The Hotel Investor Playbook

Welcome to The Hotel Investor Playbook, hosted by real estate investors and hospitality experts Michael Russell and Nathan St Cyr. As the founders of Malama Capital and Howzit Hostels, Michael and Nathan have a wealth of experience in owning and operating boutique hotels, hostels, and other experiential lodging properties. With over $30 million in real estate investments, including short-term rentals, long-term rentals, commercial retail, and hospitality properties, they bring a unique perspective on how to turn passion-driven investments into financial freedom.

In this podcast, they share their roadmap for transitioning from traditional real estate investments to boutique hotels, offering listeners the insights and strategies needed to succeed in this niche market. Whether you're looking to learn about identifying the right property, managing operations, or understanding the financial complexities of boutique hotel ownership, The Hotel Investor Playbook has you covered.

Join Michael and Nathan each week as they document their journey towards building a $400 million real estate-based business and bring you along for the ride. Subscribe now and start turning your real estate investment dreams into reality.

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The Hotel Investor Playbook

Building a Scalable Outdoor Hospitality Brand Through Franchising | Brian Linton E36

June 17, 2025

In this episode of the Hotel Investor Playbook, Mike and Nate sit down with Brian Linton, co-founder of Finding Promised Land, Camp Ferncrest, and The Rex Hotel. Brian shares how he transitioned from building a $20M apparel company to launching one of the fastest-growing outdoor hospitality brands in the U.S.

Key Topics:

How a rundown motel purchase during COVID led to a hospitality empire
Navigating zoning issues, STR restrictions, and neighborhood pushback
What to look for in land: acreage, utilities, proximity to population, and state parks
Why owning your business outright may beat raising capital
How Brian is using a franchise model to scale Ferncrest to 100+ sites
The power of social media: growing to 350K+ followers and millions in revenue

Whether you’re an investor, a landowner, or just glamping-curious, this episode is packed with insights on how to scale a meaningful hospitality business without sacrificing ownership or creativity.

Got a deal you want to discuss? Send it our way here: https://link.apisystem.tech/widget/form/28iLM67xiWWNkekg8ONt

About Brian

Brian is the founder of Finding Promised Land, a hospitality and education company helping landowners turn underutilized land into profitable glamping retreats. After building United By Blue into a $20M sustainable apparel brand, he transitioned into outdoor hospitality with The Rex Hotel and Camp Ferncrest. Now focused on scaling Ferncrest through a franchise model, Brian is on a mission to make nature-based stays more accessible, profitable, and thoughtfully designed.

Connect with Brian

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianlinton/

Website: https://findingpromisedland.com/

Instagram: @findingpromisedland & @campferncrest

Have a deal?
Send it to us: https://www.malama-capital.com/deal-submission

Connect with Mike and Nate:
Invest with Mike & Nate: malama-capital.com/invest

Instagram: @the_hotel_investor_playbook