GLOBAL UPDATE : THE GOSTELOW REPORT
North American leaders have long shopping lists . Jennifer Fox , president of Fairmont Hotels & Resorts , Toronto , says her priorities in Asia are Hong Kong , Seoul and Tokyo . She would also like second properties in London and New York , and entry into Atlanta , Barcelona , Berlin , Honolulu , Houston , Los Angeles , Madrid , Miami , Milan and Paris . She would look at any chance to convert , or to take over an existing group .
Similarly , speaking from his New York City headquarters , Stephen Brandman , CEO of Commune Hotels & Resorts , is looking at London — where the company already manages Belgraves — and Paris . In Asia , he is eyeing Beijing , Hong Kong and Shanghai . With two existing brands — Joie de Vivre and Thompson Hotels — and a new budget concept under wraps , he is also looking domestically .
In Europe , both private and institutional investors are keen to buy hotel real estate , says Gaël Le Lay , head of hotel investment at AXA Real Estate Investment Managers , Paris . His own portfolio , worth US $ 2.5 billion , already has about 100 hotels and resorts , and by 2015 he plans to invest a further US $ 1.25 billion , mainly in major cities in France and Germany .
Sometimes private investors , buoyed by a range of distribution channels , are confident operating as independents . Four Seasons The Ritz in Lisbon has been owned and modernized by Sociedade de Investimentos Imobiliarios ( SODIM ) S . A . r . l ., led by entrepreneur Pedro Mendonça de Queiroz Pereira and his sister , Maude Mendonça de Queiroz Pereira Lagos . She now also chairs their second hotel , Villa Magna , Madrid , which they bought in 2008 . It was then a Park Hyatt , but after a complete renovation by local designer Thomas Urquijo it re-opened as an independent , with 25 % of its business coming from The Leading Hotels of the World .
Based in Florence , Italy , J . K . Place is
MARY GOSTELOW
an exotic concept that works with no major brand . But since the first opening in its hometown , it has become a favorite of such American cognoscenti as Gramercy Park co-owner Michael Fuchs , who recently held his celebrity-studded wedding at J . K . Place Capri . The third J . K . Place opens in Rome in 2014 .
Oman is a target of
Qatar ’ s sovereign wealth fund . Doha-based Qatari Diar , the fund ’ s property arm , which has 40 % of Fairmont Raffles , signed three mixeduse developments with at least four hotels at Ras Al Hadd , Oman .
Orchard Parade Holdings Ltd ., owned by Far East Organization — Singapore ’ s largest closely held developer — seeks to rebrand as Far East Orchard . This will
� Andrew Whitaker has been named general manager of New World Beijing Hotel , scheduled to open next summer .
� Chris Adams has been named general manager of the Outrigger Laguna Phuket Resort and Villas in Thailand .
� The Chedi Club Suzhou , slated to open early next year near Shanghai , has named Giulio D ’ Alberto general manager .
� Amy Commans has been appointed general manager of the Luxe Sunset Boulevard Hotel in Los Angeles .
� Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort , Fiji , has appointed Mark Slimmer general manager .
� Nickolas Hazel has been named general manager of the Courtyard by Marriott Danbury in Danbury , Connecticut .
� Trump Hotel Collection , New York City , has appointed Todd Wynne-Parry to the new role of senior vice president of global hotel development and acquisitions .
� Denver-based Sage Hospitality has named Rick Johnson director of national corporate sales .
� Miraval in Tucson , Arizona , has named Carol Stratford vice president of marketing .
� Scott Robinson has been appointed executive chef at the Gettysburg Hotel in Gettysburg , Pennsylvania .
� The St . Regis Atlanta has appointed Robert Brandenberg food and beverage director .
� Ashfer Biju has been named executive chef at The Pierre , A Taj Hotel on New York ’ s Central Park . allow it to manage properties in the proposed Far East Hospitality Trust , planning a listing on the Singapore Exchange . It also will give it the ability to expand vastly as a management company , says CEO Lucas Chow .
Orchard Parade Holdings at the moment has three brands — Oasia , Quincy and Village — and manages more than 3,400 hotel rooms and serviced apartments in Singapore . Now Chow says he will look at other cities within a three-hour flight radius , with Europe on the far horizon .
Urban Resort Concepts , Shanghai , will have four unique properties in the Shanghai vicinity by the end of 2014 . It is now looking to expand and has already signed Dong Mo Lake , a one-hour drive from Hanoi , and is talking about central Kuala Lumpur . Now , says Director John Laing , it would be good to get into Europe and the United States .
PEOPLE ON THE MOVE
Whitaker
Johnson
Robinson
18 HOTELS September 2012 www . hotelsmag . com