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
22 episodes
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...
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39:04
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...
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29:50
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....
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46:05
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...
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36:06
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...
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25:35
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...
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28:50
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...
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30:28
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...
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29:29
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 ...
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40:41
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...
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48:07
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...
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38:07
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 ...
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39:34
10 - The Truth About Raising Investor Money for Your First Hotel with Micah & Adam
In this episode, Adam Walls and Micah Thomas share their journey raising capital and closing a boutique hotel deal in Page, Arizona. They discuss SBA 7(a) loans, syndicating investors, software and vendor choices, and lessons from a capital-rai...
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27:58
09 - $50K on the Line: The Moment Our Boutique Hotel Deal Got Real with Micah & Adam
In this episode, Adam Walz and Micah Thomas share a major milestone in their boutique hotel acquisition as their deal enters the high-stakes phase of going hard with earnest money. They break down the realities of financing challenges, investor...
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37:33
08 - We Finally Named Our Boutique Hotel (Here’s the Story Behind It) with Micah & Adam
In this episode Adam and Micah reveal the story behind the name of their first boutique hotel and why branding is such a critical decision for new owners. They share the inspiration behind “The Wesley,” discuss the legacy of John Wesley Powell,...
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31:56
07 - Creative Financing Potentially Saved Our Boutique Hotel Deal with Micah & Adam
In this episode Adam and Micah break down a roller-coaster week in their hotel acquisition journey. After facing the potential loss of a key investor, they explore creative financing options, navigate negotiations with the seller, and share ins...
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27:32
06 - When Your Biggest Investor Backs Out of the Deal with Micah & Adam
In this episode, Adam and Micah share a candid look at the highs and lows of raising capital and navigating financing for their boutique hotel project, including unexpected investor challenges and creative strategies like subject-to deals. They...
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23:04
05 - Why Good Design Is a Revenue Strategy – Courtney Petrovich
In this Episode Adam and Micah talk with Courtney Petrovich about how investor-focused design choices impact ADR, operations, and guest experience when moving from short-term rentals into boutique hotels.Connect with Courtney: Insta...
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34:05
04 - Walking the Property: What You Only Learn On-Site with Adam & Micah
In this episode, we share our first on-site experience walking a 50-key boutique hotel under contract in Page, Arizona. We break down what inspections look like at scale, lessons from contractors and guest stays, uncovering hidden issues, and h...
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33:15
03 - Micah and Adam are Under Contract for Their First Boutique Hotel. Now What?
In this episode, we share the milestone moment of officially going under contract on our first boutique hotel and what that shift means in real time. We break down the due diligence process, from financing and SBA loans to inspections, contract...
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22:33
02 - From STRs to Hotels: Due Diligence in Real Time with Adam & Micah
In this episode, we share the milestone moment of officially going under contract on our first boutique hotel and what that shift means in real time. We break down the due diligence process, from financing and SBA loans to inspections, contract...
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18:39
01 - How One Hotel Deal Can Change Your Life with Mike Sjogren
In this episode, Mike Sjogren shares the story behind building the Boutique Hotel Secrets community and helping STR operators transition into boutique hotel ownership. He discusses the realities of hotel operations, the power of collaboration a...
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42:07