Global Update
Starwood ’ s Starlab in New York City looks right out of a tech start-up setting .
Starwood takeS Manhattan
Starwood Hotels & Resorts ’ new
Phil McAveety , executive vice president and chief brand officer , is charged
Starlab , located in the heart of New York City , is a 46,000-square-foot , design-led with running the space with some 200 incubator thta pushes the boundaries of brand , design and digital team members . He says the internal benefit of how high-tech merges with a high-touch business to improve the brands ’ relationships with its consumers and pio- professionals who want to work in
the space is staff retention for creative
neer technology , such as a mobile phone Manhattan . From an external perspective , when Starwood brings in owners app that unlocks guestrooms .
, developers or potential brand partners , the team can show them what the company stands for with rooms dedicated to each upscale and luxury brand . “ It ’ s harder to do that if you say ‘ this is what we stand for and we ’ ll take you to our hotels sometimes and you can see it ,’” McAveety says . “ These spaces are a representation of our hotels .”
GLH Grows AmbA
Amba CEO Belinda Atkins
GLH Hotels , one of London ’ s largest owneroperators , has launched Amba as it rebrands the former Guoman portfolio to go along with its wellknown Thistlebranded hotels .
The subsidiary of Singapore-based GuocoLeisure Ltd . is spending some £ 70 million ( US $ 105.9 million ) and turning four London Guoman properties in Amba hotels , including the first , which recently opened in Charing Cross . Amba Marble Arch will come online next with 692 rooms . Amba CEO Belinda Atkins says the brand is about more than design and is seriously focused on personal service and enabling tech-based amenities . ” There are no service standards as we won ’ t think of everything ,” she says . “ We simply do what is required to give guests a great stay .”
The ambition is to grow Amba , primarily via management , in the UK to around 30 properties with further growth in China , Malaysia , and the United States , where Atkins says there is interest on both coasts .
At the same time , Guoman ’ s Royal Horseguards Hotel will become GLH ’ s London flagship , branded as a luxury Clermont hotel . Three Clermont hotels are planned to open by the end of 2016 , including one in Singapore .
A third new brand , the 4-star Every , is debuting now via four converted Thistle hotels with more Thistle conversions to the new brands likely .
18 HOTELS January / February 2015 www . hotelsmag . com