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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343 | Take a Cue from Hospitality: Senior living is next big opportunity
Hoteliers and allied companies invested in both lodging and senior-living assets demonstrate how the spirit of hospitality and its best practices extend into other real-estate-asset groups. Episode 343 of Lodging Leaders podcast is the second in a two-part series that explores the hospitality industry’s growing interest in senior living.
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342 | Live Long and Prosper: Hospitality industry embraces senior living
Since she was a teenager volunteering at senior-living facilities in Boston, Serena Lipton knew she wanted a career in senior housing. But she had a difficult time finding the college program she believed would educate and prepare her to serve in the senior-living industry. After graduating from Boston University School of Hospitality Administration and working as an analyst for JLL’s Senior Housing Valuation Advisory, Lipton finally found what she was looking for. This fall she enrolled in BU’s Master of Management in Hospitality with a new concentration in senior living. She and other students are on the cusp of what BUSHA believes is a massive shift in how Americans view aging and where opportunities lie for the hospitality industry.