998: Newport Beach: How a Luxury Destination Keeps Its Soul

Newport Beach looks luxurious from the outside — but its secret sauce is heart, identity, and a fiercely intentional brand strategy. On #NoVacancyNews, I teamed up with my Friday Night Audit partner-in-crime Craig Sullivan to talk with Gary Sherwin, CEO of Visit Newport Beach, about how one of America's most aspirational coastal cities keeps its charm, avoids the "sea of sameness," and delivers the version of Southern California people dream about. A big thanks to Actabl — Actabl gives you the power to profit. Visit Actabl.com. Here's what we cover: 🌴: How Newport Beach built a destination brand that hotels actually use 💼: Why 100% locally owned hotels strengthen the community's identity 🏖️: How Newport avoids the "two people holding hands on a beach" cliché trap 💡: Why luxury now means accessible, customized, and never stuffy 🎯: How the city stays true to its brand promise across every neighborhood 🎨: Why in-house creative helps the DMO avoid homogenized marketing 🎄: How "50 Days of Festive Fun" became a massive holiday driver 🍽️: The rise of high-end dining, RH's splashy opening, and what's coming next 🏆: Why taking creative risks beats playing it safe — every time Question for you: What U.S. destination delivers the experience you imagined before you arrived?

This week Dan Lesser, Co-Founder, President, & CEO at LW Hospitality Advisors shares some cockatils and laughs with Glenn, Craig and Doctor Prodcuer Suzanne.

Some management companies build hotels. Olympia Hospitality builds identity. I spoke with Sara Masterson (President) and John Schultzel (Chief Growth Officer) about how Olympia blends independent spirit, strong brand partnerships, and mission-driven hospitality across destinations like Nantucket, Boston, Winter Park, the White Mountains, and beyond. On #NoVacancyNews, Sara and John explain how they combine boutique creativity with brand-backed consistency, how they think about technology adoption, and why community connection is becoming the core differentiator in both luxury and branded hotels. A big thanks to Actabl — Actabl gives you the power to profit. Visit Actabl.com. What we cover: 🏨 How Olympia mixes brand standards with independent personality 🌎 Why "place-based design" beats cookie-cutter hotel experiences 🎨 How to create a hotel that could only exist in one community ⚙️ Why fast-moving tech adoption matters more for younger teams 📈 How owners think about character, authenticity, and long-term performance ❤️ The Alfond Inn and Boone Tavern: hotels that literally fund education 💡 Why short-term bumps shouldn't scare hoteliers from long-term vision

Corporate travel isn't easing back into old habits — it's reinventing itself, and hoteliers who cling to the past will lose business they didn't even know they were missing. I spoke with Lukasz Dabrowski, SVP of Global Supplier Relations at HRS Group, about why 2025 became the turning point for travel procurement and how 2026 will reward hotels that understand converged demand, Level 3 data, and real-time negotiation. On #NoVacancyNews, Lukasz breaks down why annual RFP cycles are disappearing, how "travel CEOs" use invoice-level data to renegotiate instantly, and what hotels must change to stay competitive as AI and real-time visibility reshape corporate buying behavior. A big thanks to Actabl — Actabl gives you the power to profit. Visit Actabl.com. Key Insights: 📊: Annual bid cycles are collapsing — continuous renegotiation is the new normal 📈: Corporations now evaluate total account contribution across all segments 🧠: Level 3 invoice data exposes where travelers actually stay and spend 🤝: Hoteliers must think like corporate buyers, not just sellers 🏨: Converged demand requires reorganizing sales teams — not more reps ⚙️: Virtual payment friction kills compliance and costs hotels real volume 🚗: Smaller brands win when they stop trying to be Ferraris and excel as Volkswagens 🎯: The "Golden Middle" strategy helps hotels balance ADR, occupancy, and guest satisfaction sustainably Question for you: What one change would make it easier for your hotel to win corporate business in 2026?

Most people know the names Marriott, Hilton, Wilson — but countless African American hoteliers helped build the foundation of American hospitality, and their stories rarely get told. I sat down with Calvin Stovall, author of Hidden Hospitality, to explore the remarkable journey behind his new book and the extraordinary hoteliers he uncovered along the way. Calvin spent decades researching these stories — from the late 1700s through the civil rights era — and the result is a stunning coffee table book filled with resilience, innovation, and legacy. On #NoVacancyNews, Calvin talks about the emotional moment he held the finished book for the first time, how the idea originated back in grad school, and why these stories matter for the next generation of leaders in our industry. A big thanks to Actabl — Actabl gives you the power to profit. Visit Actabl.com. Key Insights: 📘 How a graduate school research assignment became a lifelong mission 📰 The challenge of uncovering stories buried in microfiche archives 🏨 The African American hotel pioneers who built thriving businesses long before civil rights 💡 The incredible story of Joseph Lee — hotelier, inventor, and culinary innovator 📚 How Calvin raised the funding to publish a 90,000-word coffee table book 🔥 Why these stories can inspire a new generation of hotel ownership 🏛️ How segregation, community investment, and resilience shaped these early hotels

Most hotel companies talk about values. SCP Hotels built their entire model around them. I spoke with Ken Cruse, Co-Founder of Soul Community Planet (SCP Hotels), about how he's creating hotels that combine purpose, community, environmental responsibility, and real profitability — without relying on the old playbook. On #NoVacancyNews, Ken lays out how vertical integration, premium pricing, guest-driven design, and a mindset of "conscious capitalism" are helping SCP grow into a brand that resonates with modern travelers who want meaning and great experiences. A big thanks to Actabl — Actabl gives you the power to profit. Visit Actabl.com. Key Insights: 🌱 Why SCP built its business around soul, community, and planet 🏨 How vertical integration gives them full control of product + experience 💡 Why premium pricing actually strengthens guest trust 🤝 How Fair Trade Pricing flips the power dynamic in favor of the guest 🔥 What "Wild Free," "SCP Hotels," and "By SCP" mean for their brand evolution 🌍 How experiential travelers are driving a new era of hospitality demand ❤️ Why guests — not brands — must be the heroes of the story

Human trafficking is one of the darkest issues our industry faces — and the people fighting it deserve more attention. I spoke with Noel Thomas, CEO of Darkwatch, about how his company uses AI-driven digital intelligence to help hotels identify trafficking risks, flag organized crime, and support safer environments for guests and staff. Noel shares the personal story that pushed him into this work, the global scale of the problem, and why technology must play a larger role in protecting hotels and communities. On #NoVacancyNews, Noel explains how Darkwatch integrates into existing PMS workflows, how it helps brands meet the rising "standard of care" in litigation, and why collaboration between hotels, banks, and global agencies is essential. Key Insights: 🛑 How AI identifies trafficking risks, fugitives, violent felons, and organized crime 💡 Why trafficking continues even in high-visibility environments 📊 How Darkwatch builds criminal intelligence networks across industries 🏨 Why hotels must raise their "standard of care" to reduce legal exposure ⚙️ How the system matches threats during check-in in milliseconds 👥 Why front-desk staff should never be put in dangerous situations 📍 Why geographic threat profiles vary — and how AI adapts

Running a hotel in 2025 requires sharper strategy, a tighter handle on costs, and leaders who can adapt faster than the market shifts. Few people understand that better than Rob Smith, CEO of Stonebridge Companies, who oversees nearly 200 properties nationwide. On #NoVacancyNews, Rob breaks down how he's thinking about margins, brand contribution, AI, leadership development, and how his newly hired Chief Strategy Officer is changing the way Stonebridge operators think about priorities. Huge thanks to my friends at Actabl — Actabl gives you the power to profit. Visit Actabl.com. Key Insights: 💡 How Stonebridge uses strategic thinking at the property level 🏨 Why some assets win during flat markets — and why others don't 🤖 Where AI actually helps (and where it never should) 📉 Why margins tighten when operators chase savings in the wrong places 🏷️ How brand saturation affects real revenue contribution 🔍 What Rob watches closely when underwriting hotel takeovers 🔄 Why repeat guests matter more now than ever Question for you: What's the smartest margin-improving move you've seen in the past year?

The hotel development story in Europe and the Middle East tells a very different story from the U.S. — especially when it comes to luxury, construction timelines, and where brands see real long-term opportunity. I connected with Bruce Ford, SVP at Lodging Econometrics, to break down the latest pipeline numbers across Europe and the Middle East: luxury dominance, delays, conversions, and why so many projects now push out toward 2027–2028. On #NoVacancyNews, Bruce explains what's fueling the surge in full-service and luxury projects, why construction timelines remain stretched, and how the Middle East continues building entire districts — not just hotels. A big thanks to Actabl — Actabl gives you the power to profit. Visit Actabl.com. Follow along with or download the charts Key Insights: 📊 Why Europe and the Middle East dominate global luxury pipelines 🏨 How construction timelines pushed out nearly a year post-pandemic 🌍 Why major Middle East projects involve entire cities, not single assets 💡 How Europe trails U.S. trends by 6–12 months — and what that means 🔧 Why conversions and renovations surge as markets hit a performance plateau 🏷️ How "unbranded" boutique concepts evolve into recognized chain-scale brands Question for you: Which region feels more primed for growth right now — Europe or the Middle East?

Every hotel has a few empty rooms each year — but what if those rooms could help someone build a better life? I spoke with David Bowman, co-founder of the Bowman Post Foundation, about how his organization is transforming unused hotel inventory into scholarships and educational support for hospitality employees. On #NoVacancyNews, David explains how the program works, how hotels can easily participate at no cost, and the ripple effect it creates when employees see their own companies helping them grow. Key Insights: 🏨 How hotels donate unused room nights to fund scholarships 💡 Why empowering current hotel employees matters more than ever 🤝 The simple, zero-cost way hoteliers can join the cause 📈 How this model boosts morale, retention, and community image ❤️ Real stories from recipients who turned opportunity into growth Giving back doesn't have to drain budgets — sometimes, it's as easy as donating a night. Would your property donate an unused room if it could change a life?