Hospitality Folks podcast · Episode S1E17
Why Hospitality Always Comes Back to People | Melanie Chinwe | Hospitality Folk
What does hospitality look like when you strip away the buzzwords and start with people?
In this episode of Hospitality Folks, Alicia talks with Melanie Chinwe, an operator who owned and ran S’MUVE ME Café in Nigeria before moving into Oenotourism at Château Dauzac in Bordeaux. She brings a grounded, intentional view of an industry that too often chases scale over connection.
In this episode:
Why hospitality, at its root, is always about people
Building service design and systems that actually serve guests
What running her own café taught her about leadership
The move from restaurant operations into wine tourism
Storytelling and environment as tools for shaping guest journeys
The strategic role of service in driving long-term value
Melanie is currently an MSc Hospitality and Tourism Management student at Paris School of Business, with over six years in restaurant operations and guest experience.
Hospitality Folks is a weekly show to showcase the wonderful and many career paths within hospitality and tourism.
Connect with Melanie on LinkedIn: / melaniechinwe
Connect with Alicia on LinkedIn:
/ aliciadickwahlberg
