The data is in—and it’s not just about pipeline volume, it’s about what the numbers really mean. In this #NoVacancyNews, Glenn Haussman sits down with Bruce Ford, SVP at Lodging Econometrics. They’re breaking down the latest U.S. #hotelconstruction pipeline data and uncovering the trends shaping where and how hotels will renovate and build next. 📊 Highlights include: • Why older hotels from 2005–2009 are driving a surge in conversions and renovations • Which markets (Dallas, Nashville, Atlanta)...
Jul 28, 2025•27 min
Loyalty matters—but only if it’s worth something to the traveler. In this episode of #NoVacancyNews , Glenn Haussman sits down with Elizabeth Von Tersch , Senior Travel Editor at U.S. News & World Report , to reveal he just-released rankings of the best hotel rewards programs for 2025–2026. 💳 Here’s what you’ll learn: Why Choice Hotels International 's Choice Privileges earned the top spot — and how guests can snag free nights in just 9 stays Which brands are offering perks sooner (some at ...
Jul 27, 2025•6 min
Friday Night Audit champion Kate Burda rejoins to go toe to tow with Glenn, Craig and Producer Dave. Join us for soem happy hour fun and laughs as we kick off the weekend!
Jul 26, 2025•23 min•Ep. 183
From awkward dress codes to overstuffed agendas, meetings needed a reset — and Hilton listened. On this episode of #NoVacancyNews , Glenn Haussman and Anthony Melchiorri talk with Kelly Knowlen , VP of Sales Engagement & Special Events at Hilton , about how her team is rewriting the rules of modern events based on feedback from 10,000+ attendees. 📋 What you’ll take away: • Why #GenZ isn’t “fragile”—they’re just honest about what makes a good event • Why #Hilton dropped general sessions and ...
Jul 26, 2025•26 min•Season 9Ep. 959
With new labor mandates, interest rate pressure, and legal complexity at an all-time high, hotel development is no longer a game of instinct — it’s about precision. In this episode of #NoVacancyNews, Glenn Haussman and Anthony Melchiorri talk with Guy Maisnik, Vice Chair of the Global Hospitality Group at Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell, about what today’s hotel owners need to understand to stay profitable in a shifting marketplace. 📌 Key insights include: Why operators must stress-test fi...
Jul 24, 2025•28 min•Season 9Ep. 958
Midscale doesn’t mean middle of the road — and IHG Hotels & Resorts is proving that with two rising stars: Avid Hotels and Garner. In this special hashtag#NoVacancyNews tour, Glenn Haussman visits hashtag#IHG Hotels & Resorts' Design Center in Atlanta with Karen Gilbride , VP of Brands for avid, Garner, and Atwell Suites . They walk through real model rooms, explore growth strategies and hashtag#HotelDevelopment , and reveal why these brands are resonating with both travelers and owners....
Jul 24, 2025•4 min
It’s not about thread count—it’s about people. On #NoVacancyNews, Glenn Haussman and Anthony Melchiorri chat with hospitality consultant and author Kate Buhler, whose career has taken her from the world’s most iconic hotels to coaching today’s front-line staff and executives. 🔍 Topics that matter: Why today’s luxury service challenge is more about managers than guests The real impact of tech and AI—and why guests still crave a human touch Why and how elegant upselling can feel like #hospitality...
Jul 17, 2025•47 min•Season 9Ep. 957
What happens when you merge the top two players in hotel tablet tech? According to Kevin Bidner , CEO of hashtag#HCN , it’s a hospitality tech revolution. In this hashtag#NoVacancyNews , Glenn Haussman catches up with Kevin to discuss a game-changing shift for four-star hotels and beyond. Here’s what you’ll discover: • Why HCN’s acquisition of Crave marks a major turning point in the in-room technology landscape • How guestroom tablets are finally becoming cost-effective—even profitable—for four...
Jul 15, 2025•7 min
Forget everything you thought you knew about hotel tech. On # NoVacancyNews , Glenn and Anthony chat with Bright Hotel Group CEO Deniz Dorbek Kocak about how her team is rewriting the rules of hospitality through integrated technology, curated design, and authentic guest connection. 💡 What you’ll hear about: The Bright Group’s evolution from tech firm to hotel operator—and why that shift matters How self-check-in kiosks and lean teams improve margins without compromising guest service Why tech ...
Jul 15, 2025•27 min
What happens when you merge the top two players in hotel tablet tech? According to Kevin Bidner , CEO of #HCN , it’s a hospitality tech revolution. In this #NoVacancyNews , Glenn Haussman catches up with Kevin to discuss a game-changing shift for four-star hotels and beyond. Here’s what you’ll discover: • Why HCN’s acquisition of Crave marks a major turning point in the in-room technology landscape • How guestroom tablets are finally becoming cost-effective—even profitable—for four-star hotels •...
Jul 14, 2025•9 min
Peter Ricci is Hospitality & Tourism Management Director @ Florida Atlantic University. We assume that since the humidity is clouding his judgement, he's joing Glenn, Craig and Producers Dave and Suzanne for some laughs and cocktails to kick off the weekend.
Jul 12, 2025•1 hr 1 min
In this episode of hashtag#NoVacancyNews , Glenn Haussman and Anthony Melchiorri talk with Jimmy Taylor , VP Operations at IHG Hotels & Resorts , about what really drives long-term success in hospitality leadership. • Why being truly hashtag#authentic beats trying to fit a corporate script — and how that builds loyalty • How hiring “thoroughbreds” but managing them like donkeys damages culture and retention • The six A’s that shape Jimmy’s leadership style: accessible, accountable, approacha...
Jul 12, 2025•41 min•Season 9Ep. 955
Recorded during HITEC , #NoVacancyNews had the privilege of chatting with Michael Schubach Shubach from Rosen Hotels & Resorts to explore how #hoteltechnology , people-first thinking, and bold ideas could reshape the hospitality industry. ✨ Key highlights from our conversation: • Why Rosen is exploring a 4-day workweek with 5-day workweek pay as a real benefit of AI-driven productivity • How sharing automation gains with employees—rather than only owners—can build unmatched loyalty • Tacklin...
Jul 09, 2025•6 min
✨ In this episode of hashtag#NoVacancyNews , Glenn Haussman and Anthony Melchiorri speak with Loay Nour , VP of Brand and Marketing at Fairmont Hotels & Resorts , about how a heritage brand keeps its edge by making every stay truly special. 🔑 Highlights you won’t want to miss: • Why Fairmont’s new campaign isn’t just hashtag#marketing —it’s a cultural movement within the company • The powerful role of storytelling and real-life legends like Thomas Wolfe in connecting with guests • How Fairm...
Jul 08, 2025•30 min•Season 9Ep. 954
Happy Holiday! Enjoy this best of episode from February. 🚀 What does it take to revolutionize restaurant and hotel design? Find out as we sit down with the legendary Adam Tihany, the creative force behind some of the most iconic hospitality spaces in the world! From working with Thomas Keller and designing world-class restaurants to shaping the future of luxury cruise ships, Tihany shares an unfiltered look at his journey, creative process, and the struggles behind the success. 🔹 Highlights fr...
Jul 04, 2025•54 min
Recorded live during HITEC last month, Glenn Haussman and hashtag#NoVacancyNews talks with Deborah Stuempfig and Amy Jones from Omni Hotels & Resorts about what it really took to rebuild their entire hashtag#hospitalitytech stack—and why it’s transforming how they do business. 🧠 What you’ll learn: Why Omni decided to move away from running its own tech and partner with Oracle How strong change management and executive backing kept the project on track The real challenges behind the scenes—a...
Jul 03, 2025•4 min
Jul 01, 2025•25 min•Season 9Ep. 953
Recorded on the bustling HITEC show floor, hashtag#NoVacancyNews caught up with Jeff Borman of Ashford Inc. (and No Show, A Travel Industry Podcast ) to unpack how AI in hashtag#hospitalitytech is moving from hype to practical strategy. Here’s what you’ll hear: ✅ Why this year’s conversations finally feel actionable, not just theoretical ✅ How hotel commercial leaders are using AI today to improve operations and guest connections ✅ The challenges of data ownership, privacy, and working across br...
Jul 01, 2025•4 min
📍 Recorded studio-style, Glenn Haussman and producer Suzanne welcome Shamim Ehsani, co-founder of Tribe Hotel in Nairobi to #NoVacancyNews, who’s challenging the clichés of African #hospitality and revealing a bold, design-led approach to travel experiences in Kenya. 🌍 Here’s what you’ll hear: • 🏨 How Tribe Hotel helped lead the transformation of Nairobi’s hotel scene from colonial formality to contemporary cultural expression • 🎨 The Ehsani family’s dedication to art, architecture, and expe...
Jun 26, 2025•23 min•Season 9Ep. 953
We’re back in our pre-recorded format! In this episode of hashtag#NoVacancy , I’m joined by Seth Bolt and Tori Bolt , founders of Bolt Farm Treehouse , who’ve created one of the most compelling hashtag#hospitality concepts in the country—where hashtag#guestexperience , design, and mission-driven leadership all come together in a powerful way. Doctor Prodcuer Suzanne cohosts. Special thanks to our advertiser: Actabl – Gives You the Power to Profit. Visit them at Actabl.com 🎧 What you’ll learn fr...
Jun 25, 2025•31 min•Season 9Ep. 952
At #NoVacancyNews we caught up with Amit Aghara , CTO of Fintech , to get a closer look at how they’re transforming invoice management for hoteliers — and it’s not just about #alcohol anymore. We broke down how Fintech streamlines the complex world of payments, regulations, and vendor management — all via automation and smart tech. 👀 Here's what you'll learn: * How Fintech built a two-sided network with over 8,000 alcohol distributors—and now hundreds of non-alcohol vendors too * Ways their sys...
Jun 25, 2025•10 min
During Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®) HITEC , hashtag#NoVacancyNews caught up with Jennifer Barnwell , President of Curator Hotel and Resort Collection , to discuss how she evaluates hospitality technology for a diverse portfolio of independent hotels. With so many vendors vying for attention, she shared how Curator narrows the field and finds real value for its member hotels. Here’s what we covered: How Curator uses events like hashtag#HITEC to strengthen vendor rela...
Jun 23, 2025•5 min
David Donnelly's philosophy is that success is built on strong, mutually beneficial relationships. That attitude's going to get him into trouble while hanging with Glenn, Craig and Producer Dave. Tune in and find out
Jun 21, 2025•1 hr 2 min
Yesterday at Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®) hashtag#HITEC2025 , I spoke with Ben Jamieson of Sonesta International Hotels about how the company is approaching hashtag#hoteltechnology and operations to support one of the fastest growth stories in hospitality. With more than 1,200 hotels and a portfolio that spans from economy to upscale, Sonesta is focused on building systems that work across all brands while keeping the guest experience front and center. This episode ...
Jun 20, 2025•5 min
This week at Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®) HITEC , hashtag#NoVacancyNews sat down with Max Spangler , VP of Technology at Charlestowne Hotels , to discuss how their team is making clear-eyed tech decisions in a time when everything seems to be labeled “AI” - whether it is or isn't! Here’s what you’ll learn: *Why “AI-washing” is making it harder—not easier—to evaluate hotel tech *How Charlestowne’s steering groups across departments help vet, test, and implement tools...
Jun 20, 2025•5 min
While in Indianapolis, hashtag#NoVacancyNews caught up with Michael Hirschler of Staypineapple Hotels Inc. during an event with Cendyn to talk about how the company rebuilt their hashtag#hoteltech stack from the ground up—and why taking risks on emerging platforms was the right call. In this short and insightful interview, you'll hear: 💡 How Staypineapple designed a fully cloud-based system to simplify ownership and operations 💡 Why connectivity between PMS, CRM, and other platforms is non-neg...
Jun 18, 2025•3 min
Recorded live at HITEC 2025, #novacancynews caught up with Jenna Fishel, Chief Commercial Officer at First Hospitality, to explore how her team is taking #AI from theory to action—and evolving how commercial teams collaborate. This isn't about chasing tech trends. It’s about building smarter systems that make life easier and business better. Here’s what we covered: How #hoteltechnology is being used to analyze commercial calls and suggest strategy improvements The shift from siloed meetings to a...
Jun 18, 2025•6 min
Recorded last month at Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino , hashtag#NoVacancyNews got an amazing backstage experience with the legendary Cami Christensen , President & GM of the property. Cami started at the front desk and now runs this iconic resort — and we had a lot of laughs and hashtag#Elvis sightings along the way. 📍If you love old-school hashtag#LasVegas nostalgia blended with modern hospitality, this one’s for you. Watch the full episode here: https://lnkd.in/e8k9kPBR What you'l...
Jun 13, 2025•32 min
On this episode of #NoVacancyNews, I reconnected with longtime industry powerhouse Juan Corvinos Solans during NYU IHIF , who just made a major career pivot—leaving Hilton after 16 years to take on a bold new leadership role as President of #CALA for Hotel Equities . So, what drives someone to walk away from the familiar and embrace the unknown? We discuss: *Why Juan stepped away from a steady brand career to lead something new *How he's helping build a startup-style venture focused on all-inclu...
Jun 13, 2025•5 min
Last week at the Stonebridge 's annual conference in hashtag#NewOrleans – where I hosted, moderated and delivered a keynote -- I spoke with EVP Operations Lee Palaschak for hashtag#NoVacancyNews about how the company is transforming. With a clear focus on culture, people, and purposeful partnerships, Stonebridge is entering a fresh chapter — or as Lee calls it, a “rebirth.” 🔑 What we cover: *How Stonebridge is redefining itself from the ground up *The philosophy behind thoughtful growth — and w...
Jun 12, 2025•3 min
