Since launching in 2018, Hospitality Design’s What I’ve Learned podcast has been central to uplifting the voices and stories of those in the hospitality industry. 2024 was no different: Listeners from more than 100 countries listened to 24 episodes across 1,240 minutes. This year, those conversations continued to provide a candid look into the people ushering the industry into a new era.
Mario Tricoci
Mario Tricoci has continued to reimagine the lifestyle hospitality landscape since founding Aparium Hotel Group more than a decade ago. Today, the hotel owner and operator counts 11 properties in its portfolio, with four slated to open this year. Among the new openings is the Populus hotel in Denver, which touts itself as a carbon-positive property with a compelling sustainability story—a new frontier for the veteran hotelier. In this podcast episode, Tricoci shares how his philosophy of finding the right partner, place, and product has led to Aparium’s decade-plus of success. Listen to the full episode.
Sam Fox
At only 21 years old, Sam Fox opened his first restaurant. It was the first of many for Fox, who now counts a portfolio of more than 50 restaurants across the U.S. Fox’s career continues to flourish, leading him to take on a new challenge with the launch of the Global Ambassador, a luxury hotel in Phoenix that is centered around five of his newly created restaurants. In the episode, Fox shares how his past paved the way for a career as one of the country’s most prolific restaurateurs. Listen to the full episode.
Aliya Khan
As vice president of global design strategies for Marriott International’s lifestyle brands, Aliya Khan has helped refine the design language of brands such as Aloft, Moxy, AC Hotels, and Westin. Khan—who has lived in Hong Kong, Houston, Singapore, and Pakistan—credits her successful career to an upbringing that instilled in her an appreciation for culture, architecture, and art. Listen to the full episode to learn how Khan is redefining hospitality across Marriott’s portfolio.
More from HD:
The 72 Best Hotel Openings of 2024
Project Breakdown: The Manner from Standard International
Cj Hendry Makes Her Art Approachable
