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No Vacancy Live!

No Vacancy Live

No Vacancy is home to the hospitality industry's top podcasts. We speak to the CEOs, influencers and leaders to go behind the scenes of the hotel and travel business.

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Tuesday · 13 min
The Group Business Edge Hotels Keep Missing
One in three room nights globally comes from meetings and groups, with 60% of that demand coming from small and medium meetings. Lukasz Dabrowski, SVP of Global Supplier Relations at HRS, joins me on No Vacancy to explain where that group business is hiding and how hotels are getting better at finding it. Companies are combining transient travel, meetings, groups and extended stays to better understand their total buying power, while better data is helping hotels spot demand faster and respond before the opportunity disappears. Watch this one to see how you can uncover more group demand, respond faster and turn more of that business into #HotelRevenue. Thanks so much to Actabl for supporting this podcast. 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.
Monday · 14 min
Is AI Getting Your Hotel Wrong?
AI is starting to decide which hotels travelers see — and what it says about your property may not even be right. Michael Bennett, CEO of Cendyn, and Nicki Graham, CMO, join me on No Vacancy to talk about what happens when travelers start asking ChatGPT, Gemini and other AI tools where they should stay — and the information those tools return doesn't match what the hotel actually wants people to know. That's the drift problem. AI pulls from multiple sources, and once the wrong information starts showing up, hotels risk losing bookings or disappointing guests who arrive expecting something the property never promised. The opportunity here is bigger than simply fixing bad information. Hotels need to think differently about content, visibility and direct booking as search becomes more conversational. See why Michael and Nicki believe hoteliers need to take control of their story now, before AI-driven hotel search really takes off. Want the weekly roundup of news, videos, and what you might've missed from #NoVacancyNews? Text HOTEL to 66866.
Saturday · 44 min
Virtual Hotel Industry Happy Hour: Pet Peeves, Dynamic Pricing & Bad Decisions
We've spent months asking one completely unnecessary but surprisingly important question: Which hotel pet peeve annoys us most? We started with 32. Now Always Hidden Lamp Switches and Water Pressure Roulette fight for the last spot against Outlet Desert in the championship round. Vote now on my LinkedIn page and help decide who gets there. https://lnkd.in/gaKZvpxu On this week's Friday Night Audit, Craig Sullivan, Dr. Producer Suzanne Bagnera, PhD, CHA, CED and I track the voting in real time, argue over the bracket and treat this tournament with a level of seriousness normally reserved for actual sports. Somewhere along the way, the bracket itself becomes a pet peeve. We also go after dynamic grocery pricing, terrible buffet tongs, Gen Z slang and an upcoming lazy-river race where finishing last counts as a competitive strategy. That's hashtag#FridayNightAudit: hashtag#Hospitality, happy hour and entirely too much passion for hotel annoyances.
September 17 · 14 min
Relational Wellness Is Next Big Hospitality Trend
I'm calling it now: Relational wellness is the next major hospitality trend. The opportunity is we're spending more time with screens and less time with each other. Hospitality reverses that by bringing people back together. My proof is the Evermore Orlando Resort, purpose-built for connection. Families and friends stay together instead of scattering across separate hotel rooms, with large homes, shared kitchens, big gathering spaces, private pools and room around the table for everyone. For years, we've talked about wellness through spas, sleep, fitness and nutrition. Relational wellness expands that conversation to something people desperately need right now: connection. Here chef Vincent Cani and I talk about bringing this vision to life while my family and closest friends for decades get to reconnect. Hotels and resorts have a huge opportunity here. Create spaces bringing people together. Build food and beverage around sharing. Give families and friends reasons to put the phones down, sit around a table, talk, laugh and create memories together. Thanks to Elizabeth Mullins, President of Evermore Hospitality for awakening me to a new way to enjoy being with the people we love that deepens those bonds while creating forever memories. Watch this one with #RelationalWellness in mind. I'm convinced this is the next big #Hospitality conversation. Do you see relational wellness becoming a real hospitality category, or are we still thinking too narrowly about what wellness means? Want the weekly roundup of news, videos, and what you might've missed from #NoVacancyNews? Text HOTEL to 66866.
September 16 · 14 min
How Hotels Use AI Without Losing Control of Guest Data
Hotel employees already juggle enough. They don't need 10,000 system steps standing between them and the guest. Kevin King, CEO of Shiji Group, joins me on No Vacancy to talk about how #AI strips away that complexity so hotel teams spend more time focusing on hospitality. But Kevin keeps coming back to another issue: protecting the enormous amount of guest data powering all this technology. As hotels ask AI to do more, they also need to know exactly where that information goes and who gets access to it. That puts #Hospitality in an interesting spot: move fast enough to capture the upside, but build the safeguards before the technology outruns the operation. Watch why Kevin thinks hotels need to get this balance right now — before #HotelOperations gets a whole lot smarter and a whole lot more complicated. Visit https://shijigroup.com/ Want the weekly roundup of news, videos, and what you might've missed from #NoVacancyNews? Text HOTEL to 66866.
September 15 · 4 min
How Hotels Cut Laundry Costs by 30%
Hotels spend a lot of time and money dealing with linens, from buying and storing them to running equipment and making sure housekeeping always has what it needs. Bart Begley with Integrity Laundry Services joins me on No Vacancy to explain a different model: total linen management. Instead of owning the linens and managing the laundry operation in-house, hotels use a system that adjusts supply based on occupancy and keeps backup inventory available. Bart says some properties are seeing up to 30% savings in annual laundry and linen costs, but what interested me just as much is the operational side. Fewer equipment headaches, less time managing inventory and fewer distractions for housekeeping teams. Make the job easier and more manageable, and you're also creating a better environment for employees to stick around. It's a different way to think about a very basic part of #HotelOperations that most properties simply accept as part of doing business. See how this model changes the way hotels think about linen ownership, laundry and the people dealing with it every day. Want the weekly roundup of news, videos, and what you might've missed from #NoVacancyNews? Text HOTEL to 66866.
September 11 · 31 min
They Turned a 12th-Century Monastery Into a Luxury Hotel
Most people don't look at a 12th-century monastery in rural Umbria and think, "We should turn this into a hotel." Cathi Lutjens and Fred Kubierschki did. They left the corporate hospitality world, took a chance on an unlikely opportunity and created Vocabolo Moscatelli around a simple idea: build the kind of place people would travel specifically to experience. They shaped it around the monastery, the region, the food, the local culture and the kind of hospitality they wanted to create themselves. What I love about this story is the courage behind it. They didn't just open a #Hotel. They created something deeply personal and trusted that the right guests would find them. See how Cathi and Fred turned an old monastery in an under-the-radar part of Italy into the kind of #LuxuryHospitality experience people remember long after they leave. Thanks so much to Actabl for supporting this podcast. 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.
September 10 · 13 min
Where Hotel Growth Is Happening Next
The next wave of hotel growth won't look like the last one. Bruce Ford with Lodging Econometrics joins me on No Vacancy to look at how the global #HotelDevelopment pipeline is shifting — and where the industry's next big opportunities are starting to emerge. Conversions increasingly drive growth in mature markets, while new construction tells a very different story across Asia, the Middle East and other parts of the world. Bruce also makes a strong case for why India could become one of the most important #Hospitality growth stories in the years ahead. The numbers get even more interesting when you compare what's under construction today with what's actually likely to open over the next few years. See where hotel companies are chasing #HotelGrowth now — and why the map looks very different depending on how you measure it. Thanks so much to Actabl for supporting this podcast. 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.
September 9 · 26 min
What Luxury Hotel Guests Really Want
True luxury means not having to think about the details. Almando Rigby, general manager of Windjammer Landing in Saint Lucia, joins me on No Vacancy to explain why today's #LuxuryTravel guest expects a hotel to understand what they want before they ever have to ask. That creates an interesting challenge. Hotels now have more technology, data and AI at their disposal, but Almando argues that the most memorable #GuestExperience still depends on something much more human. His perspective on what technology should do — and where people still make the difference — says a lot about where #LuxuryHospitality is heading. Hear how Almando thinks about creating the kind of trip where the guest simply gets to enjoy it. Thanks so much to Actabl for supporting this podcast. 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.
September 8 · 14 min
What Hotels Stop Knowing After the Guest Checks In
Hotels spend years collecting guest data, then lose sight of what people want the moment they're actually staying in the room. Kevin Rohani, founder and CEO of Camo Hospitality, joins me on No Vacancy to talk about that blind spot. Guests order food, transportation, entertainment and other services during their stay, but much of that activity happens outside the hotel's ecosystem. So the property sacrifices more than revenue. It also misses valuable insight into what guests actually want while they're on site and how to create a better experience the next time they return. Kevin makes the case that the guest room shouldn't be where the relationship goes dark. It should be where hotels learn the most. See why one of the biggest opportunities in #HotelOperations may be understanding what guests do after check-in — and what that reveals about improving #GuestExperience and revenue at the same time. Want the weekly roundup of news, videos, and what you might've missed from #NoVacancyNews? Text HOTEL to 66866.
September 7 · 11 min
Labor Day Flashback: Marriott Vacations Worldwide Launches Experience-Driven Ownership: Inner Circle
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. During ARDA, I talked with Mike Flaskey, 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 hashtag#timeshare portfolio spans brands like The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C., St. Regis Hotels & Resorts, Westin Hotels & Resorts, Sheraton Hotels & Resorts, Marriott International, and Hyatt Vacation Ownership, 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 hashtag#NoVacancyNews? Text HOTEL to 66866.
September 4 · 4 min
Holiday Flashback: How Wyndham Uses Experiences to Drive Direct Bookings
To ease us into the holiday weekend, here's a rerun of a fun video I recorded in a Puerto Rican rainforest! 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 Rainforest Beach & Golf Resort 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 hashtag#NoVacancyNews? Text HOTEL to 66866.
September 3 · 4 min
Holiday Rerun: How Starwood Makes Its Hotels Feel Different: Nature, Soul, and Experience
To ease us into the holiday weekend, here's one of my favorite chats from the year: Starwood Hotels operates 1 Hotels, Treehouse Hotels and Baccarat Hotels & Resorts 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 hashtag#NoVacancyNews.
September 2 · 5 min
How Hotel Teams Build Collective Excellence
Collective excellence starts when hotel teams stop operating in separate lanes and start moving in the same direction. Glenn Haussman talks with Ben Campbell, President and CEO of Hospitality America, from **PEACHCON, the company's annual conference**, where team members come together to connect, learn and align around what comes next. Ben's focus is simple: get better today than yesterday and better tomorrow than today. That means stronger talent, stronger relationships and more value for team members, owners and guests. See what changes when a hotel company stops thinking one property at a time and starts building one organization. Want the weekly roundup of news, videos, and what you might've missed from #NoVacancyNews? Text HOTEL to 66866.
September 2 · 3 min
Why This Hotel GM Gets Silly Every Morning
A busy airport hotel never really slows down. Guests come and go at all hours, plans change quickly and the team needs to stay ready for whatever walks through the door next. Alicia Augustine, GM of the Hyatt Place Pensacola Airport, joins me on No Vacancy and explains how she keeps her team prepared. Every morning at 9:00, they meet to cover priorities, talk through what needs to happen and spend a few minutes laughing together before getting to work. That #HotelLeadership approach carries straight into the guest experience. Alicia treats her team with dignity and kindness because she expects them to give guests that same care. Her best advice for GMs might be even simpler: listen. Really listen. Hear how Alicia mixes preparation, personality and a little silliness to create a #Hotel culture that guests actually feel. Thanks so much to Actabl for supporting this podcast. 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.
September 1 · 5 min
How Better Guest Experiences Drive Hotel Revenue
Hotel operating costs keep climbing, but revenue isn't keeping pace. That's forcing operators to rethink where the money comes from. Rhiannon Reynolds, VP of Operations with Innisfree Hotels, joins me on No Vacancy from Pensacola, Florida, where we talk about how essential it is to shift from an ADR mindset to thinking about the total value of every guest. Once someone arrives, the opportunity extends well beyond the room rate. Food, drinks and other on-property experiences add revenue while giving guests more reasons to enjoy the hotel itself. That's the real opportunity: generate more #Hotel profitability while increasing guest happiness at the same time. Better experiences create more value for the guest and more value for the hotel. Hear how Innisfree approaches that win-win strategy and why the #GuestExperience plays such a big role in total revenue. 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.
August 31 · 2 min
Why This Hotel's Housekeepers Don't Quit
A beachfront resort in peak season puts plenty of pressure on a hotel team. The GM of the Holiday Inn Resort Fort Walton Beach found a way to keep hers. Sandy Beebe-Osipov joins me on No Vacancy and tells me she went more than a year without hiring a housekeeper because not a single team member quit. That's a remarkable #HotelLeadership stat in a business that constantly wrestles with turnover. Her approach isn't complicated. Sandy connects with employees, runs daily huddles, sets expectations and keeps her team focused on the guests enjoying everything from the beach and lazy river to face painting and mermaid classes. Great #Hospitality starts with people who actually want to stay and deliver it. Hear why Sandy's housekeeping team stayed when so many hotel teams struggle with turnover. Want the weekly roundup of news, videos, and what you might've missed from #NoVacancyNews? Text HOTEL to 66866.
August 29 · 58 min
FNA 220: Glenn's Wife Has Some Complaints
Putting my wife on Friday Night Audit seemed like a good idea. It was not. Helene Stein joins Craig Sullivan, Dr. Producer Suzanne Bagnera and me, and very quickly discovers the real purpose of the show: publicly correcting me while drinking. She gets into my travel habits, my complete lack of home-repair skills and hotel pet peeves, right as our Worst Hotel Pet Peeve bracket hits a semifinal showdown: Water Pressure Roulette vs. Constantly Hidden Lamp Switches. See which hotel annoyance wins — and how much damage Helene does to my reputation along the way. Want the weekly roundup of news, videos, and what you might've missed from #NoVacancyNews? Text HOTEL to 66866.
August 27 · 36 min
Why Technology Can't Replace Hospitality
A coffee shop knows your name, loyalty status, order and how you paid — then calls out, "Whoever ordered the Americano." That pretty much sums up where service goes wrong. Bart Berkey, keynote speaker, author of Most People Don't and former Ritz-Carlton sales leader, joins Dr. Producer Suzanne Bagnera and me on No Vacancy to talk about Humanality: using #Technology without forgetting to see the human being standing in front of us. Hotels spend fortunes on systems and personalization, yet saying someone's name, looking them in the eye and making them feel noticed costs nothing. Bart argues those small acts create a real #Hospitality advantage. Hear why more technology makes genuine human connection more valuable, not less. Thanks to our friends at Actabl for supporting No Vacancy. 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.
August 26 · 24 min
Australia's Next Big Hotel Opportunity: Extended Stay
Some of Australia's strongest extended-stay demand sits in places most travelers would never think about. Damien Gallace, Managing Director and Co-Founder of Extended Stay Australasia, joins me on No Vacancy with a very different way to look at the #HotelDevelopment map. His team follows demand from steel, mining, ports, defence, hospitals and universities, then looks for places where people need to stay for weeks or months and the right accommodations don't exist yet. That gets even more compelling when Damien says Australia's #ExtendedStay market trails the U.S. by roughly 15 to 20 years. His team already identifies more than 50 locations where the model fits.Sometimes the biggest #Hospitality opportunities aren't where people want to vacation. They're where people need to be. Listen to this one and you'll look at Australia's hotel map very differently. Thanks to our friends at Actabl for supporting No Vacancy. 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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