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Distinguished | Hospitality Leadership Podcast with Dean Upneja

BU School of Hospitality Administration
Hospitality
Culture
Restaurant Associates
Compass Group
Mandarin Oriental
Luxury Hospitality
Transformation
Panama Pacifico
Philoxenia
Mass Restaurant United
Wages and Tipping In Restaurants
Sustainability
Greco
Local Sourcing
Menu Engineering
Asia Heritage
Education In Hospitality
London & Regional Properties
Real Estate
Massachusetts

What does it take to lead in one of the world's most dynamic industries? Distinguished brings you unfiltered conversations with the executives, founders, general managers, and investors who are shaping the future of global hospitality.

Hosted by Dean Arun Upneja of Boston University's School of Hospitality Administration, each episode goes beyond the headlines to tackle the real challenges faci... more

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Latest Episodes

We are proud to share from the BU SHA Hospitality Leadership Summit stage on April 10, 2026, the first LIVE podcast recording of The Simmer podcast. Hosted by Kristen Hawley, founder of Expedite, must-read news source about restaurant technology and ... more

What does it take to lead a 100+ year-old travel company into its next chapter without losing the soul that made it legendary? 

In this episode of Distinguished, Dean Arun Upneja sits down with Jaclyn Leibl-Cote, President and CEO of Collette, a fam... more

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Restaurants are more than places to eat. They are where communities gather, cultures are shared, and everyday moments become lasting memories. But behind every restaurant is a complex reality, rising costs, workforce challenges, and shifting consumer... more

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What does it take to lead in a changing industry? In this episode of Distinguished, Dean Arun Upneja speaks with Jeff Gates, Chief Operating Officer of the Columbus Hospitality Group (CHG), about the lessons that his many years in restaurants have ta... more

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The Simmer
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Recent Guests

Jen Ziskin
Executive director of Mass Restaurant United; restaurant owner of Lamora and Punch Bowl in Massachusetts
Mass Restaurant United; Lamora; Punch Bowl
Episode: Jen Ziskin, Executive Director of Mass Restaurant United: Advocating on Wages, Fees, and Workforce So Independent Restaurants Can Thrive
Jeff Gates
Chief Operating Officer, Columbus Hospitality Group
Columbus Hospitality Group
Episode: Jeff Gates, COO of Columbus Hospitality Group, on Elevating the Art of Service in the Tech Age
Demetri Tsolakis
Founder of Xenia Greek Hospitality
Xenia Greek Hospitality (Crassi, Bravulaha, Greco, Kaya)
Episode: Putting Philoxenia into Practice with Demetri Tsolakis, CEO of Xenia Greek Hospitality
Ian Livingstone
Co-founder of London & Regional Properties, prominent real estate developer
London & Regional Properties
Episode: The Cycles Are the Opportunity: Ian Livingstone on Crises, Capital, and Long-Game Real Estate
Bashar Wali
Founder of This Assembly and Future Proof Investments
This Assembly; Future Proof Investments
Episode: The Heart of Hospitality: Bashar Wali on Emotion, Belonging, and What AI Can’t Replace
Sarah Diehl
Founder of Empowered Hospitality, advocate for culture-driven talent management
Empowered Hospitality
Episode: The Four-Pillar Framework for Talent Management in Hospitality: Sarah Diehl on Culture, Values & Leadership
Amanda Hyndman
Chief Operating Officer, Mandarin Oriental
Mandarin Oriental
Episode: Amanda Hyndman, Chief Operating Officer of Mandarin Oriental: Redefining Luxury from the Inside Out
Ed Brown
CEO of Restaurant Associates (RA), subsidiary of Compass Group
Restaurant Associates / Compass Group
Episode: Ed Brown, CEO of Restaurant Associates: The Right Ingredients for Hospitality at Scale

Host

Arun Upneja
Host of Distinguished | Hospitality Leadership Podcast

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 13 ratings
  • For the Hospitality obsessed

    Relevant and interesting interviews conducted by a thought leader.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    eleni granas
    United States3 years ago
  • Fantastic insights in hospitality

    Amazing guests who share great insights about hospitality, business, innovation and life. A must listen!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    kvardharajan
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Insightful, practical leadership conversations valuable for guests and sponsors.
Thoughtful exploration of AI, culture, and labor ethics in hospitality.
High-caliber guests with actionable takeaways for hospitality operators.
Consistently strong engaging stories from industry leaders.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Jen Ziskin, Executive Director of Mass Restaurant United: Advocating on Wages, Fees, and Workforce So Independent Restaurants Can Thrive
Q: So um Mass Restaurant United was formed during COVID to help independent restaurants survive. Can you explain MRU's aims and how it functions today?
MRU began as a group of chefs and restaurateurs who banded together to help independents survive the pandemic, and has since evolved into a statewide coalition that provides advocacy, community, and education, while focusing on the unique needs of independently owned restaurants and workers.
The Heart of Hospitality: Bashar Wali on Emotion, Belonging, and What AI Can’t Replace
Q: What role do you see AI playing in guest experiences, and where do humans remain essential?
AI should remove friction and support personalization, but humans remain essential for authentic emotional connections, empathy, and nuanced service that creates a sense of belonging.
The Heart of Hospitality: Bashar Wali on Emotion, Belonging, and What AI Can’t Replace
Q: How do you bridge the gap between the phrase longing for belonging and the practical structure of Future Proof Investments?
By aligning investments with a people-first philosophy, showing institutional investors that a focus on culture and emotional engagement can drive loyalty and long-term value, not just spreadsheets.
The Heart of Hospitality: Bashar Wali on Emotion, Belonging, and What AI Can’t Replace
Q: So first, let's talk about the firm that you founded, This Assembly. What is its mission and the services you provide?
The mission is to assemble a collection of specialists across real estate, design, and operations under one umbrella to deliver holistic advisory and hospitality services, with an emphasis on soft skills, emotion, and belonging rather than just traditional management.
Jeff Gates, COO of Columbus Hospitality Group, on Elevating the Art of Service in the Tech Age
Q: How important is it for restaurant leaders to rise from the ranks?
Rising through every position gives leaders a practical, empathetic understanding of how things actually operate, which makes them better mentors, decision-makers, and less likely to misuse resources.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Distinguished

What is Distinguished about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Distinguished explores leadership in hospitality through candid conversations with top executives, founders, and investors shaping hotels, restaurants, and related experiences worldwide. Episodes center on talent and culture, real estate strategy, AI and technology adoption, customer-obsessed service, and sustainability at scale. Notable angles include human-centered leadership, ethical labor practices, and the balance between personalization and automation, with guests spanning luxury brands, independent concepts, and large hospitality groups. This blend likely appeals to hospitality leaders, operators, developers, and investors seeking practical strategies, industry-wide trends, and authentic storytelling from frontline to C-suite.

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Which podcasts are similar to Distinguished?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Distinguished:

1. The Simmer

How many episodes of Distinguished are there?

Distinguished launched 3 years ago and published 42 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Distinguished?

Recent guests on Distinguished include:

1. Jen Ziskin
2. Jeff Gates
3. Demetri Tsolakis
4. Ian Livingstone
5. Bashar Wali
6. Sarah Diehl
7. Amanda Hyndman
8. Ed Brown

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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