The most powerful part of a hotel stay isn’t the design or the amenities, it’s the feeling guests take home.

That’s the philosophy of Bashar Wali, one of the most candid and creative voices in hospitality, who's spent 30+ years building, operating, and reinventing hotels around the world.

In this episode of the Hotel Investor Playbook, Bashar shares:

• Why “give-a-shit-ability” beats corporate playbooks
• The power of emotional intelligence in hotel teams
• The biggest mistakes first-time owners make
• The difference between the three types of hotel deals (core, value-add, and opportunistic)

Bashar doesn’t hold back. Whether you’re an operator, investor, or aspiring hotelier, this conversation will reshape how you think about hospitality.

Follow and share the Hotel Investor Playbook so more people can learn how to invest in hospitality assets the right way.

About Bashar

Bashar Wali is a seasoned hotelier, entrepreneur, and the founder of This Assembly and Practice Hospitality, with over 30 years of experience leading and scaling some of the industry’s most innovative hotel brands. In this episode, Bashar shares his playbook across acquisitions, funding, marketing, and operations, revealing how emotional intelligence, design, and culture are just as critical as deal structures and NOI. From building authentic guest loyalty without points, to structuring creative capital stacks, to “making the magic” in operations, his insights are both tactical and timeless. Whether you’re a first-time hotel investor or looking to scale your portfolio, this conversation will give you actionable lessons to apply in your own ventures.

Connect with Bashar

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/basharwali

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/basharwali

Website: https://www.thisassembly.com

Connect with Mike and Nate:

Invest with Mike & Nate: malama-capital.com/invest
Submit a deal: https://www.malama-capital.com/deal-submission
Instagram: @the_hotel_investor_playbook
Contact Us: info@hotelinvestorplaybook.com

How do you turn a struggling hotel into a profitable asset?

This week on the Hotel Investor Playbook, we sit down with Naveed Khan, co-founder of London Rock Partners, a hotel management and advisory firm that oversees everything from branded hotels like Holiday Inn to boutique independents and even a 650-bed hostel in London.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why the first step in turning around a hotel always starts with people, not P&Ls
• The advantages (and risks) of branded vs. independent hotels for investors
• How management companies can become a true partner in value creation
• Why tech and automation are reshaping hospitality operations
• Tactical advice for first-time hotel investors on keeping it simple

If you want to understand how the right management partnership can transform your hotel investment, this episode is a must-listen.

Follow and share the Hotel Investor Playbook so more people can learn how to invest in hospitality assets the right way.

About Naveed

Naveed Khan is the Chief Operating Officer of London Rock Partners, a leading hospitality asset and hotel management firm based in the UK. With a career spanning revenue management, commercial strategy, and full-scale hotel operations, he has led both branded and boutique properties through transformation and growth. Naveed is known for his people-first leadership, tech-driven operational strategies, and ability to maximize asset performance for owners and investors. His journey from revenue manager to COO reflects both resilience and a deep commitment to reshaping the future of hospitality.

Connect with Naveed

Website: https://www.londonrockpartners.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/naveed-khan-580ba179/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/londonrockpartners/

Connect with Mike and Nate:

Invest with Mike & Nate: malama-capital.com/invest
Submit a deal: https://www.malama-capital.com/deal-submission
Instagram: @the_hotel_investor_playbook
Contact Us: info@hotelinvestorplaybook.com

Few people have left a mark on hospitality like Richard Kessler.

He started his hospitality career by helping scale Days Inn into a household name as the early CEO

Then he founded the Kessler Collection, one of the leading boutique hotel portfolios in the U.S., which ultimately helped launch Marriott’s Autograph Collection.

In this episode, Richard shares the biggest lessons from his 50-year career, including:

• How to lead through downturns and find opportunity in distress
• Why reputation as an operator attracts financing and partners
• The role of vision, teamwork, and conviction in building lasting brands
• Why his mother’s advice, “Don’t take the elevator, take the stairs”, shaped his approach to success

This is a rare chance to learn directly from one of hospitality’s true icons.

Connect with Mike and Nate:

Invest with Mike & Nate: malama-capital.com/invest
Submit a deal: https://www.malama-capital.com/deal-submission
Instagram: @the_hotel_investor_playbook
Contact Us: info@hotelinvestorplaybook.com

What if your first hotel deal could be funded almost entirely through Instagram?

This week’s guest, Soli Cayetano AKA lattes.and.leases on Instagram, went from barista to building a $13M real estate portfolio in just four years. After exiting her residential investing business, she turned to hospitality and now co-owns a 13-key boutique wellness hotel in Palm Springs that’s already been featured in Forbes, Vogue, and Travel & Leisure.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How Soli raised $2.5M in 60 days through her Instagram audience
• Why documenting your journey builds trust with investors
• The key differences between residential and hospitality investing
• Why losing money can be the most valuable education

If you want proof that bold moves, social media, and persistence can change your life, this episode will give it to you.

Follow and share the Hotel Investor Playbook so more people can learn how to invest in hospitality assets the right way.

About Soli:

Soli Cayetano is a real estate investor, educator, and boutique hotel owner who has scaled from buying her first out-of-state rental at 23 to building a multimillion-dollar portfolio and co-owning Terra Palm Springs, a 13-room wellness boutique hotel featured in Travel + Leisure, Forbes, and Vogue. Through her platform Lattes & Leases, she empowers new and aspiring investors with the tools, courses, and community to confidently analyze deals, raise capital, and manage properties. Soli is passionate about creating design-forward, thoughtful hospitality brands while making real estate investing approachable, fun, and impactful.

Contact Soli:

Instagram: @lattes.and.leases & @terrapalmsprings

Website: https://www.terrapalmsprings.com/

LinkedIn: Soli Cayetano - Wellness Hotel Owner & Marketing Strategist

Connect with Mike and Nate:

Invest with Mike & Nate: malama-capital.com/invest
Submit a deal: https://www.malama-capital.com/deal-submission
Instagram: @the_hotel_investor_playbook
Contact Us: info@hotelinvestorplaybook.com

Most hotel investors default to syndication — raising capital from dozens of limited partners and layering in complex waterfalls. But what if there’s a smarter, simpler path?

This week’s guest, Brandon Gore, is building The Outlier Hotel, a 10-cabin luxury retreat in Arkansas designed to last 100 years. Instead of chasing the traditional syndication model, he’s structuring the project as a joint venture — lowering pressure, creating strong cash flow, and unlocking tax advantages that limited partners usually can’t access.

In this episode, we dig into:

• How intuition plus data shaped Brandon’s decision to buy land on a hunch
  
  
• The financial model behind The Outlier (ADR, occupancy, and NOI)
  
  
• Why joint ventures can sometimes outperform syndications
  
  
• How accelerated depreciation makes this deal especially compelling
  
  
• What it takes to build hotels that align with your values and your legacy

This is part business case study, part lesson in trusting your instincts — and a rare look at how different deal structures can change the game for hospitality investors.

Follow and share the Hotel Investor Playbook so more people can learn how to invest in hospitality assets the right way.

About Brandon:

Brandon Gore is a designer, builder, and entrepreneur known for blending craftsmanship with innovation. He is the founder of Gore Design Co., Hard Goods, the Concrete Design School, and EarthForm Rammed Earth, where he has pioneered sustainable building with concrete and rammed-earth construction. Today, he is developing The Outlier Hotel in Eureka Springs, Arkansas—a boutique property that reflects his vision for timeless design and lasting architecture. Brandon has also shared his expertise as a TEDx speaker, podcast host, and judge on the design competition show Framework.

Connect with Brandon:

Instagram:@outlierhotel & @hardgoodsco

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/goredesignco/

Website: Gore Design Co. & Brandon Gore

Connect with Mike and Nate:

Invest with Mike & Nate: malama-capital.com/invest
Submit a deal: https://www.malama-capital.com/deal-submission
Instagram: @the_hotel_investor_playbook
Contact Us: info@hotelinvestorplaybook.com

Think great marketing is only for big hotels with big budgets? Think again.

In this episode, we talk with Steph Weber, a marketing and branding expert who helps boutique hotel and STR owners drive direct bookings. She breaks down how she finds her audience, tells a compelling brand story, and uses limited resources to drive big results.

You’ll learn:

• How to identify your property’s unique selling points
• Simple marketing strategies that work for small hotels and inns
• Why guest experience is your most powerful marketing tool

The mindset shift from “just filling rooms” to building a brand
If you want your property to stand out in a crowded market, this conversation will show you how to do it without wasting money.

Follow and share the Hotel Investor Playbook so more people can learn how to invest in hospitality assets the right way.

About Steph

Steph Weber is a branding strategist, marketing expert, and founder of The Weber Co., where she helps short-term rental owners, boutique hotels, and micro-resorts build memorable brands that drive direct bookings. With over a decade of experience and a track record of helping 100+ businesses scale to six and seven figures, Steph blends creative storytelling with data-driven strategies to increase guest loyalty and revenue. She also owns Cabins on the Cumberland, a 12-cabin, 9-acre riverfront micro-resort in Kentucky, giving her a unique, real-world perspective on what it takes to stand out in a competitive hospitality market. Through her agency, podcast, and own hosting experience, Steph empowers property owners to position their brands for higher rates, repeat guests, and long-term success.

Connect with Steph

Instagram: @stephnweber, @cabinsonthecumberland & @theweberco

Websites: www.theweberco.com and www.cabinsonthecumberland.com

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/stephweberbrandcoach

Connect with Mike and Nate:

Invest with Mike & Nate: malama-capital.com/invest
Submit a deal: https://www.malama-capital.com/deal-submission
Instagram: @the_hotel_investor_playbook
Contact Us: info@hotelinvestorplaybook.com

Think you need a perfect plan to start investing in hospitality? Think again.

In this episode, we sit down with Jonathan Mueller, an everyday investor who went from zero experience and a failed multifamily deal to buying a $250K roadside motel and building a growing hospitality portfolio. He didn’t have a background in hotels, didn’t have much of a strategy, and still made it work through pure action, problem-solving, and a willingness to pivot.

You’ll learn:

• Why taking action beats waiting for the “perfect” plan
• How Jonathan raised $300K in 72 hours to close his RV park deal
• The pros and cons of buying motels vs RV parks as a beginner
• What to look for in seller financing and SBA loan terms
• Why chasing “shiny objects” can actually help you find your path

Whether you’re just getting started or stuck overthinking your first deal, this episode shows how to take imperfect action and learn as you go.

Follow and share the Hotel Investor Playbook so more people can learn how to invest in hospitality assets the right way.

About Jonathan:

Jonathan Mueller is a real estate investor and hospitality entrepreneur transforming neglected motels and campgrounds into vibrant community destinations. Alongside his family, he owns and operates two renovated motels and a 70-acre RV park, Camp Forest Haven, blending hands-on renovation with a guest-first approach. His journey from spotting opportunities on a casual drive to scaling multiple hospitality assets offers actionable lessons in sweat equity, creative repositioning, and building community-focused spaces that truly stand out.

Connect with Jonathan:

Website: https://campforesthaven.com/

Instagram: @mister_mox and @camp.forest.haven

Connect with Mike and Nate:

Invest with Mike & Nate: malama-capital.com/invest
Submit a deal: https://www.malama-capital.com/deal-submission
Instagram: @the_hotel_investor_playbook
Contact Us: info@hotelinvestorplaybook.com

Is your marketing helping your hotel or just draining your budget?

In this episode, we sit down with Anthony Chiaravallo, founder of Vallo Media, who has managed over $100M in ad spend for brands like Nike, Resorts World, and boutique hotels across the country. Whether you're trying to fill beds or scale a brand, Anthony breaks down how to think about hotel marketing in a way that actually drives bookings.

You’ll learn:

• How to build a full-funnel strategy that drives real bookings
• What makes a great marketing agency vs a waste of money
• How to know if your hotel is ready for paid ads
• The minimum spend and timeline you need to see real results
• The path to 3x Return On Ad Spend

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by digital marketing, this episode simplifies what matters.

Review and share the Hotel Investor Playbook so more people can learn how to invest in hospitality assets the right way.

About Anthony:

Anthony Chiaravallo is the founder and CEO of Vallo Media, a performance marketing agency that has overseen more than $100 million in paid media spend for clients ranging from Fortune 500 brands to hospitality startups. With over 16 years of experience in integrated media, Anthony specializes in data-driven strategies across paid social, search, programmatic, and influencer marketing. He’s a member of the Forbes Agency Council and a recognized thought leader featured in outlets like Forbes, USA Today, and The Wall Street Journal. His work focuses on helping brands scale revenue through measurable, omnichannel marketing.

Connect with Anthony:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonychiaravallo/

Website: https://www.vallomedia.com/

Connect with Mike and Nate:

Invest with Mike & Nate: malama-capital.com/invest
Submit a deal: https://www.malama-capital.com/deal-submission
Instagram: @the_hotel_investor_playbook
Contact Us: info@hotelinvestorplaybook.com