Check-In with Bryan
Welcome to Check-In with Bryan, your essential podcast for staying ahead in the dynamic world of hospitality. Hosted by Bryan Fish, CEO of Reliance Hospitality and a highly sought-after keynote speaker, this podcast dives deep into the strategic insights, evolving trends, and transformative ideas driving the hospitality and travel industries forward.
Drawing from Bryan’s extensive background in hospitality management, strategic planning, and business innovation, each episode features compelling discussions with influential industry leaders, hotel executives, investors, asset managers, and expert consultants. You’ll gain valuable insights into operational excellence, market developments, investment opportunities, asset optimization strategies, and relevant travel news influencing the hospitality landscape.
Designed specifically for hotel owners, operators, hospitality investors, travel professionals, and industry leaders, Check-In with Bryan empowers listeners to elevate their business strategies, harness industry-leading insights, and navigate the ever-evolving intersection of hospitality and travel.
Stay informed, inspired, and ahead of the competition with Bryan Fish and Reliance Hospitality.
Check-In with Bryan
Inside Hotel Development: Brands, Trust, and Market Reality with Tom Busch
Hotel development isn’t just about picking a brand. It’s about relationships, market truth, and knowing when to say no.
In this episode of Check-In with Bryan, Bryan Fish sits down with Tom Busch, a seasoned hotel development executive with decades of experience across major hospitality brands. Tom shares an unfiltered look at how hotel deals really get done—from franchise selection and site viability to owner expectations, lender confidence, and navigating economic cycles.
This conversation goes deep into the realities behind hotel development decisions and why long-term success depends on honesty, experience, and trust.
In this episode, we cover:
- How relationships drive hotel development more than brand names
- Why not every project should move forward—and who needs to say it
- The role brands play in financing, risk reduction, and performance
- Market cycles, overbuilding vs. “under-demolishing,” and timing projects right
- Why owners, guests, and brands often want different things
- The real cost of bad assumptions in hotel design, location, and positioning
If you’re a hotel owner, developer, operator, or investor—or considering entering hospitality—this episode offers a grounded, real-world perspective you won’t hear in a pitch deck.
Subscribe for more conversations with leaders shaping the future of hospitality, travel, and real estate.
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