No Vacancy Live!

I caught up with Rachel Moniz, Chief Operating Officer of HEI Hotels & Resorts, at The Hospitality Show. She's passionate about getting more women into #HotelLeadership roles, especially those who hesitate because they don't feel quite ready. Rachel shared an interesting approach HEI takes to give aspiring general managers real experience running hotels before they accept the position permanently. We also talked about something that deserves more attention: the pressure women face when they pursue GM positions while raising families. Rachel has some particularly good advice about the expectations hotel leaders place on themselves and what they should tell their teams when family commitments come up. Check out my conversation with Rachel to hear how HEI prepares aspiring GMs for their next big career move and why she wants more women in #Hospitality to stop waiting for the perfect moment. Thanks so much to Entegra for supporting this podcast. EntegraPS.com, your GPO partner in hospitality. Want the weekly roundup of news, videos, and what you might've missed from #NoVacancyNews? Text HOTEL to 66866.

Turning a century-old building into a luxury hotel sounds like a great idea until you start opening walls and uncovering expensive problems, potentially threatening the entire investment. Yet some developers see enormous opportunities where others see financial headaches. Dr. Producer Suzanne Bagnera and I spoke with Jim Brady, President of Fathom Companies, about the economics of #HotelDevelopment and why he continues pursuing historic conversions despite the risks. His latest project in Portland, Maine, includes a 1910 bank vault, a marble teller counter, and some creative thinking about what luxury hotel guests want today. Jim reveals how historic tax credits change the financial equation, why some old buildings simply aren't worth converting, and how he decides which historic features deserve a second life. His plans for that enormous bank vault took us in a direction I certainly didn't expect! #AdaptiveReuse Thanks so much to Actabl for supporting this podcast. Actabl gives you the power to profit. Visit Actabl.com. Want the weekly roundup of news, videos, and what you might've missed from #NoVacancyNews? Text HOTEL to 66866.

I've never met a hotel GM who looks forward to a quality assurance inspection. Yet one GM at My Place Hotels actually complained when she earned the right to skip her next inspection. She wanted the QA team to come back! During the My Place Hotels of America Conference held earlier this fall, I spoke with Bruce Sneller, VP of Leadership, Engagement and Development at My Place Hotels. His team works with first-time GMs, including some new to #Hospitality, and focuses on coaching and professional growth rather than simply pointing out mistakes. Bruce shares how his team earns that kind of trust, along with a terrific story about a young GM who dramatically improved his hotel's quality scores. And there's a personal exchange between Bruce and that GM that says plenty about the impact of genuine encouragement. I think his approach offers some valuable ideas for #HotelLeadership. Want the weekly roundup of news, videos, and what you might've missed from #NoVacancyNews? Text HOTEL to 66866.

Americans aren't giving up their holiday travel plans, even as they cut spending elsewhere. They're making different choices about how they travel, where they stay, and what constitutes good value. That's an interesting challenge for #HotelIndustry leaders. Here's the twist: Travelers book refundable hotel rooms, then keep shopping for better value. As #AI makes that process easier, a reservation no longer means a guest has stopped looking. Dr. Producer Suzanne Bagnera and I spoke with Jonathan Kletzel, Sales, Service and Marketing Practice Leader at PwC US, about the firm's latest holiday travel research. We get into why travelers continue to prioritize experiences and how their changing booking habits could shake up #HotelRevenueManagement sooner than you think. Thanks so much to Actabl for supporting this podcast. Actabl gives you the power to profit. Visit Actabl.com. Want the weekly roundup of news, videos, and what you might've missed from #NoVacancyNews? Text HOTEL to 66866.

I visited Avendra International to talk with Walt Sheffler, President of Avendra International North America, about some fascinating changes in #HotelOperations. Their technology identifies purchasing alternatives before operators place an order, while another tool analyzes buying habits and recommends three specific ways to save money. And that's just the purchasing side of the business. We also got into some surprisingly clever uses of technology, including smarter equipment monitoring and a better way to determine when public restrooms need attention. As #Hospitality operators struggle with labor shortages and rising costs, I think there's a lot to like here. Check out what Walt showed me and see where #HotelTechnology offers some practical opportunities to improve operations. Want the weekly roundup of news, videos, and what you might've missed from #NoVacancyNews? Text HOTEL to 66866.