Recorded recently in Las Vegas, I caught up with Tony Yousfi, CMP , Chief Sales Officer at the iconic The Venetian Resort Las Vegas , for an energizing hashtag#NoVacancyNews conversation about what it takes to keep 7,000 suites full, 2.2 million square feet of space active, and 10,000-person events running seamlessly—week after week. 📍 Here’s what we covered: *How the Venetian transforms every four days for new guests and events *The billion-dollar renovation strategy—and why they’re only doing...
Jun 11, 2025•13 min
Recorded on location in Ft. Worth, Texas, I chatted with Mark Kimber , Chief Revenue Officer at Fintech , spoke to hashtag#NoVacancyNews to uncover how this decades-old alcohol invoicing powerhouse is shaking things up in hospitality. If you manage hotel operations and are drowning in invoices, this conversation might just change the way you work. 🎙️ Here's what you'll hear in this episode: How hashtag#Fintech evolved from alcohol compliance to hospitality-wide invoice automation Why hoteliers ...
Jun 11, 2025•6 min
🎙️ #NoVacancyNews’ Glenn Haussman sits down with Ryan Minton, bestselling author of Uplifted: The Remarkable Power of Positive Leadership on Frontline Teams , to talk about the game-changing impact of positivity in leadership. 🔹 What you’ll hear in this episode: How positive leadership transforms frontline teams and creates a thriving workplace Why employees don’t tolerate bad bosses anymore (and what leaders must do to keep top talent) The real ROI of uplifting leadership — how happier employ...
Jun 10, 2025•15 min•Season 9Ep. 951
Tim Flohr is an Associate Professor of Teaching at U of Memphis and the Co-founder & Managing Partner of HospitalityInternships.com . Tonight he risks it all by joining Glenn, Craig, and Producers Dave and Suzanne for some ‘innocent’ drinks and laughs to kick off the weekend. Plus, Glenn is on location in New Orleans.
Jun 07, 2025•51 min
Why do some hotel companies thrive while others struggle with retention, innovation, and guest satisfaction? In this episode of hashtag#NoVacancyNews , we talk with Rob Smith , CEO & President of Stonebridge Companies , who’s bringing humanity back to hospitality — without ignoring the power of technology. 🔑 Key Highlights: 👥 Why putting people first isn’t just good ethics—it’s smart business 🤖 How Stonebridge uses technology to enhance—not replace—human connection 💼 Rethinking workforce...
Jun 07, 2025•4 min
Hospitality is shifting—and Joseph Bojanowski , President of PM Hotel Group , joined hashtag#NoVacancyNews during the NYU IHIF to gauge what’s really happening in the hashtag#hotelindustry right now. ✔️ Tired of mixed signals from headlines? This episode brings clarity on: *Why focusing on actual trends over trending topics is essential for strategic planning *What PM Hotel Group is seeing with real-time travel demand and consumer behavior *How seasonality shifts and timing affected hotel comp s...
Jun 06, 2025•5 min
What’s really happening with new hotel construction in today’s unpredictable climate? #NoVacancyNews sat down with Mark Laport, CEO of Concord Hospitality Enterprises , during NYU IHIF this week to discuss: • 🏗️ Why he’s bullish on launching #StudioRes , Marriott International ’s new extended-stay brand • 💰 The financial balancing act—dealing with skyrocketing costs and persistent labor issues • 🌍 What makes Concord’s approach different, and how they’re betting smart on the future • 🤝 Why re...
Jun 05, 2025•5 min
Recorded this morning live at NYU IHIF , hashtag#NoVacancyNews sits down with Greg Kennealey , CEO of Peregrine Hospitality , to unpack the realities of operating, investing, and thriving in today’s uncertain hotel landscape. 📌 Highlights from this episode: How Peregrine focuses on what they can control — guests and employees — to drive long-term profitability Why “no cash registers at the corporate office” is more than a saying—it’s a strategy The truth about today’s slow transaction market (a...
Jun 05, 2025•4 min
Recorded live at the NYU IHIF , hashtag#NoVacancyNews catches up with Zack Gharib , President of Red Roof , exactly one year after their first interview—this time with plenty to celebrate and unpack. 🔑 What You’ll Learn: How Zack’s first year at the helm shaped a renewed culture and a long-term growth strategy at Red Roof. The impact of new partnerships, including: Sojern : boosting guest experience and connectivity. HotelIQ by Intelligent Hospitality : transforming revenue management with smar...
Jun 05, 2025•8 min
Is the hotel industry bouncing back—or just bouncing around? I caught up with Bruce Ford , SVP at Lodging Econometrics , during NYU IHIF , to tell hashtag#NoVacancyNews his razor-sharp perspective on where we really stand when it comes to hospitality investment, development, and demand. 🎧 Here’s why you’ll want to hit play: • Conference crowds are shrinking—what does that signal for the broader economy? • Owners are cutting back, but is that a sign of strength or stress? • Why “drive-to” travel...
Jun 05, 2025•8 min
Today we're saying thanks to all our listeners and saying goodbye. To live shows, that is. Plenty more content coming starting next week, but we're switching up formats to make everyone's lives easier! It's been exhausting doing as many as five live shows a week for five years. Dang, that's a lot. :-)
May 29, 2025•1 hr•Season 9Ep. 950
Adi Bhoopathy, Managing Principal and Head of Capital Markets at Noble Investment Group, joins No Vacancy Live to share his insights from over two decades of investing in the hospitality sector. Since joining Noble in 1999, Adi has helped lead more than $4.5 billion in transactions, playing a pivotal role in shaping the firm’s investment strategy and capital relationships. In this episode, we dive into how Noble identifies opportunity in a rapidly evolving market, why Adi believes hospitality is...
May 29, 2025•23 min•Season 9Ep. 949
In his first year as CEO of Hospitality America, Ben Campbell set a bold tone by putting people and culture at the heart of the company’s strategy—well ahead of the industry curve. From earning back-to-back “Best Places to Work” awards to launching flexible PTO programs and strategic mentorship initiatives, Ben’s leadership has sparked a cultural and operational transformation. This episode dives into how his People First approach, new leadership roles, and investment in soft-branded hotel growt...
May 28, 2025•23 min•Season 9Ep. 948
Anna Blue returns to Friday Night Audit for some happy hour fun while Glenn is on location smoking ribs at Memphis in May BBQ festival making Craig, Dave and Suzane jealous.
May 17, 2025•57 min•Season 4Ep. 176
Jake Zwaagstra , CEO of TriCelta Development joins the show to explore the critical role of the Owner’s Representative in aligning teams, communicating vision, and ensuring decisions are rooted in both strategy and stakeholder understanding. We dive into how customer insights and industry trends can shape project outcomes through effective use of surveys, focus groups, and market analysis. Plus, we unpack the value of model rooms as a decision-making tool that brings concepts to life, aligns exp...
May 13, 2025•31 min•Season 9Ep. 947
Dorraine Lallani is one of the most influential people in the hotel business you may not have heard of before. And even with decades of experience as a premier professional, somehow she still chose to join Glenn, Craig and the gang for some purported comedy. Join us for our world famous happy hour show!
May 09, 2025•58 min•Season 4Ep. 174
Go inside the strategy and soul of one of the West Coast’s most distinctive hotel companies on #novacancynews with Scott Roby , Pacifica Hotels , and Chris Marquis , Invest West Financial. From bold design to smart growth, they reveal how they’re building a culture-driven, guest-focused brand that stands out in a crowded market....
May 09, 2025•30 min•Season 9Ep. 946
Step inside the heart of Bourbon Street with Royal Sonesta New Orleans GM David Bilbe on #NoVacancyNews. From historic #neworleans charm to future renovations, this tour gives you a front-row seat to one of the most irreplaceable hotel assets in America. 🔹 Highlights: Growing up with Royal Sonesta — why this hotel holds personal meaning for GM David Bilby Fulfilling a dream: David’s journey to leading this iconic property What makes Royal Sonesta’s energy and vibe so different from other hotels...
Apr 28, 2025•10 min
Russell Edmond—better known as Russell of Hotels— joins Friday Night Audit to swap podcasting stories and content tragedies. We’ve got Craig, Producer Dave, Dr. Producer Suzanne with some travel hacks and more on our quest for hospitality’s biggest pet peeve.
Apr 26, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Season 4Ep. 173
Glenn and Anthony chat about hotel news and everything else on their minds
Apr 26, 2025•26 min•Season 9Ep. 946
Last week while #NoVacancyNews was at AAHOA’s #aahoacon25 I spoke with Chris Guimbellot, President & CEO of HI Hotels (Hospitality International). 👉 Highlights you won’t want to miss: • 💼 How HI Hotels’ Advisory Council is steering real change across the brand (01:00) • 🏆 The launch of the “Best of the Best” program—and why it flips the script on traditional franchise incentives (02:15) • 📈 What hotel owners actually gain from meeting quality benchmarks (03:05) • 🍽️ Where a local CEO se...
Apr 25, 2025•3 min
We’ve got Kevin Carey , COO of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) and the newly appointed President & CEO of the AHLA Foundation on hashtag#novacancynews . Together, they explore how the hashtag#AHLA and its hashtag#AHLAfoundation are working in tandem to support and elevate the hospitality workforce—and how the hashtag#ForWardConference is becoming one of the industry’s most important events for leadership, growth, and community. 🎯 Key Takeaways: Kevin Carey steps into a d...
Apr 25, 2025•9 min
Why stay at a hotel when you can live in one with loyalty perks? Last week during AAHOA ’s hashtag#AAHOACON25 , I spoke with Bhavin Patel of Spark GHC to explore a bold new concept: Project Scarlet, where branded residences meet boutique hospitality. 💥 Bhavin breaks down the details behind this game-changing model for hashtag#NoVacancyNews , how loyalty programs like Marriott International ’s Marriott Bonvoy are being used in apartment living, and why blending hospitality with everyday life may...
Apr 22, 2025•6 min
#novacancynews is at AAHOA ’s #AAHOAcon25 with Brian Quinn, Chief Development Officer of Sonesta International Hotels , to discuss the brand-new Sonesta Simply Suites prototype to new game-changing AI development tools. 🎯 Key Moments: [00:20] Sonesta’s momentum during uncertain market conditions [00:48] New Sonesta Simply Suites prototype revealed (3-story & 4-story models) [01:40] Why extended stay is still the most attractive segment [02:38] The 3 segments to watch: luxury, extended stay,...
Apr 17, 2025•5 min
Catch this exclusive AAHOA floor interview with Red Roof President Zack Gharib where we discuss his first year in this role and where Red Roof is headed next! 🔍 What You’ll Learn: [00:40] Zack reflects on his first year as President: What went right, what changed, and how 2024 reshaped Red Roof [02:25] The PMS overhaul to HotelKey and why it’s a foundational move for future tech integration [03:05] Big reveal: Red Roof’s new AI-powered revenue management partnership with HotelIQ [05:45] How aut...
Apr 17, 2025•15 min
Bruce Jordan is a writer, podcaster and hotelier. But tonight he enters the Happy Hour zone with Glenn,. Craig and Producer Dave. We talk more hotel pet peeves, best hotels and stuff we wouldn't say if drinking wasn't involved.
Apr 12, 2025•1 hr 4 min
📉 The hotel industry is navigating turbulent times — again. But this episode of hashtag#novacancynews isn’t about panic — it’s about real talk from the frontlines. I'm joined by Bruce Ford ( Lodging Econometrics ) and Craig Sullivan ( [CLIC] Media ) to break down what’s happening right now in hospitality — and what savvy operators must do to stay ahead. 👇 Highlights: [00:55] Market jitters & hotelier anxiety: The instability nobody's talking about [3:45] Convention cancellations & the ...
Apr 12, 2025•24 min
Luxury is booming, but so are guest complaints. Today, hashtag#novacancynews discusses the return of Starwood Hotels, the explosive growth of ultra-luxury hotels, and systemic service failures plaguing the hotel industry. 🛎️ Special thanks to our advertiser, Actabl – giving hoteliers the power to profit. Visit actabl.com for more. 📌 In this episode, you’ll learn: Why courage—not experience—is the leadership trait hotels desperately need right now Why $1,000+ hotel rooms are no longer rare—and ...
Apr 10, 2025•39 min•Season 9Ep. 944
The hotel business is shifting whether we like it or not. I speak with Jan Freitag , National Director of Hospitality Analytics at CoStar , at the Starwood Hotels Leadership Conference in Nashville. hashtag#NoVacanyNews insights hoteliers, developers, and investors need to hear right now. 👉 In This Episode: 📉 Why operators are nervous — and why developers might be even more so 🏗️ How tariffs and rising material costs are impacting hotel renovation and new builds 💸 The real story behind inter...
Apr 09, 2025•5 min
We're joined by Fiona Henry, an Analyst at Partner Valuation Advisors. She's new to the industry and lost a raffle during CLIC. Now, she has to be our guest. Let's see how she fares against Glenn, Craig, and Dave. Plus, we introduce April Anarchy, our March Madness rip-off focused on hotel pet peeves.
Apr 07, 2025•1 hr 14 min
