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 staff who actually care about the guest experience.

A hospitality marketing veteran who's advised VCs and built a 1.6 million social following reveals the direct booking playbook that independent hotels are using to reclaim revenue from OTAs. Scott Eddy has spoken at hundreds of conferences worldwide, doing the unexpected: giving away strategies that agencies charge thousands for.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• Why rolling out the red carpet for OTA guests (instead of alienating them) converts 30%+ into direct bookers
• The exact content categories that drive bookings and why shaky iPhone footage outperforms polished videos
• How to make your front desk staff into content superstars without hiring an expensive agency
• The one Instagram metric (hint: it's not followers) that actually predicts revenue
• Why "saves" and "comments" matter 10x more than likes for direct bookings
• The AI-discoverable scripting framework that's replacing traditional SEO for hotel discovery
• How long-form storytelling videos outperform short-form for brand discoverability (despite what Instagram tells you)
• The fatal mistake 80% of hotels make: posting beautiful property photos with promo text overlays that actively repel guests

If you're serious about reducing OTA dependency and building a direct booking engine without a massive marketing budget, this episode will provide the roadmap. Don't make the expensive mistake of outsourcing what your in-house team can do better.

About Scott Eddy

Scott Eddy is a globally recognized hospitality brand strategist and digital pioneer who transitioned from a decade in investment banking to founding the first and largest digital agency in Southeast Asia. With a combined following of over 1.2 million, Scott has hosted the travel series Video Globetrotter on Lifetime Television and is consistently ranked among the top 15 hospitality influencers in the world. He now travels full-time as a consultant and keynote speaker, helping hotel brands convert authentic storytelling into measurable ROI while championing the "independent advantage" through raw, human-centered digital engagement. A genuine citizen of the world, Scott lives entirely out of hotels and cruise ships, leveraging his experiences in 85+ countries and 120+ cruises to provide a unique "perpetual guest" perspective on the evolving travel landscape.

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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 episode, you'll learn a simple, real-world way to sanity-check a value-add motel deal, including what "light reno" actually costs per key and which levers really move ADR.

My guest is Jordan Malara, an ex-Space Force engineer who went from managing short-term rentals to building a 60+ key hotel portfolio in just a few years. He's breaking down his first deal: a 27-key motel he bought for $2.45M with $500K in renovations, using SBA 7(a) and seller financing.

What you'll learn:

• Why "$20K per key" is a better starting point than your optimistic spreadsheet number
• The hidden CapEx that blows budgets: sprinklers, fire systems, laundry equipment, and code compliance work
• Jordan's 60% expense ratio sanity check, and why occupancy lifts are way harder than you think
• How he structured SBA 7(a) + seller financing in second position (and what made the seller say yes)
• The upgrades that paid back fastest: amenities, lobby experience, and staff, not bathrooms
• How he outsources revenue management and bookkeeping globally without bloating payroll

If you got value from this episode, share it with one friend who wants to buy a hotel. And if you want to talk through a deal, email me at info@hotelinvestorplaybook.com.

About Jordan

Jordan Malara is a former U.S. Space Force engineer turned hospitality entrepreneur who transitioned from managing satellite operations to building a high-performing portfolio of boutique hotels. Previously the Director of Operations for Renjoy, where he oversaw 180+ short-term rentals, Jordan co-founded Springs Hospitality to apply engineering-level systems to the revitalization of undervalued assets like the Adventure Inn Durango. He specializes in leveraging creative financing and narrative-driven branding to transform distressed properties into thriving community hubs, teaching investors how to scale from residential units to commercial hospitality with operational discipline.

Connect with Jordan

Connect with Jordan on LinkedIn.

Follow Jordan on Instagram or visit their Website.

Learn how to use AI to underwrite faster, streamline operations, automate the busy work, and make better decisions. Start your 7-day free trial of the AI for CRE Collective here.

Connect with Michael on Instagram or LinkedIn.

Email Us at info@hotelinvestorplaybook.com

Visit the Hotel Investor Playbook Instagram

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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 raised $1.5 million and became co-GP on a 130-room boutique hotel in Tennessee's Smoky Mountains - without managing a single employee or making a single bed.

A private jet captain who flies billionaires by day reveals his exact framework for partnering on commercial deals, vetting operators, and bringing value to the table through capital raising and deal analysis - not daily operations. When a USDA loan delay tested the partnership and threatened investor confidence, his communication strategy and the GP team's quick action turned a challenge into a case study on how strong partnerships weather any storm.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• How to add massive value as a hotel investor without operations experience (the skills that actually matter)
• Why 80% of Curt's $1.5M came from his existing network (not Instagram followers) and how to leverage yours
• The critical questions to ask operating partners before co-signing on a major hotel acquisition
• Why booking 3,000 additional room nights and raising ADR from $85 to $129 proves the value-add model works
• The monthly communication framework that kept 100% of investors confident during an 8-month loan delay
• How GPs can inject capital at 10% interest to avoid diluting investor shares during unexpected shortfalls

If you're ready to stop letting "lack of operations experience" keep you out of hotel investing, this episode shows you exactly how to raise capital, structure partnerships, and protect investor relationships, even when deals don't go according to plan. This is proof that you can build commercial real estate wealth without being the operator

About Captain Curt

Curt Marker is a 15-year veteran pilot and the CEO of Captain Capital, a commercial real estate firm specializing in developing high-demand assets such as small-bay industrial flex space and boutique hotels. As a third-generation aviator and active private jet captain for billionaires, Curt translates elite "cockpit discipline," safety checklists, and high-level service into rigorous risk management for his real estate projects. He is widely recognized for his radical transparency and "skin in the game" philosophy, focusing on building long-term trust and resilient wealth for his investor partners. Curt also hosts The Captain Curt Show, where he educates professionals on transitioning tax-inefficient income into high-performing, cash-flowing commercial portfolios.

Connect with Captain Curt

Connect with Curt on LinkedIn.

Follow Curt on Instagram or visit their Website.

Learn how to use AI to underwrite faster, streamline operations, automate the busy work, and make better decisions. Start your 7-day free trial of the AI for CRE Collective here.

Connect with Michael on Instagram or LinkedIn.

Email Us at info@hotelinvestorplaybook.com

Visit the Hotel Investor Playbook Instagram

Invest with Malama Capital

Submit a deal