Eric DanzigEr file
The InTervIew : Eric DanzigEr
Eric DanzigEr file
Danziger assumed his first executive role with DoubleTree Hotels in 1984 .
From September 1990 to June 1996 , Danziger served as president of Wyndham Hotels and Resorts .
Eventually , he returned as CEO of Wyndham Hotel Group in 2008 until his departure in 2014 .
From June 1996 through 2001 , Danziger first served as president and CEO of Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide and then as president and COO of Carlson Hotels Worldwide .
From June 2001 until 2008 , Danziger worked outside the hotel business , first as president and CEO of real estate brokerage ZipRealty , and then as CEO of online home services firm , WhiteFence .
After leaving Wyndham in 2014 , Danziger joined Hampshire Hotels Management as president and CEO , leading to his departure in August 2015 to join the Trump Hotel Collection as CEO . strive to stay at the best places they can and have the best experiences they can . In my mind , and I think in the Trumps ’ minds , luxury isn ’ t ostentatious or in your face . It ’ s comfortable , confident , in great locations with great people and everything you want .
The Trump Collection , and I ’ m not sure that will remain known as a collection , is a great brand and a family enterprise with deep passion for quality . As a result , I really am very excited about the growth opportunities . They do great development and I do brands and management . So , we ’ re going to put those two skill sets together and grow the company . My goal is to reach 30 Trump hotels by 2020 .
The other discussion we ’ ll have is whether we should leverage the skills and the strengths of the company in other tiers . It may not mean using the Trump name , but there may be many owners and customers who would like to have the Trump style . I think the family started that conversation before they met me , and maybe something that was appealing to them to know about me was that I have developed hotels in 44 countries .
H : What ’ s your take on where we are in the cycle and how it relates to luxury ?
ED : It ’ s going to be good until it ’ s not . Even in the down cycle , if you add up all the people staying at St . Regis , Peninsula , The Plaza or wherever , that is still a huge pie . You just have to provide the service and value , and have ability to attract a bigger share of the pie . Fewer people may travel if there is a downturn , but that doesn ’ t mean the pie isn ’ t large enough for a great hotel and a great operator to go get their fair share .
H : Whom have you admired and whom would you like to emulate in the luxury space ?
ED : I have to go back to the roots of Ben Swig , who built the Fairmont in San Francisco . He lived in the hotel . He was a man I saw walking through the lobby every day and it was an incredible experience . Today , it ’ s more about a luxury experience . Caroline Hunt ( founder of Rosewood Hotels ) did a very nice job in a way that made you say , ‘ I want to go to The Crescent in Dallas .’ Trump has done it right , as well . We are just going to do more of it .
36 HOTELS October 2015 www . hotelsmag . com