Sean Folkson

Former PubCo Founder & CEO | Working on What's Next

[Sean Folkson @seanfolkson]

@espn stop changing camera angles every 6 seconds. Trying to watch @nyr and @FlaPanthers

Ever watch an @NHL game on TV???

[Sean Folkson @seanfolkson]

@espn @nhl hey ESPN, how about just show us the guys on the bench for 3 hours since some moron over there thinks we care to see it at all WHILE PLAY IS GOING ON. Or just stop! #NHLCanes #NYR @awfulannouncing

[Sean Folkson @seanfolkson]

I love what Dan Schultz is saying here about focusing on the problem and how the market views that problem rather than focusing on the existing competition or even your product and its features.

There's tremendous power and value in taking a big, latent,…https://t.co/FNuHaEWhGx

[Sean Folkson @seanfolkson]

Was able to connect with Fritz Finlay at The Hospitality Show last week and chat a bit about Nightfood - Sleep-Friendly Nighttime Snacks and the coming sleep-friendly snack category we're pioneering.

Had so many great discussions…https://t.co/IcgNA8S7Rg https://t.co/aZDb8sH5xv

[Sean Folkson @seanfolkson]

Sleep hygiene.

I was at a major hotel trade show last week, and was really surprised at how many people in the hotel industry weren't familiar with the term (or the concept).

Like with everyday health, or dental health, the concept of hygiene is doing t…https://t.co/J66CyWubXB

[Sean Folkson @seanfolkson]

At Nightfood, we're NOT about "eating your way to sleep"

We're about, "Hey, on those nights when you're gonna snack at night ANYWAY, how about picking something that's not going to wreck your sleep??"

We'd never encourage somebod…https://t.co/cJUPQdWDQj https://t.co/XNH4i9LS2i

[Sean Folkson @seanfolkson]

too much of a "good thing"?

Hotels needed a solution for guest's desire for snacks. Vending machines loaded with candy and chips and soda evolved to lobby market places loaded with...candy and chips and soda.

At the time, this was a "solution".

Many t…https://t.co/QwBDibjgkb

[Sean Folkson @seanfolkson]

The new lobby market at this Hampton Inn by Hilton has it all!

Updated Product Assortment ✔️
Updated Merchandisers ✔️
Self-Service Kiosk ✔️
Stunning Looking Self-Service Market✔️ ✔️ ✔️

And sleep-friendly Nightfood ice cream (for all the nighttime snac…https://t.co/EJJMbZHdoj

[Sean Folkson @seanfolkson]

A hotel guest who very naturally experiences hunger and cravings at night, but doesn’t want to be forced to choose between only Twizzlers, Klondike Bars, and Flamin Hot Cheetos is not a “health nut”.

They're just human.

In humans, appetite and cravings…https://t.co/awF0tUuVn9

[Sean Folkson @seanfolkson]

Sleep is negatively impacted by junk food consumed at night. Excess sugar, fat, and calories are the culprits

Hotels across the country are stepping up to offer healthier choices to satisfy guests' nighttime cravings, including Nightfood - Sleep-Friendl…https://t.co/BgXVYmzUvU

[Sean Folkson @seanfolkson]

"our primary product is a good night's sleep" - Barry Sternlicht, former Chairman & CEO of Starwood Hotels.

What would you choose for your nighttime snack?

#hotels #businesstravel #sleep https://t.co/xyYgWH84iz

[Sean Folkson @seanfolkson]

Hotels are moving towards healthier and sleep-friendly snacks for guests.

Why?

If/when guests eat junk before bed, it can impact their sleep and reflect negatively on their stay experience.

We're proud that hotel companies like…https://t.co/qTI8U1lNLX https://t.co/J6xju9Yzel

[Sean Folkson @seanfolkson]

Guests don't mean to do it.

but they do. They set a trap for hotels.

First, they expect you to have snacks. That might not have been the case 20 or 30 years ago. But now, you need to have snacks for guests

Second, of course t…https://t.co/QJxCNAV9M8 https://t.co/wAdzeySUGC

[Sean Folkson @seanfolkson]

What do YOU think of hotel lobby shop snacks?

Hotel lobby shops impact hotel brand image.

The opportunity is there to delight...but are guests being delighted?

A recent survey of frequent travelers shows most guests are not delighted but disappointed.…https://t.co/1fl17yZ0i8

[Sean Folkson @seanfolkson]

Hotel guests want more better-for-you snacks in the lobby shop market.

Some amazing statistics revealed in this survey about guest snack shop attitudes and preferences.

And an opportunity for hotels to take a point of consumer di…https://t.co/wleHeuIjFg https://t.co/q0tVvXwLBC

[Sean Folkson @seanfolkson]

Such a great time chatting with Christopher Cano MBA, PMP about the hotel snack shop experience and what hotels can do so guest walk out of the marketplace feeling delighted, regardless of what they buy! https://t.co/bEC39BkslR

[Marc Randolph @marcrandolph]

Never waste a good crisis.

Maybe you’ve read that investors like Warren Buffett became successful by seeing opportunity where others saw crisis. Well, it’s true — and it’s also just a tiny part of the story. Because the fact is, every crisis has its upsides, and you don’t have to be a financial wizard to take advantage of them.

The most fundamental thing to remember about a crisis is that it always makes something easier to obtain. Stocks are cheaper after they tank, talent is more available, there’s less competition for investment, etc. It’s not just the bad fortune of those affected by the crisis — everyone tends to get more risk-averse, and makes for a buyer’s market.

Especially if you’re an entrepreneur or part of an early-stage business, you should always be looking for the opportunities in any crisis. The SVB fiasco, for example, left a lot of companies reeling. That’s undoubtedly a crisis, but it also means:

- Valuations are down, so it’s a great time to seek out new mergers and acquisitions.
- A lot of great people are out of work, so it’s a great time to hire.
- Plenty of vendors have lost customers, so it’s a great time to drive harder bargains.

And if you’re looking for investment, there are plenty of funds that suddenly find themselves with piles of cash and nowhere to put them. For a company at the right scale, with the numbers to show they’re a safe bet, it’s a great time to go knocking.

Succeeding in entrepreneurship is and always has been a matter of timing (among lots of other things). And a big part of that is seeing each crisis for what it is: a brief period of time when everything’s changing, and opportunities are lying all around.

[Sean Folkson @seanfolkson]

@espn please STOP showing guys changing while the play is going on. We want to watch the game. Please!!!!!!!!

[Sean Folkson @seanfolkson]

Busy week prepping for the 2023 Choice Hotels International Annual Convention next week in Las Vegas.

We expect to make tons of new friends and hand out lots of cookies!

Just 8 days away!

[Sean Folkson @seanfolkson]

As resorts and spas continue to advance their sleep-related offerings, that helps bring the focus on sleep in hospitality to the mainstream!

Over time, we'll move from spa treatments including foot scrubs and therapeutic touching…https://t.co/DSA0Clxm81 https://t.co/ntbzzM2mT6