In this episode of Check-In with Bryan, Bryan sits down in person with returning guest Cody Adent, President and Chief Financial Officer of Vibrant Management, a forward-thinking hospitality management company specializing in boutique hotels, independent properties, and unique hospitality experiences.

Cody shares how Vibrant Management is expanding into markets like South Lake Tahoe, why their “Virtual GM” model works so well for smaller independent hotels, and how AI, automation, guest messaging, smart locks, revenue tools, and remote operations are reshaping the way boutique properties are managed.

The conversation also dives into hotel tech adoption, why hospitality is such a difficult industry for new software companies to break into, the role of AI in improving—not replacing—hotel operations, and why independent hotels need partners who understand their specific challenges.

Bryan and Cody also talk about BITAC, casino hospitality, guest data, OTA challenges, conference networking, hotel reviews, barn door disasters, family travel, and the realities of building long-term relationships in the hospitality industry.

In This Episode

• What a Virtual GM is and how it works
• Why smaller boutique hotels can benefit from remote operations
• How AI is being used in guest communication and revenue management
• Why hospitality tech companies need to play the long game
• The challenge of switching PMS, booking engines, and software systems
• Why independent hotels are often underserved by major conferences
• How Vibrant Management finds its niche with unique properties
• Cody’s path into hospitality through finance and hotel ownership
• What casino hotels can teach the rest of hospitality about data
• Why great hotel operations still come down to common sense
  
  
  #Hospitality #HotelManagement #BoutiqueHotels #IndependentHotels #HotelOperations #HospitalityIndustry #HotelTech #AIHospitality #RevenueManagement #HotelOwners #HotelDevelopment #VibrantManagement #CheckInWithBryan #BryanFish #HospitalityPodcast

In this episode of Check-In with Bryan, Bryan Fish sits down with Jason Ballard, SVP and Global Brand Leader for the Essentials Portfolio at Hyatt Hotels Corporation.

Jason shares how Hyatt is expanding into new markets through brands like Hyatt Studios, Hyatt Select, Caption by Hyatt, Hyatt Place, Hyatt House, Unscripted by Hyatt, and UrCove. The conversation dives into Hyatt’s approach to midscale and upper-midscale growth, owner-focused development, conversion strategy, brand discipline, guest experience, and what it takes to build hotel brands that actually work in the real world.

They also discuss Jason’s 20+ year career at Hyatt, how hospitality creates long-term opportunity, why travel changes people, and the leadership lessons he has learned from working across revenue management, operations, analytics, brand development, and global hotel strategy.

Topics covered:

* Hyatt’s growth in the essentials and midscale hotel space
* The strategy behind Hyatt Studios and Hyatt Select
* Why conversion brands are becoming more important
* How Hyatt thinks about owners, operators, and development costs
* Building hotels around real operational feedback
* The future of hotel loyalty and guest experience
* What makes Hyatt’s brand approach different
* Career lessons from 20+ years in hospitality
* Why travel and hospitality still matter

If you’re a hotel owner, developer, operator, investor, or hospitality professional, this conversation offers a deep look into where the hotel industry is heading and how one of the world’s most respected hospitality brands is thinking about growth.

Subscribe for more conversations with leaders across hospitality, hotel ownership, operations, development, branding, and business strategy.

#hoteldevelopment #hotelownership #hotelbrands #hospitalityleadership, #hotelconversions #midscale#hotels #HyattEssentials

What if the future of hospitality starts with better spaces?

In this episode of Check-In with Bryan, Bryan Fish sits down with Jeff Emmons, CEO of Immedia, to talk about how NextSpace became more than a showroom — it became an immersive experience center where clients can see, touch, test, and understand technology before making major investments.

Jeff breaks down how Immedia built a multi-million-dollar ecosystem around AV integration, workplace technology, smart meeting rooms, event rentals, hospitality tech, and podcast production — and why physical experience still matters in a digital world.

Bryan and Jeff also dig into what hotels can learn from this model, including built-in AV, smarter meeting spaces, guestroom automation, occupancy sensors, leak detection, energy savings, ROI, and the operational value of better data.

In this episode:

• How NextSpace became a sales and experience engine
• Why clients need to experience technology before buying it
• How built-in AV can improve hotel meeting spaces
• Why smart guestrooms can reduce costs and improve operations
• The ROI behind occupancy sensors, leak detection, and automation
• How podcast studios and content spaces are becoming business assets
• Why hospitality needs better technology infrastructure

Subscribe to Check-In with Bryan for more conversations on hospitality, hotel operations, technology, leadership, travel, business, and the future of guest experience.

#HospitalityTechnology
#HotelTechnology
#AVIntegration
#SmartHotels
#CheckInWithBryan