1009: Why Casino Resorts Now Compete Like Destination Hotels
No Vacancy Live and No Vacancy News
Release Date: 01/29/2026
1009: Why Casino Resorts Now Compete Like Destination Hotels
No Vacancy Live and No Vacancy News
Regional casino resorts don’t win anymore by adding square footage — they win by designing experiences that keep guests longer and spending more. That’s the focus of this episode of #NoVacancyNews. I’m joined by Kelly Devine, Principal and Partner, and Emily Marshall, Principal and Interior Design Leader at HBG Design, and guest host Dr. Suzanne Bagnera to talk about the evolution of regional gaming resorts and what operators should be paying attention to right now. We use Gun Lake Casino Resort in Michigan as the case study, breaking down how design decisions directly affect length of...
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ALIS Day 2: Why Hotel Loyalty Only Works When Guests Come Back
No Vacancy Live and No Vacancy News
Hotel loyalty gets talked about a lot. This conversation focuses on how it actually works. For this #NoVacancyNews, I spoke with Chris Hartley, CEO of Global Hotel Alliance, about what loyalty looks like when you stop chasing vanity metrics and start paying attention to repeat behavior, engagement, and direct bookings. Chris explains how GHA approaches loyalty across a global portfolio of independent brands — where cooperation matters more than competing for attention and where repeat stays tell you far more than raw membership numbers. We recorded this conversation during ALIS in Los...
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ALIS Day 2: Why Hotel Owners Aren’t Making Big Moves Yet
No Vacancy Live and No Vacancy News
I’m still not at ALIS — snowstorms and airlines had other plans — but that doesn’t stop the conversation. This episode of #NoVacancyNews brings Day 2 coverage straight from Los Angeles. Our roving reporter is Bruce Ford, SVP at Lodging Econometrics, reporting live from ALIS while I hold down the Haussman Resort Pool Club & Smokehouse under about 10 inches of snow. Bruce and I talk through what keeps coming up in conversations right now — not panic, not optimism, but a sense that the industry has landed on a plateau and hasn’t figured out the next move yet. We cover: 🏔️:...
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Why Food & Beverage Has Become the Hotel Differentiator
No Vacancy Live and No Vacancy News
When rooms, tech, and amenities start to feel the same, hotels lean on food and beverage to differentiate — and that’s the focus of this episode of #NoVacancyNews, recorded during ALIS. I’m joined by Phil Colicchio and Trip Schneck of Colicchio Consulting, talking from Los Angeles while I deal with snow back home. We talk about the pressure hoteliers feel around food and beverage right now — rising costs, operational stress, and the need to make restaurants work financially without turning them into generic hotel outlets. What stood out to me is how directly they connect F&B to...
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1008: Why Apartment-Style Living Is Reshaping Extended Stay in Hotels
No Vacancy Live and No Vacancy News
As markets mature, they begin to specialize. That’s something we’re seeing more in extended stay and this episode of #NoVacancyNews shows the next stage of evolution when hotels borrow from apartment living and do it thoughtfully. I’m joined by Kate Thompson, Director of Commercial at Sage Hospitality Group, to talk about The Ann Savannah—an apartment-style hospitality concept built for guests who want independence without giving up service. The Ann offers fully equipped kitchens, multiple bedrooms, longer stays without daily intrusion, and a host-driven service model instead of a...
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The ALIS Conversation Hotel Owners Are Really Having
No Vacancy Live and No Vacancy News
I didn’t make it to ALIS this year thanks to a snowstorm — and Delta taking our pilot as we were boarding!! But we’re not letting 2,500 miles get in the way of a little #NoVacancyNews content. Bruce Ford, SVP at Lodging Econometrics, is reporting from ALIS while I shovel snow back at the Haussman Resort Pool Club & Smokehouse. Bruce and I talk #hotel franchising trends right now: 🏗️: Why conversions continue dominating new development 💰: Why financing cash flow beats financing new construction 🏨: How midscale conversion brands from Hilton, IHG, and Marriott keep...
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FNA 199: Craig Flees to Hawaii
No Vacancy Live and No Vacancy News
In TV we'd call this a filler episode. Craig is in Hawaii and we're sure he wants to be elsewhere. Plus we have no guest. Glenn claims he has some stories though while Suzanne shakes her head in disbelief. Tune and find out!
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1007: Why Sonesta Flattened Its Organization—and What Happens Next
No Vacancy Live and No Vacancy News
Building franchise relationships isn’t about brand standards — it’s about listening, flexibility, and time in the field. That idea sits at the center of this episode of #NoVacancyNews. I’m in Massachusetts at the global headquarters of Sonesta International Hotels, talking with Phil Hugh, Chief Development Officer. Phil walks through how stepping into the CDO role pushed him out of the office and onto the road for roughly 60 days, visiting properties, meeting with owners, and seeing firsthand what it actually takes to operate hotels across the economy, midscale, and upscale segments....
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1006: How Authentic Hospitality Gets Delivered Every Day
No Vacancy Live and No Vacancy News
Luxury shows up in the small moments, not the marble — and that idea sits at the core of this episode of #NoVacancyNews. I spent time with Christophe Baraton, General Manager of Shutters on the Beach, to talk about what hospitality looks like when you lead from the property level instead of a spreadsheet. Christophe runs a 30-year-old beachfront hotel with deep roots in its local community, long-tenured team members, and guests who return because they feel known. We talk about leadership during crisis, how Shutters became a refuge for locals during the Los Angeles fires, and why...
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FNA 198: The One Where We Try to Coury Favor
No Vacancy Live and No Vacancy News
Hotelier and comedian Alex Coury returns to join Glenn, Craig and Doctor Producer Suzanne to kick off the weekend with a hilarious (they wish) happy hour.
info_outlineRegional casino resorts don’t win anymore by adding square footage — they win by designing experiences that keep guests longer and spending more. That’s the focus of this episode of #NoVacancyNews.
I’m joined by Kelly Devine, Principal and Partner, and Emily Marshall, Principal and Interior Design Leader at HBG Design, and guest host Dr. Suzanne Bagnera to talk about the evolution of regional gaming resorts and what operators should be paying attention to right now.
We use Gun Lake Casino Resort in Michigan as the case study, breaking down how design decisions directly affect length of stay, guest behavior, operational efficiency, and profitability. This isn’t about pretty spaces for Instagram — it’s about building resorts that actually perform.
What stood out to me is how intentionally HBG starts with operations first. They design the engine before the body, which explains why these projects drive measurable business results instead of just visual impact.
We cover:
🎰: Why regional casinos now compete with Vegas-style destination resorts
🏨: How hotel design influences gaming behavior and length of stay
🧠: Designing rooms guests enjoy — without keeping them away from the casino
🧹: Why housekeeping flow, durability, and turnover time matter more than finishes
🎤: Programming spaces to keep locals and repeat guests coming back
📈: How smart design directly ties to revenue growth
For hotels and casino operators, this conversation shows how design becomes a business tool, not a vanity project.
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