Teague Talks Podcast

Teague Hunter, President and CEO of Hunter Advisors, created Teague Talks in 2020 to connect and educate the hospitality industry in a time of unparalleled uncertainty. Today, the popular series continues to bring our industry together and inspire the next generation of hospitality leaders. Bi-weekly Teague Talks episodes feature in-depth conversations with industry leaders, while Teague Walks features property tours alongside owners and developers. Subscribe to our YouTube channel or your favorite audio streaming platform to keep your finger on the pulse of the ever-evolving hotel industry.

Teague Talks Podcast is a business podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 100 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Unknown Host hosts Teague Talks Podcast, a business show with 100 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #152

  Teague Talks with David Tart, Raines

  Aug 14, 202632 min

  Teague Hunter sits down with David, developer and partner at Raines, to talk about his unexpected start in hospitality, his partnership with Grey Raines, and the lessons learned developing through the Great Recession, COVID, and hurricane recovery. At the center of the conversation is The Lantern Hotel, developed in partnership with the University of South Carolina’s LIFE program, where nearly a third of the team has special needs. David also shares the story behind the restoration of the historic Donald Ross-designed golf course at Waynesville Inn & Golf Club. It’s a conversation about resilience, partnership, and building businesses where purpose and profit don’t have to compete.

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  Episode #151

  Teague Talks with Grey Raines, Raines Company

  Aug 7, 202637 min

  What does it take to build a company that lasts for generations? Grey Raines, CEO & Managing Partner of The Raines Company, joins Teague Hunter to discuss the evolution of a fourth-generation hospitality business, the leadership lessons that shaped his career, and why people—not properties—are the true foundation of long-term success. Together, they explore family business, partnerships, development, independent hotels, the changing expectations of today's travelers, and the importance of hiring for culture over talent. This is an honest conversation about growth, legacy, and what the future of hospitality should look like.

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  Episode #150

  Teague Talks with Vamsi Bonthala, Arbor Lodging

  Jul 17, 20261h 10m

  What does it take to build a hospitality company that stands the test of time? In this episode of Teague Talks, Teague Hunter sits down with Vamsi Bonthala, CEO of Arbor Lodging, to discuss his journey from practicing law on Wall Street to launching a hotel investment company just before the 2008 financial crisis. Twenty years later, Arbor Lodging has grown into one of the industry's leading ownership, investment, and management platforms. Vamsi shares lessons on entrepreneurship, building enduring partnerships, learning hotel operations from the ground up, and navigating every phase of the market cycle. The conversation also explores today's investment environment, institutional capital, AI's impact on hospitality, international expansion, and why the industry's greatest opportunities still lie ahead. Whether you're a hotel owner, investor, operator, or simply interested in leadership and building businesses that last, this episode is filled with practical insights and timeless advice.

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  Episode #148

  Teague Talks with Michael Lipson, Access Point Financial

  Apr 24, 202617 min

  This week, Teague sits down with Michael Lipson, CEO and Chairman of the Board at Access Point Financial. As the leader of a lending platform focused on hospitality, Michael shares how Access Point is navigating today’s financial market with both discipline and creativity. Together, they explore why flexibility in a lender matters more than ever, how capital providers are interpreting today’s geopolitical pressures, and where Michael believes smart money is likely to flow across key assets and markets in the months ahead. Michael also challenges us to question whether our outlook on interest rates is being shaped more by economic fundamentals or political narratives—and how that underlying bias can quietly influence our next moves.

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  Episode #147

  Teague Talks with Main Street | Live from the 37th Hunter Conference

  Apr 10, 202643 min

  What does it look like to build and grow in today’s market—while everyone else is still trying to figure it out? Live from the 37th Hunter Conference, Main Street Talks brings together the owners and developers doing exactly that—Alpesh Patel, Mitch Patel, Bo Patel, and Azim Saju. These are the voices behind the portfolios—the ones spotting deals before they’re obvious, navigating capitalwith intention, managing risk without hesitation, and making the day-to-day decisions that actually move assets forward. They’re not reacting to change—they’re creating it. In this candid, on-the-ground conversation, panelists pull back the curtain on how they’re thinking about growth in today’s environment, where they’re uncovering opportunity amid uncertainty, and what it truly takes to scale and sustain a hospitality platform right now. Because in this industry, the real story is written on Main Street.

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