No Vacancy Live!

Hotel owners staring down PIPs have three choices: spend the money, sell the asset, or rethink management. During NYU IHIF, I spoke with Ben Perelmuter, CEO of Remington Hospitality, and Scott Geres, General Manager of Hotel Edison, from inside the Hotel Edison in Times Square. Ben says hotel deal activity has finally picked up after several slower conference cycles. Owners face brand pressure, capital decisions, and asset sales, and Remington Hospitality has already added 17 new third-party deals in the first four months of the year. 🏨 PIPs and capital pressure now push owners toward harder decisions 📈 Remington has added 17 new third-party deals this year 🔁 Asset sales can create new management opportunities 🌎 Remington continues expanding in the Caribbean and Latin America, including Grand Cayman, Peru, Belize, the Dominican Republic, Panama, and Mexico 🗽 Scott shares what Hotel Edison sees from the middle of Times Square, including a strong first quarter, softer international demand, and future demand around the World Cup and America's 250th anniversary We also got The Godfather hallway, Luca Brasi, and a reminder that some hotel interviews come with better scenery than others. Want the weekly roundup of news, videos, and what you might've missed from #NoVacancyNews? Text HOTEL to 66866.

During NYU IHIF, Hilton debuted Undergraduate by Hilton, a brand-new conversion product aimed at university markets where a full Graduate Hotel may not fit. Jenna Hackett, SVP, Global Leader, Lifestyle Brand Management at Hilton, joined me for a conversation about how Undergraduate by Hilton connects with Graduate Hotels while giving owners a more affordable, scalable conversion option. 🎓 Graduate Hotels brings bespoke, university-adjacent storytelling across more than 35 locations 🏨 Undergraduate by Hilton gives Hilton a growth path across hundreds of additional university markets 🔁 Owners can use the brand for conversion and new-build opportunities 🎨 Hilton created a playful university feel and gave owners room for local color through artwork, paint, and design details Jenna also talked about Hilton's broader conversion momentum, including Curio Collection, Tapestry Collection, and Outset Collection. University markets keep creating opportunity, and Hilton sees more room for growth. Watch the full conversation on #NoVacancyNews.

At NYU IHIF, I talked with Zack Gharib, President of Red Roof, because the brand made three moves worth watching at the same time: entered Canada, pushed tech growth, and rebuilt the website around AI search. Then the numbers back it up: app performance up 55%, loyalty enrollments up 29%, and 54,000 app downloads across Q1/April/May. 🇨🇦 First Canada deal: Vancouver airport market, 168 rooms, local operating partner 📈 Zack says Red Roof beat the economy-segment forecast and grew year over year through Q1, April, and May ⭐ Quality scores climbed about 2 points year over year, plus stronger social and mystery scores 📱 Tech momentum: 55% app performance lift, 29% loyalty enrollment lift, 54,000 downloads across Q1/April/May 🧠 Next push: AI-driven website strategy focused on findability and direct bookings 🚗 Summer read: strong interstate and suburban pace as families choose drive-to travel, pacing double digits over last year Want the weekly roundup of news, videos, and what you might've missed from #NoVacancyNews? Text HOTEL to 66866.

7.2 seconds behind the bar can cost about $1.1M a year. That's how Tobin Ellis, a 30-year bar industry veteran, thinks about bar design: eliminate problems before they happen, then let the team sell more with fewer steps. 👀 Quick test: nonstop walking behind the bar kills selling time and guest connection 🍸 Quick test: "order → disappear → return" kills second rounds 📏 Tobin builds "Zero Step" stations so bartenders stop running laps ⏱️ Tobin measured 7.2 seconds of waste per bartender and tied it to about $1.1M/year on one rooftop bar 🏨 Use the timing: conversions and PIPs give owners the best window to fix the bar correctly 📚 Start cheap: Bar Design Essentials Thanks to Actabl for supporting this episode. Actabl gives you the power to profit. Visit Actabl.com. Want the weekly roundup of news, videos, and what you might've missed from #NoVacancyNews? Text HOTEL to 66866.

One frustrating thing about hospitality: guests want to research rooms visually, but most hotel websites don't include video. When hotels force guests to imagine a room, they simply move on. So I talked with Jason Craparo, CEO of hovr, and Ethan Wiseman, VP of Product Management at aven hospitality, about what hotels can do right now to fix that disconnect. 🎥 Audit your site: count how many videos you actually show per room type, view, and suite category 📱 Build a "video path" that matches how guests shop: room → view → bathroom → balcony → public spaces ⚡ Add video without slowing the site: protect load speed or you lose the guest before they see the content ♿ Treat accessibility as a baseline, not a bolt-on: make video usable for more guests from day one 🏨 Use video to reduce uncertainty on high-consideration stays: fewer surprises means fewer abandons and fewer complaints 💰 Track what happens when guests watch video: more video consumption often lines up with higher spend, so measure it and price accordingly Want the weekly roundup of news, videos, and what you might've missed from #NoVacancyNews? Text HOTEL to 66866.

We're back in the Hotel Pet Peeves bracket… but first, we nearly lose the plot over Glenn's "Haussman Resort Pool Club Smokehouse & Dispensary Brewery" (still a working title). Friday Night Audit brings Craig Sullivan, Dr. Producer Suzanne Bagnera, and our guest Elyse Poland ("Bucket Hat") back for the Infuri-Eight—plus the usual friendly violence. 🍻 Pet Peeves tournament returns 🛠️ Glenn's studio remodel enters year 3 of the "3–5 years left" plan 😇 Craig ships Glenn a giant happy-face package so we can finally call him Mr. Sunshine 🎭 Southern Lodging Summit reunion planning, with dates we say confidently and refuse to fact-check 🃏 Trading cards, sprinkler-head nonsense, and other bad ideas we fully commit to Watch it, laugh at us, then go vote for the pet peeve you hate most on #NoVacancyNews.

During the recently held ARDA Spring Conference, I met Scott Weisz, EVP Strategic Business Operations at Marriott Vacations Worldwide, and we got into loyalty—because it doesn't work the same way in vacation ownership as it does in hotels. We talk about what actually keeps owners coming back: the booking journey, real service on-property, and experiences that match how younger travelers want to travel now. 📅 Loyalty starts before arrival: make booking easy and help owners match the right trip to what they own 🤝 Service builds loyalty: deliver consistent hospitality across the whole journey 🏝️ Two owner styles show up fast: families who return to the same resort every year vs owners who want new destinations each trip 🌍 Younger travelers want variety, flexibility, and more destination immersion 🧒 Resorts win with activities across age groups so families don't split up 💬 Loyalty shows up in behavior: buy more points, travel more often, and bring friends and family along Want the weekly roundup of news, videos, and what you might've missed from #NoVacancyNews? Text HOTEL to 66866.

Our friend Bruce Ford, SVP at Lodging Econometrics, joined me right after Lodging Econometrics released its Global Hotel Pipeline report—and it comes with a few surprises and some "pay attention to this" moments for owners, operators, brands, and suppliers. We walk through what the report shows across new construction, renovations, and conversions—and how the mix shifts depending on where you look. 🌍 Bruce breaks down where new builds keep accelerating and where renovations/conversions take the lead 🇨🇳 China stays on a different scale for rooms under construction 🕋 Mecca keeps projects moving, but timelines stretch 12–24 months as mega-project scope expands 🏙️ Luxury trends smaller on key counts, and developers stack residential into the deal 🎸 Las Vegas stays active with renovations plus a few big-ticket bets 🇺🇸 Conversions keep running in the U.S. because transactions trigger recapitalization and PIPs force decisions Thanks to Actabl for supporting this episode. Actabl gives you the power to profit. Visit Actabl.com. Want the weekly roundup of news, videos, and what you might've missed from #NoVacancyNews? Text HOTEL to 66866.

Skytouch ships AI tools. The tools help associates move faster, feel more confident, and stay engaged on shift. Hotels keep more good people, and guests feel the difference. I talked with Charlie Green at Skytouch Technology about what the AI handles now and what the roadmap adds next. 🤖 AI answers front desk questions fast: "How do I change rooms?" "Where do I find X?" 🧠 AI adds context. New associates learn priorities, not just clicks. ⚡ Skytouch expands AI beyond Q&A. The roadmap adds task execution and reduces busywork. 📈 Better support raises productivity and confidence. Teams stick around longer and ramp faster. 😊 Stronger execution lifts the guest experience because staff spends less time hunting for answers and more time helping guests. 🧾 Charlie highlights bulk actions, including checking out 30 rooms at once and sequencing housekeeping for group arrivals. Skytouchtechnology.com Want the weekly roundup of news, videos, and what you might've missed from #NoVacancyNews? Text HOTEL to 66866.

I'm at Hyatt Regency Orlando, where I'm with Managing Director Paul Joseph breaking down how the hotel uses Xpodigital to modernize the on-site event experience while adding profitability by selling digital signage as sponsor inventory through revenue share. 🖥️ Hyatt uses digital branding to give sponsors visibility in shared spaces ⏱️ The team pushes late planner changes live fast instead of missing print deadlines 💰 The hotel treats screens as sellable sponsor inventory and monetizes them through revenue share without upfront spend 👥 Xpodigital keeps on-site support in place, so updates and fixes happen immediately 📸 The front desk screen creates a true "stop-and-look" placement sponsors value 🤝 Sales brings Xpodigital in early—sometimes 12 months out—so the hotel builds signage into sponsor packages from day one Want the weekly roundup of news, videos, and what you might've missed? Text HOTEL to 66866 for #NoVacancyNews.

Memorial Day weekend means higher bar volume. That's the perfect time to raise drink quality without slowing service. I'm at Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino in the Velvet Lounge with mixologist Yelena Anter Cocktail Vision, making her Brain Teaser Margarita and talking through the real takeaway for hotels: build hashtag#cocktails that look premium, taste balanced, and give guests a reason to trade up. Westgate Resorts 🍉 Yelena builds a watermelon margarita off a familiar base so guests order it quickly 📸 She designs it to win the menu moment: name + photo that makes people say "I'll try that" 🧂 She uses a salt solution to brighten flavor and balance sweetness 🌿 She uses a watermelon + basil rim to add aroma and texture 🌼 She adds a buzz button tincture for a "super taster" twist guests remember 🍉 She finishes with a dehydrated watermelon cracker garnish that stays crisp and holds up in service Want the weekly roundup of news, videos, and what you might've missed from hashtag#NoVacancyNews? Text HOTEL to 66866.

Live experiences drive operating success because they create reasons to travel, reasons to spend, and reasons to come back. That's why Marriott Vacations Worldwide is building Inner Circle around them. I talked with Mike Flasky, President and COO of Marriott Vacations Worldwide, about what changes when the offer expands beyond the villa and into the full trip. 🎟️ Inner Circle launches June 22 and centers music, culinary, sports, and TV experiences 🎸 Launch example: a Lee Brice show in Orlando for about 300 owners 📊 Only about 6% of eligible North American households own vacation ownership today 🏨 The portfolio spans brands like Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, Westin, Sheraton, Marriott, and Hyatt Vacation Club, with about 700,000 owner families 💳 Points give flexibility: choose unit size, choose trip length, bank the difference, and use points for flights, cruises, or Marriott Bonvoy 📍 The development lens shifts toward markets with big distribution potential, with Nashville high on the radar Thanks to Actabl for supporting this episode. Actabl gives you the power to profit. Visit Actabl.com. Want the weekly roundup of news, videos, and what you might've missed from #NoVacancyNews? Text HOTEL to 66866.

Only 40% of hotel tech revenue-side professionals hit their full bonus target. Glenn Haussman and Dr. Producer Suzanne Bagnera talk with Ed Clark, Founder of Hospitality Tech Jobs, about his new salary + sentiment report and what it says about hiring, comp, and career paths in hotel tech. 📊 About 66% of hotel tech roles sit revenue-adjacent 🎯 Bonus reality: most people miss full target, so companies need more transparency on comp plans 👩‍💻 Sentiment gap: women score negative on NPS while men score positive 💵 Base pay matches; realized earnings diverge by about $15K 🧠 Practical job-hunting tip: do more than "click apply," and use a voice note to stand out Thanks to Actabl for supporting this episode. Actabl gives you the power to profit. Visit Actabl.com. Want the weekly roundup of news, videos, and what you might've missed from #NoVacancyNews? Text HOTEL to 66866.

F1 week in Las Vegas turns a stay into a full itinerary, and Hilton Grand Vacations builds owner value around the full trip, not just the nights. I talked with Derek DeSalvia M.S. DeSalvia, EVP and Chief Customer Officer at Hilton Grand Vacations, at the ARDA Spring Conference about owner benefits beyond the property, multigenerational hashtag#travel, and how the trip stays seamless from booking through the experience. 🏎️ Derek uses F1 as the anchor example: build the week around one marquee event, then stack experiences on top 🎟️ The program adds value outside the resort stay through experiences and benefits 👂 Derek keeps the filter simple: listen to the customer and build what they want in that moment 🧳 Multigenerational travel drives the product: unit variety plus flexibility to book multiple units 🧩 Derek focuses on a connected journey so planning and in-market moments stay consistent Want the weekly roundup of news, videos, and what you might've missed? Text HOTEL to 66866 for hashtag#NoVacancyNews.

Ryan Labbe owns and operates numerous restaurants in bars in Vegas including Rosina Cocktail Lounge at Venetian, voted one of the "best bars in Las Vegas" by Condé Nast Traveler. Glenn, Craig and Doctor Producer Suzanne ruin it all during tonight's weekend kickoff Happy Hour. How this

Travel + Leisure Co turns Margaritaville and Sports Illustrated into something owners feel after the trip ends: access, events, and reasons to come back. At the ARDA Spring Conference, I talked with Louis Acosta, SVP Sports, Entertainment, Event Marketing and Sales at Travel + Leisure Co, about how the company uses brand DNA to build demand—and why that matters when budgets tighten. 🏝️ Margaritaville Vacation Club leans hard into the experience at Rio Mar, then points to Orlando as the next move 🏟️ Sports Illustrated Resorts uses sports + culinary events to keep the brand "alive," not just visible 🎟️ The strategy centers on access you can't buy off the shelf, then turns that into loyalty 🚗 Prepaid ownership keeps travel plans intact, especially for drive-to trips Want the weekly roundup of news, videos, and what you might've missed? Text HOTEL to 66866 for #NoVacancyNews.

More than 40% of Westgate's new timeshare buyers are millennials. I talked with Jared Saft, COO of Westgate Resorts, at ARDA's Spring Conference in Las Vegas about why younger buyers want space, kitchens, and togetherness—and how Westgate drives demand with differentiated experiences. 👥 Buyer shift: Jared says millennials make up 40%+ of new buyers 🏠 Product fit: kitchens, multiple bedrooms, multiple TVs, and space for groups 🎢 Experience strategy: Chuck E. Cheese, a mystery fun house theme park, and a Florida dude ranch with glamping 🏟️ Group demand matters: Westgate fills slower quarters with convention guests who want extra space and meeting access 🤝 Vegas partnership: Westgate SuperBook powered by Caesars Sportsbook Thanks to Actabl for supporting this episode. Actabl gives you the power to profit. Visit Actabl.com. Want the weekly roundup of news, videos, and what you might've missed from #NoVacancyNews? Text HOTEL to 66866.

Luxury guests feel the difference in the details, and procurement decides many of those details. I talked with Denis Klurfeld, SVP of Procurement for Luxury & Lifestyle at Accor, about how procurement shapes the luxury guest experience, balances standards with local authenticity, and protects long-term owner value. 🛏️ He treats sleep as non-negotiable because it anchors the brand promise 🍽️ He gives properties more flexibility in culinary and amenities so hotels keep local authenticity 🧩 He builds frameworks instead of constraints: standards build trust, local choices build memories 💰 He evaluates decisions through total cost of ownership: durability, lifecycle, maintenance, and guest perception ♻️ He weights sustainability heavily in procurement decisions (30%+ of the scorecard) 🤝 He designs with operations so hotels can execute in the real world Thanks to Entegra for supporting this episode. Visit EntegraPS.com. Want the weekly roundup of news, videos, and what you might've missed? Text HOTEL to 66866 for #NoVacancyNews.

During the recently held AAHOACON, I talked with Andrew Russo from AAHOA and Tony Hodgins, Regional General Manager with Legends Global, which operates the Pennsylvania Convention Center, about their digital signage partnership with Xpodigital. 🖥️ Revenue share puts the screens in place without upfront capital, then pays out from sold sponsor inventory ⏱️ AAHOA added a sponsor two days before the show and still got them on the screens 🚶 Screens drive foot traffic by placing sponsor brands at key entry points 🧑‍💻 Zachary Italian from Xpodigital stays on site full-time to support execution and keep updates moving If your hotel has conference space (or you run a venue), you can create the same sponsor inventory and revenue-share opportunity. Message me and I'll connect you. Want the weekly roundup of news, videos, and what you might've missed? Text HOTEL to 66866 for #NoVacancyNews.

Jason Gamel, President and CEO of ARDA, says vacation ownership holds up because owners lock in costs and plan differently than hotel-only travelers. I talked with Jason at ARDA's spring conference in Las Vegas about tech, buyer trends, and what investors should watch in timeshare right now. 🤖 Jason says the conference puts a big spotlight on tech and where different companies sit in their AI journey 🧳 My "oh wow" moment: more space and a kitchen changes the entire trip for groups and families 📈 Jason points to strong occupancy, including a Marriott Vacations Worldwide outlook of 90%+ occupancy 👥 Jason says Gen Z and millennials make up 73% of new purchasers 🧾 ARDA starts an insurance captive to help tackle maintenance-fee pressure 🏗️ He sees mixed-use growth: hotel + timeshare + residential, plus hotel conversions in markets like Nashville and New York Thanks to Actabl for supporting this episode. Actabl gives you the power to profit. Visit Actabl.com. Want the weekly roundup of news, videos, and what you might've missed from #NoVacancyNews? Text HOTEL to 66866.

During the recently held DUETTO PERFORM, I interviewed Jesse Sturges, Director of Strategic Marketing at Mohegan Sun, about how one of the world's largest casino resorts uses loyalty, influencers, and faster recognition to connect guests to tailored experiences. 🎸 Mohegan Sun marks 30 years at the property and 25 years for the arena, with Metallica booked for two nights 📣 Jesse uses influencers as a real growth lever, including slot influencers from New England and Vegas 🧠 Jesse focuses on motivation: who guests follow, what they respond to, and how to connect them to tailored experiences 🎭 The resort runs multiple experiences at once—comedy, concerts, shows—so different customers build different trips 🏷️ Jesse's biggest tip: show loyalty value immediately, not after 10–25 stays, and personalize faster Want the weekly roundup of news, videos, and what you might've missed? Text HOTEL to 66866.

Renovations and conversions are about to outpace new builds by a lot — and that changes who suppliers should sell to. Glenn Haussman talks with Bruce Ford, SVP at Lodging Econometrics, in Las Vegas while Choice Hotels International's convention and HD Expo run in the same building. 🔁 Transactions drive conversions: trading hotels unlocks renovation + repositioning decisions 🏗️ Bruce puts numbers on it: about 86,000 new rooms vs about 350,000 renovated rooms this year 🏦 Expensive debt keeps new builds tough, while cash-flowing hotels still finance better 🧾 PIPs push decisions: renovate, sell, or exit 📦 Supplier reality: shipping costs jump 50–60%, and that hits hotel P&Ls fast 🤝 Supplier advice: sell accounts and partnerships with active ownership/management groups, not one-off quotes Thanks to Actabl for supporting this episode. Actabl gives you the power to profit. Visit Actabl.com. Want the weekly roundup of news, videos, and what you might've missed from #NoVacancyNews? Text HOTEL to 66866.

Choice's loyalty refresh goes the opposite direction of most programs: easier to earn, easier to reach status, easier to redeem. During Choice Hotels International's 70th Annual Convention in Las Vegas, I talked with Noha Abdalla, Chief Marketing Officer at Choice Hotels, about the Choice Privileges refresh, the Keegan-Michael Key campaign, and why owners should care. 🎭 Keegan-Michael Key helps Choice break through generic hotel marketing 💳 Choice Privileges changes: second + third stay bonuses, first elite tier at 5 nights (down from 10), plus a new Titanium top tier 🏈 Passion points: Learfield college sports + Trackhouse Racing/NASCAR for access members actually want 💰 Owner angle: loyalty members stay more often, spend more, and cost less to acquire 📈 Noha says members who joined in Q1 this year spent 5% more than members who joined in Q1 last year Want the weekly roundup of news, videos, and what you might've missed? Text HOTEL to 66866 for #NoVacancyNews.

Matt McElhare, Vice President & Segment Lead, Extended Stay at Choice Hotels International, says extended stay leads new hotel development right now, while conversions let owners move faster than new builds. I talked with Matt in Las Vegas about what Choice has in the pipeline, why conversions matter right now, and why he thinks extended stay still has a long runway. 🏗️ 2026 milestones: Choice expects the 600th extended stay to debut, the 300th WoodSpring Suites, and the 30th Everhome Suites 🏨 Choice share: Matt says Choice flags 50% of extended stay hotels under construction (WoodSpring + Everhome) ⏱️ Conversion window: roughly 3–6 months (sometimes faster) vs 18–24 months for new construction 🔄 Suburban Studios conversion strategy: convert 100+ key transient boxes into extended stay ✅ Progress marker: Choice crossed 20 Suburban Studios transformations, with 30 more in the pipeline 📍 Everhome pipeline includes Las Vegas-area sites: Henderson and north of Vegas near the base Want the weekly roundup of news, videos, and what you might've missed from #NoVacancyNews? Text HOTEL to 66866.

David Pepper, Chief Development Officer at Choice Hotels, says Q1 turning RevPAR positive brought buyers back into the market. Glenn Haussman talks with David from Choice's annual convention about why transactions drive conversions—and why extended stay keeps leading new builds. Conversions need transactions: buyers have to trade hotels for conversions to happen Q1 momentum: industry up, Choice up, investors start moving Choice relicensing up 50% in Q1 as buyers re-sign existing Choice hotels Country Inn & Suites up 50% this year Extended stay leads new construction: 50% of Choice's pipeline runs extended stay WoodSpring + Everhome make up 50% of extended stay hotels under construction Want the weekly roundup of news, videos, and what you might've missed? Text HOTEL to 66866. #ChoiceHotels #HotelDevelopment #HotelConversions #ExtendedStay #Hospitality #NoVacancyNews

Hotel restaurants lose revenue in boring ways—slow first drink delivery, late refills, and servers who don't know what they leave on the table. Geoffrey Toffetti, CEO of Frontline Performance Group, and Sloan Dean, former CEO of Remington Hospitality, break down CheckMax and the coaching system that uses POS data, leaderboards, and short training to drive stronger F&B performance. 🍸 Geoffrey targets an easy win: get the first drink out fast, then replenish sooner so tables order a third round 📊 CheckMax shows servers where they rank and what the gap costs them using leaderboards and gamification 📈 Geoffrey says outlets running the program see about 15% revenue per guest improvement year over year with the same servers 🎥 Sloan explains the "how": POS data + coaching + short training content, including chef-recorded videos that teach servers how to sell key items 🧠 Geoffrey uses AI to spot patterns and turn messy POS data into coachable moments, including pairing strong servers with weaker ones for two weeks Want the weekly roundup of news, videos, and what you might've missed from #NoVacancyNews? Text HOTEL to 66866.

During DUETTO PERFORM in Fort Lauderdale, I talked with Bob Matsuoka, Chief Technology Officer at Duetto, about AI in hotels the only way that matters right now: practical, operational, and money-saving. 🤖 Bob draws a clean line: machine learning does the work; AI makes it accessible 🚫 He warns against treating AI like an "answer machine" because it can hallucinate 🔁 He says AI wins today on operations: read emails, compile action items, synthesize reports, and stop wasting hours moving data between systems 📊 He shares a real example: revenue teams spend too much time pulling reports and building decks—AI can take that off their plate 🧩 He says AI works best as a translation layer between data and plain language, including writing the code behind the scenes 🗂️ His practical tip: connect AI to email + Google Drive and let it build your daily report while you sleep Want the weekly roundup of news, videos, and what you might've missed from #NoVacancyNews? Text HOTEL to 66866.

HotelKey's self check-in kiosk scans an ID, runs face verification, and issues keys without a front desk line. I talk with Aditya Thyagarajan, co-founder of HotelKey, and Fareed Ahmad, co-founder and CEO of HotelKey, about why kiosks only work when they connect directly to the #PMS. 🪪 Guests scan ID, complete face verification, pick an available room, and check in 🔑 The kiosk handles check-in, check-out, duplicate keys, stay extensions, room moves, and room-out-of-order 🧩 HotelKey builds the kiosk inside the PMS ecosystem instead of bolting on integrations later 🧑‍💻 HotelKey backs the kiosk with 24/7 live support so guests can tap a button and reach an agent 🏨 Owners testing it say lines shrink and staff shifts from desk transactions to guest interaction Want the weekly roundup of news, videos, and what you might've missed from #NoVacancyNews? Text HOTEL to 66866.

Axel Hotels runs 12 properties across four countries with nearly 1,000 rooms, and the brand focuses on the LGBTQ+ community. I talk with Efrain Castro, COO of Axel Hotels, about how the brand creates community-driven hotels and where the team wants to expand next. 🏳️‍🌈 Efrain calls Axel the largest hotel chain focused on the LGBTQ+ community, built as a "space of freedom" that welcomes anyone who wants that environment 🌍 Axel uses social spaces to connect travelers and locals, and that local/traveler mix drives repeat demand 🏨 Axel operates through leases, management agreements, and franchise deals, with a current push toward franchising 📍 US expansion sits on the table again; Axel previously operated in Miami Beach, and Efrain names Palm Springs, Las Vegas, and New York City as top targets 🧩 Efrain says Axel tailors the product to each deal—new build, conversion, or guidance on an existing asset 📩 Franchise and development inquiries: [email protected] or the form on axelhotels.com Thanks to Actabl for supporting this episode. Actabl gives you the power to profit. Visit actabl.com. Want the weekly roundup of news, videos, and what you might've missed from #NoVacancyNews? Text HOTEL to 66866.

Starwood Hotels builds 1 Hotels, Treehouse, and Baccarat around one idea: products need emotion and soul, not templates. While hosting Starwood's annual conference, I talked with Raul Leal, CEO of Starwood Hotels, about differentiation through nature-led design, human experience, and AI-driven personalization that stays human. 🌿 Raul says nature-led "hardware" sets the tone the second guests walk in 🤖 He uses AI to understand preferences and deliver better moments on-property without creeping people out 🍽️ He treats F&B as brand identity, not a side business 💰 He focuses on total revenue per customer instead of RevPAR-only thinking 🎁 He frames the mission program as affiliation plus perks, not points for points' sake 👥 He uses guest and employee focus groups to keep the brands honest Thanks to Actabl for supporting this episode. Actabl gives you the power to profit. Visit Actabl.com. Want the weekly roundup of news, videos, and what you might've missed? Text HOTEL to 66866 for #NoVacancyNews.

Caesars launched its first non-gaming Caesars Republic in Scottsdale, and the property built the guest experience around F&B partnerships like Lisa Vanderpump's Wolf. Glenn Haussman talks with Joe Iturri, SVP of Business Development at HCW, about what that launch required and what owners expect from hands-on management right now. 🐺 Joe says Wolf changed the vibe fast and validated the F&B strategy 🎰 Joe says the non-gaming concept forced the team to create the playbook instead of following one 🍽️ Joe treats F&B as the identity engine, not an add-on 🙂 Joe hires for the smile and builds culture through leadership example and shared best practices 📞 Joe stays involved after takeover and takes the call when problems hit, including 2 a.m. issues Thanks to Actabl for supporting this episode. Actabl gives you the power to profit. Visit Actabl.com. Want the weekly roundup of news, videos, and what you might've missed from #NoVacancyNews? Text HOTEL to 66866.

Priyank Patel owns four Red Roof properties, and he built the portfolio over nine years after starting out as an engineer. During AAHOACON 2026, where No Vacancy was the official podcast, Glenn Haussman talks with Priyank Patel, Red Roof owner, about why he chose hotels as an investment strategy to reach long-term goals—and why he kept buying Red Roof. Why he moved from engineering into hotel ownership Why Red Roof support helped him scale from one property to four Why he uses AAHOACON for vendor access and owner-to-owner learning Why he stays involved with AAHOA as a Washington, DC area board member Thanks to Red Roof for sponsoring the studio space on the AAHOACON show floor. Want the weekly roundup of news, videos, and what you might've missed? Text HOTEL to 66866. #AAHOACON #RedRoof #HotelOwners #Hospitality #NoVacancyNews

During DUETTO PERFORM, I talked with Katie Moro, VP Data Partnerships at Amadeus, about a real problem for hoteliers right now: data everywhere, decisions nowhere. 🛫 Katie explains using airline search and booking signals to separate intent from real demand 📊 She compares booking curves across hotels, airlines, and short-term rentals and adjusts for lead-time differences 🎯 She uses age-range data to tighten channel mix and marketing decisions 🏢 She says group profitability needs more than room nights—meeting space and F&B data matter too ✅ Her first move: audit what you buy, cut what you can't act on, then work backward from the questions you still can't answer Want the weekly roundup of news, videos, and what you might've missed from #NoVacancyNews? Text HOTEL to 66866.

Bruce Jordan gives three simple revenue ideas that don't require a renovation—just better packaging and pricing. During AAHOACON, I talked with Bruce Jordan, creator of Hotel Guest Management, about ways hotels can add income when margins feel tight. 👶 Child safety room: charge $30–$50 per night for a childproof setup 👥 Protect group revenue: upgrade the group and lower the rate instead of losing thousands protecting 10 rooms 🤝 Affiliate revenue: package local restaurants and excursions and get paid on referrals 💆 Bonus: sell massages with a retail mindset—if it costs $100, price it at $200 and market it at the desk 📺 Follow Bruce: YouTube Hotel Guest Management | LinkedIn MJF Hotels Thanks to Red Roof for sponsoring the studio space on the AAHOACON show floor. Want the weekly roundup of news, videos, and what you might've missed from #NoVacancyNews? Text HOTEL to 66866.

Red Roof Chief Development officer Matt Hostetler kicks back with Glenn, Craig and Dr. Producer Suzanne as they kick off the weekend with some drinks, stories from the road and another round of our Hotel Pet Peeves.

Food and beverage drives nearly half of annual revenue at Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort. Glenn Haussman tours Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort with Michael Cook, Director of Sales & Marketing. The property is managed by our friends at Davidson Hospitality Group! 🩴 The flip-flop entrance sets the tone and drives social content 🏖️ The boardwalk + beach location fuels energy and local demand 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The guest mix shifts by season: couples vs families vs groups 🏢 Meetings live on the 9th floor with ocean views and a 10,000-square-foot ballroom 🔁 Meeting attendees return later for leisure stays with family Thanks to Actabl for supporting this episode. Actabl gives you the power to profit. Visit Actabl.com. Want the weekly roundup of news, videos, and what you might've missed from hashtag#NoVacancyNews? Text HOTEL to 66866.

Front desk upsells didn't just add revenue — they cut turnover by 40% in one operator's portfolio. In video 2 of this series, Geoffrey Toffetti, CEO of Frontline Performance Group, and Sloan Dean, former CEO of Remington, break down how hotels train front desk teams to build rapport, tailor offers, track performance, and pay incentives that actually keep people. 🧠 Train the conversation: ask a few questions at check-in, then match the offer to the guest's reason for travel 📊 Use data for daily coaching: agents see their stats, managers coach in real time, performance improves fast 🎮 Gamify the front desk: recognition + accountability + reward drives behavior 💵 Pay commissions that matter: Remington paid about 10% of upsell revenue to agents; some agents boosted pay 50% 📉 Reduce turnover: Sloan says the program drove about a 40% reduction in front desk turnover 🚀 Promote your best sellers: Geoffrey says hotels can move top front desk performers into sales and banquets Want the weekly roundup of news, videos, and what you might've missed from #NoVacancyNews? Text HOTEL to 66866.

Hotels don't need another system; hotels need the systems they already run to talk to each other. I talk with Alex Zoghlin, CEO of Duetto, during Duetto PERFORM about profit-first revenue decisions and connected hotel data. 🧩 Disconnected systems force teams to act on partial data 💰 Profit-first decisions require coordination across departments 🔗 Better access to existing data beats adding "one more tool" 🤖 AI speeds integrations and shortens decision cycles 🎯 Dynamic pricing and build-your-own packages lift total revenue and GOP Want the weekly roundup of news, videos, and what you might've missed from #NoVacancyNews? Text HOTEL to 66866.

Profitability keeps getting squeezed even after years of strong revenue growth, so hotels can't live on RevPAR alone. I'm at Duetto PERFORM at Margaritaville Resort, and I talk with Michael Grove, CEO of HotStats, about what his data shows right now—and what hoteliers can actually do about it. 📉 Michael says cost pressure stays the story: labor, wage inflation, loyalty costs, and credit card costs don't go away 💰 He points to the opportunity: ancillary revenue grew 5.8% globally last year while RevPAR grew about 2.5% 🧠 He pushes a total revenue per customer mindset instead of obsessing over rooms revenue alone 🍽️ He says hotels need more creativity to help guests spend money on-property in ways they actually enjoy 🤝 He also talks the HotStats + Duetto connection: insight, tools to act, and measurement in one package Want the weekly roundup of news, videos, and what you might've missed from hashtag#NoVacancyNews? Text HOTEL to 66866.

Oliver Shah is a first time guest, and we suspect after having drinks with Glenn, Craig and Suzanne itll be his last. Join us for some laughs and Happy Hour fun where Glenn is at Margaritaville Resort Hollywood Beach.

I'm at Duetto PERFORM at Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort, and I grabbed Olly Lynch, CMO at Duetto, to explain what Duetto built this event to do. 🚀 Duetto built PERFORM to give "hotel performance" its own space—not a back-room trade show conversation 📈 Olly lays out the idea: connect revenue and profit into one operating model, one story, and ultimately one technology 🧠 Duetto pulled in voices from outside hotels—airlines and casinos—to push new thinking on revenue + profitability 🛠️ I like the focus: actionable takeaways you can actually implement, not theory 📣 Duetto plans to publish key takeaways for people who couldn't attend and bring PERFORM back next year Want the weekly roundup of news, videos, and what you might've missed from hashtag#NoVacancyNews? Text HOTEL to 66866.

Last week, Suzanne Bagnera brought one of 11 student teams from nine schools to the AAHOACON Collegiate Championship, and the students ran the kind of decisions real GMs deal with. During AAHOACON 2026, where No Vacancy was the official podcast, I interviewed Suzanne Bagnera, PhD, CHA, CED about the competition and what she saw as the professor who brought the students. 🎓 Year three of the Collegiate Championship, with teams from schools including FIU, Virginia Tech, Grand Valley State, University of South Carolina, Cornell, Oklahoma State, and Kennesaw 🧠 Russell Partners ran an online simulation where students operated as GMs, made decisions before the conference, then ran two more simulated years on site 🎤 Students got pitch training, presented to judges, then moved through top four + semifinal rounds with both Judges' Choice and People's Choice awards 🏆 Judges' Choice went to Grand Valley State; People's Choice went to the University of South Carolina 🎙️ Show-floor reality: PA announcements and the lost Chrysler Pacifica keys provided the background noise Thanks to Red Roof for sponsoring the studio space on the AAHOACON show floor. Want the weekly roundup of news, videos, and what you might've missed from #NoVacancyNews? Text HOTEL to 66866.

Public-private hotel deals don't run on a private equity playbook. Cities use them to create demand and pull outside dollars into the market. Suzanne Bagnera, PhD, CHA, CED joins me, and we talk with Walter Peseski, Senior Vice President of Asset Management at Garfield Public/Private, about how these projects get financed and why brands matter. 🏛️ Why cities build headquarters hotels and convention-adjacent product 🏨 Why bondholders and ratings agencies push projects toward branded hotels 📈 Abilene example: a DoubleTree plus a demand curveball from the Stargate data center ⏳ The real friction: public timelines, extra stakeholders, and council calendars Thanks to Actabl for supporting this episode. Actabl gives you the power to profit. Visit Actabl.com. Want the weekly roundup of news, videos, and what you might've missed from #NoVacancyNews? Text HOTEL to 66866.

They flipped the first Sonesta hotel in a couple of hours. That's what a real partnership looks like when the operator needs speed and the vendor shows up. During AAHOACON in Philadelphia, I talked with Patty Jefferson from Visual Matrix and Chris Trick from Sonesta about how they built the relationship, scaled it, and kept it practical for hotel teams. 🤝 They started with trust, then proved execution fast with that first flip 🏨 The rollout now covers 120+ installs across multiple Sonesta brands 🖥️ They cut friction at the desk: move from two screens to one, so staff works faster 🎯 They keep the partnership grounded in outcomes: recognize guests faster and grow loyalty enrollment Want the weekly roundup of news, videos, and what you might've missed from #NoVacancyNews? Text HOTEL to 66866.

Two hotels on one piece of land, two separate buildings, two separate lobbies—and the demand mix flips in a way you wouldn't expect. During AAHOACON 2026, No Vacancy is the official podcast, and I caught up with Hanan Anand, a Red Roof owner, on the show floor to talk about his dual-property setup in Cortland, New York, and what actually drives the business. 🏨 Hanan runs Hometowne Studios and Conference Center plus a Red Roof Inn side-by-side in Cortland 🔧 He converted Hometowne Studios via a full gut renovation, then opened a banquet hall about a week ago 🏟️ Sports tourism drives the market, with teams and families using the meeting space 🔄 The mix flips: Red Roof skews more extended stay, while Hometowne Studios skews more transient because of amenities like the pool, gym, and meeting space 🛣️ Location adds demand: right off I-81, between Syracuse and Binghamton, plus business travelers and traveling nurses 🤝 He says Red Roof support feels hands-on—procurement, design/construction, development—people pick up the phone and know you Want the weekly roundup of news, videos, and what you might've missed from #NoVacancyNews? Text HOTEL to 66866.

Wyndham Rewards pushes beyond hotel nights into experiences, and Michael Shiwdin, Global VP of Loyalty at Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, explains why: engagement drives direct bookings, and direct bookings drive owner value. I talked with Michael at Wyndham Grand Rio Mar in Puerto Rico about how Wyndham Rewards Experiences works and what it means for hotels in the portfolio. 🌿 Members earn points on experiences through Viator, including activities like kayaking 🎟️ Wyndham partners with Ticketmaster and Madison Square Garden for concert opportunities and VIP experiences 📈 Michael says Wyndham saw almost a 5X increase in member engagement after launching Wyndham Rewards Experiences, plus double-digit lifts tied to members booking direct 💰 He frames the owner angle: members book direct at a lower cost channel, then return to the Wyndham portfolio for the next stay Thanks to Actabl for supporting this episode. Actabl gives you the power to profit. Visit Actabl.com. Want the weekly roundup of news, videos, and what you might've missed from #NoVacancyNews? Text HOTEL to 66866.

During hashtag#AAHOACON, I talked with James Ferguson🎉, author of Seek the Good and Celebrate., about why he wrote it, what he wants readers to take from it, and how he expects leaders to use it when the day gets messy. 🧠 He turns the message into a habit system—something you run, not something you quote 📖 He connects the book to his cancer journey and how it reshaped his perspective 🎉 The premise stays simple: seek the good, spot solutions faster, and celebrate more people 🏆 He talks significance vs. success and how that shift changes leadership decisions 📅 Release date: May 5 🧰 Get it at confetti-man.com Want the weekly roundup of news, videos, and what you might've missed from hashtag#NoVacancyNews? Text HOTEL to 66866.

Greg Juceam is President and CEO of Extended Stay America as and he's successfully scaling Premier Suites in the middle of one of the hardest building environments we've seen in years. 🏗️ Greg launched Extended Stay America Premier Suites in 2021, and the company invested in the first 15 hotels as proof of concept—then built the franchising system so owners could scale it 📈 Premier Suites now sits north of 50 hotels and keeps climbing, and Greg expects 100 in the next few years 🤝 Greg leans on the owner-operator advantage: Extended Stay America still owns and manages about 70% of the portfolio, so they build first and work out the kinks before they ask franchisees to invest 📊 He ties hashtag#extendedstay momentum to performance: extended stay runs high occupancy with a lean model—his company ran north of 76% while the industry ran about 62% 🧼 He spells out the operating win: fewer turns and fewer cleans when guests stay longer 🧱 He keeps standards pragmatic: build and operate efficiently without over-building beyond what guests pay for 🔧 He keeps the design and construction team active and adjusts the prototype so owners can build for less even with rates staying high Want the weekly roundup of news, videos, and what you might've missed from hashtag#NoVacancyNews? Text HOTEL to 66866.

Suraj Bhakta doesn't sugarcoat the moment. He sees a strong Q1, then watches geopolitics and travel costs squeeze demand again. No Vacancy is the official podcast of AAHOACON, and I talked with Suraj Bhakta of New Gen Advisory on the show floor about how owners react when the Fed shifts, travel gets expensive, and buyers and sellers hit pause. 📈 Suraj says he saw a strong first quarter, then geopolitical issues started weighing on activity ✈️ He points to Sun Belt impact: less Canadian and overseas traffic in some areas 🏦 He expects a standstill if rates don't fall—sellers don't see replacement deals, and buyers wait 🔄 He calls it a conversion market, with opportunity in economy and midscale as brands roll out new tiers 🧠 He says owners stay resourceful, and tech/AI keeps moving to the front of the conversation Thanks to Red Roof for letting us shoot this on the show floor. Want the weekly roundup of news, videos, and what you might've missed from #NoVacancyNews? Text HOTEL to 66866.

Red Roof treats AAHOACON like the Super Bowl, and Matt Hostetler explains why: owners, franchisees, and partners all show up in one place. No Vacancy is the official podcast of AAHOACON, and I talked with Matt Hostetler, Chief Development Officer at Red Roof, about growth, franchisee support, and how Red Roof helps owners win when the economy tightens. 🚀 Growth strategy for 2026 and why multi-unit owners keep driving momentum 🤝 RIDE program Road to Inclusivity, Diversity, and Entrepreneurship with Lina Patel and She Leads 📲 Tech focus: tools that cut costs or drive revenue, plus an app refresh that delivered a 65% revenue increase year over year 🤖 AI marketing with Zeta Global to convert demand into stays ⏱️ Best AAHOACON detail: Matt tries to time how long it takes to get anywhere… and stops every ten feet to talk to people Want the weekly roundup of news, videos, and what you might've missed from #NoVacancyNews? Text HOTEL to 66866.