Episode Details

Suraj Bhakta doesn't sugarcoat the moment. He sees a strong Q1, then watches geopolitics and travel costs squeeze demand again.

No Vacancy is the official podcast of AAHOACON, and I talked with Suraj Bhakta of New Gen Advisory on the show floor about how owners react when the Fed shifts, travel gets expensive, and buyers and sellers hit pause.

📈 Suraj says he saw a strong first quarter, then geopolitical issues started weighing on activity
✈️ He points to Sun Belt impact: less Canadian and overseas traffic in some areas
🏦 He expects a standstill if rates don't fall—sellers don't see replacement deals, and buyers wait
🔄 He calls it a conversion market, with opportunity in economy and midscale as brands roll out new tiers
🧠 He says owners stay resourceful, and tech/AI keeps moving to the front of the conversation

Thanks to Red Roof for letting us shoot this on the show floor.

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