Branding, luck and the power of yes
In this inspiring and wildly entertaining episode of the Growth Ready Podcast, host Steve Mellor welcomes John Fareed for a conversation that travels from a small town in North Georgia to the global stage.
In this inspiring and wildly entertaining episode of the Growth Ready Podcast, host Steve Mellor welcomes John Fareed for a conversation that travels from a small town in North Georgia to the global stage. John shares how a willingness to be “open in all things” led him from radio and magic shows to the U.S. Marines, and eventually to chairing an international consulting firm. The episode explores how personal and professional growth often stem from the same core values, and how intentionally shaping your personal brand can be a game-changer. Packed with jaw-dropping stories and practical wisdom, this episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating career shifts or looking to build a personal brand with authenticity and purpose.
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Tourism competitiveness in Argentina: challenges, opportunities and strategic responses
Currently, Argentina faces significant challenges regarding its competitive position in the global tourism sector. The recent devaluation of the peso has intensified barriers to attracting international visitors, while also highlighting the crucial importance of each destination’s unique value proposition within the country. The first quarter of 2025 reflected a 25% decline in the influx of international tourists compared to the same period last year. Europe remains the leading source region, accounting for 20% of total visitors, followed by Brazil with 16%.
Historic city centres: preserving urban memory & authenticity
Not every city is a tourist destination, but those that safeguard their environmental heritage and promote community well-being have the potential to turn their history and culture into meaningful experiences for both residents and visitors. Historic city centres are a living expression of this process, embodying the identity and evolution of a place over time.
Intangible assets in hotel property tax assessments
Hotels are complex assets that blend real estate with business value. For property tax purposes, only the real estate is taxable – yet all too often, assessors inadvertently include the hotel’s intangible business assets in the assessed value. Brand value, management contracts, franchise affiliations, and customer relationships can inflate taxable value if not properly removed. On the majority of occasions, upscale, select-service, and extended-stay hotels – particularly those transacted in portfolios – are assessed at values that fail to extract these intangibles.
What we learned at ALIS CALA 2025: Day 2
The debut of ALIS CALA 2025 marked a significant milestone for the hospitality industry in the Caribbean and Latin America. Merging the former CHRIS and HOLA conferences, this unified platform brought together more than 100 hospitality leaders, investors, and developers in Coral Gables, Florida to chart the future of travel and investment across the region.
Resilience in Paradise
Global leisure travel patterns are undergoing a notable realignment as economic and political headwinds emanating from the United States redirect international tourists toward more accessible and stable destinations. The Caribbean, in particular, has emerged as a prime beneficiary of this shift. Factors such as U.S. trade tariffs, policy uncertainty, and geopolitical tensions have dampened the appeal of U.S. travel for many overseas visitors, resulting in a “travel diversion” effect in which sun-seeking travelers opt for Caribbean getaways over U.S. holidays. At the same time, the Caribbean region’s robust tourism recovery and relative political stability have positioned its islands as attractive havens for both vacationers and investors.
What we learned at ALIS CALA 2025: Day 1
On the opening day of the ALIS CALA conference, Horwath HTL convened industry leaders to discuss the evolving landscape of financing hospitality developments across the Caribbean and Latin America