Here is a curated media and podcast contact list focused strictly on national publications and top-tier podcasters who interview or cover founders, entrepreneurs, and executives in the hospitality industry.
Like the previous list, this is divided into 15 contacts per category.
🍽️ Restaurants (15 Contacts)
These national outlets and podcasts focus on restaurant founders, scaling brands, restaurant technology, and the business of running a culinary empire.
Eric Cacciatore – Host, Restaurant Unstoppable Podcast
Focus: Deep-dive interviews with successful restaurateurs and chefs about leadership and scaling.
Contact: Pitch via website / LinkedIn
Michael Schatzberg & Jimmy Frischling – Hosts, The Hospitality Hangout Podcast
Focus: Tech, investment, and founder stories behind emerging restaurant brands.
Contact: info@brandedstrategic.com
Alice Cheng – Host, Hospitality On The Rise Podcast
Focus: Conversations with culinary founders and leaders about their career pivots and growth.
Contact: Pitch via CulinaryAgents.com
Jonathan Maze – Editor-in-Chief, Restaurant Business Magazine
Focus: National chain growth, financial trends, and high-level restaurant entrepreneurship.
Contact: jmaze@winsightmedia.com
Sam Oches – Editorial Director, Nation's Restaurant News (NRN)
Focus: QSR and fast-casual founders, operational strategies, and restaurant innovation.
Contact: sam.oches@informa.com
Shawn Walchef – Host, Restaurant Influencers Podcast (Entrepreneur Media)
Focus: Digital storytelling, marketing, and the founder’s journey.
Contact: podcast@calibbq.media
Danny Klein – Editorial Director, QSR Magazine / FSR Magazine
Focus: Quick-service and full-service restaurant leadership, franchise founders.
Contact: dklein@wtwhmedia.com
Andy Jones – Host, Hospitality Leadership Podcast
Focus: Actionable strategies from restaurant and hotel leaders.
Contact: Pitch via LinkedIn
Chloe Sorvino – Food & Drink Editor, Forbes
Focus: Billion-dollar food brands, restaurant empire founders, and agricultural entrepreneurs.
Contact: csorvino@forbes.com
Jeremy Julian – Host, The Restaurant Technology Guys Podcast
Focus: How founders leverage tech to scale and solve industry challenges.
Contact: podcast@restauranttechnologyguys.com
Phil Street – Host, Hospitality Meets... Podcast
Focus: The personal journeys of hospitality founders, financiers, and chefs.
Contact: Pitch via website
National Desk – Eater (Vox Media)
Focus: Major national restaurant group expansions and prominent chef-founders.
Contact: pitches@eater.com
Restaurant Founders Desk – Entrepreneur Magazine
Focus: Business strategies, funding, and franchising for restaurant startups.
Contact: pitches@entrepreneur.com
Cherryh Cansler – VP of Editorial, FastCasual
Focus: Fast-casual restaurant founders and brand growth.
Contact: cherryhc@networldmediagroup.com
Stelios Theocharous – Host, The Ceres Podcast
Focus: Innovators and founders within the global food and hospitality supply chain.
Contact: Pitch via Ceres website
☕ Cafés, Coffee & Bakeries (15 Contacts)
These national outlets focus on specialty coffee founders, bakery entrepreneurs, and fast-casual cafe innovators.
Chris Deferio – Host, Keys to the Shop Podcast
Focus: Operations, leadership, and founder stories specifically in the coffee shop industry.
Contact: chris@keystotheshop.com
Sarah Allen – Editor-in-Chief, Barista Magazine
Focus: Global coffee culture, specialty cafe founders, and industry trailblazers.
Contact: sarah@baristamagazine.com
Nick Brown – Editor, Daily Coffee News (by Roast Magazine)
Focus: Business news, cafe openings, and coffee roasting entrepreneurs.
Contact: publisher@roastmagazine.com
Zac Cadwalader – Managing Editor, Sprudge
Focus: Coffee culture, new cafe models, and design-forward coffee founders.
Contact: pitches@sprudge.com
Ashley Rodriguez – Host, Boss Barista Podcast
Focus: Workplace equity, sustainability, and founder accountability in the coffee industry.
Contact: bossbaristapodcast@gmail.com
John Unrein – Editor, Bake Magazine
Focus: Retail bakery founders, pastry entrepreneurs, and national bakery trends.
Contact: junrein@sosland.com
Caleb Nicholes – Publisher, Fresh Cup Magazine
Focus: Resources for independent cafe owners, tea houses, and founders.
Contact: editorial@freshcup.com
Chris Baca & Jared Truby – Hosts, Cat & Cloud Coffee Podcast
Focus: The reality of running a coffee business, culture, and entrepreneurship.
Contact: Pitch via Cat & Cloud website
Editorial Desk – Tea & Coffee Trade Journal
Focus: Global supply chain, cafe operations, and executive leadership.
Contact: info@teaandcoffee.net
Lee Clark – Host, The Business of Coffee Podcast
Focus: Financial modeling, scaling, and the business side of cafe ownership.
Contact: Pitch via LinkedIn
Erica Escalante – Host / Contributor, Cafe Founder Podcasts
Focus: Real-world advice and stories from female cafe founders.
Contact: Pitch via LinkedIn
Food & Beverage Desk – Inc. Magazine
Focus: Fast-growing national cafe and bakery franchises (e.g., the Inc. 5000 list).
Contact: pitches@inc.com
Bakery Desk – Snack Food & Wholesale Bakery
Focus: Large-scale bakery operations and commercial cafe founders.
Contact: info@bakingbusiness.com
Coffee People Zine – Editorial Desk
Focus: The creative side of the coffee industry and independent cafe founders.
Contact: info@coffeepeople.org
SCA News Desk – Specialty Coffee Association
Focus: Industry standards, global founders, and specialty cafe innovations.
Contact: press@sca.coffee
🏨 Hotels & Lodging (15 Contacts)
These media contacts focus on hotel developers, boutique lodging founders, management groups, and hospitality real estate.
Josiah Mackenzie – Host, Hospitality Daily Podcast
Focus: Daily interviews with hotel founders, brand leaders, and tech innovators.
Contact: Pitch via website
Glenn Haussman – Host, No Vacancy Podcast
Focus: The leading podcast for hotel executives, developers, and hospitality founders.
Contact: glenn@novacancynews.com
David Eisen – Editor-in-Chief, Hotels Magazine
Focus: Global hotel brands, investment, and founder-level news.
Contact: deisen@hotelsmag.com
Sarah Kopit – Editor-in-Chief, Skift
Focus: The business of global travel, hotel industry disruptions, and CEO/founder interviews.
Contact: sk@skift.com
Hanna Lee & Michael Anstendig – Hosts, Hospitality Forward Podcast
Focus: PR and business strategies for hotel and hospitality founders.
Contact: Pitch via Hanna Lee Communications
David Millili & Steve Carran – Hosts, The Modern Hotelier Podcast
Focus: Technology, operations, and leadership interviews with hotel founders.
Contact: Pitch via LinkedIn
Elaine Hunt – Editor, Hotel Management Magazine
Focus: Lodging operations, management company founders, and property development.
Contact: ehunt@questex.com
Stacy Shoemaker Rauen – Editor-in-Chief, Hospitality Design (HD)
Focus: Boutique hotel founders, architects, and design-forward hospitality brands.
Contact: srauen@emeraldexpo.com
Kate Hughes – Editor, Lodging Magazine
Focus: Official publication of the AHLA; covers hotel ownership and executive leadership.
Contact: editor@lodgingmagazine.com
Michael Tingsager – Host, Hospitality Mavericks Podcast
Focus: Purpose-driven hotel and hospitality founders building sustainable brands.
Contact: Pitch via website
Boutique Hotelier – US Editorial Desk
Focus: Founders of independent and boutique hotels, luxury travel operations.
Contact: editorial@boutiquehotelier.com
Travel + Leisure – Hotel Business Desk
Focus: National and global hospitality trends driven by prominent founders.
Contact: travelandleisure@dotdashmdp.com
AFAR Magazine – Hospitality Founders Desk
Focus: Founders of experiential hotels and sustainable lodging around the world.
Contact: pitches@afar.com
Condé Nast Traveler – Industry/Hotel Desk
Focus: The visionaries and founders behind the world's most luxurious properties.
Contact: cnt_pitches@condenast.com
Hotel News Now (CoStar) – Editorial Desk
Focus: Hotel data, investment, and interviews with ownership group founders.
Contact: editorial@hotelnewsnow.com
🏕️ Experiential Hospitality Venues (15 Contacts)
These contacts cover founders of glamping resorts, immersive entertainment, wellness retreats, membership clubs, and event venues.
Steph Curtis-Raleigh – Publisher, Glamping Business Americas
Focus: Founders of glamping resorts, eco-tourism, and outdoor hospitality.
Contact: steph@upandoutmedia.com
Dennis Schaal – Founding Editor, Skift
Focus: Experiential travel startups, alternative accommodations, and travel tech founders.
Contact: ds@skift.com
Tom Anstey – Editor, Attractions Management Magazine
Focus: Founders of theme parks, immersive museums, and entertainment venues.
Contact: tomanstey@leisuremedia.com
Rachel Cericola – Senior Editor, Event Marketer
Focus: Founders of pop-up venues, experiential brand activations, and B2B hospitality.
Contact: rcericola@accessintel.com
Alice Davis – Managing Editor, Blooloop
Focus: The business of immersive entertainment, location-based experiences, and venue founders.
Contact: alice.davis@blooloop.com
Ashton Pike – Editor-in-Chief, BizBash
Focus: Venue founders, event space entrepreneurs, and experiential hospitality.
Contact: apike@bizbash.com
Martin Palicki – Publisher, InPark Magazine
Focus: Themed entertainment venues and the entrepreneurs who build them.
Contact: martin@inparkmagazine.com
Sarah Jones – Editor, Experience Magazine
Focus: The intersection of technology, human experience, and hospitality venue design.
Contact: info@expmag.com
Global Wellness Summit Podcast – Editorial Team
Focus: Founders of wellness retreats, thermal baths, and health-focused hospitality venues.
Contact: podcast@globalwellnesssummit.com
The Glamping Podcast – Hosted by Glamping Hub/Industry Leaders
Focus: The business of outdoor hospitality and interviews with glamping founders.
Contact: Pitch via LinkedIn
Aaron Kiel – Editor, Bar & Restaurant News (Experiential Desk)
Focus: "Eatertainment" founders (e.g., Topgolf, Flight Club concepts) and nightlife entrepreneurs.
Contact: akiel@questex.com
Immersive Experience Network – Editorial Desk
Focus: Founders of escape rooms, immersive theater dining, and interactive venues.
Contact: info@immersiveexperiencenetwork.com
Seth Porges – Contributor, Forbes (Experiential Travel)
Focus: Unique travel experiences, quirky accommodations, and venue entrepreneurs.
Contact: Pitch via LinkedIn / Forbes portal
Boutique Design (BD) – Experiential Venues Desk
Focus: The architecture and vision behind experiential hospitality concepts.
Contact: bd@emeraldexpo.com
Colin Nagy – Columnist, Skift (On Experience)
Focus: High-end hospitality strategy, brand building, and experiential venue founders.
Contact: Pitch via Skift portal
