About this episode

Zoran Pejović discusses his journey in luxury hospitality and the importance of leadership and technology in enhancing guest experiences.

Zoran Pejović, Chief Growth & Strategy Officer at Lošinj Hotels & Villas, joins us from Croatia to unpack two decades across luxury development and operations (Aman, Silversea, Celebrity). He shares how a scholarship re-routed him from politics into hospitality, why “elevator-pitch clarity” matters for leaders, and how his near-Buddhist worldview shapes decision-making. From early bar shifts to opening ultra-luxury properties, Zoran frames hospitality as stewardship: aligning brand story, local context, and responsible growth. We dive into the craft of creating peak, transformational moments—moving beyond “service” to experiences that genuinely change guest state. Zoran challenges one-size-fits-all “trends,” arguing for context over slogans and calling out the gap between what guests say they value and what actually drives decisions. He also makes a compelling case for bringing seasoned talent (40s–50s) into frontline roles to stabilise teams, elevate human connection, and mentor younger staff who grew up more digitally than socially. Looking ahead, Zoran sees hospitality as society’s essential “third place” in an AI-heavy world—where tech should remove friction so people…

People in this episode

Host: Brendon Granger

Guest: Zoran Pejović

Topics covered

• luxury hospitality
• leadership
• technology in hospitality
• guest experience
• career development

Keywords

• luxury resorts
• hospitality leadership
• guest experience
• technology
• career transition

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Lošinj Hotels & Villas, Aman, Silversea, Celebrity

Places: Croatia

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