Host Steve Turk interviews Mario Del Duca, Managing Director of Nuba, a 30+ year-old luxury travel company focused on high end outbound leisure that expanded into the Americas via acquisitions in Mexico and Miami.

Mario oversees the Americas and says the business has nearly tripled under his leadership. Mario shares his nontraditional path from banking in London/New York to an MBA at IE in Madrid, entrepreneurship in Mexico, and a year and a half of world travel that led to social media driven hotel partnerships and eventually becoming an independent travel consultant before Nuba acquired his agency.

They discuss serving high and ultra-high net worth clients, the importance of client profiling and problem solving, using technology and AI to enhance (not replace) advisors, growth plans across Latin America, and travel trends like Japan and slower, secondary destination travel.

The Hospitality Mentor Podcast is sponsored by Lodgify (60% off yearly/bi-yearly plans with code THM60)

00:00 Podcast Welcome

00:31 Sponsor Lodgify

01:34 Meet Mario Del Duca

01:53 What Is Nuba

03:31 From Banking To Travel

07:22 Quitting Banking For MBA

10:54 Entrepreneur Roots

12:02 Moving To Mexico

13:03 Remote Work World Travel

17:44 From Influencer To Advisor

20:50 Luxury Advisor Reality Check

22:31 Owning Client Problems

23:51 Perks and Lifestyle

24:48 Remote Discipline

26:25 Nuba Client Profile

29:51 Designing Bespoke Trips

32:38 AI Versus Human Touch

37:18 Growth and Hiring Advisors

40:48 Hot Destinations Trends

44:37 Career Advice Closing

Host Steve Turk interviews Nikheel Advani , co-founder and COO of Grace Bay Resorts, who shares how he entered hospitality at 16 after his father pushed him to work, leading to dishwashing, banqueting, and founding a small events company in Singapore. He trained at UMass Amherst, worked in restaurants and hotels, joined a Pizza Uno turnaround team, then spent years with Ritz-Carlton opening multiple properties and emphasizing mentorship.

He became hotel manager at Singapore’s Raffles, helped elevate its global ranking, then moved to Turks and Caicos to build a hotel into Grace Bay Resorts, focusing on training, local talent, service excellence, food and beverage, airlift, and a luxury branded-residence model that funds development and gives owners hotel access and rental income.

It's an amazing episode with fantastic stories and pieces of advice that you should listen to today.

A big thank you to our sponsor, Lodgify. Make sure to use promo code THM60 when you sign up at Lodgify

00:00 Sponsor Lodgify

01:07 Meet Nikheel Advani

01:48 First Hospitality Job

02:08 Dad’s Tough Lesson

03:21 Starting a Company at 16

04:42 Choosing Hotel School

07:18 UMass and Working Through School

08:42 Pizza Turnaround Years

10:09 Breaking Into Ritz Carlton

11:48 Mentors That Changed Everything

14:42 Leaving for Raffles Singapore

16:24 Running an Iconic Hotel

17:28 Profit Meets Guest Experience

18:35 Leap to Turks and Caicos

20:57 Caribbean Service Reset

21:55 Risk and Ownership Leap

22:55 Partners and Fast Decisions

23:56 Awards and Signature Wins

25:43 Building Local Talent

28:29 Selling a New Destination

31:46 Airlift and Island Strategy

34:08 Next Projects Pipeline

36:06 Branded Residences Model

38:59 Advice and Farewell

Live from HITEC in San Antonio, the Steve Turk and Sarah Dandashy recap the inaugural Hospitality Creator Summit, created by Anna Blue and Anthony Melchiorri, which drew 200+ attendees for a full day of networking and creator-focused education. Sara shares first impressions of the high-energy event, meeting online peers in person, and the supportive, low-ego atmosphere.

A panel on “behind the brand deal” featured Margaritaville and My Place Hotels discussing how brands choose creators, partnership paths from in-kind to paid, and the challenge of tracking bookings driven by content, including working with small-audience creators for fit and aesthetic.

They note sessions on newsletters and podcasting milestones, HITEC’s creator booth with interview and green-screen setups, and floor trends like better booth experiences, fewer AI buzzwords but more specific integrations, data consolidation, and room automation savings, plus a push for brands to create personality-driven, value-first content.

A big shout out to our sponsor Lodgify! Starting June 17th to June 30th, use promo code THM60 for 60% off

00:00 Live From HITEC

00:21 Sponsor Shoutout - Lodgify

00:58 Creator Summit Recap

02:55 Brand Deals Panel

05:09 Creator Growth Tips

05:50 Meet Tyler Behind Scenes

06:37 Content Booth Setup

07:31 HITEC Floor Highlights

08:27 Tech Trends And AI

09:57 Venue Vibes San Antonio

10:16 Creators Take Over

10:57 Booth Snacks and Vibes

11:24 Why Brands Need Content

12:55 Make Value Not Ads

14:19 One Post Big Impact

16:05 HCS First Day Energy

17:54 After Party and Wrap

Host Steve Turk interviews Milan Mijatovic, founder of SILA Miami. Milan explains SILA as a social wellness club in Upper Buena Vista featuring longevity services (float tank, hyperbaric oxygen, lymphatic suit, red light therapy, bioscan/bodywork), outdoor classes (yoga, Pilates, functional strength, kettlebells), and contrast therapy (cold plunges and a 14-person sauna).

He recounts starting in hospitality as a dishwasher at Atlanta’s Dante’s Down the Hatch, moving to Chicago to become a bartender and competition mixologist, then relocating to Miami where he worked at the Versace Mansion reopening, Regent Cocktail Bar alongside Julio Cabrera, and as a cachaça brand ambassador.

After nightlife management at Rockwell and reflecting on industry excesses, a trucking-business detour, and a renewed focus on recovery and nature, he launched SILA without a formal business plan, emphasizing community support, systems, and a goal of a second location and future beach flagship.

00:00 Podcast Welcome

00:31 Sponsor Lodgify

01:34 Meet Milan

02:48 What Is Sila

04:13 Steve Joins Sila

05:17 First Hospitality Job

09:52 Chicago Hustle

12:13 Cocktail Roots

14:18 Mixology Rise

15:31 Miami Calling

17:31 Cuba Turning Point

20:58 Versace And Regent

22:32 Brand Ambassador Era

23:48 Nightlife Management

26:43 Surviving The Scene

28:59 Wellness Seeds

30:11 COVID Pivot to Trucking

31:34 Owning the Leap

33:17 Back to Nightlife Again

34:31 Wellness Aha Moment

35:35 Cold Plunge Origins

38:11 Third Shot at Business

40:25 CELA Vision and Nature

42:37 Finding the Perfect Space

46:08 Building Sila Community

50:08 Next 12 Months Vision

51:57 Trust the Journey

52:59 Closing and Sponsor

Host Steve Turk welcomes Larry Korman, co-CEO of Korman Communities and president of AKA Hotel Residences, to discuss his lifelong path in hospitality and residential real estate, from childhood work in the family business to leading a five-generation legacy. Korman explains how his father’s pie-shaped Philadelphia apartments sparked the furnished-apartment concept, later branded as Korman Suites, and how Larry and his brother built Korman Communities and evolved the model into luxury hotel residences under AKA, now spanning 16 properties over 22 years.

He shares formative training in England, insights from Japanese hospitality, and a leadership philosophy centered on earning respect by doing frontline work, supporting teams and staying on property. Korman details AKA’s partnership with Airbnb that helped shape Airbnb Luxe, a strategy of optimizing cash flow, and plans to repurpose iconic hotels, expand in Florida, and grow globally with a strong health and wellness focus.

00:00 Podcast Welcome

00:31 Sponsor Lodgify

01:34 Meet Larry Korman

02:03 Early Hospitality Roots

02:57 Five Generation Legacy

04:11 Birth of Furnished Stays

04:51 Branding Korman Suites

07:03 Design Passion Duke Days

08:17 Old School Training

09:28 Japan Hospitality Lessons

12:27 Earning Team Respect

15:21 COVID Leadership Onsite

16:29 Synergy And Marketing

20:31 Why Residences Win

23:14 Airbnb Luxe Partnership

27:07 Scaling AKA And Ave

30:03 Collaboration Culture

30:49 Leading Without Dashboards

31:28 On Site Hospitality

32:29 Home Away From Home

33:36 Brother Partnership Split

35:28 Growth Through Repurposing

38:34 Miami Florida Expansion

40:01 Global Wellness Vision

43:08 Hospitality Role Models

45:30 Keeping Teams Loyal

49:33 Advice To Younger Self

50:54 Wrap Up Sponsor Biscayne Coffee

Host Steve Turk revisits an archived Hospitality Mentor Podcast episode featuring award-winning chef and restaurateur David Burke, who shares his path from dishwasher at a Sheraton to culinary school, Europe, and major New York kitchens. Burke recounts being mentored by a country club chef named Jose, attending the CIA, traveling through Europe, and working in top French restaurants and pastry school despite language barriers. He describes returning to the U.S. to work with, Daniel Boulud, and Charlie Palmer, then becoming executive chef at The River Café, earning a three-star New York Times review with a notable photo and winning the 1988 Tokyo culinary Olympics. Burke discusses opening and expanding restaurants, learning business under Alan Stillman, fighting for signature dishes like his pork shank, navigating partnerships, mentoring teams, and advising young cooks to stay focused, learn constantly, document, embrace mistakes, and find balance.

Thank you to our sponsor Lodgify for this episode. Make sure to try Lodgify with our promo code THM60.

00:00 Welcome to the Podcast

00:33 Sponsor Lodgify Platform

01:35 Chef David Burke Intro

02:19 First Kitchen Job

03:25 Jose Tough Lesson

06:34 Parents and Early Drive

10:14 Culinary School Path

11:21 CIA Mindset and Growth

12:57 Europe Opportunity

16:13 Chefs and Styles Abroad

18:59 Back to New York Rise

21:33 Leading River Cafe

24:48 Finding Personal Style

26:08 Critics and Pressure

27:37 Fearless Creativity Basics

28:23 NYT Three Star Breakthrough

29:21 Chocolate Butterfly Story

30:25 Park Avenue Cafe Deal

31:34 Miami Beach Opening Chaos

33:22 Pork Shank Menu Fight

35:13 First Restaurant Renegades

37:21 Expansion Partner Fallout

38:21 Choosing Business Partners

40:14 How Chef Culture Changed

43:52 Cookbooks Nightlife Pitfalls

45:56 Building Restaurants Today

47:08 Mentoring Creative Chefs

48:13 Advice To Young Dishwasher

50:45 Closing Thanks Sponsor

Host Steve Turk introduces an archived 2022 Hospitality Mentor Podcast episode featuring Raul Leal, then CEO of SH Hotels & Resorts (now CEO of Starwood). Leal recounts starting at Miami’s Everglades Hotel working with his Cuban-immigrant father, setting early goals to become a GM, and progressing through front desk and food-and-beverage roles, including managing a Sheraton with a major nightclub, before becoming a GM in La Jolla and later leading larger Sheraton properties in Denver, Chicago, Cleveland, and Miami. He describes launching and scaling Teton Hospitality and its boutique arm, Desires Hotels, driven by frustration with legacy-brand sameness and belief in internet-driven distribution. Leal shares how meeting Richard Branson led him to build Virgin Hotels from scratch, and why he later joined Starwood/SH Hotels to lead brands including 1 Hotels, Baccarat Hotels, and Treehouse, emphasizing sustainability, better back-of-house spaces, mentorship, clear goals, and kindness in leadership.

Try Lodgify with a 60 percent discount on all their yearly and bi-yearly plans with our code THM60 , and that's THM60

00:00 Podcast Welcome

00:33 Sponsor Lodgify

01:38 Archive Episode Setup

02:10 First Hospitality Job

04:12 Choosing Hospitality Career

05:18 Learning Without College

05:55 Climbing Into Management

08:21 First GM Move West

09:27 Mentors And GM Life

10:24 Big Hotels Career Ladder

11:59 Entrepreneurial Leap

14:10 Building Boutique Portfolio

15:47 Travel Reality Check

17:40 Why Launch Desires

20:26 First Boutique Wins

21:43 Lifestyle Hotel Edge

23:00 Richard Branson Connection

23:43 Meeting Richard Branson

25:12 Consulting Turns Into Leadership

26:41 Inside Virgin Culture

28:45 Building Virgin Hotels From Scratch

31:00 Choosing The First Property

32:24 Chicago Launch And Expansion

34:20 Leaving Virgin For SH Hotels

36:16 SH Brands And Sustainability

40:31 Growth Plans And Openings

41:28 Reimagining Back Of House

44:04 Advice For Young Leaders

45:46 Closing And Sponsor Message

Host Steve Turk welcomes Elizabeth Mullins, President of Evermore Hospitality, who shares her start as a server at New Hampshire’s Lobster Shack and her first hotel role as a Ritz-Carlton Boston management trainee after earning hospitality and business degrees.

Mullins recounts being inspired by a childhood Ritz-Carlton visit, spending 28 years with Ritz-Carlton as it grew from six to 99 hotels, opening multiple properties across Asia, becoming a GM multiple times, and later an area vice president. Recruited to Disney, she led global hotel development, renovations, premium services, and worked through the pandemic including the NBA bubble.

She then helped open New York’s Fifth Avenue Hotel as COO/Managing Director, learning independent distribution and culture measurement, before joining Evermore after being approached for her luxury-and-scale expertise.

She describes Evermore’s “togetherness” concept, Conrad Orlando anchor, 300+ villas/homes around an 8-acre Crystal Lagoon, extensive amenities, and plans for growth, and closes with career advice on courage, speaking up, integrity, and hospitality as a lifestyle.

This episode was brought to you by Lodgify. Use code THM60.

00:00 Podcast Welcome

00:33 Sponsor Lodgify

01:38 Meet Elizabeth Mullins

02:00 First Hospitality Jobs

03:17 Ritz Spark at Five

05:44 Ritz Career Growth

09:28 Asia Expat Adventure

17:04 Service Lessons Abroad

18:54 Leaving for Disney

21:07 Disney Hotels Role

23:15 Frictionless Check In

26:14 Independent Hotel Leap

28:36 Independent Hotel Wins

29:17 No SOP Reality Check

30:06 Distribution Lessons

30:54 Agritourism Marketing Advice

32:34 Building Culture Systems

35:25 Evermore Recruitment Story

38:49 Togetherness Travel Concept

42:27 Evermore Scale and Amenities

44:53 Service Model Evolution

46:50 Growth Plans and Year Three

49:23 Advice to Younger Self

53:58 Wrap Up and Sponsor