Jim Looney is the Owner and Founder of Looney & Associates. With over 35 years of experience in the hospitality industry, he’s an industry leader and a mentor to many. His passion for hospitality is obvious in how he carries a tradition of integrity, quality and service in all of his projects. Jim joins host Dan Ryan to talk about his journey though #hospitality and what it all means to him.

Takeaways:

You want to make sure that you are always meeting your deliverables and that you are keeping the clients and your employees happy.
Gaining the trust of a client is a big responsibility. It is your responsibility to make sure that trust is rewarded.
Hospitality is making others feel comfortable in your presence. You want others to feel comfortable around you.
Travel is something that can inspire people and help them come up with new and innovative ideas.
It’s important to sit back and take time to yourself occasionally and disconnect from all the technology around you.
The pandemic allowed people to explore hospitality and the world around them in a different lens.
A design has to feel immediately comfortable. You want guests to feel welcomed by the design and enjoy being where they are.

Quote of the Show:

11:01 “Hospitality to me is making people feel comfortable in your presence.”

Links:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/looneydesign
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-looney-209a15a/
Website: https://www.looney-associates.com/
James D. Looney Award at Fay Jones School of Architecture at University of Arkansas - https://uark.academicworks.com/opportunities/22004

Shout Outs:

4:36 Michael Bedner

4:41 Lenny Parker

4:51 Trish Wilson

12:38 Dallas Independent School District

22:12 Museum of Modern Art

23:52 Marriott Wailea

24:39 John Stobbe

34:28 James Dunlop

29:24 Jim Romelspa

43:40 The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand

43:43 Ayn Rand

Ways to Tune In:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0A2XOJvb6mGqEPYJ5bilPX
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/defining-hospitality-podcast/id1573596386
Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZGVmaW5pbmdob3NwaXRhbGl0eS5saXZlL2ZlZWQueG1s
Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/8c904932-90fa-41c3-813e-1cb8f3c42419
Podbean: https://www.defininghospitality.live/
Youtube : https://youtu.be/qC4W3Ta10lw