Spend five minutes talking with Glenn Haussman, host of the No Vacancy podcast, and it’s clear that he doesn’t just cover hospitality. He lives and breathes it.
After years of following industry trends, interviewing leaders, and building a media brand from the ground up, Glenn has developed a unique perspective on what makes hospitality thrive, where it falls short, and why human connection remains at its core.
[Watch Glenn’s full interview series on YouTube]
Hospitality Reflects the World Around Us
For Glenn, hospitality is the “coolest freaking business on the planet” because it connects to nearly every industry.
Real estate, food and beverage, technology, design, wellness, entertainment, and changing consumer expectations all intersect within hospitality. Because of that, the industry often reflects broader cultural and economic shifts.
“Trends in hospitality almost always mirror shifts in larger society.” – Glenn Haussman
When consumer behavior changes, hotels feel the impact quickly. Shifts in remote work, retail, travel, and entertainment can influence everything from hotel design and amenities to the overall guest experience.
That constant evolution is what keeps the industry exciting and creates endless opportunities to innovate.
Leadership Is Built on Authentic Connection
Behind every hotel experience are the people who make it possible. The strongest leaders understand that success starts with investing in their teams and creating an environment where people feel valued.
Glenn points to the late hotelier Harris Rosen as an example. Rosen created a dedicated medical center for his employees and funded college educations for hundreds of children in the local community.
Rosen’s legacy reflects a belief that great leadership is not defined by titles or recognition, but by the impact you have on the people around you.
“If you want to be selfish out there, the best way to be selfish is to be the most giving human being possible, because the more you give, the more you’re going to get back.” – Glenn Haussman
That same mindset extends beyond internal teams. Through projects like Friday Night Audit, Glenn has worked to move beyond corporate messaging and highlight the people behind the titles.
As the industry becomes more personal and relationship-driven, leaders are recognizing that genuine conversations, vulnerability, and authenticity create stronger connections than polished corporate facades ever could.
Technology Should Solve Real Problems
Hospitality has no shortage of technology, but innovation only creates value when it solves real problems.
“The tech space is full of solutions searching for problems, rather than focusing on removing actual friction for hoteliers and guests.” – Glenn Haussman
Legacy systems and a disconnect between technology developers and hotel operators can make innovation more complicated than it needs to be.
Creating better technology starts with empathy. Technology and design teams need to understand the guest experience and consider how every detail shapes the journey.
That could mean simplifying a smart-room control system, making shower products easier to identify, or ensuring guests have accessible power outlets when they need them. Technology itself is not the goal. It should remove friction and make the experience more seamless.
Building a Brand Through Authenticity and Evolution
A long career requires the willingness to evolve.
In his 40s, Glenn saw the media landscape changing and faced a decision: stay within traditional corporate media and wait to be sidelined, or take a chance on himself.
He chose to bet on himself and built No Vacancy into a leading hospitality media brand. His approach was simple: educate, empower, and entertain.
Rather than adopting the polished style of a traditional news anchor, Glenn leaned into his personality and created conversations that felt genuine. That authenticity became one of the brand’s greatest strengths.
That same willingness to adapt has helped No Vacancy remain relevant for more than a decade. What began as an audio podcast expanded into live video, short-form content, and on-location storytelling.
The formats have changed, but the mission has remained the same: showcase the people, ideas, and experiences that make hospitality unique.
Hospitality Will Always Be a People Business
Technology will continue to evolve, and guest expectations will continue to change, but Glenn’s career reinforces one constant: hospitality is built around people.
The leaders who invest in their teams create stronger organizations. The companies that prioritize authentic relationships build lasting connections. And the technology that succeeds is the technology that makes experiences better for everyone involved.
As the industry continues to evolve, the fundamentals remain the same: lead with generosity, stay curious, and never lose sight of the people at the center of hospitality.
Join The Conversation
If you would like to share your perspective or be a guest on an upcoming episode of SpotOn, please reach out to Tiffany Gabriel at tiffany@getocra.com.
About Ocra
Ocra is the first AI-powered revenue management platform purpose-built for hotel parking assets. Hotels use Ocra to sell underutilized parking inventory to non-guest customers without adding labor or disrupting operations, increasing net operating income (NOI) while never compromising guest parking.
25+ hotel groups partner with Ocra to achieve optimum yield of their parking assets – including MCR, Starwood Capital Group, Aimbridge, Stonebridge, Highwood Properties, Concord Hospitality, and OTH Hotels & Resorts. Ocra has raised $10M in strategic funding to date – $3.5M in an oversubscribed round in April 2024 led by MCR and Parker Technology, and $5M led by Trestle Partners with significant follow-on from MCR in August 2025.
Ocra was named the winner of the 2026 ALIS Tech Challenge and was ranked #1 overall on Hotel Tech Report’s Global Best Parking Management software list in the 2026 HotelTechAwards.For more information, visit getocra.com or email info@getocra.com.
