295 | Doing Well: Coronavirus pandemic advances wellness design and programs in hotels

The coronavirus pandemic is forcing the lodging industry to rethink health and wellness. Designers such as Blanche Garcia of B. Garcia Designs see this as an opportunity for hotels to revise their messaging beyond clean and safe by introducing wellness products and programs they can market and attract guests who want to feel good during their stay and return home feeling better than when they left. Those who promote healthy buildings as well as safe travel are exploring how implementing elements of wellness can be a cure for hotel businesses struggling to survive the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent economic downturn. This report is part of Long Live Lodging’s ongoing coverage of the coronavirus crisis and its impact on the hotel industry.

277 | Contagious Ideas: Hospitality brand and design experts search for creative solutions in the age of COVID-19

In the introduction of his book, “Hotel, an American History,” A.K. Sandoval-Strausz writes: “The hotel as we know it today did not evolve randomly or naturally, nor did it develop as some sort of automatic response to structural needs. Rather, it was the deliberate creation of an identifiable group of people who lived in a read more

239 | Good As New: Surge in hotel renovations expected to boost business

Hotel industry analysts and watchers expect property renovations in the United States to surge over the next two years. They cite several reasons for the outlook, including: The industry has surpassed the peak of its recovery from the Great Recession; A slowdown in revenue growth is predicted for this year and next; The leveling off read more

238 | Reaching the Finish Line: Hotel construction companies hurdle project barriers

STR recently reported the hotel construction pipeline for the U.S. was up 5.5 percent in October. It was the lowest year-over-year increase in lodging construction activity in six months. Despite the slowdown, construction companies say they are as busy as ever. However, they do anticipate a leveling off of new builds over the next couple read more

November 2nd week

Shop ’Til You Drop: Hospitality procurement specialists manage a mixed bag of challenges

U.S.-China trade war. Design-savvy online furniture retailers. Hurricanes. Marijuana. These things and more are having an impact on hospitality purchasing. And they’re influencing the prices and delivery pace of hotel FF&E and OS&E. Procurement and logistics experts share what’s costing your project more money than it should and advise on how to identify opportunities as well as pitfalls while in the planning stages.

237 | Shop ’Til You Drop: Hospitality procurement specialists manage a mixed bag of challenges

U.S.-China trade war. Design-savvy online furniture retailers. Hurricanes. Marijuana. These things and more are having an impact on hospitality purchasing. And they’re influencing the prices of hotel FF&E and OS&E as well as the cost of construction. In this episode of Lodging Leaders, we talk to specialists in procurement and logistics to find out the read more

235 | Lodging Leaders Spotlight: Yotel a tech-forward brand worth watching

Taco Bell made headlines when it opened a 70-room pop-up hotel in August in Palm Springs, California. It was a marketing scheme that lasted four days. The day The Bell Hotel began to accept reservations, it sold out in two minutes. The guaranteed novelty of staying in a Taco Bell hotel obviously paid off for read more

227 | Mass Appeal: Crowdfunding for hotel development mines new sources of cash

When it launched five years ago, crowdfunding for real estate development was a hot topic, especially among hotel developers seeking new ways to pay for their projects. Though it’s not creating the same level of buzz as it did when it first became a federally sanctioned option in 2014, crowdfunding remains a viable tool in read more

222 | Flying Solo: What it takes to go from franchised to independent

Independent hotel supply in the U.S. has decreased in the past 10 years, reports STR. The lodging-data company reports independently owned and operated hotels account for less than 40 percent of all hotels. About 1 percent of those close each year. But that trend may take a turn. It appears more and more hoteliers who read more

May 3rd week

The Weed Frontier: How hotels are capitalizing on cannabis

As more and more states legalize the use of marijuana for medicinal and recreational purposes, hoteliers are experimenting with integrating the cannabis lifestyle into their amenities and programming. The hospitality industry is eager to jump on the bandwagon as the cannabis is predicted to grow to a $23 billion market in the U.S. over the next few years.

214 | The Weed Frontier: How hotels are capitalizing on cannabis

Marijuana consumption in America has lost its stigma, and it is on track to become a $23 billion U.S. market over the next couple years. Hotels in states that have legalized recreational and medicinal marijuana are just beginning to think about how to incorporate the trend into their businesses. The laws can be confusing. Cannabis read more

May 1st week

Triple Whammy: Tri-brand hotels change playing field

North Point Hospitality Group’s tri-brand Marriott in Nashville and First Hospitality Group’s tri-brand Hilton in Chicago have broken new ground in the U.S. hotel industry. The hotels in Chicago opened in the fall and the Nashville triplex opened last winter. To thrive, such projects need the right markets and a mix of brands that complement one another. Managers of the properties say operating three hotels under one roof presents unique challenges, and they are continuing to figure out how best to manage their business models to optimize rate, generate the most revenue and, thus, yield the highest return.

211 | Triple Whammy: Tri-branded hotels change playing field

Nashville, Tennessee, is home to the country’s first tri-branded Marriott hotel. Developed by North Point Hospitality Group, the 470-room limited-service property consists of transient brands AC Hotel and SpringHill Suites, and Residence Inn, an extended-stay hotel. Located in downtown’s SoBro neighborhood where government offices are located, the $140 million complex is also across from Music read more

207 | “Today’s Not the Day”: Why Trump Hotels changed course in the Mississippi Delta

Almost two years ago, Trump Hotels introduced Chawla Hotels to the world as the first developers of the company’s new brands Scion and American Idea. Though Trump Hotels in February announced it was pulling out of development deals in Cleveland and other nearby towns, the Trump effect will be more than a footnote in Mississippi’s read more

205 | Opportunity Zones Create 21st Century Gold Rush

Today’s report takes a look at a newcomer to hotel fund raising – the Investing in Opportunity Act, and the capital pools and projects the federal law is generating. While the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the IRS are still working on the act’s punch list, many hotel developers and private equity groups are read more

March 3rd week

21st Century Gold Rush: Opportunity zones attract new investors

Investment in Opportunity Act creates zones throughout the U.S. where CRE investors can shelter capital gains and quickly grow wealth. Opportunity zones create a 21st century gold rush and new source of funding for hotel developers.

February 1st week

Renewed Vision: CEO Mitch Patel, an engineer by degree, becomes a hospitality bridge builder…

Mitch Patel redesigns his company’s future with a new independent luxury hotel, a proprietary brand and a boutique division. He’s a prime example of how the next generation of Asian American hoteliers is scaling their businesses to thrive in the future.

202 | Mitch Patel Redesigns the Future of Vision Hospitality

This week, Lodging Leaders focuses on Mitch Patel and his company, Vision Hospitality Group in Chattanooga, Tennessee. We will hear from Mitch about how he has remade Vision Hospitality Group to capture new segments of travelers and capitalize on new and emerging trends in guests’ needs, wants and expectations. We also hear from others involved read more

199 | Creating a Sense of Place Through Themed Design with Peter Sawatzky

Peter Sawatzky is a partner at the Imagination Corporation, a unique family company based in British Columbia, Canada, that specializes in the design and construction of one of a kind signs and themed architecture. With more than two decades of experience building themed attractions, there is very little he can’t imagine and then create. Merging read more

191 | Financing for New Hotel Development with Malcolm Davies

Malcolm Davies is Principal/Managing Director of George Smith Parners, a leading, national provider of capital market services to the commercial real estate industry. Malcolm has over 20 years of experience as an award-winning capital advisor and developer, having advised and been involved with nearly $3B worth of financings, both in the equity and debt markets. read more

187 | Creative, Flexible and Durable Design with Belinda and David

Belinda O’Kelly brings a decade of experience, a comprehensive skill set and dedicated design focus to O’Kelly + Kasprak. She is a licensed architect in Illinois, as well as a LEED accredited professional with a specialty in building design and construction. David Kasprak has been leading the highest quality restaurant, hotel, and retail design teams read more

186 | Strategic, Data-Driven Interior Design with Liat Siegel

Liat Siegel is Owner/Founder of Hadar Interiors Inc., a fearless mother of 5 and a trailblazing entrepreneur. She works with businesses to brand their interiors and set themselves apart from the competition. Liat uses interior design to revitalize a space and modernize it for the digital age. In This Episode, Liat Reveals … The power of read more

157 | Experiential, Boutique Hotel, Restaurant and Nightlife Brands with Jared Galbut

Jared Galbut serves as Managing Principal of Menin Hospitality, the Miami-based company known for its experiential, boutique hotel, restaurant and nightlife brands, including Mondrian South Beach, Bodega Taqueria y Tequila and The Gale Hotel. A Miami native, Galbut discovered his passion for the hospitality industry as a teen, working for his uncle at Crescent Heights read more

122 | ‘5-Star Mentality’ for a 3-Star Brand with Suresh Chawla

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 read more

121 | An American Idea with Trump Hotels CEO Eric Danziger

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 read more

102 | Putting the Consumer in Control of their Experience with Raul Leal

Raul is CEO of Virgin Hotels and is responsible for the company’s overall expansion, customer experience and culture. In a career that spans 30 years, Raul has held top management positions for Interstate Hotels, Lane Hotels and the Continental companies and is one of the few hospitality industry executives that understands both the lifestyle and read more

080 | What to Know When Working with an Architect with Marie Sorensen

Marie S.A. Sorensen AIA NCARB LEED AP is the head of Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Sorensen Partners Architects & Planners, Inc. She is a Design and Technical Architect, Masterplanner, and Interior Designer with experience in hotels, restaurants, and recreational facilities. Sorensen Partners is a commercial firm, serving universities, K-12 educational facilities, corporations, institutions, and government – in read more

065 | Going Against the Grain with Hotel Impossible Designer Blanche Garcia

Blanche is a certified Interior Designer with over 18 years of experience in residential and commercial design and is the owner of B. Garcia Designs based in Montclair, New Jersey. She is also a principal designer featured in the popular Travel Channel reality series, Hotel Impossible. Blanche is a member of the American Society of read more

038 | Don’t Be Afraid to Start Small with H. Mark Daley III

H. Mark Daley, III is President and CEO of The Generation Companies – a real estate investment company based in Raleigh, NC that provides real estate management and development services to individuals, families, corporations, and institutions. In less than 20 years, The Generation Companies portfolio has grown to 25 properties, including the brands Home 2 Suites, read more

013 | Fearless Leadership with Vantage Hospitality President and CEO Roger Bloss

Roger Bloss has more than 40 years of experience in the hospitality industry, starting in the business as a teenager. After serving in executive positions with several major hotel franchise companies, Bloss and his partners started the Vantage Hospitality Group in 1996 and acquired their first hotel. Bloss’ vision was to develop a national hotel read more

012 | The 12-Year Journey to the Top 10 with Magnuson Hotels CEO Tom Magnuson

Tom Magnuson is Co-Founder and CEO of Magnuson Hotels Worldwide – a top 10 global chain, and the world’s largest independent hotel group. Magnuson markets over 1000 hotels across six countries and three continents, and they’re the number one conversion brand in the market, with over 400 Best Westerns, 250 Wyndhams and 200 Choice franchises read more

007 | A Franchisor’s Perspective with Doug Collins

Doug Collins is President of DC Hospitality, a hotel brokerage firm based in Atlanta, Ga. DC Hospitality was formed in 2014 and offers comprehensive brokerage services to the hospitality industry throughout the country. He is also CEO of Hospitality Lodging Systems, owner of the Budgetel and Haven Hotels Lodging hotel chains. Collins served as Chairman read more