Boutique hotel investors often lose money in the same place: they renovate what’s visible, and ignore what actually drives guest behavior.

In this episode, we talk about design as a business tool, not a decoration budget. The goal is simple: create a guest experience that feels intentional, sells itself, and supports your NOI, even when you’re operating without brand-level resources.
My guest is Scott Lamont, CEO of EDSA, a globally recognized design and planning firm. Scott and his team work on hospitality projects worldwide, from master planning new destinations to repositioning existing resorts.

You’ll hear:

• How to “program” spaces so they earn money at different times of day
• What to look for during acquisition that signals hidden upside
• Why the lobby is not a pass-through, it’s a profit center
• How local partnerships create authenticity without big construction costs
• The infrastructure investments (water, resiliency) owners regret skipping
• A practical way to use guest reviews as free due diligence

If you’re graduating from Airbnb to your first hotel deal, this episode will help you avoid rookie capex mistakes and make design decisions that actually translate to revenue. Follow and share the Hotel Investor Playbook so more people can learn how to invest in hospitality assets the right way.

About Scott

Scott LaMont is the CEO and Principal of EDSA, a globally recognized planning and landscape architecture firm where he has spent nearly three decades shaping award-winning destinations for brands like Four Seasons and The Ritz-Carlton. An expert in “deconstructed hospitality” and nature-focused design, Scott combines environmental stewardship with pragmatic business planning to drive long-term value and ROI for developers. He leads with a collaborative, human-centered philosophy that integrates emerging technologies like AI to create authentic, immersive guest experiences that connect people with place.

Connect with Scott

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-lamont-aa598027/

Website: https://www.edsaplan.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edsaplan/?hl=en

Learn how to use AI to underwrite faster, streamline operations, automate the busy work, and make better decisions. Start your 7-day free trial of the AI for CRE Collective here.

Connect with Michael:

Invest with Malama Capital: 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 now a terrible time to buy a hotel, or the best buying window you will get this decade?

In this episode, Michael sits down with Suraj Bhakta, CEO of NewGen Advisory, a national hotel brokerage that has closed deals in 44 states. Suraj explains what he is actually seeing in today’s market, from the SBA shutdown fallout to the quiet distress building under the surface.

In this conversation, you will learn:

• Why are the 2021–2022 performance numbers misleading so many sellers and buyers
• Where distress is most likely to show up first, and how to spot it before the crowd
• How to think about value-add when required upgrades do not pencil on the back end
• Concrete steps buyers should take this week if they want to be ready when deals crack

If you are serious about buying hotels in this environment, this episode will help you see what is really happening behind the scenes and how to move with more confidence.

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

About Suraj

Suraj Bhakta is the CEO of NewGen Advisory and Chief Legal Counsel for NewGen Worldwide, where he leads a national brokerage team that has executed hospitality transactions across 44 states. Drawing on over two decades of experience as both a commercial real estate attorney and a lifelong hotelier, Suraj has advised on more than $850 million in acquisitions and facilitated nearly $500 million in capital raises. He specializes in guiding investors through the full property lifecycle, offering expert counsel on complex market challenges ranging from financing and Property Improvement Plans (PIPs) to creative adaptive reuse projects.

Connect with Suraj

Email: suraj.bhakta@newgenadv.com

Phone: +1.602.648.2702

Website: https://newgenadv.com/

LinkedIn: Suraj Bhakta

Instagram: @newgenadvisory

Learn how to use AI to underwrite faster, streamline operations, automate the busy work, and make better decisions. Start your 7-day free trial of the AI for CRE Collective here.

Connect with Michael:

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

Click here to start your free 7-day trial of the AI for CRE Collective.

Most boutique hotel investors are running lean. No analyst team. No data department. No six-figure tech budget. Yet the demands of buying and operating hotels keep getting heavier.

In this episode, I sit down with Jake Heller, founder of the AI for CRE Collective, to break down the most effective AI tools that give small operators the firepower of a full investment team without hiring more staff or burning more hours.

We workshop real tools you can start using today to:

• Research any hotel market in minutes
• Underwrite deals 5 to 10 times faster
• Build pro-grade investor decks and OMs
• Create renovation concepts and renderings
• Cut legal costs with AI-assisted contract review
• Streamline asset management and portfolio reporting
• Automate day-to-day admin and communication

1. Claude (Deep Research) – Market feasibility, multi-source synthesis
2. Perplexity (Market Intel) – Accurate analytical research with citations
3. Shortcut AI (Underwriting) – Flexible financial modeling inside Excel
4. Google Gemini (Nano Banana Image & Video Generation) – Property renderings, façade upgrades, interior redesigns, branding, teaser videos
5. Wilson AI (Legal & Due Diligence) – Contract review, redlines, title exceptions
6. Gamma (Decks & OMs) – Investor decks, offering memorandums, pitch materials
7. Wspr Flow (Voice-to-Text & Admin) – Ultra-fast transcription, notes, emails, and communication

Whether you’re trying to scale your hospitality business, underwrite more deals, or operate your hotel with fewer people, these tools will change the way you work.

If you want to buy and operate hotels without a big team or a ton of time, this episode is your new playbook.

Get One Week Free Membership to Jake’s AI for CRE Collective

If you want help implementing everything we discuss in this episode - the prompts, the workflows, the tools, the systems - Jake’s community is the best place to start.

Listeners of The Hotel Investor Playbook can get full access for FREE.

Click here to start your free 7-day trial of the AI for CRE Collective.

About Jake

Jake Heller is a third-generation homebuilder and entrepreneur who co-founded the AI for CRE Collective, a central hub where AI and technology meet real estate. As an expert focused on practical, implementation-oriented solutions in AI in Commercial Real Estate, he built this 400+ member community to provide battle-tested workflows, automation templates, and a database of 300+ vetted AI tools for professionals. Drawing on his experience in development and consulting, including cofounding JDJ Consulting Group, Jake specializes in helping CRE firms and individuals scale and streamline processes to accelerate deal speed across critical tasks such as underwriting and deal analysis.

Connect with Jake

Website: https://a

Connect with Michael on Instagram or LinkedIn.

Email Us at info@hotelinvestorplaybook.com

Visit the Hotel Investor Playbook Instagram

Invest with Malama Capital

Submit a deal

Turning an international hospitality dream into reality sounds exciting, until you’re standing on a swampy patch of land in Belize, wondering how many years it will take to shape it into something guests will love.

That’s where today’s guest, Odis Martin, began. He and his wife spent nearly a decade transforming a remote island into Sindiri on the Reef, a private eco lodge built without outside investors and rebuilt multiple times after hurricanes.

Odis and his wife went from small US multifamily to hand digging a swampy island, navigating Belize regulations, rebuilding after hurricanes, and creating a one of a kind off grid destination.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How a school project turned into a 10-year international hospitality roadmap
• The real cost and complexity of off-grid development on an island
• What actually makes buying in Belize approachable for US investors

This episode gives you a realistic look at what it really takes to turn an overseas hospitality dream into a real, functioning business.

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

About Odis

Odis Martin is the owner and captain of Cindiri On The Reef, a Garifuna family-owned private island resort located off the coast of Dangriga, Belize. Alongside his wife, Odis transformed their graduate school thesis into a real-world venture, hand-building the resort from raw land with local Maya and Garifuna craftsmanship and a deep commitment to sustainability. Before launching Cindiri, the couple built a 20-door real estate portfolio in California, which helped self-fund the project without outside investors. Today, Cindiri On The Reef stands as a model for off-grid, eco-luxury hospitality offering reef-to-table dining, immersive ocean experiences, and a masterclass in independent, purpose-driven resort development.

Connect with Odis

Website: https://cindiri.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/54356667

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cindirionthereef

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@cindirionthereef

Learn how to use AI to underwrite faster, streamline operations, automate the busy work, and make better decisions. Start your 7-day free trial of the AI for CRE Collective here.

Connect with Michael:

Invest with Malama Capital: 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 struggle to get brokers to take them seriously. The result is the same handful of buyers getting the first look at every good deal while everyone else fights over leftovers.

In this episode, Michael sits down with Hunter Johnson, President of Investment Sales at US Hotel Advisors, to break down how brokers actually decide who gets deal flow.

Hunter shares what he looks for in a real buyer, what turns him off immediately, and the simple behaviors that make brokers want to send you deals before they ever hit the market.

You’ll learn:

• What separates a “real buyer” from a time-waster
• The signals that instantly increase your credibility
• How to build relationships that get you called first
• Creative ways to structure deals when traditional debt won’t work
• What lenders want to see from first-time hotel buyers
• When SBA loans make sense and when they don’t

If you want more brokers sending you legitimate opportunities, this episode shows you exactly how to get on their radar and stay there.

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

About Hunter

Hunter Johnson is the President of Investment Sales at US Hotel Advisors, a hospitality investment-banking firm specializing in the sourcing and structuring of debt, equity, and investment-sales transactions for hotel properties across the U.S.. Drawing on a background that includes commercial real estate, lending, finance, and property insurance, Hunter is uniquely positioned to advise clients on complex capital structures and transaction execution. His firm excels at securing non-recourse financing and raising sophisticated mezzanine or preferred equity, often for assets facing challenging circumstances such as low debt yields or rebrandings. Hunter strives to create trusted and lasting industry relationships while utilizing a competitive bid process to advise on the sale of various assets, including boutique properties, to yield above-market sales prices.

Connect with Hunter

https://ushoteladvisors.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/us-hotel-advisors/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/hunter-johnson-2778b120/

Learn how to use AI to underwrite faster, streamline operations, automate the busy work, and make better decisions. Start your 7-day free trial of the AI for CRE Collective here.

Connect with Michael:

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

Want to know what it’s like to go from short-term rentals to owning boutique hotels while still maintaining a healthy relationship?

This week on the Hotel Investor Playbook, Michael Russell sits down with Mitch Ehly and Katie Wanzer, the husband-and-wife duo behind Fresh Coast Motel and Spruce & Shore Motel in Door County, Wisconsin.

They share how they scaled from Airbnbs to a full-fledged hospitality brand, revived two historic motels, and used automation to stay profitable without losing the guest touch.

You’ll learn how they:

• Transitioned from STRs to hotels (and what changed operationally)
• Revived historic properties into modern boutique experiences
• Turned self-check-in into a high-touch guest experience using video personalization
• Balanced business, marriage, and mindset while scaling fast

If you’ve ever dreamed of turning your short-term rental business into something bigger, this is the episode to study.

About Mitch & Katie

Mitch and Katie are the husband-and-wife team behind Fresh Coast Motel and Spruce & Shore Motel, two boutique properties redefining the modern Door County getaway. Drawing on Mitch’s background in hospitality technology and leadership, and Katie’s creative eye for design and guest experience, the pair have transformed classic roadside motels into stylish, high-end retreats that blend historic charm with modern comfort. Their approach embraces self-check-in technology, thoughtful renovations, and authentic local storytelling to create spaces that feel both elevated and effortless. Together, they’re shaping a new wave of boutique hospitality in Wisconsin’s most beloved coastal towns.

Connect with Mitch & Katie

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

Websites

https://freshcoastmotel.com

https://therefreshcollection.com/

https://spruceandshoremotel.com/

Instagram

https://instagram.com/mitchehly

https://www.instagram.com/spruceandshoremotel

https://www.instagram.com/freshcoastmotel

Learn how to use AI to underwrite faster, streamline operations, automate the busy work, and make better decisions. Start your 7-day free trial of the AI for CRE Collective here.

Connect with Michael:

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

Looking for hotel technology that can actually increase profit and reduce expenses without hiring an IT department?

This week on the Hotel Investor Playbook, Michael Russell sits down with Sue Graves, founder of Experience Alive, who has spent over 30 years in hospitality and now helps hotel owners implement practical, affordable tech solutions that make a real financial impact.

In this episode, you’ll discover several technology use cases you can implement today, including:

• Offload up to 50% of front desk calls through conversational AI
• Use delivery robots to run leaner night shifts and boost service speed
• Track linen and towels with RFID to cut losses and eliminate manual counts
• Build a sustainability story that supports better refinancing terms
• Plus more!

Whether you own a 50-room boutique hotel or manage a national brand, Sue shows how to make technology your competitive edge.

About Sue

Sue Graves is the Founder and CEO of Experience Alive, a hospitality technology consultancy helping hotels, restaurants, and convention centers modernize operations through AI-driven solutions, robotics, and guest personalization tools. With over 30 years of leadership experience at Marriott International and the Greater Columbus Convention Center, Sue brings a deep operational understanding to innovation in hospitality. As the founding chair of the Ohio Hotel & Lodging Association’s Innovation & Technology Committee, she has championed initiatives that boost efficiency, guest satisfaction, and staff retention across the industry. A recognized voice on the future of tech in hospitality, Sue continues to bridge the gap between emerging technologies and real-world hospitality challenges, empowering teams to deliver more human-centered, high-performing experiences.

Connect with Sue

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

Website: http://Experiencealive.com

Learn how to use AI to underwrite faster, streamline operations, automate the busy work, and make better decisions. Start your 7-day free trial of the AI for CRE Collective here.

Connect with Michael:

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

Ever dreamed of quitting your six-figure job to build real wealth through hotels? This episode shows you what it actually takes.

Tim Ensmann, founder of the T.C. Hotel Fund, shares how he went from tech sales to owning a multi-million-dollar boutique hotel portfolio in under five years. He reveals the sacrifices, systems, and strategies behind turning a $1.5M property into a $4.5M success story. He then shares how you can follow the same path without losing your sanity.

You’ll learn:

• The real moment he knew he couldn’t stay in corporate anymore
• How he used short-term rentals to bridge the gap from W2 to full-time investor
• What it costs (financially and emotionally) to leave a secure job for entrepreneurship
• How to identify the right first project for your goals

This is a step-by-step blueprint from someone who’s actually done what so many people dream of.

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

About Tim

Tim Ensmann is the founder and managing partner of Boutique Hotel Fund, an investment platform that acquires and repositions boutique hotels across the United States. With a background in corporate sales and strategy, Tim transitioned from tech leadership roles into hospitality investing, where he now helps accredited investors build wealth through experiential real estate. His firm focuses on transforming underperforming properties into design-driven, story-led destinations that deliver both emotional impact and strong financial returns. Through his content and education platforms, Tim is redefining what modern hotel ownership looks like for a new generation of investors.

Connect with Tim

Email: tim@boutiquehotelfund.com

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/tim-ensmann/

Website: boutiquehotelfund.com/

Instagram: @tim_ensmann and @boutiquehotelguy

Learn how to use AI to underwrite faster, streamline operations, automate the busy work, and make better decisions. Start your 7-day free trial of the AI for CRE Collective here.

Connect with Michael:

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