Housekeeping Didn't Come
Lessons from the road, the classroom, and the minibar.
Welcome to Housekeeping Didn’t Come — where hospitality, adventure, and a little chaos all check in for the night.
Hosted by Rob W. Powell, former casino exec, improv comic, mountaineer, and hospitality professor (aka the Indiana Jones of hospitality education), this podcast dives into the wild, weird, and wonderfully human side of the hospitality world. From luxury lodges to national park cabins, cruise ships to classroom chaos, we explore what it really takes to deliver unforgettable guest experiences—and what happens when things go hilariously off script.
Whether you're a student, a hospitality pro, a curious traveler, or just here for the stories, you'll find something to love. Expect candid interviews, bite-sized insights, unforgettable blunders, and the kind of wisdom that only comes from years in the trenches (and a few nights without housekeeping).
So grab a coffee (or a cocktail), and join Rob as he unpacks the business of making people feel welcome, even when the bed isn’t made.
Housekeeping Didn't Come
My Tent Had Better Intentions Than Your Hotel - Authentic by Design, The Tent Philosophy S1E9
Ever wondered what a nylon tent could teach a five-star hotel? Rob Powell takes us on an unexpected journey into the wisdom of canvas dwellings in this thought-provoking exploration of authentic hospitality.
The humble tent emerges as hospitality's most honest educator—no fluff, no hidden fees, and certainly no pretentious sustainability cards about towel reuse policies that nobody follows anyway. Through vivid storytelling and personal experience, Rob reveals how tents embody everything modern travelers crave: purposeful design, genuine connection, and transformative experiences.
"Function beats flash," Rob argues, challenging the hospitality industry's obsession with amenities that guests never asked for. Today's sophisticated travelers can spot the difference between true luxury and what's merely expensive. They're not impressed by $15 bottles of water—they want authenticity, presence, and meaning. Even more surprising is Rob's revelation about discomfort: those uncomfortable moments in travel often become the most memorable and transformative.
Whether you're running an established hotel brand or launching your first Airbnb listing, this episode offers an essential framework for evaluating your hospitality approach. Are you building the equivalent of a well-designed tent—clear, essential, and real—or a metaphorical McMansion filled with pointless features? The answer might determine whether your guests remember their stay for all the right reasons.
Ready to transform your approach to hospitality? Listen now, and then explore the hospitality management program at the University of Arkansas where Rob teaches the next generation of industry leaders who understand that sometimes, the greatest luxury is simply getting the basics exactly right.
Hi there and welcome back to Housekeeping. Didn't Come where? We look at hospitality from all angles, including the one where you're staring at the ceiling of a nylon tent wondering if that was a bear or just your partner snoring. I'm Rob Powell. I spent nights in five-star resorts and nights on rocky ridges in 30-degree temperatures. You'd be surprised which one I prefer sometimes.
Speaker 1:Today's episode is about the humble tent and why it might be the greatest hospitality educator you've never met. Here's the thing about tents. They're brutally honest. No fluff, no fake amenities, no little card that says help us save the environment by reusing this towel that we're not going to change anyway.
Speaker 1:A tent teaches clarity. You only bring what fits, you only use what matters. There's no minibar, but there's probably going to be a flask. There's also something deeply personal about tents. You hear everything the rain, the wind, the raccoons staging a heist outside your vestibule. It demands presence, something we desperately need more of in hospitality.
Speaker 1:So what can your hotel or brand learn from a tent? Purposeful design If it doesn't serve a real need, cut it. Function beats flash Connection. Tents force proximity. Hotels should too, through human interaction, not just chatbots.
Speaker 1:Raw experience that's what today's traveler wants. Real, unpolished, memorable, sometimes even uncomfortable. It's in the discomfort that transformation happens. And let's not forget, guests today are savvier. They know when a luxury hotel experience is just expensive wallpaper and a $15 bottle of water, what they really crave Authenticity. Surprise meaning A tent can't lie to you, neither should your hotel. So whether you're running a lodge, launching a brand or setting up your first Airbnb listing, ask yourself is this built like a tent Clear, essential, real or is it a metaphorical McMansion filled with features no one asked for? I'm Rob Powell. If you're sleeping in a tent tonight, god bless you, and if you're not, make sure your blackout curtains actually black out. And if you want to explore more, check out the hospitality management program at the University of Arkansas, where I teach. You can enroll, follow along or partner with us as we train the next generation of hospitality management professionals. Until next time, this is Housekeeping Didn't Come.