Call them the new antidote to the industry ’ s giants . While they have yet to work out titles or a new company name and in mid-April weren ’ t quite ready to go into detail about strategy , Niki Leondakis and Jamie Sabatier are the faces in front of newly merged Commune Hotels & Resorts and Destination Hotels , which account for more than 90 properties in seven countries with |
approximately US $ 2 billion of revenue under management .
The duo also has the expertise of shrewd parents – John Pritzker of Geolo Capital and Robert Lowe , Jr ., of Lowe Enterprises . With their access and reputations it will be interesting to watch how developers react to this potential option with both urban lifestyle and resort assets across North America , Asia
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and Europe .
“ Joining forces reaffirms our position as the most sought-after multi-brand operator in our segment and enhances our ability to drive better financial performance for our owners and deliver greater differentiated experiences for our guests ,” Leondakis says .
She adds that they are focused on introducing the Thompson Hotels and Joie de
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Vivre brands to Asia , and expanding Alila to luxury destinations in Mexico , Canada and the Caribbean . “ We will look for attractive conversion opportunities where we work with owners to replace traditional domestic brands on their hotels and reposition them under one of our boutique and lifestyle brands ,” she says .
Is the combined company done on the M & A front ? “ Never say
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never , though I am very happy with where our company is today and how it ’ s positioned ,” Sabatier says . “ Our focus is and will continue to be delivering for our stakeholders , especially our owners , on the property performance side , while integrating two companies into one powerful company that will be the leading operator of independent and lifestyle hotels and resorts .” |
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Perhaps the most anticipated re-opening in the world finally arrived on June 1 when Director General Christian Boyens and the owning Al-Fayed family began welcoming guests to the Ritz Paris after closing on
ChristiaN BoyeNs dirECtOr gEnEral
tHe Ritz PaRis
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August 1 , 2012 , for the first time in the storied hotel ' s 114 year history . “ It ’ s springtime in Paris , we are moving back in , the gardens look beautiful and we are ready to open ,” Boyens said in April . “ The renovation has gone on long enough .”
Boyens ’ charge is to drive business to the hotel that has been redone from top to bottom at a price tag that he would only describe as “ what it takes to achieve excellence .”
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Room rates will range from € 1,000 to € 28,000 . “ The Ritz will stay The Ritz and we anticipate rates will be according to the service we provide ,” he adds . “ Our priority is to do a good job , and when we do that the results come .” Not always easy when parts of the Place Vendome structure date back to 1705 , the hotel has been restored with new infrastructure , state-of-the-art technology , an underground arrival tunnel , a garden |
that now has a retractable roof for yearround enjoyment and outdoor dining , the first Chanel-branded spa , a repositioning of the F & B led by Chef Nicolas Sale , an extension of the L ' École Ritz Escoffier cooking school , and a reduction in keys from 159 to 142 ( 71 suites ). In addition , a restructured guest services staff of nine will act more like mobile concierges , preparing for guest arrivals and being visible throughout their stays . |
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26 hotelsmag . com June 2016 |