Distinguished  Podcast Artwork Image

Distinguished

BU School of Hospitality Administration

Welcome to the Distinguished podcast with Dean Arun Upneja of Boston University School of Hospitality Administration. 

We skip the small talk and get right into the top-of-mind topics in the world of hospitality, including and certainly not limited to inflation; recruiting and retaining talent; the need to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion; wellness and wellbeing of our team and our guests; climate action; and the impact of robotics and a.i. on the future of Hospitality. And that’s just to name a few.


On this show, you’ll hear from executives, general managers, founders, and investors who live and breathe Hospitality. The “distinguished” guests on this podcast represent all areas of our industry from hotels and restaurants to entertainment and sporting venues, travel and tourism, and of course, a favorite pastime for many of us —shopping — because, to put it simply, Hospitality is, at play in most parts of our lives and livelihood.


Leadership Series: Dondra Ritzenthaler Embarks on a New Leadership RoleJune 05, 2024
Episode artwork
The matters that Massachusetts Restaurant Association wages for (and against) with Stephen ClarkApril 29, 2024
Episode artwork
Tipping & Wages Series: Restauranteur's Dilemma of Balancing Equity and Economics with TJ CallahanApril 15, 2024
Episode artwork
Revolutionizing the Hostel Experience with Oliver Winter, Founder & CEO of a&o HostelsApril 01, 2024
Episode artwork
Leadership Series: Demystifying the C-Suite Search with Ann Fastiggi of Spencer Stuart March 18, 2024
Episode artwork
40,000-foot-view of Customer Care with Allison Ausband, Executive Vice President, and Chief Customer Experience Officer at Delta Air LinesMarch 04, 2024
Episode artwork
Leadership Series: Radical Mentor with Cindy Novotny, Managing Partner of Master Connection Associates February 19, 2024
Episode artwork
Big Brand Hotels: Striving to be Guests’ Everything with Julienne Smith, Chief Development Officer, Americas of IHG Hotels & Resorts February 05, 2024
Episode artwork
Leadership Series: How to Identify a Positive, Values-Based Organizational Culture January 22, 2024
Episode artwork
The Virtuous Cycle of Purpose Driving Profit with Niren Chaudhary, Chairman of Panera BrandsDecember 11, 2023
Episode artwork
More Fun and Less Friction with Tim McLaughlin, Cofounder and CEO of GoTabNovember 27, 2023
Episode artwork
California Raises Minimum Wage for Fast-Food WorkersNovember 13, 2023
Episode artwork
Hospitality by Design with Steven Upchurch, Co-Managing Director of GenslerOctober 30, 2023
Episode artwork
Beyond Running Shoes with Keith Craig, Senior Director of Development of NB Development GroupOctober 16, 2023
Episode artwork
Daily Table Offers a Hand, Not a Hand-Out with Doug Rauch, Founder and President of Daily TableOctober 02, 2023
Episode artwork
Old-world Charm Meets Automation: New England Inns & Resorts with Deborah Burns, Executive Director of New England Inns & Resorts AssociationSeptember 18, 2023
Episode artwork
Columbus Hospitality Group’s Approach(ability) to Fine Dining with Mark D’Alessandro, Director of OperationsAugust 28, 2023
Episode artwork
Sharing Sonesta’s Secret with Vera Manoukian, Chief Operating Officer of Sonesta International HotelsAugust 21, 2023
Episode artwork
The Way to Bartaco with Anthony Valletta, President of BartacoAugust 07, 2023
Episode artwork
Rebuilding Hospitality with Quendrida Whitmore, Executive Coach July 24, 2023
Episode artwork
Mandarin Oriental’s Legendary Luxury with James Riley, Group Chief ExecutiveJuly 17, 2023
Episode artwork
Meet Boston: Widening the View with Hilina Ajakaiye, Executive Vice President of Meet Boston, and Colette Phillips, CEO and President/Chief Strategist/Visionary of Colette Phillips Communications, Inc.July 11, 2023
Episode artwork
Xenia and the Art of Luxury Retail with Ian Carter Chairman of Watches of Switzerland GroupJune 26, 2023
Episode artwork
Distinguished (Official Trailer)June 19, 2023
Episode artwork