DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT
222 | Flying Solo: What it takes to go from franchised to independent
DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT
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 have grown their companies with franchised brands are considering going independent.
We’re talking about entrepreneurs are converting existing branded properties into non-affiliated hotels.
The franchise contracts are approaching the end, and thanks to the internet, online distribution channels and sophisticated operating and marketing technologies, flying solo is no longer a day dream.
However, before lowering your brand flag, listen to the advice of three hoteliers who either have done it or are planning to do it.
You may discover that franchising is the best model for your business, after all.
In today’s episode, we talk to San Diego hoteliers Bobby Patel of Hotel Investment Group which has nine independent hotels, and Vipul Dayal of VNR Management who is converting a family-owned franchised property and writing a book about it.
We also hear from Timesh Patel of Ohm Culture Hotels in Inglewood, California, who, as he puts it, was “punched in the face” when he transitioned from franchised to independent.
Resources and Links
- Timesh Patel of Ohm Culture Hotels
- Bobby Patel of Hotel Investment Group
- Vipul Dayal
- “From Brand to Boutique: Analyzing Operating Models.” The first chapter is available on Amazon.com.
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.