From Belkin to Building a New Kind of Hospitality Business - Chet Pipkin, Desolation Hotel

Chet Pipkin, founder of Belkin and now Desolation Hotel, shares how he’s applying decades of experience in innovation and leadership to reimagine what a hospitality business can be. After growing Belkin into a global technology brand, Chet turned his attention to creating meaningful, sustainable experiences in Lake Tahoe—guided by a one-page business plan rooted in simplicity, clarity, and purpose. In this conversation, he explains the five principles behind Desolation Hotel, how focusing first on people leads to exceptional guest experiences, and why profitability and positive impact don’t have to be at odds. Listeners will gain insight into how clarity of intent can transform both business performance and community contribution in hospitality today. Also see:Why I’m Building Hotels as "Immersive Portals" - Chet Pipkin, Desolation HotelReconnecting With What Feeds the Soul - Chet Pipkin, Desolation Hotel A few more resources: If you"re new to Hospitality Daily, start here. You can send me a message here with questions, comments, or guest suggestions If you want to get my summary and actionable insights from each episode delivered to your inbox each day, subscribe here for free. Follow Hospitality Daily and join the conversation on YouTube, LinkedIn, and Instagram. If you want to advertise on Hospitality Daily, here are the ways we can work together. If you found this episode interesting or helpful, send it to someone on your team so you can turn the ideas into action and benefit your business and the people you serve! Music for this show is produced by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands