#328: How a European Hotel Brand Is Expanding in America | with Phil Andreopoulos, CEO of Yotel

What does it take to build a hotel brand that stands out in an increasingly competitive hospitality industry? 

In this episode, David Millili and Steve Carran sit down with Phil Andreopoulos, CEO of YOTEL, to explore his remarkable career in hospitality, his leadership journey, and his vision for the future of hotel brands.

Phil shares how starting in a restaurant at just 14 years old shaped his passion for hospitality, the lessons he learned during a 25-year career at Marriott, and why he ultimately chose to leave a global hospitality giant to lead the more agile and entrepreneurial YOTEL.

The conversation dives into YOTEL's distinctive brand concept, its aviation-inspired origins, and how technology, automation, and thoughtful design are transforming the guest experience. Phil discusses YOTEL's affiliation with Hilton, the brand's ambitious growth plans across North America, opportunities in conversions and franchising, and the potential for YOTEL resorts.

He also explores the evolving expectations of hotel owners, the importance of maximizing profit per square foot, adaptive reuse, extended-stay hospitality, and the growing influence of bleisure travel. Throughout the conversation, Phil emphasizes a critical lesson for every hospitality leader: know your customer, understand what they truly want, and then overdeliver on the experience.

Whether you're a hotel owner, investor, hospitality professional, franchisee, or simply interested in the future of travel and hotels, this episode offers valuable insights into leadership, hotel development, brand differentiation, technology, and the changing needs of today's travelers.

In this episode, you'll learn about:

• Why YOTEL partnered with Hilton and what the affiliation means for growth
• YOTEL's aviation-inspired hotel concept and tech-forward guest experience
• The role of AI, automation, and robotics in modern hotels
• How bleisure travel is changing guest behavior
• Why distinctive brand identity matters in a crowded hospitality market

Watch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/FaiAH3aWFCo

Links:
Phil on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/philandreopoulos/
YOTEL: https://www.yotel.com/en

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/328

Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-..

Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn page

Connect with Steve and David:
Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E...
David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mil.