Providing more than a room: How Foster Supply Hospitality reimagines the hotel experience

Episode notes

In this episode of Hotel Moment, Karen Stephens is joined by Sims Foster, co-founder of Foster Supply Hospitality. With roots spanning over 100 years in the Catskills region, Sims brings a unique perspective on hospitality that combines industry expertise with a deep connection to the community. Sims discusses his unconventional journey from lying about his age to get a dishwasher job at 13 to managing celebrity nightclubs in Manhattan, and eventually returning home to revitalize his local hospitality scene. Foster Supply Hospitality operates small-scale hotels and James Beard-nominated restaurants throughout the Catskills — focusing on creating full-service resort experiences in intimate 12-30 room properties. Throughout the conversation, Sims explores how the hospitality landscape has evolved, particularly with the dramatic rise of short-term rentals in rural areas. He shares candid insights about competing with unregulated inventory that operates without traditional hospitality overhead, while emphasizing how authentic human connection remains a hotels' greatest differentiator.