SPECIAL REPORT
THE HOTELS “ I often think of Mr . ( Isadore ) Sharp starting with motels ,” Heinecke says , referring to the Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts founder . “ We started with the equivalent of a motel and then from there we grew out to many beautiful hotels .” The properties , including several Four Seasons in Thailand , among other brands , residences and serviced suites , are owned or in JV or management contracts . More than 50 Oaks hotels , mostly in Australia , were acquired about six years ago ; Europe and South America came on board with the acquisition completed last year of the troubled Tivoli brand and its 14 hotels in Portugal and Brazil . Minor ’ s Anantara luxury brand , founded in 2001 , has 39 hotels and 15 in the pipeline , and its 4-star Avani , started in 2011 , has 18 hotels and 13 in the pipeline .
The five-year plan aims for 252 hotels by 2021 , expanding to places like Japan and the U . S . – the first Anantara , a managed property , is slated to open in Los Angeles in a couple of years , and he wants to continue growth in Africa . In many places , there is synergy : The company ’ s food arm operates more than 2,000 restaurants , and it ’ s not
William Heinecke as an 18-year-old businessman
32 hotelsmag . com November 2017