Josiah Mackenzie

📌 Matthias and Stijn discuss Design Hotels' unique approach to hospitality on a radio show. Design Hotels, originating from the early '90s, emphasizes individuality and visionaries' concepts, often located off the beaten track, attracting discerning travelers. The collection's growth is not metric-driven but based on careful curation and human judgment. Despite Marriott's full ownership, Design Hotels maintains its original values while achieving commercial success. The brand's portfolio resists sameness, with properties like the Manna in Arcadia, a 1929 sanatorium turned hotel after a 10-year project. Design Hotels acts as a cultural echo, connecting diverse industries and celebrating originality in hospitality, showcased during events like Milan Design Week.

🏠 Josh Wyatt, CEO of Avant Gardner and former Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Generator Hostels, discussed the impact of creativity in hospitality on April 17, 2025. Highlighting the transformation of Generator Hostels into a top global brand, the episode explores balancing creative vision with financial performance and crafting unique experiences for guests and investors. Wyatt emphasizes creativity as a key competitive advantage, even during economic downturns. ???? Music by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound.

???? - Tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico have recently been partially reversed. - US hotel industry impacted by both the tariffs and the surrounding rhetoric. - Construction and renovation costs could increase, potentially elongating projects. - US rooms in construction have ranged between 150,000 and 160,000 for over three years. - Last year's supply percent change was 0.6%, below the long-term average of 1.7%. - Property Improvement Plans (PIPs) may be delayed or scaled back due to higher costs. - Canadian air inbound to the US dropped by 6-7% in March. - The World Cup will be in Spain, Portugal, and Morocco in 2030. - Hotel owners and operators are advised to focus on differentiation and service quality rather than lowering rates. - The conversation between hotel brands and owners is key to navigating brand standards and financial pressures. - Some investment funds are coming to an end and may put properties on the market. - San Francisco's hotel market is showing signs of recovery. - Data from CoStar and STR is used to inform operational strategies. - The Hotel Data Conference in Nashville is an annual event for hotel data enthusiasts. - The i92-APIS dataset from the Department of Commerce provides international travel counts. In the US hotel industry, fluctuating tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods impact construction and renovation costs, while rhetoric affects service delivery. With 150,000-160,000 rooms in construction consistently