Host Steve Turk interviews Melissa Blettner, CEO of Boyd Hollow Resorts and Ancient Lore Village in Knoxville, Tennessee. Melissa explains founder Tom Boyd’s book inspired mission to create a fantasy village where only good exists and guests leave happier, kinder, and friendlier.

She shares her hospitality start from an XL Inn front desk job to studying hospitality management, advancing through roles in front office, sales, and leadership, and spending 20 years at Great Wolf Lodge building brand culture, openings, and a large call center with strong standards.

After Great Wolf’s culture shifted following Blackstone’s acquisition and a corporate move to Chicago, she consulted before joining Boyd Hollow. Ancient Lore Village offers 14 themed dwellings on 67 acres, day passes, dining, axe throwing, archery, events, retreats, and weddings, and is expanding with Boki’s Trek Experience and an Ancient Lore Wellbeing Retreat.

00:00 Show Kickoff

00:31 Sponsor Lodgify

01:34 Meet Melissa

02:23 Ancient Lore Origin

04:03 First Hospitality Job

06:08 Breaking Into Hotels

07:51 Career Steps Forward

10:18 Great Wolf Breakthrough

12:44 Growing at Great Wolf

16:13 Call Center Culture

17:41 Brand Building Playbook

21:19 Leaving After 20 Years

22:12 From Mars To Buyout

22:49 Dream Big Consulting Reality

24:24 Finding Boyne Hollow

26:19 What Ancient Lore Offers

28:23 Managing Crowds And Groups

30:39 Small Resort Big Opening

32:20 Guests Define The Magic

34:41 Future Attractions And Wellness

36:02 Luxury Not Kitschy Design

40:13 Team Growth And Mentorship

42:10 Advice And Farewell

Host Steve Turk introduces Josef Forstmayr, managing director of Round Hill Hotel and Villas in Jamaica. Forstmayr shares growing up working in his parents’ Austrian farm restaurant, attending hotel school in Salzburg, and arriving in Jamaica in 1979 as a German tutor before quickly becoming an assistant manager and advancing to GM roles, including rebuilding Trident after Hurricane Allen.

Hired in 1989 to convert Round Hill from a winter-only operation to a year-round resort, he describes evolving the property into a family- and group-friendly luxury destination guided by “timeless elegance, understated luxury, warm Jamaican heart,” with design input from shareholder Ralph Lauren and tech perspective from Bob Pittman.

He emphasizes Jamaica’s authentic luxury, staff legacy across generations, strong community investment and charity work, rapid recovery after Hurricane Melissa, and advises young hoteliers to learn multiple languages to build international careers.

00:00 Welcome to the Podcast

00:31 Sponsor Lodgify Message

01:34 Meet Josef in Jamaica

01:57 First Job and Jamaica Move

04:13 Hurricanes and Career Growth

06:11 Transforming Round Hill Year Round

09:02 Growing Up in Family Restaurant

11:23 Why He Stayed in Jamaica

14:27 Round Hill Owners and Design

19:08 Evolving with Core Values

23:53 Real Jamaica Beyond Cruises

29:52 Community Hikes and Belonging

31:27 Running Long Term with Locals

33:32 Giving Back and Hurricane Recovery

36:33 Future of Authentic Luxury Jamaica

39:27 Advice Learn More Languages

42:04 Wrap Up and Where to Visit

In this “random show” episode of The Hospitality Mentor Podcast, Steve Turk shares a multi-generational Miami Beach staycation at the Marriott Stanton South Beach, highlighting the South of Fifth location, Michelin star-winning The Den inside Azabu, and strong beach service and guest acknowledgment as a key hospitality lesson.

He also recommends the Loews Miami Beach Hotel’s Sushi Bar inside Bar Collins, praising Chef Khaleel Ali and the value of standout culinary “hidden gems” in big hotels.

The family then takes the Brightline train from Miami to Orlando for a Disney trip, emphasizing assigned seating, onboard amenities, and the productivity and low-stress benefits versus driving. In Orlando, he reviews the Signia by Hilton (connected to Waldorf Astoria) as a strong value with great rooms, pool, restaurants, and fireworks views, noting slower bus transport to the parks, and shares a Disney day tip: book an air-conditioned sit-down meal like the Brown Derby.

He announces the launch of staybaya.com for Baya, his upscale resort on a tropical fruit farm in Miami’s Redland area targeting a mid-year opening next summer with a $50 VIP program offering 40% discounts, and he confirms plans for a Hospitality Power Breakfast series, with the first eight-person event hosted at The Moor in the Design District.

Thank you to this episode's sponsor, Lodgify. Make sure to use promo code THM60 for 60% off.

00:00 Welcome and Topics

00:39 Sponsor Lodgify

01:25 Miami Beach Staycation

02:37 South Beach Service Lesson

03:54 Loews Sushi Find

05:28 Brightline to Orlando

07:31 Signia Hotel Review

09:41 Disney Dining Tip

11:05 Train Back and Florida Travel

12:08 Baya Resort Announcement

13:31 Hospitality Power Breakfast

14:14 Wrap Up and Subscribe