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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302 | Value Judgment: Hotel asset pricing in COVID-19 age is different from previous recessions
Hotel appraisers and brokers expect distressed assets to come to market as the pandemic recession continues into 2021. Analysts say billions of dollars in private equity are waiting in the wings to acquire hotels underperforming as a result of the coronavirus crisis. But pricing will be different than in previous economic downturns. While a transaction may be distressed, it will not necessarily reflect distress pricing,” said Daniel Lesser of LW Hospitality Advisors. Long Live Lodging explores the state of hotel values as well as what may lie ahead with regard to transactions in 2021 as the spread of COVID-19 continues to stifle lodging performance. This report is part of our ongoing coverage of the coronavirus crisis and its impact on the hospitality industry.
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301 | The Road Warrior Ahead: Business travel will come back ‘with a vengeance,’ say experts
Global business travel is a $1.4 trillion industry. The Global Business Travel Association calculates the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 resulted in a loss of $113 billion in business travel spend in hotels, airlines and other sectors of the travel industry. But all is not lost. GBTA, industry analysts and travel management companies see some green shoots of hope for 2021 as the COVID-19 vaccine rolls out and corporations put some of their people on the road again. This report is part of Long Live Lodging’s ongoing coverage of the coronavirus crisis and its impact on the hospitality industry.