In this episode, Lisa Karvellas, co-owner of Cedar Lakes Estate, shares insights on how she and her sister transformed a former summer camp into a high-end retreat and built a remarkable workplace culture that earned them a spot on the Inc. 500 Best Places to Work list.

• Approach to hiring and staffing (01:51) - Lisa explains their unique hiring strategies, including the benefits of hiring locally and the importance of giving employees multiple chances to succeed.
• Interview process and key questions (04:11) - Discover the fun and insightful questions they ask during interviews to determine if a candidate is a good fit for their culture.
• Creating a culture of fun and excellence (05:38) - Lisa shares practical ways they foster a fun yet high-performing work environment, including allowing staff to be themselves and encouraging creative programming ideas.
• Community engagement and employee pride (08:25) - Understand how Cedar Lakes Estate engages with the local community and instills a sense of pride in its employees, making it a magnetic place to work.
• Intensive training programs (09:38) - Learn about their rigorous training programs, including the two-day "Camp Cedar," which ensures all employees meet their high standards of service and excellence.

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Music by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

In this episode, Lisa Karvellas, co-owner of Cedar Lakes Estate, shares how she and her sister transformed a 1920s summer camp into a world-class destination for weddings, retreats, and boutique hospitality.

• Adapting to New Uses: Learn how Lisa and her sister adapted Cedar Lakes Estate to function both as an event venue and a boutique hotel.
• The Importance of Guest Feedback: Discover the role of guest feedback in shaping strategy and accelerating growth.
• Creating Exclusive, Immersive Event Experiences: Get tips on what it takes to provide these experiences.
• Maintaining an Engaging Workplace: Understand how Lisa maintains a fun and engaging workplace for her staff.
• Winter Operations: Hear why Cedar Lakes Estate stays open during the off-season and how it benefits their staff and operations.
• Event Hosting Philosophy: Explore why Lisa and her team focus on events and their unique approach to hosting weddings and retreats.
• Slow and Steady Growth: Learn the importance of slowly growing a hospitality business and listening to client feedback.
• Post-COVID Changes: Find out how the event world has changed post-COVID and how Cedar Lakes Estate has adapted.
• Creating a Fun Environment: Learn about the importance of fun as a core value at Cedar Lakes Estate and how it contributes to their success.

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Music by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

In this episode, Dino Michael, Hilton's Global Category Head of Luxury Brands, shares insights into how Hilton balances technology and human interaction to elevate the guest experience.

Listen now to learn about:

• How Hilton collects and uses guest preferences to personalize stays.
• Strategies for achieving excellence at scale across multiple luxury brands.
• The importance of taking team members on a journey to ensure they feel connected and empowered in their roles.
• The importance of reading guest cues to provide a seamless experience.
• The role of emotional cues, sensory elements, and behavior of team members in amplifying the guest experience.
• Hilton’s approach to innovation, including technology such as digital keys.
• The parallels between luxury hospitality and other luxury verticals, and how these insights can be applied across the industry.

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Music by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands