Episode 022: Steve Turk Unveils Lessons from 150+ Hospitality Executives

The entrepreneur turned author shares the secret to transforming your business forever

Mar 07, 2025

Hospitality Unlocked

Hello everyone! This week, I’m excited to introduce you all to Steve Turk—hotel expert, hospitality entrepreneur, podcast host and now, author (!). With a career spanning decades in the industry, Steve is the founder of multiple successful companies including Turk Hospitality Ventures, Tangy Management, Biscayne Coffee, and The Hospitality Mentor. Steve also recently launched his first book, Hospitality Unlocked, sharing game-changing advice, strategies, and insider secrets from the world’s top hospitality leaders.

Why should you listen?

Steve has an impressive knack for turning big ideas into successful business ventures. Having worked at every level of the hotel industry, he’s seen firsthand what works and what doesn’t. Here are a few highlights from our conversation:

Miami Roots: Most hospitality pros build their careers by hopping from city to city, following the opportunities of global brands. Not Steve. He knew he didn’t want to leave Miami—so instead of moving, he made Miami move for him. By working with multiple top-tier brands instead of sticking with just one, he built an unmatched network and gained diverse expertise, all while staying in the city he loves.
Applying the Forbes’ Five-Star Standards at Any Price Point: Think only Michelin-starred restaurants can implement five-star dining standards? Think again. Steve breaks down how any restaurant (even a Cheesecake Factory) can apply the same meticulous attention to detail that earns places like The Ritz-Carlton and The Peninsula their prestigious Forbes ratings. It’s all about consistency, training, and going beyond expectations.
Translating Hotel Standards to Short-Term Rentals: Luxury hotels have spent decades perfecting guest experience—so why reinvent the wheel? Steve shares how his hotel background made him quickly stand out in the STR space, and why owners/ operators should take a page from the hotel playbook.
The Hallmark of a True Entrepreneur: Steve said that he gets a lot of ideas—but he only explores the ones that stick around for a week or two. Hear his process for starting (and selling!) many successful ventures. If you’re an entrepreneur (or an aspiring one), his approach to filtering ideas might just change how you think about starting something new.
Steve’s Golden Rule: When deciding if a short-term rental is a fit for his management company, he and his partner ask themselves the one simple question: Would you let your parents stay here?
Favorite Quote from the Episode: “Stick with the top brands… You will learn from the best. you will be trained by the best. And you will see things at a much higher level. Then, if you want to dabble in some of the other brands as you grow, you could do that. But try to stick to the top.”

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Last Week on Suite Success

Have you checked out Tahnee Perry’s episode covering all things AI!? As the unofficial AI expert to the hospitality industry, as well as the founder of A25, her insights are sure to leave you inspired and energized by the future of artificial intelligence. Check it out wherever you get your podcasts: Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube.

Last Chance to Level Up!

Also, this is your last chance to snag a ticket to Level Up Your Listing, the premier conference for for founders, freelancers, creatives, and real estate investors taking place in Phoenix, Arizona from March 9 - 11. Use code SUITESUCCESS for 10% off.

Until next week, here’s to your suite success.

xx Katie

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