#121: Looking for REAL Innovation in Hospitality with Bashar Wali & Eric Jafari

The Modern Hotelier - Interviews with Hoteliers and Experts in Travel, Hospitality, Events & Food & Beverage

In a world where traditional hotel experiences are becoming obsolete, how can the hospitality industry transform from merely providing a place to stay into a platform for genuine human connection and personal transformation?

In this episode, Steve Carran speaks with Bashar Wali and Eric Jafari as they challenge the status quo of hotel innovation. Moving far beyond traditional wellness concepts, they explore how the next generation is redefining hospitality through community, belonging, and transformative experiences.

Key Topics include:

• The death of conventional hotel models
• How Gen Z and Millennials are reimagining wellness as a social, communal experience
• Why hotels must shift from transactional services to creating genuine human connections
• Lessons from innovative retail concepts like Erewhon and Goop
• The critical importance of making guests feel they truly belong

Drawing from personal experiences and industry insights, Wali and Jafari argue that the future of hotels isn't about amenities, but about creating tribes, cultivating culture, and helping guests feel they matter in an increasingly disconnected world.

Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn page
The Modern Hotelier is produced, edited, and published by Make More Media

Links:
Bashar Wali on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/basharwali/

Practice Hospitality: https://www.practicehospitality.com/

Eric Jafari on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericjafari/?originalSubdomain=uk

AENDRE Limited: https://www.aendregroup.com/

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/121

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