On this episode of From Persona to Personal, Roger Hurni welcomes Jason Pirock, Corporate Director and Head of Marketing at Springboard Hospitality, to talk about opportunities for marketing in the travel industry. They discuss the rebranding journey, Springboard's growth trajectory, and the pivotal role of the digital space. Jason emphasizes the importance of learning from the marketing process instead of pursuing perfection. He also suggests that creating memorable guest experiences is crucial in building brand loyalty.

On this episode of From Persona to Personal, Roger Hurni welcomes Andy Shallal, Founder and CEO of Busboys and Poets, to chat about his distinctive hospitality concept and its evolution into a vibrant community space. He shares insights into his activism journey, the challenges of maintaining a solid team, and his establishment’s impact on cultural and political landscapes. Andy’s revolutionary approach provides a glimpse of the hospitality industry’s potential contribution to society.

On this episode of From Persona to Personal, Roger Hurni chats with Chris Moyer, Senior Director of Communications at Visit Detroit, about effective ways to rehabilitate the reputation of a city to attract tourists. Chris talks about overcoming the perception that Detroit is unsafe, highlights the tremendous cultural and historical impacts of the area, and discusses Visit Detroit’s approach to using AI and a mobile-friendly website for marketing.

On this episode of From Persona to Personal, Roger Hurni sits down with Stacy Ritter, President and CEO of Visit Lauderdale, to discuss the most effective marketing strategy for attracting tourists to the Florida region between Palm Beach and Miami. Stacy talks about how recent political headwinds in Florida may affect the state's attitude toward diversity, potentially contrasting with Visit Lauderdale's emphasis on diversity as its primary means of attracting new visitors to Fort Lauderdale.

On this episode of From Persona to Personal, Roger Hurni discusses the most effective methods for marketing unique fishing adventures with Jonathan Newar, Co-founder and CEO of Captain Experiences. Jonathan reveals how the brand came about and what makes it unique, talks about the types of adventures he’d like to eventually offer beyond fishing, and shares his concerns and what excites him the most about the future. Jonathan also talks about the benefits of, and reasons for, word-of-mouth marketing.

On this episode of From Persona to Personal, Roger Hurni sits down with Emmanuel Burgio, Principal and Founder of Blue Parallel, for a conversation about growing a luxury travel business organically. Emmanuel shares the type of traveler Blue Parallel attracts, how it gains repeat and new clients, and his vision for the brand over the next five years. He also discusses his passion for travel and the benefits of allowing employees to work remotely while living in their chosen location.

On this episode of From Persona to Personal, Roger Hurni chats with Jason Brandt, President and CEO of the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association (ORLA), about effectively communicating the value of association membership to businesses in a specific industry. Jason shares why his association exists, discusses the four pillars it's focused on, and reveals how it recruits new members. He also talks about what keeps him up at night as he navigates the challenges ORLA faces.

On this episode of From Persona to Personal, Roger Hurni welcomes Ken Griffin, Director of Golf Sales and Marketing at BOYNE Resorts, to chat about personalizing the travel experience for golf resort visitors.

On this episode of From Persona to Personal, Roger Hurni visits with Ritu Mathur, VP of Marketing at Amy’s Kitchen, about building and sustaining a brand around consumer values and why the brand has remained successful over the years. Ritu also shares marketing strategies and the communication approaches that have worked for Amy’s, how the brand stands out among the competition, and some subpar advice she learned from.

On this episode of From Persona to Personal, Roger Hurni sits down with Catherine Heald, Co-founder and CEO of Remote Lands, to chat about effective ways to grow your brand without sacrificing what makes it successful. Catherine shares why accepting money from outside investors has proven less desirable than growing organically. She discusses the pandemic’s effect on her brand and reveals the Asian destinations that are most popular among travelers and which ones have lost their luster.

On this episode of From Persona to Personal, Roger Hurni welcomes Leonard Hoops, President and CEO of Visit Indy, for a conversation about making your city a traveler's destination. Leonard discusses what has helped Indianapolis attract visitors and how the city can take advantage of the existing attractions that appeal to visitors. He also talks about using AI for marketing purposes and whether a Visit Indy mobile app would benefit people who travel to Indianapolis.

On this episode of From Personal to Personal, Cody Worden, Area Director of Sales and Marketing at Grand Hyatt Vail, joins Roger Hurni for a conversation about personalizing communication with potential travelers. Cody discusses the value of telling his hotel’s story with the help of ChatGPT. He shares the sales and marketing techniques that have been most effective for him and which strategy he would like to try in the future. Cody also talks about the importance of being emotionally invested in his team.

On this episode of From Persona to Personal, Roger Hurni chats about using AI from a public relations standpoint with Lorna Bush, Senior Vice-President of Fineman PR, a division of Off Madison Ave. As a PR professional, Lorna shares her reservations about using AI and provides a compelling list of concerns, from professional integrity to brand authenticity. She explains why food and beverage brands should not entirely rely upon AI or use it as a shortcut in media relations or brand messaging.

On this episode of From Persona to Personal, Roger Hurni sits down with Matthew de Gruyter, CEO and Co-founder of Next Level Burger, to discuss the challenges of building a brand that offers products born out of a strict set of ideals. Matthew is passionate about fighting climate change, and he talks about his desire to build a restaurant that reflects that passion. He explains why he believes Next Level’s business surged during the pandemic and shares how the brand uses technology for marketing.

On this episode of From Persona to Personal, Roger Hurni chats with Spike Stevens, Chief Technical Officer at LighthousePE, about how AI is changing the way marketers can influence behavior through mobile apps. Spike explains how LighthousePE uses AI to develop meaningful, personalized push notifications sent to individual customers at the optimum time. He says these messages give brands an advantage because of their ability to get customers to visit more often and, as a result, spend more money at your business.

On this episode of From Persona to Personal, Roger Hurni sits down with Stan Adams, Executive Director of Sports at Tuscaloosa Tourism and Sports, to discuss effective ways to promote and market an area that may only be known to a group of people with specific interests. Stan shares what makes Tuscaloosa unique, beyond great college football, and how those things can be promoted. He and Roger also discuss the benefits of using a mobile app and AI to attract and assist visitors.

On this episode of From Persona to Personal, Roger Hurni sits down with Lee Marcum, CEO of Jack’s Donuts, to discuss the keys to successfully franchising a small restaurant brand and breaking into new markets. Lee talks about the history of Jack’s Donuts since its inception in the early 60s, why he decided to expand through franchising, and how grassroots tactics won customers in new communities. 

On this episode of From Persona to Personal, Roger Hurni welcomes Jeremy Gursey, President of Coffee Manufactory, to discuss the importance of adhering to your core values when growing your brand. Jeremy shares how his company’s principles are the business' pillars and have been integral to its growth. He also discusses his time as a coffee chef to Tom Cruise and the cast of Seinfeld, describes what makes a great cup of coffee, and points out what separates Coffee Manufactory from its competitors.