DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT
121 | An American Idea with Trump Hotels CEO Eric Danziger
DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT
Eric Danziger is the chief executive officer of Trump Hotels, the world-renowned luxury hotel brand and management company, and is responsible for the strategic direction, growth and performance of the business.
With more than 45 years of experience in the hotel business, Eric, who started as a bellman at The Fairmont San Francisco at the age of 17, has served as the head of several of the industry’s leading hotel companies. He joined Trump Hotels following roles as President and CEO of Starwood Hotels, President and COO of Carlson Hotels Worldwide and President and CEO of Wyndham Hotel Group.
Most recently, Eric was president and CEO of Hampshire Hotels Management, now Dream Hotel Group, where he introduced a collection of lifestyle hotel brands. His first executive role was with DoubleTree Hotels, where he was part of the team which created the iconic DoubleTree cookie.
Eric was instrumental in the exponential growth and success of each organization he led. As an example, he is credited with greatly expanding the footprint of Wyndham Hotel Group, and he was the visionary that first leveraged the organization’s strength and synergies across its brands.
He is the recipient of numerous awards and honors and actively involved in industry associations and major universities.
In This Episode, Eric Reveals:
- How the idea of a franchise model for Trump Hotels came about.
- Their new franchise brands, including Scion – their upper upscale, full service, 4-star design focused brand, and American Idea – their 3-star, budget friendly brand.
- The launch of the first Scion property being developed by Chawla Hotels in Cleveland, Mississippi, and how it’s aligned with the Trump Hotels vision.
- Their agreements with Chawla Hotels to convert three properties to the American Idea brand, what Trump Hotels is looking for when considering conversions, and what their pipeline looks like.
- His philosophy on brand standards, and why he believes the brand, and it’s owners, should be treated differently then they are by most franchisors.
- The projected cost per key they expect for conversions to the American Idea brand.
Resources & Links
Mentioned in this Episode
Trump Hotels
DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT
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341 | One Big Happy: Travel survey reveals how hotels can attract families
Rainer Jenss of Nyack, New York, founded the Family Travel Association seven years ago to help parents and caregivers introduce children to the world through travel, whether that’s a yearlong trip around the world that Jenss and his family took or a weekend getaway to a nearby destination. To help the travel industry gauge what parents want when they take their kids on vacation, FTA conducts an annual study. The U.S. Family Travel Survey 2021 reveals the shift in mindset the COVID-19 pandemic has created in families planning a trip over the next 12 months. Hoteliers use can use the information to generate business and boost their strategies to recover and sustain business now and other the coming months.
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340 | New Glass Ceiling: Industry leaders work to shatter barriers for women hotel owners and investors
Whether they’re new to the concept or they’ve worked in lodging for years, women are an emerging force in hotel development, investment and ownership. Several industry leaders are making significant strides in building programs that encourage and support women interested in becoming hotel owners and investors. This report examines new projects and updates the status of existing efforts by industry leaders to recruit women as owners and help them hurdle barriers such as critical access to capital.