No Vacancy with Glenn Haussman

On No Vacancy, I talked with Charif Zahrane, Managing Partner at M7 Services, about the hotel technology mess sitting underneath the AI conversation. Everybody wants to talk about AI. Charif wants hotel operators to look at what sits below it first. Data. Infrastructure. Security. System connections. The unsexy stuff that decides whether the shiny new tool actually works or turns into another headache. That's where this conversation gets useful. Hotel operators can't just throw AI on top of messy systems and expect magic. They need a cleaner foundation, a better understanding of what they're connecting, and partners who understand how hospitality actually runs. Charif also gets into why the old "break-fix" IT model doesn't match where hotels are headed. This one's for anyone trying to figure out what hotel tech should look like before AI makes the whole thing even more complicated. Want the weekly roundup of news, videos, and what you might've missed? Text HOTEL to 66866.

Today we answer the most important question of all, what Arnie missed. Arnie Garfinkle tosses back some cocktails with Glenn, Craig and Producer Suzanne for this week's Friday Night Audit. Bets are open to how late Arnie shows up for his guest spot.

At last week's NYU IHIF, I talked with David Duncan, President and CEO of First Hospitality, about where hotel investment still works when new construction rarely pencils. That's the part of the market I keep hearing more about: not shiny new projects, but existing hotels where the right capital, brand strategy, operating discipline, or management change can unlock something better. David has a useful view on that because First Hospitality now plays on both sides of the equation: investment and operations. In this conversation, we got into why more opportunities may come from assets that need work, why development still feels difficult, and how First Hospitality thinks about growth when every deal has to earn its way forward. We also talked about new markets, talent, culture, and why entering a city as an operator takes a lot more than running the numbers from a spreadsheet. Thanks to Actabl. 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.

Most hotel AI conversations stay too abstract. Rob Smith, CEO and President of Stonebridge, brought it back to the work operators deal with every day: financials, trip reports, sales data, STR reports, and property-level decisions. I recorded this conversation during last week's NYU IHIF conference, where Rob shared how Stonebridge uses AI inside hotel operations right now. Stonebridge uses Claude, ChatGPT, and Copilot at the corporate level, and the company has rolled out hashtag#Copilot across its hotels. Rob talked about using hashtag#AI for faster answers, better property context, and fewer wasted steps before a team has to chase another call, email, or report.

At last week's NYU IHIF, Glenn Haussman talks with John Schultzel, Chief Growth Officer at Olympia Hospitality, about drive-to demand, shrinking booking windows, rate discipline, destination marketing, and how hotels can stay close to guests without losing the human side of hospitality. Olympia operates across New England, up and down the East Coast, and as far west as Colorado, giving John a clear look at different market patterns. He sees continued opportunity in drive-to leisure markets, even when broader economic stress makes travelers more cautious. Drive-to demand can hold up when travelers still want a getaway but rethink distance or transportation Short booking windows make pricing discipline harder when hotels watch pace late in the week Creative packages beat panic discounting when travelers make last-minute decisions Hotels need stronger destination marketing because guests often choose the place before they choose the property Weather should change the message, not kill the opportunity AI can help marketing teams move faster while still keeping the human side of hospitality intact Thanks to Actabl. 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.

During last week's NYU IHIF, I talked with Ryan Bosch of Arriba Capital because hotel transactions have picked up, but closing deals still takes a lot more creativity than people may realize. Ryan sees a growing performance gap between hotels where owners continually invested in their properties during the last six years and hotels where owners delayed CapEx. Now that gap is showing up in value, refinancing pressure, and whether some owners decide they're better off selling. Deferred CapEx has split hotel performance inside the same markets Owners who continually invested in their properties now have stronger assets Some owners now face refinance pressure and larger cash-in requirements More sellers need a transaction, not another round of market testing Buyers still want "meat on the bone" so they have room for value creation after closing Creative capital stacks and alternative financing help more hotel deals close Thanks to Actabl. 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.

During last week's NYU IHIF, I spoke with Ryan Rivett of the Rivett Organization and Brian Quinn, Chief Development Officer at My Place Hotels, because Brian's new role points to something bigger than a personnel move. Brian matters in this story because My Place is moving into its next phase with the Rivett Organization's broader platform behind it: ownership, operations, construction management, technology, engineering, design, and franchise development. That combination separates My Place from a lot of franchise organizations. Developers aren't only hearing about a flag. They're hearing from a company that still owns hotels, operates hotels, develops hotels, and understands the parts of the process that can overwhelm owners and investors.

At Hilton Orlando, Glenn Haussman talks with Shannon Butler, Director of Catering and Events, about how the hotel uses Xpodigital for flexible event branding, real-time updates, and incremental revenue through digital signage. Meeting planners want spaces that feel customized to their programs Digital signage lets Hilton Orlando update schedules, sponsor messages, sizzle reels, and award content in real time Xpodigital removes the large upfront investment barrier for the hotel and ownership Revenue share adds incremental income while improving the planner and attendee experience Association groups turn signage into sponsor inventory and build revenue for themselves Xpodigital supports the hotel team on-site and remotely, keeping updates fast and execution tight Hilton Orlando started with one screen, saw results, and expanded from there Want the weekly roundup of news, videos, and what you might've missed? Text HOTEL to 66866.

Hamilton Princess doesn't compete like a typical resort. The property leans on 140+ years of history, a museum-level art collection, and a luxury guest who keeps traveling even when the economy gets noisy. Glenn Haussman and Dr. Producer Suzanne Bagnera talk with Diarmaid O'Sullivan, Director of Sales & Marketing at Hamilton Princess & Beach Club, about how the hotel differentiates and keeps repeat business strong.

Wayne Tabor is President and CEO of the Metropolitan Memphis Hotel and Lodging Association and is way too classy to be having happy hour drinks with Glenn, Craig and Suzanne. Yet here we are.

Seventy-three percent of new vacation ownership purchases now come from Gen Z and millennials. That changes the pitch, product strategy, and member experience conversation for every company in vacation ownership. During ARDA Spring Conference, I spoke with Gordon Gurnik, COO of Hilton Grand Vacations, about younger buyers, points-based flexibility, AI, and the experiences HGV builds around ownership.

Hotel owners staring down PIPs have three choices: spend the money, sell the asset, or rethink management. During NYU IHIF, I spoke with Ben Perelmuter, CEO of Remington Hospitality, and Scott Geres, General Manager of Hotel Edison, from inside the Hotel Edison in Times Square. Ben says hotel deal activity has finally picked up after several slower conference cycles. Owners face brand pressure, capital decisions, and asset sales, and Remington Hospitality has already added 17 new third-party deals in the first four months of the year.

During NYU IHIF, Hilton debuted Undergraduate by Hilton, a brand-new conversion product aimed at university markets where a full Graduate Hotel may not fit. Jenna Hackett, SVP, Global Leader, Lifestyle Brand Management at Hilton, joined me for a conversation about how Undergraduate by Hilton connects with Graduate Hotels while giving owners a more affordable, scalable conversion option.

At NYU IHIF, I talked with Zack Gharib, President of Red Roof, because the brand made three moves worth watching at the same time: entered Canada, pushed tech growth, and rebuilt the website around AI search. Then the numbers back it up: app performance up 55%, loyalty enrollments up 29%, and 54,000 app downloads across Q1/April/May.

7.2 seconds behind the bar can cost about $1.1M a year. That's how Tobin Ellis, a 30-year bar industry veteran, thinks about bar design: eliminate problems before they happen, then let the team sell more with fewer steps.

One frustrating thing about hospitality: guests want to research rooms visually, but most hotel websites don't include video. When hotels force guests to imagine a room, they simply move on. So I talked with Jason Craparo, CEO of hovr, and Ethan Wiseman, VP of Product Management at aven hospitality, about what hotels can do right now to fix that disconnect.

We're back in the Hotel Pet Peeves bracket… but first, we nearly lose the plot over Glenn's "Haussman Resort Pool Club Smokehouse & Dispensary Brewery" (still a working title). Friday Night Audit brings Craig Sullivan, Dr. Producer Suzanne Bagnera, and our guest Elyse Poland ("Bucket Hat") back for the Infuri-Eight—plus the usual friendly violence.

During the recently held ARDA Spring Conference, I met Scott Weisz, EVP Strategic Business Operations at Marriott Vacations Worldwide, and we got into loyalty—because it doesn't work the same way in vacation ownership as it does in hotels. We talk about what actually keeps owners coming back: the booking journey, real service on-property, and experiences that match how younger travelers want to travel now.

Our friend Bruce Ford, SVP at Lodging Econometrics, joined me right after Lodging Econometrics released its Global Hotel Pipeline report—and it comes with a few surprises and some "pay attention to this" moments for owners, operators, brands, and suppliers. We walk through what the report shows across new construction, renovations, and conversions—and how the mix shifts depending on where you look.

Skytouch ships AI tools. The tools help associates move faster, feel more confident, and stay engaged on shift. Hotels keep more good people, and guests feel the difference. I talked with Charlie Green at Skytouch Technology about what the AI handles now and what the roadmap adds next.

I'm at Hyatt Regency Orlando, where I'm with Managing Director Paul Joseph breaking down how the hotel uses Xpodigital to modernize the on-site event experience while adding profitability by selling digital signage as sponsor inventory through revenue share.

Memorial Day weekend means higher bar volume. That's the perfect time to raise drink quality without slowing service. I'm at Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino in the Velvet Lounge with mixologist Yelena Anter Cocktail Vision, making her Brain Teaser Margarita and talking through the real takeaway for hotels: build hashtag#cocktails that look premium, taste balanced, and give guests a reason to trade up. Westgate Resorts

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. I talked with Mike Flasky, President and COO of Marriott Vacations Worldwide, about what changes when the offer expands beyond the villa and into the full trip.

Only 40% of hotel tech revenue-side professionals hit their full bonus target. Glenn Haussman and Dr. Producer Suzanne Bagnera talk with Ed Clark, Founder of Hospitality Tech Jobs, about his new salary + sentiment report and what it says about hiring, comp, and career paths in hotel tech.

F1 week in Las Vegas turns a stay into a full itinerary, and Hilton Grand Vacations builds owner value around the full trip, not just the nights. I talked with Derek DeSalvia M.S. DeSalvia, EVP and Chief Customer Officer at Hilton Grand Vacations, at the ARDA Spring Conference about owner benefits beyond the property, multigenerational hashtag#travel, and how the trip stays seamless from booking through the experience.

Ryan Labbe owns and operates numerous restaurants in bars in Vegas including Rosina Cocktail Lounge at Venetian, voted one of the "best bars in Las Vegas" by Condé Nast Traveler. Glenn, Craig and Doctor Producer Suzanne ruin it all during tonight's weekend kickoff Happy Hour. How this

Travel + Leisure Co turns Margaritaville and Sports Illustrated into something owners feel after the trip ends: access, events, and reasons to come back. At the ARDA Spring Conference, I talked with Louis Acosta, SVP Sports, Entertainment, Event Marketing and Sales at Travel + Leisure Co, about how the company uses brand DNA to build demand—and why that matters when budgets tighten.

More than 40% of Westgate's new timeshare buyers are millennials. I talked with Jared Saft, COO of Westgate Resorts, at ARDA's Spring Conference in Las Vegas about why younger buyers want space, kitchens, and togetherness—and how Westgate drives demand with differentiated experiences.

Luxury guests feel the difference in the details, and procurement decides many of those details. I talked with Denis Klurfeld, SVP of Procurement for Luxury & Lifestyle at Accor, about how procurement shapes the luxury guest experience, balances standards with local authenticity, and protects long-term owner value.

During the recently held AAHOACON, I talked with Andrew Russo from AAHOA and Tony Hodgins, Regional General Manager with Legends Global, which operates the Pennsylvania Convention Center, about their digital signage partnership with Xpodigital.

Jason Gamel, President and CEO of ARDA, says vacation ownership holds up because owners lock in costs and plan differently than hotel-only travelers. I talked with Jason at ARDA's spring conference in Las Vegas about tech, buyer trends, and what investors should watch in timeshare right now.

During the recently held DUETTO PERFORM, I interviewed Jesse Sturges, Director of Strategic Marketing at Mohegan Sun, about how one of the world's largest casino resorts uses loyalty, influencers, and faster recognition to connect guests to tailored experiences.

Renovations and conversions are about to outpace new builds by a lot — and that changes who suppliers should sell to. Glenn Haussman talks with Bruce Ford, SVP at Lodging Econometrics, in Las Vegas while Choice Hotels International's convention and HD Expo run in the same building.

Choice's loyalty refresh goes the opposite direction of most programs: easier to earn, easier to reach status, easier to redeem. During Choice Hotels International's 70th Annual Convention in Las Vegas, I talked with Noha Abdalla, Chief Marketing Officer at Choice Hotels, about the Choice Privileges refresh, the Keegan-Michael Key campaign, and why owners should care.

Matt McElhare, Vice President & Segment Lead, Extended Stay at Choice Hotels International, says extended stay leads new hotel development right now, while conversions let owners move faster than new builds. I talked with Matt in Las Vegas about what Choice has in the pipeline, why conversions matter right now, and why he thinks extended stay still has a long runway.

David Pepper, Chief Development Officer at Choice Hotels, says Q1 turning RevPAR positive brought buyers back into the market. Glenn Haussman talks with David from Choice's annual convention about why transactions drive conversions—and why extended stay keeps leading new builds. Conversions need transactions: buyers have to trade hotels for conversions to happen Q1 momentum: industry up, Choice up, investors start moving Choice relicensing up 50% in Q1 as buyers re-sign existing Choice hotels Country Inn & Suites up 50% this year Extended stay leads new construction: 50% of Choice's pipeline runs extended stay WoodSpring + Everhome make up 50% of extended stay hotels under construction Want the weekly roundup of news, videos, and what you might've missed? Text HOTEL to 66866. #ChoiceHotels #HotelDevelopment #HotelConversions #ExtendedStay #Hospitality #NoVacancyNews

Hotel restaurants lose revenue in boring ways—slow first drink delivery, late refills, and servers who don't know what they leave on the table. Geoffrey Toffetti, CEO of Frontline Performance Group, and Sloan Dean, former CEO of Remington Hospitality, break down CheckMax and the coaching system that uses POS data, leaderboards, and short training to drive stronger F&B performance.

During DUETTO PERFORM in Fort Lauderdale, I talked with Bob Matsuoka, Chief Technology Officer at Duetto, about AI in hotels the only way that matters right now: practical, operational, and money-saving.

HotelKey's self check-in kiosk scans an ID, runs face verification, and issues keys without a front desk line. I talk with Aditya Thyagarajan, co-founder of HotelKey, and Fareed Ahmad, co-founder and CEO of HotelKey, about why kiosks only work when they connect directly to the #PMS.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

Food and beverage drives nearly half of annual revenue at Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort. Glenn Haussman tours Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort with Michael Cook, Director of Sales & Marketing. The property is managed by our friends at Davidson Hospitality Group!

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.

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.

Profitability keeps getting squeezed even after years of strong revenue growth, so hotels can't live on RevPAR alone. I'm at Duetto PERFORM at Margaritaville Resort, and I talk with Michael Grove, CEO of HotStats, about what his data shows right now—and what hoteliers can actually do about it.

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.