Ep 245 - From Tragedy to Terra: How Diana & Josh Built Palm Springs’ First Wellness Hotel

This episode is a masterclass in turning pain into purpose.

Diana and Josh, two married architects, were forced to reimagine their future after losing both their fathers in 2021.

What began as a journey to escape the W-2 grind became Terra Palm Springs, the city’s first true wellness boutique hotel.

They reveal how they:

• Pivoted from flips and BRRRRs into commercial real estate

• Used their design and construction edge to underwrite with vision

• Created immersive guest experiences that transcend hospitality

• Built three synergistic businesses to scale with intention

• Took bold action while honoring their deepest personal “why”

This story will move you, inspire you, and give you a real blueprint for building a brand, and a life that matters.

What You’ll Learn:

• How to spot your unfair advantage (and actually use it)

• The key to underwriting without inflating projections

• What makes a boutique hotel truly stand out

• How to transition from short-term rentals to hotel ownership

• Why generosity is the secret weapon in hospitality

00:00 - Action drives clarity

00:35 - Process-proven growth

01:36 - Power couple feature

02:20 - Life-changing loss

05:55 - Strategic shift to scale

07:26 - Expert system builders

09:50 - Value-add obsession

10:56 - Underwrite with confidence

14:30 - Unapologetic branding

16:42 - First-of-its-kind wellness hotel

21:00 - Team-powered execution

25:40 - The real estate awakening

28:00 - Finding purpose through pain

31:30 - Create your unfair advantage

36:00 - Future-built freedom

43:00 - Hospitality secret: give generously

Guest Bio:

Diana and Josh Dobken have 15+ years of experience in the architecture and construction industries. They strategically invest in value-add opportunities where they can use their design expertise to maximize their return on investment. Additionally, Diana and Josh co-host 35+ MTRs and STRs across multiple states for other real estate investors, bringing their hospitality standards and design sensibility to each property we manage.

Beyond property investment, Diana and Josh also manage comprehensive operations teams for hotels, with them overseeing director of operations roles and guest experience management. This hands-on operational experience gives them invaluable insights into how design decisions impact day-to-day functionality and guest satisfaction.

Their most current project involves the Architectural and Interior design of Terra Palm Springs, the first wellness Boutique Hotel in Palm Springs featured in Vogue, Forbes, Hotels Above Par, and selected as part of Travel and Leisure It List of 2025’ 100 Best New Hotels in the World.

Guest Link:

http://www.instagram.com/d.i.fi

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