This Week in Hospitality

Frontier’s Reckoning, Rate Cuts Reignite Hotel Capital, and Why Europeans Are Over NYC & LA

This week, Zach, Scott, Ben, and Edwin are back — and the crew opens with Frontier’s CEO stepping down, treating it as a category autopsy. Scott argues ULCC isn’t failing because people don’t want cheap flights — it’s failing because the experience feels adversarial. Ben backs it with real consumer behavior: once basic economy closes the price gap, travelers avoid Spirit and Frontier unless it’s the only direct route. Edwin adds the European lens, noting low-cost works best when distances are short — but even there, the line between legacy and budget carriers is rapidly blurring.
The conversation then pivots to Fed rate cuts and what they unlock for hospitality heading into 2026. Ben breaks down why cheaper money doesn’t just help debt — it fundamentally shifts equity psychology and makes boutique, differentiated projects pencil again. Edwin throws the caution flag: if capital flows the wrong way, independents get swallowed and everything gets blander. Scott lands the thesis: rate cuts don’t fix bad fundamentals — they expose them.
Finally, the crew looks at a global demand shift hiding in plain sight: European travelers are skipping U.S. gateway cities and choosing places like Austin, Nashville, and Charleston instead. The group argues this isn’t a tourism fad — it’s driven by value, cultural legibility, and social media making secondary cities aspirational. In a world where everywhere is visible, the obvious destinations no longer win by default.
In Spice of the Week, the episode gets sharp: Dubai mandates digital hotel check-in; a Maldives BTS reel proves “authentic beats polished”; and Scott closes with the line of the week — luxury isn’t a price point, it’s a choice.This Week in Hospitality is presented to you by Journey.
Journey is a loyalty platform built specifically for independent boutique hotels and high-touch hospitality brands. Our mission is to give operators the same powerful rewards engine, data intelligence, and guest insights that major chains rely on — without asking them to give up the individuality, soul, or story that makes their property extraordinary.If you’re an owner or operator of an extraordinary, independently owned and operated hotel or residence — and you want to see whether your property is a fit for the Journey Alliance — you can learn more and apply at alliance.journey.com.
Key Topics & Timestamps
00:00 — Intro
07:11 — Story #1: Netflix to Acquire Warner Bros.
25:11 — Story #2: How U.S. Lodging Abandoned the Middle Class
43:45 — Best Social Media Posts of the Week
52:40 — Story #3: Uber’s AI Solutions Arm Is Recruiting Travel Agents
1:01:13 — "Spice of the Week"
Your Hosts:
Zach Busekrus — Journey
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachbusekrus/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behindthestays/ 
 
Scott Eddy — Global Travel & Hospitality Expert @MrScottEddy
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrscotteddy/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrscotteddy/
 
Ben Wolff — Founder of Onera & Oasi
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-wolff/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uniquestaysguy/
 
Edwin Kramer — Luxury Hotelier Consultant & Former GM
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edwinckramer/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edwinkramer/

The Netflix Deal, Uber’s Power Play, and Why Hotels Are Losing the Culture War

This week, Zach, Scott, and Ben drop one of the spiciest takes on the future of hospitality yet — starting with the bombshell Netflix–Warner–Paramount showdown and why it matters more to hotels than Hollywood. Scott argues the real war isn’t over streaming… it’s over cultural control, and hotels are dangerously unprepared. Ben hits back with receipts from DTC brands and politics: the media revolution already happened, and hospitality is years behind.
The crew then dismantles the claim that U.S. hotels have “abandoned the middle class.” Ben calls BS — the middle class didn’t disappear, they just want better taste and better design. Zach backs it with Gen Z trip-planning screenshots, while Scott says the real issue is affordability and aspiration colliding in real time.
Then: Uber’s quiet hiring of travel planners sparks a debate about whether the rideshare giant is building the operating system for global movement. If Uber controls inspiration → booking → mobility, hotels may be fighting for visibility, not reservations.
And in a fiery Spice of the Week: Instagram’s new open-reshare feature is labeled a “nuclear unlock” for hotels; Ben argues most directors of marketing should be replaced by cinematic content teams; and Scott drops the line of the episode: “Hotels aren’t places to sleep — they’re stages. And nobody is performing.”
This Week in Hospitality is presented to you by Journey.
Journey is a loyalty platform built specifically for independent boutique hotels and high-touch hospitality brands. Our mission is to give operators the same powerful rewards engine, data intelligence, and guest insights that major chains rely on — without asking them to give up the individuality, soul, or story that makes their property extraordinary.If you’re an owner or operator of an extraordinary, independently owned and operated hotel or residence — and you want to see whether your property is a fit for the Journey Alliance — you can learn more and apply at alliance.journey.com.
Key Topics & Timestamps
00:00 — Intro
07:11 — Story #1: Netflix to Acquire Warner Bros.
25:11 — Story #2: How U.S. Lodging Abandoned the Middle Class
43:45 — Best Social Media Posts of the Week
52:40 — Story #3: Uber’s AI Solutions Arm Is Recruiting Travel Agents
1:01:13 — "Spice of the Week"
Your Hosts:
Zach Busekrus — Journey
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachbusekrus/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behindthestays/ 
 
Scott Eddy — Global Travel & Hospitality Expert @MrScottEddy
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrscotteddy/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrscotteddy/
 
Ben Wolff — Founder of Onera & Oasi
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-wolff/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uniquestaysguy/
 
Edwin Kramer — Luxury Hotelier Consultant & Former GM
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edwinckramer/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edwinkramer/

Corporate America Discovers Wellness, Travelers Reject Algorithms, Park Fees Trigger Travel Rethink

This week, the crew kicks things off with the $100 fee hike for international visitors to U.S. national parks and what it means for gateway towns, hotel owners, and the broader appeal of “America’s best idea.” Will higher fees thin crowds, crush small operators, or just change how and where travelers spend?
From there, we zoom out to the rebirth of human-led travel planning as luxury travelers get paralyzed by endless options and start seeking out high-touch, in-person advisors and “travel boutiques” instead of yet another AI-generated itinerary.
Finally, we dig into the corporate wellness boom: why companies are swapping fluorescent-lit ballrooms for nature-immersed retreats, cold plunges, and sleep-optimized stays—and how savvy hotels are repositioning themselves as performance and reset hubs, not just places to crash.
This Week in Hospitality is presented to you by Journey.
Journey is a loyalty platform built specifically for independent boutique hotels and high-touch hospitality brands. Our mission is to give operators the same powerful rewards engine, data intelligence, and guest insights that major chains rely on — without asking them to give up the individuality, soul, or story that makes their property extraordinary.If you’re an owner or operator of an extraordinary, independently owned and operated hotel or residence — and you want to see whether your property is a fit for the Journey Alliance — you can learn more and apply at alliance.journey.com.
Key Topics & Timestamps
Key Topics & Timestamps
00:00 — Intro
16:14 — Story #1: $100 fee hike for international visitors to U.S. national parks
28:18 — Story #2: The Return of the Travel Agency? Why Luxury Escapes’ High-End Boutiques Are Booming
38:46 — Best Social Media Posts of the Week
56:24 — Story #3: Corporate Wellness Travel Going Mainstream
47:20 — "Spice of the Week"
Your Hosts:
Zach Busekrus — Journey
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachbusekrus/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behindthestays/ 
 
Scott Eddy — Global Travel & Hospitality Expert @MrScottEddy
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrscotteddy/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrscotteddy/
 
Ben Wolff — Founder of Onera & Oasi
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-wolff/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uniquestaysguy/
 
Edwin Kramer — Luxury Hotelier Consultant & Former GM
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edwinckramer/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edwinkramer/

Capital One’s Hopper Play, LuxUrban’s Collapse, Google’s AI Booking Push

A big week of structural shifts in travel and hospitality.
Capital One moves to acquire Hopper’s installed software and hire key hotel and engineering teams — signaling a deeper push into owning the traveler journey.
The team explores the LuxUrban collapse which predates the Sondor fall out but has an eerily similar story.
And Google announces that hotel and flight bookings are coming directly into AI Mode, collapsing research and booking into a single conversational experience.
We break down what these moves mean for distribution, loyalty, hotel operators, and the future relationship between brands, banks, and big tech.
This Week in Hospitality is presented to you by Journey.
Journey is a loyalty platform built specifically for independent boutique hotels and high-touch hospitality brands. Our mission is to give operators the same powerful rewards engine, data intelligence, and guest insights that major chains rely on — without asking them to give up the individuality, soul, or story that makes their property extraordinary.If you’re an owner or operator of an extraordinary, independently owned and operated hotel or residence — and you want to see whether your property is a fit for the Journey Alliance — you can learn more and apply at alliance.journey.com.
Key Topics & Timestamps
00:00 — Intro
03:10 — Story #1: Capital One Set to Acquire Hopper Travel Software
15:22 — Story #2: Yet Another Hospitality Company Files For Bankruptcy: LuxUrban
30:34 — Story #3: Hotel and flight bookings are coming to Google's AI Mode
44:30 — "Spice of the Week"
Your Hosts:
Zach Busekrus — Journey
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachbusekrus/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behindthestays/ 
 
Scott Eddy — Global Travel & Hospitality Expert @MrScottEddy
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrscotteddy/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrscotteddy/
 
Ben Wolff — Founder of Onera & Oasi
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-wolff/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uniquestaysguy/
 
Edwin Kramer — Luxury Hotelier Consultant & Former GM
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edwinckramer/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edwinkramer/

Virgin’s Identity Crisis, Chase’s 2026 Travel Predictions, and Why Hilton’s Rethinking its Honors Program

In this episode of This Week in Hospitality, Zach Busekrus sits down with Scott Eddy, Ben Wolff, and Edwin Kramer to break down three major stories reshaping the travel and hospitality world. From Chase’s surprising 2026 travel and dining predictions, to Virgin Hotels’ sudden CEO transition, to Hilton’s sweeping overhaul of its Honors loyalty program — this week offers big questions, bold moves, and signals that could redefine strategy across the industry.
This Week in Hospitality is presented to you by Journey.
Journey is a loyalty platform built specifically for independent boutique hotels and high-touch hospitality brands. Our mission is to give operators the same powerful rewards engine, data intelligence, and guest insights that major chains rely on — without asking them to give up the individuality, soul, or story that makes their property extraordinary.If you’re an owner or operator of an extraordinary, independently owned and operated hotel or residence — and you want to see whether your property is a fit for the Journey Alliance — you can learn more and apply at alliance.journey.com.
Key Topics & Timestamps
00:00 — Intro
03:27 — Story #1: Chase Travel/Dining Predictions + Sapphire Reserve Events for 2026
20:13 — Story #2: Virgin Hotels' search for new CEO is underway
34:50 — Story #3: Hilton Overhauls Loyalty Program
47:51 — "Spice of the Week"
Your Hosts:
Zach Busekrus — Journey
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachbusekrus/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behindthestays/ 
 
Scott Eddy — Global Travel & Hospitality Expert @MrScottEddy
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrscotteddy/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrscotteddy/
 
Ben Wolff — Founder of Onera & Oasi
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-wolff/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uniquestaysguy/
 
Edwin Kramer — Luxury Hotelier Consultant & Former GM
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edwinckramer/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edwinkramer/

The Sonder Collapse, Hilton’s New Bet, and Airbnb’s Hotel Ambitions

In this episode of This Week in Hospitality, Zach Busekrus sits down with Scott Eddy, Ben Wolff, and Edwin Kramer to unpack three major stories dominating the travel and hospitality world. From Sonder’s dramatic collapse following Marriott’s termination, to Hilton’s launch of the Outset Collection, to Airbnb’s bold embrace of hotels — this was one of the most consequential weeks the industry has seen in years.
The team brings perspectives spanning global travel, hotel development, luxury operations, and hospitality tech. Fast-paced, unfiltered, and deeply informed — this is the weekly breakdown every hotelier, operator, developer, and investor should be listening to.This Week in Hospitality is presented to you by Journey.
Journey is a loyalty platform built specifically for independent boutique hotels and high-touch hospitality brands. Our mission is to give operators the same powerful rewards engine, data intelligence, and guest insights that major chains rely on — without asking them to give up the individuality, soul, or story that makes their property extraordinary.If you’re an owner or operator of an extraordinary, independently owned and operated hotel or residence — and you want to see whether your property is a fit for the Journey Alliance — you can learn more and apply at alliance.journey.com.
Key Topics & Timestamps
00:00 — Introductions & why this podcast exists
09:12 — Story #1: Sonder × Marriott partnership collapses
17:08 — Ben’s take: STR brand value & commodity product problem
23:45 — Marriott, scale, loyalty, and future brand strategy
25:47 — Story #2: Hilton launches The Outset Collection
33:50 — Owner perspective: data, flag strategies, ROI trade-offs
39:01 — Independents vs. major flags: the next 10 years
42:11 — Story #3: Airbnb officially welcomes hotels
45:42 — Airbnb’s evolution into a hospitality ecosystem
50:51 — Does Airbnb need a total rebrand?
54:00 — “Back to hospitality roots” debate
54:53 — Wrap-up & what’s coming next
Your Hosts:
Zach Busekrus — Journey
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachbusekrus/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behindthestays/ 
 
Scott Eddy — Global Travel & Hospitality Expert @MrScottEddy
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrscotteddy/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrscotteddy/
 
Ben Wolff — Founder of Onera & Oasi
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-wolff/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uniquestaysguy/
 
Edwin Kramer — Luxury Hotelier Consultant & Former GM
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edwinckramer/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edwinkramer/

Introducing "This Week in Hospitality"

Every Friday morning, This Week in Hospitality brings you the most important stories, insights, and innovations shaping the global hospitality industry — distilled and discussed by people who actually build within it.
Hosted by Ben Wolff, Scott Eddy, Edwin Kramer, and Zach Busekrus, this weekly conversation is crafted for the founders, operators, and dreamers creating the next generation of hospitality brands.
You’ll get more than just headlines — you’ll get perspective. Each episode breaks down the week’s most compelling hospitality stories and explores what they really mean for independent hotel owners, boutique brands, and experiential travel entrepreneurs. From brand strategy and design trends to tech disruption and capital markets, This Week in Hospitality keeps you informed, inspired, and ready for what’s next.
So grab your morning coffee, and catch up on the stories that matter — before your guests check in.
New episodes every Friday morning.
Ben WolffBen Wolff is the visionary founder behind Onera, a trailblazing landscape hotel brand in the Texas Hill Country, and Oasi, a next-generation management company pioneering experiential hospitality. Known for pushing the boundaries of design, wellness, and guest immersion, Ben has become a leading voice in the evolution of high-end, nature-driven travel experiences. His work sits at the intersection of architecture, emotion, and environment — redefining what modern luxury feels like in the wild.
Scott EddyScott Eddy is one of the world’s most recognized hospitality voices — a global keynote speaker, digital strategist, and content creator who has partnered with hundreds of luxury hotel brands, tourism boards, and travel startups. Named among the top travel influencers worldwide, Scott brings a rare blend of brand storytelling expertise, social strategy, and on-the-ground hospitality experience, offering a panoramic view of how digital connection drives modern guest loyalty.
Edwin KramerA hospitality executive with a pedigree forged at the world’s leading luxury hotels, Edwin has held senior leadership roles with brands like Four Seasons, EDITION, and W Hotels across multiple continents. Known for operational excellence and cultural leadership, Edwin has built and managed five-star teams that deliver some of the most lauded guest experiences in the industry. Today, he brings that global lens to the conversations shaping hospitality’s future — where service, innovation, and storytelling converge.
Zach BusekrusZach is on the founding team of Journey, a next-generation loyalty and storytelling platform empowering independent hotels and vacation rental brands to compete globally without losing their soul. He’s also the creator and host of Behind the Stays, one of the fastest-growing podcasts in hospitality, where he’s interviewed the visionaries behind some of the world’s most creative stays. With a decade in growth strategy and marketing, Zach brings a founder’s curiosity and contagious optimism to every conversation — always championing the builders shaping the future of independent hospitality.This Week in Hospitality is brought to you by Journey — an AI-powered loyalty platform redefining the future of how the world's top independent hospitality brands engage with their guests. Learn more at Journey.com.