After a short hiatus, Ashleigh and Michael return with the first of a two-part special recorded after a month travelling through Southeast Asia with their family. From Phuket’s upmarket shift and transformed airport to Ubud’s calm, green charm, they share what today’s guest experience looks like on the ground. They reflect on “Jai yen” as a blueprint for gracious service, why looking after children keeps parents happily spending, and how platforms like Grab and Gojek are influencing access, delivery and revenue for even the smallest eateries.

They also revisit favourite family-run restaurants, weigh up villa versus homestay, and compare Thailand’s personable warmth with Bali’s slick efficiency influenced by a thriving café culture.

In this episode:

• Phuket’s evolution and the luxury repositioning

• Service basics that matter most: bed, food, people

• Family-friendly hospitality that lifts average cheque

• The gig economy’s impact on F&B and mobility

• Ubud highlights: rice walks, Kecak, massages, and managing the heat

Whether you’re a hotel owner, aspiring entrepreneur, or just fascinated by where hospitality is heading, this one’s for you.

Connect with Us:

• Email: ⁠⁠podcast@gohalo.co.uk

• Website:⁠⁠ www.gohalo.co.uk⁠⁠

• Instagram: ⁠⁠@haloitsmichael⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠@haloitsashleigh⁠⁠

• LinkedIn: ⁠⁠Halo Business Consulting⁠⁠

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, or follow “The Halo Effect: Hospitality Stories with Ashleigh and Michael Donald” on your preferred podcast platform. Please get in touch if you would like to see us discuss a particular subject on a future episode.

We would love to invite fellow hospitality professionals and entrepreneurs to join us on future episodes, so please DM us via socials or email podcast@gohalo.co.uk if you are interested.