From One Hotel to 37: Paul Coury's Secrets to Scaling With Heart

Can you scale a company without losing your soul or your sanity?

In this episode of Inner Work, we dive into the real story behind a hospitality empire and the inner transformation that made it possible.

Paul Coury, founder and CEO of Coury Hospitality, went from persuading 20 nervous investors to launching one of the most acclaimed lifestyle hotel portfolios in the country. But the real story? It’s about resilience through economic collapse, rebuilding after COVID, and learning to let go without losing the heart of your business.

In this intimate conversation, Paul opens up about the stress no one sees, the wake-up call that changed his leadership style, and the relentless inner work behind sustainable success. If you're scaling a mission-driven business and want to do it without burnout or compromise, this one's for you.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

00:57 Welcome and Guest Introduction

01:25 The Ambassador Hotel Tulsa: A Milestone

02:30 Pioneering the Boutique Hotel Concept

03:59 Challenges and Triumphs in the Hotel Industry

06:45 Handling Stress and Maintaining Focus

09:19 Balancing Risk and Reward

12:08 Maintaining Personal Touch in a Growing Business

14:29 Scaling Up: Leadership and Growth

17:07 Delegation and Leadership Evolution

18:11 Balancing Business Development and Daily Operations

18:48 Crossroads and Leadership Challenges

20:40 Empowering Teams and Shifting Mindsets

24:43 Accountability and Efficiency in Leadership

27:29 Maintaining Company Culture and Values

30:10 Advice for Aspiring Leaders

32:35 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

About our guest

Paul Coury is the founder and CEO of Coury Hospitality. Since transforming the Ambassador Hotel Tulsa in 1999, he’s led the growth of a multi-award-winning hotel brand defined by immersive design and personal connection. Paul is a visionary in the lifestyle hotel space and a grounded, human leader behind the scenes.

👉 Want to talk through your own leadership shift? Book a 1:1 with MaryAnn: https://collectivegrowthleadership.com/book-call 

#LeadershipDevelopment #InnerWork #ExecutiveTeams #HospitalityLeadership #FounderStories