No Vacancy Live!

Irene Roberts, VP of Loyalty at My Place Hotels of America, and I are kicking off the My Place 2024 Conference in Tucson.

We discuss the significance of guest loyalty in the hospitality industry, particularly in the economy sector. Irene shares how My Place Hotels' loyalty program, Stay Rewarded, enhances the guest experience by offering immediate rewards for long-term stays.

We also discuss the challenges of encouraging hotel participation, the program's success with over 310,000 members, and future growth strategies.

*Importance of guest loyalty in the economy sector

*Overview of the My Place Hotels' loyalty program, Stay Rewarded

*Benefits of immediate rewards for long-term guests

*Strategies for encouraging hotel participation in loyalty programs

Mike Stengel is back and he brings the new GM for the Gaylord Pacific Resort & Convention Center to talk about all the amazing things happening with this project.

Grab your favorite drink and join the barely tolerable duo of Glenn Haussman and Craig Sullivan for the 150th episode of Friday Night Audit! This podcast, which somehow made it this far, is like hanging out at a bar after a hotel conference—if that bar had a low cover charge and no dress code.

In this very 'special' episode, Bruce Ford, CJ Arlotta, Producer Dave, Dr. Producer Suzanne and more join for the usual mix of questionable humor, half-baked industry insights, and the kind of banter that makes you wonder, "Why am I still listening?" But hey, it's a milestone! So, tune in for the unexpected, the unplanned, and maybe even a few useful tidbits about hospitality trends—if we're smart enough to tink of any.

Perfect for hoteliers, industry insiders, and anyone who enjoys a good laugh, we're celebrating mediocrity with Glenn, Craig and maybe Producer Dave as they reflect on how they got this far without getting banned from the internet.

Ignore vegans at your peril!!! Today we discuss the vegan cuisine trend in the hospitality industry. Meredith Marin, CEO of Vegan Hospitality, shares insights on how hotels can boost profitability and enhance sustainability by offering plant-based menu options.

Learn about the importance of menu engineering, overcoming guest hesitations, and creating a seamless dining experience for all guests.

Key Points:

• The rise of vegan cuisine as a profitable and sustainable trend in hospitality.
• How Resorts World in Las Vegas set a precedent with its plant-based restaurant, Crossroads Kitchen.
• The connection between sustainability and plant-based food, focusing on lower carbon emissions.
• Strategies for integrating vegan options into existing menus without compromising on taste or guest experience.
• The importance of training staff to understand and effectively communicate vegan options.
• How offering plant-based dishes can attract a wider audience, including traditional meat eaters.
• Overcoming the "veto vote" where one vegan guest influences the choice of dining venue for an entire group.
• The role of strategic planning in successfully implementing plant-based menus in hotels.

It's RFP (Request for Proposal) season! Cesar Wurm, VP of Commercial and Premium Brands at IHG Hotels & Resorts joins us to explore crucial topics you need to know to maximize success with group business.

Main Points:

Understanding RFP Season: What it is, why it matters, and how it impacts the hospitality industry.

Market Projections: Cesar discusses the anticipated 2-3% growth in the coming year and the factors influencing these projections.

Customer Sentiment: How the general sentiment in the hospitality industry is surprisingly positive despite economic uncertainties.

Impact of Work-from-Home: The role hybrid work models play in driving group business and the demand for meeting spaces in hotels.

Evolution of RFP Processes: A look at how RFPs have evolved from static to dynamic pricing models and the importance of total revenue yield management.

Sustainability and Well-being: Increasing focus on sustainability, well-being, and how these factors are becoming critical in RFP considerations.

#HospitalityIndustry #RFPSeason #HotelManagement #Sustainability #WorkFromHome #BusinessTravel #HotelRevenue #NoVacancyLive #AnthonyMelchiorri #GlennHousman #CesarWurm #IHG #GroupBusiness #TravelTrends

We're getting ready for an end of summer blast here on FNA and we're joined by Alex Coury, CEO and Founder at Coury Consulting, who's better at impersonating celebrities than Glenn is impersonating a podcaster.

The ultimate guide to extended stay with Glenn McFarland, VP at Choice Hotels' Extended Stay brand, and co-host Matt McElhare, VP and Segment Lead at Choice Hotels International.

We're digging into the unique opportunities within the extended stay segment, sharing valuable lessons from industry pioneer the late Jack DeBoer, and discussing how to achieve success in this growing market.

Whether you're a seasoned hotel investor or new to the space, this episode offers essential advice on maximizing returns, understanding guest needs, and maintaining operational discipline.

Learn:

• The importance of understanding the extended stay segment, with insights from industry icon Jack DeBoer.

• The significance of maintaining operational discipline and avoiding unnecessary costs.

• Real-life examples of how extended stay hotels can make a difference in guests' lives.

• The role of professional management companies to ensure property success.

• Strategies for investors determining the right type of extended stay product for different markets.

• The importance of focusing on what guests need, not what investors think they want.

It's back to school week here for me as I've got two kids off to college. So I spoke with Rachael Hood, Senior Editor of Travel at US News & World Report, who just named the 20 Best College Town Hotels to see what it takes to be a top college town in 2024.

With a focus on location, traveler reviews, and real customer experiences, Rachael shares what makes these hotels stand out.

Key discussion points include:

Top College Town Hotels: Highlighting the best hotels near major universities, including Dartmouth and Cornell.

University-Owned Hotels: The growing trend of colleges investing in campus hotels for guests and business visitors.

Traveler Reviews and Insights: How customer experiences shaped the rankings. Planning Tips: Advice for booking during peak times, like football games.

Read the full article here: https://travel.usnews.com/features/best-college-town-hotels

Wayne Tabor may be a hotelier, but we love he's also on a competition BBQ team in his home town of Memphis. Grab a drink and join us for some happy hour laughs and BBQ techniques and tipos.

Shane Green, Founder and President of SGEi, talks about how to inspire people and companies to move beyond the mundane and out of status quo to exceed the expectations of their employees and customers. What are ways that organizations can attract the right talent, retain that talent, and wow the customer?