COVER STORY
that the business doesn’ t run without great people and great assets,” he said.
What he does have is a keen focus on the bottom line and creating value for shareholders. Hoteliers rely on an array of KPIs to judge performance. Tisch values business performance through one particular metric: adjusted EBITDA, or the proportion of earnings attributable to Loews Hotels from a joint venture, subsidiary or investment, rather than 100 % of the entity’ s earnings. Adjusted EBITDA at Loews Hotels & Co was $ 124 million in the first quarter of 2026 versus $ 81 million at the same time a year ago.
As Loews has matured, its projects have become more involved, with a bigger scope. They fill a gap in an industry where shrinking products and conversions have become popular. Loews is a counterpuncher. Its properties are capacious: greater than 300 rooms is the norm, with an excess of 50 square feet of meeting space per room.
“ We see significant underinvestment in hotels and a lack of new construction in what Loews Hotels does best,” Tisch said, which is to cater to some of the largest group business in the U. S.“ The supply of great meeting hotels is antiquated,” he added.
In that way, Tisch fashions himself an anticipator— like Wayne Gretzky, to pull from sports.“ It feels like everyone’ s chasing the same puck. I’ d rather go where the puck is going,” he said.“ We’ re developing in a sweet spot right now where no one else is.” According to Lodging Econometrics, there are 32 properties currently under construction with a room count greater than 300 rooms in the U. S.
It’ s disingenuous to say that Loews properties are only built to cater to meetings and groups. They are in some of the best U. S. locations. Loews Coronado Bay Resort is on its own private peninsula in San Diego; Loews Hollywood Hotel is in the heart of the cinematic neighborhood, next door to the Dolby Theatre; Loews New Orleans Hotel is downtown and adjacent to the French Quarter; and then there are the 11 hotels at Universal Orlando. The opening of Universal Helios coincided with the opening of Universal Epic Universe, the third theme park at Universal Orlando Resort, which features Super Nintendo World.
Loews also reinvests. Beyond the $ 55
Loews Miami Beach wrapped up a $ 55-million renovation last year.
Loews Chicago is located in the city’ s Streeterville neighborhood.
million it put into Loews Miami Beach, it’ s putting upwards of $ 35 million into Loews Nashville Hotel at Vanderbilt Plaza. Recent renovations have also been made at Loews Ventana Canyon, Loews Chicago, Loews Atlanta, Hard Rock Hotel at Universal Orlando, Loews Royal Pacific and Loews Philadelphia.“ We make sure our product is very competitive,” Tisch said.
Hotels must be, especially those among groups that don’ t have vast global distribution networks and loyalty programs. Loews understands that; it also appreciates that Loews might not be the first choice of accommodations when someone visits a city. Tisch uses it to his advantage.“ The first time you go to Kansas City, you probably won’ t stay at the Loews, only because you don’ t know about it,” he said.“ The second time you go to Kansas City, you will stay at the Loews because you’ ll see the product and say,‘ Gee, I should have stayed there.’ That’ s the way I envision it.”
54 hotelsmag. com May / June 2026