Everyone sees the opening night. Almost no one talks aboutwhat actually makes it possible.

In this episode of Hospitality Reinvented, Doug Radkey pulls back the curtain on the high-stakes world of project management in hospitality — the part of the business that determines success long before the first guest ever walks through the door.

From zoning and permits to construction timelines, vendorcoordination, equipment lead times, and operational alignment, Doug explains why opening a bar, restaurant, or hotel isn’t about the idea alone, that it’s about leadership, communication, and clarity under pressure.

Drawing from years of experience and KRG Hospitality’s 500-point pre-opening checklist for bars and restaurants and 750-point checklist for hotels, this episode explores why most projects fail quietly before they ever open — and what separates chaotic openings from controlled, confident launches.

This is not a how-to episode. It’s a mindset shift onresponsibility, decision-making, systems, and why AI and templates will never replace real leadership in hospitality development.

If you’re planning a new concept, managing a build, orleading a development team, this episode will change how you think about the work that happens behind the scenes and why it matters more than anything else.