EDITOR ’ S DIARY
A SIGNATURE
ISSUE
This issue of HOTELS is a keeper because it is so jam-packed with great features . In fact , I ’ d call it a classic – just like our two Hotelier of the World award winners on the cover .
This summer issue has the always highly anticipated ranking of the world ’ s biggest hotel companies , only this year we shaved off 100 companies from the bottom of our corporate ranking to make it a bit more exclusive . It now takes about 7,000 rooms open systemwide ( versus about 4,000 previously ) to crack the Corporate 200 ranking . As has been the case for the last 10 years , China-based companies continue to work their way up the charts and we keep uncovering new additions from the Sleeping Giant .
Among the big movers in the ranking is Sonesta International Hotels Corp ., which jumped to 51st in the ranking thanks to acquisitions by its parent company , Service Properties Trust . Expect Sonesta to make a sizeable jump again next year as this year ’ s data doesn ’ t even reflect its acquisition of Red Lion , which came after the beginning of the year . Sonesta also intends to jump deeper into franchising and it will be interesting to watch how well it competes with the likes of giant franchisors like Wyndham and Choice . Also , congratulations to Hilton for surpassing the 1 million room count in the list , which is led once again by Marriott International .
This month also marks another HO- TELS signature , our annual Hotelier of the World awards , which for the first time appears earlier than the traditional November issue . We are thrilled to recognize two classic hoteliers who appreciate the nobility of service and spent their careers globetrotting to earn their status as true industry royalty . We profile Jerry Inzerillo , currently CEO of Diriyah Gate Development Authority in Riyadh , Saudi Arabia , and Pierre Jochem , general manager and senior vice president
Editor In Chief of operations for La Mamounia in Marrakech , Morocco . As you will read , they were both bitten by the hotel bug as youngsters and have maintained incredible spirit and devotion to their crafts during long , storied careers . Perhaps most importantly , they are both so humble about their successes , preferring to focus their attention on growing their teams . I urge you to read their profiles and their insights for true inspiration .
New this month and this year is HO- TELS Top 10 awards , recognizing leadership in five important categories , ranging from ESG and F & B to Independent Operators , Emerging Brands and Rising Stars . HOTELS identified leaders from across the industry to shine a light on hoteliers who are driving this industry forward . We find it particularly important today to launch this program as the industry emerges from the toughest moment in its history . Celebrating its leaders could not come at a better time , and we look forward to enriching this program in the years ahead .
We are starting to get back on the road and the HOTELS team will be at ALIS this month , as well as other investment conferences heading into the fall , including our own event on August 27 in Miami .
EDITORIAL Jeff Weinstein Editor In Chief
Ever Villapana Designer
Contributing Writers Jeanette Hurt , Megan Rowe , Juliana Shallcross ,
Alicia Sheber , Erin Sund
PUBLISHING Ali Jahangiri CEO
David Wood Publisher
Marie Ekberg Padilla Senior Editor
Shamsa Bulbulia Editorial Coordinator
INTERNATIONAL ADVISORY BOARD Nakul Anand Executive Director , ITC Ltd ., Gurgaon , India
Stephen Bartolin President , Broadmoor Sea Island Co ., Colorado Springs , Colorado
Robert Hecker Managing Director , Horwath HTL Asia Pacific , Singapore
Ramsey Mankarious CEO , Cedar Capital Partners , London
Christopher Nassetta President and CEO , Hilton , McLean , Virginia
Monika Nerger Chief Information Officer , Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group , Atlanta
Susan Terry Vice President of Culinary and Food and Beverage Operations , Marcus Hotels & Resorts , Milwaukee , Wisconsin
Trevor Ward Managing Director , W Hospitality Group , Lagos , Nigeria
ADVERTISING Brian Levine Caroline de Donnea-Birkel Alvan Eric Loreto Matthew Kurtz
ADMINISTRATION Kamyar Amiri-Davani Kristi Carlson
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