In this episode, we sit down with Summer Shoemaker, General Manager of the stunning San Diego Mission Bay Resort, to talk all things independent hotels.

Summer shares how growing up across California, Colorado, and Hawaii sparked her love for travel and hospitality. She opens up about what makes independent properties so powerful, the creative freedom they offer, and how tools like Curator Hotel & Resort Collection give GMs the backup they need to thrive in a competitive market.

From slashing wine costs by 50% to saving over $200,000 on AV, Summer walks us through the real-world wins that prove independents can compete with the big brands, and win. If you’re a hotelier who wants to stay independent and profitable, this is the episode for you.

Watch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/q9EZscjVCDc

This episode is sponsored by Curator: https://www.curatorhotelsandresorts.com/

Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn page
The Modern Hotelier is produced, edited, and published by Make More Media

Links:
Summer on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/summer-shoemaker-53a1535/
San Diego Mission Bay Resort: https://www.missionbayresort.com/

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/162

Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-...

Connect with Steve and David:
Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E...
David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mil.

In this episode of Hospitality Hot Topics, Steve Carran and David Millili are once again joined by Josiah Mackenzie, Head of Marketing at Actabl, to break down the biggest stories in hospitality from May 2025.

From Marriott’s bold acquisition of CitizenM to Airbnb’s major relaunch of Experiences, Josiah shares sharp insights into how innovation, scale, and branding are reshaping the industry. They also dive into Springboard’s merger with Hotel Equities, the $1.1B Sabre hospitality tech deal, and why transparency in resort fees is long overdue.

In this episode, you'll learn about:

• Marriott Buys Citizen M
• Springboard merged with Hotel Equities
• Airbnb Relaunches Experiences, Adds Hotel-Style Services
• Sabre Sells Hospitalty Business for $1.1 Bill
• Resort Fees Must Now Be Disclosed
• Running Vacations, next travel trend?
• Latest things happening at Actabl

Watch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/GUOswVHyGzA

This episode is sponsored by Actabl: https://actabl.com/

Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn page
The Modern Hotelier is produced, edited, and published by Make More Media

Links:
Josiah on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josiahmackenzie/

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/161

Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-...

Connect with Steve and David:
Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E...
David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mil.

Get ready to set sail with one of the most innovative minds in hospitality.

In this episode, we're joined by Colin Hughes, Director of Operations & Experience at Virgin Voyages. From spa decks to tattoo studios, Colin walks us through how Virgin is redefining the cruise experience, making it simpler, sexier, and more sustainable.

We dive into:

• How Virgin Voyages creates stress-free, all-inclusive adventures for adults only
• Personalization strategies that keep both sailors and crew at the heart of the experience
• What hotels can learn from Virgin’s award-winning approach to entertainment, F&B, and sustainability
• Colin’s inspiring journey from Manchester to becoming a U.S. citizen, cruise industry veteran, and change-maker at Virgin

Whether you’re a cruise sceptic, or seasoned traveler, this episode might just have you booking your first voyage.

Watch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/zBG0kfmC4AY

Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn page
The Modern Hotelier is produced, edited, and published by Make More Media

Links:
Colin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colin-hughes-a8596215b/

Virgin Voyages: https://www.virginvoyages.com/

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/160

Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-...

Connect with Steve and David:
Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E...
David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mil.