58 min listen
Navigating Hospitality: From Cabana Boy to CEO with Steve Turk
Navigating Hospitality: From Cabana Boy to CEO with Steve Turk
ratings:
Length:
71 minutes
Released:
May 21, 2024
Format:
Podcast episode
Description
Episode Overview:In this special crossover episode, Steve Turk, founder of The Hospitality Mentor, joins David Arraya on the Conscious Hospitality Podcast. Steve shares his journey from his early days as a cabana boy to becoming a renowned leader in the hospitality industry. With stories from iconic hotels like Lowe’s, Mandarin Oriental, and Trump Doral, Steve provides valuable insights into leadership, resilience, and finding passion in your work.Key Highlights:Introduction: Steve and David discuss their long-standing friendship and the excitement of this crossover episode.Starting with Gratitude: David emphasizes the importance of gratitude and asks Steve what he is grateful for today.Early Life and Career Beginnings: Steve talks about his childhood in Miami, his diverse cultural background, and his early competitive nature.Discovering Hospitality: Steve shares how his father’s career as an attorney for major hotels influenced his interest in hospitality.Career Milestones: From his first job at Lowe’s Miami Beach Hotel to executive positions at renowned hotels like Mandarin Oriental and Delano.Challenges and Resilience: Steve recounts pivotal moments, including overcoming difficult leadership challenges and learning from setbacks.The Entrepreneurial Leap: The story behind Steve’s successful staffing company, the decision to sell it, and lessons learned about passion versus opportunity.Returning to Hospitality: Steve’s return to the hotel industry, his renewed passion for team-building, and his innovative approaches to leadership.Pandemic Reflections: How the COVID-19 pandemic reshaped Steve’s perspective on work-life balance and led to new entrepreneurial ventures.The Hospitality Mentor: Steve discusses the creation of The Hospitality Mentor, his goals for inspiring the next generation of hospitality professionals, and his thoughts on the future of the industry.Takeaways for Listeners:Importance of Gratitude: Starting each day with gratitude can ground you and provide clarity in challenging times.Leadership Lessons: Effective leadership involves understanding and motivating diverse teams, and the power of regular one-on-one meetings.Entrepreneurial Insights: The balance between passion and opportunity, and the importance of staying true to your values.Resilience and Adaptability: How to navigate career challenges and make strategic decisions that align with your long-term goals.Work-Life Balance: The significance of balancing professional ambition with personal life, especially in times of crisis.Quotes from the Episode:“When you’re grateful for things, you realize we have so much more than so many other people around the world.” – Steve Turk“Don’t be afraid to taste different things. If you want to move up, you’ve got to try different places.” – Steve Turk“This industry is one of the few where you can really start at the bottom and end up at the top, no matter what your education level is.” – Steve TurkFollow The Hospitality Mentor:WebsiteSubscribe and Leave a Review:If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. Your feedback helps us reach more listeners and share more inspiring stories from the world of hospitality.
Released:
May 21, 2024
Format:
Podcast episode
Titles in the series (100)
Paul Breslin - Managing Director at Horwath HTL: In this episode, Steve is joined by long time mentor, Paul Breslin. After working for over 20 years as an executive for top rated luxury hotel management companies, Paul is now the Managing Director at Horwath HTL. He is now works with developers and owners to turn real estate opportunities into successful hospitality companies. Throughout this episode, Paul talks about the many roles he held throughout his hospitality career, what his advice is for young professionals in the industry, his entrepreneurial journey, and more. This episode is brought to you by our podcast partners at RealTime Reservation. Their inventory management system is best in class for hotels and resorts to manage their non-room inventory. The web-based application allows for creative upselling of overnight and daytime visitors with add-ons and pre-planned packages. Hotel guests and non-guests can reserve cabanas, pool chairs, activities, amenities, excursions, ev by The Hospitality Mentor