In today’s episode of Unchecked In, we sit down with Jordan Malara, owner of Springs Hospitality (Colorado), to unpack his transition from a U.S. Space Force engineer to boutique‑hotel operator—and the real estate and hospitality lessons he’s learning along the way.

Jordan shares how he left engineering and the military, started by investing in short‑term rentals, and eventually decided “if short‑term rentals are messy, hotels must do things better”—so he bought and operates boutique hotels. He explains why he chooses to buy existing hotel properties (rather than build new), how he identifies undervalued assets through location and demand, and how he uses key metrics (ADR, occupancy, RevPAR plus online reviews) to evaluate hotel viability. He also dives into the operational side: balancing renovations and guest experience, where to invest (communal spaces, human check‑in, wellness), how to build a meaningful hotel brand (why many independents fail), how to recruit talent by offering autonomy, and the hard realities many first‑time hotel investors underestimate (seasonality, cash‑flow, hidden cap‑ex).

Here’s what we’re diving into:

• Jordan’s pivot from military engineer to hotel investor
• Renovation strategy: balancing guest experience, budget, and operations
• Investing in communal spaces, wellness, and human touch rather than just rooms
• Why branding often fails for independents—and what to do differently
• How he attracts and retains talent by giving them meaningful space and autonomy
• Misconceptions about hotel investing: “It’ll just run itself” vs the reality of seasons, cap‑ex, operational complexity

Connect with Jordan Malara:

• LinkedIn: Jordan Malara
• Company: Springs Hospitality LLC
• Instagram: @hotelinnvestor

Connect with Unchecked In Podcast:

• Website: The Unchecked‑In Podcast
• Spotify: Listen on Spotify
• Apple Podcasts: Listen on Apple Podcasts