You don’t need to be an expert in everything to scale in hospitality, just need to align with the right consultants, operators, and partners who’ve done it before.

In this episode, we sit down with Brian Fish, CEO of Reliance Hospitality, to unpack how third-party operators help investors go from scrappy operators to institutional-level players. Brian shares what most owners get wrong during acquisitions, how franchise agreements really work behind the scenes, and why your ability to scale comes down to the team you build around you.

If you’re trying to grow beyond single assets and build a serious hospitality portfolio, this episode lays out the roadmap.

About Our Guest:

Brian Fish is the CEO of Reliance Hospitality, a full-service hotel management, development, and consultancy firm with a growing portfolio across the U.S. and Europe. With experience opening and operating over 100 hotels, Brian brings deep expertise in brand strategy, operational efficiency, and investor alignment. Through Reliance, he helps owners optimize performance, navigate franchise relationships, and scale with confidence—whether they’re launching their first boutique or repositioning a $50M asset.

Email: bfish@reliancehospitality.com

Website: www.reliancehospitality.com

Instagram: @bryan.fish

LinkedIn: Brian Fish

Connect with Mike and Nate:

Instagram: @the_hotel_investor_playbook

Contact Us: info@hotelinvestorplaybook.com

Invest with us: Visit Malama-Capital.com for more information.

After helping scale a family office real estate portfolio from $3 million to over $320 million, Reilly Brennan walked away from the comfort of a W-2 job to carve his own path in boutique hospitality.

In this episode, we sit down with Reilly to unpack how he sourced and acquired two independent hotels in Duluth, Minnesota, one through creative seller financing, the other straight off LoopNet. We break down his underwriting process, deal structure, construction strategy, and how he’s building a brand that reflects his values, not someone else’s investment thesis.

You’ll also hear:

• Why Reilly left the multifamily world for experiential hospitality
• How he underwrote a $700K deal in real time, then moved fast to close it
• His approach to FF&E, design, and building a team from scratch
• What it actually feels like to go all-in on your own vision
• The hidden value of small deals when you’re playing a long game

Whether you’re just getting started or thinking about scaling, this episode is full of honest insight about the hard work and fulfillment that come with betting on yourself.

Connect with Reilly:

Website: https://www.thetrailsidehotel.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.brennan.buzz/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reilly-brennan-258968172/

Connect with Mike and Nate:

Instagram: @the_hotel_investor_playbook

Contact Us: info@hotelinvestorplaybook.com

Invest with us: Visit Malama-Capital.com for more information.

In this episode, we sit down with Ian Joseph, founder of Branch, a luxury micro resort in the hills of West Virginia, to talk about building boutique hospitality with a soul.

Ian’s not only creating a set of luxury cabins, he’s crafting a guest experience rooted in community, design, and nature. And he's doing it all with a lean team, a USDA loan, and a strategic eye for scale.

What You'll Learn:

• Why Ian pivoted from short-term rentals to commercial micro resorts
• How he found and secured the perfect property for $600K
• The exact financing structure, including a rare 97% LTV USDA rural development loan
• His 3-unit design strategy and pricing model for $400+ ADRs
• How Branch partners with the local economy instead of building on-site restaurants and spas
• The marketing game plan used to pre-sell resort stays through crowdfunding
• How to find hidden gem towns perfect for experiential hospitality

Connect with Ian:

Email: ian@staywithbranch.com

Website: https://staywithbranch.com

Instagram: @staywithbranch

Facebook: Staywithbranch

Connect with Mike and Nate:

Instagram: @the_hotel_investor_playbook

Contact Us: info@hotelinvestorplaybook.com

Invest with us: Visit Malama-Capital.com for more information.