SPECIAL REPORT
VOICES OF developers
HOTELS INTERVIEWS FIVE DEVELOPERS WORKING IN DIFFERENT SEGMENTS TO LEARN ABOUT THEIR STRATEGIES , PRIORITIES , PANDEMIC TAKEAWAYS AND WHAT CONTINUES TO DRIVE THEM .
by JEFF WEINSTEIN , EDITOR IN CHIEF
PHILLIP ALLEN
The resilience and perseverance of hotel developers is remarkable . They are emerging from the biggest challenge they will likely ever face and on the surface , at least , it appears to have caused them not much more than a flesh wound . Their attitudes are rooted in the fact that they believe the future of the hotel business has never been brighter , and if they partner with the right people and make good development decisions and create welldesigned processes they will continue to thrive .
On the pages ahead , read profiles on emerging mixed-use darling Kerten Hospitality and CEO Marloes Knippenberg ; eco-ultra-luxury brand Nayara led by real estate developer / empath Leo Ghitis ; hybrid extended-stay player edyn led by a newly reinvigorated operator Stephen McCall ; AJ Capital Partners emerging Marine & Lawn brand with assets at iconic U . K . golf courses like St Andrews and led by an American newly transplanted to London , Phillip Allen ; and London ’ s Cedar Capital Partners , long-time luxury investor / asset manager led by opportunistic and relationship-focused Ramsey Mankarious .
All five leaders discuss at length their views on opportunities in their niches , the biggest challenges of the day and how their philosophies continue to evolve . The takeaways are many and varied , their stories inspiring .
LEO GHITIS
RAMSEY MANKARIOUS
MARLOES KNIPPENBERG
STEPHEN MCCALL
June 2022 hotelsmag . com 43