187 | Fixing the Curve

Michael Blank is a hospitality veteran who’s worked every angle of the hotel biz—from slinging room keys at the Willard in D.C. to steering multimillion-dollar acquisitions. Now the Principal of Woodmont Lodging, he owns and asset-manages properties across the U.S., with a soft spot for extended stay. Susan and Michael talk about counterintuitive takes on the hotel industry.  What You’ll Learn About: 🚮 Pick Up Club! Why picking up hallway trash speaks volumes 🏩 The extended stay segment decoded: housing shortage, high margins, and why the hype is justified 🪄 Why AI is not the magic wand everyone thinks it is 📏 Why RevPAR might be obsolete, and why smart hoteliers should be thinking in square feet, not just room nights 🪙 One big change hotels should make: owning their guest data like it’s gold

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Top Floor is a weekly podcast with tangible tips and excellent stories from the experts and characters who elevate hospitality. Host and elevator operator Susan Barry explores the idea that everything is marketing in the hotel business. Our interviews with creators, thought leaders and hospitality groundbreakers are designed to provide practical tactics that hoteliers, restaurateurs and travel mavens can use to promote their businesses. Along the way, we answer burning marketing questions submitted on the Emergency Call Button and share the funniest, craziest, just-plain-weirdest stories down at the Loading Dock. Need to press the Emergency Call Button? Or have a story to share at the Loading Dock? Reach us at 850.404.9630 to be featured in a future episode.