Good Morning Hospitality

This week on GMH Hotel, Sarah Dandashy and Steve Turk dive into a packed lineup of hospitality headlines. They unpack why luxury hotels often miss top brand rankings despite premium offerings and celebrate the 100th anniversary of the American motel — a travel icon getting a fresh look. The team also covers a new The Pan Am Experience-themed hotel coming to L.A., and how U.S. airlines are riding s...

This week, Sarah Nan DuPre and Leo Walton dive into what's driving a 24% boost in Easter travel bookings across Europe, with Italy and Greece leading thanks to warm weather and Jubilee-year demand. They discuss new EU regulations forcing cruise ships to pay for carbon emissions and what that means for over-tourism. The episode also covers Sonder Inc.'s financial struggles, its integration with Mar...

On today’s episode of Good Morning Hospitality, Wil Slickers, Michael Goldin, and Brandreth Canaley break down three of the biggest headlines in travel and hospitality this week. Vacasa’s special committee officially rejected Davidson Kempner Capital Management’s improved acquisition bid of $5.75 per share, calling it “not reasonably likely” to result in a superior proposal compared to the current...

On this episode of Good Morning Outdoors, Matt is joined by guest host Robert Preston, CEO of Climb Capital and Unhitched Management. With Alex out sick, Robert brings his extensive experience in outdoor hospitality to the table, offering valuable insights into the RV and campground industry.​ Matt Whitermore also shares his takeaways after attending the Live Oak Bank RV Symposium, including insig...

This week on GMH Hotel, Sarah Dandashy, Steve Turk, and special guest host Brian Hicks, President & CEO of HSMAI, unpack the headlines shaping hospitality and travel. Business travel is starting to cool after a strong run, and boutique hotels face headwinds despite a successful 2024. Hotel loyalty programs, however, are on fire — with membership growth outpacing pre-pandemic levels. On the travel...

Sarah Nan DuPre and Leo Walton return after co-hosting the Short Stay Summit to unpack takeaways from the conference, including the energy of a one-day show, the value of hyperlocal hospitality, and the shift toward tech-enabled guest experiences. They also explore Airbnb’s new loyalty program via HotelTonight and debate whether it adds value or dilutes brand identity. Plus, they break down how Go...

Today on Good Morning Hospitality, Michael Goldin, Brandreth Canaley, and Wil Slickers break down the latest headlines shaping travel and hospitality. Morningstar slashes growth projections for online travel firms—what does this signal for Expedia Group, Airbnb, and Booking.com as summer nears? We also look at SuiteOp’s $3M raise to bring AI tools to short-term rental operators. Is AI still a hot...

On this week’s episode of Good Morning Outdoors, Alex Burkett holds down the fort while Matt Whitermore away at a conference, and we’re joined by a very special guest-host, Christine Taylor. Chrissy brings a unique perspective to the show, with a background that spans campgrounds, compliance, and now law, as she wraps up her legal career at Goldberg Segalla. We dive into the brand-new 2025 Kampgro...

This week on GMH Hotel, Sarah Dandashy, Steve Turk, and guest-host, Adam Bussell, unpack how new tariffs could delay hotel projects and drive up development costs across the U.S. They also explore how staffing levels in the hotel industry remain below pre-pandemic levels, despite a projected bump in jobs and compensation. In travel, the team spotlights Virgin Voyages’ booming success with its adul...

In this special live episode from the Short Stay Summit, Sarah and Leo finally record together in person to reflect on an eventful week in London. They highlight key moments from the Summit and the Shortyz Awards, where AirDNA took home the Best Use of Social Media award. The duo explores powerful stories of growth from hosts and property managers, the evolution of tech-powered hospitality, and me...

On today’s episode of Good Morning Hospitality, Brandreth Canaley, Michael Goldin, and Wil Slickers unpack a trio of stories shaking up the short-term rental and hotel industries. First, Booking.com is under scrutiny for hosting a flood of fraudulent STR listings. What does this mean for guest trust and platform accountability? Then, we dig into a 4.5-year stock performance comparison between Airb...

On today’s episode of Good Morning Outdoors, Matt Whitermore and Alex Burkett cover some big moves in the outdoor and alternative accommodation space. Under Canvas Inc. has officially launched its new Outdoor Collection brand with the acquisition of The Fields of Michigan, marking a strategic expansion into uniquely local, nature-connected properties. Over in Europe, HolaCamp has secured €10 milli...

In this week’s episode, Sarah and Leo discuss the latest developments shaping the European travel and hospitality industry. They explore the rise of outdoor hospitality with OlaCamp’s €10M raise, new EU travel regulations requiring fingerprints and facial scans, and what Google's AI updates mean for trip planning. The duo also unpacks the EU’s Digital Markets Act and its implications for Airbnb an...

In this episode of Good Morning Hospitality, Brandreth Canaley and Michael Goldin dig into Airbnb’s first-ever discount program, quietly launched through HotelTonight. We explore what it means for pricing strategy, guest acquisition, and how it stacks up against OTA competition. We also unpack key findings from Phocuswright’s new report on STR tech and distribution. Hosts are getting more strategi...

On this episode of Good Morning Outdoors, we kick things off with the collapse of Oculis Lodge, a once-hyped glamping project near Mount Baker that raised $1.2 million through crowdfunding and promised 35 luxury domes—but only ever delivered one. With the property now listed for sale, we unpack the fallout and lessons for the industry. Next, Under Canvas Inc. announces a record $50 million interna...

This week on GMH Hotel, Sarah Dandashy and Steve Turk dive into Marriott Hotels’ continued dominance in the branded residences space, with expansion focused on the Caribbean and Latin America. They also break down hotel leaders' current read on the economy, with steady demand holding strong despite looming recession chatter. In travel, the hosts unpack fee hikes from United Airlines, Southwest Air...

On this episode of Good Morning Hospitality, Wil Slickers, Brandreth Canaley, Michael Goldin, and Jamie Lane dig into Vrbo’s bold billboard campaign taking aim at Airbnb—and Airbnb’s sharp response in a recent Skift article. We explore what this marketing feud reveals about platform dynamics and traveler sentiment. Jamie also unpacks the latest hotel and short-term rental data from his presentatio...

This week on Good Morning Outdoors, Alex Burkett and Matt Whitermore break down the biggest shifts in outdoor hospitality. Glamping is on fire, with projections pushing the market past $1.3 billion—major hotel brands are paying attention, and travelers are demanding more luxury in nature. The Campspot and Dyrt Awards just dropped, revealing what makes a top-tier campground in 2025. Meanwhile, Cong...

In this episode of Good Morning Hospitality Europe, Leo and Sarah are joined by Andy Fenner, CEO of the Short Term Accommodation Association (STAA). They dive into key industry topics, including the upcoming Short Stay Summit in London, the importance of fair regulation in the UK’s short-term rental market, and the need for data-driven policymaking. Andy shares insights on the economic benefits o...

This week on Good Morning Hospitality, Wil Slickers, Michael Goldin, and Brandreth Canaley dive into the latest headlines shaping the industry. Booking Holdings (NASDAQ: BKNG) CFO explains why AI chatbots aren’t ready to take over online travel agencies, despite the hype. Meanwhile, new details suggest Airbnb is making major changes to its Experiences platform—what’s driving the shift, and what do...

In this episode of Good Morning Outdoors, Matt Whitermore & Alex Burkett cover the latest in outdoor hospitality, including Northgate Resorts’s plans for a 200-acre luxury camping resort near Nashville and AutoCamp’s newest expansion into Sequoia. We also dive into The Dyrt’s 2025 Camping Report, uncovering key trends in RV travel, reservation habits, and pet-friendly camping. Plus, we break down...

In this episode, Sarah and Leo dive into the latest industry news, trends, and discussions. From recapping an energetic conference in Sofia with 280 property managers to Sarah's excitement about her new apartment listing in Barcelona, there's no shortage of interesting topics. Key highlights include an analysis of Mews PMS raising $75 million for U.S. expansion, and in-depth discussions about two...

This week on Good Morning Hospitality, Wil Slickers and Michael Goldin are rolling with a special guest host—Sam Dundas, co-founder of Besty AI—while Brandy is off traveling for work. And speaking of big moves, Sam’s got some exciting news: Besty AI just closed a fresh round of funding. We dive into what that process was like, how investors are thinking about travel tech, and what this means for A...

In this episode of Good Morning Outdoors, Matt Whitermore & Alex Burkett dive into the booming world of adventure travel—what it really means, the top destinations, source markets, and the activities fueling its growth. We also break down the difference between adventure tourism and ecotourism, exploring the seven key principles that define sustainable travel. In industry news, we discuss the rece...

In this episode of Good Morning Hospitality, Sarah Dandashy and Steve Turk kick things off with a significant funding update—Mews has secured $75 million to fuel its global expansion. Then, we dive into the latest hotel industry shake-ups. Marriott Bonvoy leads in loyalty programs, but Hilton Honors is closing the gap fast—could Hilton take the top spot by 2026? Plus, Thailand’s ultra-luxury villa...