The Smart Way to Drive Hotel Profit in Tough Markets
No Vacancy Live and No Vacancy News
Release Date: 11/13/2025
What FIFA 2026 Really Means for Hotel Development
No Vacancy Live and No Vacancy News
Everyone talks about FIFA 2026 like it’s a guaranteed win for hotels. The reality is more complicated. I connected with Bruce Ford of Lodging Econometrics to look at the actual hotel development, renovation, and conversion activity tied to FIFA host cities across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico — and to answer a question hoteliers ask every time a mega-event comes to town: Should you really build for this? On #NoVacancyNews, Bruce breaks down where hotels are being added, where renovations matter more than new builds, and why most smart owners don’t bet long-term strategy on short-term...
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Help Support Rock Out Myeloma — January 15
No Vacancy Live and No Vacancy News
I spoke with Allen Rolleri about his family’s experience dealing with multiple myeloma, a rare and incurable form of cancer. The Rock Out Myeloma fundraiser takes place January 15, raising funds to support families facing the financial realities that come with long-term treatment. On #NoVacancyNews, Allen explains what the diagnosis meant in practical terms, how quickly his family had to learn about the disease, and why costs outside of medical bills often become part of the challenge. The conversation stays focused on awareness gaps, everyday expenses people don’t anticipate, and how...
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FNA 196: Old Year, New Friends
No Vacancy Live and No Vacancy News
Happy Holidays! In our 2025 sendoff show Glenn, Craig and Dr Producer Suzanne welcome Raj Chudasama and Sara Pinto of M1Intel. They seem nice enough so the crew thought it would be fun to get to know them over some happy hour cocktails and some laughs to kick off the holiday season Friday Night Audit style.
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1001: Hospitality’s 2025 Reckoning — And What Comes Next in 2026
No Vacancy Live and No Vacancy News
We got something cool for episode 1001! Props to at the podcast for this one. I joined an end-of-year roundtable with some of the most thoughtful voices in media to reflect on what actually mattered in 2025 and what could reshape 2026. Huge thanks to everyone who brought real perspective (and disagreement) to the table: 🎙️: Katie Cline — Suite Success 🎙️: — 🎙️: — 🎙️: & — On , I focused on two things that kept showing up in every conversation this year — and won’t go away in 2026: • the confusion and overconfidence around AI, and • the...
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Episode 1,000: Still Showing Up 10 Years Later
No Vacancy Live and No Vacancy News
Well… this happened. This is episode 1,000 of No Vacancy is live. What started as me, a mic, and no real plan (OK, the original plan was to dominate the universe, but that proved too ambitious) turned into a platform that somehow became part of how this industry talks to itself. This episode purposely short. No guest. No agenda. Just a pause to acknowledge the milestone — and the timing. In 2026, turns 10, which makes this episode feel a lot like a major milestone with everything lining up. On , I touch on how the show started, how it shifted from audio to video, and why consistency...
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What the Global Hotel Pipeline Actually Says About 2026
No Vacancy Live and No Vacancy News
Everyone keeps asking the same question: Is hotel development slowing down? The global numbers say something very different — and far more nuanced. I checked in with Bruce Ford of Lodging Econometrics for a worldwide pipeline update that cuts through assumptions and looks at what’s really happening across regions, segments, and timelines. On #NoVacancyNews, Bruce explains why room counts remain historically high, why developers deliberately push openings into later years, and why renovations and conversions now matter as much as ground-up construction. This conversation focuses less on...
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Luxury Is Changing: What Matters Now According to Hotel Leaders in Las Vegas
No Vacancy Live and No Vacancy News
Luxury no longer means chandeliers and thread count. It means connection, memory, and how guests feel long after checkout. I caught up with Robert Reitknecht at INSPIRE Luxury, hosted by the International Luxury Hotel Association, live from Resorts World Las Vegas. (Important context: this was my 10th day in Vegas, so expectations were appropriately managed.) On #NoVacancyNews, Robert explains how luxury hotels move from performative service to genuine connection, why frontline teams shape the guest story more than any design element, and how leaders must “lean into the brand” without...
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999: How a 16-Unit Idea Became One of America’s Largest Resort Experiences
No Vacancy Live and No Vacancy News
Some resorts talk about experiences — Westgate builds them at theme-park scale. I visited Westgate Vacation Villas with Jared Saft, Chief Business and Strategy Officer, to explore how this company evolved from 16 original units into a massive, guest-focused resort with 3,000 rooms, a full waterpark, a Chuck E. Cheese–powered arcade, an in-lobby movie theater, and a $120 million reinvestment underway. On #NoVacancyNews, Jared walks through how Westgate designs spaces for toddlers, teens, parents, and grandparents at the same time, how they turned nostalgia into a modern attraction, and how...
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998: Newport Beach: How a Luxury Destination Keeps Its Soul
No Vacancy Live and No Vacancy News
Newport Beach looks luxurious from the outside — but its secret sauce is heart, identity, and a fiercely intentional brand strategy. On #NoVacancyNews, I teamed up with my Friday Night Audit partner-in-crime Craig Sullivan to talk with Gary Sherwin, CEO of Visit Newport Beach, about how one of America’s most aspirational coastal cities keeps its charm, avoids the “sea of sameness,” and delivers the version of Southern California people dream about. A big thanks to Actabl — Actabl gives you the power to profit. Visit Actabl.com. Here’s what we cover: 🌴: How Newport Beach built a...
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FNA 195: More or Lesser
No Vacancy Live and No Vacancy News
This week Dan Lesser, Co-Founder, President, & CEO at LW Hospitality Advisors shares some cockatils and laughs with Glenn, Craig and Doctor Prodcuer Suzanne.
info_outlineHotel operators face rising costs and tight margins, but smart leadership still drives profit.
I spoke with Steven Moore, CEO of Actabl, about how hoteliers can protect culture and profit at the same time. On #NoVacancyNews, Steven explains how great operators focus on labor, clarity, and communication — turning market pressure into momentum.
He shares how culture and transparency create stronger teams, how technology supports people instead of replacing them, and how the right mindset turns cost control into competitive advantage.
Key Insights
💡 Identify profit opportunities hiding in everyday operations
🏨 Use labor strategy to increase margins without cutting corners
🤝 Strengthen culture while improving efficiency
🧠 Apply technology that empowers, not replaces, your people
⚙️ Fix broken processes instead of eliminating value
🎯 Ask one question that keeps your leadership team aligned
Strong leaders don’t wait for easier conditions — they create them.
What’s one process you’ll improve next?