Good Morning Hospitality

Welcome to 2025! Sarah Nan DuPre and Leo Walton reflect on their holiday travels and dive into the latest hospitality news shaping Europe, including the launch of a game-changing high-speed train connecting Paris and Berlin in just 8 hours, Hostaway making impressive $365M fundraise signaling strong growth for short-term rentals, and data revealing STRs outperforming hotels for New Year’s Eve book...

Welcome to the first episode of 2025! We’re diving into the most prominent hospitality and travel headlines to start the new year. First, we continue to explore Casago's game-changing $128 million acquisition of Vacasa and what this means for the vacation rental landscape. This will be a fun one for us to get Brandy's take! Next, we discuss the massive $365 million funding round that propelled Hos...

In this impromptu New Year's Eve episode of Good Morning Hospitality, Michael and Wil discuss the groundbreaking news of Steve Schwab, founder of Casago, acquiring Vacasa. This acquisition marks a significant shift in the short-term rental industry, valued at 128 million, and reflects a new franchise model approach. Michael and Wil anticipate further insights from Steve Schwab and his team once re...

In this episode, Leo sits down with Marcus Rader, CEO and co-founder of Hostaway, to discuss the company's recent success in raising $365 million at a $925 million valuation. Marcus shares insights on the booming industry, the impact of AI and travel trends, and the importance of strategic partnerships. He also delves into Hostaway's growth strategy, focusing on international expansion, product de...

In our final episode of 2024, Leo Walton and Sarah Nan Dupre reflect on the year in short-term rentals, including promising developments like Barcelona's potential repeal of its STR ban and New York City reconsidering its strict regulations. They discuss Marriott's strategic move into the rural market with its Postcard Cabins acquisition and its long-term agreement with Trailborn, showcasing the r...

The year is coming to a close, and it’s time to reflect on the bold predictions we made at the start of 2024 for our last episode of the year! Join Wil Slickers, Michael Goldin, Brandreth Canaley, and Jamie Lane as they dive into what they got right, what they missed, and the surprises that shook the hospitality and travel industries. This episode recaps a transformative year for hospitality, from...

Join hosts Sarah Dandashy and Steve Turk as they explore Radisson Individuals’ move to capture the upper-upscale market by emphasizing local character and authentic experiences. They also highlight the best Christmas hotels in the U.S. for festive getaways and discuss new U.S. Department of Transportation proposals to protect travelers during airline disruptions. Dive into the evolution of premium...

This week, we explore Europe’s most festive cities for Christmas getaways, highlighting top destinations like Berlin, Vienna, and Prague. We also discuss major updates in the short-term rental world, including Google’s growing role in bookings, Airbnb’s shifting market share, and new insights from Hostfully's annual report paired with AirDNA data. On the regulatory front, we cover France's nationw...

In this episode of Good Morning Hospitality, we’re joined by Rich Sippos, Head of Sales at Extenteam, to explore how culture and team growth are transforming the hospitality industry. We discuss the challenges and opportunities of managing distributed teams, strategies for preventing burnout, and the future of staffing in a rapidly changing landscape. Tune in for valuable insights and practical ad...

Join hosts Sarah Dandashy and Steve Turk as they unpack Marriott Bonvoy’s 2025 travel trends, from adventurous "bravecations" to sustainability-focused journeys. They highlight the TSA’s busiest day ever with over 3 million travelers screened, dive into the boutique luxury of SeaDream I cruises in Italy, and explore how AI is revolutionizing hospitality revenue management. Stay tuned for the lates...

This week, we explore Airbnb’s collaboration with CAMRA to revitalize rooms above pubs, boosting local tourism and unique stays. HomeToGo’s partnership with FlixBus introduces sustainable travel discounts, enhancing accessibility to vacation rentals. We also examine Google’s compliance with the EU Digital Markets Act, including changes to hotel and rental listings on Google Maps, and the implicati...

This week, Brandreth Canaley, Michael Goldin, and Wil Slickers return to discuss two major short-term rental developments making waves in the industry. In New York City, a new bill, No. 1107, could revive some short-term rentals, striking a balance between regulation and opportunity in one of the world's most challenging markets for STR operators. Meanwhile, Dubai's booming short-term rental marke...

This week, Leo Walton, Sarah Nan DuPre, and Damian Sheridan explore Airbnb’s initiative in Waltham Forest, London, examining its role in supporting local communities and promoting home-sharing while speculating on its potential shift toward destination marketing. In Spain, we analyze Catalonia’s proposed short-term rental ban, the European Holiday Home Association’s legal challenge, and their broa...

This week on Good Morning Hospitality, we unpack the latest trends and shakeups in the industry. Venture capital inflow is heating up in travel tech, signaling continued investor confidence in innovation within the space. Meanwhile, mergers and acquisitions are on the rise as companies look to scale and dominate niche markets. Plus, Expedia Group and Hopper have called a truce, moving past their c...

Join Sarah Dandashy and Steve Turk as they unpack the latest in hotel and travel news! This episode covers the U.S. hotel industry's downgraded growth forecasts for 2024 and 2025, with insights into shifting economic factors and profitability trends. The team also explores Viceroy Hotels and Resorts' new rebranding strategy focused on delivering immersive, authentic guest experiences. On the trave...

In this episode of Good Morning Hospitality EU, Leo and Sarah dive into a variety of industry highlights. Leo shares his excitement about Airbnb's latest gladiator experience at the Colosseum, giving 16 lucky guests the chance to immerse themselves in ancient Roman history. Meanwhile, Sarah discusses booking.com’s latest move toward regulatory compliance in Europe, including the end of its price p...

In this episode of Good Morning Hospitality, Michael Goldin, Brandreth Canaley, and Wil Slickers welcome special guest John Sutton, co-founder of Journey, to explore the evolving landscape of loyalty programs in the hospitality sector. They discuss how Journey is setting new standards for guest engagement and loyalty beyond traditional hotel stays and short-term rentals. John shares his insights i...

In this episode, Sarah Dandashy and Steve Turk discuss key hospitality and travel trends shaping the industry. They explore how direct bookings are projected to lead hotel distribution by 2030, reducing reliance on OTAs and reshaping the market. They dive into hotel CEOs’ focus on the middle class and demographic shifts as key drivers for future growth. The team also highlights Apple's latest AirT...

In this episode of Good Morning Hospitality EU, Leo Walton shares highlights from the Hostaway Conference in Miami, while Sarah Nan DuPre dives into recent French regulations on short-term rentals aimed at tackling housing affordability. They discuss the latest Airbnb earnings call, where the company saw revenue growth but a stock drop, largely due to their focus on quality over quantity with the...

In this episode of Good Morning Hospitality, Wil Slickers, Jamie Lane, Brandreth Canaley, and Michael Goldin dive into the latest earnings calls and strategic shifts of top hospitality brands. Airbnb’s new Co-Host Initiative, designed as an alternative to "traditional" property management, takes center stage as the hosts discuss its implications for property owners and the broader short-term renta...

In this episode, Sarah Dandashy and Steve Turk dive into the latest headlines shaping the hospitality industry. They discuss Choice Hotels Internationals’ bold push into higher-end and extended-stay properties with their “revenue intense” strategy. The team explores what this means for the brand’s image and future growth. Next, they turn to the unique, themed dining experience set to hit MGM Grand...

In this episode of Good Morning Hospitality EU, Sarah Nan DuPre and Leo Walton explore fascinating developments in the hospitality landscape. Starting with a thoughtful nod to Spain's recent severe weather, they share updates on industry highlights, including Host & Stay’s rapid expansion in the UK and Airbnb’s new initiative to provide accommodations for domestic abuse survivors in the UK. Sarah...

In this episode, we dive into the latest travel tech and loyalty program shake-ups. The Points Guy (John Sutton, Brian Kelly) is challenging Airbnb with a new loyalty program for home rentals, or at least that's how Bloomberg phrased things in the Journey announcement article. The program aims to bring more value and flexibility to frequent travelers. Meanwhile, Expedia Group is expanding its loya...

Join us on October 30th for an engaging episode of Good Morning Hospitality! We'll examine the American Express Global Business Travel report's prediction that global hotel rates will stabilize in 2025. Next, we'll explore key hospitality trends from the 2024 The Hospitality Show Conference, including rising hotel deal activity, persistent labor challenges, the booming extended stay segment, and g...

In this episode, Sarah and Leo dive into the latest from the VRMA conference, including updates on regulation, market dynamics, and property management strategies. They touch on the announcement of HomeToGo's potential acquisition of Interhome Group, what it might mean for hyperlocal rental markets, and shifting regulatory landscapes like Málaga’s recent short-term rental restrictions. The discuss...