Why Most Hotel Developments Feel Soulless — And How Zach Rapaport Plans to Change That.

What does it take to transform real estate development into something more than just bricks and mortar—into places with soul, story, and unforgettable experiences?

Today’s guest, Zach Rapaport, is on a mission to answer that question. As the founder of Meerkat Development, he’s redefining what it means to build hospitality and lifestyle-driven spaces from the ground up. His journey started in construction — literally digging foundations — and evolved into leading development projects for some of the most compelling hospitality brands today, including Joe & The Juice, Selina, and Lifehouse. From scaling global F&B concepts to crafting boutique hotels that blend place and purpose, Zach has been at the forefront of experience-first hospitality development. In this episode, Zach pulls back the curtain on:

• Why most developments feel soulless — and how he’s changing that.
• What it takes to design hospitality concepts that aren’t just trendy, but timeless
• The 75/25 rule of brand consistency — how much a space should adapt to its location vs. maintain its DNA
• The untapped opportunity in storytelling-driven development (and why it’s a competitive advantage)
• Lessons from scaling Joe & The Juice across the U.S., building lifestyle hotels at Selina, and leading development for Lifehouse

If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to build experiences, not just properties — or how the future of hospitality is being shaped by people who think like creatives but execute like developers — this one’s for you.

‍