Culture is the Heart of Hospitality

with Abdul Baaghil

Hospitality Daily is brought to you with support from Sojern’s new fully-managed email marketing service.

Today, we’re learning from Abdul Baaghil, co-founder of Harvest Cotton Tail, a hotel development and advisory firm.

The Big Idea: Great hotels balance two cultures: the local culture and its own distinct identity.

Why It Matters: Guests don’t just want a place to stay—they want a story to step into. Hotels that thoughtfully integrate local influences while cultivating a unique personality build deeper connections with guests and stand out in a competitive market.

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The hotel is no longer about the furnishings and the chandelier and the flooring and the paintings on the wall. It's about humans. That's the culture you need to bring in.

Abdul Baaghil

Want more? Listen to Abdul talk more about this today on the Hospitality Daily Podcast (available on Spotify or Apple Podcasts)

Today’s Takeaways:

Find the right balance – Ensure your hotel embodies the local culture but also has a distinct personality that makes it unique.
Hire and source locally – Your people and products should reflect the destination to create an authentic guest experience.
Develop a compelling narrative – A great hotel tells a story through its design, service, and atmosphere. What’s yours?
Go beyond aesthetics – True hospitality is about how guests feel, not just what they see.
Cultivate a strong internal culture – Your team should understand and embody your hotel’s unique identity..

A MESSAGE FROM SOJERN

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Culture is the Heart of Hospitality

A MESSAGE FROM SOJERN

Turn More Lookers into Bookers with Fully Managed Email Campaigns

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