In this episode, David and Steve sit down with Eric Jenkins, General Manager of Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa. From his roots in Savannah, Georgia, to his hands-in-the-soil leadership style in La Jolla, Eric shares his unconventional path through hospitality, starting as a fry cook and rising through the ranks to manage one of Southern California’s most unique independent hotels.

In this episode, you'll learn about:

• How Southern hospitality shaped his career
• Why gardening, monarch butterflies, and creative outdoor spaces are part of his GM toolkit
• The power of Curator Hotel & Resort Collection in helping independent hotels compete with major chains
• Lessons from overseeing a major ownership transition and renovation

Watch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/E0nQehs3a3I

This episode is sponsored by the Curator Hotel & Resort Collection: https://www.curatorhotelsandresorts.com/

Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn page
The Modern Hotelier is produced, edited, and published by Make More Media

Links:
Curator: https://www.curatorhotelsandresorts.com/

Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa: https://www.estancialajolla.com/

Eric on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-jenkins-04a475a/

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/159

Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-...

Connect with Steve and David:
Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E...
David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mil.

What makes Chick-fil-A’s hospitality more than just good service?

In this episode, we're joined by Nicholas Lawrence, Executive Director of People & Culture, Chick-fil-A Local Franchise - Indianapolis and the founder of Lawrence Leadership.

Nick takes us behind the scenes of Chick-fil-A’s legendary hospitality culture—where “my pleasure” isn’t just a catchphrase, it’s a moral obligation. From his early days selling shirts and ties at Macy’s to leading people and culture at a top-performing franchise, Nick shares how leadership, emotional intelligence, and ownership are at the heart of every great customer experience.

What You’ll Learn:

• How Chick-fil-A builds a customer-first culture that rivals the best in hospitality
• Why local ownership makes all the difference in maintaining brand excellence
• Lessons from retail and HR that translate directly into hotel leadership
• Why emotional intelligence is the competitive edge for any hospitality business
• What “serving a higher purpose” really looks like in day-to-day operations

Whether you're leading a hotel team or running a restaurant, this episode is packed with actionable takeaways to elevate your guest experience.

Watch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/68j5jerfiG8

This episode is sponsored by Jonas Hospitality: https://www.jonashospitality.com/

Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn page
The Modern Hotelier is produced, edited, and published by Make More Media

Links:
Nicholas on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholas-lawrence-shrm-cp-59b76289/
Chick-fil-A Local Franchise: https://www.chick-fil-a.com/

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/158

Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-...

Connect with Steve and David:
Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E...
David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mil.

In this episode, David and Steve sit down with Davis Howatt-Lambert, VP of Marketing at Jonas Hospitality, to unpack how technology and human connection can co-exist in the future of hospitality. Davis shares his career journey from political science to hospitality tech, his love of golf and rock climbing, and how growing up in Edmonton shaped his leadership style.

They explore Jonas Hospitality’s unique "buy and hold" model, the evolution of guest experience through personalization and data, and why CDPs (Customer Data Platforms) might soon outshine CRMs. From AI and automation to personalized spa itineraries and self-service kiosks, Davis breaks down how hotels can enhance efficiency without losing the soul of hospitality.

Tune in to learn:

• The real difference between AI hype and AI value in hotels
• How Jonas Hospitality is creating a best-of-both-worlds platform
• Why personalization isn't a luxury—it’s the new standard
• What hotels can do today to set better guest expectations tomorrow

Watch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/5x3NCfFP53Q

This episode is sponsored by Jonas Hospitality: https://www.jonashospitality.com/

Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn page
The Modern Hotelier is produced, edited, and published by Make More Media

Links:
Davis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davis-howatt-lambert-a13966a8/

Jonas Hospitality: https://www.jonashospitality.com/

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/157

Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-...

Connect with Steve and David:
Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E...
David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mil.