Boutique Hotel Secrets Podcast

Епізоди

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  44 - Overbooked, Underwater, and 60 Days From Grand Opening - The Ugly Side of Boutique Hotels with Micah & Adam 12.08.2026 35хв

  In this episode, Adam and Micah pull back the curtain on the messy reality of opening their first boutique hotel in remote Page, Arizona — from accidentally overbooking on Airbnb and seeing 4.8x revenue growth, to personally guaranteeing a $4.8 million SBA loan where failure literally isn't an option. They also break down construction chaos, the steep learning curve of hotel software systems, and why a travel journalist just declared their property "the default stay" in town. Affiliate...
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  43 - ⁠⁠Grand Opening in 60 Days (And the Bank Account That Almost Didn't Make It with Micah & Adam 05.08.2026 43хв

  In this episode, Adam and Micah record their first-ever in-person podcast from Room 32 of The Wesley in Page, Arizona, pulling back the curtain on what it really takes to reposition a 1960s roadside motel into a boutique hotel 60 days before grand opening. They open up about the scramble for visibility on OTAs, the propane tank debate that nearly divided the partnership, a disco deck that has Adam ready to grab a mic — and the uncomfortable truth that making payroll has become a move-money-ar...
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  42 - Are You Buying Yourself a Job? Marketing, Money & Mindset for Hotel Owners with Michael Sjogren 29.07.2026 44хв

  In this episode, Adam and Micah welcome back Michael Sjogren to break down marketing ROI, group bookings, and the capital-raising lessons that come with scaling from short-term rentals into boutique hotels. They also explore the critical mindset shift from playing innkeeper to playing the freedom game, and why going bigger is the only way to build a business that actually works without you. Connect with Mike: Find him on Instagram: @mike.sjogren Affiliate code for Quo https://get.quo.com/...
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  41 - ⁠From $50K to $5K in One Year: The Real Cost of Delaying Your Hotel Renovation with Micah & Adam 24.07.2026 34хв

  In this episode, we share the wild story of how Google's AI created a business page for The Wesley Hotel without our knowledge — leading to our first one-star review before we even officially launched. We also discuss our influencer outreach experiment that blew up within an hour, the launch of 20 new rooms just in time for July 4th weekend, and how a simple time audit can reveal hidden opportunities in your day. Affiliate code for Quo https://get.quo.com/mdvsnezsa1lk Affiliate ...
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  40 - The Most Important Pipeline Nobody's Using: Social Media Secrets for Boutique Hotels with Scott Eddy 17.07.2026 45хв

  In this episode, Adam and Micah sit down with Scott Eddy — world traveler, hospitality marketing veteran, and one of the first American expats to build a million-follower presence on social media — to dig into why most hotels are leaving enormous brand-building opportunity on the table. Scott shares brutally honest insights on what actually differentiates a boutique hotel in a crowded market, why your Instagram needs to be un-swappable, and how The Wesley is already doing more right than they...
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  38 - ⁠“It’s Not Rocket Science" — Scaling From Short-Term Rentals to Boutique Hotels with Mitch Ehly 17.07.2026 41хв

  In this episode, Mitch Ely shares the scrappy story of how he went from owning a single Airbnb to buying and renovating two boutique motels in Door County, Wisconsin. We dive into his biggest renovation surprises, creative tech-driven guest experience hacks, and the mindset shift required to jump from residential short-term rentals into commercial hospitality. Connect with Mitch: Find him on Instagram: @mitchehly Affiliate code for Quo https://get.quo.com/mdvsnezsa1lk Affiliate c...
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  39 - One-Star Reviews, 3X Work Ethic, and a $2M Revenue Target with Micah & Adam 10.07.2026 46хв

  In this episode, Adam and Micah pull back the curtain on the messy, motivating reality of renovating The Wesley Hotel — from a gut-punch one-star review to a new GC delivering three times the workload of the last team. They also dig into exciting new revenue experiments including a public pool, a local coffee truck partnership, and a smash burger food truck — plus what a triple net lease actually looks like in practice. Affiliate code for Quo https://get.quo.com/mdvsnezsa1lk Aff...
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  37 - ⁠Construction Chaos, Italian Hospitality, and Why We're Finally Turning the Corner with Micah & Adam 25.06.2026 42хв

  In this episode, Adam and Micah reflect on the hospitality lessons brought back from a two-week Italian honeymoon — and how Italian hoteliers set a standard that challenges everything they're building at the Wesley. They also pull back the curtain on a tough stretch of construction delays, the personnel moves they made to break the logjam, and why visible progress on site finally has them feeling like the finish line is in reach. Affiliate code for Quo https://get.quo.com/mdvsnezsa1lk...
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  36 - Free Tools, Paid Revenue: The Boutique Hotel Marketing Playbook with Mike Sjogren 20.06.2026 34хв

  In this episode, Adam and Micah are joined by boutique hotel investor Mike Sjogren to cover everything from the realities of first-time hotel construction delays to a bold take on hotel marketing — including why you should stop spending paid ad dollars on brand awareness and let organic social do that work for you. Mike also drops breaking news on Hotel Turnkey, a brand-new done-for-you offer that helps investors get into the hotel game without doing all the heavy lifting themselves. ...
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  35 - We Wanted 20 Rooms. We Got 2. Here's What We Learned with Micah & Adam 11.06.2026 40хв

  In this episode, Adam and Micah pull back the curtain on the brutal gap between expectations and reality as they prepare for their first major holiday weekend at The Wesley — aiming for 20 newly renovated rooms, delivering 2. They also dig into their marketing strategy for driving direct bookings, why building an email list has real dollar value at exit, and how AI is reshaping how hotels reach guests. Affiliate code for Quo https://get.quo.com/mdvsnezsa1lk Affiliate code for ME...
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  34 - ⁠What We'd Do Differently on Hotel #2 (And Why We're Still Glad We Didn't) with Micah and Adam 04.06.2026 37хв

  In this episode, Adam and Micah pull back the curtain on the final stretch before opening newly renovated rooms at The Wesley — tackling everything from 18 pallets of tile and FF&E sticker shock to their first real advertising budget. They also share an honest reflection on whether staying partially open during renovation was the right call, and why they'd make a different decision for hotel number two. Affiliate code for Quo https://get.quo.com/mdvsnezsa1lk Affiliate code f...
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  33 - ⁠The Human Premium: Why Hospitality's Edge Has Nothing to Do With AI with Mike Sjogren 27.05.2026 43хв

  In this episode, Adam and Micah sit down with boutique hotel mentor Mike Sjogren to explore how AI is reshaping hospitality operations — from direct booking pages to revenue management — and why the operators who thrive will be the ones doubling down on human connection, not replacing it. They also dive into the Wesley's pre-launch strategy, the power of leveraging local community relationships, and Mike's newly funded 47-room Outer Banks development that came together after one casual conver...
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  32 - More Human, Not Less: How Smart Hotel Operators Are Using AI to Double Down on Real Connections with Rashmi Bhat 20.05.2026 40хв

  In this episode, Adam and Micah are joined by Rashmi Bhat — coach, restaurateur, and boutique hotel operator — to explore how independent hospitality owners can leverage AI not to replace their teams, but to free them up for the moments that actually matter. From automating influencer outreach and auditing P&Ls to using voice prompting in the car and walking the vendor floor at AAHOA, this conversation is a practical roadmap for operators who want to work smarter without losing the human ...
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  31 - ⁠Zero Finished Rooms, $38K Mortgage Due: The Real Cost of Building a Hotel with Micah & Adam 13.05.2026 44хв

  In this episode, Adam and Micah share the unfiltered reality of renovating a 50-room boutique hotel in Page, Arizona — from a viral mural drawing thousands of visitors to zero finished rooms and a $38,000 mortgage looming on the horizon. In this episode, they open up about the emotional and financial pressure of building in public, navigating contractor delays, investor tax surprises, and what it really means to go all in on a vision you believe in. Affiliate code for Quo https://get.q...
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  ⁠30 - She Was In Labor Answering Guest Messages — Here's What Changed with Marisa Grover 06.05.2026 40хв

  In this episode, Adam and Micah sit down with brand designer Kayla Morrill to unpack the full process of building a visual identity for The Wesley — from mood boards and font debates to a final brand kit that's now physically on the walls of their hotel in Page, Arizona. In this episode, they explore why great branding is about evoking emotion, why AI falls short, and what boutique hotel owners should think about before hiring a designer. Connect with Marisa: Find her on Instagram: @m...
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  29 - ⁠ ⁠Why AI Can't Brand Your Hotel (And What Actually Can) with Kayla Morrill 30.04.2026 36хв

  In this episode, Adam and Micah sit down with brand designer Kayla Morrill to unpack the full process of building a visual identity for The Wesley — from mood boards and font debates to a final brand kit that's now physically on the walls of their hotel in Page, Arizona. In this episode, they explore why great branding is about evoking emotion, why AI falls short, and what boutique hotel owners should think about before hiring a designer. Connect with Kayla: Find her on Instagram: @wi...
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  28 - The Iconic Photo Opportunity No One in Page Has Capitalized On — Until Now with Micah and Adam 22.04.2026 31хв

  In this episode, Adam and Micah pull back the curtain on the messy middle of hotel ownership — from a tax filing that missed its deadline to a GM confrontation over staff pay that no one saw coming. They also share why they're commissioning a full-building mural in Page, Arizona, and the bold bet they're making that it becomes the most photographed spot in town. Connect with Micah: Instagram: micahinvests Tiktok: micahinvests1 Connect with Adam: Instagram: adaminvests1 LinkedIn: adaminvest...
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  27 - ⁠$80K Over Budget — And We'd Do It Again with Micah & Adam 15.04.2026 34хв

  In this episode, Adam Walls and Micah Thomas take you behind the scenes of transforming a boutique hotel in Page, Arizona. They dive into the real challenges of the process—from handling returns and managing material overages to finding creative ways to maximize space and elevate the guest experience. Packed with practical insights and hard-earned lessons, this episode is a must-listen for hospitality entrepreneurs looking to turn vision into reality. Connect with Micah: Instagram: micahinves...
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  26 - ⁠⁠The First Hire That Can Make or Break Your Business with Rashmi Bhat 08.04.2026 46хв

  In this episode of the Boutique Hotel Secrets podcast, hosts Adam and Micah, along with guest Rashmi Bhat, discuss the journey of transitioning from short-term rentals to boutique hotel management. They reflect on their experiences, share insights on hiring the right team, implementing effective marketing strategies, and the importance of social media in building a community around their brands. The conversation emphasizes the need for patience in business growth and setting clear goals for ...
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  25 - 3 Days From Closing: The Chaos, the Contractor Standoff, and the Advice That Changes Everything with Joel Wiegle 04.04.2026 38хв

  In this episode, Adam and Micah share their journey of transitioning from short-term rentals to owning a hotel. They discuss the challenges faced during the closing process, the importance of understanding lender dynamics, and the necessity of effective communication with contractors. The conversation highlights the significance of teamwork, operational efficiency, and the emotional investment in the property and its staff. They also reflect on the lessons learned throughout their journey and...