Ask A Concierge

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Ask A Concierge Ask A Concierge® is an online platform, blog, and video series hosted by Sarah Dandashy, an award-winning concierge and travel expert based in Los Angeles.

Ask A Concierge® is an online travel show and blog hosted by Sarah Dandashy, an award-winning, Les Clefs d'Or concierge and verified travel expert based in Los Angeles. Covering things to do in LA and around the world.

10/05/2026

Hotel chains like ~~the~~ Marriott and Hilton barely own any hotels.

Marriott, for example, owns less than 1% of its properties.

The individual hotel owners handle payroll, food, labor and the rest of the operating costs.

The brand sits above them on a franchise model.

That means the hotel business and the hotel-brand business are two very different businesses.

10/03/2026

Here’s why hotels are so much more expensive now.

Hotels cut housekeeping during the pandemic.

Now some are charging you extra for it.

A lot of the workers they laid off found better-paying jobs and never came back.

Hotels had to raise wages to compete, with housekeeping pay in places like Los Angeles reaching around $30 an hour versus roughly $12 in 2019.

Guests are now feeling the cost of that labor shortage.

10/03/2026

Hotels knowingly sell rooms they don’t have.

That’s not a mistake, it’s the business model.

They try to account for 3% to 6% of bookings that end up getting canceled or get changed.

So hotels often sell past 100% occupancy and bet that the numbers will balance out.

If everyone shows up, someone gets bumped.

10/02/2026

Hotels are charging you more for a room while giving you less time in it.

You might check in at 3 p.m. and be asked to leave as early as 8 a.m.

That extra gap gives hotels more time to clean, inspect and turn rooms around before the next guest arrives.

10/02/2026

I read the travel news so you don’t have to. This week’s theme: value.

Labor Day travel looks expensive, American Airlines is adding premium seats, and the U.S. travel industry fears fewer international visitors.

My take? Travel is booming, but becoming more divided. Some pay for comfort and convenience. Others have to get smarter about the total cost.

Because value doesn’t always mean cheap.

Sometimes it’s a direct flight, a well-located hotel, or not becoming your own unpaid travel agent before you even leave.

When was the last time you planned a trip that genuinely excited you? ☀️It's easy to fall into the habit of revisiting t...
07/09/2026

When was the last time you planned a trip that genuinely excited you? ☀️

It's easy to fall into the habit of revisiting the same destinations or booking what's familiar. But every year brings a new opportunity to experience somewhere that changes your perspective.

Maybe it's waking up over crystal clear water in the Maldives. Exploring ancient temples in Egypt. Wandering the colorful streets of Portugal. Slowing down in Croatia. Sipping w**e through the French countryside. Or finally taking that bucket list trip to the Galápagos, Mexico, or the UK.

The best vacations aren't always about checking places off a list. They're about choosing experiences that leave you with stories you'll still be telling years from now.

So here's your sign to start dreaming a little bigger for Summer 2026. 🌎✨

If you could book one destination today, where would you go first? Tell me in the comments. 👇

05/18/2026

📍 just became my new NoMad HQ!

Okay but for reals… the hotel is stunning on its own, super modern and fun.

Buuuut the reason you NEED to stay here?

Three words: rooftop, restaurant, speakeasy.

🌟 is giving collegiate cool meets grown-up playground… we’re talking boozy Capri Suns and a PB&J served in a retro lunchbox, 15 floors up with skyline views. I mean, come on.

🌹 is their Italian-American restaurant on the ground floor and honestly the vibe alone is worth it… floor-to-ceiling windows with front row seats to one of NYC’s most iconic corners. Handmade pastas, tableside vermouth cart… yes please!

🍸 And then there’s . Look for the orange door on 30th Street. Head downstairs. Trust me. (Shhh, don’t tell anyone!) Named one of NYC’s best cocktail bars this year, retro lounge vibes, incredible craft cocktails and the BEST playlist. It’s designed to feel like a secret… and it totally does.

Park Ave address. Three insane experiences. All under one roof.

05/14/2026

Yoooo, I rarely get THIS excited about travel news these days, but this is different! You can now book travel straight from a social media video on !

Bets on how long until , , and roll out a similar capability!??

This is going to have a profound impact on the industry… and quite frankly, a change that’s needed to happen for a loooooong time.

Have you started dabbling with yet?

Weee!

05/11/2026

We are so used to being on all the time … checking, scrolling, replying, consuming … that I think a lot of us do not even realize how overstimulated we’ve become.

Loved joining with and to talk about digital detoxing … and not in the dramatic “throw your phone in a lake and disappear for 3 days” kind of way.

I mean the real-life version.

The version where you put the phone down a little more often. Where you stop reaching for it out of habit every five seconds. Where you create even a little space from the noise and remember what it feels like to let your brain breathe for a minute.

Because sometimes the issue is not that we need more information … it’s that we have way too much of it, all the time.

And honestly, protecting your peace a little more these days? That feels less like a luxury and more like survival.

Thanks for having me, 💛

digital detox, CBS LA, mindfulness, mental wellness, screen time, lifestyle, balance

Big personality. Zero fuss.Some hotels just have a point of view... and The Maxwell Seattle definitely does.This is a p...
04/13/2026

Big personality. Zero fuss.

Some hotels just have a point of view... and The Maxwell Seattle definitely does.

This is a property, so there’s already that signature fun, quirky, dog-friendly energy built in... and you feel it. It’s playful, it’s memorable, and it doesn’t take itself too seriously, which honestly makes the whole stay feel more inviting.

But what I appreciated most is that it wasn’t just fun for fun’s sake. It also felt easy. Even the check-in process was simple, quick, and low-fuss... which, let’s be honest, matters more than hotels sometimes realize. A big part of that comes from the tech working quietly in the background, and that’s where comes in.

Brand personality is what makes a property memorable... operational ease is what gives the team room to be human.

That’s the sweet spot... personality and practicality. A hotel that feels distinct, but still makes the guest experience smooth from the start.

More personality, less friction... which is a combo, as a hotelier and traveler, I will support every time. 🍍

Hotel tech, travel tech, hospitality tech, boutique hotels

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