Claim OwnershipThe Spotlight: A Lighthouse Podcast
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The Spotlight is a podcast from Lighthouse where commercial strategy meets candid conversation. Designed for commercial leaders and revenue managers who want to stay sharp in a changing market, each episode brings you the trends, data and perspectives that matter most for driving performance. Hosted by Daniel Foreman and Blake Reiter, The Spotlight puts industry leaders and real-world insights in focus – giving you fresh ideas to bring to your team, practical takeaways you can act on today, and the bigger-picture perspective you need to lead with confidence.
29 Episodes
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In this Lighthouse Quick Take, Blake returns to Milan hotel pricing as the Winter Olympics draw closer, updating an earlier analysis from late last year. With the event just weeks away, advertised prices across all segments remain well above last year’s levels, led by the four-star category where demand is most concentrated.Blake examines how pricing held steady through much of the booking window before a late correction in the final month, and why this shift should not be interpreted as a repeat of Paris. By linking price movement with on-the-books occupancy, this update clarifies how tactical adjustments helped push hotels closer to sellout as the Games approach.Explore more of Lighthouse’s travel & hospitality research: mylh.co/spotlightinsights
In this launch episode of The D.I.R.T. (Data in Real Time), Blake Reiter and Daniel Foreman break down how hotel prices moved across global markets over the prior two weeks and what those movements signal. The episode covers seasonal demand shifts, event driven rate increases tied to festivals, tournaments and commencements, and meaningful price corrections in shoulder season and convention markets.Across regions, the discussion focuses on how timing, event scale and booking pace are shaping short term pricing behavior. Each example is used to illustrate how commercial teams can read live market signals, understand changes in pricing confidence and recognize when demand is strengthening or softening in real time.Explore more of Lighthouse’s travel & hospitality research: mylh.co/spotlightinsights
This interview explores how revenue strategy changes at the ultra luxury end of hospitality, where personalization, experience design, and distribution discipline matter as much as price. Daniel Foreman speaks with Batuhan Sahin, Group Director of Revenue at Maxx Royal Resorts & Voyage Hotels, about moving from global hotel chains into a highly autonomous luxury brand environment.Batuhan shares how his career evolved from front office roles into regional and corporate revenue leadership across city hotels and resorts, and what changed when he stepped into a group generating hundreds of millions in annual revenue with a small number of highly complex properties. The conversation covers hybrid pricing models, managing static and dynamic distribution together, loyalty built through one to one relationships rather than points, and how technology supports rather than replaces human service at the luxury level.Listeners will gain a clearer understanding of how segmentation, autonomy, and experience-led strategy shape commercial decisions in premium resort environments.Explore more of Lighthouse’s travel & hospitality research: mylh.co/spotlightinsights
In this Lighthouse Quick Take, Blake Reiter revisits US resort fee data after new transparency rules required hotels to show total prices upfront. Using updated Lighthouse data, he examines what those rules revealed about how common resort fees are and how hotels adjusted once fees became fully visible to guests.The findings show that most US hotels still avoid resort fees, but adoption varies widely by state and destination. Some high demand markets increased usage, while others adjusted fee levels instead. Blake explains why transparency has shifted the conversation from concealment to value, and what that means for pricing strategy, guest trust, and brand perception.
In this Lighthouse Quick Take, Blake explores how market dynamics influence direct booking conversion using Lighthouse data from calendar year 2025. The analysis compares two US markets, New York City and Denver, to show how differences in traveler intent, market structure and pricing environment shape direct channel performance.While New York City hotels see more visitors engaging with booking engines, Denver hotels convert a higher share of those searches into completed direct bookings. Blake explains what this gap reveals about demand behavior and why direct conversion benchmarks should always be evaluated in market context.
In this Lighthouse Quick Take, Blake explores the gap between what travelers search for and what they ultimately book, focusing on length of stay differences between solo and group travelers. Using direct channel benchmarking data from The Hotels Network, now part of Lighthouse, the analysis compares solo travel demand in Tokyo with group travel demand in Cancun.The data shows solo travelers tend to book close to their original intent, while groups often shorten stays before booking as budget and coordination constraints emerge. Blake explains why search data reflects aspiration rather than commitment and how revenue leaders should interpret these signals. The takeaway is clear: understanding intent versus behavior helps hoteliers apply more effective, segment-specific pricing and marketing strategies.
The viral Netflix show 'K-Pop Demon Hunters' created a significant impact on South Korea's tourism and hotel industry in 2025. The movie became a global phenomenon with four soundtrack songs hitting the Billboard Hot 100, leading to a 56% increase in flight searches and 26% jump in hotel searches to South Korea by June 2025. While demand spiked immediately after the movie's release, hotel pricing didn't follow until September when the film became Netflix's most-watched movie ever, resulting in 20% year-over-year price increases. The analysis demonstrates how entertainment content can instantly create travel demand, emphasizing the importance for hoteliers to quickly identify and respond to viral trends rather than waiting for quarterly data to make pricing adjustments.
In this podcast episode we explore the key trends in the hospitality and travel industry as we reflect on 2025 and look ahead to 2026. Blake and Daniel cover the divergence in spending power, the resilience of travel despite economic pressures, the impact of AI on travel planning, and the importance of personalization in hospitality. We'll also follow up on persisting trends, like the challenges faced by the US travel market, the uneven recovery of hotel pricing in Asia, and the role of automation in addressing labor shortages. This episode provides valuable data-driven insights for hoteliers and industry professionals as they navigate the evolving landscape of travel and hospitality heading into 2026
Sometimes you see a piece of analysis that’s so cool you have to share it—so welcome back to Lighthouse Quick Takes ⚡️Now that the World Cup group stage matchups are set, which host cities are positioned for the biggest travel + lodging demand impact? In this episode, we break down Daniel Forman’s Host City Power Rankings (16 → 1)—based on matchup quality, star power, weekend timing, repeat team appearances, and inbound fan travel potential.🔥 Biggest storylines & demand drivers✅ NY/NJ at #1 with a stacked slate (Brazil, Germany, France, England) + global gateway advantage✅ Dallas at #2 featuring England, Argentina (twice), Netherlands, Croatia — and likely Messi’s final World Cup✅ Boston at #3 powered by elite international connectivity + Norway vs France (Haaland)✅ Houston at #4 with Portugal twice (Ronaldo) + Germany + Netherlands, plus easy Dallas access✅ Miami at #5: South American team in every match = sustained inbound intensity📌 Want to go deeper? Read Daniel’s full article.If you’re tracking tourism, hospitality, short-term rentals, pricing, or event-driven demand, subscribe for more quick-hit analysis as the tournament gets closer.
On today’s Quick Take, we’re stirring up a little friendly rivalry: Milan vs. Paris. We'll explore how each city’s Fashion Week impacts hotel pricing and performance.
We break down year-over-year trends by star class across both seasonal collections:
📉 Milan: pricing softness for Spring/Summer and only modest improvement for Fall/Winter
📈 Paris: strong pricing growth across every segment, with standout gains at the luxury end
Then we translate the data into practical takeaways for hoteliers: how to tier your rate strategy, spot whether demand is inelastic (luxury-led) or price-sensitive (volume-led), and maximize RevPAR during major event weeks.
If you’re in hospitality, revenue management, or tracking event-driven demand, or a fashionista, this one’s for you.
Key topics in this video
✅ Milan Spring/Summer vs Fall/Winter hotel pricing performance
✅ Paris Spring/Summer vs Fall/Winter growth (by star tier)
✅ Luxury demand elasticity and the “fashion hierarchy” effect
✅ Event-week pricing strategy tips to protect and grow RevPAR
Subscribe for more Lighthouse Quick Takes on hotel performance, pricing strategy, and market trends.
In this episode of the Spotlight Podcast, we were lucky enough to land an interview with Fernando Vives, Chief Commercial officer of one of the fastest-growing hotel chains in the world. Fernando is a seasoned hospitality industry expert, and in this interview he shares his journey from a computer science enthusiast to a C-suite executive at Minor Hotels. In this podcast episode, Daniel and Laura talk with Fernando about his path to revenue management, the transition to leadership roles, and the importance of branding, Minor's rollout of their exciting new product tiers and brands, and general market trends in the hotel industry. Fernando also delves into the current state of the industry, the resilience of branded hotels, and the future of AI in hospitality.
Can a Netflix drama drive real-world hotel bookings? In this episode of Lighthouse Quick Takes, Blake Reiter breaks down how the Season 3 premiere of Bridgerton created ripple effects in the hospitality market of Bath, England – the show's real-life backdrop.We dive into three key hospitality metrics around the May 16, 2024, release date:21.5% surge in hotel search volume in just two weeks2.4% increase in advertised summer hotel rates4% year-over-year boost in May occupancyBath, already host to the annual Bath Festival, appears to have ridden a second wave of interest thanks to Bridgerton’s allure. Whether you're a revenue manager, destination marketer, or just love data-backed stories about pop culture’s economic impact, this one’s for you.
The Winter Olympics are coming to Milan—and hoteliers across the globe are watching closely. In this Lighthouse Quick Take, Blake Reiter dives into the hotel pricing trends leading up to the 2026 Winter Olympiad in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo. Drawing comparisons to Paris 2024, this video breaks down how three-star, four-star, and five-star hotel pricing is evolving in the months before the games.
In this conversation, Daniel and Blake examine the shifting balance between hotels and short-term rentals, drawing on new data from Booking.com searches. They discuss why the share of short-term rentals surged and then stabilized, how seasonality and market size shape visibility, and what the new Listing Multiple metric reveals about distribution strategy. The discussion also explores regulation’s influence on supply, the varying regional impact from Europe to Malaysia, and Lighthouse’s new Short-Term Rental Market Impact Index designed to quantify local competitive pressure.
This episode of the Spotlight podcast was recorded live in London at our first ever Lighthouse Luminate London event in April 2025! Daniel and Blake sat down for a interview with Ingela Heintz (Norlandia Hotels) and Kelly Cronin (Village Hotels), two industry leaders who are re-shaping commercial strategy at their organizations.In this episode we touch on the theme of how revenue management is evolving in the hospitality industry, emphasizing the shift from a focus solely on room rates to a broader commercial strategy. Also, Kelly and Ingela both share some unique experiences and insights on how hotels can create memorable guest experiences beyond just providing a room. The conversation explores the importance of community engagement, cross-departmental collaboration, and attracting talent to the industry. The episode concludes with advice for aspiring hospitality professionals, highlighting the value of saying yes to opportunities and the appeal of the hospitality industry for the younger generation.
In this Episode of the Spotlight Podcast, we talk with Jason D'Agostino of Visions Hotels about the evolving role of revenue managers in the hospitality industry, particularly in the context of increasing data complexity and the integration of AI technologies. We'll talk all about how revenue managers are adapting to new tools and challenges as data gets more complicated and AI becomes commonplace. In the second half we focus on how RMs can use AI to enhance efficiency and decision-making processes, and even brainstorm a few ideas of what we'd like to see from AI. A huge thank you to Jason for taking the time to sit down and have this chat!
In this episode of the Spotlight podcast, Daniel and Blake discuss the pricing and revenue management implications of playoff games for hoteliers. They explore how playoff games can significantly impact hotel pricing and occupancy rates, emphasizing the importance of understanding market dynamics, star power, and strategic pricing. The conversation covers various sports, including NFL, MLB, and Champions League Football, and highlights the need for revenue managers to stay informed about team performances and market conditions to optimize revenue during these high-demand events.
In this conversation, Daniel and David delve into the current state of revenue management education, discussing its evolution, challenges, and the importance of applied learning. They explore the integration of sales and revenue management, the role of creativity in commercial strategy, and the need for efficiency in sales models. The discussion also highlights the founding of FUSED Topline and its innovative approach to revenue management and fractional sales, as well as reflections on success and the future of the hospitality industry.
In this live episode of The Spotlight Podcast, Daniel, Blake, Kerry, and Jennifer share stories of successes (and failures), innovative approaches to revenue management, and how to go against the grain and make an impact in the organization. They emphasize the importance of collaboration, data-driven decision-making, and the balance between intuition and analytics in the hospitality industry, but also times where we made 'gut feel' decisions that. This episode was recorded in front of a live audience at our first ever Luminate conference held in NYC in April of 2025.
In this conversation, Ed and Daniel talk through the rise of multi-generational travel, what makes the Evermore Resort so unique, the growing demand for larger accommodations, the competitive landscape of short-term rentals in Orlando, and the strategies employed to attract international guests. Ed also shares insights into the luxury resort market and the innovative revenue management practices at Evermore, emphasizing the importance of guest experience and satisfaction.
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