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Posts by author

Josiah Mackenzie

1093 posts
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  • 1 min

Designing a Hotel Full of ‘Aha’ Moments – Chet Pipkin, Desolation Hotel

🏨 Chet Pipkin, founder of Belkin, shifted to hospitality with Desolation Hotel. He and his team focus on creating "aha moments" through thoughtful design, including EV chargers, Dyson hair dryers, stocked kitchenettes, and heated floors. The core of their approach is to remove friction, anticipate needs, and empower guests. If you're interested in enhancing guest experiences and learning about hospitality innovation, this content provides valuable insights on leading with authenticity and product thinking.
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  • 9 min

From Belkin to Building a New Kind of Hospitality Business – Chet Pipkin, Desolation Hotel

🏖 Chet Pipkin, founder of Belkin, has ventured into hospitality with Desolation Hotel in South Lake Tahoe and Hope Valley, California. His one-page business plan emphasizes staff development, guest experience, environmental education, and community engagement. The hotels aim to provide immersive experiences, leveraging the locations’ natural beauty and activities. Previously, the South Lake Tahoe site was a 1950s motel. The hotel offers easy access to hiking, beaches, and dining, embodying Pipkin’s values of simplicity and connectivity.
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  • 1 min

Why I’m Building Hotels as “Immersive Portals” – Chet Pipkin, Desolation Hotel

📖 Chet Pipkin, founder of Belkin, is now venturing into hospitality with his new project, Desolation Hotel, described as an "immersive portal." His journey from entrepreneurship to corporate leadership highlights a significant career shift. The podcast episode explores the experiences that shaped his vision for the hospitality industry. This transition underscores the potential for innovative ideas to enhance business and service offerings in the hospitality sector.
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  • 1 min

It’s Your Job to Inspire Yourself If You’re a Hospitality Leader – Jannes Sörensen

📖 Jannes Sörensen, founder of Kepler Hotel Group and Kepler International Hospitality Academy, shares insights on leadership in hospitality with correspondent Matthias Huettebraeuker. He emphasizes that as one rises in hospitality, it can become lonelier, highlighting the importance of self-leadership and independent team motivation. This episode offers a sustainable leadership approach that supports personal well-being and organizational strength, encouraging listeners to transform ideas into action. Music by Clay Bassford at Bespoke Sound.
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  • 13 min

How Hotels Are Protecting Profit in 2025 (Despite a 15% Revenue Miss) – Lindsey Goedeker & Sarah McCay Tams, Actabl [Sponsor Bonus]

📈 Actabl's webinar discussed the hotel industry's performance in H1 2025, revealing a 15% miss on the budgeted RevPAR of over $123, with actuals at $105. Despite this, operators maintained profitability with a minimal 0.2% change in GOP margin, thanks to agile labor management. Notably, resorts reduced housekeeping labor costs to $110 per occupied room, saving $300,000 annually. The upcoming Q3 report, releasing on November 13, will further explore these trends with metrics showing declines: Rooms revenue down 12%, ADR 4% below budget.
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  • 1 min

What Actually Creates a Good Stay (and a Good Life) – Jannes Sörensen

🏨 Jannes Sörensen, founder of Kepler Hotel Group and Kepler International Hospitality Academy, joins Matthias Huettebraeuker to discuss rethinking hotel experiences. Drawing from his leadership of luxury hotels like The Beaumont in London, Sörensen emphasizes focusing on fundamental human needs rather than preemptive solutions. This approach aims to create more meaningful, memorable stays for guests. Music for the episode by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound.
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  • 1 min

The End of Comfort as Hospitality’s Goal – Jannes Sörensen

📰 Jannes Sörensen, founder of Kepler Hotel Group, discusses hospitality's future with Matthias Huettebraeuker. In this conversation, Sörensen emphasizes that fulfillment often arises from challenge and intentional living rather than comfort. They explore how luxury hospitality can shift from mere abundance to fostering well-being and meaningful routines. For leaders, understanding that difficulty might become a key differentiator is essential as "more" is no longer sufficient in today's world.
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  • 1 min

Leading Consistent Excellence in Hospitality – Jannes Sörensen

🏨 Jannes Sörensen, founder of Kepler Hotel Group, discusses leading excellence in hospitality with Matthias Huettebraeuker. They emphasize structure, systems, and culture over endless SOPs as keys to exceptional guest experiences. Drawing from his role as General Manager at London's Beaumont Hotel, Jannes highlights balancing discipline with creativity and fostering leadership at every level. Music by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound complements the episode.
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  • 6 min

Why Service Is What Still Sets Great Hotels Apart – Jannes Sörensen

🏨 Jannes Sörensen, a hospitality expert with 20 years of experience at luxury hotels like Georges V and Bristol in Paris, now leads Kepler Hotel Group and Kepler International Hospitality Academy. He emphasizes shifting focus from physical assets to emotional guest experiences, citing a study of 2,500 guest comments where only 4% mentioned physical features, while many highlighted personalized service. Sörensen advocates educating hospitality leaders on enhancing emotional intelligence for competitive advantage.
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