Biting the Bullet
The Grand Central Hotel , Glasgow , will become a member of Starwood Capital ’ s new hotel operating company this fall . agement company , already having gone through a massive HR exercise , reconstructing national and regional sales forces , and creating its own CRS to make it self-sufficient on the distribution front .
“ We saw the need for a truly British hotel brand because the U . K . itself is such a great brand with its history , personality , music , fashion , food and iconic landmarks ,” Bradshaw says . “ Yet , when you step back and think , unlike most other countries , there literally is no existing hotel brand that truly represents the best of what Britain has to offer .”
To that end , Starwood capital has assembled many iconic buildings and is adding what Bradshaw calls a touch of world-class design , personality and theater to transform properties such The George in Edinburgh , the Grand Central in Glasgow and the Hotel Russell in London .
A capital investment in excess of US $ 225 million is being made to restore these “ grande dame ” hotels to their original splendor . In addition to a big focus on destination F & B in consultation with renowned chefs and restaurateurs , extensive training is helping generate a new set of values . For example , more than 100 new staff members have been recruited for The Royal York Hotel in York ; more than 150 new staff for The George in Edinburgh ; and three times the number of chefs in the kitchens as before the renovations .
Take Starwood Capital Chairman Barry Sternlicht ’ s flair for design , as well as becoming the U . K .’ s biggest meeting space provider driven by new technology , and Bradshaw says the group with the best landmark building in the best locations could have a very powerful story . “ I think a comparison would be something like a Kimpton , where every hotel tells a story and is food and beverage and design driven taking its inspiration from all the wonderful facets of British culture ,” he says .
Bradshaw adds that there are a number of other cities in the U . K . – as well as collections of resorts and country hotels – that it would target for acquisition . “ With the urban conversion brand there ' s a wealth of opportunities across Europe in major gateway markets ,” he says .
Biting the Bullet
Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts Chairman Ho Kwon Ping talks about the Singaporelisted company ’ s Project One , an ongoing restructuring initiative to flatten the management hierarchy , curtail corporate spending and keep the independent chain competitive among its deeper-pocketed rivals .
“ We need a more delayered hierarchy . Regional VPs , which constituted an entire layer of decisionmaking , have been replaced by regional directors of operations who coordinate matters between the field and HQ , but are not a separate , decision-making hierarchy or authority unto themselves . Corporate HQ and the GM in the field now deal direct , but are facilitated by regional directors of operations ... I would be arrogant and presumptuous to say I ’ m re-inventing the business . Re-invention requires a vision that I don ’ t think I have . I only try to see some future trends and be prepared for them .”
May 2016 hotelsmag . com 11