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On this week's episode the guys are joined by Alice Sherman, CEO of HVS Executive Search! Alice Sherman has placed some of the most powerful executives in hospitality. As CEO of HVS Executive Search, she's seen thousands of resumes, sat across from hundreds of owners, and walked the halls of Congress to lobby for the industry. Her message to the business? You're still hiring wrong.
Years of experience is the most overrated qualifier in the industry. Cover letters are dead. And the best talent isn't chasing the big brands anymore — they're running toward independent, luxury, and boutique properties where they can actually build something. Alice breaks down what a modern resume should look like, why the Chief Commercial Officer is the new CEO succession play, and what happened when she went to Capitol Hill and realized most lawmakers had no idea hospitality employs more hourly workers than any other industry in America.
Then the crew gets into the stories. Google just scooped up Spirit Airlines' entire operational data set — pricing models, booking curves, 100 million emails — for $10 million. That's less than Spirit spent building its headquarters. Why didn't anyone in travel bid $11 million? Timeshares are back, and Gen Z is driving the bus. 92% satisfaction. 80% occupancy. And the generation that hates commitment is apparently fine with shared vacation ownership. And Disney just invented a new metric to make sure Wall Street sees what's really happening: the cruise business is surging, and $12 billion says they're just getting started.
About the Guest: Alice Sherman
Alice Sherman is the CEO of HVS Executive Search, where she leads the firm's global executive placement practice across hospitality, restaurants, and private equity.
She started her career on the floor, running operations in fine dining restaurants and boutique hotels, before moving through recruitment, training, openings, development, and brand communications. She joined HVS as an Associate and worked her way up, eventually overseeing the entire Americas practice before stepping into the global CEO seat in 2026.
Alice advises ownership groups, C-suites, and boards on leadership architecture, succession planning, and organizational design, and is always glad to be a resource for stakeholders navigating an executive change.
Alice on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alicesherman5
Your Hosts:
Zach Busekrus — Journey
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachbusekrus/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behindthestays/
Scott Eddy — Global Travel & Hospitality Expert @MrScottEddy
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrscotteddy/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrscotteddy/
Ben Wolff — Founder of Onera & Oasi
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-wolff/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iambenwolff/
Edwin Kramer — Luxury Hotelier Consultant & Former GM
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edwinckramer/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edwinkramer/
