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SMACK Hospitality

SMACK Hospitality

Written by: SMACK Hospitality
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About this listen

 Welcome to SMACK! Just like our name, everything we do here is a little different and yet you’ll probably have more fun here than elsewhere. SMACK Hospitality Media is your one-of-a-kind source for hospitality and tourism-related edutainment. It is our mission to provide fun and engaging content for industry professionals in modern media formats. With our podcast we aim to give everybody around the world the chance to meet key decision-makers and trailblazers of the hospitality industry. Chasing that ambitious goal, our hospitality podcast airs twice a month between September and July. So, join the conversation, tune in and never ever lose your curiosity. Enjoy the show!Studio49 Hospitality UG, 2021 Careers Economics Management Management & Leadership Personal Success
Episodes
  • Lennert De Jong - Another Star | Flipping the Script on Brands, Tech, and the Marriott Move

    Lennert De Jong - Another Star | Flipping the Script on Brands, Tech, and the Marriott Move
    Jan 19 2026
    The brand is sold, the tech is integrated, and a new star is rising. If you are wondering what hotel operations will actually look like in the next few years, Lennert De Jong is already there, blueprint in hand. In the latest SMACK episode, Florian sits down with the CEO of Another Star (and ex-CitizenM legend) to unpack one of the most talked-about moves in hospitality lately: CitizenM selling the brand to Marriott. Yep. That one. They get into how Lennert and his team pulled off a record-speed tech integration in four months (casual) and why the so-called “death of loyalty” is wildly exaggerated in the age of AI. What is on the table: - The Marriott move: why selling the brand but keeping operations was the smartest scale play in the room. - Another Star is born: how CitizenM turned into a white-label operator with serious firepower. - AI and distribution: why AI agents might actually help hotels claw back direct bookings from the OTAs. - Loyalty, upgraded: why Marriott Bonvoy is still a cheat code for conquering the world’s biggest cities. Hit play on all platforms and check out how Lennert and his team decided to flip the game once again. Think big hotel chains are dinosaurs? This episode might ruin that narrative. Enjoy the show!
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    43 mins
  • Rafat Ali - Skift l Building a Travel Media Empire That Actually Matters

    Rafat Ali - Skift l Building a Travel Media Empire That Actually Matters
    Dec 16 2025
    Building a travel media empire isn’t for the faint-hearted, and Rafat Ali knows exactly what he’s talking about. This December, Fritz sits down with Rafat, founder and CEO of Skift, for a conversation loaded with insider insights on travel media, startups, and the raw realities of running a global brand. They get into everything from how Skift carved out a voice that matters worldwide, to keeping pace in a whirlwind industry, Rafat’s personal journey navigating the rollercoaster of entrepreneurship, and even their thoughts on New York’s new mayor, Zohran Mamdani. In other words, here’s what you’ll hear about: - Media Mastery: how Skift became the global voice of travel, and how Rafat sees the next chapter unfolding - Industry Dynamics: what’s actually driving travel trends beyond the headlines and the hype - Founder Life: his personal path and the lessons learned Hit play, this one hits both the head and the gut. Enjoy the show!
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    1 hr and 2 mins
  • Dirk Bakker – Colliers | The Money Moves Behind Hospitality’s Hottest Destinations

    Dirk Bakker – Colliers | The Money Moves Behind Hospitality’s Hottest Destinations
    Nov 18 2025
    Money talks, but hotels walk the walk! And Dirk Bakker knows exactly which ones are worth your attention… We’re warming up this month of November with an episode packed with insider perspectives from Dirk, Head of EMEA Hotels at Colliers. During the Future Hospitality Summit 2025 in Dubai, Dirk and Fritz dove into what’s shaping hotel investments, how destinations get Instagram-famous overnight, and much more... In other words, you’ll hear about: - Investment Outlook EMEA: trends, risks, and where the smart money is going - Travel & Experience: the destinations that still deliver jaw-dropping guest moments - AI & Service: which parts of hospitality tech can replace humans, and which can’t… Enjoy the show!
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    46 mins
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