CoStar News Hotels

Why Yotel is partnering with Hilton (with Yotel CEO Phil Andreopoulos)

CoStar News Hotels — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 08:49:14 -0400

In an exclusive interview recorded at the International Hospitality Investment Forum EMEA in Berlin, Yotel CEO Phil Andreopoulos discussed the growth possibilities for his 23-hotel brand now that it's signed a franchise agreement with Hilton.

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts' strategy with Chief Development Officer David Wilner

CoStar News Hotels — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 06:00:00 -0400

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Chief Development Officer David Wilner sits down with CoStar News' Stephanie Ricca to discuss the global franchise company's expansion into higher-end brands and extended-stay. This episode was recorded at the 2026 Hunter Conference in Atlanta.

The future of architecture and design in hospitality

CoStar News Hotels — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 06:00:00 -0400

Pete Dunne, vice president at planning, landscape architecture and urban design company EDSA, joined CoStar News Hotels' Trevor Simpson for an interview at the 2026 Hunter Conference.

Why Vietnam's hotels and tourism are poised for long-term success

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 06:00:00 -0400

STR's Jesper Palmqvist joins the podcast for our monthly overview of the Asia-Pacific region, focusing this month on why infrastructure improvements and foreign investment are buoying the outlook for tourism destinations in Vietnam.

How Raines Co. turned history into a mission-driven stay

CoStar News Hotels — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 06:00:00 -0400

At the 2026 Hunter Conference, Raines Co. CEO Grey Raines joins CoStar News' Natalie Harms to discuss the company's Lantern Hotels and why adaptive reuse, inclusive hiring and curated experiences are outperforming traditional development.

Graduate Hotels set for portfolio growth two years after Hilton acquisition

CoStar News Hotels — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 06:00:00 -0400

Parker Henderson, brand leader of Graduate by Hilton, joined CoStar News Hotels' Trevor Simpson for an interview at the 2026 Hunter Conference.

IHG's new Americas-focused exec on why the brand is 'on the move'

CoStar News Hotels — Fri, 03 Apr 2026 06:00:00 -0400

Natalie Harms of CoStar News Hotels speaks with Mark Sergot of IHG Hotels & Resorts about his move from leading global sales into heading development for the Americas. The discussion highlights IHG’s loyalty engine, commercial performance, and the opportunities Mark sees for hotel owners in both new builds and conversions.

Concord Hospitality bolsters investment in extended-stay segment

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 06:00:00 -0400

Helene Okabe, senior vice president of business development at Concord Hospitality, joined CoStar News Hotels' Trevor Simpson for an interview at the 2026 Hunter Conference.

Why this hotelier is seeing success targeting the tertiary markets

CoStar News Hotels — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 06:00:00 -0400

Newport Hospitality Group President Wayne West unpacks why the real opportunity lies just outside major city centers in this episode with CoStar News reporter Natalie Harms. He dives into deal flow, repositioning strategies, and why talent — not capital — is the real differentiator in today’s hotel landscape.

Surveying the hotel demand and development landscape with Vision Hospitality's Mitch Patel

CoStar News Hotels — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 06:00:00 -0400

Mitch Patel, CEO and founder of Vision Hospitality Group, joined CoStar News Hotels' Trevor Simpson for an interview at the 2026 Hunter Conference in Atlanta.

Three in NYC: Unpacking luxury hotel deal dynamics with Gencom's Karim Alibhai

CoStar News Hotels — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 06:00:00 -0400

Karim Alibhai, founder and principal of luxury hotel and resort developer Gencom, sits down with CoStar News' Stephanie Ricca at the 2026 Hunter Conference to talk about Gencom's recent hotel deals in New York City. He talks about competition for bids in the city, why his company is focused on asset management for returns, and the future of luxury hotels.

Hospitality America’s 30-year playbook and next phase of growth

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 06:00:00 -0400

Ben Campbell, president and CEO at Hospitality America, joined CoStar News Hotels' Natalie Harms in conversation at the 2026 Hunter Conference. In the interview, Campbell discusses Hospitality America's 30-year anniversary and unpacks how the “small but mighty” management company is competing with larger players.

IHIF Day 2 recap: More optimism, less certainty

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0400

European hoteliers remained optimistic on deals and travel demand during the second day of the International Hospitality Investment Forum, recapped by CoStar News' Sean McCracken and Terence Baker. But they are also more reluctant to give specific expectations for the rest of 2026.

Hotel transaction market picks up with promising submarket activity

CoStar News Hotels — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 06:00:00 -0400

Arriba Capital's Ryan Bosch joined CoStar News Hotels Reporter Natalie Harms at the 2026 Hunter Conference to share what he's seeing in the hotel transactions market in the U.S. He said some submarkets are seeing more activity — even if the market as a whole is distressed — and there's a lot of opportunity for hotel conversions versus ground-up developments.

Recapping Day 1 of IHIF EMEA 2026 in Berlin

CoStar News Hotels — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0400

CoStar News Hotels' Terence Baker and Sean McCracken share their takeaways from the first day of the International Hospitality Investment Forum EMEA in Berlin.

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

CoStar News Hotels — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 06:00:00 -0400

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.

Key takeaways from day two of the Hunter Hotel Investment Conference

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 05:59:00 -0400

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

Recapping the first day of the Hunter Hotel Investment Conference 2026

CoStar News Hotels — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 06:00:00 -0400

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

What it was like to take over San Francisco's biggest hotels in receivership (with HotelAVE's Michelle Russo)

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 06:00:00 -0400

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.

Crescent seeks hotels where it can make an impact (with Lily Hu)

CoStar News Hotels — Fri, 06 Mar 2026 06:00:00 -0500

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.

New era for Remington Hospitality includes cost control, targeted expansion

CoStar News Hotels — Thu, 05 Mar 2026 06:00:00 -0500

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 execs share views on delivering net operating income, revenue maximization and growth in troubled markets

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 04 Mar 2026 06:00:00 -0500

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.

Hotel transactions market is making its slow-but-steady comeback

CoStar News Hotels — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 06:00:00 -0500

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.

Minor Hotels lines up major North American expansion

CoStar News Hotels — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 06:00:00 -0500

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.

Why monthslong stays are a hidden opportunity for hotels (with Noble's Mit Shah)

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 06:00:00 -0500

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."

There's room for hotel operators in Australia (with Trilogy Hotels' Tony Ryan)

CoStar News Hotels — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 06:00:00 -0500

During our monthly check-in on the Asia-Pacific region, Trilogy Hotels' Tony Ryan joins the podcast, along with news editor Sean McCracken and STR's Jesper Palmqvist, to discuss how his company is seizing on the white space for third-party management in Australia.

Hyatt's plan for growth in select-service hotels

CoStar News Hotels — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 09:14:06 -0500

In this episode, CoStar News Hotels Reporter Natalie Harms speaks with Jason Ballard, global brand leader – Essentials at Hyatt, about how the company is thinking about growth. Ballard describes Hyatt's Essentials portfolio as the company's "growth vehicle" in the conversation, which was recorded at the recent Americas Lodging Investment Summit.

Davidson CEO pins 2026 hopes on events, international growth (with Thom Geshay)

CoStar News Hotels — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 06:00:00 -0500

Big events in the U.S. and growing their platform outside the U.S. are the recipe for success in 2026 according to Davidson Hospitality Group President and CEO Thom Geshay, but he thinks year over year comparisons should also get easier. This episode was recorded live at the Americas Lodging Investment Summit.

Accor looks to set itself apart in luxury, lifestyle experience (with Agnès Roquefort)

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 06:00:00 -0500

Accor's Chief Development Officer for luxury and lifestyle Agnès Roquefort joins the podcast to talk about how her company is looking to grow its presence on the high end and how success in those segments relies so much on unique experiences.

Kasa's Mint House deal a 'maturation moment,' CEO says

CoStar News Hotels — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 06:00:00 -0500

In an interview at the Americas Lodging Investment Summit, Kasa founder and CEO Roman Pedan speaks with CoStar News Hotels' Bryan Wroten about his aparthotel company's recent acquisition of competitor Mint House, the recent spotlight on his corner of the hospitality industry and what's to come.

Hotel Equities' CEO thinks we're overestimating the World Cup, but it might not matter

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 06:00:00 -0500

Even if hotel demand expectations don't come in as hopes for many FIFA World Cup markets, Hotel Equities CEO Ben Rafter thinks 2026 will be a year that exceeds expectations. This episode was recorded live at the Americas Lodging Investment Summit.

Hilton's Christian Charnaux sees no end to his company's outsized growth

CoStar News Hotels — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 06:00:00 -0500

After capturing 6.7% of net unit growth in 2025, it'd be natural to expect a cooldown even for a major hotel brand like Hilton. But Chief Development Officer Christian Charnaux believes there is opportunity to continue at that pace, particularly as 1 in 5 global hotel rooms under construction are slated to carry Hilton flags.

This episode was recorded live at the Americas Lodging Investment Summit on January 26, 2026.

Marriott's Leeny Oberg looks back at her career and lessons learned

CoStar News Hotels — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 06:00:00 -0500

Marriott International Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President, Development, Leeny Oberg talks with CoStar News Hotels' Bryan Wroten at the 2026 Americas Lodging Investment Summit. With her retirement coming at the end of March, she talks about her experiences at Marriott, her favorite moments, the 2016 Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide deal and what's next.

Super Bowl hotel demand preview in Bay Area (with CoStar's Colin Sherman)

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 06:00:00 -0500

CoStar Group's Colin Sherman joined the CoStar News Hotels podcast to contextualize the Super Bowl's effect on hotel rates and occupancy in Santa Clara and San Francisco.

Thailand's tourism push (with STR's Jesper Palmqvist)

CoStar News Hotels — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 06:00:00 -0500

Thailand has had to overcome some negative headlines from 2025 in it, but tourism stakeholders in that country are making big pushes to bring in hopes of bringing in 3 trillion baht, roughly $96 billion, in tourism revenue for the year. STR's Jesper Palmqvist joins the podcast to unpack those efforts.

AI's 'tectonic shift' for hoteliers

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 06:00:00 -0500

Kurien Jacob, partner at Highgate Tech Ventures, joins the show to dive deep into how AI is reshaping hospitality, from guest-facing search to operations productivity.

Reading the room at the second day of the ALIS conference (with Sloan Dean)

CoStar News Hotels — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 21:06:48 -0500

Former Remington Hospitality CEO Sloan Dean joins News Editor Sean McCracken to talk through the second day of the Americas Lodging Investment Summit and expectations for 2026.

Recapping the first day of the Americas Lodging Investment Summit 2026

CoStar News Hotels — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 06:00:00 -0500

CoStar News Hotels' Bryan Wroten and Natalie Harms share the highlights from the first day of the 2026 Americas Lodging Investment Summit.

SCP Hotels takes a walk on the wild side for 2026 wellness trends

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 06:00:00 -0500

SCP Hotels co-founders, Ken and Pam Cruse, join the podcast to explain why they priorities nature-led hospitality — and how other hoteliers can do the same in 2026.

An update on the US labor rules that could affect hotel operators

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 06:00:00 -0500

In this interview, labor attorney Sylvia St. Clair talks about new minimum wage increases, U.S. Department of Labor opinions and more.

What to expect from hotel financing in 2026 (with Peachtree's Jared Schlosser)

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 07 Jan 2026 06:00:00 -0500

Jared Schlosser, head of originations and C-PACE at Peachtree Group, joins the podcast to share his outlook on the lending environment in 2026, and why it's a "tale of two cities" when comparing the best positioned borrowers with the rest.

Hotel experts pick the word of 2025

CoStar News Hotels — Tue, 30 Dec 2025 06:00:00 -0500

What word best describes the vibe of '25? Hoteliers and industry experts share some choices that show a mix of optimism and the challenges of a difficult year.

How Singapore's City Development Limited is finding hotel investments across the globe

CoStar News Hotels — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 06:00:00 -0500

CDL's David Ling and STR's Jesper Palmqvist join the podcast for the monthly look across the Asia Pacific region, with Ling discussing how Singapore-based CDL is finding hotel investment opportunities across the globe.

2026 hotel trend forecast with Hertelier's Emily Goldfischer

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 06:00:00 -0500

Herterlier founder and editor in chief Emily Goldfischer joins CoStar News Hotels' Stephanie Ricca to choose their top hotel industry trends for 2026. From traveling with purpose to choosing "skillcations," Ricca and Goldfischer give a lighthearted yet informed take on the industry trends they think have lasting power, and the ones that are just noise.

How Bunkhouse Hotels is growing in its Hyatt era

CoStar News Hotels — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 06:00:00 -0500

Just over a year after Bunkhouse Hotels became a part of Hyatt Hotels Corp. through its acquisition of Standard International, CoStar News' Natalie Harms sits down with Lisa Bonifacio is managing director, The Lifestyle Group, Hyatt, to talk about Bunkhouse's newest hotel: Hotel Daphne in Houston.

The challenges of growing hotel commercial team talent (with HSMAI's Brian Hicks and Horwath HTL's Dorothy Dowling)

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 10 Dec 2025 06:00:00 -0500

Hotel companies, and more specifically their commercial strategy teams, will succeed or fail based on the strength of their talent, according to Horwath HTL's Dorothy Dowling. So Dowling and HSMAI President and CEO Brian Hicks join the podcast to discuss the major challenges facing talent development and how leadership and artificial intelligence are both key.

What hotel owners are looking for in a third-party manager (with PM Hotel Group's Paul Sacco)

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 03 Dec 2025 06:00:00 -0500

In this interview, PM Hotel Group Chief Growth and Development Officer Paul Sacco said hotel owners are looking for transparency and leadership accessibility in a third-party operator, among other important factors.

Behind the Japanese hotel investment boom (with STR's Jesper Palmqvist and CBRE's Steve Carroll)

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 26 Nov 2025 06:00:00 -0500

Strong demand and cheap debt are a potent combination for both domestic and international investors looking to grow their presence in Japan's hotel industry. This month's check in on the Asia Pacific region is a conversation with STR's Jesper Palmqvist and CBRE's Steve Carroll focusing on that topic, along with the rebound in Hong Kong and Australia's recent cricket success against England.

Here's what hoteliers are thankful for this year

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 06:00:00 -0500

In this episode of the CoStar News Hotels Podcast, CoStar Analyst Didio Pequeno shares the latest hotel performance climate and downgraded forecast while five hoteliers weigh in on what they are grateful for in a year marked by uncertainty.

Delivering a historic hotel experience

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 12 Nov 2025 06:00:00 -0500

Paul Eckert, executive vice president of operations and business intelligence at Davidson Hospitality, which manages 11 properties in its portfolio that are nearly or over a century old, joins the show to share what goes into maintaining a historic hotel portfolio.

The changing landscape of family travel (with NYU's Anna Abelson)

CoStar News Hotels — Tue, 11 Nov 2025 06:00:00 -0500

Anna Abelson, adjunct instructor at the NYU SPS Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality, joins the podcast to talk about the 2025 U.S. Family Travel Survey, which sees strong intent to travel and spend but some worrying underlying numbers for hoteliers.

A breakdown of 'no tax on tips' for the hospitality industry

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 05 Nov 2025 06:00:00 -0500

In this episode, employee benefits and tax attorney Lorie Maring from Fisher Phillips explains why the new "no tax on tips and overtime" law is a little more complicated than it sounds.

How hotel investors view opportunities in the Asia-Pacific (with STR's Jesper Palmqvist)

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 29 Oct 2025 06:00:00 -0400

In this episode, STR's Jesper Palmqvist shares his observations from the recent HICAP conference in Singapore about how hotel investors are looking at deal opportunities in the Asia-Pacific region.

Exploring Outbound Hotels' growing map of modern escapes into nature

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 06:00:00 -0400

Ahead of Outbound Hotels expanding to Yosemite and Sedona next year, it has named CoralTree Hospitality as its exclusive operating partner. Matthew Mering, co-founder of Outbound Hotels and executive vice president of hospitality at Waterton, Outbound's parent company, joins the show to discuss the company's mission and growth trajectory.

How Hilton is 'Unlocking Doors' for new hotel owners (with Hilton's DeShaun Wise Porter)

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 15 Oct 2025 06:00:00 -0400

DeShaun Wise Porter, vice president of strategic pathways and recognition at Hilton, says education and mentorship are key tools for new hotel owners. She joins the podcast this week to talk about Hilton's Unlocking Doors program and the value of expanding the pool of hotel owners.

A quick Lodging Conference recap

CoStar News Hotels — Thu, 09 Oct 2025 06:00:00 -0400

CoStar News' Stephanie Ricca and Trevor Simpson share the main takeaways from this year's Lodging Conference in Phoenix. Topics include why persistent uncertainty is a real factor and how brave buyers are getting hotel deals jump-started again.

2026 will be about the "why" of travel, and other trends (with Hilton's Jess Petitt)

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 08 Oct 2025 08:00:00 -0400

Hilton's newly released 2026 Trends Report describes 2026 as the year of the "Whycation", projecting travelers will focus more on the reasons behind their desire to hit the road. Hilton's Senior Vice President of Strategy, Insights and Full Service Brands Jess Petitt joins the podcast to talk about that and the many other trends that will define the upcoming year.

The hope and pragmatism behind the push for more seasonal workers (with AHLA's Ashley McNeil)

CoStar News Hotels — Tue, 07 Oct 2025 06:00:00 -0400

Hotels reliant on seasonal workers have to regularly content with federal caps on H-2B visas, a problem that is a keen focus for Ashley McNeil, vice president of federal government affairs at the American Hotel and Lodging Association, and chair of the H-2B Workforce Coalition. While she's hopeful for a long-term solution, she notes there are pressing issues across the federal government that could get in the way in the near future.

Navigating a rough budget season (with Charlestowne's Alicia Carr)

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 01 Oct 2025 06:00:00 -0400

With lighter demand and rising costs, hoteliers have been challenged to maintain profitability. Alicia Carr, Charlestowne Hotels' vice president of finance, joins the podcast to talk about how her company is tackling that challenge and navigating that while starting a new role.

How storm season differs for Asia-Pacific, western travel (with STR's Jesper Palmqvist)

CoStar News Hotels — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 06:00:00 -0400

Weather events like typhoons are currently affecting portions of Asia, and STR's Jesper Palmqvist joins the podcast to talk about how storm season in the region differs from patterns in regions like the Caribbean — along with other Asia-Pacific hotel trends.

Crestline Hotels & Resorts' James Carroll reflects on company's 25th anniversary

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0400

In this episode, Crestline Hotels & Resorts President and CEO James Carroll talks about his company's 25th anniversary, how the company has evolved over the years and shares his insights into what's going on in the industry today.

Don't forget the value of housekeepers (with Davidson's Harry Carr and Robert Morse)

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 17 Sep 2025 06:00:00 -0400

In recognition of National Housekeeping Week, the podcast focuses on the importance of housekeepers. Davidson Hospitality Group executives Harry Carr and Robert Morse talk about their experience in housekeeping and how it has helped elevate their careers.

What hotel managers need to know about guest satisfaction

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 10 Sep 2025 06:00:00 -0400

In this episode, Andrea Stokes, hospitality practice lead at J.D. Power, shares details on the company's newest report that found guests are satisfied with rooms and service, but are less happy with property maintenance and food and beverage concepts.

First Hospitality's Jenna Fishel on the evolution of her company's commercial strategy team

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 03 Sep 2025 06:00:00 -0400

In a podcast interview, First Hospitality's Jenna Fishel talks about her company's transition to a commercial strategy model and how it's navigating the current demand environment.

The rising need for resilience planning in hotels

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 27 Aug 2025 06:00:00 -0400

Host's Ritz-Carlton Naples property took nine months to renovate after Hurricane Ian, but when hurricanes Milton and Helene hit, the hotel was able to reopen in just nine days thanks to all its resilience renovations.

Hotels are booming in India and Japan, but the markets are not the same (with STR's Jesper Palmqvist)

CoStar News Hotels — Mon, 25 Aug 2025 06:00:00 -0400

STR's Jesper Palmqvist joins the podcast for our monthly check-in on the Asia Pacific region, diving into what makes that part of the world's two key growth markets - Japan and India - so different despite their similarly strong growth. Across the rest of the region, hoteliers are facing a difficult budget season.

AI and the growing travel market with Booking.com's Olaf Belgraver

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 20 Aug 2025 06:00:00 -0400

Olaf Belgraver from Booking.com discussed recent consumer travel trends as the global industry continues to grow.

How hotel revenue managers are making sense of a complicated environment (live at the Hotel Data Conference with Pyramid Global Hospitality's Lori Kiel)

CoStar News Hotels — Mon, 18 Aug 2025 06:00:00 -0400

Pyramid Global Hospitality's Senior Vice President of Revenue Management Lori Kiel joined the podcast during the recent Hotel Data Conference in Nashville to talk about the various challenges facing revenue strategy, including long-term headwinds for international travel and how forecasting and budgeting are impacted by a volatile economy.

Why revenue managers should feel proud (with Sage Hospitality's Priya Chandnani, live from HDC)

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 13 Aug 2025 06:00:00 -0400

Sage Hospitality Group's Priya Chandnani joins the podcast live at the Hotel Data Conference in Nashville to talk about how revenue managers are faring in an increasingly difficult environment and how there's still room for innovation.

Takeaways from Day 2 of the 2025 Hotel Data Conference (with STR's Hannah Smith)

CoStar News Hotels — Fri, 08 Aug 2025 15:15:10 -0400

Bryan Wroten and Trevor Simpson from CoStar News Hotels speak with STR's Hannah Smith about their impressions from the second day of the 2025 Hotel Data Conference.

Recapping the first day of Hotel Data Conference 2025 (with STR's Kelsey Fenerty)

CoStar News Hotels — Fri, 08 Aug 2025 06:00:00 -0400

The CoStar News Hotels team, along with STR's Kelsey Fenerty, talk about their top takeaways from the first day of the 2025 Hotel Data Conference in Nashville, including a revision to the full-year forecast for the U.S. hotel industry.

Japanese travel cools, but the market is still hugely successful (with STR's Jesper Palmqvist)

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 06:00:00 -0400

Growth is finally slowing after a years-long stretch of outsized growth for Japanese hotels, but STR's Jesper Palmqvist notes the country is still enjoying strong performance and remains the success story across the Asia Pacific region.

The complicated landscape of hotel procurement (with Benjamin West's Alan Benjamin)

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 23 Jul 2025 06:00:00 -0400

Benjamin West founder Alan Benjamin joins the podcast to talk about the issues facing procurement for hotel companies, which remains challenging with shifting tariffs impacting the costs of goods.

What's going on with extended-stay hotels? (With the Highland Group's Mark Skinner)

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 16 Jul 2025 06:00:00 -0400

Mark Skinner, principal with The Highland Group, joins the podcast to dissect supply-demand dynamics for extended stay hotels and why there hasn't been an explosion of new supply despite outsized brand and investor interest.

How US hoteliers can prepare for the arrival of ICE agents

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 09 Jul 2025 06:00:00 -0400

Jessica Cook, partner at the law firm Fisher Phillips with a specialty in immigration and hospitality employment law, explains what hoteliers need to know about the ongoing ICE raids and arrests and how they should create response plans for their hotel teams.

Taking the good with the bad in Thailand (with STR's Jesper Palmqvist)

CoStar News Hotels — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 06:00:00 -0400

STR's Jesper Palmqvist joins the podcast for his monthly check in on Asia Pacific hotel performance and news. This month's discussion includes the highs and lows in Thailand, along with the varying trajectories seen in China and Japan.

Sonesta's Brian Quinn on his company continuing franchise evolution

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 25 Jun 2025 06:00:00 -0400

The Sonesta International Hotels brand family was born from hotel ownership but has gone a years long transformation to be one of the top franchising companies in the hotel industry. Chief Development Officer Brian Quinn joins the podcast to talk about how they're steering that growth while maintaining and owner-first mindset.

Summer 2025 travel trends with Deloitte's Maggie Rauch

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 06:00:00 -0400

Deloitte Transportation, Hospitality and Services Research Manager Maggie Rauch joins the podcast to unpack the company's summer travel trends report. She talks with CoStar News' Stephanie Ricca about how people are spending their summer vacations and how much money they're spending on them.

Tax cuts, labor issues top the agenda for AHLA

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 11 Jun 2025 06:00:00 -0400

American Hotel & Lodging Association President and CEO Rosanna Maietta joins the podcast to talk about the top issues for the hotel industry's largest advocacy and lobbying group, including how they're working to get industry priorities in budget legislation currently in front of Congress.

Cautiously optimistic but frustrated: Recapping the NYU International Hospitality Investment Forum 2025

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 04 Jun 2025 06:00:00 -0400

CoStar News' Stephanie Ricca and Sean McCracken share their insights from attending this year's NYU IHIF.

Hong Kong hotel performance a mixed bag, even amid high occupancy levels

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 28 May 2025 08:03:11 -0400

STR's Jesper Palmqvist joined the Hotel News Now podcast to discuss hotel performance in Hong Kong year to date along with other trends in the Asia-Pacific region.

Extended-stay segment experiences softening demand as supply continues growth

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 21 May 2025 06:00:00 -0400

On the latest episode of the Hotel News Now podcast, CoStar Group's Colin Sherman talks about how the extended-stay sector is performing.

Smaller hotel owners see big opportunities in current business climate

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 14 May 2025 06:00:00 -0400

In this podcast interview, Woodmont Lodging's Michael Blank talks to HNN's Bryan Wroten about 'the little guy' in the hotel industry, hotel owners with small portfolios, and how they're navigating the current environment.

Design-focused Hotel Indigo enters new era

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 07 May 2025 06:00:00 -0400

IHG Hotels and Resorts is on a mission to double its Hotel Indigo portfolio and opening boutique-style, uniquely-designed hotels around the world.

Major Chinese markets see signs of hotel demand pickup in second half of 2025 (with STR's Jesper Palmqvist)

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 06:00:00 -0400

In this episode, STR's Jesper Palmqvist speaks with CoStar News' Trevor Simpson about the latest hotel performance trends in the Asia-Pacific region.

Breaking down the hotel guest online invasion of privacy lawsuit in California

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 23 Apr 2025 06:00:00 -0400

In this episode, cybersecurity, privacy and hospitality attorney Robert Braun from JMBM talks about an online invasion of privacy lawsuit filed against Accor and how it comes down to the use of tracking pixels on websites.

Vision Hospitality's Mitch Patel on growing leisure market share and challenges for developers

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 06:00:00 -0400

Mitch Patel, CEO and founder of Vision Hospitality, joins the show to talk about the slew of challenges he's facing as a hotel developer and operator amid uncertain market conditions. He also explains what's happening in leisure travel, including his prediction on how things will shake out.

Olympia Hospitality's John Schultzel on the power of storytelling in hotels

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 09 Apr 2025 06:00:00 -0400

John Schultzel, chief growth officer for Maine-based Olympia Hospitality, sits down with Hotel News Now's Stephanie Ricca to talk about how stories power independent hotels. He updates listeners on the company's growth strategy in university towns and shares his take on today's travel trends.

European hoteliers optimistic about 2025 outlook despite global uncertainties

CoStar News Hotels — Thu, 03 Apr 2025 06:00:00 -0400

HNN's Bryan Wroten and Terence Baker go over the discussions held at the 2025 International Hospitality Investment Forum EMEA in Berlin, noting on the overall optimistic mood as hoteliers figure out strategies for potential global economic disruptions.

Hotel demand grows in regional Vietnam markets (with STR's Jesper Palmqvist)

CoStar News Hotels — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 06:00:00 -0400

STR's Jesper Palmqvist joined the HNN podcast to discuss hotel demand trends in Vietnam, the Philippines and Thailand.

HNN recaps the Hunter Hotel Investment Conference 2025

CoStar News Hotels — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 11:24:26 -0400

Hotel News Now's Natalie Harms and Dan Kubacki discuss their takeaways from the Hunter Hotel Investment Conference 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia.

1 Hotels brand prepares to debut in Seattle

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 12 Mar 2025 06:00:00 -0400

Rob Brandenberg, general manager of the 1 Hotel Seattle, joins the HNN podcast to discuss the imminent opening of the 1 Hotel Seattle in April.

Uncertainty looms over Washington, D.C., hotel market

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 05 Mar 2025 06:00:00 -0500

In this episode, PM Hotel Group's Joseph Bojanowski and CoStar News' Jonathan Lehrfeld talk about how the latest decisions by the Trump administration on federal agencies is affecting the Washington, D.C. hotel market.

Hotel profits under pressure in Singapore (with STR's Jesper Palmqvist)

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 08:18:13 -0500

On this week's episode, STR's Jesper Palmqvist discusses Singapore's performance so far in 2025.

Mandarin Oriental's Tiffany Cooper shares how the luxury space is changing

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 19 Feb 2025 06:00:00 -0500

In this episode, Mandarin Oriental's Tiffany Cooper talks about how the luxury hotel guests want less opulence and more connections and experiences that are authentic to the locale.

STR's Amanda Hite says new 'conservative' forecast has more upside potential

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 12 Feb 2025 06:00:00 -0500

In this episode, STR's Amanda Hite talks about the factors at play in the latest U.S. hotel industry forecast and how hoteliers are managing the stabilizing challenges in front of them.

BWH Hotels' Larry Cuculic talks focusing on efficiency, revenue to drive growth

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 05 Feb 2025 06:00:00 -0500

In this interview at the Americas Lodging Investment Summit, BWH Hotels President and CEO Larry Cuculic talks about the way he's challenged his team to be more effective and efficient to drive revenue to hotel owners, which will in turn help the company achieve it's goal of hitting 5,150 hotels in five years.

HNN recaps the Americas Lodging Investment Summit 2025

CoStar News Hotels — Thu, 30 Jan 2025 09:38:40 -0500

HNN's Bryan Wroten and Sean McCracken provide their thoughts and takeaways from the American Lodging Investment Summit 2025 in Los Angeles.

Japan's tourism hot streak continues into 2025 (with STR's Jesper Palmqvist)

CoStar News Hotels — Tue, 28 Jan 2025 06:00:00 -0500

Japan was one of the hottest countries for tourism demand in 2024, and so far into 2025, it seems unlikely that will change. But are there any signs on the horizon of a cool down? STR's Jesper Palmqvist joins the podcast for our monthly check in on the Asia Pacific region

5-year flashback: Revisiting hotel industry predictions from 2020

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 22 Jan 2025 07:00:00 -0500

In this episode, HNN's Stephanie Ricca, Sean McCracken and Bryan Wroten discuss the predictions the team made back in January 2020 of what the hotel industry would be like in 2025.

Mocktails and other non-alcoholic drinks give guests more choices when going out

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 07:00:00 -0500

In this episode, Karl McElligott, food and beverage director at Olympia Hospitality, talks about the growing popularity — and number of options — of mocktails and other zero-proof drinks that give guests more options when dining or having a night out.

2025 will be a strong year for creative borrowers (with Peachtree Group's Greg Friedman)

CoStar News Hotels — Tue, 07 Jan 2025 07:00:00 -0500

While the availability of financing will be better for hotel investors and developers, borrowers who are willing to get more creative on how they finance deal are most poised for success, according to Peachtree Group's Greg Friedman.

2025 travel trend buzzwords with staying power (with Hertelier's Emily Goldfischer)

CoStar News Hotels — Fri, 03 Jan 2025 08:00:00 -0500

Hotel News Now's Stephanie Ricca invites Hertelier founder Emily Goldfischer to the podcast to discuss travel trend buzzwords taking over social media, and whether or not they have staying power. From me-moons to hurkle-durkling, Ricca and Goldfischer share real data driving these trends, plus plenty of laughs about the absurd words travel marketers dream up. Find more about Goldfischer and Hertelier at www.hertelier.com.

Can South Korea's tourism industry weather the political storm (and other 2024 Asia-Pacific takeaways with Jesper Palmqvist)

CoStar News Hotels — Tue, 31 Dec 2024 07:00:00 -0500

On the latest episode of the Hotel News Now podcast, STR's Jesper Palmqvist said that geopolitical issues don't always show up in hotel performance immediately, and South Korea is likely to continue to see strong travel demand.

An inside look at the next era of the Waldorf Astoria New York (with Luigi Romaniello)

CoStar News Hotels — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 07:00:00 -0500

The Waldorf Astoria New York has been closed since 2017 to make way for a massive renovation and reimagining of the historic property. Managing Director Luigi Romaniello joins the podcast to talk about how that process has gone and what he believes will get guests most excited after reopening in Spring 2025.

How Concord Hospitality has grown for 40 years (with Mark Laport and Will Loughran)

CoStar News Hotels — Tue, 17 Dec 2024 07:00:00 -0500

Mark Laport founded Concord Hospitality Enterprises in 1985, making 2025 their upcoming 40th anniversary. He and Concord Chief Operating Officer Will Loughran join the podcast to discuss how the Raleigh, North Carolina-based company has grown incrementally over four decades to roughly 150 hotels.

5 Thing to know from November 2024

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 07:00:00 -0500

Highlights from across the Hotel News Now podcast network in November.

Is there cause for concern in Singapore and Malaysia? (with STR's Jesper Palmqvist)

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 04 Dec 2024 07:00:00 -0500

In HNN's monthly check-in on the Asia Pacific region, STR's Jesper Palmqvist highlights some of the markets that are currently exciting hoteliers, and some that are generating more concern.

What hoteliers have to be thankful for in 2024 (with Emmy Hise)

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 27 Nov 2024 07:00:00 -0500

On the eve of Thanksgiving in the U.S., CoStar's Emmy Hise joins the show to talk about what hoteliers can be thankful for.

The labor law changes US hoteliers can expect under a second Trump Administration

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 08:00:00 -0500

In this episode, labor attorney Andria Ryan outlines the likely changes to U.S. labor laws and rules under the incoming Trump administraiton.

Third-quarter earnings season recap with Truist's C. Patrick Scholes

CoStar News Hotels — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 08:00:00 -0500

Truist Securities' C. Patrick Scholes joined the HNN podcast to recap third-quarter earnings calls from hotel brands and publicly traded real estate investment trusts.

The emotional side of hotel M&A with Steve Van

CoStar News Hotels — Tue, 12 Nov 2024 07:00:00 -0500

Prism Hotels & Resorts founder Steve Van discusses the ins and outs of his former company's acquisition by Aimbridge Hospitality in 2021 and how that decision was more emotionally charged than he expected.

Unpacking the latest wave of hotel operator mergers and acquisitions with W. Chris Green

CoStar News Hotels — Thu, 07 Nov 2024 07:00:00 -0500

Former Chesapeake Hospitality and Remington Hospitality executive W. Chris Green joins the podcast to talk about the recent wave of mergers and acquisitions involving hotel management company and how he navigated a deal himself.

5 things to know from October 2024

CoStar News Hotels — Fri, 01 Nov 2024 07:00:00 -0400

News editor Sean McCracken recaps some of Hotel News Now and CoStar News' top stories and podcasts from October.

Stories featured in this podcast include:

Can Golden Week, stimulus spark a travel turnaround in China?

CoStar News Hotels — Fri, 25 Oct 2024 08:04:38 -0400

STR's Jesper Palmqvist and Matthew Burke join the podcast to discuss the latest across the Asia Pacific region, including whether recent stimulus efforts -- and the Golden Week holiday -- will help spur a travel rebound in China.

Why Seattle stands out among West Coast hotel markets

CoStar News Hotels — Tue, 15 Oct 2024 07:00:00 -0400

CoStar's Emmy Hise and Randyl Drummer join the HNN podcast to discuss why Seattle is in a better position than many other West Coast markets.

HNN recaps Day 2 of the Lodging Conference 2024

CoStar News Hotels — Thu, 10 Oct 2024 08:07:47 -0400

HNN's Bryan Wroten and Trevor Simpson share their thoughts and what they heard from second full day of the Lodging Conference 2024 in Phoenix, Arizona.

HNN recaps Day 1 of the Lodging Conference 2024

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 09 Oct 2024 08:27:40 -0400

HNN's Bryan Wroten and Trevor Simpson share their takeaways from the first day of the Lodging Conference 2024 in Phoenix, Arizona.

Hilton's 2025 trends report finds people want to maximize their travel

CoStar News Hotels — Mon, 30 Sep 2024 07:00:00 -0400

In this episode, Hilton's Jess Petitt speaks about the company's 2025 Trends Report, which calls 2025 the "year of the travel maximizer" as travelers want to get the most out of their trips.

Winners and losers across Asia Pacific with STR's Jesper Palmqvist

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 25 Sep 2024 07:00:00 -0400

STR's Jesper Palmqvist joins the HNN podcast to talk about varying degrees of performance across the Asia Pacific region, the impacts of sporting events from F1 in Singapore to the Australian Football League, and takeaways from recent headlines like Oyo's pending acquisition of G6 Hospitality and China's new stimulus package.

The importance of being prepared during hurricane season

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 18 Sep 2024 07:00:00 -0400

Preparing for hurricane season is a year-round job, and HVMG's Jamison Conrey joins the HNN podcast to talk about how his company works to best prepare properties and employees for storms.

Experience is the 'only true differentiator' in food and beverage

CoStar News Hotels — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 08:00:00 -0400

In this episode, Pyramid Global Hospitality's Patrick Berwald talks about how creating value and quality experiences in food and beverage set hotels apart from the competition as well as Pyramid's Purple Mynt concepting program.

Unite Here explains the 'why' behind widespread hotel strikes

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 07:00:00 -0400

Cade Watanabe, president of Unite Here Local 5 in Hawaii and co-chair of a ongoing national campaign that lead to more than 10,000 hotel workers striking over Labor Day weekend joins the Hotel News Now podcast to discuss why hotel workers are walking off the job and why they believe providing workers with better pay and working conditions is vital to "save our industry."

Demand levels normalize for Squire Resort at Grand Canyon after pandemic-era surge

CoStar News Hotels — Thu, 05 Sep 2024 08:00:00 -0400

In this episode of the summer demand series, Michael Darrow, general manager of the Squire Resort at the Grand Canyon, BW Signature Collection, talks about normalizing demand levels and how extra offerings entice guests seeking new experiences to stay longer.

Breadth of camping experiences draws travelers in, KOA's chief exec says

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 04 Sep 2024 08:00:00 -0400

In this interview, Kampgrounds of America President and CEO Toby O'Rourke talks about the growing popularity of camping due in large part to the growing number of options available to travelers.

Chinese Outbound Travel Strong But Shifting with STR's Jesper Palmqvist

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 28 Aug 2024 08:00:00 -0400

In this episode, STR's Jesper Palmqvist digs into the changing patterns of Chinese inbound and outbound travel.

Ashford's Jeff Borman on the Joys of Travel, Podcasting and Predictability

CoStar News Hotels — Tue, 20 Aug 2024 07:00:00 -0400

Ashford Inc.'s Jeff Borman joins the Hotel News Now podcast to discuss his favorite current hotel industry trend -- the lack of volatility -- along with how he was inspired to work in the travel industry and start his own podcast explaining that industry, No Show.

Establishing Human Connections at Hotels with This Assembly's Bashar Wali

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 14 Aug 2024 07:00:00 -0400

Bashar Wali of This Assembly and Practice Hospitality joins the HNN podcast to talk about establishing real loyalty at hotels, which boils down to establishing real human-to-human connections.

HDC 2024 Day 2 Recap with STR's Emmy Hise and CoStar News' Tony Wilbert

CoStar News Hotels — Fri, 09 Aug 2024 15:20:51 -0400

HNN's Bryan Wroten speaks with CoStar's Emmy Hise and CoStar News' Tony Wilbert to discuss what they heard on the second day of the 2024 Hotel Data Conference and to share their overall takeaways.

HDC 2024 Day 1 Recap with STR's Kelsey Fenerty

CoStar News Hotels — Fri, 09 Aug 2024 08:00:00 -0400

HNN's Sean McCracken and Trevor Simpson are joined by STR's Kelsey Fenerty to discuss the first day of the 2024 Hotel Data Conference.

How a GM of Two Hotels Works Through Challenging Circumstances This Summer

CoStar News Hotels — Thu, 08 Aug 2024 08:00:00 -0400

In this episode, David Hill, area general manager for Crestline Hotels & Resorts, outlines how his hotels in Washington D.C. and New York are doing everything they can to capture increased demand despite some hotel-specific challenges.

California 'Junk Fees' Laws Another Step in Hotels' Pricing Transparency Journey

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 31 Jul 2024 08:00:00 -0400

In this interview, Jim Butler of Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell, speaks about how California's new "junk fees" laws fit into the broader context of hotel pricing transparency in the U.S. and how upfront pricing is creating a more level playing field.

Why Australian Hotel Performance is Strong but Disappointing with STR's Matthew Burke

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 24 Jul 2024 08:00:00 -0400

STR's Matthew Burke joins the Hotel News Now podcast to discuss performance across the Asia Pacific region and drill into why performance and sentiment across Australia is good... but not as good as some had hoped.

How Economy Hotels Should Sell Themselves to Travelers, with Horwath HTL's Dorothy Dowling

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 17 Jul 2024 08:00:00 -0400

HNN's Sean McCracken and CoStar's Emmy Hise sit down with Horwath HTL's Dorothy Dowling to talk about how economy hotels can stand out from the crowd even during a down period, how commercial strategy continues to evolve in the hotel industry, how to judge return on investment for experiences and more.

What the End of the Chevron Deference Means for Hoteliers

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 10 Jul 2024 08:00:00 -0400

In this episode, attorney Randy Coffey of Fisher Phillips explains the recent U.S. Supreme Court case that overturned the 1984 Chevron case and how that will affect the federal rules that hotel companies must follow.

Pair of Miami-Area Hotels Keep Up the Demand Pace During Offseason

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 03 Jul 2024 09:11:44 -0400

In the second episode of HNN's summer demand series, Jonathan Wikse, complex general manager for the AC Hotel Miami Aventura and Aloft Miami Aventura, talks about how he maintains demand pace at his hotels despite shifts in the events calendar from one year to the next.

How Hotel Performance in the Asia-Pacific Is Stabilizing

CoStar News Hotels — Fri, 28 Jun 2024 08:00:00 -0400

In a podcast interview, STR's Jesper Palmqvist talks about stronger hotel performance in the Asia-Pacific region in May and how markets can expect to see their metrics stabilize.

HNN Recaps the HITEC and HSMAI Commercial Strategy Conferences

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 26 Jun 2024 08:00:00 -0400

HNN editors Sean McCracken and Trevor Simpson talk about the top takeaways from HITEC and HSMAI Commercial Strategy Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Springboard Hospitality CEO on the Potential Across the West Coast, Hawaii

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 19 Jun 2024 08:00:00 -0400

Springboard Hospitality CEO Ben Rafter joins the HNN podcast to talk about his companies broad growth across the U.S., and how there are signs of hope across their core markets along the West Coast and Hawaii.

Aimbridge CEO Outlines What Recent Changes Mean for Company, Hotel Owners

CoStar News Hotels — Mon, 17 Jun 2024 08:00:00 -0400

Aimbridge Hospitality CEO Craig Smith speaks in detail at the NYU International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference about the company's latest structural and leadership changes.

PM Hotel Group's Joseph Bojanowski talks about the hotel industry's staffing crisis

CoStar News Hotels — Fri, 14 Jun 2024 08:00:00 -0400

PM Hotel Group President and CEO Joseph Bojanowski joins the Hotel News Now podcast to talk about persistent staffing issues across hotels and restaurants, possible solutions through immigration policy, and the importance of strong operations during a period of flattening demand.

Sonesta Execs Embark on New Era of Growth

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 12 Jun 2024 08:00:00 -0400

Sonesta International Hotels executives Keith Pierce and Brian Quinn join the Hotel News Now podcast to talk about what's next for the hotel brand company after a four-year span of growth and transformation.

Marriott International's Leeny Oberg Shares Hotel Outlook, Teases New Midscale Brand

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 05 Jun 2024 08:58:14 -0400

Marriott International’s Leeny Oberg joins the HNN podcast from the NYU International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference to discuss Marriott’s new Project Mid-T brand and her thoughts on interest rates, development and more.

Summer Demand: What Makes This Year Different for One California Hotel

CoStar News Hotels — Thu, 30 May 2024 08:00:00 -0400

In the first episode in a limited series on how summer demand is shaping up for U.S. hoteliers, the general manager of the Hyatt Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa on Del Monte Golf Course said the that while group pace has slowed with tech markets pulling back, events in Monterey have helped drive transient demand.

Pessimism Hits Asia-Pacific Hotels with Jesper Palmqvist

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 22 May 2024 08:00:00 -0400

STR's Jesper Palmqvist joins the podcast to talk about the shift in sentiment across the Asia-Pacific hotel industry, which has not yet seen a downturn in performance.

Unpacking International Travel Expectations with Emmy Hise and Daryl Cronk

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 15 May 2024 08:00:00 -0400

CoStar's Emmy Hise and Tourism Economics' Daryl Cronk join the HNN podcast to talk about the outlook for international travel into the U.S. and how big of an impact it will have this summer.

How Hoteliers Can Manage Overtime Threshold Change, Non-Compete Ban

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 08 May 2024 08:00:00 -0400

In this episode, labor attorney Andria Ryan explains the recent changes to the overtime exemption threshold and banning of non-competes, and why hotel operators need to make plans now.

State of the Capital: Why Austin is Still an Enticing Market (with CoStar's Parimal Rohit and Colin Sherman)

CoStar News Hotels — Thu, 02 May 2024 08:00:00 -0400

CoStar's Parimal Rohit and Colin Sherman join the Hotel News Now podcast to discuss the slowdown in momentum of the Austin market and why this isn't a concern for the long-term outlook of the city.

Asian Hotel Performance Growth Strong but Slowing with STR's Jesper Palmqvist

CoStar News Hotels — Tue, 23 Apr 2024 16:08:51 -0400

STR's Jesper Palmqvist joins the HNN podcast to give the latest on what's going on across the Asia-Pacific hotel industry

Pacifica CEO Matt Marquis on Experiential Travel, State of Economy

CoStar News Hotels — Fri, 19 Apr 2024 08:00:00 -0400

Hotel News Now Associate Editor Trevor Simpson talks with Pacifica Hotels CEO Matt Marquis at the Hunter Hotel Investment Conference about his key takeaways from the conference, group travel and his passion for the NBA.

Hilton Sustainability Expert on ESG Initiatives

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 17 Apr 2024 08:00:00 -0400

In this podcast episode, Hotel News Now Senior Reporter Dana Miller speaks with Hilton Vice President of Global ESG Jean Garris Hand about what it takes to effectively track and implement sustainability initiatives on property, which in many cases can be cost neutral.

Purchasing Expert Alan Benjamin’s Advice for Hoteliers Amid Renos

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 10 Apr 2024 08:30:00 -0400

On this episode of the Hotel News Now Podcast network, Benjamin West President and founder Alan Benjamin gives an update on the current supply-chain environment, what hotel owners must consider when embarking on renovations and best practices to overcome challenges.

Chris Green Reflects on Hotel Career Ahead of Retirement

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 03 Apr 2024 08:00:00 -0400

Hotel News Now Senior Reporter Dana Miller chats with Remington President Chris Green about what’s next for him following his retirement on April 5, the lessons he’s learned throughout his entry-level jobs and role as CEO of Chesapeake Hospitality for 22 years. Plus, Dana has Chris plays game of “guess that phrase.”

Hotel Growth in India Could Go From Dream to Reality

CoStar News Hotels — Mon, 01 Apr 2024 08:00:00 -0400

STR's Jesper Palmqvist joins the Hotel News Now podcast to talk about broad travel trends across the Asia-Pacific region, including increasing interest in India from global hotel brands and why China's domestic travel continues to remain strong.

How Two Hotel Industry Leaders Became Friends for Life

CoStar News Hotels — Thu, 28 Mar 2024 08:00:00 -0400

Hotel News Now Senior Reporter Dana Miller chats with Remington’s Eve Moore and CHMWarnick’s Kristie Dickinson about how the two became friends and learned to lean on each other in both their professional and personal lives, which has ultimately led to the two making better business decisions at their companies.

Takeaways from Day 1 of the Hunter Hotel Conference With CoStar's Colin Sherman

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 20 Mar 2024 09:31:15 -0400

Hotel News Now Editorial Director Stephanie Ricca talks with Colin Sherman, director of hospitality market analytics for Texas and Tennessee, at the Hunter Hotel Conference. The two recap the themes of the first day of the conference, from overall hotelier sentiment to the transactions environment.

Why LA Hotel Investment is Compelling and Scary with Emmy Hise and Jack Witthaus

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 08:00:00 -0400

Los Angeles has embedded leisure demand drivers and a laundry list of mega events to drive tourism over the next few years, but increasing regulatory hurdles and labor costs cloud the investment picture for hotels. CoStar's Emmy Hise and Jack Witthaus join the Hotel News Now podcast to unpack all the pros and cons of working in that market going forward.

Taylor Swift's Effect on Kansas City Hotel Performance with CoStar's Colin Sherman

CoStar News Hotels — Fri, 08 Mar 2024 09:34:09 -0500

Hotel demand and performance was up significantly year over year on home game weekends in Kansas City, coinciding with Taylor Swift's presence at Chiefs games.

SCP Hotels Moves Beyond Proof of Concept, Ready To Scale

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 06 Mar 2024 08:00:00 -0500

In this interview, SCP Hotels co-founder and CEO Ken Cruse talks about how his company's growth has prepared it to look at scale and the bigger role that sustainability is playing in hospitality.

Black Hotel History Still Being Written

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 21 Feb 2024 08:00:00 -0500

In this episode of the Hotel News Now podcast, hospitality historian Calvin Stovall talks about his own history in the hotel industry and his upcoming book featuring Black hotel icons.

STR's Hite Says Steady Hotel Performance Is Good Performance

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 14 Feb 2024 08:00:00 -0500

In an interview at ALIS, STR's Amanda Hite breaks down the most recent U.S. hotel forecast and why hoteliers should be optimistic even if there's still some economic uncertainty.

AAHOA CEO Talks Choice, Wyndham Deal and New Jersey Hotel Franchise Bill

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 07 Feb 2024 08:00:00 -0500

AAHOA President and CEO Laura Lee Blake explains hotel owners' worries over a combined Choice-Wyndham hotels company and how that may limit their options.

Everything’s Coming Up Las Vegas: Analysts Discuss City’s Investments

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 07:00:00 -0500

In this podcast episode, Hotel News Now Senior Reporter Dana Miller speaks with CoStar’s Emmy Hise and Michael Petrivelli about all things Las Vegas, including new investments made in the city, buzz around the upcoming Super Bowl and the rise of group travel around mega-events.

2024 ALIS Recap with CoStar's Emmy Hise

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 24 Jan 2024 10:12:52 -0500

HNN's Sean McCracken and CoStar's Emmy Hise sit down to talk about their top takeaways from the 2024 Americas Lodging Investment Summit.

Hospitality Design Expert Lisa Haude Shares 2024 Design Trends

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 24 Jan 2024 06:00:00 -0500

Lisa Haude, senior vice president and director of interior at LK Interiors, speaks with Hotel News Now Senior Reporter Dana Miller about the influence that remote work continues to have on hotel design. Haude also shares which design trends are in and which ones are out in 2024.

Digital Marketing Expert Dissects Google’s Move To Remove Third-Party Cookies

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 17 Jan 2024 08:17:14 -0500

Hotel News Now Senior Reporter Dana Miller interviewed Tim Peter, founder and president of strategy and digital marketing consulting firm Tim Peter & Associates, about Google’s latest move of restricting third-party cookies for 1% of Chrome users and how hotel digital marketers and revenue strategists should react. Eventually, Google plans to remove third-party cookies for all Chrome users.

Hilton's Christine Maginnis on the Value of Empowering Employees

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 10 Jan 2024 08:00:00 -0500

In November, Hilton became the first hospitality company to be named the top workplace in the world in Fortune and Great Place to Work's annual rankings, and the company's Senior Vice President and Global Head of Talent Christine Maginnis joined the Hotel News Now podcast to talk about how that was the culmination of a century's worth of culture building.

Peachtree's Greg Friedman on What Hotel Financing Will Look Like in 2024

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 03 Jan 2024 08:00:00 -0500

We've flipped the calendar to a new year, but will the hotel industry have to grapple with the same financing issues it dealt with for most of 2023? Peachtree Group's Greg Friedman joins the podcast to unpack the complicated debt markets for hotels and broader commercial real estate.

Looking Back at the Events That Drove Hotel Performance in 2023

CoStar News Hotels — Fri, 29 Dec 2023 08:00:00 -0500

STR's Kelsey Fenerty joins HNN's Trevor Simpson and Stephanie Ricca to discuss the events that made a significant impact on hotel performance this year.

Best of 2023

CoStar News Hotels — Mon, 18 Dec 2023 08:00:00 -0500

The Hotel News Now takes a look back at 2023 and the best moments from across the Hotel News Now podcast network.

How Pennsylvania Resort Fees Settlements Could Play Out for US Hotel Industry

CoStar News Hotels — Tue, 12 Dec 2023 08:00:00 -0500

Mark Adams, partner at law firm Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell, explains how the settlement agreements between Pennsylvania's attorney general and several hotel companies over the disclosure of mandatory fees, such as resort fees, could have far-reaching effects on the U.S. hotel industry.

FibraHotel Chief Investment Officer on Investing More in Leisure Hotels

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 06 Dec 2023 10:22:50 -0500

FibraHotel Chief Investment Officer Guillermo Bravo sits down with Hotel News Now Senior Reporter Dana Miller to talk on the growth of hotel-focused real estate investment trusts in Mexico, which haven’t been around as long as those in the U.S. Bravo also touches on how development in the region is shifting as the volume of powerful storms increases.

The Factors at Play in Chicago's Recovering Hotel Market (with First Hospitality's David Duncan and CoStar News' Ryan Ori)

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 29 Nov 2023 08:00:00 -0500

In this Hotel News Now podcast, Chicago-based First Hospitality's David Duncan and CoStar News' Ryan Ori share their observations of the Chicago hotel market's recovery and what they still expect to come.

What Hoteliers Should Be Thankful For (with CoStar's Emmy Hise)

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 22 Nov 2023 08:00:00 -0500

CoStar's Emmy Hise joins HNN's Sean McCracken to talk about what hoteliers have to feel thankful for heading into the Thanksgiving holiday in the U.S.

Why Dallas is One of the Most Important Hotel Markets (with CoStar's Colin Sherman and Candace Carlisle)

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 15 Nov 2023 08:00:00 -0500

With unrelenting growth and many prominent hotel companies claiming it as their home base, Dallas has grown into one of the most important U.S. cities for the hotel industry, but how long can that growth continue? CoStar's Colin Sherman and Candace Carlisle unpack what's driving the market's outsized growth.

TJ Abrams Explains Why Hyatt is So Focused on Wellbeing

CoStar News Hotels — Mon, 13 Nov 2023 08:00:00 -0500

No company in the hotel industry talks and thinks more about wellbeing the Hyatt Hotels Corporation. Hyatt's Vice President of Global Wellbeing joins Hotel News Now to talk about why it's so important for both guests and employees.

How Capella Is Spinning Luxury Experience Into Global Growth (with Cristiano Rinaldi)

CoStar News Hotels — Mon, 06 Nov 2023 08:00:00 -0500

Capella Hotel Group President Cristiano Rinaldi discusses the newest version of his company, how they've grown into a powerhouse for luxury across Asia by focusing on their goal to "keep creating wonderful experiences for our guests," and why they're spinning their success to move into the Middle East and Europe.

The 'Whiplash Effect' of Latest NLRB Joint-Employer Rule

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 08:00:00 -0400

In this episode, labor attorney Andria Ryan of Fisher Phillips explains the National Labor Relations Board's final rule on joint-employer status and how that will affect the liability of hotel brands, owners and operators as employers and potential employers.

Sonesta's Keith Pierce Explains Why His Company is Poised For New Growth

CoStar News Hotels — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 08:00:00 -0400

In the past few years, Sonesta Hotels International has grown from a few dozen hotels to nearly 1,200, and EVP of Franchising and Development Keith Pierce said his company is poised for another wave of growth heading into 2024.

Don't Sleep on the Asian Travel Rebound (with STR's Jesper Palmqvist)

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 25 Oct 2023 08:00:00 -0400

While much of the narrative about travel in Asia has revolved around the idea of country's like China being behind the curve, STR's Jesper Palmqvist says conditions across the region are better than many believe.

How New York City's New Short-Term Rental Rules Could Affect Hotels

CoStar News Hotels — Mon, 23 Oct 2023 09:00:00 -0400

STR's Kelsey Fenerty and Lodging Advisors CEO and NYU professor Sean Hennessey discuss New York City's new short-term rental regulations and how they might affect hotel demand and rates.

Choice Hotels Wants To Buy Wyndham - What Happens Next? (with Truist's C. Patrick Scholes)

CoStar News Hotels — Thu, 19 Oct 2023 08:00:00 -0400

Choice Hotels International executives say they want to do a deal to buy Wyndham Hotels & Resorts for an all-in price of $9.8 billion, but Wyndham is uninterested. Hotel News Now reached out to Truist Securities managing director of lodging and leisure equity research C. Patrick Scholes to unpack the potential deal and what happens next.

What Third Quarter Earnings Could Tell Us About the Hotel Industry (with Baird's Michael Bellisario)

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 18 Oct 2023 08:00:00 -0400

Michael Bellisario, senior hotel research analyst and director at Baird, shares why investors might be luke-warm on publicly traded hotel companies as demand patterns normalize and the long-term challenges faced by hotel real estate investment trusts as we preview the third quarter 2023 earnings season.

Breaking Down the Acheson Hotels v. Laufer ADA Case

CoStar News Hotels — Mon, 16 Oct 2023 09:00:00 -0400

Hospitality attorney Dana Kravetz from Michelman & Robinson explains the Acheson Hotels v. Laufer case over online descriptions of accessibility features in hotels and whether the plaintiff has standing as a "tester."

Trinity Investment’s Sean Hehir on Trends To Watch in 2024

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 11 Oct 2023 08:00:00 -0400

Trinity Investments President and CEO Sean Hehir spoke with Hotel News Now’s Dana Miller during a podcast interview about branding the Diplomat Beach Resort into a Signia by Hilton, overall growth goals, managing profit-and-loss statements, trends to watch in the new year and more.

JLL Hotels and Hospitality Group's Kevin Davis Makes Predictions for 2024

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 04 Oct 2023 08:00:00 -0400

Hotel News Now’s Dana Miller speaks with Kevin Davis, CEO of the Americas, for JLL’s Hotels and Hospitality Group, about what recovery has been looking like in certain regions, what’s going on between New York City and Airbnb, the transactions environment and more.

How Canada's Historic Wildfire Season Affects the Hotel Industry

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 27 Sep 2023 08:00:00 -0400

HNN's Trevor Simpson spoke with Laura Baxter, director of hospitality analytics in Canada for CoStar Group, about how hotel occupancy has been affected by record-high area burned by wildfires in Canada this year.

Caribe Royale's Amaury Piedra Shares How To Stand Out as an Independent Hotel

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 20 Sep 2023 08:00:00 -0400

Caribe Royale Orlando Managing Director Amaury Piedra sits down with Hotel News Now’s Dana Miller at the 2023 Hotel Data Conference to talk about how his property is able stand out from others via its independent ownership group, how a rise in leisure and group business is driving its on-property renovation decisions and how his team is overcoming challenges with staffing a 1,337-room resort.

CoStar Reporters Share the Story Behind The Story in San Francisco

CoStar News — Tue, 19 Sep 2023 07:45:42 -0400

CoStar reporter Katie Burke and Hotel News Now senior reporter Bryan Wroten recently teamed up to uncover the true story behind real estate struggles in San Francisco, how some of the narratives might be overblown and how local leaders plan to overcome the challenges. In this special podcast, the two share their insights from their reporting in the city.

Breaking Down the NLRB's Decision on Union Elections, Bargaining Orders

CoStar News Hotels — Fri, 15 Sep 2023 08:00:00 -0400

HNN's Bryan Wroten spoke with Mike Carrouth, partner at the Fisher Phillips law firm, about the National Labor Relations Board's recent decision in the Cemex Construction Materials Pacific case. The labor attorney explained what the new rule does - and doesn't do - regarding union elections and bargaining orders as well as what hospitality employers need to know moving forward.

Pyramid's Priya Chandnani Says 2024 Will Be the Year of Group Demand

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 13 Sep 2023 08:00:00 -0400

Pyramid Global Hospitality's Priya Chandnani joins Hotel News Now's Trevor Simpson at the 2023 Hotel Data Conference in Nashville, Tennessee, to talk about the state of leisure travel and how commercial strategy is evolving in the hotel industry.

AHLA's Mike Blake Says The Hotel Industry is More Innovative Than You Think

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 06 Sep 2023 08:00:00 -0400

Speaking with Hotel News Now during the recent Hotel Data Conference, American Hotel and Lodging Association Chief Technology Officer Mike Blake says the hotel industry gets unfairly criticized and is more innovative than many people assume, and he believes the industry-wide efforts to integrate new technologies are bearing fruit.

Remington's Chris Green and Gilbert Arredondo Share the Power of Collaboration

CoStar News Hotels — Tue, 29 Aug 2023 08:08:58 -0400

Remington Hospitality President Chris Green and Senior Vice President of Revenue Strategy Gilbert Arredondo sit down with Hotel News Now’s Dana Miller at the 2023 Hotel Data Conference to talk about what keeps them up at night, how to successfully collaborate across departments, group demand patterns and more. Read more from the Hotel Data Conference here.

HNN Recaps The Final Day of HDC 2023 with CoStar's Emmy Hise

CoStar News Hotels — Fri, 11 Aug 2023 15:56:15 -0400

CoStar's Emmy Hise join's Hotel News Now's Sean McCracken and Trevor Simpson to talk about the insights from the final day of the 2023 Hotel Data Conference in Nashville, Tennessee and why things are getting closer to -- but still not fully -- normal for hoteliers.

Hotel Data Conference 2023 Day 1 Recap with STR's Kelsey Fenerty

CoStar News Hotels — Thu, 10 Aug 2023 19:14:42 -0400

HNN's Sean McCracken and Dan Kubacki are joined by STR's Kelsey Fenerty to talk about what they learned during the first day of the 2023 Hotel Data Conference, including how Taylor Swift continues to be a force to reckon with for hoteliers.

Ashford Hospitality Trust's Rob Hays Says Core Focus Is Negotiating Loans As Capital Markets Remain Messy

CoStar News Hotels — Wed, 19 Jul 2023 16:57:41 -0400

In a June interview, Ashford Hospitality Trust's Rob Hays explained his company looks at financing with extended maturation dates that are up against debt yield tests.

Read more on CoStar.