Episode Summary
We got something cool for episode 1001! Props to Katie Cline at the Skift Suite Success: Masters of Hospitality podcast for this one. I joined an end-of-year roundtable with some of the most thoughtful voices in hashtag#hospitality media to reflect on what actually mattered in 2025 and what could reshape 2026. Huge thanks to everyone who brought real perspective (and disagreement) to the table: ποΈ: Katie Cline β Suite Success ποΈ: Josiah Mackenzie β Hospitality Daily ποΈ: Zach Busekrus β Behind the Stays ποΈ: David Millili & ποΈSteve Carran β The Modern Hotelier On hashtag#NoVacancyNews, I focused on two things that kept showing up in every conversation this year β and won't go away in 2026: β’ the confusion and overconfidence around AI, and β’ the growing economic bifurcation between ultra-luxury and everyone else. I also shared why I think profitability pressure, critical thinking, and realistic expectations will define the next cycle β and why hospitality needs to stop parroting talking points and start asking harder questions. A big thanks to Actabl β Actabl gives you the power to profit. Visit Actabl.com. What this roundtable covers: π§ : Where hashtag#AI helps β and where the industry oversells it π°: Why protecting profit mattered more than top-line growth in 2025 π¨: The growing gap between ultra-luxury and the rest of the market π€: Why loyalty programs face an identity crisis
