The Hotel Investor Playbook

Welcome to The Hotel Investor Playbook, hosted by real estate investors and hospitality experts Michael Russell and Nathan St Cyr. As the founders of Malama Capital and Howzit Hostels, Michael and Nathan have a wealth of experience in owning and operating boutique hotels, hostels, and other experiential lodging properties. With over $30 million in real estate investments, including short-term rentals, long-term rentals, commercial retail, and hospitality properties, they bring a unique perspective on how to turn passion-driven investments into financial freedom.

In this podcast, they share their roadmap for transitioning from traditional real estate investments to boutique hotels, offering listeners the insights and strategies needed to succeed in this niche market. Whether you're looking to learn about identifying the right property, managing operations, or understanding the financial complexities of boutique hotel ownership, The Hotel Investor Playbook has you covered.

Join Michael and Nathan each week as they document their journey towards building a $400 million real estate-based business and bring you along for the ride. Subscribe now and start turning your real estate investment dreams into reality.

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The Hotel Investor Playbook

How Sky McLean Built a $500M Hotel Brand from Scratch | Sky McLean E26

April 15, 2025

What do you do when you get fired from your job and get escorted out with a cardboard box? If you’re Sky McLean, you build one of the fastest-growing hospitality brands in Canada.

In this episode, we sit down with Sky McLean, founder and CEO of Basecamp Resorts, owner of 14+ resorts, and operator of over half a billion in real estate. From bootstrapping her first hotel with a BMW loan to raising $40 million through Instagram, Sky’s story is a masterclass in grit, creativity, and bold vision.

We dig into how she scaled her adventure-focused hospitality brand, her unique capital raising strategy, why she avoids big-name hotel flags, and how she balances leading 500+ employees with being a full-time mom and mountain sports junkie.

Whether you’re just getting started or looking to scale your hotel portfolio, this episode is packed with insight, inspiration, and practical wisdom from someone who’s actually done it.

Connect with Sky:

Instagram: @skymclean

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sky-mclean-2299a420/

Website: https://invest.basecampresorts.com/

Connect with Mike and Nate:

Instagram: @the_hotel_investor_playbook