What ’ s Hot : PEOPLE
TRUDY RAUTIO
PRESIDENT AND CEO , CARLSON , MINNEAPOLIS , MINNESOTA
WHY SHE IS HOT : Overnight — literally — this past August Rautio became the fifth CEO in the history of Carlson after Hubert Joly abruptly resigned to take the top job at Best Buy . The 15-year Carlson veteran walks into a frying pan , with the company in the midst of trying to revitalize its Radisson brand in North America with both consumers and developers . At the same time , she needs to help Carlson find an edge at the bargaining table as the family puts more of its own cash into the game to create much-needed new opportunities .
WHAT SHE IS WORKING ON NOW : After first meeting all the commitments made by the swiftly departing Joly , Rautio is settling the Carlson ship and sticking to the charted course established a few years ago , Ambition 2015 , which calls for growing the portfolio by at least 50 % and reaching approximately 1,500 hotels in operation by 2015 . She says today in North America there are various deals in various stages of development . Globally , there are some 76 Radisson Blu hotels in development .
WHAT ’ S NEXT : The former Carlson CFO started to consider what happens beyond 2015 at a Carlson board retreat in September . Being a company insider gives her the important support of Chairwoman Marilyn Carlson Nelson .
SAM NAZARIAN
CHAIRMAN AND CEO , SBE , LOS ANGELES
WHAT MAKES HIM HOT : The man behind the hot SLS lifestyle hotel brand just opened a Philippe Starck-inspired resort in Miami Beach and is developing a hotel in New York City . The L . A . nightclub impresario-turned-hotelier also has his Hyde nightclub concept at Bellagio in Las Vegas and a hip Redbury extended-stay brand as well as plans to reimage Las Vegas ’ Sahara Hotel & Casino .
HOTTEST ITEM IN HIS INBOX : These days it ’ s not one item … it ’ s more like hundreds . Nazarian is deeply involved in all facets of the company . “ It ’ s a pretty crazy pace to operate at , but I wouldn ’ t have it any other way ,” he says .
WHAT HE IS WORKING ON NOW : Nazarian is going full steam ahead on development of SLS properties in Manhattan and Las Vegas . sbe has some big restaurant news in the Middle East on the horizon , and its sixth Hyde Lounge location is opening at American Airlines Arena in Miami the night the Heat receive their NBA world champion rings .
WHAT ’ S NEXT : The focus will remain on strategic expansion of the SLS Hotels brand across the country as well as international growth . Nazarian says he has already closed a major hotel deal in China , and there are numerous other opportunities outside North America that he is currently weighing .
BERNOLD SCHROEDER
CEO , JIN JIANG INTERNATIONAL HOTEL MANAGEMENT CO ., SHANGHAI
WHAT MAKES HIM HOT : Schroeder leads the full-service side of a China giant that can become the market ’ s most influential homegrown player . From his new headquarters , he has put together a global team — half of whom are Chinese nationals , putting them closer to owners and consumers .
HOTTEST ITEM IN HIS INBOX : Schroeder always keeps one of the latest global economy reports as a reminder of how flexible and lean Jin Jiang must be in these difficult times . “ It is about the execution of small , effective and tangible steps ,” he says . “ The world has changed , and I believe there are still too many who don ’ t see it .”
WHAT HE IS WORKING ON : Schroeder has signed 10 new hotels so far this year and has opened 12 . He is working intensively on the US $ 630 million building that will launch the J hotel brand in Shanghai by 2015 in close cooperation with Interstate Hotels . He has opened sales offices in Hong Kong and Singapore , which helps account for market performance that he says is more than 100 % better than STR market averages . Jin Jiang is participating for the first time in the big trade events like ITB and launched the JJ ecommerce loyalty program with 4.5 million members .
WHAT ’ S NEXT : Continued focus on enlarging and improving the domestic sales and marketing platform , which still accounts for 95 % of the business . He really wants to launch the midmarket Marvel brand but doesn ’ t want to trumpet a big pipeline just yet .
26 HOTELS October 2012 www . hotelsmag . com