Hospitality Folks is a weekly video podcast about the people, ideas and technology shaping the future of hospitality, travel and tourism. Hosted by Alicia Dick Wahlberg, each episode goes beyond the job title to explore the unexpected career paths, bold choices, failures, lessons and human stories behind the people building and leading with hospitality at heart. From hotel managers and founders to innovators, entrepreneurs and industry changemakers, this is where we talk about the real people behind the industry. Come for the hospitality. Stay for the unexpected journeys.
Why Trust Beats Hype Every time with AI & Hospitality
What makes a great salesperson in hospitality tech? According to Arne Hegstad, it might have very little to do with having sales experience.
In this episode of Hospitality Folks, we sit down with Arne Hegstad, Chief Craft Officer at Suusify, to explore his 17-year journey with VisBook, the unexpected story of how he entered hospitality technology, and what he has learned about building teams, growing businesses, and earning trust in the hospitality industry.
We discuss why some of his best salespeople came from hotel operations rather than traditional sales backgrounds, how asking candidates about their dreams can reveal what truly motivates them, and why understanding a hotel's real challenges matters more than pushing another product.
We also get into the gap between hospitality technology and hotel operations, the problem with adding AI without solving real needs, how technology companies can earn hoteliers' trust, and what it takes to expand across Europe and the US.
Key takeaways from this conversation:
• Why the best salespeople might not have a sales background
• The interview question that reveals a person's inner motivation
• Why hospitality tech needs to solve real operational problems
• How hotels can assess and build trust in new technology providers
• The difference between AI hype and meaningful innovation
• What international expansion really takes
• Why getting out of your comfort zone can change your career
Arne's story is a reminder that careers rarely follow a straight line, great teams start with understanding people, and the best business relationships are built on trust.
Connect with Arne Hegstad:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/arne-hegstad-12293338/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/arne-hegstad-12293338/)
Connect with Alicia Dick Wahlberg, host of Hospitality Folks:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/aliciadickwahlberg/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/aliciadickwahlberg/)
Learn more about Suusify:
https://www.suusify.com/ (https://www.suusify.com/)
15 Jun 2026
Why Most Hotels Fail at Storytelling and How to Fix It | Regitze Cecilie Rosenvinge
Most hotels have an extraordinary story. Most never tell it.
Regitze Cecilie Rosenvinge is the founder of Rose PR Agency — one of Scandinavia's leading hotel PR agencies, specializing in experience-led, remote, and wellness properties across the Nordics and Germany. She's also Hotel Editor at Falstaff Nordics and a professional affiliate of Les Clefs d'Or Denmark.
In this episode, Regitze and host Alicia Dick Wahlberg explore:
→ Why hospitality and storytelling are the same thing — and always have been
→ The real definition of personal branding (it's not about visibility — it's about perception)
→ What hotels get completely wrong when they try to enter Nordic and German markets
→ Why failure is not the opposite of success — it's the cost of getting there
→ What Norway's most remote hotel taught her about the future of hospitality
If you lead a hotel, a brand, or a career in this industry — this one stays with you.
🎙️ Connect with Regitze:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/regitze-cecilie-rosenvinge-4b375b39/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/regitze-cecilie-rosenvinge-4b375b39/)
Rose PR Agency: https://www.rose-pr.com/ (https://www.rose-pr.com/)
🎙️ Connect with Alicia:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aliciadickwahlber (https://www.linkedin.com/in/aliciadickwahlberg)
8 Jun 2026
Why Hospitality Always Comes Back to People | Melanie Chinwe
What does hospitality look like when you strip away the buzzwords and start with people?In this episode of Hospitality Folks, Alicia talks with Melanie Chinwe, an operator who owned and ran S'MUVE ME Café in Nigeria before moving into Oenotourism at Château Dauzac in Bordeaux. She brings a grounded, intentional view of an industry that too often chases scale over connection.In this episode:Why hospitality, at its root, is always about peopleBuilding service design and systems that actually serve guestsWhat running her own café taught her about leadershipThe move from restaurant operations into wine tourismStorytelling and environment as tools for shaping guest journeysThe strategic role of service in driving long-term valueMelanie is currently an MSc Hospitality and Tourism Management student at Paris School of Business, with over six years in restaurant operations and guest experience.Hospitality Folks is a weekly show to showcase the wonderful and many career paths within hospitality and tourism. Connect with Melanie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melaniechinwe/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/melaniechinwe/)Follow along with Alicia on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aliciadickwahlberg/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/aliciadickwahlberg/)
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
6 ratings
Contact Hospitality Folks
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Host of Hospitality Folks?
Claim your podcast to manage its listing and keep your show details accurate.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
