In this episode of the Hotel Investor Playbook, we sit down with Keir Weimer, founder of Weekender Hotels, to unpack how he’s building a boutique hospitality brand designed for the long haul. Keir shares how he aligned his business with his personal lifestyle, his on-the-road strategy for sourcing deals, and the frameworks he’s using to scale Weekender into a generational hospitality company.

We dive into why building a recognizable brand creates enterprise value beyond just owning hotel assets, how he structures his investments for long-term holds, and why focusing on guest experience drives lasting financial results. Keir also breaks down his approach to acquisitions, how EOS has helped him step out of day-to-day operations, and how he’s setting up Weekender to inspire over a million guests a year.

Whether you’re an investor, operator, or aspiring hotel owner, you’ll walk away with practical insights on scaling strategically, building brand equity, and creating a hospitality company that stands the test of time.

Connect with Keir:

Email: keir@weekenderhotels.com

Instagram: @weekender_hotels

Website: https://weekenderhotels.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/weekender-hotels

Connect with Mike and Nate:

Instagram: @the_hotel_investor_playbook

Contact Us: info@hotelinvestorplaybook.com

Invest with us: Visit Malama-Capital.com for more information.

What does it really take to scale from your first hotel acquisition to managing a hospitality portfolio worth tens or even hundreds of millions?

In this episode, Michael and Nate sit down with Suraj Bhakta, CEO of NewGen Advisory, a leading hospitality brokerage with offices across 12 states and transactions in 44. Suraj brings over two decades of commercial real estate experience, having closed $850 million in hotel deals and facilitated nearly $500 million in capital raises. He’s also Chief Legal Counsel at NewGen Worldwide and a former managing partner of his own law firm.

Together, we dive deep into the real-world playbook for growing a hotel investment business - whether you’re acquiring your first property or trying to exit a $15 million deal.

We cover:

– What makes a hotel market worth investing in

– How to raise capital beyond friends and family

– Why the real pros plan their exit before they even buy

– SBA loans vs CMBS vs local banks: financing pros and cons

– The risks and rewards of boutique hotels vs flagged properties

– Why extended-stay hotels are gaining momentum

– How top investors scale and what separates them from the rest

If you’re serious about building wealth through boutique hotels and experiential hospitality, this episode will help you play the game like a pro.

Connect with Suraj:

Email: suraj.bhakta@newgenadv.com
Website: https://newgenadv.com/
Linkedin: Suraj Bhakta
Instagram: @newgenadvisory

Connect with Mike and Nate:

Instagram: @the_hotel_investor_playbook

Website: www.hotelinvestorplaybook.com

Contact Us: info@hotelinvestorplaybook.com

Interested in investing with Mike and Nate? Visit Malama-Capital.com for more information.

In this special Saturday edition, we’re flipping the script. No guest today — just Mike and Nate giving you a behind-the-scenes look at what’s going on inside Malama Capital.

After a listener reached out asking to hear more about our journey, we decided to hit record and share where we’re at, what we’re focused on, and how we’re thinking about the road ahead.

We cover:
Why Q2 is all about acquisitions and our $10M purchase goal

How we’ve restructured our team to create more bandwidth

Using ChatGPT to refine our buy box and narrow in on target markets

Our take on the current investment climate — and why uncertainty might be the window of opportunity

If you’re building your own hospitality investment business (or thinking about it), this is a real-time look at what that actually looks like.

Connect with Mike and Nate:

Instagram: @the_hotel_investor_playbook

Website: www.hotelinvestorplaybook.com

Contact Us: info@hotelinvestorplaybook.com

Interested in investing with Mike and Nate? Visit Malama-Capital.com for more information.