The case for due diligence in branded residential projects
Property structure, amenities and services are factors that can slow down development
With so many branded residences projects I have been involved with — many with otherwise experienced developers in Dubai and elsewhere — the branded residences element of a project...
Curbing the enthusiasm on branded residences in the hospitality industry
What happens if the brand goes away?
Everyone and their branded product it seems is hopping on the bandwagon to develop hospitality-adjacent branded residences.
More 'Thought Brakes' on the Seemingly Runaway Branded Residential Development
There's More To Consider Than Many May Realize
Branded residential development powers on, with new developments globally, now often occurring beyond the traditional “gateway” cities.
Navigating the Many Upfront Issues of Branded Residential Development
All Parties Must Understand the Steps of the Process
The hotel branded residential segment continues to grow, not just for many renowned hotel brands but extending to luxury fashion and automotive brands that link designs or accessor...
Building Back the Hotel Industry's Staffing Requires More Humanity
Too Many Employees Struggle To Make a Reasonable Living
Remember those early pandemic days when politicians and business leaders alike spoke of not wasting the opportunity of a crisis and using the lockdown to build a fairer, more equit...
Overturning Certain Assumptions in Emerging Market Hotel Operations
Consider Franchise Models
Various “rules of thumb” and — yes —stereotypes can often be reliably useful in planning business investment behavior, such as with emerging market (EM) countries. But they are by ...
Pandemic May Spur Shift From Management to Franchise
Will the hotel operations model, post-COVID-19, shift more in favor of operators?
In a recent hotels webinar conference, several U.S.-based panelist predicted the post COVID-19 environment would shift the owner-operator power balance more in favor of operators. ...
Thoughts for When Hotel Lights Come Back On
There are several thing hoteliers need to prepare for when their businesses reopen.
As we all scramble to adapt to ever-changing business conditions brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, one industry which has been overwhelmingly impacted is the hotel industry.
The Danger of Hotel Management Program and Service Fees
Hidden fees can undermine any management agreement between an owner and operator.
Whenever I review a hotel manager’s “group services and benefits” program list tucked discretely in the back of a hotel management agreement, I compare it to those hidden fees hosp...
Hotel Operators Like Asset-light, Risk-light
Hotel operators need to accept responsibility for the management product they purport to provide under a hotel management contract, including the actions of the key personnel they have nominated to carry out their contractual responsibilities.
Hotel operators’ move to an “asset-light” business model has meant divesting themselves not only of their real estate assets, but also much (if not all) of the business risk associ...
Loss of Brand Risk in Branded Residence Projects
Branded residence buyers, having paid a substantial premium for their association with the luxury brand, are at greater risk than they may think of the brand going away through no fault of their own.
Purchasers of branded residence properties (typically situated adjacent to a luxury hotel operating under a similar “brand”) often cite the buyer assurances that a branded property...
Remember User-generated Content in Marketing Your Hotel
Social media and online review sites are more than just trending; they are determining how and where guests are booking their hotel stays.
A classic 1960s and onwards advertising strategy was “if you can’t improve the product, put it to music”—an adage which recognized the emotive and recollective attributes of music ...
Issues Raised for Owners When Operators Consolidate
When it comes to operator consolidations, hotel owners might find themselves enduring complications both legally and contractually.
The recent—and likely continuing—wave of operator consolidations raises a number of legal/contractual issues for the hotel owner-operator relationship, which should be brought up o...
Branded Residences Benefit From Upfront Planning
While going the branded residence route seems like a surefire win, there are a number of details to consider first.
The increasingly popular branded residence concept, where a private residence (flat or villa) is marketed and sold typically in conjunction with and adjacent to the similarly brand...
10 Ways to Approach Emerging Markets
There are challenges aplenty when it comes to doing business in global emerging markets. Here are 10 ways to make the process go more smoothly.
Developing and operating hotels in emerging markets throws up several factors you might not prioritize when doing a similar project back home.
In my 20-plus years of, mainly, e...