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.