972: Scaling Up or Staying Lean: StepStone Hospitality on Leadership, Growth, and Empowering GMs
No Vacancy Live and No Vacancy News
On the latest No Vacancy podcast, Anthony Melchiorri and I had a great conversation with Blair Wills, CEO of StepStone Hospitality, and Michael Broadhurst, COO of StepStone Hospitality. StepStone has grown from a single property in 2007 to a 30-hotel portfolio today—and they’re at that critical inflection point where management companies have to decide if they’re going to stay lean or scale up. We dug into some big topics: 👉 Why GMs are really the CEOs of their hotels 👉 The tough balance between owner expectations and on-the-ground realities 👉 How tech only matters if it...
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FNA 186: We're Seeing Green
No Vacancy Live and No Vacancy News
Glenn is at a bar on Macinac Island at the Inn at Stonecliffe with longtime friend of the show Chris Green He's now President at Humanitarian Hotels which that company owns. Craig and Producer Dave are probably ealoous, but we're all having some cocktails and laughs to kick off the weekend!
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971: From Bartender to CEO of MGM Resorts | Bill Hornbuckle Interview
No Vacancy Live and No Vacancy News
Not many CEOs start their careers bartending at 18 — but that’s exactly how Bill Hornbuckle, CEO of MGM Resorts International, got his start. In this incredible #NoVacancyNews conversation, Bill shares how he went from bussing tables at the Jockey Club to leading one of the biggest names in hospitality. We talked about: • 🍸 Lessons learned behind the bar that shaped his leadership style. • 🎰 The evolution of Las Vegas from a Mafia-run town to the global entertainment capital. • 🏒 Why sports and entertainment are redefining the Strip’s...
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970: Hyatt’s Growth Strategy Explained: Emily Wright
No Vacancy Live and No Vacancy News
I just had a fantastic conversation with Emily Wright, VP & Global Brand Leader at Hyatt, along with my buddy Anthony Melchiorri. Emily’s been with Hyatt for nearly 20 years, and the passion she brings to the role is clear. We covered a lot of ground, but here’s what really stood out to me: Hyatt has grown from 4 core brands to a wide-reaching portfolio—and they’re still expanding. The launch of Hyatt Studios and Hyatt Select is about filling real gaps in the market, especially in secondary and tertiary cities. World of Hyatt loyalty is exploding—58 million members strong...
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Global Hotel Development: Luxury, Conversions & What’s Next with Bruce Ford
No Vacancy Live and No Vacancy News
What’s really happening in the global hotel pipeline? Glenn Haussman sits down with Bruce Ford, SVP at Lodging Econometrics, to break down the numbers, trends, and transformations shaping hospitality development worldwide. From luxury’s evolution into intimate, multi-gen-friendly resorts to the rise of dual-brand properties and strategic conversions, this episode delivers insights that matter to owners, developers, and hospitality pros alike. Special thanks to our advertiser: 👉 Actabl gives you the power to profit. Visit to explore tools that drive performance and benchmarking...
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Inside Le Meridien: Budgets, Big Events & the Real Story of New Orleans Hospitality
No Vacancy Live and No Vacancy News
New Orleans isn’t just about beignets and brass bands—it’s a test case for how hotels handle unpredictable demand. I spoke with Ken Jacques, GM of Le Meridien New Orleans, which is operated by Stonebridge, about how he’s planning for 2026 and what it really takes to run a hotel in a city built on events. Here’s what stood out: Hotels can’t just copy last year’s budget — they’re recalibrating daily Events like Mardi Gras, Jazz Fest, and UFC change everything for revenue planning Instinct plays as big a role as spreadsheets when forecasting demand International travel remains...
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Hotel Development Boom: Europe, Middle East & Africa
No Vacancy Live and No Vacancy News
What’s shaping the future of hotel development beyond the U.S.? In this , of and I break down the latest pipeline data across EMEA—and what it means for owners, operators, and investors. 🔑 Key insights: Why conversions are becoming the biggest story in Europe after a decade of limited activity How unique land and building lease structures shape hotel development in cities like London and Monaco The latest Middle East mega-projects, from Riyadh to Cairo, and the realities behind ambitious tourism ministry targets Emerging opportunities in markets you might not expect—plus which...
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969: Hospitality Education, AI & the Future of Talent
No Vacancy Live and No Vacancy News
How can hospitality education keep pace with the evolving workforce, shrinking attention spans, and the rise of AI? In this #NoVacancyNews, I’m joined by Dr. Suzanne Bagnera and Dr. Peter Ricci. We’re tackling one of the most pressing issues in our industry: attracting and preparing the next generation of hospitality leaders. 🔑 What we cover: Why enrollment in hospitality programs is dropping—and what that means for the industry How AI is reshaping hospitality education and operations (and how students are learning to use it) The permanent shift toward online learning and flexible...
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968: Inside CoralTree’s Long Game in Luxury Vacation Rentals
No Vacancy Live and No Vacancy News
From Aspen in the 1970s to Maui today, CoralTree Hospitality has been shaping the residential resort and vacation rental space long before it was trendy. In this #NoVacancyNews, Glenn and Anthony sit down with Mike Cuthbertson, Managing Director of the CoralTree Residence Collection, to talk about: How CoralTree blends hospitality standards with vacation rental flexibility The unique challenges of managing hundreds of individual owners (and their opinions) Creative strategies to get homeowners to invest in upgrades The tech innovations transforming revenue management and guest experience Why...
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Inside The Peabody Memphis | Doug Browne on History, Renovation & Hospitality’s Future
No Vacancy Live and No Vacancy News
The Peabody Memphis is more than a luxury hotel — it’s a living piece of history. From its famous duck march to welcoming presidents and celebrities, this property continues to set the standard for Southern hospitality. In this episode, I talk with Doug Browne, President of The Peabody Memphis, about what it takes to run a century-old icon while keeping it fresh and profitable. 💡 What you’ll learn: How a 25-year rolling capital plan preserves the hotel for future generations The behind-the-scenes story of a $30 million renovation Why a small change to the lobby bar delivered...
info_outlineGlenn chats with AAHOA Chairman Bruce Patel and Chip Rogers, AAHOA’s President & CEO. With nearly 16,000 members representing nearly half the hotels in this county, this association is a massive force both in the industry and on Capitol Hill. But it wasn’t always that way. AAHOA stands for the Asian American Hotel Owners Association and we discuss how a small group of Indian immigrants faced unrelenting racism and financial challenges to achieve the American dream. Now, the second and third generation are in charge, and this group is changing everything about the hotel business. Learn how.
But first Glenn chats with Bruce Ford, SVP of Lodging Econometrics, all about the rapid growth of soft-brand hotels. Though you may not know what they are, they’re an increasingly integral part of the hotel industry. Especially for those hotels you think are independent. Guess what, it’s more likely that’s not quite true.
Drop us a line at [email protected].
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Produced by Jeff Polly: http://www.endpointmultimedia.com/