Boutique Hotel Secrets Podcast
This show is for the builders and backers of boutique hotels.
Hosted by operators who made the jump from short-term rentals to boutique hotels, this podcast documents the real journey of acquiring, renovating, and operating boutique hospitality assets.
We share lessons learned in real time and sit down with experienced operators, lenders, designers, and industry professionals who bring practical insight, hard-won advice, and unfiltered perspective. If you’re serious about boutique hotels, hospitality operations, or scaling beyond short-term rentals, this show is for you.
Episodes
35 episodes
36 - Free Tools, Paid Revenue: The Boutique Hotel Marketing Playbook with Mike Sjogren
In this episode, Adam and Micah are joined by boutique hotel investor Mike Sjogren to cover everything from the realities of first-time hotel construction delays to a bold take on hotel marketing — including why you should stop spending paid ad...
35 - We Wanted 20 Rooms. We Got 2. Here's What We Learned with Micah & Adam
In this episode, Adam and Micah pull back the curtain on the brutal gap between expectations and reality as they prepare for their first major holiday weekend at The Wesley — aiming for 20 newly renovated rooms, delivering 2. They also dig into...
34 - What We'd Do Differently on Hotel #2 (And Why We're Still Glad We Didn't) with Micah and Adam
In this episode, Adam and Micah pull back the curtain on the final stretch before opening newly renovated rooms at The Wesley — tackling everything from 18 pallets of tile and FF&E sticker shock to their first real advertising budget. They ...
33 - The Human Premium: Why Hospitality's Edge Has Nothing to Do With AI with Mike Sjogren
In this episode, Adam and Micah sit down with boutique hotel mentor Mike Sjogren to explore how AI is reshaping hospitality operations — from direct booking pages to revenue management — and why the operators who thrive will be the ones doublin...
32 - More Human, Not Less: How Smart Hotel Operators Are Using AI to Double Down on Real Connections with Rashmi Bhat
In this episode, Adam and Micah are joined by Rashmi Bhat — coach, restaurateur, and boutique hotel operator — to explore how independent hospitality owners can leverage AI not to replace their teams, but to free them up for the moments that ac...
31 - Zero Finished Rooms, $38K Mortgage Due: The Real Cost of Building a Hotel with Micah & Adam
In this episode, Adam and Micah share the unfiltered reality of renovating a 50-room boutique hotel in Page, Arizona — from a viral mural drawing thousands of visitors to zero finished rooms and a $38,000 mortgage looming on the horizon. In thi...
30 - She Was In Labor Answering Guest Messages — Here's What Changed with Marisa Grover
In this episode, Adam and Micah sit down with brand designer Kayla Morrill to unpack the full process of building a visual identity for The Wesley — from mood boards and font debates to a final brand kit that's now physically on the walls of th...
29 - Why AI Can't Brand Your Hotel (And What Actually Can) with Kayla Morrill
In this episode, Adam and Micah sit down with brand designer Kayla Morrill to unpack the full process of building a visual identity for The Wesley — from mood boards and font debates to a final brand kit that's now physically on the walls of th...
28 - The Iconic Photo Opportunity No One in Page Has Capitalized On — Until Now with Micah and Adam
In this episode, Adam and Micah pull back the curtain on the messy middle of hotel ownership — from a tax filing that missed its deadline to a GM confrontation over staff pay that no one saw coming. They also share why they're commissioning a f...
27 - $80K Over Budget — And We'd Do It Again with Micah & Adam
In this episode, Adam Walls and Micah Thomas take you behind the scenes of transforming a boutique hotel in Page, Arizona. They dive into the real challenges of the process—from handling returns and managing material overages to finding creativ...
26 - The First Hire That Can Make or Break Your Business with Rashmi Bhat
In this episode of the Boutique Hotel Secrets podcast, hosts Adam and Micah, along with guest Rashmi Bhat, discuss the journey of transitioning from short-term rentals to boutique hotel management. They reflect on their experiences, share i...
25 - 3 Days From Closing: The Chaos, the Contractor Standoff, and the Advice That Changes Everything with Joel Wiegle
In this episode, Adam and Micah share their journey of transitioning from short-term rentals to owning a hotel. They discuss the challenges faced during the closing process, the importance of understanding lender dynamics, and the necessity of ...
22 - From College Intern to Being Under Contract on a 65 Room Hotel: The Lake Erie Deal with Erich & Pete
In this episode of the Unofficial Boutique Hotel Secrets podcast, hosts Adam and Micah engage with guests Pete Milenkovich and Erich Schick, who share their journey from short-term rentals to boutique hotel ownership. They discuss their backgro...
22- The Outer Banks Bet: How One Developer Is Turning a 1952 Beach Motel into a 47-Key Luxury Hotel with Jonathan St.Leger
In this conversation, Jonathan St.Leger discusses the importance of creating opportunities in the real estate market rather than simply waiting for deals to come. He emphasizes the need for creativity in identifying value-add opportunities, whe...
21 - From 19 Years in the Air Force to Betting It All on Hotels with Vincent Harris
In this episode of the Boutique Hotel Secrets podcast, Adam and Micah discuss the journey of transitioning from short-term rentals to boutique hotels, emphasizing the ups and downs of the hospitality industry. They welcome Vincent Harris, who s...
20 - Stop Renting Your Guests: The Direct Booking Playbook with Mark Simpson
In this conversation, Mark discusses the critical role of direct bookings in the hospitality industry, emphasizing that a significant percentage of these bookings begin with searches on online travel agencies (OTAs) like Airbnb and Booking.com....
19 - Stop Chasing Pretty Properties: The Ugly Hotel Strategy That Actually Pays Off with Joel Weigle
In this episode, Joel Weigel shares his journey from short-term rentals to building boutique hotels and experiential destinations. Learn how to acquire, operate, and scale properties while creating unforgettable guest experiences.Connect...
18 - Raising Capital and Structuring Boutique Hotel Deals with Isaac
In this episode, Isaac Oswaltshares his journey into boutique hotel investing and breaks down how capital, deal structure, and team alignment come together to close successful hotel acquisitions. He explains how investors and banks evaluate dea...
17 - Scaling Boutique Hotels with Systems and Teams with Rashmi Bhat
In this episode, Rashmi Bhat shares her journey from restaurants and short-term rentals into scaling boutique hotels. She breaks down hotel management as an entry point, building systems and teams, leveraging relationships, and why patience and...
16 - Building in Public: The Raw Truth About Renovations, Trust, and Boutique Hotel Life with Micah & Adam
In this episode, Adam and Micah give a behind-the-scenes update on their boutique hotel renovation in Page, Arizona — navigating contractor delays, a wild on-property incident, and an exciting partnership with the local conservancy tied t...
15 - What Spreadsheets Don't Show: First-Time Hotel Owners Document Every Decision with Micah & Adam
In this episode, Adam and Micah share raw, unfiltered updates from the renovation trenches—from navigating their first contractor draw that took two weeks instead of two days, to making over 3,600 decisions in just 33 days of ownership. They al...
14 - One Fire at a Time: First-Time Operators Navigate Flooded Toilets, Funding Delays, and a $348K First Draw with Micah & Adam
In this episode, Adam and Micah navigate their first $348K construction draw, deal with four flooded hotel bathrooms, confront the reality of maxed-out credit cards versus outsider perceptions of wealth, and explore community partnerships that ...
12 - Week One Woes: The $50K Surprise We Didn't See Coming with Micah & Adam
In this episode, Adam and Micah share raw, unfiltered lessons from their first week as boutique hotel owners—including a shocking $50,000 WiFi infrastructure surprise they didn't see coming and the reality of keeping a business running while re...
13 - How We Closed on Our First Hotel (Despite Bank Freezes, Asbestos & the Holidays with Micah & Adam
In this episode, Adam and Micah share the chaotic final days of closing on their first hotel—from raising $100K in an airport in 30 minutes to navigating bank freezes, asbestos discoveries, and holiday deadlines. They reveal what they learned a...
11 - From $0 to $1.2M in 90 Days: Our First Hotel Capital Raise with Micah & Adam
In this episode, Adam and Micah share their journey from zero to $1.2 million raised in just 90 days as they approach closing on the Wesley Hotel, covering everything from navigating SBA lending and courting multiple lenders to discovering the ...