#138: Inside the Apartment-Style, Tech-enabled Hospitality Model of Mint House | with Christian Lee

02/20/25 • 39 min

In this episode, we’re joined by Christian Lee, CEO of Mint House, a pioneer in flexible living that’s revolutionizing the way we experience travel. Christian’s journey is anything but conventional, from growing up in Fargo, North Dakota, to living in Lahore, Pakistan, and climbing the corporate ladder from Citigroup to WeWork before landing at Mint House.

We dive into how Mint House bridges the gap between the comfort of home and the consistency of a hotel, offering a unique alternative to Airbnb. Discover how Mint House caters to the modern traveler with apartment-style hotels that provide the security and personalization of a hotel stay, minus the hassle.

Key Topics:

How is Mint House adapting to the changing landscape for digital nomads and hybrid workers?
What pivotal moments shaped Christian’s journey from investment banking to leading Mint House?
How is Mint House leveraging technology to deliver a truly custom experience?
Where is travel heading, and how is Mint House leading the rise of managed residential hospitality?

Whether you're a hotelier looking to stay ahead of industry trends or a traveler curious about the next evolution of accommodation, this episode offers a fresh perspective on hospitality.

Tune in to The Modern Hotelier – Hospitality's Most Engaged Podcast – and discover how Mint House is changing the game.

Watch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ZPlcfxUTUMA

Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn page
The Modern Hotelier is produced, edited, and published by Make More Media

Links:
Christian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-lee-1a1837b/

Mint House: https://minthouse.com/

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/138

Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-...

Connect with Steve and David:
Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E...
David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mil...

Key Topics:

How is Mint House adapting to the changing landscape for digital nomads and hybrid workers?
What pivotal moments shaped Christian’s journey from investment banking to leading Mint House?
How is Mint House leveraging technology to deliver a truly custom experience?
Where is travel heading, and how is Mint House leading the rise of managed residential hospitality?

Whether you're a hotelier looking to stay ahead of industry trends or a traveler curious about the next evolution of accommodation, this episode offers a fresh perspective on hospitality.

Tune in to The Modern Hotelier – Hospitality's Most Engaged Podcast – and discover how Mint House is changing the game.

Watch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ZPlcfxUTUMA

Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn page
The Modern Hotelier is produced, edited, and published by Make More Media

Links:
Christian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-lee-1a1837b/

Mint House: https://minthouse.com/

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/138

Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-...

Connect with Steve and David:
Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E...
David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mil...

Previous Episode

#137: Behind Basecamp Resort's Development & Growth | with Sky McLean

How do you build a hospitality brand that combines the best of Airbnb and traditional hotels?
In this episode, we sit down with Sky McLean, CEO and Founder of Basecamp Resorts, the fastest-growing hospitality brand in Western Canada. Sky shares her journey from real estate development to creating a hotel brand that blends the best of Airbnb and traditional hospitality—offering the flexibility of home-style accommodations with the service and reliability of a hotel.

We dive into:

How Sky raised millions in funding through Instagram
The growing demand for apartment-style hotel suites
The challenges (and wins) of scaling from 1 to 13 properties
The role of Nordic Spas in the future of hospitality
How AI and tech are changing hotel operations

If you're into hospitality, real estate, or just love a bold entrepreneurial story, this one’s for you.

Watch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/uUrLYDNelNY

Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn page
The Modern Hotelier is produced, edited, and published by Make More Media

Links:
Sky on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sky-mclean-2299a420/

Basecamp Resorts: https://www.basecampresorts.com/

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/137

Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-...

Connect with Steve and David:
Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E...
David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mil...

Next Episode

#139: Building Technology to Help Hotels Elevate the Guest Experience & Drive Profit | with Jacob Messina

Join hosts David Millili and Steve Carran on this engaging episode of The Modern Hotelier as they sit down with Jacob Messina, CEO of Stayntouch.

Jacob shares his unique journey from front desk operations in New York City to spearheading innovations in hospitality technology. In an in-depth conversation, he reveals how his hands-on experience in hotels shaped his vision for a cloud-based property management system that streamlines operations, enhances guest experiences, and redefines customer support.

Listeners will gain insights into overcoming legacy tech challenges, the power of seamless integrations, and why viewing technology as a profit center can transform the industry. With candid personal anecdotes, career advice, and strategic perspectives on modernizing hospitality, this episode is a must-listen for anyone passionate about driving change in the hotel tech space.

Key Topics:

How to Overcome Outdated, Manual Processes in Hotel Operations
What are the benefits and how has a cloud-based property management system evolved?
Why it is important to shift the mindset from viewing technology as a cost center to seeing it as a profit and revenue generator.
Adapting to emerging trends, expanding multi-property functionality, and driving continuous innovation.

Watch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/n331_HPEfdg

This episode is Sponsored by Stayntouch: https://pms.stayntouch.com/

Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn page
The Modern Hotelier is produced, edited, and published by Make More Media

Links:
Jacob on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-messina-b6361311/

Stayntouch: https://pms.stayntouch.com/

For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/139

Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-...

Connect with Steve and David:
Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E...
David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mil...