agency Slaps, known for shaping cultural conversations for brands like Nike, Puma, and leading nightlife names in Ibiza to unpack how one can move beyond performance marketing and into cultural resonance:
- Why traditional hotels are falling behind digitally
- What hospitality can learn from fashion, music, and FMCG
- How to build a brand “world” beyond the room or restaurant
- The power of sound, vibe, and storytelling in digital media
- And why YouTube and TikTok are still under-leveraged goldmines💡
Tune in now on Spotify, YouTube, and all major platforms.📩
Sign up to the newsletter for weekly insights and takeaways.
📲 Follow @thedigitalconciergebyfds on Instagram & TikTok for episode drops, behind-the-scenes, and everything we’ve got in store (trust us, there’s more).
This is your digital toolbox and storybook for hospitality. Welcome to The Digital Concierge.
The Digital Concierge has officially opened its doors!
And you’re invited.
In our very first episode, we sit down with Friedrich von Schönburg, Managing Director of one of Madrid’s most iconic hotels — and now, the newly appointed Regional Vice President for Southern Europe at Rosewood Hotel Group. With a lifelong connection to hospitality that began in his father’s hotel in the 1950s, he reveals the secrets behind intuitive luxury, timeless leadership, and what truly defines a remarkable guest experience.We discuss:• The philosophy behind Rosewood’s “A Sense of Place” and why it resonates globally• How childhood memories of his father’s hotel shaped his understanding of service• What today’s luxury guests truly value and how to exceed their expectations• Why quiet, personalized moments matter more than ever in hospitality• His leadership principles for building empowered, emotionally intelligent teams• The future of hospitality in Southern Europe and what he sees coming nextYour monthly check-in from the world of hospitality straight to your inbox: https://www.fordigitalsakes.com/thedigitalconciergeFollow The Digital Concierge: https://www.instagram.com/thedigitalconciergebyfdshttps://www.tiktok.com/@thedigitalconciergebyfds
