What happens when a hotel leader becomes the owner’s voice - and the operator’s advocate?

In this episode of The Power of Hospitality, host Valerie Gavin sits down with Pierre-Louis Giacotto, Senior Vice President of Asset Management at AJ Capital Partners, to explore how leadership, trust, and communication shape both the human and financial side of hospitality.

With a career that spans decades in hotel operations and now in hotel ownership and investment, Pierre-Louis brings a rare dual perspective to the conversation. He shares how his journey from front-line leadership to asset management has reinforced his belief that hospitality is as much about people as it is about performance.

Together, we explore:

• The power of leadership to shape careers and culture

• What it really takes to bridge the owner–operator gap

• Why trust and empathy are essential in asset management

• How hospitality schools and industry leaders can better prepare the next generation

• Why human connection remains at the heart of business success - even in an AI-driven future

Whether you’re a hotel GM, owner, asset manager, or rising leader, this conversation will leave you thinking differently about how we define - and deliver - hospitality today.

What if one hotel shift could change a life?

In this episode of The Power of Hospitality, we go Beyond the Lobby with Mike Schugt, a longtime hospitality executive who left behind corporate leadership roles to launch INNclusivity - a nonprofit focused on connecting intellectually diverse adults to meaningful employment within the hospitality industry.

Mike shares how a moment of inspiration turned into a movement, how kindness can be a calling, and why inclusive hiring isn’t just the right thing to do - it’s a solution our industry needs.

We talk about:

• The personal story that inspired INNclusivity
• Why “one shift a week” can change a life
• How Mike’s hotel experience shaped his leadership and his mission today
• The ripple effect of inclusion on families, teams, and culture

Whether you’re a hotel leader, a hiring manager, or someone who believes in hospitality as a force for good - this conversation will leave you inspired to take action.

Prefer to watch this conversation?

Watch the full video episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/BE1yEajphu0

Learn more about Mike Schugt & INNclusivity:

• Website: https://innclusivity.org

• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mike-schugt

• Email: mike@innclusivity.org

• Phone: 407-973-5253