Ever dreamed of living in Karl Lagerfeld’s world of fashion and design?  Well, it’s about to get real!  In this SMACK episode Pier Paolo Righi, CEO of Karl Lagerfeld, shares exclusive insights on how the brand has evolved since the maestros passing, his visionary approach to luxury, and the creative legacy he left behind. Fritz and Pier Paolo met during #FHSworld to discuss how Pier is guiding Karl’s intimate vision for the brand forward. This conversation is packed with style and insider...

This is hotter than your morning coffee! Join us for our very first #Breaktime episode on SMACK! Mari is kicking things off with Mieke Berkers, Director of European Business Development at Montgomery Group, who’s giving us the inside scoop on the Independent Hotel Show Munich making its first German appearance. Ever wonder why this #event is such a unique show for hoteliers? Or why Munich is the perfect spot? Mieke’s got the answers - plus some fun insights into what’s next for boutique...

Are you the driver of your career or just a passenger along for the ride? In this episode, Pat sits down with Daniel Afonso, Senior VP of People & Culture at Radisson Hotel Group, and trust us, staying stagnant is not on the agenda. Daniel shares his story – From a start in finance to his accidental start in #hospitality, and how he seized every opportunity to create the life he wanted. They dive into what makes hospitality so addictive, and how to keep talent by offering hybrid...

We’re kicking off Season 6 in the vibrant streets of London, where Jonathan Worsley, Chairman & CEO of The Bench, met with Fritz to explore the past, the present and the future of hospitality and its exciting global development. With the FHS World in Dubai just around the corner, Jonathan shared his insights on the Middle East’s remarkable transformation over the past two decades and highlighted various success factors for the sector, including the vital role of women. Guess what:...

Traveling under the rainbow flag During the recent pridemonth, Phil sat down at TSH Berlin with Simon Mayle Event Director at Reed Exhibitions, for, among others, PROUD Experiences and ILTM Cannes. At PROUD Experiences he connects hotels, travel advisors, and LGBTQ+ travel trailblazers and helps them to customize their offers to the community’s needs and wishes. Simon and Phil had a jolly exchange about the status quo of #gaytravels, the problems rainbow families are facing during their...

Pat had a chat with Chris Nader, Co-Founder and CEO of ENVI Lodges, who is on a mission to revolutionize outdoorhospitality and combine it with sustainableluxury. Chris and his team find themselves facing the challenge of meeting sustainability standards while satisfying the demanding needs of #luxurytravelers. But there’s no doubt that the soon-to-open boutique properties immersed in nature will manage to close this gap. ✨ Chris shared insights into his adventurous entrepreneurial journey...

Fahad Abdulrahim Kazim, CEO of Millennium Hotels & Resorts MEA, joined Fritz at the FHS in Riyadh for a chat about Saudi Arabia’s booming travel market, the plans of Millennium Hotels & Resorts in the middleeast and African region, and the future of brand evolution. Fahad found his true calling in hospitality through numbers. He went from accounting to real estate and landed in hospitality with a passion for showcasing Saudi Arabia’s beauty to the world. The Vision 2030 and the...

A business affair of data and sustainability. Meet Caroline Tiveus, Senior Vice President of Sustainable Business at Pandox - one of the forefront players in bringing the #hopsitalityindustry to the next level sustainability-wise. Caroline and Flo discussed the work she is doing to help hotels reduce their CO2 emissions, along with how different standards throughout the EU affect business decisions, and how it is time to take proper action instead of just #greenwashing. Caroline doesn't...

Let’s say 2023 was not quite the year of deal-making within the industry. Then what does the future have in stock for #hospitality and #realestate? Alexi Khajavi President Hospitality, Travel and Wellness at Questex set down with Flo at last week’s IHIF to discuss trends, the role of technology and his personal “meandering” career journey. Alexi and his team are deeply embedded in the #hospitalityindustry and run events to inform and connect industry insiders around the globe. With the...

Have you ever wondered what grows in the desert? We have. So we sent Phil to talk to someone who knows - Atul Chopra, Founder and CEO of FreshOn Table, who supplies restaurants and hotels in UAE with fresh greens and other edibles. Minimum emissions, maximum nutrition is his motto and led him to create a company that connects farmers to #chefs - so close, that they can harvest on demand. Atul has a lot to tell about circular economy and agritech, because six hours from field to kitchen...

This is real, luxurious, family business! We had not only one but two guests on the show! Sir Rocco Forte, Chairman and Lydia Forte, Group Director of F&B at Rocco Forte Hotels brought some great topics and giggles to this episode with Fritz, recorded at the famous The Browns Hotel in London on Sir Rocco’s birthday. The #RoccoForte vibe isn't just a concept, it's a way of life and you can hear this in every word. Decades of family dedication have created this brand. Each hotel tells a...

This was a first! As you might know by now, we had the pleasure of teaming up with YHS and hosting the very first SMACK Live! #podcast event with Patrick Mendes, CEO at ACCOR for Premium, Midscale & Economy in Europe and North Africa. Patrick shared a lot of insights with Fritz and the students at EHL about his career path (which he actually started off by quitting #hospitality and the #hotelbusiness), and the possibilities the ACCOR world has to offer but especially the “PME” –...

𝐎𝐡 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧, 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲! From the toast and marmalade mise en place at her parent's hotel on the Scottish coast to creating a female-influenced, bar- & restaurant empire with multiple locations in London is a very short version of describing Jillian MacLean’s career path. Jillian, founder of Drake & Morgan, and Pat had an inspiring chat about how hospitality is the ultimate playground to dream big and to give everybody a chance to succeed. Jillian saw a market gap and jumped right...

Who has united 530 hotels, resorts, and eight kick-ass brands under one roof? 🏩 William Heinecke, aka Bill, Founder & Chairman of Minor Hotels and Fritz broke down the evolving world of hospitality at last year's FHS in Abu Dhabi. They talked about newly rising #traveldestinations like Saudi Arabia, bucket list trips, and the growing importance of the #foodindustry. 🥗 Bill’s mission: Authentic #hotel experiences, honoring the country’s cultures and traditions, and choosing...

Josiah Mackenzie, Host of Hospitality Daily, and Florian held a Double Trouble Super Trooper podcast episode, co-hosting and exchanging their passion and inspiration for hospitality. They are telling stories about the early beginnings of SMACK and the Hospitality Daily podcast. Inspired by the many conversations they have had with some of the greatest minds in the industry, they explored the latest technology and their favorite brand concepts, while comparing some of the similarities and...

Yes, you can do things differently! Even in the hotel business. Listen to 2024’s first smack episode and learn from YOTEL CEO Hubert Viriot how the brand has established a new status quo in the travel business over the past decade. YOTEL has been rocking its own way from the beginning, by focusing on highly tech-savvy customers and the future of traveling, instead of sticking to beaten paths. Some of its milestones: being the first non-luxury brand in an eternity to construct a new...

Winter wonderland vibes coming your way! 🏰 🌟 Gabriela Schmidle, Founder and CEO of mts vienna (Marketing Tourism Synergy Vienna) and organizer of the Schloss Schönbrunn Christmas Market in Vienna, joined Pat for a jolly chat about the business side of these unique events.

What happens when Airbnb meets hotel management? Well, confessions were made by Dr. Ellen Madeker Head of Public Policy for Germany, Austria & Switzerland (DACH) & Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) at Airbnb and Phil during a live podcast recording at the Berlin Travel Festival. A lot has changed in the apartment rental business and sharing economy in the last couple of years and some of that is thanks to Airbnb, which has given a face to a formerly often overlooked part of the...

Attention please: “Hospitality Rising” That’s the title of Mark McCulloch’s campaign, which is addressing the painful topic of #staffshortage in the UK hospitality scene in an unseen way. And one thing is for sure: This is a game-changer in how employment in #hospitality is seen, not just in the UK, but potentially everywhere. If you want to know how to convert one in three GenZlers to potential hospitality-fans you better tune in to this SMACK episode.

This episode will leave you hungry for more! 😋 Emma Banks Vice President, F&B Strategy & Development Europe, Middle East, and Africa at Hilton joined us for an episode of SMACK at the recent Future Hospitality Summit in Abu Dhabi hosted by the Bench to tell us her story. Fritz and Emma discussed the gourmet plate of all hospitality topics: F&D. Wait, F&D?! Yes, Food & Drinks as Emma rightfully calls it. Let’s be honest: has anyone ever used the word “beverage” in a...

Do you ever run out of battery? This man surely doesn’t! We are proud to welcome Dr. Jeffrey O - Chairman of the Directors Board at St. Justine, President of the International Hospitality Institute, coach, mentor, writer, and simply put: One of the most influential people in #hospitality.

Have you ever been to a large arena and thought to yourself, “Damn – this place is huge.”?!   John Langford, the COO of Anschutz Entertainment Group for Europe, knows all about that feeling as he is responsible for the operations of some of the largest arenas in Europe, including The o2 in London, Mercedes Benz Arena in Berlin and the Barclaycard Arena in Hamburg. We are beyond proud that he took the time to join us on the podcast and shared his story with us.   Philip and John had a...

Welcome Tao Tao, co-founder and COO of GetYourGuide, the revolutionary of travel experiences and one of the best people to hang out with if you need top travel advice in any city on this planet. For the opening of SMACK's fifth season, Florian had the honor of hosting Tao Tao and discussing his founder story, the tough times GetYourGuide had to face during the past couple of years, and what experiences mean to the travel industry today.