Hotel News Now

Marriott International President and CEO Tony Capuano speaks with CoStar News Hotels' Bryan Wroten about the impact Marriott's acquisiton of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide has had on the hotel industry a decade since the deal closed. 

Each year, Hilton announces a new list of travel trends they expect to dominate the year ahead, and each year Jess Petitt, Hilton's  senior vice president of strategy, insights and full service brands Jess Petitt, joins the podcast to dive into what those new trends are and what they mean for hoteliers.

Aimbridge Hospitality Chief Commercial Officer Allison Handy speaks with CoStar News Hotels' Bryan Wroten about the latest developments within her department, including its new global sales office, as well as the ongoing evolution of commercial strategy and how Aimbridge is adapting to travelers increasingly using AI to plan and even book their trips. 

Automation and artificial intelligence are looking to take a bigger role in hotel sales, particular the group RFP process, and Doug Kennedy, president and co-founder of the Kennedy Training Network, joins the podcast to share why and how hoteliers must keep a human touch in sales.

Jenna Villalobos, senior vice president and chief revenue officer at Outrigger Hospitality Group, joined CoStar News Hotels' Trevor Simpson for an interview at the 2026 Hotel Data Conference in Nashville, Tennessee.

Sage Hospitality Groups' Senior Vice President of Sales, Revenue and Distribution Strategy Priya Chandnani joined the podcast during the recent Hotel Data Conference to discuss how commercial strategy teams are adjusting to heavier use of AI, owners' focus on profitability and more.

2026 is the first year for hotel real estate investment trusts in China, and STR's Jesper Palmqvist joins the podcast to talk about what that means for their broader hotel industry, along with other news around the Asia Pacific region.

In an interview at the 2026 Hotel Data Conference, Crestline Hotels & Resorts' Executive Vice President of Operations Aaron Olson talks with CoStar News Hotels' Bryan Wroten about strategies to maintain and grow profit margins, the current labor environment, the company's outlook and more.

Michael Goldrich, founder and chief advisor for Vivander Advisors, joins the podcast (recorded live at the 2026 Hotel Data Conference) to discuss his work in helping the hotel industry get ready for artificial intelligence, which he said is changing the industry faster than other major tech innovations in modern history.

In an interview at the 2026 Hotel Data Conference, Kasa's Kelly McGuire talks to CoStar News Hotels' Bryan Wroten about what guests want from their stays in an aparthotel accommodation, how revenue strategy for an aparthotel unit compares to a traditional hotel room and more.

During an interview with CoStar News' Natalie Harms at the 18th annual Hotel Data Conference, Highgate Hotels Chief Revenue Officer Kerry Mack says that even with domestic hotel demand performing well, the U.S. hospitality industry needs to see a return of international inbound travel. 

In an interview at the 2026 Hotel Data Conference, PM Hotel Group's Erica Lipscomb talks to CoStar News Hotels' Sean McCracken about the demand dynamics at play for Hawaii, budgeting season, guest booking behavior and more.

In an interview at the 2026 Hotel Data Conference with CoStar News Hotels' Sean McCracken, Virgin Hotels' Jeff Borman talks about how the boutique, experience-focused Virgin Limited Edition is outperforming the company's larger hotel portfolio.

Reporter Natalie Harms chats with Chris Hardy, vice president of commercial strategy at Parks Hospitality Group, at the 18th annual Hotel Data Conference to learn more about what the hotel owner and operator is focused on, including targeting shoulder day growth and market dominance. 

CoStar News Hotels' Bryan Wroten and Terence Baker speak with STR's Kelsey Fenerty about the new U.S. hotel industry forecast and other topics from the first day of the 2026 Hotel Data Conference in Nashville. 

There are clear winners and losers across the Asia Pacific region's hotel industry, and  STR's regional vice president in the Asia-Pacific region Jesper Palmqvist joins the podcast to dissect just what that means.

In this episode, Gettys Group CEO Ron Swidler speaks with CoStar News Hotels' Sean McCracken about the many down-the-stream effects of keeping tabs on changing consumer behavior, and how artificial intelligence is making that more achievable.

CoStar Group's Jan Freitag and Walker Hotel Collection's Peter Yeung join CoStar News Hotels' Trevor Simpson to discuss results and lessons learned from the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Peachtree Group Managing Principal and CEO Greg Friedman joins the "CoStar News Hotels Podcast" to explain the current financing environment for hotels.

Max Spangler, vice president of technology of third-party hotel management company Charlestowne Hotels, joins CoStar News Hotels reporter Natalie Harms to discuss the practical uses of artificial intelligence in the hotel business and the advancement of cybersecurity threats as technology develops at a rapid pace.

Private membership clubs are next for hospitality investment firm Rockbridge, according to CEO and co-founder Jimmy Merkel. Merkel shared details about the company's latest hotel acquisitions in Texas, plus his philosophy about hospitality and why independent luxury lifestyle hotels are exciting for investors. 

STR's Jesper Palmqvist dives into how lender confidence is buoying hotel investment across the Asia-Pacific region, which is seeing record-high development and a wave of refinancing.

CoStar Group's Didio Pequeno joins CoStar News' Trevor Simpson to discuss what hoteliers can expect in the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Peregrine Hospitality CEO Greg Kennealey speaks with CoStar News Hotels' Bryan Wroten about his hotel portfolio's performance, the resiliency of travel and changing guest expectations in luxury experiences.

Dana Jacobsohn, chief development officer, North America luxury brands and global mixed-use speaks with CoStar News Hotels' Bryan Wroten at the NYU International Hospitality Investment Forum about luxury hotel development and how Marriott meets guests expectations now and prepares for them in the future.

Olympia Hospitality's John Schultzel speaks with CoStar News Hotels' Bryan Wroten at the 2026 NYU International Hospitality Investment Forum about his company's approach to hotel management, applying a boutique strategy to both independent and franchised properties, as well as its focus on hotels in college and university markets.

Greg Doman, chief development officer at Virgin Hotels Collection, joined CoStar News Hotels' Trevor Simpson for an interview at the 2026 NYU International Hospitality Investment Forum.

At the NYU International Hospitality Investment Forum, Rebel Hotel Co. President and CEO Brian Sparacino talks with CoStar News Hotels' Bryan Wroten about his company's new division, Reserve Collection Resorts & Hotels, as well as their growth strategy and how the third-party management space is changing. 

Joseph Bojanowski, president of PM Hotel Group, chatted with CoStar News Hotels' Trevor Simpson about this summer's mega events and the future growth avenues for the third-party hotel operator.

Hyatt Hotels Corp.'s Julienne Smith talks with CoStar News Hotels' Trevor Simpson at the 2026 NYU International Hospitality Investment Forum.

Americas CEO of JLL Hotels & Hospitality Kevin Davis talks with CoStar News Hotels' Stephanie Ricca at the NYU International Hospitality Investment Forum about why the first half of 2026 has fostered more hotel transactions. 

Omer Acar, CEO of the Raffles and Fairmont hotel brands at Accor, speaks with CoStar News Hotels' Bryan Wroten about the luxury hotel space while at the NYU International Hospitality Investment Forum.

STR's Jesper Palmqvist joins the podcast for our monthly check-in on hotel industry trends in the Asia-Pacific region.

CoStar News Hotels' Stephanie Ricca, Bryan Wroten and Trevor Simpson share their observations from the NYU International Hospitality Investment Forum as the conference has wrapped up for 2026.

CoStar News Hotels' Stephanie Ricca, Bryan Wroten and Trevor Simpson share their takeaways from the first day of the 2026 NYU International Hospitality Investment Forum.

CoStar Group's Didio Pequeno joins the CoStar News Hotels podcast to break down how hotel performance is trending across the 16 World Cup host markets.

Brandon Ehrhardt, vice president of marketing for travel partners and advertisers at Expedia Group, joins the show to share details from Expedia Group's new report that found that North America has $8.1 billion in tourism spend up for grabs this summer. 

Procurement expert Alan Benjamin, founder and president of BenjaminWest, joins the podcast to discuss what hoteliers might expect from the $166 billion in promised tariff refunds and how getting that money back in the pockets of owners will be a complicated process.

In this episode of the CoStar News Hotels podcast, reporter Natalie Harms discusses hotel group demand trends with STR's Hannah Smith, including how smaller markets in the U.S. appear to be coming out on top when it comes to attracting group hotel business.

When Japan lost more than half of its travelers from China, many worried the year's long stretch of strong performance for hotels would end in that country. Instead, it replaced that demand in the aggregate. Listen for that and other highlights from across the Asia Pacific region with STR's Matthew Burke and Jesper Palmqvist.

In this interview from the 2026 IHIF EMEA conference, CoStar News Hotels' Terence Baker speaks with Navneet Bali, founder and CEO of LyvInn Hotels, who explains his goal of gearing his hostel-hotel brand toward the growing number of young, IT-savvy European travelers.

CoStar News Hotel's Sean McCracken speaks with Trinity Investments' Ryan Donn at the 2026 IHIF EMEA conference in Berlin where Donn spoke about the company's newer approach to finding deals and his interest in the demand outlook in Southern Europe in particular. 

Dimitris Manikis, president of Europe, Middle East and Africa at Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, joins the podcast from the International Hospitality Investment Forum EMEA in Berlin.

In this interview from the 2026 IHIF EMEA conference, CoStar News Hotels' Terence Bakers speaks with Wesam Okasha, managing director of TUI Blue Hotels and head of global development, Asia, Greater China and Europe, Middle East and Africa, about the necessity of security in travel, new projects in the works, the future of the Middle East's hotel industry and more.

Kew Green Hotels CEO David Taylor talks with CoStar News Hotels' Terence Baker at the 2026 IHIF EMEA conference about his company's next growth phase, which he said is undeterred by geopolitical headwinds.

In this episode, CoStar News Hotels reporter Natalie Harms discusses the rise and growth of branded residential projects with Nate Siehr, co-founder of The Big Key Group. The company's first project, the Ambar Residences Orlando, is rising to meet changing traveler behavior and deliver on a product outside the luxury price point.

Covivio Hotels CEO Tugdual Millet and Deputy CEO Sébastien de Courtivron joined the CoStar News Hotels podcast while at the 2026 International Hospitality Investment Forum EMEA in Berlin to talk about their plans to more evenly distribute their portfolio across Europe, the opportunities of office-to-hotel conversions, the importance of sustainability and high-quality operations, and more.

French hotel giant Accor might not be acquiring, investing in and launching as many new brands as it used to, but it has not stopped activity in refreshing and relaunching flags — and there is still space for the completely new. Xavier Grange, global chief development officer, Sofitel, Emblems and MGallery, and all luxury brands, Europe and North Africa at Accor, joined the podcast while at the International Hospitality Investment Forum in Berlin.

Andreas Löcher, head of investment management operational real estate for Hamburg-based Union Investments said he's seeing more hotel deals being done across Europe.

Euan McGlashan, co-founder and CEO of third-party management company Valor Hospitality, joins the podcast during the International Hospitality Investment Forum in Berlin to talk about how connecting cultures across the globe helps improve his business.

In an exclusive interview recorded at the International Hospitality Investment Forum EMEA in Berlin, Yotel CEO Phil Andreopoulos discussed the growth possibilities for his 23-hotel brand now that it's signed a franchise agreement with Hilton.