The Hospitality Mentor

Nathan Kaplan left his family's real estate business to build something closer to the life he wanted to live. That decision led to Grotto Baths, a social bathhouse preparing to open in Miami's Wynwood neighborhood.In this episode of The Hospitality Mentor Podcast, Steve Turk sits down with Nathan to explore how the idea became a business. Nathan shares how CrossFit changed his relationship with wellness and community, why he stepped away from a familiar career, and what it took to find a location, secure financing and bring the right partners together.They also get into the guest experience: sauna rituals, cold plunges, an outdoor café, and the challenge of growing a membership community while protecting access for the people who join.Nathan closes with a reminder for anyone building a business: approach the work with “I get to” instead of “I have to.”What you will learnLeaving a family business to pursue your own directionTurning an interest in wellness and community into a hospitality conceptFinding a Miami location and financing the projectBuilding a team with complementary skillsHow six parking spaces helped shape the café conceptBalancing membership growth with the guest experienceStaying grounded through the pressure of openingGrotto was preparing to open when this conversation was recorded in September 2026. Visit its website for the latest opening and membership updates.Chapters00:00 Meet Nathan Kaplan of Grotto Baths01:48 How CrossFit sparked a wellness shift04:05 Growing up in a real estate family05:09 Leaving the family business and finding support08:16 How the Grotto Baths idea took shape11:01 What makes a social bathhouse different13:25 Finding a Miami location and financing the vision15:58 Building the hospitality team and guest experience19:51 Growing Grotto’s founding member community21:09 Balancing membership growth and the guest experience22:18 Sauna rituals, cold plunges and the outdoor café25:06 Nathan’s advice on approaching the workLinksGrotto BathsNathan Kaplan on LinkedInPresented by Lodgify.Subscribe to The Hospitality Mentor for conversations with the people building and leading hospitality businesses.

How do you build a luxury resort on an island most travelers have never visited? Michael Tibbetts shares the story behind Salterra in South Caicos and the decisions that made it possible.Michael is the founder and CEO of Salterra, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa. Before committing fully to hospitality, he was an ophthalmologist balancing patient care with responsibility for his family's resorts in the Cayman Islands.In this episode of The Hospitality Mentor Podcast, he joins Steve Turk to discuss what medicine taught him about trust, how he made the decision to change careers and what it took to turn an existing property into a luxury resort with a clear sense of place.We get into:What caring for patients taught Michael about caring for guests and leading teamsWhy outside experience can make you a stronger leader in a family businessHow South Caicos' salt history shaped Salterra's design and guest experienceThe shipping, staffing and access challenges behind a small-island resortWhy he chose Marriott's Luxury Collection for SalterraWhy a major hotel affiliation still requires personal sales and relationship workThe human skills Michael believes future hospitality leaders should developExplore Salterra:https://www.salterra.com/Presented by Lodgify. Use promo code THM60 for the show's Lodgify offer. See Lodgify for current terms and eligible plans:https://www.lodgify.com/Subscribe to The Hospitality Mentor for conversations with the people building, operating and leading hospitality businesses.00:00 Welcome and Lodgify00:44 Meet Michael Tibbetts02:33 A first job on the landscaping crew03:16 His family's Cayman Islands resort legacy04:51 Choosing a career in medicine07:10 What patient care taught him about hospitality10:22 How to handle difficult conversations13:02 Choosing between medicine and the family business17:01 Finding the South Caicos opportunity21:28 Rethinking the project during COVID23:19 The story behind Salterra's design27:35 Partners, construction and island logistics29:00 Making South Caicos easier to reach31:28 Staff housing and a global team33:12 Why join Marriott's Luxury Collection?34:50 Why the owner still has to build relationships37:34 Gelato, family and the moments guests remember39:04 Michael's vision for Salterra's next chapter41:07 Advice for future hospitality leaders

Host Steve Turk interviews Melissa Blettner, CEO of Boyd Hollow Resorts and Ancient Lore Village in Knoxville, Tennessee. Melissa explains founder Tom Boyd’s book inspired mission to create a fantasy village where only good exists and guests leave happier, kinder, and friendlier. She shares her hospitality start from an XL Inn front desk job to studying hospitality management, advancing through roles in front office, sales, and leadership, and spending 20 years at Great Wolf Lodge building brand culture, openings, and a large call center with strong standards. After Great Wolf’s culture shifted following Blackstone’s acquisition and a corporate move to Chicago, she consulted before joining Boyd Hollow. Ancient Lore Village offers 14 themed dwellings on 67 acres, day passes, dining, axe throwing, archery, events, retreats, and weddings, and is expanding with Boki’s Trek Experience and an Ancient Lore Wellbeing Retreat.00:00 Show Kickoff00:31 Sponsor Lodgify01:34 Meet Melissa02:23 Ancient Lore Origin04:03 First Hospitality Job06:08 Breaking Into Hotels07:51 Career Steps Forward10:18 Great Wolf Breakthrough12:44 Growing at Great Wolf16:13 Call Center Culture17:41 Brand Building Playbook21:19 Leaving After 20 Years22:12 From Mars To Buyout22:49 Dream Big Consulting Reality24:24 Finding Boyne Hollow26:19 What Ancient Lore Offers28:23 Managing Crowds And Groups30:39 Small Resort Big Opening32:20 Guests Define The Magic34:41 Future Attractions And Wellness36:02 Luxury Not Kitschy Design40:13 Team Growth And Mentorship42:10 Advice And Farewell

Host Steve Turk introduces Josef Forstmayr, managing director of Round Hill Hotel and Villas in Jamaica. Forstmayr shares growing up working in his parents’ Austrian farm restaurant, attending hotel school in Salzburg, and arriving in Jamaica in 1979 as a German tutor before quickly becoming an assistant manager and advancing to GM roles, including rebuilding Trident after Hurricane Allen. Hired in 1989 to convert Round Hill from a winter-only operation to a year-round resort, he describes evolving the property into a family- and group-friendly luxury destination guided by “timeless elegance, understated luxury, warm Jamaican heart,” with design input from shareholder Ralph Lauren and tech perspective from Bob Pittman. He emphasizes Jamaica’s authentic luxury, staff legacy across generations, strong community investment and charity work, rapid recovery after Hurricane Melissa, and advises young hoteliers to learn multiple languages to build international careers.00:00 Welcome to the Podcast00:31 Sponsor Lodgify Message01:34 Meet Josef in Jamaica01:57 First Job and Jamaica Move04:13 Hurricanes and Career Growth06:11 Transforming Round Hill Year Round09:02 Growing Up in Family Restaurant11:23 Why He Stayed in Jamaica14:27 Round Hill Owners and Design19:08 Evolving with Core Values23:53 Real Jamaica Beyond Cruises29:52 Community Hikes and Belonging31:27 Running Long Term with Locals33:32 Giving Back and Hurricane Recovery36:33 Future of Authentic Luxury Jamaica39:27 Advice Learn More Languages42:04 Wrap Up and Where to Visit

In this “random show” episode of The Hospitality Mentor Podcast, Steve Turk shares a multi-generational Miami Beach staycation at the Marriott Stanton South Beach, highlighting the South of Fifth location, Michelin star-winning The Den inside Azabu, and strong beach service and guest acknowledgment as a key hospitality lesson. He also recommends the Loews Miami Beach Hotel’s Sushi Bar inside Bar Collins, praising Chef Khaleel Ali and the value of standout culinary “hidden gems” in big hotels. The family then takes the Brightline train from Miami to Orlando for a Disney trip, emphasizing assigned seating, onboard amenities, and the productivity and low-stress benefits versus driving. In Orlando, he reviews the Signia by Hilton (connected to Waldorf Astoria) as a strong value with great rooms, pool, restaurants, and fireworks views, noting slower bus transport to the parks, and shares a Disney day tip: book an air-conditioned sit-down meal like the Brown Derby. He announces the launch of staybaya.com for Baya, his upscale resort on a tropical fruit farm in Miami’s Redland area targeting a mid-year opening next summer with a $50 VIP program offering 40% discounts, and he confirms plans for a Hospitality Power Breakfast series, with the first eight-person event hosted at The Moor in the Design District.Thank you to this episode's sponsor, Lodgify. Make sure to use promo code THM60 for 60% off. 00:00 Welcome and Topics00:39 Sponsor Lodgify 01:25 Miami Beach Staycation02:37 South Beach Service Lesson03:54 Loews Sushi Find05:28 Brightline to Orlando07:31 Signia Hotel Review09:41 Disney Dining Tip11:05 Train Back and Florida Travel12:08 Baya Resort Announcement13:31 Hospitality Power Breakfast14:14 Wrap Up and Subscribe

In a solo “random show” episode, Steve shares recent travel experiences and hospitality takeaways. He recaps six weeks of travel from HITEC in San Antonio to San Francisco with the Baya team, a visit to One Thread Farm, scouting land in Desert Hot Springs, and a last-minute trip to St. John in the US Virgin Islands, noting “island time” and the national-park beaches. A highlight is chartering to Jost Van Dyke to swim ashore to the Soggy Dollar Bar, home of the original Painkiller, and lessons on memorable arrival, history, and premium branding. He previews upcoming stays at Marriott Stanton Miami Beach and a family trip to Disney via Brightline, discussing hotel and Disney upsells and reducing purchase friction. He announces a new Hospitality Power Breakfast launching next month at The Moore in Miami, and gives a Baya Miami update, including site work, a 2027 opening plan, and an upcoming website launch. This episode is brought to you by Lodgify with code THM60 for 60% off yearly products 00:00 Solo Random Show00:25 Sponsor Lodgify01:36 Travel Whirlwind Recap02:34 Island Time St John03:24 Soggy Dollar Adventure04:33 Painkiller And Vibes07:06 Lessons And Branding08:07 Miami Beach Birthday Stay09:01 Brightline To Disney10:14 Upsells And Disney Planning12:05 Hospitality Power Breakfast13:32 Launching At The Moore14:47 Topics And Third Places15:44 Baya Miami Update16:17 Wrap Up And Farewell

Host Steve Turk interviews Mario Del Duca, Managing Director of Nuba, a 30+ year-old luxury travel company focused on high end outbound leisure that expanded into the Americas via acquisitions in Mexico and Miami. Mario oversees the Americas and says the business has nearly tripled under his leadership. Mario shares his nontraditional path from banking in London/New York to an MBA at IE in Madrid, entrepreneurship in Mexico, and a year and a half of world travel that led to social media driven hotel partnerships and eventually becoming an independent travel consultant before Nuba acquired his agency. They discuss serving high and ultra-high net worth clients, the importance of client profiling and problem solving, using technology and AI to enhance (not replace) advisors, growth plans across Latin America, and travel trends like Japan and slower, secondary destination travel.The Hospitality Mentor Podcast is sponsored by Lodgify (60% off yearly/bi-yearly plans with code THM60)00:00 Podcast Welcome00:31 Sponsor Lodgify01:34 Meet Mario Del Duca01:53 What Is Nuba03:31 From Banking To Travel07:22 Quitting Banking For MBA10:54 Entrepreneur Roots12:02 Moving To Mexico13:03 Remote Work World Travel17:44 From Influencer To Advisor20:50 Luxury Advisor Reality Check22:31 Owning Client Problems23:51 Perks and Lifestyle24:48 Remote Discipline26:25 Nuba Client Profile29:51 Designing Bespoke Trips32:38 AI Versus Human Touch37:18 Growth and Hiring Advisors40:48 Hot Destinations Trends44:37 Career Advice Closing

Host Steve Turk interviews Nikheel Advani , co-founder and COO of Grace Bay Resorts, who shares how he entered hospitality at 16 after his father pushed him to work, leading to dishwashing, banqueting, and founding a small events company in Singapore. He trained at UMass Amherst, worked in restaurants and hotels, joined a Pizza Uno turnaround team, then spent years with Ritz-Carlton opening multiple properties and emphasizing mentorship. He became hotel manager at Singapore’s Raffles, helped elevate its global ranking, then moved to Turks and Caicos to build a hotel into Grace Bay Resorts, focusing on training, local talent, service excellence, food and beverage, airlift, and a luxury branded-residence model that funds development and gives owners hotel access and rental income. It's an amazing episode with fantastic stories and pieces of advice that you should listen to today. A big thank you to our sponsor, Lodgify. Make sure to use promo code THM60 when you sign up at Lodgify00:00 Sponsor Lodgify01:07 Meet Nikheel Advani01:48 First Hospitality Job02:08 Dad’s Tough Lesson03:21 Starting a Company at 1604:42 Choosing Hotel School07:18 UMass and Working Through School08:42 Pizza Turnaround Years10:09 Breaking Into Ritz Carlton11:48 Mentors That Changed Everything14:42 Leaving for Raffles Singapore16:24 Running an Iconic Hotel17:28 Profit Meets Guest Experience18:35 Leap to Turks and Caicos20:57 Caribbean Service Reset21:55 Risk and Ownership Leap22:55 Partners and Fast Decisions23:56 Awards and Signature Wins25:43 Building Local Talent28:29 Selling a New Destination31:46 Airlift and Island Strategy34:08 Next Projects Pipeline36:06 Branded Residences Model38:59 Advice and Farewell

Live from HITEC in San Antonio, the Steve Turk and Sarah Dandashy recap the inaugural Hospitality Creator Summit, created by Anna Blue and Anthony Melchiorri, which drew 200+ attendees for a full day of networking and creator-focused education. Sara shares first impressions of the high-energy event, meeting online peers in person, and the supportive, low-ego atmosphere. A panel on “behind the brand deal” featured Margaritaville and My Place Hotels discussing how brands choose creators, partnership paths from in-kind to paid, and the challenge of tracking bookings driven by content, including working with small-audience creators for fit and aesthetic. They note sessions on newsletters and podcasting milestones, HITEC’s creator booth with interview and green-screen setups, and floor trends like better booth experiences, fewer AI buzzwords but more specific integrations, data consolidation, and room automation savings, plus a push for brands to create personality-driven, value-first content.A big shout out to our sponsor Lodgify! Starting June 17th to June 30th, use promo code THM60 for 60% off00:00 Live From HITEC00:21 Sponsor Shoutout - Lodgify 00:58 Creator Summit Recap02:55 Brand Deals Panel05:09 Creator Growth Tips05:50 Meet Tyler Behind Scenes06:37 Content Booth Setup07:31 HITEC Floor Highlights08:27 Tech Trends And AI09:57 Venue Vibes San Antonio10:16 Creators Take Over10:57 Booth Snacks and Vibes11:24 Why Brands Need Content12:55 Make Value Not Ads14:19 One Post Big Impact16:05 HCS First Day Energy17:54 After Party and Wrap

Host Steve Turk interviews Milan Mijatovic, founder of SILA Miami. Milan explains SILA as a social wellness club in Upper Buena Vista featuring longevity services (float tank, hyperbaric oxygen, lymphatic suit, red light therapy, bioscan/bodywork), outdoor classes (yoga, Pilates, functional strength, kettlebells), and contrast therapy (cold plunges and a 14-person sauna). He recounts starting in hospitality as a dishwasher at Atlanta’s Dante’s Down the Hatch, moving to Chicago to become a bartender and competition mixologist, then relocating to Miami where he worked at the Versace Mansion reopening, Regent Cocktail Bar alongside Julio Cabrera, and as a cachaça brand ambassador. After nightlife management at Rockwell and reflecting on industry excesses, a trucking-business detour, and a renewed focus on recovery and nature, he launched SILA without a formal business plan, emphasizing community support, systems, and a goal of a second location and future beach flagship.00:00 Podcast Welcome00:31 Sponsor Lodgify01:34 Meet Milan02:48 What Is Sila04:13 Steve Joins Sila05:17 First Hospitality Job09:52 Chicago Hustle12:13 Cocktail Roots14:18 Mixology Rise15:31 Miami Calling17:31 Cuba Turning Point20:58 Versace And Regent22:32 Brand Ambassador Era23:48 Nightlife Management26:43 Surviving The Scene28:59 Wellness Seeds30:11 COVID Pivot to Trucking31:34 Owning the Leap33:17 Back to Nightlife Again34:31 Wellness Aha Moment35:35 Cold Plunge Origins38:11 Third Shot at Business40:25 CELA Vision and Nature42:37 Finding the Perfect Space46:08 Building Sila Community50:08 Next 12 Months Vision51:57 Trust the Journey52:59 Closing and Sponsor