THE MAGAZINE OF THE WORLDWIDE HOTEL INDUSTRY
EDITORIAL Jeff Weinstein , Editor In Chief 1.312.274.2226 E-mail : jweinstein @ hotelsmag . com
Ann Bagel Storck , Managing Editor 1.312.274.2209 E-mail : astorck @ hotelsmag . com
Nathan Greenhalgh , Associate Editor 1.312.274.2229 E-mail : ngreenhalgh @ hotelsmag . com
Dani Friedland , Managing Editor , New Media 1.312.274.2223 E-mail : dfriedland @ mtgmediagroup . com
Queenie Burns , Vice President , Design 1.312.274.2216 E-mail : qburns @ mtgmediagroup . com
Bert Ganzon , Senior Art Director 1.312.274.2227 E-mail : bganzon @ mtgmediagroup . com
Steve Vanden Heuvel , Senior Art Director 1.312.274.2218 E-mail : svandenheuvel @ mtgmediagroup . com
Michelle Villadolid , Freelance Design E-mail : mvilladolid @ mtgmediagroup . com
Bill McDowell , Vice President , Editorial Director 1.312.274.2201 bmcdowell @ mtgmediagroup . com
CONTRIBUTING EDITORs Mary Gostelow , Oriana Lerner
PUBLIsHING Dan Hogan , Vice President , Publisher 1.312.274.2221 dhogan @ hotelsmag . com
INTERNATIONAL ADVIsORY BOARD
Nakul Anand Executive Director , ITC Ltd ., Gurgaon , India
Stephen Bartolin Chairman and CEO , The Broadmoor , Colorado Springs , Colorado
Eric Danziger President and CEO , Wyndham Hotel Group , Parsippany , New Jersey
Geoffrey Gelardi Managing Director , The Lanesborough , London
Kirk Kinsell President , the Americas , IHG , Atlanta
Alex Kyriakidis President and Managing Director , Middle East and Africa , Marriott International , Dubai
Christopher Nassetta President and CEO , Hilton Worldwide , McLean , Virginia
Monika Nerger Chief Information Officer , Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group , Atlanta
Paul Sistare President and CEO , Atlantica Hotels International , São Paulo
Susan Terry Vice President Culinary Operations , Hyatt Hotels North American Operations , Chicago
EDiTOriAL AND PrODuCTiON OFFiCES , HOTELS Marketing and Technology Group , 1415 N . Dayton Street Chicago , Illinois 60642 USA 1.312.274.2200 ; fax : 1.312.266.3363 edit @ hotelsmag . com
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This month HOTELS publishes its annual ranking of the world ’ s biggest hotel companies ( p23 ) — a list highly anticipated by our readers and , I ’ d like to think , the most thorough available anywhere .
It is a painstaking exercise each year , and we always seem to uncover companies of which we were previously unaware — more recently those originating in China , where we are witnessing more open communication and greater interest among the players to be recognized on the global stage . Perhaps this should not come as a surprise as many of these newly recognized , mostly budget-focused Chinese companies don ’ t just sneak in at the bottom of the list . Companies such as Vienna Hotels , Shenzhen , cracked the list at number 52 , and 99-Inn Management Co ., Shanghai , checks in at number 66 . As these Chinabased companies continue to grow in sophistication with more homegrown talent and start to venture outside their borders to capture outbound Chinese travelers , I expect these giants to further make their way up our ranking .
If you look at this year ’ s corporate 300 list you will notice one more big change with Hilton surpassing Marriott into the second position based on number of guestrooms open systemwide . This is by no means a knock on Marriott , but what it does signify is the opportunity Hilton is capitalizing on with its war chest
of brands crossing North American borders for the first time over these past few years .
What I truly enjoy in reviewing the new 325 list is considering what could happen next . Will we see further consolidation to create a new number one ? There have been rumors about IHG being in play , but at the recent NYU hotel investment conference CEOs suggested there are too many obstacles . Instead , Marriott CEO Arne Sorenson said to expect more bolton brand acquisitions and extensions as well as new brand developments to drive expansion among the true industry giants . And we don ’ t have to look any further than the top three for that , with IHG launching its wellness brand , Even ; Hilton creating a soft brand and about to announce a lifestyle brand ; and Marriott getting ready to open its first selectservice chic Moxy hotel in Milan . And the beat goes on with an industry pulse that today is very vibrant .
Who doesn ’ t like a good list ? So I hope you enjoy perusing HOTELS 325 , which truly signifies what a global business it has become and offers you an opportunity to think about all the possibilities ahead .
Editor In Chief www . hotelsmag . com July / August 2014 HOTELs 7