Labor, events top of mind for top US hotel lobbying group

American Hotel & Lodging Association Executive Vice President of Public Policy Chirag Shah said while there's significant optimism from major upcoming events such as the World Cup and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, the hotel industry's top concern is finding a sustainable labor pool.

CoStar News Hotels' Natalie Harms and Stephanie Ricca recap the second day of the Hunter Hotel Investment Conference. 

CoStar News Hotels' Stephanie Ricca and Trevor Simpson share the highlights from the first day of the 2026 Hunter Hotel Investment Conference.

Michelle Russo, founder and CEO of HotelAVE, had the eyes of the entire hospitality industry on her when she took over as receiver of the Parc 55 and Hilton Union Square hotels after Park Hotels & Resorts decided to hand back the keys instead of paying $725 million in debt. She joins the podcast to give an inside look at what it was like taking over those "beasts of assets" and find buyers for them during a uniquely challenging period in San Francisco's history.

In an interview at the Americas Lodging Investment Summit, Crescent Hotels & Resorts' Lily Hu talks about the third-party management company's growth and retention strategies and working out the balance among hotel owners, operators and brands.

In a recent interview at the Americas Lodging Investment Summit, Remington Hospitality's Chief Operating Officer Jason Kreul joined reporter Natalie Harms to discuss the hotel operator's new era of growth in the Caribbean and Latin America as controlling costs takes priority.

First Hospitality President and CEO David Duncan and Chief Operating Officer Dave Montrose talk with CoStar News Hotels' Bryan Wroten at the Americas Lodging Investment Summit about their company's strategies to differentiate themselves among other third-party hotel management companies and grow their portfolio in a difficult environment.

Greg Friedman, managing principal and CEO of Peachtree Group, explained to CoStar News' Natalie Harms why 2026 will be a better year for hotel transactions. But, the recovery is going to be a slow process. Friedman joined the show at the Americas Lodging Investment Summit in January.

Genna Panagopoulos, newly appointed vice president of development for North America for Minor Hotels, shares expansion plans with CoStar News Hotels' Natalie Harms at the recent Americas Lodging Investment Summit.

Noble Investment Group Founder and CEO Mit Shah has put his money where his mouth is in terms of investing in extended-stay hotels, and he lays out why he's a big believer in the evolution of "branded long-term accommodations."