No Vacancy Live and No Vacancy News
Your home for No Vacancy with Glenn Haussman as well as Friday Night Audit and more! Each show features incredible hospitality leaders that educate and empower listeners.
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HotelKey Self Check-In Kiosk: ID Scan, Face Verification, Keys in Minutes
05/01/2026
HotelKey Self Check-In Kiosk: ID Scan, Face Verification, Keys in Minutes
HotelKey’s self check-in kiosk scans an ID, runs face verification, and issues keys without a front desk line. I talk with , co-founder of , and , co-founder and CEO of HotelKey, about why kiosks only work when they connect directly to the . 🪪 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 ? Text HOTEL to 66866.
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1031: LGBTQ+ Hotel Brand Axel Hotels Targets U.S. Expansion
04/30/2026
1031: LGBTQ+ Hotel Brand Axel Hotels Targets U.S. Expansion
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: 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.
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How Starwood Makes Its Hotels Feel Different: Nature, Soul, and Experience
04/29/2026
How Starwood Makes Its Hotels Feel Different: Nature, Soul, and Experience
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.
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1030: Caesars’ First Non-Gaming Hotel: Inside Caesars Republic Scottsdale
04/28/2026
1030: Caesars’ First Non-Gaming Hotel: Inside Caesars Republic Scottsdale
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.
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From Engineer to 4 Red Roof Hotels: How He Built the Portfolio
04/27/2026
From Engineer to 4 Red Roof Hotels: How He Built the Portfolio
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
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Airline Search Data Predicts Hotel Demand: How Hotels Use It
04/27/2026
Airline Search Data Predicts Hotel Demand: How Hotels Use It
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.
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Hotel Revenue Tips: 3 Simple Upsells That Add Income Fast
04/26/2026
Hotel Revenue Tips: 3 Simple Upsells That Add Income Fast
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.
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FNA 208: Seeing Red
04/25/2026
FNA 208: Seeing Red
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.
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1029: How Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Turns Meetings Into Repeat Leisure
04/23/2026
1029: How Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Turns Meetings Into Repeat Leisure
Food and beverage drives nearly half of annual revenue at Hollywood Beach Resort. Glenn Haussman tours with , Director of Sales & Marketing. The property is managed by our friends at ! 🩴 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 for supporting this episode. Actabl gives you the power to profit. Visit . Want the weekly roundup of news, videos, and what you might’ve missed from ? Text HOTEL to 66866.
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Front Desk Upsells Cut Turnover by 40% and Raise Pay
04/22/2026
Front Desk Upsells Cut Turnover by 40% and Raise Pay
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.
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Hotel Profitability vs RevPAR: The Shift Revenue Teams Need
04/20/2026
Hotel Profitability vs RevPAR: The Shift Revenue Teams Need
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.
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Hotel Profitability Squeeze: Why Ancillary Revenue Matters More Now
04/20/2026
Hotel Profitability Squeeze: Why Ancillary Revenue Matters More Now
Profitability keeps getting squeezed even after years of strong revenue growth, so hotels can’t live on RevPAR alone. I’m at PERFORM at Margaritaville Resort, and I talk with , CEO of , 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 ? Text HOTEL to 66866.
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FNA 207: The Shah- Shank Redemption
04/19/2026
FNA 207: The Shah- Shank Redemption
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.
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Duetto PERFORM: Why Revenue and Profit Need One Operating Model
04/19/2026
Duetto PERFORM: Why Revenue and Profit Need One Operating Model
I’m at PERFORM at , and I grabbed , 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 ? Text HOTEL to 66866.
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AAHOACON Collegiate Championship: Hotel Management GM Simulation
04/18/2026
AAHOACON Collegiate Championship: Hotel Management GM Simulation
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.
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1028: Public-Private Hotel Deals: How Cities Finance Headquarters Hotels
04/16/2026
1028: Public-Private Hotel Deals: How Cities Finance Headquarters Hotels
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.
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What Great Partnerships Really Look Like in Hospitality
04/15/2026
What Great Partnerships Really Look Like in Hospitality
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.
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Two Hotels, One Lot: The Dual-Brand Setup That Flipped Demand
04/14/2026
Two Hotels, One Lot: The Dual-Brand Setup That Flipped Demand
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.
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How Wyndham Uses Experiences to Drive Direct Bookings
04/13/2026
How Wyndham Uses Experiences to Drive Direct Bookings
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.
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Hospitality Leadership Without the Fluff: Seek the Good and Celebrate
04/12/2026
Hospitality Leadership Without the Fluff: Seek the Good and Celebrate
During , I talked with , 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 Want the weekly roundup of news, videos, and what you might’ve missed from ? Text HOTEL to 66866.
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Extended Stay Wins in Volatility: High Occupancy, Lean Model
04/11/2026
Extended Stay Wins in Volatility: High Occupancy, Lean Model
is President and CEO of 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 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 ? Text HOTEL to 66866.
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Hotel Investment in 2026: Why Buyers and Sellers Hit Pause
04/10/2026
Hotel Investment in 2026: Why Buyers and Sellers Hit Pause
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.
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Red Roof at AAHOACON: Growth Strategy, RIDE, and Franchise Support
04/09/2026
Red Roof at AAHOACON: Growth Strategy, RIDE, and Franchise Support
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.
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How Hotels Raise Guest Scores and Upsell Revenue Together
04/08/2026
How Hotels Raise Guest Scores and Upsell Revenue Together
Sloan Dean put a number on it: Frontline Performance Group drove a 3–5% RevPAR lift in the hotels where he used it—so he expanded it across the portfolio. I brought in Geoffrey Toffetti, CEO of Frontline Performance Group, and Sloan Dean, former CEO of Remington and now a fellow podcaster, to kick off a 3-part series on how hotels activate the front line to grow revenue and improve the guest experience at the same time. 📈 Sloan shares what surprised him: he still saw lift even in hotels that already used Nor1 🏨 He also saw real upside in select-service hotels because teams stopped giving upgrades away for free 🧠 Geoffrey breaks down the mindset shift: guests shop in “value mode,” then arrive in “experience mode” 🛎️ Geoffrey calls check-in the “last mile” of revenue because many guests only talk to the front desk ⭐ Sloan worried upselling would hurt guest scores—he saw the opposite, and scores went up 💵 Incentives changed retention too: front desk agents earned more, stayed longer, and delivered better check-ins 🏆 Geoffrey calls it a “five win”: employee, guest, hotel, owner, and FPG all win Want the weekly roundup of news, videos, and what you might’ve missed from #NoVacancyNews? Text HOTEL to 66866.
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MyPlace Hotels Hits 125 Properties: How They Keep Growing in Extended Stay
04/07/2026
MyPlace Hotels Hits 125 Properties: How They Keep Growing in Extended Stay
MyPlace just hit 125 properties. That milestone matters even more now, because extended stay keeps getting more competitive. During the , I talked with , VP of Franchise Development at , about how they keep growing, where they’re expanding next, and what he sees heading into 2026. 🏨 Eric says MyPlace planted its flag in extended stay early—before everyone chased the category 🗺️ He shares the growth snapshot: openings in Arizona and California, plus expansion into Florida 📅 He previews the next owner/GM conference: September 22 in Miami at the JW Marriott, with collaboration and education sessions 🙂 He says the last 18 months challenged teams, but he sees optimism building as operators look ahead to 2026 Want the weekly roundup of news, videos, and what you might’ve missed from ? Text HOTEL to 66866.
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1027: Hotel Demand Shifts: Blowout Trips, Meetings, and “Value”
04/06/2026
1027: Hotel Demand Shifts: Blowout Trips, Meetings, and “Value”
Bruce Ford keeps coming back to one idea: the next traveling economy will book and spend differently. He tracks the data as SVP at Lodging Econometrics, so he sees the shifts before they feel obvious. 📈 He talks “blowout trips” and experience travel, where guests spend big on the moment and stop sweating the room rate 🏨 He breaks down meetings demand: more meetings, smaller meetings, and a bigger need to capture total spend through #HotelOperations ⛽ He flags the cost ripple: diesel prices flow into everything, and operators feel it fast 🎟️ He talks incentives and loyalty leverage, and why discounts and perks pull travelers in when budgets tighten 💡 He reframes “value” as a three-day experience, not a 30-second transaction—club lounges and access matter more than ever 🏗️ He gives the #HotelDevelopment reality: financing still slows new starts, owners invest in renovations and conversions instead 📌 He closes with the investment climate: more hotels hit the market, transactions jumped last year, and he expects activity to continue 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.
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Adaptive Reuse That Pencils: Historic Tax Credits Explained
04/05/2026
Adaptive Reuse That Pencils: Historic Tax Credits Explained
The Lantern has been open four weeks, and already talks about it like a platform, not just another hotel. During the , I talked with Grey Raines, CEO and Managing Partner of , about what they’re building next, why they’ve exited some management relationships, and why adaptive reuse keeps showing up in their deals. 🏨 Grey shares why The Lantern is mission-focused and how the partnership with the shows up early 🏗️ He says the next Lantern is under construction in Rock Hill, South Carolina, with two more behind it 🤝 He explains the management churn: they walked away from relationships that didn’t align with their long-term vision 🏢 He talks deal mechanics: emerging markets plus municipalities willing to support the right projects 🏛️ He explains why historic make certain adaptive reuse projects pencil out 🧱 He frames adaptive reuse as stewardship—reset it now so it lasts another 50–100 years ✈️ He gives a summer travel read: shorter booking windows, more drive-to, and flying still feeling like a hassle Thanks to for supporting this episode. Actabl gives you the power to profit. Visit . Want the weekly roundup of news, videos, and what you might’ve missed from ? Text HOTEL to 66866.
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How AI Frees Up Hotel GMs and Sales Teams to Execute
04/04/2026
How AI Frees Up Hotel GMs and Sales Teams to Execute
, President of , keeps AI simple: give hotel teams time back so leaders spend less time buried in admin and more time actually operating. During the , we talked about what that looks like in real life, plus why their growth focus shifts away from new builds and toward acquisitions and third-party management. 🤖 Justin frames AI as support, not stress—tools that help people operate better 📋 GM example: cut the report grind so GMs stay on the floor with guests and associates 📞 Sales example: cut prospecting time so sales teams spend more time selling 🏗️ He says new builds feel tough right now, so he leans toward acquisitions 🔄 He talks growth moves: asset sales, acquisitions, and third-party growth, with three properties joining in the next 90 days 📊 He shares one internal signal he likes: he surveyed 120 managers and directors of sales at hotels they manage, and two-thirds said they feel bullish on the year Thanks to for supporting this episode. Actabl gives you the power to profit. Visit . Want the weekly roundup of news, videos, and what you might’ve missed from ? Text HOTEL to 66866.
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Customer Journey 6: Property-Level Execution
04/01/2026
Customer Journey 6: Property-Level Execution
Final chapter. In Chapter 6 of this CoralTree Customer Journey series, we take everything from the last five weeks and put it at the property level. Customer journey work only matters when a hotel team can execute it in real time. This chapter shows what that looks like on the ground. I talk with Curtis Bova, General Manager of Hotel Polaris, about how he turns guest journey strategy into real moments on property - from reading context clues at arrival to training teams for perceptive hospitality and building experiences guests can only get there. Here is what we cover: · How the team looks for the purpose and intent behind each stay · Perceptive hospitality and using context clues at arrival · QR-based itineraries built around guest motivations · Hotel Polaris-specific moments (paper airplanes, Flights at Five, themed details) · Small touches that also create ancillary revenue opportunities · Hiring for personality, onboarding, and empowering prepared people · Why training + freedom creates better guest moments Missed earlier chapters? Go back to Chapter 1 and watch the full series in order - strategy, people, framework, implementation, touchpoints, then property execution. Want to keep up with series like this and catch any parts you miss? Subscribe to the #NoVacancyNews newsletter by texting HOTEL to 66866. Thanks to Unifocus for supporting this series. Unifocus, technology that drives value. Visit Unifocus.com.
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1026: How Women Advance in Hospitality: The Data and the Playbook
03/31/2026
1026: How Women Advance in Hospitality: The Data and the Playbook
Women enter hospitality at the same rate as men. Then the numbers thin out hard at the top. That gap isn’t about “pipeline.” It’s about progression. Suzanne co-hosts #NoVacancyNews with me, and we talk with Emily Goldfischer of Her Tenure about the leadership study she and her team did with Forbes Travel Guide and what it reveals about what helps women advance—and what still gets in the way. 📊 Emily shares the benchmark: women lead 19% of Forbes Travel Guide partner hotels, and Her Tenure heard from 99 women leaders to dig into what drives advancement 🧭 She frames the core issue clearly: progression problem, not pipeline problem 🕰️ She calls out barriers that still show up: limited flexibility for family life and gendered expectations of leadership 🤝 We get into the stuff people don’t say out loud: networking access, mentorship vs sponsorship, and how “off-the-clock” conversations shape opportunity 🎯 Emily pushes practical moves that build careers: stretch roles, lateral moves that broaden capability, and owning your P&L 🏛️ We also talk progress you can actually see—like the shift in gender balance at conferences such as #HunterConference Thanks to Actabl for supporting this episode. Actabl gives you the power to profit. Visit Actabl.com.
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