184 | Hotel Room Saddle

Lan Elliott's career spans the highest levels of hotel real estate, from acquisitions at Starwood to asset management at IHG. Now, as the co-founder of Acacia Holdings, a champion for women in hospitality through Women in Hospitality Leadership Alliance, and a podcast host on It's Personal Stories, she's on a mission to create more opportunities in leadership and investment. Susan and Lan talk about career pivots, negotiation power moves, and the myth that there aren't enough women speakers in hospitality. What You'll Learn in This Episode: 🚀 How to land a speaking gig at a conference – and why writing articles might be the secret. 🎤 The truth about "not enough women speakers" – Lan shares how a 700-person speaker directory turned into 1,400+ in just months. 💼 Hotel real estate vs. operations – why Lan pivoted from GM dreams to investment deals. 🏨 Traditional luxury vs. lifestyle hotels – what Ferraris and Rolls Royces teach us about branding. 📚 The power of lifelong learning – why the top leaders she's interviewed all have one thing in common: curiosity. 💰 Negotiation 101: The unspoken signals you should be listening for. 🔮 A bold prediction for the future of hotel investment – and why the numbers aren't looking good for women in leadership (yet). If you want to break into hotel real estate, negotiate like a pro, or finally get that conference speaking gig, then you need to hear Lan Elliott's insights and stories!