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Artwork for The Hotel Investor Playbook

The Hotel Investor Playbook

Michael Russell
Boutique Hotels
Real Estate Investment
Hospitality
Hotel Management
Direct Bookings
Hospitality Industry
Hospitality Management
Short-Term Rentals
Investment Strategies
Glamping
Guest Experience
Cost Segregation
Operational Excellence
Guest Satisfaction
Hostels
Luxury Hospitality
Real Estate Syndication
Franchising
Hotel Investment
Entrepreneurship

Welcome to The Hotel Investor Playbook, hosted by real estate investor and hospitality operator Michael Russell. Michael is the co-founder of Malama Capital and Howzit Hostels, and has built a personal real estate portfolio exceeding $20 million.With an operator-first mindset, Michael brings a practical perspective to hotel investing. On the show, he breaks down what it actually takes to scale fro... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes79Founded2 years ago
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Artwork for The Hotel Investor Playbook

Latest Episodes

What if the most overlooked apartment deal in your market is already built, it's just flagged as a hotel?

In this episode, you'll discover how a valuation gap between hotels and multifamily creates forced equity of 40 to 50% before you change a sing... more

Experienced real estate investors make the jump into hospitality every year. Most of them underestimate what they're getting into.

In this episode, you'll hear what it actually looks like when a seasoned commercial operator buys his first boutique h... more

What does it actually cost to build a boutique hotel from scratch in a foreign country? More than you think, and not just financially.

A short-term rental operator running 220+ properties across 40 cities is now three years into building a 20-unit b... more

Most people who buy their first hospitality property don't realize they just bought themselves a 90-hour-a-week job. The difference between owning a business and being trapped inside one comes down to a single number most investors never bother to ca... more

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Recent Guests

Tyler Cauble
Hospitality and commercial real estate investor, co-developer of a boutique hotel in Nashville
Self-directed entrepreneur, partner in Salt Ranch project
Episode: What a $75M Commercial Investor Wished He Knew Before Opening His First Boutique Hotel | Tyler Cauble E77
Tim Hubbard
Boutique hotel developer and operator; founder of Corzly
Corzly
Episode: An STR operator's $4 million bet on building a boutique hotel in Colombia | Tim Hubbard E76
Greg Emmert
Veteran campground owner/operator and consultant
Independent consultant; former KOA operator
Episode: Under $1.5M in Revenue? You Don't Own a Business, You Own a Job | Greg Emmert E75
Jasper Ribbers
Pricing strategist for short-term rentals; co-founder of Freewyld (micro-resort brand)
Freewyld Foundry / Freewyld
Episode: The Revenue Expert Managing $125M Says You're Leaving 40% on the Table | Jasper Ribbers E74
Brent Bowers
Land investor, founder of Land Sharks
Land Sharks
Episode: What Hotel Investors Can Steal From a Land Investor Who's Done 400 Deals | Brent Bowers E73
Ben Wolff
Co-founder of Onera, a landscape hotel brand in Texas, and CEO of Owasi, a hospitality marketing firm
Onera / Owasi
Episode: An Overlooked Strategy That Makes $7M Hotel Deals Actually Pencil | Ben Wolff E72
Ziggy Hallgarten
Founder of Broom.ai, an AI-powered platform that automates commercial real estate administrative workflows.
Broom.ai
Episode: Former Hotel Analyst Built AI to Fix the Problem He Lived Every Day | Ziggy Hallgarten E71
Scott Eddy
Hospitality marketing expert advising hotels on using staff-generated content for direct bookings.
Episode: How Small Hotels Use Staff Content to Drive Direct Bookings | Scott Eddy E68
Kurt Marker
Professional pilot and hotel investor.
Episode: How a Pilot Bought a $10M Hotel With Zero Hotel Experience | Curt Marker E66

Host

Michael Russell
Host of the show; real estate investor and hospitality operator; co-founder of Malama Capital and Howzit Hostels.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 112 ratings
  • Solid info

    This podcast along with others helped me have the confidence to pull the trigger on buying a motel. It’s been a huge help!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    conradbio
    Canada3 months ago
  • Actionable Tools and Strategies

    I absolutely love Hotel Investor Playbook! The format is fantastic—easy to follow, well-structured, and genuinely fun to listen to.

    What really sets this podcast apart is how practical and actionable it is. Michael breaks down real hotel investing concepts into clear, usable advice you can actually apply, without the fluff or hype. It feels like sitting down with smart friends who have already done the deals and are telling you exactly what to watch for and how to think about them.

    If you’re i... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    AI Grandma, Apparently
    United States4 months ago
  • Great content

    Really good stuff coming from Mike and Nate. I appreciate their insight and experience level regarding hotel investing.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    bb5218
    United States5 months ago
  • Great pod!

    Absolutely loving this. So much valuable information. Hope you guys keep creating episodes! I’ve been binging them.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    CRMpods
    United States6 months ago
  • Invaluable

    I learned so much from every episode, love it! Thanks for putting this together guys, please don’t stop… at least until my first acquisition LOL

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Daniel Ahern
    United States6 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Guests consistently bring diverse perspectives from operators to brokers, enriching the show.
Listeners appreciate how episodes connect strategy to execution in real assets.
Highly actionable and practical hotel investing tips that feel sourced from real deals.
The hosts pull high-value insights from guests and keep complex topics understandable.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

This 3-Step System Automated His Real Estate Business to 4 Hours a Month | Mark Podolsky E69
Q: Why would someone want to invest in land if they are aspiring to become an investor in another asset class like hotels?
Mark describes land as the 'gateway drug' to bigger deals due to its low-entry barrier and lack of depreciation.
This 3-Step System Automated His Real Estate Business to 4 Hours a Month | Mark Podolsky E69
Q: What was the effect of the 2008 crisis on how you built your business thereafter?
Mark discusses the need to implement systems and processes to create a sustainable business that could operate independently of him.
How to Scale to 4 Hospitality Properties Without Raising Millions in Capital | Sam Degenhard E70
Q: How does Campfire Ranch distinguish itself from other hospitality brands?
We emphasize outdoor experiences for both novice and expert campers, offering unique amenities like rental gear and personalized service from our staff.
How to Scale to 4 Hospitality Properties Without Raising Millions in Capital | Sam Degenhard E70
Q: How do you manage operations across multiple locations?
By empowering our frontline staff, referred to as 'stoke managers', with decision-making authority and creating a support system that fosters autonomy and commitment.
How to Scale to 4 Hospitality Properties Without Raising Millions in Capital | Sam Degenhard E70
Q: What is your business model for growth in terms of property acquisition?
We focus on leasing properties instead of purchasing them, allowing us to reduce upfront capital requirements and operate without traditional financing risks.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Hotel Investor Playbook

What is The Hotel Investor Playbook about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Practical, operator-driven discussions centered on hotel investing, boutique development, and outdoor hospitality. Across episodes, the show explores deal sourcing, capital strategies, operations, and risk management, with guests ranging from campground operators to revenue-management experts and hotel brokers. Listeners can expect actionable tactics on pricing, direct bookings, leasing vs ownership, and scalable systems—often illustrated with real-world case studies and candid lessons from the field. A notable strength is translating complex hotel investment concepts into repeatable playbooks, with emphasis on market positioning, guest experience, and relationships with lenders and investors.

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Which podcasts are similar to The Hotel Investor Playbook?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Hotel Investor Playbook:

1. POWERS
2. Thanks For Visiting
3. The BetterLife Podcast
4. Action Academy | Millionaire Mentorship For Your Life & Business
5. The Koerner Office - Business Ideas and Deep Dives with Chris Koerner

How many episodes of The Hotel Investor Playbook are there?

The Hotel Investor Playbook launched 2 years ago and published 79 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 The Hotel Investor Playbook?

Recent guests on The Hotel Investor Playbook include:

1. Tyler Cauble
2. Tim Hubbard
3. Greg Emmert
4. Jasper Ribbers
5. Brent Bowers
6. Ben Wolff
7. Ziggy Hallgarten
8. Scott Eddy

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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