Turning a 1,000 Year Old Castle into a Profitable Hotel: Michael Stohler's Journey from Pilot to Investor

01/05/25 • 44 min

In this episode of the Radical Hospitality Show, host Zeke Freeman dives deep into the fascinating journey of Michael Stohler, co-founder of Gateway Private Equity Group. From his beginnings as a Navy veteran and commercial airline pilot to building a thriving career in real estate and hospitality, Mike shares his invaluable lessons learned along the way. Discover how he transitioned from multifamily real estate to high-return hotel investments, the secrets to structuring successful deals, and his latest boutique hotel project in Spain. Packed with tips, inspiration, and actionable advice for aspiring investors, this episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in real estate and hospitality.
Connect with Mike via his website (https://www.gatewaype.com/) or listen to his podcast (https://www.therichergeek.com/podcast-page)
00:00 - Introduction to Radical Hospitality
00:07 - Meet Mike Stoler: From Pilot to Real Estate
00:23 - Transitioning to Hospitality: Why Hotels?
01:10 - Key Lessons from Real Estate Failures
02:30 - Strategies for Scaling a Real Estate Portfolio
08:00 - The Unique Challenges of Hotel Investments
20:00 - Spain Boutique Hotel Project: Vision & Strategy
35:00 - Advice for Aspiring Real Estate Investors

Connect with Zeke Freeman:
Instagram: @zekefreeman_rootarchitecture and @rootarchitecture
YouTube: @rootarchitecture
Facebook: @RootArchitectureandDevelopment
LinkedIn: Zeke Freeman
X/Twitter: @zfreemanroot
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Previous Episode

Building Space Hotels: Unique Challenges, Architecture, and Scaling the Business with Tim Alatorre

Explore the incredible world of space habitation design with Tim Alatorre, CEO of Above Space Development Corporation. In this episode, we dive into the vision of building the first luxury space hotel, the technological innovations making space accessible, and how Tim is turning futuristic ideas into tangible realities. From terrestrial architecture to pioneering in orbit, this conversation will leave you inspired about the future of space exploration and hospitality.
To learn more about above, visit: https://abovespace.com/

02:00 - From Earth to Orbit: Transitioning to Space Architecture

08:00 - The Vision for Space Hospitality

15:00 - The Technology Behind Orbital Habitats

23:00 - Funding and Commercial Space Ventures

30:00 - Prometheus and the Space Economy

35:00 - The Future of Space Travel

40:00 - How to Get Involved

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How We Built $1 Million in Equity from a $7,000 Investment on Our Primary Residence [Actual Numbers]

In this episode of the Radical Hospitality Podcast, host Zeke Freeman takes you through his family's decade-long journey to transform a modest foreclosure into a thriving real estate portfolio. Learn how a $7,000 initial investment and a lot of hard work turned into $1 million in equity and a sustainable legacy. Zeke shares practical insights, real numbers, and the challenges of building generational wealth in the mountains. Whether you're a first-time homebuyer or dreaming of building a legacy, this episode is packed with inspiration and actionable tips.
00:00 - Introduction
00:23 - Starting the Journey
00:51 - The Everyday Millionaire Inspiration
01:12 - Building a Family Legacy
03:35 - The Treehouse Project
07:00 - Lessons Learned and Real Numbers
09:55 - From Dream to Reality
11:11 - Closing Thoughts