988: WaterWalk's Big Move: Hybrid Living Meets Wyndham Power

Margins are tight, costs are up, and yet one of the biggest opportunities for hashtag#hotels might be right in the lobby — the bar and restaurant. I connected with Aaron Olson and Chris Manley of Crestline Hotels & Resorts to talk about how they're using food and beverage as a profit engine rather than a cost center — and why now is the time for operators to get creative. We break it all down on hashtag#NoVacancyNews, from mocktail menus to lighting, sound, service training, and Instagram-worthy presentation. Because even small improvements — 1 to 2 points of margin — add up fast when done across a portfolio. 👋 Special thanks to Entegra for powering this conversation. If you're feeling the squeeze on pricing, get into the power of group purchasing at EntegraPS.com. Key Insights 🍽️ Why Crestline launched its first dedicated food & beverage division 💡 How "back to basics" — lighting, music, and service — drive real ROI 🍹 The rise of mocktails and zero-proof beverage programs 📸 Creating Instagrammable moments that drive social buzz 🤝 Engaging local micro-influencers to increase traffic and awareness 🏨 How F&B enhances ADR and occupancy, not just revenue 🚀 Lifestyle hotels are leading the charge in creative dining The message is clear: great food and beverage isn't just a guest amenity — it's a business strategy. How are you using F&B to grow profitability at your hotels?

Extended stay has officially graduated from niche to superstar status — and WaterWalk is leading its next evolution. Today, Anthony and I spoke with Mimi Oliver, CEO of WaterWalk, about how her family — starting with her grandfather, Jack DeBoer, the pioneer behind Residence Inn — invented then reinventing the category for decades. Today, WaterWalk takes that legacy further with a flexible hybrid model blending fully furnished and unfurnished suites to fit every guest and every market cycle. We break it all down on #NoVacancyNews — from how the model drove 70% occupancy during COVID to why Wyndham's partnership is accelerating its franchise growth, plus how AI and automation fit into their operational future without losing the human touch. 👋 Special thanks to Actabl — Actabl gives you the power to profit. Visit Actabl.com. And to HotelData.com — your ally for budget season benchmarking. Key Insights ✨ Hybrid model = flexibility & profitability in any market 🏘️ Furnished vs unfurnished units optimize occupancy mix 🤝 Wyndham partnership expands franchise pipeline & brand reach 🧠 AI + robotics drive operational efficiency without cutting people 📈 "Wall Street to Wichita" — Mimi's story of coming home to hospitality 📬 Old-school sales still win: handwritten notes > mass emails 🎓 Student housing and longer-term residential demand create new use cases What's your take — is extended stay the most resilient segment in hospitality today?  

Front desks are evolving fast. Search behavior is changing even faster. Hospitality is staring at a major technology turning point — and those who move now will own the next era of bookings. I connected with Bill Ryan, Chief Technology Officer at BWH Hotels, to talk about how the company is modernizing its tech stack, reducing training time, simplifying payments, and preparing for a future where travelers begin planning inside AI platforms like ChatGPT and Perplexity. We break it all down on #NoVacancyNews, including how intuitive systems free staff to focus on guests, why one-day onboarding matters for retention, and what it takes for hotel brands to become discoverable in AI-driven search. This is a moment to use technology to amplify hospitality, not replace it. 👋 Special thanks to Axonify, powering frontline teams to elevate guest experience. Visit Axonify.com. Key Insights ✨ One-day PMS onboarding = faster training, better retention 💳 Simplified payments reduce errors & free staff time 🤖 AI search becoming a real booking channel fast 🔗 OTAs partnering with LLMs — hotels must act now 📡 Direct MCP connections boost brand contribution 🧠 Tech strengthens human hospitality — not replaces it 📱 AI adds a channel — doesn't remove existing ones What's your biggest tech priority right now?

Ever wonder what it takes to run one of the busiest hotels in America — right next to #Disneyland? 🏰 For #NoVacancyNews, Suzanne Bagnera and I caught up with Sergio Bocci, GM of the Hilton Anaheim, who somehow manages to keep this massive operation running smoothly while making it all look easy. From balancing staff morale to guest expectations (and the occasional family meltdown after a long park day), Sergio's mastered the art of calm under pressure. This conversation is all about leadership, hospitality, and staying human in a business that never stops moving. Huge thanks to my friends at Actabl for powering conversations like this — helping hotels use real data to work smarter, not harder. Visit Actabl.com

Costs are rising. Guests are stressed. Owners are squeezed. And hotels? They're juggling labor inflation, insurance spikes, debt pressure, and renovations delayed since… well, that period we all swore we'd never talk about again. For hashtag#NoVacancyNews I spoke with Mark Carrier, President of B. F. Saul Company Hospitality Group, to reveal what hotel owners really face today — and where smart operators find opportunity when everyone feels the pinch. And yes, we talk about the vibe shift in development, stalled pipelines, conversions, and why intermediation costs + guest data may be the real battleground ahead. Also yes: I slipped in a joke about running hashtag#PMS off a 1980s PC. You're welcome. 👋 🙏 Special thanks to my advertiser: Entegra. Visit them at EntegraPS.com. Key Moments: 🏩 Why owners never fully recovered post-COVID capital hits 🏩 The "thousand-cuts" cost spiral for labor, financing, insurance & ops 🏩 Why cutting sales & marketing first is a massive mistake 🏩 How to lead teams positively (without going full Pollyanna) 🏩 What tight credit + long construction timelines mean for development 🏩 Conversions vs. new builds — what wins now 🏩 The guest-data reality for branded owners 🏩 AI's role in direct booking, distribution, and protecting margins The importance of AHLA alignment — brands + owners + operators We aren't cheerleading blindly — we're talking real strategy, honest challenges, and the mindset that actually moves the industry forward.

Latin America is in the middle of a powerful hotel development surge, particularly in luxury and resort properties — and the numbers tell a compelling story. In this episode, Glenn Haussman talks with Bruce Ford of Lodging Econometrics about the real data driving expansion in Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, and South America — and why developers, brands, and third-party operators are racing to scale in the region. We dig into: 300+ hotels now under construction Why luxury leads — and why it's different than the U.S. Riviera Maya + DR + Mexico City as development engines Residential components & eco-resorts gaining traction Infrastructure's long-term role (yes, including Mexico's new rail) Caribbean hurricane recovery patterns vs. U.S. mainland Third-party management growth in luxury — big shift What's tracking toward 2027 and beyond  Whether you're analyzing global trends or scouting your next international opportunity, this breakdown matters.  🙏 Special thanks to Actabl — Actabl gives you the power to profit. Visit Actabl.com. And if you're still in budgeting mode: HotelData.com. If you haven't already, please like, subscribe, and share — it helps fuel the show and this community. Where in Latin America do you see the most momentum?

For decades I've preached getting closer to guests. Now, #hoteltech can make it so. (yes, Captain Picard reference). I've partnered with my friends at Hotel Business Magazine for a fast paced discussion on how hashtag#hoteliers are using tech not just to enhance the stay — but to understand guest behaviors, increase satisfaction, and unlock new revenue streams. What a group we've assembled! Dawn Gallagher, President, Hospitality with Crescent Hotels & Resorts; Scott Strickland, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Chief Commercial Officer; Tristan Gadsby, CEO of Alliants and Kimberly Twiggs AVP Market Development with DIRECTV for Hospitality.   I hope you enjoy hearing this special episode available only as an audio podcast

Labor shortages. Rising costs. Too many headaches. 😩 But for hotels looking to streamline operations and save money, Foodbuy might just be the ultimate fix. In this conversation, Glenn talks with Tia Ariano, Senior Category Business Manager at Foodbuy, about how hotels can simplify everything—from housekeeping to landscaping—by consolidating vendors and accessing top-tier supplies, services, and pricing. Learn how Foodbuy helps hotels: ✅ Combat staffing shortages with one-stop sourcing ✅ Improve efficiency in housekeeping & maintenance ✅ Cut costs without cutting corners ✅ Maintain guest satisfaction while saving time If you're ready to reduce stress and raise margins, this conversation is for you.

For #NoVacancyNews, Anthony and I sat down with Stuart Greif, Chief Strategy & Innovation Officer at Forbes Travel Guide, to explore how tech is reshaping hospitality — and why human connection still wins. We talk about the risk of commoditizing service, the power of small gestures, and how technology should support — not replace — hospitality professionals. Stuart also shares how luxury brands are using AI to elevate personalization, and why ownership must reinvest in training if they want to protect long-term value. #guestexperience #hospitalityleadership 🎧 Key takeaways: • AI should free up time for deeper guest engagement — not replace it • Ownership must reinvest in training to protect brand equity • Hospitality is theater — and every touchpoint is part of the performance • Small gestures (like a tucked-in stuffed animal) create lasting emotional impact • Select service hotels can still deliver meaningful experiences • Forbes Travel Guide sees AI as a tool to elevate—not dilute—hospitality 💡 Special thanks to my friends at Actabl — the workforce and operations platform that turns data into action. Visit Actabl.com to learn how smarter tech can drive better decisions.