It's Time For Transformational Leadership

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Friends, it’s election day here in the US, and I wanted to share two things that I feel are relevant for you today. First, a bit of history and context so you understand why I do what I do here at Hospitality Daily…

If we look back, changes in media have changed elections:

🎙️Radio for Roosevelt

📺 TV for Kennedy

👥 Facebook for Obama

🐦 Twitter for Trump

What’s unique about this election is that both Harris and Trump turned to podcasts over other media to convince people. Data is on their side:

134 Million Americans listen to podcasts today (Bloomberg)
Podcasts attract a diverse audience across various age groups: 59% of individuals aged 12-34, 55% of those aged 35-54, and 27% of those aged 55 and older (Edison Research)
Podcasts can lift awareness 30 times the lift rates of other media such as digital display ads, print, or TV (Claritas)
75% of listeners they trust podcasts (Deloitte)
62% take action after hearing a podcast guest or ad (Neilsen)

Conversations are the cornerstone of what we do here at Hospitality Daily because they work. There’s no better way to change hearts and minds in media than hearing someone talk about something in depth, sharing stories and what they’ve learned. And I think this will only increase with time, as I shared on LinkedIn this morning:

All of this is why I’m re-sharing a conversation I had with Craig Poole today - one that changed me perhaps more than any other - about why it’s time for transformational leadership in hospitality. Let’s get into it…

It's Time For Transformational Hospitality Leadership

Craig Poole

Craig Poole is a three-time Hilton Connie Award winner and was named General Manager of the Year by the American Hotel & Lodging Association for his remarkable work at the DoubleTree in Redding, Pennsylvania. His hotel not only excels financially, but it also impacts lives, from staff to guests to the broader community.

The big idea: Hospitality businesses can be a force for positive change and renewal unlike any other, but that requires a different approach to leadership.

Why this matters: We live in a divided society and need a better way to connect with each other, take care of each other, and create better communities for ourselves, our families, and our guests.

The US election today odds are 50/50 (how is that possible?! 😳)
2/3 of Americans say the country is on the wrong track

This newsletter is not - and never will be - about politics. It’s about the power of hospitality, and today, Craig shows us in vivid color what this can look like - a hotel that is a beacon of hope and opportunity, addressing societal issues like poverty and unemployment while achieving unparalleled financial success.

Go deeper: Listen to Craig and I discuss this today on the Hospitality Daily Podcast (Apple Podcasts, Spotify), where we cover:

Hospitality as a vehicle for social change
The impact of community-first hiring and local engagement
Building resilience and long-term success through staff support
The importance of authentic, purpose-driven leadership
The financial payoff of a purpose-driven hotel model

Takeaways for today:

Embrace Hospitality for Transformation: See your hotel as a vehicle for social impact. Craig’s work shows that empowering local talent and uplifting the community is good for business and society.
Cultivate a People-First Culture: Craig’s story shows hospitality leadership is all about serving people—from employees to guests. A culture that values each person drives loyalty and can elevate the entire community.
Implement Purpose-Driven Hiring: By hiring individuals from marginalized backgrounds, including those with past criminal records, you can create a loyal, motivated team that thrives when given support and a fresh start.
Invest in Employee Well-Being: By supporting staff with financial literacy, homeownership assistance, and citizenship support, Craig helps his team build stable lives. This reduces turnover and deepens the hotel’s role as a community pillar.
Lead by Example with Authenticity: I love Craig’s philosophy of “sitting on the curb” with employees and neighbors, showing genuine interest in their lives and challenges. Engaging like this builds trust and loyalty from your staff to your community and beyond.

Share your thoughts and join the discussion on the Hospitality Daily LinkedIn page

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A few final things:

If you have any thoughts, ideas, questions, or suggestions for Hospitality Daily, please reply to this email. I’d love to hear from you!
If you have something that would benefit the hospitality professionals who read, listen to, and watch Hospitality Daily,