In this episode, Steve and David sit down with Tiffany Donato, Chief Investment Officer at Marcus Hotels & Resorts, for a candid deep dive into hotel investments, portfolio strategy, and the art of turning underused spaces into revenue and memorable experiences.

Tiffany shares lessons from Hyatt and beyond, why Marcus pairs long-term thinking with entrepreneurial experiments (think igloos, mocktails, and ski hills), and how co-investing, recapitalizations, and smart PIPs shape their expansion outside the Midwest. Plus: texting over email, AI for call handling, and why serving locals is a growth strategy.

You’ll learn:

The Marcus blueprint for expansion beyond the Midwest
How to underwrite labour, rate, and demand honestly (and still win)
Practical activations that drive revenue
Why co-investing and long-term thinking beat quarter-to-quarter pressure
Simple tech moves that delight guests and reduce friction

Watch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/zYPYxG0AZJA

Links:
Tiffany on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiffany-leadbetter-donato-46b1027/
Marcus Hotels Management | Hotels, Resorts & Restaurants: https://www.marcushotels.com/

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/224

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Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn page

Connect with Steve and David:
Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E...
David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mil.

#224: Deep Dive on Hotel Investment & Growth Strategy | with Tiffany Donato

The Modern Hotelier

#224: Deep Dive on Hotel Investment & Growth Strategy | with Tiffany Donato