E58. The Dealmaker

In this episode of Checking In, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Hotelier magazine, hosts a roundtable discussion with four leading hospitality educators about the state of education across Canada. The four educators ─ Bruce McAdams from the University of Guelph; Frank Menezes from George Brown Polytechnic; Michelle Caine, from Centennial College, and Rudi Fischbacher, principal, Staycraft Strategies Inc. ─ discuss how funding cutbacks and program changes are impacting the educational sector across the country and examine what these changes mean for today’s students and the future of the hospitality industry.

In this episode of Checking In, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Hotelier magazine, speaks with Shannon McCallum, vice-president, Hotel Operations, Resorts World Las Vegas. The conversation touches on McCallum’s career ─ starting at the Fairmont Vancouver Hotel Airport to now leading the Resorts Worldwide umbrella, consisting of three separate hotel properties spanning 3,506 rooms. Among the varied topics the two discuss are the challenges and opportunities of operating in the competitive Las Vegas market, how technology is helping her properties operate more efficiently and what it means to be a woman executive in a man’s world.

In this episode of Checking In, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Hotelier magazine, speaks with Paul Hawes, president and CEO of the BC Hotel Association. Their discussion focuses on the various factors impacting his association members — from high operational  costs to the challenges of finding talent to the growth of sustainability initiatives and more.

In this episode of Checking In, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Hotelier magazine speaks with Daniel Gallant, vice-president of the Epik Collection, a Montreal-based group of independent boutique hotel properties. Their conversation touches on the company’s success by offering luxury havens that capitalize on art, local charm and personalized service, delivered through a unique and fluid management system whereby team leaders manage the properties as a unit instead of being guided by a general manager.

In this special episode of Checking In, celebrating International Women’s Month, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Hotelier magazine, speaks with Patricia Phillips, CEO and Chair of the PBA Group of Companies, a diversified real-estate and hospitality company, headquartered in Calgary Alberta.  As one of the few female CEO leaders in the hospitality industry, Phillips has led PBA’s transformation from one of Canada’s largest landowners into one of Western Canada’s most innovative developers and hospitality innovators and she’s done it by pioneering a distinctive management and development model, astute deal-making,  and a compassionate and empathetic leadership style.

In this episode of Checking In, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Hotelier magazine speaks with Gaurav Gupta, president of the Montreal-based Artifact Group. The episode explores the intricacies of hotel operations, from F&B to Design to Technology, all the while emphasizing the importance of adaptability and the importance of understanding market demands.

In this episode of Checking In, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Hotelier magazine, speaks with Greg Hegger, co-founder and COO of Fox Fold. The two discuss the company's mission to provide high-quality tissue products and its dedication to crafting soft, strong and sustainable tissue products that not only meet the needs of their customers, while saving money, but also contribute to a healthier planet.

In this episode of Checking In, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Hotelier magazine, speaks with Guillaume Benezech, senior director of Global Brand Management and Marketing for the Ritz-Carlton and Ritz-Carlton Reserve, about the need for luxury hoteliers to fulfill their brand promise. Benezech discusses the importance of crafting personalized experiences that promote authenticity and exclusivity, creating unforgettable moments, and consistently meeting and exceeding customer expectations in order to maintain a strong brand identity while ensuring long-term success in the luxury market.

In this episode of Checking In, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Hotelier, speaks with Tony Elenis, president and CEO of the Ontario Restaurant Hotel & Motel Association, about some of the most important issues his association is dealing with. including labour challenges, wholesale liquor changes in the province, and the uncertainty surrounding the potential impact of tariffs.

In this episode of Checking In, Rosanna Caira, editor and publisher of Hotelier magazine speaks with Andrew Weir, president and CEO of Destination Toronto about the growing importance of tourism, the impact of special concert and sporting events on the visitor economy and the challenges and opportunities that Toronto faces as we head into a new year.