LEADERSHIP
029 | Student of the Industry: A Foot Soldier’s Journey with Chip Elbers
LEADERSHIP
Chip is a hospitality veteran and he’s been serving the industry for more than 30 years. He’s done it all. From Dish Washer, to Front Desk Agent, Assistant General Manager, General Manager, Sales Manager, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Development Officer, and Vice President.
For the last half of the career, Chip faithfully served as Vice President and COO for America’s Best Franchising as the brand grew from just a few properties to a portfolio of nearly 300. In this role, Chip was responsible for the Company’s portfolio of brands, including Jameson Inns, America’s Best Inns, Country Hearth Inns, Budgetel Inns and 3 Palms Hotels and Resorts. He oversaw the development and implementation of operational programs and requirements and directed the Quality Assurance and Field Support programs, which included brand standards, brand compliance, property inspections, franchise administration and owner / franchisee relations.
In This Episode, Chip Talks About:
- His career journey and how his “can do” attitude lead to great success in the hospitality industry. You don’t have to own a hotel or be the CEO to make an real impact.
- How he moved from the back of the house to the front of the house; how he landed his first management position, and how he turned an underperforming asset around.
- Building great teams and loyalty, not merely hiring staff, and empowering them to realize their full potential.
- The acquisition process, and he shares his personal experience as an executive acquiring brands, and what it was like when ABF was acquired by Vantage last year.
Resources & Links
- Email: chip.elbers[at]yahoo.com
- Chip on LinkedIn
- Chip on Twitter
- Chip on Facebook
- Mobile: (404) 202-8377
LEADERSHIP
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346 | Repositioning For Recovery: Hotel conversions to outpace new builds
Lodging Econometrics has tracked the hotel industry since 1998. Its global database includes new-hotel pipelines as well as renovations and brand conversions. Hotel franchisers once eager to launch new brands are focused on converting existing hotels because it’s a faster way to recover revenue lost to the COVID-19 pandemic than through new construction. In Episode 346, Lodging Leaders explores the increasing number of conversions in the U.S. hotel industry and what owners and operators need to consider before repositioning an asset.
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345 | ‘Rosy View of Future’: Hotel industry sees unleashing of pent-up investor demand
In the first few months of the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S., financiers anticipated a swell of distressed hotel businesses. Some raised rescue funds to respond to what they thought was a pending crisis. Though there are financial rescues taking place, the level of such activity is far below what industry advisers and fund managers expected. Commercial real estate investors positioned to act in the early days of the pandemic held off and are now just beginning to unleash their cash hoards totaling billions of dollars. Episode 345 of Lodging Leaders podcast explores the state of capital investment in the hotel industry.