Monthly Archives: September 2025

Regenerative Hotels: The Future of Hospitality. TSHS-131

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Regenerative Hotels: The Future of Hospitality

Forget “sustainable” — the next wave of hospitality is regenerative. Architect Francesco Allaix joins Sam-Erik Ruttmann to discuss how regenerative hotels restore landscapes, empower local communities, and create more meaningful guest experiences.

From rewilding valleys in Cyprus to Nordic timber architecture, you’ll hear how hotels can become engines of healing and resilience — for both people and planet.

🌿 What makes regenerative design different from sustainability?
🌿 How hotels can embrace community and culture
🌿 Why regenerative resorts attract tomorrow’s travelers

Subscribe for more insights from global hospitality leaders shaping the future.

😅 Image 15.9.2025 at 16.07

If you’ve ever wondered what happens when the mics are still warm but the pressure is off—welcome to Off The Mic. 🎙️

It’s the companion show where I sit down with my guests after the main conversation, in a relaxed atmosphere, to explore the lighter side of life. From personal stories to quirky rituals, and those fun, unexpected questions—you’ll meet the person behind the professional.

https://premiumpodcast.show/afterthemicunscriptedchat

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What I Learned Working With Giorgio Armani on His Iconic Hotels. TSHS -130

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Step inside the world of Armani Hotels Dubai & Milan, where Giorgio Armani’s vision of fashion and lifestyle hospitality came to life. In this exclusive interview, Marc Dardenne, the hotelier who worked directly with Armani, reveals behind-the-scenes stories about creating the world’s first Armani-branded hotels.

From designing luxury guest experiences without a front desk to Armani’s obsession with detail (yes, even the soap color!), this episode uncovers what it takes to bring a fashion icon’s DNA into the world of hotels.

💬 You’ll learn:

  • How Giorgio Armani redefined luxury hotel design
  • The challenges of blending fashion with hospitality operations
  • Stories from the opening of Armani Hotel Dubai in Burj Khalifa
  • Why Armani’s philosophy of simplicity, elegance, and humility still inspires hoteliers today

✨ Whether you’re passionate about luxury travel, hotel design, or fashion-led hospitality, this episode offers rare insights from the man who built it with Armani himself.

 

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OFF THE MIC

🌟Unscripted: If you enjoyed this conversation, wait until you hear what happens Off The Mic – After the interview ends, the mic stays on. Hear candid, unfiltered conversations with Marc Dardenne, sharing anecdotes and revealing personal stories about Giorgio Armani, only available in the OFF THE MIC SHOW.

Hit that bell icon, because the best insights often happen Off The Mic.”

Subscribe for exclusive access to OFF THE MIC, which is the audience-supported companion show

https://premiumpodcast.show/afterthemicunscriptedchat

 

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Secrets to Thriving in Dubai’s Fast-Changing Hotel Market. TSHS-129

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🚀 Dubai’s hospitality market is one of the fastest-growing and most competitive in the world. In this episode of The Social Hotelier Show, I sit down with Paul Williams, Founder & CEO of Spearhead Creativity, to uncover the secrets behind building powerful brands in the GCC.

With over 20 years of experience shaping iconic names like Accor, Cartier, Millennium Hotels & Dubai Tourism, Paul shares:
✅ How global brands can adapt to Dubai’s unique culture
✅ The role of AI and storytelling in future branding
✅ Why the mid-market segment is the biggest opportunity todayFpaul williams
✅ Lessons on personal branding and legacy in the Middle East

Off the Mic

If you’d like to go even deeper, beyond the projects and into the personalities, don’t miss Off the Mic, our companion show where guests reveal lighter moments and the person behind the professional. The link is in the description. Join us there. https://premiumpodcast.show/afterthemicunscriptedchat

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Why Storytelling is essential in both filmmaking and hospitality. TSHS- 128

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Why Storytelling is essential in both filmmaking and hospitality.

In this episode, I have a conversation with award-winning filmmaker Jaze Bordeaux about the art of storytelling in hospitality. Bordeaux shares his journey from finance to filmmaking, emphasizing the importance of crafting compelling narratives that resonate emotionally with audiences.

He discusses how hoteliers can create authentic guest experiences by anchoring their brand stories in emotional truths and relatable experiences.

The conversation explores the balance between authenticity and commercial polish, the significance of casting the right people in hospitality, and the importance of audience response over industry recognition. Bordeaux concludes with advice for hoteliers to commit to their unique stories, ensuring they connect with their guests on a deeper level.

This how Jaze feels about hotels:

 

…And I feel like with hotels, it’s incredible because it’s a space where there’s so many people coming through, there’s so many stories that are being told. Every hotel, even if it’s a franchise hotel, has something slightly distinct about it.

 

…And I feel as though if you can literally make that a character, like part of the crew, the, you know, the cast of employees that are there, it’s really easy, for example, for people to remember and talk about it. Here we are on this podcast.

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