No Vacancy Live!

Choice Hotels International is out to reinvent Park Inn by Radisson as a Premium Value brand, which will sit between economy and midscale and designed to attract younger travelers. Tom Nee, SVP, Foundation Brands shares the details. Exciting to see this brand given the love it needs to thrive.

Bruce Ford of Lodging Econometrics is Master of Construction pipeline data. While I attended Choice Hotels Annual and he attended HD we discussed how industry suppliers could maximize opportunity. Great tips! Tomorrow we’ll take a look from the ownership side.

It’s time to SOAR. Choice Hotels International Hotels has reintroduced it’s hotel ownership opportunities created for underrepresented entrepreneurs. Dubbed SOAR, Supporting Ownership Access & Representation, John Lancaster, VP Emerging Markets Franchise Development, shares how this program is changing lives and communities. #hotels #hotelinvestment.

Conversions are king! That’s especially true with Choice Hotels International, which had 74% of all 2023 deals fit into the conversion category. At Choice’s Annual Conference I caught up with CDO David Pepper to hear about the conversion market and the incredibly strong extended stay segment.

Anna Blue, President of AHLA Foundation, is at AHLA ForWard in Chicago. She shares the importance of this event to the hospitality industry and how it’s empowering women to find success in the hotel business.

The awesome Matt Hostetler, CDO with Red Roof, returns to learn a lesson about returning to FNA. Glenn, Craig and Producer Dave shake their heads in disbelief. Oh yeah, Glenn's in Vegas.... again!

Welcome to our new series, Icons & Experts. This exciting twice a month series is brought you by the Extended Stay Lodging Association and support from Dellisart Hospitality. Please visit https://www.dellisart.com/ Every other week we’ll highlight either a person who’s had unmistakable impact on the hotel industry, or we’ll learn from extended stay experts how to maximize opportunity and find success in the extended stay hotel category. Our first episode features the incredible Mike Leven, an icon amongst icons in the hotel business. Leven has had significant impact on the hospitality industry from his early days Dedicated business leader & visionary philanthropist with a rich 50-year career in the hospitality industry, notably including the successful launch of Holiday Inn Express, serving as President of Days Inn of America, leading the company through a reorganization that resulted in growth from a 225-unit regional chain to one of the largest brands in the world. He also founded US Franchise Systems, Inc. (USFS), which franchises the Microtel Inns & Suites, Hawthorn Suites, and Best Inns and Best Suites hotel brands. Plus, he was instrumental in creating the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA), served as President of Las Vegas Sands Corp. and has been involved in countless charitable efforts. We hope you enjoy this series!

Over in the UK, Steven Hesketh is known as the Hospitality Hero because he’s empowering people like us to be our Hospitality Hero. Today, we learn about the essential elements needed to rev up your hotel’s business as well as your career while getting a glimpse into the state of the UK hotel business.

Join Glenn, Craig and Producer Dave for some cocktails, a few laughs and whatever's on their minds as we wrap up the week.

noWebb Wilson, CEO and Chief Investment Officer at KWC Management, talks about what it's like to be running a company that holds the legacy of one of the most famous hoteliers there is. How does the history of Kemmons Wilson drive his strategy for future success?

Embassy Suites is celebrating its 40th anniversary, but it's not relying on the past. Undergoing a dynamic transformation Bonnie Campagnuolo, Global Brand Head, Embassy Suites by Hilton, shares hoew the brand continues connecting to owners and customers.

We're at Wynn Studios in Las Vegas with Todd-Avery Lenahan, President and Chief Creative Officer with Wynn Resorts discussing the secrets of building the company's different projects such as the $3.9 billion under construction Wynn Al Marjam in UAE and the potential $12 billion NYC property.

Dan Lesser of LW Hospitality Advisors cuts through the noise and shares the real truths about the state of hosptiality. Plus, San Francisco and NYC are smart investments?

Amaury Piedra, Managing Director of Caribe Royale Orlando shares the secret behind a massive $140 million property reinvention that reinvented an aging hotel into a four-star jewel! FYI, when I visited they had 98% occupancy at rates they’d never get before this project.

Get to know AHLA Interim President/CEO Kevin Carey! Kevin makes his first appearance with us so we get an update on the direction of the AHLA, its leadership search and how the organization is doubling down on sustainability with its partnership in Green Key Global.

Emily Cappiello is a PR specialist as well as a Food + Beverage Writer for major global publications. She joins the FNA gang to school them on how to really enjoy the worlds of hotel and travel.

Sales & Marketing have been around for so long it can be hard to find ways to be innovative. Bruce Himelstein, founder of the BJH group, shares how he continues to find ways to change these fields to keep things fresh and stand out from the crowd.

Fox Fold is reinventing toilet tissue for Big Savings for owners, operators and the environment. Today, we get an update from COO Gregory Hegger and MindClick's JoAnna Abrams who focuses on product ratings for healthier living. Drop me a line to learn more.

Last week during AAHOA's hashtag#AAHOAcon24 I spoke with Patty Jefferson, CDO with Visual Matrix about the state of hotel technology and how to think about what tech is the right tech to invest in. Where do you see the smart money in tech going?

Tom Roelens, Managing Director at Atlantis, The Royal in Dubai shares how his career led him to lead one of the top properties in the world. This one year old property was designed to complement Atlantis, The Palm and we share how they created, programmed and launched this property.