Aug 15, 2026
Friday Night Audit gives hotel company presidents a dangerous combination: cocktails, bad ideas and three people absolutely convinced they know how to run the business better.
Red Roof President Zack Gharib made the mistake of joining us this week. We insisted our advice was genius. Zack knew better.
Between drinks,...
Aug 13, 2026
What happens when you build a hotel around elves, orcs, fairies and leprechauns — and commit fully to the idea?
Ancient Lore Village has just 14 rooms, yet some of its social videos draw millions of views, including one that topped 25 million. Now CEO Melissa Blattner is taking the concept much further.
I spoke with...
Aug 12, 2026
What if the biggest problem at your hotel isn’t what you’re missing?
Heidi Stone knows that trap well. She took over Mountain Lake Lodge — the Virginia resort made famous by Dirty Dancing — when the lake had dried up and the property had plenty working against it.
Her answer wasn’t to obsess over...
Aug 11, 2026
Some of the biggest hotel construction opportunities in the world right now are taking shape across Asia Pacific — and India is accelerating fast.
I spoke with Lodging Econometrics’ Bruce Ford about where hotel companies are placing their bets next. India’s hotel pipeline nearly tripled over the past three years,...
Aug 11, 2026
What if the SBA’s $5 million hotel loan limit doesn’t actually limit you to $5 million?
At LendingCon, SBA Regional Administrator Tyler Teresa explained how hotel owners now use the 7(a) and 504 programs together for as much as $10 million in total financing. Congress never raised the $5 million limit. The SBA found...