EPISODE · May 28, 2026 · 56 MIN
How This Entrepreneur Turned Hospitality Into a $90 Million Fitness Empire
from Suite Success: Masters of Hospitality · host Skift
On this episode of Suite Success, host Katie Cline sits down with entrepreneur and boutique fitness executive Adam Shane for a conversation about hospitality, wellness, entrepreneurship, and the power of immersive experiences. Adam is the owner of Yoga Joint New York, a premier chain of infrared-heated fitness and hot yoga studios. Adam started his career in investment banking and corporate finance on Wall Street. But despite the prestige of that path, he found himself drawn to something entirely different: the sense of community and emotional connection he experienced in fitness spaces. After roles with Town Sports and Equinox, Adam eventually became the most successful global franchisee in the Barry's system, scaling seven Bay Area studios into a business valued at more than $90 million before later joining the company’s executive team as Executive Vice President of Operations and Chief Development Officer. Together, Katie and Adam explore how boutique fitness evolved from traditional gym culture into a fully immersive hospitality experience — one rooted in emotion, design, community, and human connection. Adam shares how pivotal moments at SoulCycle, Barry’s, and now Yoga Joint shaped the trajectory of his career and taught him how to identify brands with massive growth potential. This episode is brought to you by Lodgify & Bilt 00:00 Welcome to Suite Success 00:37 Meet Adam Shane 01:34 From Wall Street to Fitness 02:42 Corporate Real Estate 04:06 “Start in the Mailroom” 06:40 Boutique Fitness Awakening 10:17 Hospitality is Everywhere 13:18 Finding Barry’s 17:53 Franchise Mindset 19:58 Moving to San Francisco 21:13 Four Walls Economics 24:47 Scaling to Seven Studios 26:33 COVID and a New Chapter 28:34 Discovering Yoga Joint 29:53 Workout Experience 30:20 Brand Research 32:11 Values and Partnership 33:52 New York Expansion Plan 35:33 How to Pick Locations 36:45 Entrepreneur Mindset 41:32 Future of Wellness 51:39 Suite Summary Connect with Adam: Adam's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-shane14/ Adam's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adamjshane/?hl=en Yoga Joint's Website: https://www.yogajoint.com/ Links: Apple Podcasts - Link Spotify - Link Suite Success Website - Link Connect with Katie
What this episode covers
On this episode of Suite Success, host Katie Cline sits down with entrepreneur and boutique fitness executive Adam Shane for a conversation about hospitality, wellness, entrepreneurship, and the power of immersive experiences. Adam is the owner of Yoga Joint New York, a premier chain of infrared-heated fitness and hot yoga studios. Adam started his career in investment banking and corporate finance on Wall Street. But despite the prestige of that path, he found himself drawn to something entirely different: the sense of community and emotional connection he experienced in fitness spaces. After roles with Town Sports and Equinox, Adam eventually became the most successful global franchisee in the Barry's system, scaling seven Bay Area studios into a business valued at more than $90 million before later joining the company’s executive team as Executive Vice President of Operations and Chief Development Officer. Together, Katie and Adam explore how boutique fitness evolved from traditional gym culture into a fully immersive hospitality experience — one rooted in emotion, design, community, and human connection. Adam shares how pivotal moments at SoulCycle, Barry’s, and now Yoga Joint shaped the trajectory of his career and taught him how to identify brands with massive growth potential. This episode is brought to you by Lodgify & Bilt 00:00 Welcome to Suite Success 00:37 Meet Adam Shane 01:34 From Wall Street to Fitness 02:42 Corporate Real Estate 04:06 “Start in the Mailroom” 06:40 Boutique Fitness Awakening 10:17 Hospitality is Everywhere 13:18 Finding Barry’s 17:53 Franchise Mindset 19:58 Moving to San Francisco 21:13 Four Walls Economics 24:47 Scaling to Seven Studios 26:33 COVID and a New Chapter 28:34 Discovering Yoga Joint 29:53 Workout Experience 30:20 Brand Research 32:11 Values and Partnership 33:52 New York Expansion Plan 35:33 How to Pick Locations 36:45 Entrepreneur Mindset 41:32 Future of Wellness 51:39 Suite Summary Connect with Adam: Adam's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-shane14/ Adam's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adamjshane/?hl=en Yoga Joint's Website: https://www.yogajoint.com/ Links: Apple Podcasts - Link Spotify - Link Suite Success Website - Link Connect with Katie
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How This Entrepreneur Turned Hospitality Into a $90 Million Fitness Empire
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