MetLife Investment Management

Senior Analyst - Real Estate

Analyst - Hotels

Principal Global Investors

Acquisitions Intern

Selected as one of 38 student leaders to gain insight into UBS business teams and their wide-ranging financial products and career opportunities

UBS Virtual Professional Development Program

Clickstop, Inc.

Finance Intern

Solaris Hospitality Investments

Real Estate Intern

SpringHill Suites by Marriott

Guest Service Representative

3½ years ago, I left the University of Wisconsin-Madison, no longer able to pursue a path that didn't fuel my passion. 

I returned to my roots: hotels, a cornerstone of my childhood.

At four, my life revolved around the family-run motel in Iowa; we lived there, and I immersed myself in its operation. 

This upbringing taught me the hospitality industry's intricacies and the value of stellar customer service.

Fast-forward, and the former biology student pivoted to economics, joining a commercial real estate firm, taking my childhood pastime from nostalgia to career. In under two years, without formal education in the field, I landed a Senior Analyst role - proof that passion, knowledge, and experience are formidable assets.

Now, I’m committed to sharing what I’ve learned and helping others learn about this powerful asset class.

If commercial real estate, hotels, and hospitality pique your interest, follow my content for weekly insights and career boosters.

-Hemal

Hemal Patel

Oasi

Oasi is an experiential hospitality marketing, management and development firm for luxury hotels, landscape resorts and unique stays. 

We are pioneers in the hospitality services industry offering best-in-class social media marketing, revenue management, guest experience and design & development for experiential hotels and resorts. Onera and other Oasi-managed properties drive 75%+ direct bookings through organic social media content marketing. 

Skyrocket your growth with Oasi.  We are innovating hospitality for the modern traveler.

Co-Founder

Onera

Onera offers a secluded, luxe, eco-escape with its variety of upscale, eco-focused, landscape hotel accommodations. Blending luxury hospitality with the beauty, peace and serenity of the natural landscape, Onera is a nature-inspired getaway full of wonder. 

-Developed and manage Onera's first landscape hotel in Fredericksburg, TX with $400+ RevPAR (12-key hotel with 23-key expansion under construction and opening in 2025) - stayonera.com
-Developed and manage Onera's second location, a 28-key landscape hotel with 100-person event space in Wimberley, TX
-Publicly traded REIT exit of Onera's first location in Fredericksburg, TX

Onera Capital

Onera Capital is an alternative lodging real estate fund focused on multiple asset types and strategies within hospitality - landscape resorts, boutique hotels, luxury glamping sites and vacation rentals.

Operational Assets:
-12 key landscape hotel in Fredericksburg, TX (ground-up development) - stayonera.com 
-28 key landscape hotel in Wimberley, TX (ground-up) - https://stayonera.com/locations/wimberley/
-23 key boutique hotel in Palm Springs, CA (full-scale renovation / revitalization) - spiritofsofia.com

Managing Partner

Blink Hospitality

Blink Hospitality is a short term rental and hotel management company with hundreds of managed properties across North America. 

-Grew from 10 managed properties in two markets to 200 managed properties in twelve markets
-Grew annual gross room revenue from $800K to $4M
-Grew team from 3 to 25 FTEs

Co-founder & CEO

Quid

Quid is a SaaS product using artificial intelligence to analyze and visualize textual data.

-Sold 50% over quota in first year as Sales Director ($786K sales / $525K quota)
-Transitioned from client success to sales in 2017
-Grew managed account revenue by 43% with 0% churn as Client Success Director from 2016 to 2017

Director

SenStay

Hospitality and property management company specializing in vacation rentals and boutique hotels

-Developed new business, increased deal flow, managed operations, expanded distribution channels
-Grew from five to twenty seven employees in less than one year
-Facilitated expansion to Brazil representing a 30-50+ property / $1-3M per year opportunity
-Oversaw launch and daily operations of Payne Mansion Hotel in San Francisco
-Produced targeted business development events for high-end clients, hoteliers and event planners
-Developed and implemented alternative distribution strategies such as long term and corporate rentals

Business Development

McKinsey & Company

Pharmaceuticals – R&D strategy and cost reduction
-Identified ~$40M in cost savings for one clinical trial at a $6B global pharmaceutical company
-Developed trial protocol cost review process and created corresponding handbook for clients
-Conducted staff calendar analysis identifying an increase of 20-25% in employee capacity by eliminating redundant activities

Financial Institutions – Location strategy
-Recommended location and ownership model for new 4,000 FTE offshoring location to executives in the global technology and operations group of a retail bank with $25 trillion in assets under custody and administration
-Built location attractiveness model identifying $20-40M per year in cost differences between cities

Business Analyst

Deloitte Consulting

-Developed customer acquisition playbook for new business unit within digital media distribution 		    
-Received unanimous approval for the playbook by the division President and VPs

BA Summer Scholar (Strategy & Operations)

Camp Northwood

-Counselor for cognitively and physically disabled children
-Best Counselor Award 2009

Counselor

314 Events

-Increased value of event promotion & planning company by 50% in one year of operations 		
-Expanded promotion business by targeting new markets/schools and starting a new event planning division

Co-Owner

Ben is Co-founder of Onera, an upscale landscape hotel brand, and Co-Founder & CEO of Oasi, an experiential hospitality marketing, management and development firm. 

Onera’s first landscape hotel in Fredericksburg, TX sold to Summit Hotel REIT in 2022, representing the first public REIT exit of its kind. Onera opened its second location in Wimberley, TX in October 2024 and is currently under construction on a 23-key expansion to Onera Fredericksburg opening Summer 2025. 

Oasi is a pioneer in the hospitality services industry offering best-in-class social media marketing, revenue management, guest experience and design-development for upscale to luxury hotels and experiential resorts. Onera and other Oasi-managed properties drive 75%+ direct bookings through organic social media content marketing. 
 
Prior to Onera, Ben grew Blink Hospitality a short-term rental management company from 8 to 200 units under management in less than two years. 

McKinsey & NYU Stern alum.

Ben Wolff

4 years ago, I sat across from a dentist who had no interest in selling his land.

But I knew that piece of land was crucial for Onera's future.

For six months, traditional negotiations went nowhere.

The land had been in his family for generations.

Money wasn't the motivator – he wanted to keep his family's legacy alive on Basse Lane.

As a successful dentist, he didn't need the money – he just wanted to preserve a piece of property on his family's namesake road for his son.

There was no solution in sight. I was about to give up.

But then I noticed something…

His brother owned another parcel of land two properties down. It was up for sale, but the highway noise made it unsuitable for Onera.

That's when it hit me:

What if we could orchestrate a three-way solution?

I purchased the brother's highway-adjacent property. Then proposed a land swap that would give our neighbor a different piece of Basse Lane land for his son.

Win-win.

Fast forward to today – that land is now home to our $14M expansion that opened 3 months ago.

We grew Onera Fredericksburg from 12 to 35 units.

During the soft opening, I got to watch my wife and sons experience Monolith – our 40-foot cantilevered treehouse that literally floats in mid-air.

Steve Turk and Victor Feria, my partners on Baya, came out to see what we'd built. There's something powerful about showing a completed vision to your partners for your next project. I could see the wheels turning, visualizing what we're building together in South Florida – a 20-villa tropical landscape resort on a 25-acre exotic fruit farm.

Monolith has become the viral hit we hoped for. It's already the best performing unit across both properties – neck and neck with Monarch (our most Instagrammed unit) and about to eclipse it.

We introduced eight completely new unit types:

- Monolith: A floating treehouse with floor-to-ceiling glass and a suspended cedar hot tub
- Diamond: Elevated 25ft with perfect sight lines from entrance to forest viewQuonset: Military-inspired luxury with soaring vaulted ceilings
- Winecup: Wine barrel-inspired units celebrating Texas wine country
- Cypress Lodge: Family-friendly duplexes that connect into one space
- Post Oak: Cozy retreat named after Hill Country's most prevalent tree
- Spiral: Unique spiral-shaped unit with interior courtyard for ultimate privacy

Plus The Great Lodge – our 70-person event space with 8 luxury rooms, conference facilities, pool and sauna.

Sometimes the biggest breakthroughs don't come from pushing harder – they come from stepping back and finding creative solutions where everyone wins.

Our neighbor got to keep his family's legacy.

His brother got a fair price for his land.

And Onera? We got the perfect property for our next chapter.

Four years ago, this was just a dream on a piece of land that "wasn't for sale."

Today, it's a 35-unit landscape resort that's redefining what American hospitality can be.

Unlocking growth for hotels through social media, revenue management & unique experiences | Drive 80%+ direct bookings | Co-Founder, Oasi & Onera | Join my newsletter navigating the future of hospitality 👇

In 2021, I bought 20 acres in Wimberley for $1.4 million.

What happened next nearly broke me.

We turned the land into a $25 million treehouse hotel with 28 units. But a year into planning, our designs were $6 million over budget. Our lender withdrew our loan approval with $2 million already deployed. We switched architects.

There were many moments I thought it might never get built.

We opened September 2024. And now, just over a year later, my chief of staff just pulled the numbers.

October revenue: $326,000 (up 66% year-over-year).

$450 ADR at 76% occupancy. 60% gross operating profit margin. Projecting over $1.8 million in NOI for our first full year.

And we're maintaining 85% direct bookings – proving the social-first model works.

But here's what really changed everything: group bookings.

Right now we have a full property buyout for Give to Give – a nonprofit running retreats for veterans with PTSD. Full occupancy in shoulder season midweek.

That's the recurring group business we needed to prove the model works beyond weekend leisure.

What's next? Adding a wellness pod (sauna, cold plunge, halotherapy, float pod) and exploring an F&B concept in our event barn.

I'm breaking down the full journey – the full breakdown of the numbers, the group sales breakthrough, expansion plans, and where we're headed – in this week's newsletter.

We're also raising $4 million in private debt at 11-12% annual yields from accredited investors. Closes December 19th. Webinar December 10th at 5pm Central for anyone interested.

Sign up here for the full breakdown and info on the raise:
https://lnkd.in/ed5frq6Z

And here's the link to the webinar on December 10th at 5pm Central:
https://lnkd.in/gn8JyS6H

This is Mayfair House Hotel & Garden in Miami.

One of the few hotels in the US that truly understands my favorite design style:

Biophilic design.

Most American properties treat nature like decoration.

A green wall here. Some succulents there. Maybe a fiddle leaf fig in the corner if you're lucky.

That's not biophilic design. That's just arranging some plants.

Real biophilic design means nature isn't an add-on – it's fundamental to how the space works.

Mayfair House gets this right in a way almost no other US hotel does.

The property was originally designed in 1985 by Kenneth Treister, inspired by Gaudí's organic architecture. It was conceived as a living work of art where nature and craftsmanship weren't separate – they were the same thing.

After years of decline, it recently completed a $50M renovation that brought that vision back.

The centerpiece is a multi-level atrium garden under a soaring glass canopy. Palms, orchids, fountains, tropical vines everywhere.

But here's what makes it different – the garden isn't just something you look at.

It's where you eat breakfast. Where you work. Where the restaurant serves dinner at tables surrounded by greenery. Every corridor and balcony opens onto this space.

All 179 rooms are individually designed with natural materials – teak, mahogany, stone, woven textures. Many have private terraces or outdoor showers. No two rooms are identical because nature isn't uniform.

The color palette pulls directly from the environment. Emerald and jade tones. Warm woods. Terracotta. Copper.

You're never out of sight of nature here.

And that's the point.

Compare that to most hotels where "biophilic" means a token planter in an otherwise sterile lobby. Or worse – a concrete box with floor-to-ceiling windows looking at more concrete.

The research on biophilic design is clear. People in nature-integrated spaces have lower stress, better focus, faster recovery from illness. But you can't fake it with a few decorative touches.

The natural elements need to be woven into the entire experience.

Mayfair House proves you can do this in the US. The property earned a spot on Condé Nast Traveler's Hot List and a Michelin Guide Key rating.

We just need more developers willing to build this way instead of defaulting to the minimalist white box aesthetic that's dominated American architecture for decades.

Would you stay at Mayfair House?

And what’s your take on biophilic design?

My wife hasn't slept well in years.

So for our first getaway without the kids, we chose one resort to optimize our sleep:

Carillon Miami – the top wellness hotel on the eastern seaboard.

We did their full sleep circuit…

Somadome meditation pods. Wave hydrotherapy beds. Biocharger. Salt float tanks. Cryotherapy at -175 degrees.

Every room has a Bryte bed – it uses micro-movements to optimize your sleep and gently wake you in the morning. We tested out all the on-demand firmness adjustments and the micro-movements from within the mattress that can both soothe you off to sleep and gently wake you in the morning.

It was all pretty remarkable.

By day two, my wife told me she felt "dopey and sleepy" from all the treatments. That's everything for someone who struggles to sleep.

I didn't feel drowsy during the sessions. But I slept like a baby both nights.

My Oura ring showed it – my resilience metric climbed from Solid to Strong in 48 hours.

(I’ve since ruined it now with a flight to see my team in Lisbon…but for a moment it was trending towards exceptional which I’ve yet to hit)

The experience connected directly to what we're building at Baya. I met Executive Chef Christopher who sources from the Redlands – the exact region where we're developing our South Florida project.

His relationships with local farmers previewed the farm-to-table connections we're creating.

And GM Patrick and Wellness Director Tammy are friends and potential collaborators. They understand cutting-edge wellness tech and programming in a way that's shaping our thinking.

I'm breaking down the full experience in this week's newsletter – the specific treatments, why it worked, and how we're applying these lessons to Baya.

Subscribe here for the complete breakdown: https://lnkd.in/ed5frq6Z

The trend of legacy operators copying the cool kids is accelerating fast.

More than I ever imagined…Here’s what Hilton just announced:

The Outset Collection - their 25th brand targeting "soulful, independent" hotel experiences.

Sound familiar?

This comes right after Marriott launched their Outdoor Collection and Bonvoy Outdoors platform, acquiring Postcard Cabins and partnering with Trailborn to chase the nature-immersed hospitality trend.

Now Hilton is doing the same thing, just with a different angle.

Outset Collection targets boutique hotels with independent identities - combining places "off the beaten track" in smaller niche locations with independent boutique hotels in more popular markets. Basecamps for exploration in Moab. Boutique hotels in Chicago. Urban destinations and adventure outposts.

They've already secured interest from 60+ hotels, all currently in the US market. 

With the long-term target being 500+ hotels across the US and Canada.

The format is intentionally flexible:
- Niche outdoor markets
- Boutique operators in more popular markets
- Story-driven designs
- Varying F&B offerings based on market demand

Hilton explicitly acknowledged what's driving this: "More than 50% of the global hotel supply is unbranded or independent, and Hilton recognized an opportunity to address an unmet need."

Translation: travelers want experiences that feel independent, local, and authentic. The standardized hotel playbook isn't working anymore.

So what are the big brands doing? They're acquiring and converting properties that already have that vibe rather than trying to create it from scratch.

Legacy brands can't organically create the authenticity and creative vision that defines these independent experiences. So they're buying their way to relevance instead.

First it was acquisitions - Ace Hotels, CitizenM, Postcard Cabins. Then partnerships with AutoCamp, Under Canvas, Trailborn.

Now it's collection brands specifically designed to onboard independent properties quickly without forcing them through rigid brand standards.

The Modern Traveler has fundamentally different demands. They're choosing where to stay based on how a place makes them feel, not just how well it functions.

Boutique hotels with independent identity. Nature-immersed experiences. Story-driven designs. Places with personality and narrative.

The biggest hotel companies in the world are now restructuring entire divisions and launching new brands to chase exactly what unique stays and independent properties have been doing all along.

The demand isn't a trend - it's a fundamental shift in what travelers expect from hospitality.

And legacy brands are finally admitting this faster than ever.

After touring wellness hotels across the country, I'm seeing clear patterns.

Here are the top 10 wellness trends I'm seeing right now:

Wellness isn't a spa add-on anymore. It's becoming table stakes.

Hotels like Equinox, Six Senses, and Carillon Miami are treating wellness like a science – and guests are paying premium rates for it.

Top 10 trends that are actually working:

1. Self-serve Wellness Circuits

Hotels are building treatment circuits where guests move at their own pace. Meditation pods, hydrotherapy beds, salt float tanks. No therapists hovering. That staff-light approach actually enhances the experience.

2. Alternative Wellness Therapies

Equine therapy at NIHI Sumba. Sound healing. Forest bathing. Hotels are embracing unconventional treatments that create unforgettable moments standard spa menus can't replicate.

3. Non-toxic Everything

Guests want non-toxic bedding, clothing, kitchenware. 100% organic cotton over plastic-infused materials. Not seeing tons of this in hotels yet, but it's coming fast.

4. Diagnostic Programs

Hotels like SHA Wellness offer 4-day programs combining medical-grade testing with treatments. Stays become health optimization experiences with measurable outcomes.

5. Circadian Lighting

Smart lighting adjusts color spectrum throughout the day. Swissôtel stimulates melatonin production before bed, simulates dawn before your alarm. Game changer for jet lag.

6. Smart Mattresses

The smart bed market will hit $4.7 billion by 2029. Biometric sensors track heart rate, respiratory rate, body temperature. The bed adjusts while you sleep. Gets smarter night after night.

7. Farm-to-table Integration

For example, at Carillon, Executive Chef Christopher sources from Redlands farms and knows every grower personally. Wellness through authentic connection to place.

8. Gyms Beyond Afterthought

People want to train legitimately while traveling. Vast majority of hotels still get this wrong. But the ones prioritizing proper equipment and space are blowing up.

9. Contrast Therapy

Sauna and cold plunge access. Yes, it's trendy. But 90%+ of hotels still don't offer it. And if they do, you often pay $75+ for a spa day pass.

10. Sleep Optimization

Hotels are engineering your entire sleep environment. Temperature controlled to 67°F, blackout darkness, circadian meditation, breathwork rituals. They're collecting sleep data to create profiles. Once a hotel knows exactly how you sleep best, you'll never want to stay anywhere else.

I just spent three days at Carillon Miami testing their sleep optimization program. My Oura ring showed my resilience climbing from Solid to Strong and nearly hit Exceptional in just 48 hours.

The hotels treating these trends as core to their product – not spa add-ons – are the ones winning.

They're charging premium rates. Building serious loyalty. And creating experiences guests will travel specifically for.

What wellness trends have you come across and what's your take on them?

The first podcast I ever did was a game changer.

It made me invest in something I had long been avoiding...

My personal brand.

That interview was on Zach Busekrus’s show, "Behind the Stays." 

It got me to start sharing what we were actually building at Onera – the challenges, the wins, the contrarian takes on hospitality. Not just posting pretty property photos.

Fast forward to now…

Zach's show got acquired by Journey, the loyalty platform for independent hotels.

We'd always kicked around the idea of doing a podcast together. Journey wanted to back it.

So we're launching one.

But here's what makes this unique – we’re bringing 4 completely different perspectives:

Zach brings the media lens – he's hosted and produced content in the unique stays space, moderating conversations with the industry's top operators.

Scott Eddy has over a million followers across platforms. He's been doing travel and hospitality social media longer than anyone.

Edwin Kramer spent decades running luxury hotels and now consults for properties across Europe. Cool British accent included.

And I'm bringing the founder/operator perspective with a focus on marketing and content – developing landscape hotels designed to go viral and drive revenue from social media.

Every week, we're breaking down the top stories in hospitality. Where the puck is actually going. What's working and what's not. The takes you won't hear anywhere else.

Insights from insiders in hospitality and travel.

First episode coming soon. 

Stay Tuned!

Links to the show on Apple and Spotify in the comment below 👇

Gwyneth Paltrow and Hailey Bieber travel to Sedona for this wellness retreat.

It just got named the #1 Destination Spa in the United States.

This is Mii amo.

It sits in Boynton Canyon – one of Sedona's four vortex energy sites believed to emanate concentrated earth energy that fosters healing.

Since 2001, it's been a pioneer among destination spas. Not a hotel with a spa add-on but a full immersion wellness sanctuary.

Only 23 rooms. Adults-only. All-inclusive Journey programs where guests book 3, 4, or 7-night stays that include private casitas, gourmet meals, and daily treatments.

After a two-year closure and $40 million expansion, Mii amo reopened in 2023. Travel + Leisure just named it the #1 Destination Spa in the United States.

Every morning, guests gather in the Crystal Grotto – a circular kiva-like space with a red earthen floor and skylit dome. They set intentions for the day around a giant quartz crystal.

The treatment menu goes way beyond standard spa offerings.

Aura photography. Energy clearing sessions. Chakra balancing. Astrology readings. Past-life regression. Sound healing ceremonies.

There's a moonlight energy clearing treatment done outdoors under Sedona's stars. Guests name the energies they want to release, receive a massage by moonlight, and go home with a custom essential oil blend.

The architecture blends into the red rocks. Earth-toned adobe walls the exact shade of Sedona's cliffs. Circular motifs echoing Native American kivas. Floor-to-ceiling windows framing canyon views.

Indigenous wisdom is woven throughout the experience. Medicine wheel walks. Native flute meditation. Guided hikes sharing sacred stories of the five tribes who once inhabited Boynton Canyon.

The name "Mii amo" means "one's path or journey forward" in the Yuman Native American dialect.

As you can probably tell…

It's not trying to be Aman or Six Senses or any other luxury wellness brand. Mii amo is singularly rooted in Sedona's vortex energy and Native American spirituality.

Creating an experience that you can’t find anywhere else.

That's the point.

And that’s why they’re absolutely crushing it.

Would you visit Mii amo?

Another hospitality company just collapsed – LuxUrban Hotels.

Here's what they got wrong and what actually works.

The latest episode of our podcast just dropped.

LuxUrban Hotels collapsed earlier this year. Same master-lease model as Sonder. Same ending – IPO, rapid scale, big brand partnership, then Chapter 7 liquidation.

These are lease arbitrage companies chasing tech valuations. The arbitrage was real early on: lease residential apartments, run them as short-term rentals, and pocket the spread.

But regulation caught up and they couldn't operate in residential buildings anymore.

So they started leasing hotel-zoned buildings at way higher rates. But the economics stopped working.

But the lease model itself isn't broken. And in this week’s episode I explain why.

We're going all in on land leases for Baya, my new farm hospitality landscape hotel in South Florida. 99-year lease. Revenue-based payments – 3-10% of revenue, not fixed monthly costs.

That's the difference. Variable, not fixed. Incentives aligned.

The landowner wins – gets 3-4x what they'd make farming the land. We win – lock up incredible properties without massive capital upfront. And if the market shifts, we're not stuck with a fixed liability that bankrupts us.

In other news – banks are coming for the OTAs.

Capital One is buying Hopper's hotel software and engineering teams. They have more data on travelers than any hotel or OTA ever will. Sharks are in the water for Booking, Expedia, and Airbnb – major banks, social media platforms, and search giants all entering the OTA universe.

And Google is adding hotel bookings to AI mode.

Differentiation will win in this new agentic booking world. AI will surface unique properties even without being on the top pages of Google search.

Join us (Zach Busekrus, Scott Eddy, Edwin Kramer) as we break it all down.

If you're enjoying the podcast, leaving a review on Apple or Spotify would help us out a ton.

Links in the comments 👇

This wellness sanctuary is built around a 300-year-old meditation cave.

In 2023, it won Worldwide Health & Wellness Destination of the Year and 40% of guests return every year.

This is Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary. 

Built on the Thai island of Koh Samui around a cave where Buddhist monks meditated for 300 years. 

The story starts in 1982. 

John Stewart, a yogic monk who spent 16 years in a Himalayan monastery, met Karina Stewart, a doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine, at a remote Indian ashram.

They bonded over a shared vision. To create a sanctuary for genuine transformation.

In the early 2000s, John faced a severe health crisis. Given only months to live.

He refused to surrender. Radically changed his lifestyle. Embraced food as medicine. And miraculously recovered.

That brush with mortality became his catalyst.

In 2005, they opened Kamalaya on 16 acres of rainforest hillside overlooking the Gulf of Thailand.

The monk's cave sits at the center.

Tucked beneath banyan tree roots and giant stones. You have to crouch down and bow to enter. Inside, candlelight flickers on wooden prayer boats left by visitors.

The cave radiates centuries of spiritual energy. It's the heart of Kamalaya.

Nature is the number one healer here.

The campus is intentionally open to the jungle. No walls. Ocean breezes flow through. Birdsong and rustling palms are part of the therapy.

Every guest receives a personalized wellness program.

Traditional Thai massage in open-air salas. Ayurvedic treatments. Chinese medicine consultations. Acupuncture. Sound healing. Yoga at sunrise. Meditation in the cave.

Food as medicine with farm-to-table Thai cuisine designed for healing.

Programs range from detox and fitness to sleep enhancement and emotional healing.

The approach blends ancient wisdom with cutting-edge wellness science.

Hydrotherapy pools. Infrared saunas. IV nutrient therapy. Hyperbaric oxygen chambers.

All set in a jungle paradise.

But the proof is truly in the guest loyalty. Many guests have been returning annually for over a decade.

Over 50% of staff have been with Kamalaya for at least 10 years.

As John Stewart says: "The entry point is health, but the goal is transformation."

Kamalaya embodies the best of what Thailand offers for wellness. A place where healing happens through nature, ancient practices, and genuine human connection.

Since discovering it, it's become a must-visit spot on my list.

Would you visit Kamalaya?

I've built companies remotely for 10 years.

But 5 days in person with my team reminded me what I was missing.

I'm not a big face time guy.

When I was at McKinsey, I hated the assumption that presence equals productivity. My motto has always been: if you produce, you should have all the flexibility in the world.

That's how I've built every company. I've relied heavily on overseas talent – better access to exceptional people, and I can pay competitive wages relative to cost of living in regions where great talent often gets passed over.

But after 3 years of not seeing much of our Lisbon team in person, I finally made the trip.

5 days. That's all it took to remember how valuable in-person time can be.

In my first 10 minutes with my co-founder, we cracked viral hooks – something we'd been circling on calls for months.

In person, it clicked immediately.

I don't know why. But it worked.

We mapped out business priorities. Identified key hires. Built an ads funnel strategy. Set 3-year financial targets. All the strategic stuff that drags on Zoom.

I still believe in remote. The flexibility, the talent pool, running lean – that all still holds.

But a couple times a year in person? Non-negotiable.

With 2 kids under four at home, quarterly trips aren't realistic. But I'm already planning my next trip back for mid-2026.

Curious what balance works for others.

Fully remote? Hybrid? Regular in-person sprints?

What's worked for you?

A chef grew his TikTok following to half a million followers.

Then something crazy happened…

He opened a restaurant in Montana. Population: 5,000.

And now it's booked solid and harder to get into than most Michelin-star restaurants.

In the latest episode of our podcast that just dropped, we're breaking down three stories that show where hospitality is actually heading.

First, the viral content revolution.

Brandon Deardon spent years building half a million followers on TikTok and Instagram. Then he opened Embers Montana in a town of 5,000 people.

No Michelin star. Just a viral sensation that's booked out and harder to get into than most Michelin-star restaurants.

That's the new playbook. Build a loyal audience first THEN figure out what product to offer them.

We just saw this with VAGA, the restaurant at our client Alila Marea Beach Resort. A 7-second reel showing a dish being plated hit nearly 1 million views. Lesser-known destinations can become viral sensations connecting to millions of travelers direct.

And travelers are craving these destinations.

In other news, Chase just released their 2026 travel predictions. 87% of travelers want to chase natural phenomena. 94% are interested in road trips. The destinations getting attention – Atacama Desert, Botswana, the Canadian Arctic, the Albanian Riviera.

Experience is officially the new luxury.

Travelers want to be the first in their circle to visit a world-class hotel or restaurant in an exotic destination. That social currency has never been more coveted.

Which brings us to brands that should be capitalizing on this moment but aren't.

Virgin Hotels' CEO just stepped down.

I've always felt the brand has untapped storytelling potential. The broader Virgin brand is known as a hip innovator. Their hotels haven't lived up to that billing – they feel like any other full-service hotel with some neon lights and bright colors.

If I were applying to be their next CEO? I'd go all in on urban wellness. Bold design, Instagrammability, best-in-class wellness offering. Make it social-first, content-led.

Meanwhile, the big chains are making different moves.

Hilton is overhauling its loyalty program – adding a new top tier (Diamond Reserve: 80 nights + $18,000 spend) while lowering thresholds for existing tiers by 30-38%.

A move to cater to the biggest spenders, the road warriors. If they create differentiated perks better than Marriott and Hyatt, it might pull high-value customers over.

Join us (Zach Busekrus, Scott Eddy, Edwin Kramer) as we break down all of this and more.

If you're enjoying the podcast, leaving a review on Apple or Spotify would help us out a ton – really appreciate it!

Links to listen on YouTube, Apple and Spotify in the comments 👇

Hot take: I think Montana might be America’s wellness capital.

Here are 6 incredible hotels in the most underrated state for wellness travel:

While everyone flocks to crowded destinations like Sedona...

Montana has quietly assembled some of the top wellness escapes in the country and my take is that more people need to know about them!

As Napa, Sedona, and the Hamptons battle tourist crowds and packed roads, Montana cracked the code on something they can't replicate...

Space. Real, uninterrupted connection to nature that actually heals.

With 27 million acres of public land and landscapes proven to lower stress, Montana has become home to "cowboy wellness" - a uniquely American approach to recovery.

Here are 6 hotels redefining what wellness travel can be:

6. The Ranch at Rock Creek

A Forbes Five-Star working ranch on 6,600 acres where Wall Street executives trade spreadsheets for fly fishing. After 12-hour horseback rides through Montana wilderness, guests get massages in wagons by the river.

It’s recovery through adventure.

5. Montage Big Sky

They built an 11,000 sqft alpine spa with 3,000 sqft of thermal pools, but here's the genius part: every treatment is tailored to mountain athletes.

Post-ski recovery sessions, altitude adjustment therapies, and massages designed for bodies taxed by the cold.

4. Sage Lodge

Sitting on the Yellowstone River just 35 minutes from the park entrance, they use heated stones from those waters, source essential oils from local artisans, and offer yoga overlooking Emigrant Peak.

The location IS the wellness experience.

3. Gravity Haus Big Sky

The anti-luxury luxury retreat. Cold plunge, sauna, hot tub. No frills, just results.

Community-driven wellness where serious skiers and climbers gather after big mountain days.

2. One&Only Moonlight Basin

One&Only's first US resort bringing their signature bespoke spa programs to Montana.

Treatments inspired by earth, air, fire, and water plus Chenot-style wellness technology integrated with nature-based therapies. Opening November 2025.

1. The Resort at Paws Up

The pioneer of luxury glamping in America. Their "Spa Town" brings IV therapy, breathwork, and sound baths to the wilderness.

Bonus: The Green O

Paws Up's adults-only retreat features 12 private "hauses" designed for curated solitude where guests detox from digital life. Instead of traditional spa menus, privacy and architecture form the basis of their wellness treatments.

Montana's wellness philosophy is refreshingly simple: nature immersion delivers what most guests actually want.

They aren't trying to optimize entire lives, they just want guests to feel better than when they arrived.

Where would you stay first?

This is Santa Fe, New Mexico – America's oldest capital.

400 years of culture that was forgotten, until recently...

For decades, it’s had a reputation as a quiet destination just for old folk.

But Santa Fe is no longer sleepy. The younger generations have begun to discover it and losing that retiree reputation quickly.

You've got Canyon Road with over 100 art galleries in a half-mile stretch. Not stuffy museums – working studios where you watch artists create.

The Sangre de Cristo Mountains for hiking golden aspen trails.

Ojo Santa Fe's mineral pools where rain falls while you soak in healing waters.

Green chile everything at the Railyard Farmers' Market.

The Santa Fe Opera under desert stars.

It's outdoor adventure meets art scene meets wellness destination. All in a city built from actual adobe.

And this is where Two Casitas, Santa Fe Vacation Rentals, LLC comes in.

Since 1998, this family-run company has been offering the authentic Santa Fe experience. Real adobe homes with mud walls and viga ceilings. Not hotel rooms – historic casitas in neighborhoods locals actually live in.

They hold 100 of the city's 1,000 vacation rental permits. 10% of a market deliberately kept scarce.

And after 25 years, they know exactly where to send you. The galleries tourists miss. The trails locals hike. The restaurants worth the wait.

Two Casitas pioneered vacation rentals in New Mexico before Airbnb existed.

Now they're the way to experience what younger travelers are discovering about Santa Fe.

Not as a retiree watching from the sidelines – but as someone living in the heart of it.

Full disclosure – my team at Oasi partners with Jacob Halverson and Will Risbourg running their Instagram (@welovesantafe) and creating content to showcase what the city has to offer.

Check their content out to see that Santa Fe is on my bucket list for a reason!

Have you been to Santa Fe? If so, what was your experience like?

This resort lets you swim with horses in the ocean at dawn.

It was ranked the #1 hotel in the world beating Aman, Four Seasons, and the Ritz. Twice.

This is Nihi Sumba.

It sits on Sumba Island, about an hour flight east of Bali. Roughly twice Bali's size with a fraction of the tourists. One of the world's last untouched paradises.

In 1988, American couple Claude and Petra Graves arrived on Sumba's remote western coast. Drawn by the legendary waves at Nihiwatu Beach. They opened a simple surf resort in 2001.

A decade later, fashion entrepreneur Chris Burch (co-founder of Tory Burch) and hotelier James McBride saw something bigger. In 2012, they acquired the rustic property and poured $30 million into transforming it.

Chris Burch's vision was centered around wanting his children to experience a place that felt "500 years back in time" – and to preserve that magic for future generations.

It reopened in 2015 as Nihi Sumba. By 2016, Travel + Leisure readers voted it the #1 hotel in the world. They won again in 2017.

Here's what makes it spectacular.

Nihi Sumba has 25 Sumbanese horses.

Every day at dawn and dusk, these horses are released to gallop freely along the 1.5-mile private beach. Guests can ride them bareback straight into the ocean. Swimming with horses. A tradition rooted in island life.

Nihi is the first hotel in the world to integrate equine therapy into its wellness spa offerings. Horseback yoga on the beach. Massages with a gentle horse standing beside you.

Then there's the Spa Safari.

An all-day adventure that starts pre-dawn. You trek two hours through rice paddies and local villages to reach their cliffside spa campus. Perched 100 acres above a deserted beach.

Unlimited spa treatments all day – massages, body scrubs, facials – with sea breezes and crashing waves as your soundtrack. One writer called it "the greatest spa experience on earth."

Every moment is built for sharing.

Horses galloping through turquoise water at sunset. Cliffside spa treatments with nothing but ocean views. 27 private pool villas cascading down a forested hillside. Each villa designed in rustic-chic Sumbanese style with soaring thatched roofs and hand-carved details.

The resort also runs one of Indonesia's most famous surf breaks – Occy's Left – essentially private for Nihi guests.

But the impact goes beyond luxury.

Nihi contributes $1.5 million per year to the Sumba Foundation. Feeding and educating local children. Reducing malaria on the island by 90%. Building schools, medical clinics, and clean water wells.

Nihi Sumba proved that the future of luxury isn't marble lobbies or white-glove service.

It's raw beauty, community, and adventure. Authentic experiences you can't find anywhere else.

Would you visit Nihi Sumba and swim with horses in the ocean?

Japan's onsen culture has been healing travelers for over 1,000 years.

Long before "wellness tourism" became a $2 trillion industry.

Samurai bathed in Japan's hot springs to recover from battle wounds.

Shoguns soaked in volcanic waters at the foot of mountains.

This was over 1,000 years ago – long before wellness tourism existed as an industry.

Japan's onsen culture in many ways created the blueprint modern wellness resorts copy today... 

Natural hot springs integrated into every stay. Minimalist design. Bathing rituals that turn relaxation into meditation.

Here are 5 must-visit wellness hotels in Japan:

5. Ibusuki Hakusuikan in Kagoshima.

A 300-year-old healing ritual – being buried in naturally heated volcanic sand. After 10-15 minutes, you emerge deeply relaxed. Then soak in expansive onsen styled after an Edo-period bathhouse right by the sea.

4. Gora Kadan in Hakone.

Set on the former summer villa estate of a Japanese Imperial family member. Private open-air onsen baths overlooking forested hills. Soaking while listening to wind in the cedars.

3. Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan.

The oldest running hotel in the world. For over 1,300 years, 52 generations have welcomed guests to healing hot springs at the foot of the Akaishi Mountains. You soak in the same waters that once refreshed shoguns and feudal lords.

2. Amanemu in Ise-Shima National Park.

The future of integrative wellness in Japan. A 2,000-square-meter spa centered on onsen tradition with private thermal spring pavilions and cutting-edge Pilates studios. Therapists blend Kampo herbal medicine with modern massage techniques.

1. HOSHINOYA Karuizawa.

When this resort opened in 2005, it redefined Japanese wellness retreats. Contemporary villas face lush mountainsides in a forested valley near Mt. Asama. The Meditation Bath is a private indoor onsen in complete darkness lit only by candles. Morning forest meditation walks, yoga by a waterfall, and farm-to-table kaiseki meals.

Japan understood something over 1,000 years ago that the rest of the world is still learning.

True wellness isn't found in a spa facility.

It's found in nature's healing waters, mindful design, and the ancient art of hospitality.

We’re still catching up to Japan’s mastery of this in the West.

Roman soldiers, medieval pilgrims, and modern biohackers...

What do they have in common?

They all traveled for the same reason.

Picture a Roman soldier after battle…

He travels for days to reach a bathhouse built over natural springs. Sinks into mineral-rich water. Believes it will heal his wounds and restore his spirit.

That was 2,000 years ago.

Now picture yourself checking into Carillon Miami where I was recently…

You float in an Epsom salt pod. Cryotherapy at -175 degrees. An AI-powered bed tracks your sleep stages. 

Then your Oura ring shows your resilience climbing.

Different technology. Same impulse.

Humans have always traveled for healing. The methods just keep evolving.

In ancient Greece, the Sanctuary of Asclepius offered fasting, dream therapy, and hydrotherapy. People traveled from across the Mediterranean hoping for cures.

Medieval pilgrims walked hundreds of miles to Lourdes and Santiago de Compostela. The journey itself was part of the healing.

When the Industrial Revolution filled cities with smoke and stress, Europe's wealthy escaped to spa towns like Baden-Baden and Vichy. Doctors prescribed weeks-long stays.

Then in 1940, Rancho La Puerta took it further.

Edmond and Deborah Szekely opened a retreat in Tecate, Mexico. Guests camped in the desert for $17.50 a week. Dawn calisthenics. Organic food from the garden. Juice fasts.

Newspapers mocked them as a "health cult."

But they pioneered farm-to-table nutrition and daily fitness programs that define wellness resorts today.

Canyon Ranch followed in 1979. Golden Door attracted celebrities. Eastern practices merged with Western fitness. The destination spa was born.

Fast forward to now.

COVID accelerated everything. By 2022, 21% of travelers chose trips for wellness. That number is climbing toward 30%.

Hotels like Equinox, Six Senses, and Carillon Miami treat wellness like a science. Smart beds. Circadian lighting. Contrast therapy. Biometric tracking.

I just experienced this firsthand at Carillon. My resilience score climbed from Solid to Strong in 48 hours.

(it was trending towards exceptional until I took my flight to Lisbon…)

The technology has changed dramatically.

But we're still doing what Roman soldiers did thousands of years ago…

Traveling somewhere in hopes of feeling better.

The first episode of our podcast just dropped.

And we're starting with a huge topic...

The Sonder collapse.

Marriott guests were told to pack up and leave mid-stay after the partnership imploded. Some lost $4,000 in prepaid bookings. Bankruptcy filed within hours.

It's now the fifth major branded short-term rental play to fail.

My take on why this keeps happening: travelers don't care about brands for commodity rentals.

They care about the product – the design, amenities, location, review scores. Whether you're Domio or Shmomio doesn't matter unless you're locked into a points system.

There are two strategies that actually work.

1. Provide an incredible product at the best price in market and don't waste a penny on brand. Some STR portfolio companies are doing this well.
2. Create something so differentiated – like what we've done with Onera – that your brand is unforgettable and guests actively seek out the 1-of-1 experience you provide.

Everything in between is the graveyard.

Join us (Zach Busekrus, Scott Eddy, Edwin Kramer) in this episode as we also break down Hilton's new Outset Collection trying to strike the indie-brand balance, and why Airbnb is now embracing hotels after disrupting them.

Links to listen on YouTube, Apple and Spotify in the comments 👇

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