Top Floor

Jared Lerner, co-founder and CEO of Nappr, transformed his personal challenges with sleep and travel into a platform offering short-term hotel stays designed for rest. With a background in software engineering and startup culture, he pivoted Nappr from brick-and-mortar spaces to a tech-driven marketplace. Susan and Jared talk about sleep health, travel convenience, and company culture. What you'll hear about: Pivoting in Business: Jared discusses his experience pivoting Nappr from a brick-and-mortar concept to a marketplace model, focusing on what makes a pivot successful. Startup Culture: Jared shares insights from his time in New York startups and the importance of company culture, especially in smaller, more agile teams. Founding Nappr: Inspired by personal sleep issues and a gap in the travel market, Jared launched Nappr to offer short-term hotel stays focused on improving sleep. Overcoming Challenges: From co-founders leaving to airline bankruptcy chaos, Jared explains the hurdles he faced while growing Nappr. Tips for Travelers: Advice for getting better rest while traveling, including using an eye mask, meditating, and embracing short naps during long travel days. Listen this week here! https://lnkd.in/eFqTVcyS

Liz Owens is the Senior Vice President and General Manager of Vacations By Rail, North America’s leading provider of train vacations. With over 20 years of experience in marketing and brand growth, she has played a key role in expanding the company’s reach and doubling its size. Liz and Susan discuss trains, travel tips, and the timeless appeal of rail vacations. What you can expect to hear: - Are trains the new planes? Liz shares all things rail travel, from packing tips to navigating the onboard experience. - No tiny shampoos here! Are luggage restrictions and security on trains anything like on planes? - From retail to the rails: Liz shares how her background in advertising and retail shaped her career journey. - Train travel = nostalgia unlocked. Why the slower pace of rail travel brings a unique magic you can't find in air travel. - The art of packing for the rails: Tips for packing light and staying comfortable, especially when traversing cobblestone streets or small European villages. - Unexpected train quirks: Wondering what it’s like to sleep on a train? Liz compares it to a cozy camping trip and spills the secrets to a peaceful night on the rails. - Sustainability with a twist: Liz talks about how rail travel fosters economic sustainability by supporting small towns and villages along the routes. - A brush with the paranormal? Liz shares a funny and mysterious story from her time at Paper Source that involves a celebrity tweet, a store ghost, and social media chaos. ********* Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts "I love Top Floor!" If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps other people like us find the show and makes our guests feel good about being on it. Tap to give us five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Be sure to let me know what you liked most about the episode! Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast or restart automatic downloads. It's the best way to make sure you don't miss out.

Gustavo Viescas is the president of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts LATAMC, for Latin America and the Caribbean. After more than two decades in finance, Gustavo's role has grown to encompass launching a new all-inclusive brand and leading 266 hotels. Susan and Gustavo talk about balancing financial acumen with leadership that emphasizes emotional intelligence. - What soft skills Gustavo had to develop to become President. - Why consistency between price and product is key to customer satisfaction. - Why balancing short-term and long-term decisions is a critical challenge in leadership. - How Gustavo and team launched the all-inclusive Wyndham Ultra brand during the pandemic. - What branding initiatives Gustavo has championed, including all-inclusive travel for all. - How branding plays a crucial role in long-term business success, despite challenges in measuring ROI. Listen here! https://lnkd.in/eJrVKVHQ

Stephen Galbreath is the Chief Development Officer and Head of Design and Construction at Garfield Public/Private LLC, specializing in the development of convention centers, hotels, and essential municipal buildings. Stephen helps cities and government entities build impactful infrastructure that drives economic growth and revitalizes communities. Susan and Stephen talk about the benefits of convention business and bullet-proof vests. What you'll learn about in this episode: - What challenges arise when working with municipalities on hotel projects. - When Steve transitioned from architecture to public-private partnership development. - Where Garfield Public Private operates and the types of projects they specialize in. - How the ownership structure of a convention center hotel differs from typical hotels. - What economic impact a convention center hotel can have on a local community. - How Steve's experience in architecture influences his current role in hotel development. Listen here 👉 https://lnkd.in/eMmjG_Qm

Kevin Fedarko is a magazine writer, adventurer, and author of A Walk in the Park: The True Story of a Spectacular Misadventure in the Grand Canyon. Kevin traversed the 800-mile distance of the Grand Canyon over a year and was surprised that he lived to write about it. Susan and Kevin talk about silence, light, and hubris. What you'll learn about in this episode: - How to pack light - Who helped Kevin avoid certain death - Why the Grand Canyon is so difficult to hike - What the transformational power of silence is - What makes the Grand Canyon's landscapes and silence such valuable, fragile resources - When Kevin realized the journey would evolve from a magazine article to a full book - Why Kevin believes difficult experiences, like his hike, lead to deeper personal growth Listen here! https://lnkd.in/evf3EsWj

Tim Hentschel is the founder of HotelPlanner.com, which sought to digitize the analog process of booking group business in hotels. HotelPlanner has changed a lot since it launched, and Tim is now exploring other ways to digitize analog processes in the hotel industry. Susan and Tim talk about automating relationships, over-managing rate strategy, and innovating in a tech resistant industry. What you'll learn about in this episode: - Why AI might not fully replace human agents in high-touch services. - How the flexibility of gig work is gamified for customer service agents. - How AI is being integrated into HotelPlanner's customer service operations. - Why the hospitality industry is resistant to fully automating meeting space bookings. - What challenges revenue management systems face during high-demand events like the Olympics. Listen here: https://lnkd.in/ervPyHWc

Adam Tuttle is a luxury hotel veteran and founder of Yipy, an app that helps hotels digitize their service standards so that nothing gets missed. After working with a multitude of hotels of all types, Adam realized that the burden of managing standards from multiple sources was too big, so he came up with a way to combine them in one spot. Susan and Adam talk about why luxury hotels are so expensive and what to do when confronted with royal vomit. What you'll learn about in this episode: - Where Susan picks up trash - What service should feel like - When Adam picked the hotel business - How much luxury hotel rooms sell for - Why there are so many standards in the hotel industry Listen to this episode here! https://lnkd.in/eXF_yuD6

Mindi Cooke is fashion executive turned reunitor of lost things. As SVP of Business Development at Reunitus, Mindi helps airlines, ski mountains, and hotels use software to match lost items with their owners. Susan and Mindi talk about stuffed animals, iPads, and Chanel. What you'll learn about in this episode: - Where to label your suitcase. - What percentage of lost luggage is found. - How hotels outsource lost-and-found services. - Which lost items are most important to return. - Why Unclaimed Baggage pays for lost items in advance. Listen here! https://lnkd.in/gfv73WDZ

Matthew Casella is a former finance guy and restaurant automation entrepreneur who serves as President of Richtech Robotics. The company creates robots who cook, clean, and serve drinks, including their latest invention, Adam. Susan and Matt talk about automation, experience, and the perils of opening a restaurant. What you'll learn about in this episode: - Who is Adam? - When to ignore advice - Why finance sometimes leads to food - What recipe Matt is best at preparing - How to improve upon past humanoid robots Listen here: https://lnkd.in/eQQ2_EvD

Andrea Piana is committed to a sustainable, zero-waste economy, so it may come as a surprise to learn that he is CEO of a more than 400-year-old textile company, Piana Technology. Andrea has created a new bed that is made with non-woven fiber, is 100% recyclable, and is designed to give hotel guests a luxurious night's sleep. Susan and Andrea talk about thinking, innovating, and skiing. What you'll learn about in this episode: - How non-woven fabrics and calming molecules help sleep - How Andrea got interested in sustainability - Why personal values can guide a company - What a circular economy means to Piana - Where 50K mattresses per day end up Listen here: https://lnkd.in/eRTvfWJn