Stay In Good Company

“Fanø and Esbjerg are my home, but you need to get inspiration abroad as well. And when we lived in Copenhagen, we came once a month here to slow down, to set a different pace than we do in our daily lives. Now we live here, we visit Copenhagen, we visit Hamburg, we travel the world, because we still need that energy.” S7. | E3. We’re in great company with Mette Hyttel, the Creative Co-Owner of not one, but two boutique hotels on the western coast of Denmark, Fanø Krogaard and Hjerting Badehotel - both perfectly placed to savor the senses of the seaside, from the smell of the lightly salted air to the view of the sea buckthorn blowing in the wind. After pursuing a creative career in Copenhagen, Mette was called home to the familiar family atmosphere of these seaside hotels. Tempted by the never ending projects they would become for her, Mette finds energy in restoring and redesigning these hotels - from their cozy corners to their coastal cuisine. In this episode, Mette shares with us how she welcomes the change in seasons of her hotels like the changes in the tides, appreciating the calm and the chaos they bring to her sense of community. Take A Listen! https://lnkd.in/gNk-NvtJ

“It would have been cheaper, by far, to tear this building down and stick up a metal structure. However, there's no character in that. And the people from Deary who've been here, they highly appreciated the saving of this building. We have a group of older men who meet for coffee there every morning and they can remember, when they were kids riding their bikes through the shop, and there used to be another group of old men who met there for coffee.” S7. | E2. We’re in great company with Webb French, the mastermind behind the renovations and restorations of numerous historical landmarks in the charming town of Deary, Idaho - where he and his family are leaving their mark with their many differing talents, coming together as a community to share in each others’ craft. From a hand-hewn, timber-framed barn turned event venue - to a century-old Ford garage turned scratch bakery and pizza kitchen - to a set of crumbling train cars and train depot turned boutique accommodations. In this episode, Webb shares several serendipitous stories of how he came across these deteriorating pieces, and the courage and creativity he and his community had to give them new life - welcoming all to enjoy the timeless, memorable and experiential hospitality of their historic small town. Take A Listen! Isaac French https://lnkd.in/gRNSK4zq

“Under Canvas had been a very light footprint, very ecologically sound, sustainable business. But we realized there was another step - we could also build a regenerative company. And that's what we're trying to do now with our newest company, Few and Far, which is create an extraordinary five star experience, but at the same time, invest in the land, restore the land, regenerate the area in which we are at work, rather than being a business that is just trying to do no harm. And that's the difference.” S7. | E1. We’re in great company with Sarah Dusek, the Founder, along with her husband, Jacob Dusek, of Under Canvas Inc., the premier outdoor hospitality company with glamping resorts outside of National Parks across America. Their newest adventure takes them farther into their search for a sustainable solution to travel than ever before. Introducing Few & Far, a thoughtfully curated carbon neutral journey to some of the world’s most extraordinary wild places where we as travelers can respectfully experience the world, playing our part in protecting and preserving our planet. In our first episode of Season 7, Sarah’s enthusiasm for creating sustainable access to incredible places can be heard near and far: from her soon to open Luvhondo Lodge in South Africa offering a wild, luxurious bush experience, reimagining the traditional safari - to her bespoke excursions spanning the Americas, Europe, Africa and Asia. Listen in, as Sarah and Jacob put their decade of experience, numerous awards and accolades to good use on their newest adventure. Take A Listen! https://lnkd.in/gN89Z_Sv

In Season 6 we continued to share inspiring conversations about 15 unique experiences across the world reaching 11,000 captivated listeners from 80 different countries. From investing in the local culinary and craft community in California Wine Country to building treetop cabins in the secluded nature of Norway, from letting imagination run wild in Sweden to preserving the artistic heritage of Italian craftsmanship in Venice, from bringing one of America’s most beloved historic hotels back to life in North Carolina to curating minimalist spaces in the natural wonders of Norway, from inviting guests to ‘travel for the collective good’ with B-Corp certified luxury retreats to mindfully bringing together wellness experiences in Paris, from reimagining an old fisherman’s village in the Lofoten Islands to celebrating local terroir with global influence in Sicily, from placemaking Wild West saloons & mid-century ski lodges in Colorado to rediscovering a secret garden of Prosecco in Venice, from a real life ‘fake it till you make it moment’ in Portland to designing America’s first 100% electric hotel, from restoring the glory of Spanish Village of Miami to earning the inaugural Michelin Key, we experienced the world through the voices of the locals who humbly invited us into their homes and onto their land. There’s so much more of the world to experience, so many more hospitable hosts to meet. Will you join us for Season 7? Who should we Stay In Good Company with next? #internationalpodcastday Mollie Reese Beyer

“The whole experience isn't really supposed to be programmed. It's actually meant to get lost. And that has multiple meanings. It means to get lost in time. Like what era is it? Am I in the twenties, the thirties? This building has gone through a hundred years of history and we pick up on different decades at different parts in time in the property. We don't have clocks in the room, so it doesn't matter what time it is. It's Miami beach, you're on vacation. But more so than that, it's also to get lost on the street, wander, see what's around the corner.” S6. | E15. We’re in great company with David and Maya Berg, the husband and wife duo behind Esmé Miami Beach, where they are restoring the glory of the Spanish Village to its artistic heyday. With its Spanish-Mediterranean architecture, diverse Latin flavors and finishes, its original wonderment made modern, its appeal made timeless. Celebrating its 100-year history - once a colony for artists and outcasts, where the infamous Al Capone ran his underground gambling syndicate - now stands a chic hotel escape in the heart of South Beach, adorned in rich, nuanced, and eclectic treasures for guests to discover. In this episode, David and Maya divulge how Esmé is a ‘boutique gem hidden in plain sight’ among hushed historic paseos, beckoning the old country’s lust for life and the Mediterranean coast’s deliciously slower pace. Take A Listen! https://lnkd.in/gZdUEG7q

“It's sort of the same thing that happened with electric cars. Early on, the electric cars were seen as slower and less sophisticated. And now, the most beautiful Porsches, BMWs, Audis and Teslas, they're all electric. And so we're trying to do something similar for hotels to show that you can offer hospitality for the planet and actually offer better comfort and experience for your guests.” S6. | E14. We’re in great company with Bruce Redman Becker, FAIA, LEED AP, CPHD, the Owner, Architect and Developer of Hotel Marcel, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, a Brutalist-style architectural landmark reimagined for the eco-obsessed modern traveler, conceived as a dramatic gateway to New Haven with its Bauhaus-inspired design, artfully detailed interiors, and climate-first credo. Today, Hotel Marcel is making history as the country’s first 100% electric hotel operating free of fossil fuels - a true model for sustainability within the hospitality industry, deserving of its numerous awards, accolades and admirers. In this episode, Bruce shares how his humble approach, having never opened a hotel before, started with first principles and resulted in a beautiful beacon for other hotels to emulate, attracting sustainably-minded and artistically-driven guests to visit. Take A Listen! https://lnkd.in/gD6_u8f6

“There's something we've always told people we aspire to, which was we wanted it to be a microcosm of the best of this region, right? So we travel a ton to this day and the food in the Pacific Northwest is unmatched. The coffee is unmatched. And we did the design ourselves, the architecture was there, the energy efficiency is unmatched. And so I do think that the things that our region is known for, which is mainly food and craft, it's a little bit of a microcosm of those values in the building.” S6. | E13. We’re in great company with Jonathan Cohen & Jessie Burke, the husband and wife duo behind The Society Hotel, a collection of experience-focused boutique hotels built with unique reclaimed buildings in Portland, Oregon and Bingen, Washington, calling all travelers, wild spirits and creative minds to encounter a stay unlike any other. For world travelers looking to experience the intersection of the past, present and future Portland, The Society Hotel is tucked away in the historic neighborhood of Old Town Chinatown. For locals looking for a city escape, The Society Hotel Bingen, with surprises around every corner in its converted schoolhouse, is nestled within the Columbia River Gorge. In this episode, Jonathan and Jessie share how their career paths and personal travels took many twists and turns to bring them to where they are today - creating social spaces that encourage people from all walks of life to convene and connect. Take A Listen! https://lnkd.in/gGg_xDHV

“But then we realized that the best way to show this wine and the best place to show this wine was really in front of a vineyard. And my father lived his life traveling all over the world, bringing Prosecco to people, but in Venice, there's people who take planes from all over the world to come to visit Venice.” S6. | E12. We’re in great company with Matteo Bisol of the famed Prosecco family, who have been leaders in this winemaking practice for 5 centuries, producing what is widely regarded as one of the most sought-after wines in the world through their “walled vineyard” in the heart of the Venetian Lagoon. After Matteo’s father Gianluca Bisol discovered and restored this estate to become Venissa, Matteo stepped up to the table, inviting guests from around the world to stay, dine, sip and savor the charm of the canals, the colors of Burano, and the peacefulness of the estate, as if it were their own. In this episode, Matteo graciously shares with us his family’s secret garden, a place where travelers can sip one of the world’s finest wines, indulge in avant-garde dishes, and experience the authenticity and history of Venice. Take A Listen! https://lnkd.in/gMCrzMAK

“And really the ethos of the company has been about placemaking, has been about bringing people together doing projects in areas that have been underserved. And it was really a little bit less about what types of projects they were doing, but it was more about how they were doing it and what they were offering to the community.” S6. | E11. We’re in great company with Adam Larkey, COO of family-owned Zeppelin Development, an award-winning Colorado-based neighborhood development company behind the sister properties in The Western, a recently restored landmark hotel in the historic district of Ouray and A-Frame Club, a collection of new mid-century modern cabins in Winter Park. Today, The Western serves as a homebase for leisure in the iconic mountain town of Ouray - surrounded by stunning landscapes and world-class outdoor recreation - where restored glamor meets modern luxury. And further north, A-Frame Club’s boutique hotel invites guests to savor a genuine escape from everything but what's in front of them - the great outdoors and a craft cocktail. In this episode, Adam sincerely shares his passion for seeing buildings not for their business potential, but for the people they host, and how his role in restoring neighborhoods across Colorado, is not just a privilege, but a responsibility. Take A Listen! https://lnkd.in/g2K9RpuF

“Some people who come and cook, they have never been to Italy or they have never been to Sicily. So it's also very interesting how people with little idea of the produce, are creating things with their heritage, with their memories, with their experience, with their creativity, how they approach the same tomato in a different way. And I must say that after two years, I’ve been blown away by so many people and what they create. How inspiring is that?” S6. | E10. We’re in great company with Lukas Lewandowski the Founder & Creative Director of Casa Lawa, where he merges work and play, creating a community for artists and guests alike with a dynamic and unique stay, intentionally shaped by those who visit. Casa Lawa is a playground for creativity, entertaining, relaxing and reconnecting, situated at the doorstep of Mount Etna in Sicily. Redesigned in a former grape press made of lava stone, Lukas and his husband have transformed this vibrant space with delicious detail to accommodate their residency, kitchen and retreat while tending to their garden and orchard brimming with goodies. In this episode, Lukas shares his passion for Italy as a foreigner, his appreciation for the lifestyle found in Sicily, and the pride he shares in welcoming a global community who, like him, admires this sense of place while wanting to leave a lasting legacy. Take A Listen! https://lnkd.in/gWmJ8ZDn