Episode Details
Back to Episodes
Innovating Family Travel – Water Parks, Staycations and the Future of Lodging
Description
Host Bill Mitchell sits down with Eric Lund, CEO of S&L Hospitality and a driving force behind Great Wolf Resorts, the brand that reinvented family vacations with the indoor water park.
Eric shares how Great Wolf grew from a clever idea into a nationwide phenomenon, the hurdles of financing a brand-new resort model, and why a people-first culture still drives success. He also looks ahead at the future of hospitality: tech, personalization and keeping family experiences at the core.
In this episode, we explore:
(00:00) Birth of Great Wolf Lodge
(04:53) First indoor water park success
(06:40) Family-centric water park culture
(11:30) Family fun at Great Wolf Lodge
(14:29) Entrepreneurial journey and business culture
(19:26) Building a smart, leisure-driven culture
(21:05) Sharing unique experiences
(26:57) Adapting to next generation needs
(28:04) Passion for hospitality industry
Links mentioned in this episode: