Podcast

Behind the Stays

Author: Zach Busekrus
Feed episode count: 383
Official site: https://www.behindthestays.com/
RSS: https://feed.podbean.com/behindthestays/feed.xml
JSON: /v1/public/podcasts/behind-the-stays-3506810
Markdown: /podcast/behind-the-stays-3506810.md

Summary

Welcome to Behind the Stays — a podcast that shares the stories behind your favorite boutique hotels, short-term rentals, and hospitality brands and the hosts, operators, and entrepreneurs who’ve brought them to life. Every Tuesday and Friday you’ll meet the military veterans, retired flight attendants, tech entrepreneurs, school teachers, single moms, hoteliers, and real estate investors who are all, in their unique ways, shaping the future of travel and hospitality. Discover how these visionaries — from all over the world — have built stunning landscape hotels in the mountains, designed bohemian bungalows on the beach, erected eclectic off-grid and nature-immersed escapes, and so much more. Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more. And I’m your host, Zach Busekrus, Head of the Journey Alliance. Alright friends, enjoy the show!

Episodes

Sep 11, 2026 · not_requested

This Week in Hospitality: From Ian Schrager to AKA — Blake Danner on the Loyalty Lie, Brand Differentiation, and Staying Small

Duration seconds: 3850
Source: https://behindthestays.podbean.com/e/this-week-in-hospitality-from-ian-schrager-to-aka-%e2%80%94-blake-danner-on-the-loyalty-lie-brand-differentiation-and-staying-small/

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Sep 8, 2026 · not_requested

He Bought His First House at 17, Sold a Company to Zillow, and Built a Second Home Empire That Hit Unicorn Status in Five Months

Duration seconds: 3659
Source: https://behindthestays.podbean.com/e/he-bought-his-first-house-at-17-sold-a-company-to-zillow-and-built-a-second-home-empire-that-hit-unicorn-status-in-five-months/

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Sep 4, 2026 · not_requested

This Week in Hospitality: AI-Generated Hotels That Don't Exist, Airbnb Cuts Fees for Hosts Who Bring Their Own Demand, and Google Turns the Search Bar Into a Booking Engine

Duration seconds: 4141
Source: https://behindthestays.podbean.com/e/thisweekin-hospitalityai-generated-hotelsthatdont-exist-airbnbcutsfeesforhostswhobringtheir-owndemand-and-googleturnsthesearch-barintoa-bookingengine/

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Sep 2, 2026 · not_requested

She Left Chicago, Bought 160 Acres, and Built a Glamping Retreat Business That Sells Out in Hours

Duration seconds: 2607
Source: https://behindthestays.podbean.com/e/she-left-chicago-bought-160-acres-and-built-a-glamping-retreat-business-that-sells-out-in-hours/

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Aug 28, 2026 · not_requested

This Week in Hospitality: Buying Hotels Off Bad Yelp Reviews & The Boutique Hotel Brand Obituary

Duration seconds: 4165
Source: https://behindthestays.podbean.com/e/this-week-in-hospitality-buying-hotels-off-bad-yelp-reviews-the-boutique-hotel-brand-obituary/

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Aug 25, 2026 · not_requested

Why Blackberry Farm Doesn't Buy Ads — Matt Ferebee on Storytelling as Guest Experience

Duration seconds: 3675
Source: https://behindthestays.podbean.com/e/why-blackberry-farm-doesnt-buy-ads-%e2%80%94-matt-ferebee-on-storytelling-as-guest-experience/

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Aug 21, 2026 · not_requested

This Week in Hospitality: Google Buys Spirit’s Data, Timeshares Are Cool Now, and Alice Sherman on the Future of Hiring in Hospitality

Duration seconds: 5020
Source: https://behindthestays.podbean.com/e/this-week-in-hospitality-google-buys-spirit-s-data-timeshares-are-cool-now-and-alice-sherman-on-the-future-of-hiring-in-hospitality/

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Aug 18, 2026 · not_requested

The Real Reason You Can't Build a Vacation Rental Brand (It's Not What You Think) — And How to Fix It

Duration seconds: 3212
Source: https://behindthestays.podbean.com/e/the-real-reason-you-cant-build-a-vacation-rental-brand-its-not-what-you-think-%e2%80%94-and-how-to-fix-it/

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Aug 14, 2026 · not_requested

This Week in Hospitality: Airbnb & Trip Advisor Partner, IHG's Owner Gambit, and a Loyalty Program Worth More Than the Airline

Duration seconds: 4528
Source: https://behindthestays.podbean.com/e/this-week-in-hospitality-airbnb-trip-advisor-partner-ihgs-owner-gambit-and-a-loyalty-program-worth-more-than-the-airline/

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Aug 12, 2026 · not_requested

Why the Complaint Is the Doorway: Rachel Alday on Her New Book, "Please Do Disturb"

Duration seconds: 3433
Source: https://behindthestays.podbean.com/e/why-the-complaint-is-the-doorway-rachel-alday-on-her-new-book-please-do-disturb/

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Aug 7, 2026 · not_requested

This Week in Hospitality: Skift Editor-in-Chief Sarah Kopit on The Great Hotel Owner Squeeze, Aman's YouTuber Fiasco, & Marriott's Owner Concession

Duration seconds: 4370
Source: https://behindthestays.podbean.com/e/skift-editor-in-chief-sarah-kopit-on-the-great-hotel-owner-squeeze-amans-youtuber-fiasco-marriotts-owner-concession/

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Aug 4, 2026 · not_requested

Sponsored Listings Are Coming to Vrbo — Plus What 2,000 Guests Actually Want from Vacation Rentals (and It's Not a Hot Tub)

Duration seconds: 2721
Source: https://behindthestays.podbean.com/e/sponsored-listings-are-coming-to-vrbo-%e2%80%94-plus-what-2000-guests-actually-want-from-vacation-rentals-and-its-not-a-hot-tub/

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Jul 31, 2026 · not_requested

This Week in Hospitality: Sonder is back, Fora hits a $1B valuation, The Odyssey drives travel & Google’s AI booking grab

Duration seconds: 3799
Source: https://behindthestays.podbean.com/e/this-week-in-hospitality-sonder-is-back-fora-hits-a-1b-valuation-the-odyssey-drives-travel-google-s-ai-booking-grab/

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Jul 28, 2026 · not_requested

The Godfather of Hospitality Podcasting Has Notes: Disney, Virgin, and the Quest to Be Original with Glenn Haussman

Duration seconds: 3317
Source: https://behindthestays.podbean.com/e/the-godfather-of-hospitality-podcasting-has-notes-disney-virgin-and-the-quest-to-be-original-with-glenn-haussman/

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Jul 24, 2026 · not_requested

This Week in Hospitality: Hot Takes on Hilton, What Hotels Should Learn from the World Cup, and Shark Tank for Route 66's Last Surviving Motels

Duration seconds: 4176
Source: https://behindthestays.podbean.com/e/this-week-in-hospitality-hot-takes-on-hilton-what-hotels-should-learn-from-the-world-cup-and-shark-tank-for-route-66s-last-surviving-motels/

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Jul 24, 2026 · not_requested

This Week in Hospitality: How Norwegian Air Went Viral for Losing, Should Airbnb and Ennismore Hook Up? and the Slow Death of Organic Discovery on Vrbo

Duration seconds: 4540
Source: https://behindthestays.podbean.com/e/this-week-in-hospitality-how-norwegian-air-went-viral-for-losing-should-airbnb-and-ennismore-hook-up-and-the-slow-death-of-organic-discovery-on-vrbo/

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Jul 24, 2026 · not_requested

This Week in Hospitality: Ideas, Stories, and Hot Takes with James McBride, Co-Founder & CEO of NIHI Hotels

Duration seconds: 3690
Source: https://behindthestays.podbean.com/e/ideas-stories-and-hot-takes-with-james-mcbride-ceo-of-nihi-hotels/

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Jul 21, 2026 · not_requested

Why Luxury Hospitality Is Optimizing Itself Into Irrelevance — And What To Do About It (with Colin Nagy)

Duration seconds: 3358
Source: https://behindthestays.podbean.com/e/why-luxury-hospitality-is-optimizing-itself-into-irrelevance-%e2%80%94-and-what-to-do-about-it-with-colin-nagy/

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Jul 14, 2026 · not_requested

How Cloudbeds Is Shaping the Future of Independent Hospitality with Their New Partnership with Journey

Duration seconds: 2955
Source: https://behindthestays.podbean.com/e/how-cloudbeds-is-shaping-the-future-of-independent-hospitality/

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Jul 3, 2026 · not_requested

This Week in Hospitality: Airbnb Founder's Secret AI Lab, Bass Pro's $300M Resort Bet & The Economy Hotel Franchise Revolt

Duration seconds: 3627
Source: https://behindthestays.podbean.com/e/this-week-in-hospitality-airbnb-founders-secret-ai-lab-bass-pros-300m-resort-bet-the-economy-hotel-franchise-revolt/

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Jun 26, 2026 · not_requested

This Week in Hospitality: Pali Society Goes Bonvoy, Hilton's Incubating 5 New Brands, and Hot Takes with Skift's Hospitality Editor, Sean O'Neil

Duration seconds: 4486
Source: https://behindthestays.podbean.com/e/this-week-in-hospitality-pali-society-goes-bonvoy-hiltons-incubating-5-new-brands-and-hot-takes-with-skifts-hospitality-editor-sean-oneil/

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Jun 19, 2026 · not_requested

This Week in Hospitality: CoStar’s Forecast Reversal, Marriott Hits 10K Hotels, and Amsterdam’s Tourist Tax Revolt

Duration seconds: 4596
Source: https://behindthestays.podbean.com/e/this-week-in-hospitality-costar-s-forecast-reversal-marriott-hits-10k-hotels-and-amsterdam-s-tourist-tax-revolt/

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Jun 12, 2026 · not_requested

This Week in Hospitality: The Airbnb-Marriott Deal That Almost Happened, MGM Goes Private(?), Journey & Cloudbeds Partner, & What Premium Travelers Want

Duration seconds: 3349
Source: https://behindthestays.podbean.com/e/this-week-in-hospitality-the-airbnb-marriott-deal-that-almost-happened-mgm-goes-private-journey-cloudbeds-partner-what-premium-travelers-want/

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Jun 5, 2026 · not_requested

This Week in Hospitality: Sonder's Founder is Back, Hyatt's New Growth Strategy, The Human Concierge Book, and L.E/Miami Recap

Duration seconds: 3990
Source: https://behindthestays.podbean.com/e/this-week-in-hospitality-sonders-founder-is-back-hyatts-new-growth-strategy-the-human-concierge-book-and-lemiami-recap/

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May 29, 2026 · not_requested

This Week in Hospitality: The Uber-Hotel Hookup, Expedia Optimizes for AI Agents, and Why Americans Are Skipping Europe

Duration seconds: 3873
Source: https://behindthestays.podbean.com/e/this-week-in-hospitality-the-uber-hotel-hookup-expedia-optimizes-for-ai-agents-and-why-americans-are-skipping-europe/

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May 13, 2026 · not_requested

How an Engineer-Turned-Michelin-Chef Built Epicurate, the Experience Platform for Luxury Stays

Duration seconds: 2814
Source: https://behindthestays.podbean.com/e/how-an-engineer-turned-michelin-chef-built-epicurate-the-experience-platform-for-luxury-stays/

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May 8, 2026 · not_requested

This Week in Hospitality: The World Cup Bust, Spirit's Collapse, Priceline is Back, and Aman's Move in the Texas Hill Country

Duration seconds: 3787
Source: https://behindthestays.podbean.com/e/the-world-cup-bust-spirits-collapse-priceline-is-back-and-amans-move-in-the-texas-hill-country/

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May 1, 2026 · not_requested

This Week in Hospitality: Uber Becomes a Hotel Platform, TikTok Outperforms OTAs, and Hotels Still Don’t Own the Customer

Duration seconds: 3974
Source: https://behindthestays.podbean.com/e/this-week-in-hospitality-uber-becomes-a-hotel-platform-tiktok-outperforms-otas-and-hotels-still-don-t-own-the-customer/

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Apr 28, 2026 · not_requested

He DJ'd for Jay-Z and Kanye — Now He's Rewiring Sound for Aman, Hyatt, and Jose Andrés

Duration seconds: 3511
Source: https://behindthestays.podbean.com/e/draft/

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Apr 24, 2026 · not_requested

This Week In Hospitality: Hospitality’s Muddy Middle Is Breaking — With Bashar Wali

Duration seconds: 4124
Source: https://behindthestays.podbean.com/e/this-week-in-hospitality-hospitality-s-muddy-middle-is-breaking-%e2%80%94-with-bashar-wali/

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Apr 21, 2026 · not_requested

Inside the Vrbo Where George Washington Stayed — and the Operator Turning Savannah Into a Historic Luxury Destination

Duration seconds: 3505
Source: https://behindthestays.podbean.com/e/inside-the-vrbo-where-george-washington-stayed-%e2%80%94-and-the-operator-turning-savannah-into-a-historic-luxury-destination/

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Apr 17, 2026 · not_requested

This Week in Hospitality: The Hotel Owner Squeeze, Six Senses Founder's Comeback, Wyndham's Grandma Gambit, and Coachella's Dirty Secret

Duration seconds: 4325
Source: https://behindthestays.podbean.com/e/this-week-in-hospitality-the-hotel-owner-squeeze-six-senses-founders-comeback-wyndhams-grandma-gambit-and-coachellas-dirty-secret/

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Apr 10, 2026 · not_requested

This Week in Hospitality: Why Direct Booking Isn’t Working, Hyatt’s Miss, and the New Rules of Demand

Duration seconds: 4148
Source: https://behindthestays.podbean.com/e/draft-twih-21/

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Apr 7, 2026 · not_requested

How a Health Crisis, a Divorce, and a Thai Monk Led Her to Create the #1 Spa in the World: Meet Diana Stobo of The Retreat Costa Rica

Duration seconds: 3475
Source: https://behindthestays.podbean.com/e/how-a-health-crisis-a-divorce-and-a-thai-monk-led-her-to-create-the-1-spa-in-the-world-meet-diana-stobo-of-the-retreat-costa-rica/

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Apr 3, 2026 · not_requested

This Week in Hospitality: The Death of Hotel Discovery, The Rise of Food-Led Hotels, and Loyalty’s Identity Crisis

Duration seconds: 3945
Source: https://behindthestays.podbean.com/e/this-week-in-hospitality-the-death-of-hotel-discovery-the-rise-of-food-led-hotels-and-loyalty-s-identity-crisis/

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Mar 27, 2026 · not_requested

This Week In Hospitality: Hilton’s New Power Play, Marriott’s Brand Explosion, and the Battle for Who Owns Demand

Duration seconds: 4398
Source: https://behindthestays.podbean.com/e/hilton-s-new-power-play-marriott-s-brand-explosion-and-the-battle-for-who-owns-demand/

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Mar 25, 2026 · not_requested

He Built the Most Iconic Cocktail Bar of a Generation. Now Death&Co's Founder is Coming for Boutique Hotels.

Duration seconds: 3830
Source: https://behindthestays.podbean.com/e/he-built-the-most-iconic-cocktail-bar-of-a-generation-now-deathcos-founder-is-coming-for-boutique-hotels/

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Mar 20, 2026 · not_requested

This Week In Hospitality: The Hotel Restaurant Comeback, Hyatt’s Big Pivot, Rosewood Rumors, and a Brutal Outdoor Hospitality Reality Check

Duration seconds: 4569
Source: https://behindthestays.podbean.com/e/this-week-in-hospitality-the-hotel-restaurant-comeback-hyatt-s-big-pivot-rosewood-rumors-and-a-brutal-outdoor-hospitality-reality-check/

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Mar 17, 2026 · not_requested

Why a Marketing Executive at Accor Became the CEO of a Luxury Villa Brand — Meet Scott Wiseman of Nocturne Luxury Villas

Duration seconds: 3131
Source: https://behindthestays.podbean.com/e/why-a-marketing-executive-at-accor-became-the-ceo-of-a-luxury-villa-brand-%e2%80%94-meet-scott-wiseman-of-nocturne-luxury-villas/

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Mar 6, 2026 · not_requested

This Week in Hospitality: War, The Claude Effect, Too Many Hotel Brands & Kimpton’s Big Test

Duration seconds: 3844
Source: https://behindthestays.podbean.com/e/war-the-claude-effect-too-many-hotel-brands-kimpton-s-big-test/

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Mar 3, 2026 · not_requested

From Developing Aman to Building The Stanza: How Nadine Choe Built a Media Brand Where Taste Is the Moat

Duration seconds: 3160
Source: https://behindthestays.podbean.com/e/from-underwriting-aman-to-building-the-stanza-how-nadine-choe-built-a-media-brand-where-taste-is-the-moat/

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