EDITOR ’ S DIARY
NEW BEGINNINGS AND inspirations
It ’ s so nice to be talking about hotel growth , development and creativity as opposed to COVID-related topics . Not that business is necessarily all the way back quite yet , but this month ’ s issue of HOTELS is filled with stories about positive expectations , forward-looking projections , and renewed hope .
There are still many challenges to overcome , including supply chain issues , geopolitical instability , inflation , rising interest rates and lingering unknowns about COVID , but compared to what hoteliers have been through the last two years , everything else seems manageable .
Editor In Chief
In this issue , we focus on multiple opportunities and profile several players where our sources are again speaking optimistically .
Our Special Report on conversions shows the range of development opportunities being considered . Chalk this up to proliferation of distressed properties , as well as a level of comfortable certainty with more predictable development costs and schedules . Perhaps as important are already existing revenue streams to add another level of comfort .
This month , we profile Driftwood Capital and its CEO Carlos Rodriguez , Sr ., who talks about how much he learned during COVID about communication and loyalty . Now , the Miami-based multi-disciplined operator is ready to put the pandemic behind and kickstart growth with new development , interest in acquiring or merging with another management company , plans to invest in technology and , for the first time , open its development platforms to institutional investors .
We have growth stories from Highgate and Private Luxury Collection . With two big select-service acquisitions in the past year , a separate division , Highgate Select , is focused on differentiated management and development of select-service , limited-service and extended-stay hotels . In the luxury space , Auberge founder Mark Harmon has joined Hawaii-based Private Label Collection as chairman , teaming up with friend Jonathan McManus to selectively grow an ultra-luxury portfolio with astute owners who only focus on quality , relaxed luxury projects that potentially create outstanding upside value .
We profile another luxury hotelkeeper , Daniel Hostettler , who is in the middle of restoring a south Florida icon , The Boca Raton . The investment from tech titan Michael Dell ’ s family office is monstrous and listening to Hostettler talk about a career-defining challenge is nothing less than inspiring . It also offers faith in the future of leisure travel and a lesson in how a big box can be revitalized and sliced into five distinct experiences .
Lastly , NewcrestImage has recognized an out-of-the-box opportunity by developing ghost kitchens with a partner from Singapore , and for inspiration read about Margaret von Korff , owner of Cas Gasi , a luxury boutique hotel owner and organic farmer in Ibiza ’ s countryside , who is taking sustainability to the next level .
This issue of HOTELS reflects hope and new beginnings . I hope it provides some inspiration , as well .
EDITORIAL Jeff Weinstein Editor In Chief
Eylul Elmaghraby Editorial Coordinator
Kathakali Nandi Editorial writer
Ever Villapana Designer
Contributing Writers Jeanette Hurt , Megan Rowe , Juliana Shallcross ,
Alicia Sheber
PUBLISHING Ali Jahangiri CEO
Brian Levine Associate Publisher
Marie Ekberg Padilla Senior Editor
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 Caroline de Donnea-Birkel
ADMINISTRATION Kristi Carlson
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