The hospitality industry has long rewarded hustle. Long hours, packed calendars, and «always-on» mindsets. But could slowing down actually be the key to unlocking more revenue? This week, I was struck by an episode of Deep Dive featuring YouTuber and author Jade Bowler (UnJaded Jade) and Ali Abdaal. While the conversation centered around content creation, self-worth, and the myth of toxic productivity, the principles apply beautifully to our world too; especially when we talk about driving ancillary revenue. Because at the end of the day, revenue doesn’t come from doing more. It comes from doing the right things: with focus, confidence, and purpose.
What “Living with intention” means in Hospitality
Jade’s concept of “casual magic”—finding joy in small, intentional actions—struck a chord. It’s not unlike how hotels can craft guest experiences that go beyond the expected. Think:
A spontaneous glass of cava during check-in
A customized bath ritual in the spa suite
A surprise tasting menu invite from the chef
These moments aren’t “big” in the operational sense. But they create value—emotional, memorable, monetizable value.
When we bring intention into how we structure ancillary offerings, we unlock something different. We stop thinking in “departments” and start thinking in interactions.
Applying Jade’s lessons to Ancillary Revenue strategy
Let’s take some key takeaways from the podcast and translate them into hospitality operations:
1. Redefine Productivity as Value Creation We’re conditioned to equate “busy” with “productive.” But in revenue management, that’s dangerous. A spa manager buried in scheduling might feel productive. But unless they’re analyzing RevPATH or co-creating promotions with marketing, value isn’t being generated.
Real productivity is outcome-based. It’s time we redefine it that way.
2. Create Time for Deep Work Jade spoke about her «sacred space» café where she wrote her book distraction-free. What if our revenue teams had the same?
Block dedicated hours each week for uninterrupted strategic focus: reviewing SRevPOR trends, building packages, analyzing upsell conversion data. If every department head had 2 hours of distraction-free revenue time, imagine the transformation.
3. Break Up With Hustle Culture More isn’t always better. Especially if your guest experience starts to suffer. Let’s not mistake movement for progress. Teams need rest. Managers need mental space to create. And guests? They notice when the service feels rushed versus intentionally crafted.
A burnt-out team will never upsell authentically. A well-rested, empowered one? That’s where the magic happens.
4. Focus on Fun and Flow Jade introduces a brilliant equation: Productivity = Output / Time × Focus × Forethought × Fun.
Let’s bring this into hotels. F&B activations that are playful. Spa services that don’t just work—but delight. Front desk upselling that feels more like a personalized recommendation than a transaction.
Fun isn’t a distraction—it’s a differentiator.
5. Build Confidence Through Ownership One of the strongest points from Jade’s story was owning her «embarrassing» YouTube channel by talking about it proudly. That pride built resilience.
Hospitality teams need the same. We should be celebrating not just the successful upsells—but the attempts. The willingness to try, to recommend, to elevate the guest experience. Confidence in selling is built by normalizing the practice—not punishing the imperfection.
Hospitality’s new Formula: Less grind, more growth
It’s time we evolve past old productivity models. If we want to grow ancillary revenue, we don’t need faster check-ins or longer hours. We need:
Space for teams to think, experiment, and own their impact
Leaders who protect focus, not just firefight
A culture that rewards thoughtful action, not just non-stop action
Because hotels that operate from clarity and coherence—not chaos—will always win in the long run.
Revenue follows alignment. And alignment starts with intention.
Let’s make “casual magic” a new KPI.
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