David Eisen - 10 Minutes News for Hoteliers - Page 2

2 min

Secrets of success: What sets high achievers apart?

🏨 Barry Sternlicht, co-founder of Starwood Capital Group, created Starwood Hotels & Resorts in 1995, known for W Hotels and the Heavenly Bed. He later sold the company to Marriott and is now with Starwood Hotels 2.0. Luca Virgilio, GM of The Dorchester in London, led a major renovation while keeping the hotel operational. Both are recognized by HOTELS Magazine's 2025 "Hoteliers of the World" for their leadership and innovation in hospitality.

2 min

In hospitality circles, Starwood Capital Group's Barry Sternlicht holds major swag. I don't have to tell you that. He is repsonsible for the creation of the seminal W Hotels brand and made beds comfy… | David Eisen

🏨 Barry Sternlicht, founder of Starwood Hotels & Resorts, renowned for the W Hotels brand and Westin Heavenly Bed, is celebrated as HOTELS magazine's 2025 Corporate Hotelier of the Year. After leading Starwood for a decade and its subsequent sale to Marriott, he's back steering Starwood Hotels 2.0. Sternlicht, a self-made billionaire, began by selling tadpoles. His impact in the hotel industry is profound, blending brand innovation with design excellence.

1 min

I think that Airbnb saying it is the cheapest distrubution platform for hotels at around 15% is a bit disingenuous because much of branded stock is given lower commission rates depending on global… | David Eisen

💸 Airbnb claims to be the cheapest distribution platform for hotels with a 15% commission, but this is disputed as brand agreements with OTAs often offer lower rates. For independent hotels, the focus should be on direct bookings via brand.com, emphasizing the benefits of loyalty programs and consistent pricing. This approach minimizes third-party haggling in case of issues. Hoteliers are encouraged to leverage AI for effective messaging and control over distribution.

6 min

Finding the edge: As Crestline hits a milestone anniversary, it looks forward to the next chapter

🏨 Crestline Hotels & Resorts, led by CEO James Carroll since 2010, is celebrating its 25th anniversary in Fairfax, Virginia. Initially part of Marriott, it spun off in 2000 and now manages over 120 hotels. In 2023, Crestline added The Delphi in Los Angeles to its portfolio. Despite a 17.5% drop in global hotel transactions in 2025, Crestline's growth persists, managing 25 hotels for Apple Hospitality REIT. Key investments include expanding its digital team and hiring a VP of F&B.

2 min

Busy Vision Hospitality opens Home2/Tru combo in Cleveland, Tenn.

🏨 Vision Hospitality Group unveiled a new dual-brand hotel, Home2 Suites and Tru by Hilton, in Cleveland, Tennessee. This marks their 44th hotel and 26th in the state. Earlier this month, they opened a 139-room Element Wilmington in North Carolina and a 184-room Embassy Suites in Chattanooga. The new Cleveland property features 140 guestrooms, shared amenities like an outdoor pool, and reflects Vision's focus on Southeastern U.S. expansion and partnership with Hilton.

2 min

The OG of members' clubs is going private. If you lived in Manhattan during the aughts (I did), Soho House New York was this fantastical, mythical, sybartitic, Zelda-like hideaway that did really… | David Eisen | 11 comments

📜 Soho House New York, the legendary members' club from the 2000s, is going private under MCR Hotels led by Tyler Morse. The club, once a vibrant hub in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District, was known for its exclusivity and notable patrons. Back in 2004, it was a place where young professionals mingled over cosmos, discussing emerging platforms like Facebook. Today, its allure has waned amidst numerous imitators, but its legacy remains notable.

3 min

Not your father’s Hilton

🏨 Hilton, a 106-year-old company founded in 1919 in Cisco, Texas, has expanded to 24 brands and over 200 million loyalty members. The newly opened Hilton Arlington Rosslyn The Key, a 36-story hotel in Arlington, Virginia, exemplifies Hilton's refreshed identity. The hotel features 331 guestrooms, 28,000 sq ft of event space, and a signature 36th-floor venue. Key changes include a decentralized lobby and handheld steamers replacing irons. It’s a 15-minute drive from Hilton’s global headquarters in McLean, Virginia.

3 min

Summer camp is over for lodging companies

🏨 The Lodging Conference, held annually at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge in Phoenix, focuses on hotel industry trends. The industry is shifting from asset ownership and operations to specializing in franchising. JLL reports a 4.6 percentage point increase in global franchised hotels in the past 18 months, indicating a trend towards professionalization and growth of third-party management companies like Aimbridge. The change highlights a move from diverse operations to a singular, focused strategy.

2 min

Global hotel deals remained stunted in the first half of 2025. Could the second half be different?

🏨 Global hotel transaction volume in H1 2025 was $24.5 billion, down 17.5% from H1 2024 and over 30% from 2019. There were 600 transactions, 16.7% less than in H1 2024. The U.S. accounted for over half, with transaction volume at $9.7 billion, up nearly 4% from H1 2024. Global RevPAR saw uneven performance, with Middle East/Africa leading at 9.3% growth. JLL anticipates muted supply growth due to high construction costs.

3 min

Soho House put private members’ clubs on the map. Now, it’s going private.

💰 Soho House, founded by Nick Jones in 1995, expanded to over 45 locations with 200,000 members. In 2021, it went public as Membership Collective Group after U.S. billionaire Ron Burkle acquired it in a £250-million deal in 2012. Now going private again, MCR Hotels leads a $2.7-billion acquisition. Ashton Kutcher joins the board, Neil Thomson becomes CFO, and shares are valued at $9 each—a 17.8% premium. MCR's Tyler Morse aims for sustainable growth and member experiences.

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