In this episode we make our observations about the local market since we have never been here before. This place is ridiculous!

But more importantly we dive into who is the Global Traveler. What interests them, what are their habits, what can you do to lure them in?

This episode may be a wee bit short but it is jam packed with information. Plus we recorded it on a balcony overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. How long could we tape for?!

Join us here each week for a great new show!

If you want to know anything about Las Vegas dining, how a massive casino resort feeds all its guests or learn about the latest in dining trends this is the perfect podcast for you.

We speak with:

In this special episode we’re running one of our educational sessions moderated by Glenn who spoke with Best Western executives about the state of the industry, their recently introduced new construction prototype and what it’s like joining the Best Western Family as a hotel owner.

We speak with:

Mr. Richard Bennett, VP Supply and Design; Amy Hulbert, Director of Design; Mark Williams, VP, North American Development; and, Alan Wagoner, Director of Purchasing.

We check in with the brand team to discuss the process of developing, designing and purchasing for a new hotel.

The boys examine what’s new in the business that focus on back of house and guest fronted technology. What types of technology do your guests really crave and what can you do to use technology to increase your profits? It’s all here.|

Plus they also share their thoughts on what they are looking for in regards to hotel technology and of course spend some time hurting each other’s feelings. It’s a good thing they have no emotions!|

And the 3000 means nothing, but it does make that title sound a lot cooler.

First up we grab some time with Choice’s President and CEO Steve Joyce. As usual Joyce delivers a great interview even though we had a major time constraint. We share all that happened at their big event and focus a lot on the major changes afoot with the Comfort Inns and Suites brand and also discuss the state of the other brands such as Cambria Suites.

Then we chat with Philip Goldfarb, President and Chief Operating Officer at Fontainebleau Miami Beach. We learn what it’s like to run such a massive resort complex, how he makes sure they’re always relevant to their uber hip target consumers and discuss some of the things he does behind the scenes to keep employees engaged and successful. We also talk about his past including his days at the then nascent DoubleTree brand.

Both these interviews are awesome and insightful. OK, so it’s odd to call our work awesome, but with amazing guests like these how could they not be? Listen, learn and enjoy.

But we also give you the tools that will empower you to make a difference on Capitol Hill and with politicians in your local community.

The discussion features:

Here is where we finish the show with a couple more great interviews.

This show is sponsored by the good folks at Jane Hamley Wells, who were kind enough to outfit our radio studio vignette at HI Connect Design with some great looking furniture and accent pieces. Check them out at www.janehamleywells.com.

Up first Glenn speaks with Roger Hill, CEO of Gettys and Ron Swidler, Principal of Gettys. The discuss the important design trends you need to know about to make your hotel reflect current consumer needs.

Then we speak with Janet Van Arsdale and Daniel Northrup of JVA Art Group. We chat about how to break into new markets and learn about how art and photography meld to become a winning guest amenity.

This show is sponsored by the good folks at Jane Hamley Wells, who were kind enough to outfit our radio studio vignette at HI Connect Design with some great looking furniture and accent pieces. Check them out at www.janehamleywells.com.

Up first Glenn chats it up with Mark Viola and we introduce a new Mark to show. Mark Biviano aka BIV, aka the Bivmaster General. He works behind the scenes and we got tired of his unyielding sadness while watching us on the mics. So we thought to include him. Let us know what you think.

Then we speak to Petra Michael, national sales director for Jane Hamley Wells about the products they offer and how they can make your hotel look fantastic.

Finally, we speak with the one and only Bruce Ford, SVP of Lodging Eonometrics. We chat a little about HI Connect Design and then get right into the meat of it all; the development pipeline. What’s it look like? What’s it all mean? How can you make money from it? Listen and learn. That is, if you can handle Bruce and Glenn’s barbs at each other.

The event is a huge endeavor attended by thousands.

This week we speak with Alan Roberts, VP Brand Performance Support with Embassy Suites Hotels. Formerly with Hilton Garden Inn Alan is up to some new challenges after being moved to runt his brand just a couple of months ago. We speak to him about what it’s like to be taking on a new challenge and then we get into the nitty gritty of how Embassy Suites are being built and performing. Do you think Alan is making compelling arguments? Let us know|

Then we speak with Ron Burgett. Red Lion Hotels is on the move since he cme aboard. Signing new deals and launching the new Leo Collection, a soft brand group of hotels Red Lion will market. The first one is LVH, a massive casino resort by the Las Vegas Convention Center. We’ll hear how he expects to make the regionally know brand a national player.

Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group is rolling out Generation 4 of the Country concept and reinventing its design dialogue with consumers. It’s modern it’s clean and it’s country. The company is making a big play at Generation Y and male business travelers all while trying to keep that core audience of decision making moms happy.

So what’s this all about and what can the hotel industry expect from the whole new look of Country Inns & Suites?

We speak with Scott Meyer, SVP Midscale Brands, Americas, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group to learn about every aspect of the new property. From the outside to the public spaces, to guestrooms and beyond, we discuss it all.

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