Lodging Dynamics

For the past seven years, TownePlace Suites by Marriott Whitefish Kalispell has welcomed international students to Montana to gain hands-on hospitality experience while discovering a new part of the world. 🌎

Students have joined the team from across the globe, including Turkey, Thailand, China, Mongolia, Jamaica and Kazakhstan. During their time in Montana, the team makes sure they experience what makes the area so special, from Glacier National Park and Big Mountain to huckleberry picking, kayaking at City Beach and a proper introduction to a Montana Fourth of July.

That sense of welcome starts before they even arrive. The team helps provide housing, bicycles to get around town and local knowledge that helps students feel at home from day one. And for some, one season simply isn't enough! Multiple students have specifically requested to return for a second year, choosing to come back to the same hotel, team and community that welcomed them the first time.

This is the culture we’re proud to build at Lodging Dynamics: one that connects people, creates meaningful experiences and inspires the next generation of hospitality professionals.

This is what Hoteliers at Heart™ looks like.

In our recent post about the fireside chat in Scottsdale, we shared how Canopy by Hilton Scottsdale Old Town and The Wilde Resort & Spa teams surprised our President & CEO, Jamie Caraher, MHA with something special: a book filled with reflections on what it means to be a Hotelier at Heart.

Today, we’re sharing a few of those reflections from the team.

A heartfelt thank you to Director of Sales, Tiffany Nguyen for putting this together, and to everyone who contributed their thoughts. The reflections in this book are a powerful reminder that our values are lived out in the way our teams show up for each other and for our guests every day.

What does being a Hotelier at Heart mean to you? We’d love to hear your thoughts below. 💛

Our latest Hoteliers at Heart fireside chat brought President & CEO Jamie Caraher, MHA, to Scottsdale for a special evening with the teams from Canopy by Hilton Scottsdale and The Wilde Resort & Spa.

These gatherings are designed to create space for meaningful connection and authentic conversation among our leaders—an opportunity to step away from the day-to-day, share experiences, talk openly about the opportunities and challenges of hospitality, and reflect on what it means to be a Hotelier at Heart.

The Scottsdale gathering was a great example of that spirit, filled with candid conversation, shared perspectives, and time to strengthen relationships across both properties.

One especially meaningful moment came when the team surprised Jamie with a book of reflections organized by Director of Sales Tiffany Nguyen. Each team member shared what being a Hotelier at Heart means to them, creating a thoughtful collection centered on the people, values, and sense of purpose behind our work.

Experiences like this bring Lodging Dynamics’ culture to life through connection, leadership, and the people who make hospitality meaningful every day.

Thank you to the Canopy Scottsdale and The Wilde Resort & Spa teams for making the evening so memorable.

There’s nothing better than bringing people together for a good cause, especially when their four-legged friends get to join in, too. 🐶

For the third year, AC Hotel Fort Lauderdale Beach partnered with Lifestyle Media Group Ltd to welcome local dogs and their owners for Dog Days of Summer, an evening filled with great company, cocktails, music, and plenty of wagging tails.

We’re proud to see our properties create experiences that strengthen connections within their local communities and give guests and neighbors another reason to come together.

A big thank you to everyone who helped make this year’s Dog Days of Summer such a success!

Going for Gold: 2027 Budget Bootcamp 🏆

Our General Managers and Corporate Support Team recently came together at AC Hotel Fort Lauderdale Beach to focus on what’s ahead for 2027.

We talked strategy, worked through opportunities, looked closely at the numbers, and started putting the pieces of next year’s plan together. But some of the best moments happened between those conversations.

Having our hotel and corporate teams in the same room gave everyone the chance to share what they’re seeing, hear different perspectives, and work through ideas together. It’s amazing what can happen when you get the right people around the same table.

And we couldn’t spend a few days together without having some fun, too. Our salsa-making challenge brought out plenty of creativity and a little friendly competition.

Because the goal of Budget Bootcamp goes beyond building a budget. It’s about making sure our teams are aligned, connected, and moving toward the same goals.

We’re heading into 2027 with a plan, a shared vision, and a team ready to make it a great year.

New look, same sunshine, coming soon! ☀️

A fresh chapter is taking shape at SpringHill Suites & Residence Inn by Marriott Clearwater Beach.

Both properties are currently undergoing a renovation, bringing an elevated, coastal-inspired look and refreshed experience to the Clearwater Beach campus. We can’t wait to share more of the transformation as it comes together.

Stay tuned for what’s ahead!

Hoteliers at Heart is back, this time bringing CEO Jamie Caraher, MHA to the Hilton Garden Inn San Diego Downtown/Bayside and Homewood Suites by Hilton San Diego Downtown/Baysidecampus for a fireside chat with the team.

The dual-property campus recently completed a renovation, and the team gathered to reflect candidly on what it took to navigate the process together. Over a meal prepared by Chef Israel Hernandez and his team, the conversation centered on the honest reflection, communication, and collaboration that keep teams aligned, especially when conditions are challenging.

The results speak for themselves. Guest satisfaction remained strong throughout the renovation, and both hotels have outperformed budget in the months since, with top-line revenue and GOP ahead of plan.

At Lodging Dynamics, that’s what Hoteliers at Heart is all about: creating space for leaders and teams to talk openly, learn from challenges, hold one another accountable, and turn a strong culture into strong performance.