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.
The Hotel Investor Playbook
The Private Island Resort Built With Sweat, Not Millions | Odis Martin E59
Turning an international hospitality dream into reality sounds exciting, until you’re standing on a swampy patch of land in Belize, wondering how many years it will take to shape it into something guests will love.
That’s where today’s guest, Odis Martin, began. He and his wife spent nearly a decade transforming a remote island into Sindiri on the Reef, a private eco lodge built without outside investors and rebuilt multiple times after hurricanes.
Odis and his wife went from small US multifamily to hand digging a swampy island, navigating Belize regulations, rebuilding after hurricanes, and creating a one of a kind off grid destination.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- How a school project turned into a 10-year international hospitality roadmap
- The real cost and complexity of off-grid development on an island
- What actually makes buying in Belize approachable for US investors
This episode gives you a realistic look at what it really takes to turn an overseas hospitality dream into a real, functioning business.
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About Odis
Odis Martin is the owner and captain of Cindiri On The Reef, a Garifuna family-owned private island resort located off the coast of Dangriga, Belize. Alongside his wife, Odis transformed their graduate school thesis into a real-world venture, hand-building the resort from raw land with local Maya and Garifuna craftsmanship and a deep commitment to sustainability. Before launching Cindiri, the couple built a 20-door real estate portfolio in California, which helped self-fund the project without outside investors. Today, Cindiri On The Reef stands as a model for off-grid, eco-luxury hospitality offering reef-to-table dining, immersive ocean experiences, and a masterclass in independent, purpose-driven resort development.
Connect with Odis
Website: https://cindiri.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/54356667
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cindirionthereef/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cindirionthereef
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@cindirionthereef
Connect with Michael on Instagram or LinkedIn.
Email Us at info@hotelinvestorplaybook.com
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