Check-In with Bryan
Welcome to Check-In with Bryan, your essential podcast for staying ahead in the dynamic world of hospitality. Hosted by Bryan Fish, CEO of Reliance Hospitality and a highly sought-after keynote speaker, this podcast dives deep into the strategic insights, evolving trends, and transformative ideas driving the hospitality and travel industries forward.
Drawing from Bryan’s extensive background in hospitality management, strategic planning, and business innovation, each episode features compelling discussions with influential industry leaders, hotel executives, investors, asset managers, and expert consultants. You’ll gain valuable insights into operational excellence, market developments, investment opportunities, asset optimization strategies, and relevant travel news influencing the hospitality landscape.
Designed specifically for hotel owners, operators, hospitality investors, travel professionals, and industry leaders, Check-In with Bryan empowers listeners to elevate their business strategies, harness industry-leading insights, and navigate the ever-evolving intersection of hospitality and travel.
Stay informed, inspired, and ahead of the competition with Bryan Fish and Reliance Hospitality.
Check-In with Bryan
Check-Out Fridays: NYC Trip, QVC Holiday House & Holiday Hustle
Happy Friday and welcome back to Check-Out Fridays on Check-In with Bryan
This week, Bryan is coming to you from New York City, catching up with Executive Producer Tyler Alexander for an end-of-week debrief that’s equal parts travel diary, holiday preview, and behind-the-scenes hospitality talk.
In this Check-Out Fridays episode, Bryan recaps a whirlwind stretch that took him from Phoenix → Houston → Sarasota → New York City, with plenty of hospitality touchpoints along the way:
In this episode, Bryan & Tyler chat about:
🛎️ Hotel highlights in Sarasota & NYC
- A stay at The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota and what made the service stand out
- A shout-out to the Holiday Inn on 26th Street in Chelsea and front desk star Rovina, plus thoughts on IHG’s new H5 design and why “New York nice” hits differently
🎄 QVC Holiday House & TikTok Shop
- Bryan’s experience at QVC’s Holiday House activation in NYC
- Meeting Kathy Hilton, hanging with Lara (@prettyconnected) and her dog Wink
- How TikTok Shop and affiliate-style shopping are reshaping how brands reach guests and consumers
❄️ Somewhere Nowhere’s Winter Wonderland igloo experience
- Rooftop vibes, holiday season energy, and why immersive experiences still matter in a city full of options
🎁 Holiday shopping, QVC gift sets & the Hulken bag
- Bryan & Tyler’s honest thoughts on Black Friday, “fake discounts,” and thoughtful vs. throwaway gifting
- The Hulken bag as a surprisingly practical city accessory
👨👩👦 Holidays, money, and what really matters
- Why time together often beats expensive gifts
- Stories from family holidays, QVC over-shopping, and how financial realities shape how we celebrate
🚢 Looking ahead: travel & episodes to come
- Bryan’s upcoming Virgin Voyages New Year’s cruise to the Caribbean
- Teasing upcoming Check-In with Bryan guests including Sarah Dandashy, Stephen Barth (hospitalitylaw.com), Scott Eddy, and more
- Plans for a festive New York holiday episode with Laura / Pretty Connected and friends
Throughout the conversation, Bryan and Tyler keep bringing it back to what hospitality really is:
not just five-star brands, but how you make people feel—at the front desk, at a rooftop igloo, online in a TikTok shop, or sitting around the table during the holidays.
👉 Don’t miss this week’s main episode!
If you haven’t already, go check out our Season 4 kickoff with Sarah Dandashy (@askaconcierge), where we dig into the difference between service and hospitality and why it matters more than ever in today’s travel landscape.
💌 Stay connected with Check-In with Bryan & Check-Out Fridays
If you’re a hotelier, hospitality leader, or travel-obsessed operator, make sure to:
- Subscribe on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts
- Share this episode with a colleague who loves NYC, QVC, or holiday-season hotel stories
- Follow along for upcoming interviews on law, operations, branding, tech, and storytelling in hospitality
See you next week—and enjoy your weekend.
