Good Morning Hospitality

Live from Scale Eastern Europe, Leo and Damian discuss the vibrant energy at the event, with over 280 attendees soaking up valuable insights on regulation, travel trends, and business growth in the region. They highlight the sensible approach to regulation in Bulgaria, focusing on compliance and tax revenues without overburdening operators.  They also explore the rising trend of sustainable and "n...

As hotel brands and OTAs compete for traveler loyalty, the industry is seeing major shifts in how rewards and distribution work. Expedia Group’s One Key continues to expand, but questions remain about its impact on property managers and STR operators. Meanwhile, Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton, and Hyatt are bringing short-term rentals and outdoor hospitality brands into their loyalty programs, signaling...

The first-ever episode of Good Morning Outdoors is here with Matt Whitermore and Alex Burkett! We’re diving into Blackstone’s $5.65B acquisition of Safe Harbor Marinas—what does this mean for the future of outdoor recreation and waterfront access? Plus, DOGE is making significant cuts to public lands agencies, and the Outdoor Alliance says it could spell disaster for recreation and conservation. A...

This week on GMH Hotel, Sarah Dandashy and Steve Turk cover the latest in hospitality and travel, including Choice Hotels International’s strategic move away from budget brands to focus on upscale and extended-stay properties, and Hyatt’s launch of Hyatt Select, targeting cost-conscious travelers in underserved markets. They also discuss Flywire’s $330 million acquisition of Sertifi by Flywire to...

In this episode of GMH Europe, Leo Walton and Sarah Nan DuPre discuss the latest European travel and hospitality trends. They explore short-term rental market growth, with rising bookings and listings across Europe, and highlight upcoming travel demand for Easter and summer holidays. The conversation covers the potential of sustainable travel innovations like electric air taxis (eVTOLs) and their...

This week on Good Morning Hospitality, Jamie Lane returns as our guest host alongside Wil Slickers, Brandreth Canaley, and Michael Goldin to dissect the latest Q4 earnings from Booking.com and Airbnb. With revenue trends, profitability shifts, and market outlooks in focus, we’ll analyze what these numbers reveal about the broader travel and hospitality industry. But that’s not all—Airbnb is suing...

This week, Sarah Dandashy and Steve Turk discuss Los Angeles hotels' plea for visitors after recent wildfires and Deer Valley Resort’s massive expansion, set to make it one of the largest ski areas in the U.S. In travel, they cover overcrowded airport lounges, how to handle airline seat downgrades, and a shocking incident involving flight attendants posing on a plane wing. Tune in for the latest h...

In this episode of GMH EU, Leo and Sarah are joined by Simon Lehmann (AJL Consulting, former CEO of Interhome) to break down HomeToGo’s €160M acquisition of Interhome and its impact on the vacation rental industry, property management landscape, and market consolidation in Europe. They also discuss the growing trend of Buy Now, Pay Later in travel, Airbnb’s latest warning about online booking scam...

Big moves are shaking up hospitality! Mint House just acquired Locale—what does this mean for the industry, and is this the start of major consolidation? Wil Slickers sat down with Mint House CEO, Christian Lee, to discuss the deal, and we’re breaking down why it matters. Plus, new details on the Marriott Bonvoy x Sonder Inc. licensing deal—how does this shift the hotel-STR landscape? And Airbnb c...

In this episode, Wil discusses Mint House's significant acquisition of Locale, enhancing its leadership in residential hospitality. Founded in 2017, Mint House aims to redefine extended stays with tech-driven features, while Locale, founded in 2016, shares a similar focus on premium multifamily properties. The discussion with Mint House CEO Christian Lee covers the benefits of the acquisition, the...

Join hosts Sarah Dandashy and Steve Turk as they explore Hyatt’s $2.6 billion acquisition of Playa Hotels & Resorts, a major expansion into the all-inclusive market. They also discuss Marriott Hotels’s latest move in extended-stay hospitality with its first Apartments by Marriott Bonvoy property in the mainland U.S. and the $30 million transformation of an iconic Hawaiian hotel. In the travel segm...

This week, Leo Walton and Sarah Nan DuPre cover the latest shake-up in Edinburgh’s short-term rental regulations, as the city temporarily eases restrictions for festival season—does this signal a policy rethink? They also dive into the growing trend of farm stays and agritourism, exploring how rural hosts are capitalizing on shifting travel preferences. Plus, with a surprise last-minute bidder in...

This week on Good Morning Hospitality, Wil Slickers, Brandreth Canaley, and Michael Goldin break down the biggest headlines shaking up the industry. Vacasa has received an unsolicited acquisition proposal—what does this mean for the struggling vacation rental giant, and what could this mean for Casago, who announced a strategic merger before the new year? Meanwhile, Booking Holdings (NASDAQ: BKNG)...

Join hosts Sarah Dandashy and Steve Turk as they break down the latest trends in hospitality and travel. This week, they discuss JLL’s forecast predicting a surge in global hotel deals, insights from the 2025 ALIS Conference, and the MUSEUM OF ICE CREAM’s expansion into Las Vegas with its largest flagship yet. In the travel segment, they cover the upcoming Real ID deadline and what travelers need...

This week, we welcome Boris Pavlov as our first guest host on Good Morning Hospitality Europe with Leo Walton & Sarah Nan DuPre! Boris shares insights from his journey in the short-term rental industry, from scaling a management company in Eastern Europe to launching Flataway, an OTA for professional property managers. We dive into Airbnb’s latest cancellation policy changes, exploring their impac...

This week on Good Morning Hospitality, Wil Slickers, Brandreth Canaley, and Michael Goldin dive into private equity’s growing appetite for travel tech and what it means for the industry. With Roami fully booked for the Super Bowl, they discuss STR demand spikes, pricing strategies, and takeaways for operators. Plus, a look at Inspirato’s shift toward owner-focused luxury rentals—does it signal a b...

Join hosts Sarah Dandashy and Steve Turk as they explore the return of the iconic Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. brand, making a comeback to cater to upscale travelers while honoring its legacy. They also discuss OpenAI’s new ChatGPT feature called Operator, which allows AI to search for and book travel independently, signaling a shift in how technology impacts hospitality and travel pl...

This week on GMH EU, Sarah Nan DuPre and Leo Walton discussed the dominance of rural bookings in Spain, with 70% of Airbnb stays occurring in low-density areas, even as urban regulations fail to deter tourism growth, as seen in Amsterdam's 12% rise in guest nights post-restrictions. They highlighted Italy’s anticipated tourism surge due to the Catholic Jubilee, boosting spiritual and group travel...

This week on Good Morning Hospitality, Wil Slickers, Brandreth Canaley, and Jamie Lane dig into the headlines shaping travel and hospitality. With Hopper reportedly preparing for an IPO, the team examines the company’s strategy, its controversial reliance on fintech products, and what its potential public debut could mean for the industry. They’ll also explore OpenAI’s new Operator, a cutting-edge...

Join hosts Sarah Dandashy and Steve Turk as Sarah recounts her personal experience with the recent LA fires, shedding light on the challenges disasters pose to local communities, businesses, and the hospitality industry. Then, the duo dives into their 2025 predictions for hotels and travel, exploring the trends and innovations that are set to redefine the industry. Get ready for a thoughtful discu...

Sarah and Leo kick off 2025 with bold predictions for the hospitality industry. From the continued rise of short-term rental regulations in Europe to shifts in travel behavior driven by climate change and overtourism, the duo unpacks potential game-changers. They explore the impact of remote work on rural and coastal destinations, speculate on AI-powered booking agents from industry giants, and de...

In this episode of Good Morning Hospitality, Wil Slickers and Brandreth Canaley cover two major stories shaping the travel and hospitality industry. We discuss Airbnb’s strong stance against price gouging during the LA wildfires, focusing on how the platform is stepping up to support displaced residents and travelers. We also explore the impacts of the TikTok ban on travel marketing and consumer b...

In this special episode of Good Morning Hospitality, we spotlight the ongoing California fires that have devastated communities and displaced thousands. Co-founder of the Maimon Group, Nir, joins us to discuss their unwavering efforts to provide shelter and support to those affected. From emotional tolls to strategic shifts in operations, discover how the hospitality industry is stepping up in the...

Join Sarah and Leo as they explore 2025 travel trends, including lesser-known wine tourism destinations, "JOMO" (Joy of Missing Out) escapes, and the rise of athletic adventures and wellness-focused holidays. Leo shares his stay at a family-friendly luxury hotel, while Sarah delves into a headline-grabbing story of an unconventional Airbnb rental. They also discuss regulatory challenges in Barcelo...

The GMH team—Michael Goldin, Brandreth Canaley, Jamie Lane, and Wil Slickers—shares their bold predictions for the hospitality industry in 2025. This episode is part of a month-long GMH tradition, with all shows and hosts revealing their insights for the year ahead. Be sure to tune in to every episode, and join us in December 2025 as we review how our forecasts measure up! ---- This episode is bro...