Distinguished | Hospitality Leadership Podcast with Dean Upneja
What does it take to lead in one of the world's most dynamic industries? Distinguished brings you unfiltered conversations with the executives, founders, general managers, and investors who are shaping the future of global hospitality.
Hosted by Dean Arun Upneja of Boston University's School of Hospitality Administration, each episode goes beyond the headlines to tackle the real challenges facing hospitality leaders today from hotel operations and restaurant innovation to talent management, climate action, and the rise of AI and robotics across the industry.
Our guests represent every corner of hospitality: luxury hotels, independent restaurants, travel and tourism, entertainment venues, and more. They bring hard-won insight, bold ideas, and the kind of candor you won't find in a boardroom.
Whether you're a seasoned hospitality professional, an emerging leader, or simply passionate about the industry, Distinguished is your front-row seat to the conversations that matter.
Follow Distinguished on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen and join a growing community of hospitality leaders who never stop learning.
Distinguished | Hospitality Leadership Podcast with Dean Upneja
Latest Episodes
Daniel Lesser: Hotel Investment, Loan Maturities, and Too Many Brands
Four decades in this business have taught Daniel Lesser to not to fear uncertainty. From the Cuban Missile Crisis to COVID, despite dire warnings, the hospitality industry reco...
Rod Clough: 2026 Hotel Market Outlook, RevPAR, and AI in Valuation
Every so often an interview is also a reunion. Before he led the Boston University School of Hospitality Real Estate Program, Kaushik Vardharajan spent fifteen years at H...
Chad Sorensen: Hotel Asset Management, Margins, and Guest Experience
Ask Chad Sorensen what wins in 2026 and he will not say growth; he will say execution and margins. This episode of the Distinguished Podcast was recorded on the road at the <...
