Pillow Talk Sessions
Pillow Talk Sessions Podcast is the go-to podcast for exploring the future of hospitality and serviced living. Co-hosted by Jessica Gillingham and Kristian Lupinski and brought to you by the team at Abode Worldwide, each episode features insightful conversations with pioneers shaping the built-to-rent, co-living, PBSA, later living, multifamily and hospitality sectors.
Each episode explores the transition from simply providing spaces to creating value, community, and experiences. We discuss everything from operational shifts away from asset-focused approaches toward customer-centric models to changing customer behaviors, convergence of asset classes, global trends, and typology issues. From cutting-edge prop tech innovation to flexible stays and changing demographics, we uncover how hospitality and serviced rental living are reshaping the way we live, work, and play.
On the podcast, we cover three core themes:
- The ‘hotelization’ of real estate: How are the demands for concierge-level service, seamless tech, and elevated design are changing residential rental.
- Proptech as an enabler: How tools are unlocking smarter operations and richer resident experiences.
- The convergence of asset classes: We chart the strategic convergence of hotels, BTR, multifamily, and co-living as boundaries blur between short stays and rental homes.
Whether you're in real estate, hospitality, multifamily, short-term rentals, proptech, PBSA, build-to-rent, retirement living, co-living, or just curious about where these industries are headed, Pillow Talk Sessions offers engaging, thought-provoking conversations that will inspire and inform.
Your Hosts
Jessica Gillingham - Jessica is the CEO of Abode Worldwide, a strategic public relations and communications firm focused on raising the profile of transformative technology solutions across global hospitality, lodging, and serviced living. Jessica is a regular industry speaker, author, adviser, and the founder of Pillow Talk. Jessica is also the author of the book “Tech-Enabled Hospitality - Strategies to Elevate Guest Experience and Operational Efficiency.”
Kristian Lupinski - Kristian is the content and events producer for Abode Worldwide. With extensive media production experience and a hospitality industry background, Kristian has a proven track record of creating engaging content and collaborating with influential figures shaping the sector.
The podcast is brought to you by the team at Abode Worldwide.
Pillow Talk Sessions
Elevating Build-to-Rent Living Experiences with Freya Richard (Vertus)
In this week’s Pillow Talk Sessions, Jessica Gillingham and Kristian Lupinski are joined by Freya Richard, Director of Operations & Leasing at Vertus, for an engaging conversation about how hospitality and Build-to-Rent (BTR) are learning from each other.
Key highlights include:
🏘️ Lessons in Community – How Vertus is applying BTR community-building strategies to their upcoming aparthotel brand, Vertus Edit.
⚙️ Operational Insights – Anticipating the challenges and opportunities of managing aparthotels versus residential buildings.
📲 Tech-Enhanced Living – Specific technologies Vertus uses to elevate resident and guest experiences.
♻️ Sustainability in Focus – Vertus’ commitment to green practices and how they’re integrated into their aparthotel strategy.