From selling candy in grade school to running the #1 rated hostel in North America, investor Michael Russell shares how hustle, timing, and creative thinking turned risk into a multimillion-dollar hospitality portfolio.
What you’ll learn:
•How the Great Recession became his once-in-a-lifetime buy-in opportunity.
•The leap from vacation rentals → boutique hospitality investing.
•Inside the creation of Hakuna Matata Hostel—from $800K to a $5.2M appraisal.
•The business math behind hostels: “Sell the bed, not the room.”
•Building community-driven experiences that outperform luxury stays.
•How Malama Capital scales boutique hospitality assets with heart and ROI.
•The mindset shift: leverage partnerships, hire experts, and grow intentionally.
About the Guest:
Michael Russell is the co-founder of Milana Capital and co-host of The Hotel Investor Playbook. With 20+ years in hospitality and real estate, he’s redefining what “investing in experiences” really means.
If you’re passionate about hospitality, entrepreneurship, and real-world investing—subscribe and follow along every Tuesday for new episodes of Check-In with Bryan.
Also, dont forget to check out The Hotel Investor Playbook to hear more from Michael!
Disclaimer:
All opinions are for educational purposes only and not investment advice.
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