The Turndown: The Podcast for Hoteliers

Ever wonder what keeps hoteliers up at night? Or what helps them sleep easy? In “The Turndown,” host Sebastien Leitner of Cloudbeds chats with hospitality executives and industry leaders about their latest challenges and breakthroughs, the inspirations and innovations that keep them going, and the life lessons that go along with working in this chaotic, yet rewarding, industry.

The Turndown: The Podcast for Hoteliers is a business podcast hosted by Cloudbeds, with 30 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Cloudbeds hosts The Turndown: The Podcast for Hoteliers, a business show with 30 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #18

  Jason Edwards: What happens when new technology hits the front desk

  Aug 20, 202651 min

  Jason Edwards, Director of Hospitality & Advisory Services at Première Advisory Group , has spent more than two decades in hospitality and 15 years in project management, leading technology integrations, revenue initiatives, and complex hotel transitions. In this episode of The Turndown, Jason looks at what happens after a hotel decides to change its technology. From getting operational teams ready to navigating deflagging, distribution, and go-live pressure, he explains why the technology itself is only one part of making change work. Topics include: Why hotel tech decisions can outpace operational readiness What makes technology implementations succeed or fail The realities of deflagging and going independent All-in-one vs. best-of-breed technology stacks When hotels have too many systems What owners should actually ask vendors about AI Why marketing, distribution, and photography still matter Measuring the real value of each booking channel Related reading: 24-hour implementation: How Première Advisory Group and Cloudbeds redefine hotel technology deployment Hotel management software implementation: How to migrate, train, and go live successfully

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  Episode #17

  Simone Puorto: The hotel industry does not need more software

  Jul 16, 20261h 5m

  Hospitality futurist Simone Puorto joins The Turndown to challenge the hotel industry’s obsession with buying more technology. He argues that hotels do not need another layer of software, but fewer disconnected systems, better data, and a clearer understanding of where technology genuinely improves the guest and employee experience. The conversation explores key subtopics, including: AI and its real impact on hospitality Hotel tech overload and system fragmentation The future of search and booking Why some properties may benefit from simplifying their tech stack Follow Simone Puorto: Linkedin Hospitalitynet Sign up for Simone's newsletter YouTube Related reading: AI hotel management software: Why connected data matters more than features PMS integrations: What they mean for hotels in 2026 Guest profiles: The foundation of personalized experiences

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  Episode #16

  Ally Northfiled: Staying commercially relevant in the age of unreliable signals

  Jun 25, 202651 min

  In this episode of The Turndown, Ally Northfield, Managing Director of Revenue by Design and creator of the Global Revenue Forum, joins Sebastien to unpack what it really means for hotels to stay commercially relevant when the old signals are becoming harder to trust. The conversation moves beyond rate changes, dashboards, and distribution strategy to explore the bigger shifts reshaping hotel performance: uncertain booking patterns, shorter lead times, rising operating costs, changing guest behavior, AI-powered travel search, and the evolving role of OTAs. Ally argues that the next generation of revenue leadership will need to be more strategic, more communicative, and far closer to the guest than ever before. Together, they discuss why RevPAR may no longer be enough, why the cost of acquisition deserves more attention, how AI is changing the way guests discover hotels, and why commercial teams need to break down the silos between revenue, sales, marketing, distribution, and reservations. They also explore what hotels must do to attract the next generation of talent, and why hospitality needs to rethink how it presents itself as an industry. This is a timely conversation about commercial leadership, guest relevance, and the uncomfortable reality that hotels can no longer rely on yesterday’s patterns to make tomorrow’s decisions. Related resources: What is hotel revenue management? The ultimate guide The new rules of hotel revenue management: 6 strategies to stay ahead in 2026 What’s next for the hospitality workforce: Experts weigh in

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  Episode #15

  Marie Pier Germain: Growing Canada’s most distinctive hotel brand without losing its soul

  Jun 11, 202652 min

  In this episode of The Turndown, Marie Pier Germain opens up about leading one of Canada’s most distinctive hotel brands through growth, succession, and change. She reflects on what it means to expand Germain Hotels without losing the family values, personality, and guest-first philosophy that shaped the company from the beginning. The conversation explores leadership, legacy, brand independence, design, and why hospitality still needs to feel deeply human.

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  Episode #14

  Ted Horner: Navigating hotel tech ROI, AI, and the future of hotel profitability

  May 28, 20261h 1m

  In this episode, hospitality technology pioneer Ted Horner joins the podcast to challenge the status quo of the hotel industry. He argues that major hotel brands have essentially become marketing companies and warns that the sector is severely underinvesting in technology, allocating only 3% to 4% of revenue because vendors consistently fail to build strong ROI cases for owners. Horner also dives into the profitability crisis facing hotel owners, who are operating on tight 5% margins while massive Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) capture 15% to 20% in commissions. Looking toward the future, Horner shares his bold predictions on how the guest experience must evolve to perfectly balance high-tech efficiency with high-touch personal service. He forecasts the gradual elimination of the traditional reception desk, in-room landlines, and plastic key cards in favor of seamless, mobile-first solutions. Furthermore, he explores the impending artificial intelligence revolution—from commercial robots stepping in to alleviate the hospitality labor shortage to the rise of personal AI booking agents that could finally help hotels win back their direct bookings. Related reading and resources: Ted's Technology Summit Hotel Management Software Buyer's Guide 2026 The guide to hotel contactless check-in

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