In this episode of Hospitable, Rob Napoli sits down with Levar Jackson, CEO of Yogh Group, to discuss the reality of “lazy business” in hospitality — and what needs to change. From innovative ROI-backed sustainability solutions to challenging industry norms, Levar shares real talk and real solutions to make hospitality smarter, greener, and more impactful.
Topics Covered
- Why sustainability must be additive, not subtractive
- How lazy thinking affects the bottom line
- Building HVAC systems that generate profit
- Partnerships with universities to spark innovation
- How inclusivity fuels innovation in hospitality
Whether you're a hotelier, operations leader, or hospitality tech professional — this episode will shift how you think about efficiency, sustainability, and growth.
Timestamps
00:29 – Rob introduces Levar and the Yogh Group
01:45 – How Levar entered hospitality via art
02:47 – Hotel waste: Why art and furnishings go to landfills
04:17 – “We have all the tools we’re just using the wrong ones”
05:38 – Almond trees in SoCal = unsustainable agriculture
06:21 – The social cost of skipping travel
08:30 – ROI on sustainability: It’s already there
11:22 – Minibar logic: Use ROI to drive sustainable upgrades
12:19 – Turning HVAC into a power generator
18:32 – How conglomerates can engage universities for innovation
21:30 – The $22k scholarship story that changed a life
28:17 – Friction in leadership = stronger ideas
