Podcast

CoStar News Hotels

Business, Business News, News

CoStar News Hotels' experienced, award-winning journalists bring diverse perspectives and voices to the news. From exclusive interviews with CEOs, to conference news from around the world, to coverage of public hotel companies, our stories are accessible for free 24/7 to inform your business today and in the future.

CoStar News Hotels is part of the global CoStar News team, which reports commercial real estate news from all over the United States, Canada and the U.K.

Episodes
279
Releases
Weekly
Typical length
24 min
On air since
2023
Latest episode
6 days ago

Episodes

279 episodes, newest first

  1. Returning to hospitality in the AI era

    Episode 278

    Show notes

    Richard Sandoval, CEO of Spire Hospitality, joins CoStar News Hotels reporter Natalie Harms to discuss his first few months at the helm of the owner-centric hotel management company, including details on Spire's newest portfolio addition — a historic hotel in Alabama — and their approach to introducing artificial intelligence into the company.

    36 min
  2. Fourth quarter hotel earnings preview with Baird's Mike Bellisario

    Episode 277

    Show notes

    Mike Bellisario, senior research analyst and managing director at Baird, joins the podcast to discuss the broad expectations for the upcoming earnings reports for publicly traded hotel brand companies and real estate investment trusts, including what companies are best poised to succeed.

    25 min
  3. Chicago hotel market enjoys summer of conferences

    Episode 276

    Show notes

    CoStar Group's Didio Pequeno and CoStar News' Ryan Ori join Trevor Simpson on the "CoStar News Hotels" podcast to discuss Chicago's hotel performance this summer and how market is shaping up across the commercial real estate industry in general.

    20 min
  4. Live from The Lodging Conference

    Episode 275

    Show notes

    Stephanie Ricca and Natalie Harms report live from The Lodging Conference in Phoenix, Arizona to share their takes from the event.

    10 min
  5. Hanoi rocks (with STR's Jesper Palmqvist)

    Episode 274

    Show notes

    STR's Jesper Palmqvist once again joins the podcast to take us on a tour around the Asia-Pacific region, highlighting recent performance across that part of the globe.

    28 min
  6. Marriott's Tony Capuano reflects on transformative Starwood deal 10 years later

    Episode 273

    Show notes

    Marriott International President and CEO Tony Capuano speaks with CoStar News Hotels' Bryan Wroten about the impact Marriott's acquisiton of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide has had on the hotel industry a decade since the deal closed.

    35 min
  7. Why travel doesn't need to be perfect and other takeaways from Hilton's 2027 Trends Report

    Episode 272

    Show notes

    Each year, Hilton announces a new list of travel trends they expect to dominate the year ahead, and each year Jess Petitt, Hilton's senior vice president of strategy, insights and full service brands Jess Petitt, joins the podcast to dive into what those new trends are and what they mean for hoteliers.

    28 min
  8. The ongoing evolution of commercial strategy with Aimbridge's Allison Handy

    Episode 271

    Show notes

    Aimbridge Hospitality Chief Commercial Officer Allison Handy speaks with CoStar News Hotels' Bryan Wroten about the latest developments within her department, including its new global sales office, as well as the ongoing evolution of commercial strategy and how Aimbridge is adapting to travelers increasingly using AI to plan and even book their trips.

    25 min
  9. The importance of keeping humanity in hotel sales in the AI era (with Doug Kennedy)

    Episode 270

    Show notes

    Automation and artificial intelligence are looking to take a bigger role in hotel sales, particular the group RFP process, and Doug Kennedy, president and co-founder of the Kennedy Training Network, joins the podcast to share why and how hoteliers must keep a human touch in sales.

    31 min
  10. Update on Hawaii's recovery from pandemic, wildfires (with Outrigger's Jenna Villalobos)

    Episode 269

    Show notes

    Jenna Villalobos, senior vice president and chief revenue officer at Outrigger Hospitality Group, joined CoStar News Hotels' Trevor Simpson for an interview at the 2026 Hotel Data Conference in Nashville, Tennessee.

    8 min
  11. Commercial strategy leaders shift to focus on profitability, AI (with Sage's Priya Chandnani)

    Episode 268

    Show notes

    Sage Hospitality Groups’ Senior Vice President of Sales, Revenue and Distribution Strategy Priya Chandnani joined the podcast during the recent Hotel Data Conference to discuss how commercial strategy teams are adjusting to heavier use of AI, owners' focus on profitability and more.

    19 min
  12. Will hotel REITs move the needle in China? (with Jesper Palmqvist)

    Episode 267

    Show notes

    2026 is the first year for hotel real estate investment trusts in China, and STR's Jesper Palmqvist joins the podcast to talk about what that means for their broader hotel industry, along with other news around the Asia Pacific region.

    24 min
  13. Ancillary spend, guest satisfaction top priorities at Crestline (with Aaron Olson)

    Episode 266

    Show notes

    In an interview at the 2026 Hotel Data Conference, Crestline Hotels & Resorts' Executive Vice President of Operations Aaron Olson talks with CoStar News Hotels' Bryan Wroten about strategies to maintain and grow profit margins, the current labor environment, the company's outlook and more.

    19 min
  14. Getting past the barriers of adoption for AI (with Vivander's Michael Goldrich)

    Episode 265

    Show notes

    Michael Goldrich, founder and chief advisor for Vivander Advisors, joins the podcast (recorded live at the 2026 Hotel Data Conference) to discuss his work in helping the hotel industry get ready for artificial intelligence, which he said is changing the industry faster than other major tech innovations in modern history.

    17 min
  15. Kasa's revenue strategy focuses on guest demand for each room type (with Kelly McGuire)

    Episode 264

    Show notes

    In an interview at the 2026 Hotel Data Conference, Kasa's Kelly McGuire talks to CoStar News Hotels' Bryan Wroten about what guests want from their stays in an aparthotel accommodation, how revenue strategy for an aparthotel unit compares to a traditional hotel room and more.

    14 min
  16. The need for the return of international travel (with Highgate's Kerry Mack)

    Episode 263

    Show notes

    During an interview with CoStar News' Natalie Harms at the 18th annual Hotel Data Conference, Highgate Hotels Chief Revenue Officer Kerry Mack says that even with domestic hotel demand performing well, the U.S. hospitality industry needs to see a return of international inbound travel.

    10 min
  17. Business travel brings hope to Hawaii, PM Hotel Group's Erica Lipscomb says

    Episode 262

    Show notes

    In an interview at the 2026 Hotel Data Conference, PM Hotel Group's Erica Lipscomb talks to CoStar News Hotels' Sean McCracken about the demand dynamics at play for Hawaii, budgeting season, guest booking behavior and more.

    14 min
  18. Virgin Hotels' Jeff Borman on leveraging uniqueness

    Episode 261

    Show notes

    In an interview at the 2026 Hotel Data Conference with CoStar News Hotels' Sean McCracken, Virgin Hotels' Jeff Borman talks about how the boutique, experience-focused Virgin Limited Edition is outperforming the company's larger hotel portfolio.

    13 min
  19. Targeting market leadership and stronger shoulder days (with Parks Hospitality's Chris Hardy)

    Episode 260

    Show notes

    Reporter Natalie Harms chats with Chris Hardy, vice president of commercial strategy at Parks Hospitality Group, at the 18th annual Hotel Data Conference to learn more about what the hotel owner and operator is focused on, including targeting shoulder day growth and market dominance.

    10 min
  20. Recapping the first day of the 2026 Hotel Data Conference

    Episode 259

    Show notes

    CoStar News Hotels' Bryan Wroten and Terence Baker speak with STR's Kelsey Fenerty about the new U.S. hotel industry forecast and other topics from the first day of the 2026 Hotel Data Conference in Nashville.

    10 min