DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT
122 | ‘5-Star Mentality’ for a 3-Star Brand with Suresh Chawla
DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT
Suresh Chawla was born in Burlington, Ontario, Canada, and moved with his parents (Dr. and Mrs. V.K. Chawla) and brother Dinesh to America in 1977.
He has worked with Chawla Hotels since they opened their first property in Greenwood, MS in 1989. He currently serves as President and CFO of Chawla Hotels, which owns 17 limited service hotels, and is currently developing the first Scion Hotel in Cleveland, MS.
Suresh earned a BBA in 1990 and an MBA in 1991 from Millsaps College in Jackson, MS.
In This Episode, Suresh Reveals:
- The challenges his father Dr. VK faced nearly 30 years ago when he built his very first property.
- His father’s desperate phone call to now President Donald Trump in the late 80’s, and how that conversation helped him get the financing he so desperately needed.
- Their current portfolio of 18 properties, including the world’s first Scion property currently under development, and the three conversions to the American Idea brand currently under way.
- How he feels about the risks of converting to two unproven brands, and why he feels confident that they will succeed.
- Their experience working with the Trump Organization, from first contact, to negotiations, to the official announcement of their partnership at Trump Towers this past June.
Resources & Links
Mentioned in this Episode
- Asian Hospitality Magazine
- Trump Hotels Website
- Developer Information
- Email: development@trumphotels.com
Suresh Chawla
- deltamotels@yahoo.com
Chawla Hotels
- Chawla Hotels
- P.O. Box 1701 | Greenwood, MS 38930
- Phone: (662) 453-1822
DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT
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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.