Experience-First Hospitality and Building House of Gods with Mike Baxter

In this episode of Suite Talk, hosts Tom Woolin and Declan Wale are joined by Mike Baxter, founder of House of Gods, for a candid and entertaining conversation on building one of hospitality’s boldest boutique brands.Recorded at the soon-to-open House of Gods in Canary Wharf, Mike shares the unconventional journey from nightclub promoter and hostel founder to creating immersive hotels built around escapism, storytelling and “treat me like I’m famous” luxury. From chaotic opening nights and accidental Rolls-Royce purchases to rethinking what boutique hospitality should actually mean, this episode dives into the realities of building a disruptive hotel brand without following the traditional rulebook.At the heart of the conversation is one core belief: hospitality should make people feel something.Key topics include:✅ Mike’s unconventional journey from nightlife to boutique hospitality✅ Building House of Gods around experience, escapism and storytelling✅ The lessons learned from launching hotels without traditional industry experience✅ Why modern luxury should feel fun, immersive and emotionally engaging✅ Scaling a disruptive hotel brand while protecting creativity and identity✅ How AI will reshape hospitality, and why human connection will matter even moreFrom entrepreneurial mistakes to creative breakthroughs, Mike offers an honest look at what it takes to build a hospitality brand that genuinely stands out.🎧 Listen now to hear the full conversation with Mike Baxter at House of Gods. Read more episodes and hospitality insights at Hotel Magazine.Key Moments:00:00 - Chaos, luxury and the opening weekend that changed everything02:32 - Discovering hospitality through nightlife and events05:22 - Building The Baxter Hostel with zero hotel experience08:23 - The disastrous first weekend: “You’re in my bed!”14:48 - Creating House of Gods and putting experience before rooms19:06 - Why everyone wants a little luxury and escapism21:54 - Scaling House of Gods without losing its identity29:48 - The new castle hotel concept inspired by witchcraft and wizardry31:52 - Launching a champagne brand and the surprising history of champagne50:55 - AI, human connection and the future of hospitality📩 Like, comment and subscribe to stay up to date on leadership, design and innovation in hospitality.🔗 Learn more at House of Gods and Hotel Magazine.