PODCAST · business
5 Star Conversations
by 5 Star Conversations by Brendon Granger & Technology4Hotels
Welcome to 5 Star Conversations, where we uncover the career journeys and insights of the hotel industry’s most influential leaders. I’m your host, Brendon Granger. As an entrepreneur, hospitality technology ambassador, champion for charitable causes, mentor and speaker, I’m passionate about the industry and its people. Together, we’ll uncover the stories behind their careers, the pivotal moments that shaped them, and the valuable lessons they’ve learned along the way. Whether you’re looking for inspiration or practical advice to elevate your hospitality career, you’ve come to the right place.
Episodes
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5 Star Conversations with Les Morgan | Navigating Hotel Tech and Executive Leadership
In this episode of 5 Star Conversations, our guest, Les Morgan from Hind Management, dives deep into the reality of modern executive leadership and the profound shifts reshaping the guest journey.Reflecting on a distinguished career that began in a remote Scottish castle, Les explores how the...
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5 Star Conversations with Emma Hynes | Balancing AI & The Human Touch
In this episode of 5 Star Conversations, we sit down with Emma Hynes, Director of Operations for Australia and the Pacific for IHG Hotels & Resorts. Emma shares her remarkable career trajectory—from initially aspiring to join the police force to finding her true calling in the fast-paced, deeply...
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5 Star Conversations with Craig Bond | Embracing AI & Authentic Service
In this episode of 5 Star Conversations, we are joined by Craig Bond, the Chief Operating Officer of Pan Pacific Hotels Group, for an insightful masterclass in global hospitality leadership. Overseeing a massive portfolio of over 50 hotels, resorts, and serviced suites across three distinct…
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5 Star Conversations with Tamer Habib | Rethinking the Future of Hospitality
In this episode of 5 Star Conversations, we sit down with Tamer Habib, Chief Operating Officer at Amora Hotels and Resorts, to explore his remarkable 25-year journey from the intensely competitive luxury sector in Egypt to the heights of the Australian hospitality market. Rebuilding his career…
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5 Star Conversations with Raymond Faulkner | Future-Proofing Hotels Through Global Tech & Culture
In this episode of 5 Star Conversations, we sit down with Raymond Faulkner, Vice President of Operations and Development for Swiss-Belhotel International. With over 35 years of global experience, Raymond shares his journey from part-time hotel cashier to international industry leader. He offers…
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5 Star Conversations with Olivier Berrivin | Hotel Technology & Human Hospitality
In this episode of 5 Star Conversations, Olivier Berrivin, Vice President – Asia-Pacific at BWH Hotels, shares insights from his 35-year journey as a fourth-generation hotelier. Navigating through major industry shifts and global crises, Berrivin emphasizes a leadership philosophy grounded in the...
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5 Star Conversations with Julian Clark | Leading Lancemore Through Crisis, Growth & the Future
In this episode of 5 Star Conversations, Julian Clark, CEO of Lancemore Group, reflects on an unexpected journey into hospitality leadership. Although he began his career in financial services and strategy roles in Australia and the UK, Julian shares how a love of travel, entrepreneurial roots…
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5 Star Conversation with Dominic Egger on Leadership, AI & Sustainability
Dominic Egger’s episode of 5 Star Conversations is a wide-ranging look at what modern resort leadership really takes — from goal-setting and disciplined operations to guest experience, technology, and sustainability. Speaking from Phuket, Dominic shares his non-traditional path to senior...
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5 Star Conversations: Another 2025 Best Of - Advice That Shaped Today's Leaders
For this Best Of 2025 edition of 5 Star Conversations, we asked a deceptively simple question: What’s the best advice you’ve ever received throughout your career? What emerged was not a list of neat soundbites, but a collection of lived moments—often unlabelled as “advice” at the time—that only...
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5 Star Conversations: 2025 Best Of - What Today’s Leaders Tell the Next Generation
This compilation brings together one of the most consistent and heartfelt themes from 5 Star Conversations in 2025: advice for those entering, or considering, a career in hospitality. Across roles, regions and career stages, the message is clear. Hospitality is not a short-term play, but a deeply...
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5 Star Conversations with Marcus Hanna - From Banquet Waiter to Chief Operating Officer
Marcus Hanna, Chief Operating Officer at La Vie Hotels & Resorts, shares a 25-year journey from banquet waiter at Sydney’s Regent (now Four Seasons) to leading luxury assets across Australia and Singapore—including the 2,030-room Fairmont Singapore & Swissôtel The Stamford through a $200m...
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5 Star Conversations with Zoran Pejović - From Seafarer Roots to Luxury Resorts
Zoran Pejović, Chief Growth & Strategy Officer at Lošinj Hotels & Villas, joins us from Croatia to unpack two decades across luxury development and operations (Aman, Silversea, Celebrity). He shares how a scholarship re-routed him from politics into hospitality, why “elevator-pitch clarity”…
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5 Star Conversations with Wayne Taranto - Leading Ovolo’s Growth with Passion and Innovation
In this episode of 5 Star Conversations, I sat down with Wayne Taranto, the Chief Operating Officer of Ovolo Group. We talk about how Wayne's journey into hospitality started unexpectedly, despite initially considering a career in the building industry. A pivotal moment came when he secured a…
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5 Star Conversations with Mario Mendis - Future of Hotels: AI, Culture & Human Connection
In this episode of 5 Star Conversations, we sit down with international hotelier Mario Mendis, whose 26-year journey in hospitality began humbly as a kitchen hand in Brisbane. Mario shares how his early exposure to the industry through his father, combined with hands-on experiences in Sri Lanka…
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5 Star Conversations with Wayne Williams - Scaling Minor Hotel Group Globally & Leading with Purpose
In this episode of Five Star Conversations, I sit down with Wayne Williams, CFO of the Minor Hotel Group. Over two decades, Wayne has played a key role in the group’s transformation—from 10 properties in Thailand to more than 560 hotels across 58 countries. We unpack the operational shifts,...
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5 Star Conversations with Jason Nuell - From Food Runner to Marriott Regional VP - Jason Nuell on Leadership & the Future of Hospitality
In this episode of 5 Star Conversations, Jason reflects on a career built on resilience, curiosity, and the willingness to take the harder path. Having spent two decades abroad, he shares how stepping outside his comfort zone led to growth in diverse roles and destinations, culminating in a...
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5 Star Conversations with Rene Balmer - From Executive Chef to Group GM
In this special international edition of 5 Star Conversations, filmed on location in Bangkok, we sit down with Rene Balmer, Group General Manager of Chatrium Hospitality. With nearly four decades in hospitality, Rene shares his fascinating journey from pastry chef in Switzerland to senior...
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5 Star Conversations with Anthony Metcalfe - Leading with Heart
In this episode of Five Star Conversations, Anthony Metcalfe, Hotel Manager at Capella Sydney, shares his journey through the luxury hospitality industry. With roots in a hospitality family, Anthony initially resisted following in his parents’ footsteps, but soon realised it was his calling....
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The Future of Hospitality: James Goodwin on Innovation, Workforce Challenges & Hotel Industry Trends
James Goodwin, CEO of Accommodation Australia, joined Brendon on 5 Star Conversations to discuss his transition into the accommodation sector, having previously worked in aviation, tourism, and public policy. While new to hotels, James highlighted his deep connections to related industries and…
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5 Star Conversation with Dean Minett - A Journey Through Hospitality and Leadership
In this episode of 5 Star Conversations, Brendon sits down with Dean Minett, a seasoned hospitality professional with over four decades of experience in hotel management, consultancy, and asset management. Dean shares how his career began unexpectedly when his love for cooking led him to the...
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5 Star Conversation with Matt Tripolone - The Future of Hospitality: Sustainability, Talent and Memorable Experiences
In this episode of Five Star Conversations, Brendon Granger sits down with Matt Tripolone, Managing Director for Australia and the Pacific at IHG, to explore his remarkable journey into hospitality and his vision for the industry. Although not formally educated in hospitality, Matt shared how his...
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5 Star Conversation with Erin Pickering - Behind the Scenes of Superyachts: Insights, Challenges, and Luxury Standards
In this episode of Five Star Conversations, Brendon Granger interviews Erin Pickering, who shares her incredible journey from a career in Australian media to managing luxury super yachts for the world’s elite. Starting with a leap of faith and a one-way ticket to France, Erin quickly climbed the...
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5 Star Conversation with Rodger Powell - Shaping the Future of Hospitality: Insights from Rodger’s 50-Year Journey
In this episode of Five Star Conversations, Brendon Granger interviews Rodger Powell, a highly regarded leader in the hospitality and tourism industry with a career spanning over three decades. Rodger shares insights from his journey, beginning with his unexpected entry into hospitality through a...
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5 Star Conversation with Scott Bear - The Future of Hospitality: Balancing Human Connection and Technology in Hotels
In this interview, Brendon Granger speaks with Scott Bear, General Manager of Mercure Sydney Manly Warringah, whose rapid ascent in hospitality began as an event waiter at Park Hyatt, Sydney, in 2015. Scott has distinguished himself through community engagement, contributing to local charities…
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5 Star Conversation with Jürgen Baumhoff - Hospitality, Technology, and Human Connection
In this episode of Five Star Conversations, Jürgen Baumhoff shares insights from his extensive 40-year career in hospitality, where he's held senior roles at globally renowned brands like Intercontinental, Emaar Hospitality, and Qatar Hospitality. He reflects on his early career inspiration…
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5 Star Conversation with Barry Robinson - Just Get It Done
In a recent interview on Five Star Conversations, Barry Robinson, President and Managing Director of International Operations for Travel + Leisure Co., shared his extensive experience in the hospitality industry. Robinson discussed his early introduction to the sector through his family's…
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5 Star Conversation with Peter Tudehope - Balancing Tradition and Technology
In this episode of Five Star Conversations, host Brendon Granger interviews Peter Tudehope, the esteemed General Manager of Radisson Blu Plaza, Sydney. Peter, celebrating over 19 years with the hotel, has also served as the Regional Manager for Radisson Hotel Group, Australia Pacific, overseeing...
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5 Star Conversation with Gavin Faull - The Future of Hospitality and Technology
In the latest episode of '5 Star Conversations,' Brendon Granger speaks with Gavin Faull, a prominent figure in the hospitality industry. Gavin's extensive background includes 40 years in hotel management, operations, and corporate development with prestigious groups like the Peninsula Group in...
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5 Star Conversation with Joost Heymeijer - Tradition, Technology and the Future
In this 5-star conversation with Joost Heymeijer from Toast Hospitality Advisory, we explored his distinguished career and philosophy in the hospitality industry. Joost began his journey at 17, driven by a fascination with the intricacies of hospitality. His career highlights include 12 years…
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5 Star Conversation with Dave Baswal - Leading with Heart at Ovolo Hotels
In this episode of "Five Star Conversations," Dave Baswal, CEO of Ovolo Hotels, shares his journey and insights into the innovative practices reshaping modern hospitality. Broadcasting from the vibrant ACDC suite at Ovolo Woolloomooloo, Dave discussed his rise to leadership within the Ovolo…
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5 Star Conversation with Adrian Williams - Embracing Hospitality's Evolution
In "5 Star Conversations," Brendon speaks with Accor's COO for the Pacific, Adrian Williams. Adrian reflects on his start in food and beverage, a pivotal Canadian stint at Banff Springs Hotel, and his rise within Accor. His path shows the hospitality sector's dynamic nature and capacity for...
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5 Star Conversation with Simon McGrath AM - Navigating a Three-Decade Journey in Hospitality Leadership
Join us for a compelling conversation with Simon McGrath AM, one of Australia’s most accomplished Hoteliers as he reflects on three decades of experience. From the changing landscape of technology to envisioning the future of hotels, Simon shares invaluable insights for industry professionals and...
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5 Star Conversation with Michael Johnson - "Any day above ground is a good day"
In this interview with Michael Johnson, CEO of Accommodation Australia, we take a personal and in-depth look at his remarkable journey in the hotel industry, which spans over four decades in Australia and New Zealand. We talk about his varied experiences, managing a diverse range of hotels,...
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Confession of an Old-School Hotelier in the Digital Age - Patrick Griffin AOM
An Interview with Patrick Griffiin AOM. Truly an industry legend and a gentleman. Since I first met Patrick 33 years ago, I have admired him and followed his career. Let me give you a little background on Patrick His distinguished 48 years in hospitality have spanned two continents and five hotel...
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5 Star Conversation with Simon Wan - “Live life to the fullest”
In the interview, we talk about Simon's early career in hospitality which happened to start by accident. We also talked about his unknown talents, soccer and guitar. Of course, we also talk about technology. Simon appreciates and embraces technology in the hospitality industry, despite not being…
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5 Star Conversation with Tish Nyar - Insights on Hospitality, Leadership, and Technology Trends
Join us for a captivating conversation with Tish Nyar, a seasoned hospitality professional, as he shares his perspectives on the industry's core values, effective leadership, the delicate balance of technology, and preparing for an evolving future. Delve into his discussions on the importance of...
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5 Star Conversation with Scott Boyes - The Future of Hospitality: Embracing Change & Human Connection
In this insightful conversation, Scott Boyes, an industry leader, discusses the evolving landscape of hospitality and the importance of fostering quality teams, hotel experiences, and guest appreciation. Amidst economic uncertainties and ongoing challenges, Scott highlights the resilience and...
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5 Star Conversation with Mark Hodge - Carpe diem
Today I have the pleasure of talking with Mark Hodge. Mark has had an extraordinary career in the hospitality and tourism sector which spans more than 30 years. At the time of the interview, Mark was with The Star Entertainment Group as the General Manager of Hotels & Residences, Gold Coast. In...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Welcome to 5 Star Conversations, where we uncover the career journeys and insights of the hotel industry’s most influential leaders. I’m your host, Brendon Granger. As an entrepreneur, hospitality technology ambassador, champion for charitable causes, mentor and speaker, I’m passionate about the industry and its people. Together, we’ll uncover the stories behind their careers, the pivotal moments that shaped them, and the valuable lessons they’ve learned along the way. Whether you’re looking for inspiration or practical advice to elevate your hospitality career, you’ve come to the right place.
HOSTED BY
5 Star Conversations by Brendon Granger & Technology4Hotels
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does 5 Star Conversations have?
5 Star Conversations currently has 38 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is 5 Star Conversations about?
Welcome to 5 Star Conversations, where we uncover the career journeys and insights of the hotel industry’s most influential leaders. I’m your host, Brendon Granger. As an entrepreneur, hospitality technology ambassador, champion for charitable causes, mentor and speaker, I’m passionate about the...
How often does 5 Star Conversations release new episodes?
5 Star Conversations has 38 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to 5 Star Conversations?
You can listen to 5 Star Conversations on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts 5 Star Conversations?
5 Star Conversations is created and hosted by 5 Star Conversations by Brendon Granger & Technology4Hotels.
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