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The Hotel Investor Playbook
Welcome to The Hotel Investor Playbook, hosted by real estate investor and hospitality operator Michael Russell. Michael is the co-founder of Malama Capital and Howzit Hostels, and has built a personal real estate portfolio exceeding $20 million.
With an operator-first mindset, Michael brings a practical perspective to hotel investing. On the show, he breaks down what it actually takes to scale from short-term rentals into boutique hotels, covering deal sourcing, operations, capital strategy, and risk.
Each week, Michael shares real lessons from the field as he builds toward a $400 million real estate business, giving listeners an honest look at the decisions, challenges, and strategies behind the growth. Subscribe and follow along as he documents the journey in real time.
Podcasting since 2024 • 70 episodes
The Hotel Investor Playbook
Latest Episodes
This 3-Step System Automated His Real Estate Business to 4 Hours a Month | Mark Podolsky E69
Most investors think they're building a business, but they're actually building themselves a job. The truth? If you died tomorrow, your "business" would die with you.A real estate investor who scaled from 80-hour weeks to just 4 hours pe...
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34:21
How Small Hotels Use Staff Content to Drive Direct Bookings | Scott Eddy E68
Most hotel owners think the only way to reduce OTA dependency is to throw more money at Facebook ads or hire expensive marketing agencies. But the real solution isn't more budget, it's leveraging what you already have: authentic stories and sta...
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51:52
How an Ex-Space Force Engineer Bought a $2.45M Motel With 10% Down | Jordan Malara E67
Most first-time motel buyers don't lose money on the purchase price. They lose it by underestimating CapEx, guessing on underwriting, and assuming they can "market" their way to higher occupancy. That's how people get smoked.In this epis...
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1:06:35
How a Pilot Bought a $10M Hotel With Zero Hotel Experience | Curt Marker E66
Think you need hotel operations experience to invest in boutique hotels? That belief may be the only thing standing between you and building serious commercial real estate wealth.In this episode, you'll discover how a Gulfstream pilot ra...
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55:24
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Attorney Reveals Why Most Hotel Syndicators Are Breaking the Law | Bethany LaFlam E65
Most first-time hotel syndicators are already breaking the rules; they just don't know it yet. If you've ever taken money from friends and family without the right structure, you may have accidentally sold securities. And if you're paying someo...
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1:00:52
