Hospitality Management
IHG Hotels & Resorts | September 06, 2023
IHG Hotels & Resorts launches IHG LIFT, a program supporting under-represented groups in the US and Canada's hospitality industry.
IHG commits over $30 million in partnership with HBCUs, Clark Atlanta University, and Morehouse College. Together, they aim to remove barriers and create opportunities for diverse owner-entrepreneurs.
The program is integral to the Journey to Tomorrow 2030 responsible business plan. It aligns with IHG's commitment to promoting inclusivity and equal hotel ownership access.
IHG Hotels & Resorts (IHG), a global hospitality company, has introduced IHG LIFT, a program fostering diversity in hospitality. It provides support, capital access, and guidance throughout the hotel lifecycle for historically under-represented groups within the hospitality industry in the US and Canada.
IHG has partnered with Clark Atlanta University and Morehouse College, two prominent Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Over the next five years, the company has committed more than $30 million to support the IHG LIFT program.
This partnership represents a significant step toward eliminating barriers and creating opportunities for aspiring hotel owners, aligning seamlessly with IHG's commitment to diversity and equal access to resources and support.
IHG LIFT is an integral component of IHG's comprehensive Journey to Tomorrow 2030 responsible business plan. This broader strategy addresses critical issues and promotes inclusivity within the hospitality industry.
The program's primary objective is to unlock common barriers to hotel ownership among under-represented groups and empower diverse owner-entrepreneurs for success. By integrating IHG LIFT into this forward-thinking plan, IHG reaffirms its commitment to fostering a more unbiased landscape in the hospitality industry.
“As our industry grows, we need to keep our focus on enabling more success for our diverse ownership base. Barriers such as a lack of access to capital and the right networks put such owners at a disadvantage. The IHG LIFT program is specifically designed to help ease the path to ownership and ultimately support owners. Diversifying ownership is not only better for IHG, it also lifts up our entire industry.”
-Chief Development Officer, Americas at IHG Hotels & Resorts, Julienne Smith.
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Hospitality Trends
Travel + Leisure Co | September 25, 2023
Travel + Leisure Co. collaborates with Sports Hospitality Ventures to launch sports-themed resort complexes near college towns.
Introducing the Sports Illustrated Resorts vacation club, uniting sports enthusiasts and offering flexible bookings and amenities.
Sports Illustrated Resorts unveils residences, with fractional and wholly owned condominiums managed professionally.
Expansion plans include chic beach clubs and experience parks, with a Tuscaloosa resort expected to open in late 2025.
Travel + Leisure Co, a membership and leisure travel company, has partnered with Sports Hospitality Ventures, LLC, the hotel and resorts licensee for the esteemed Sports Illustrated brand in North America and the Caribbean. Together, they introduce an innovative vision for a series of sports-themed resort and lifestyle complexes strategically situated in vibrant college towns catering to passionate fan communities.
A novel addition to the Sports Illustrated Resorts portfolio is the vacation club. This innovative concept aims to unite fervent sports fans, friends, and families by elevating their accommodation experience. Club members will enjoy the flexibility to make repeat resort reservations and access a variety of amenities across the expanding Sports Illustrated Resorts portfolio. This endeavor is made possible through the partnership of Travel + Leisure Co., leveraging its expertise in managing brand collaborations.
Additionally, Sports Illustrated Resorts introduces residences, offering fractional and wholly owned condominiums managed professionally through the collaboration. The residences promise a range of signature services and amenities in line with the active lifestyle theme of Sports Illustrated Resorts. The inaugural college town resort in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, is just the beginning, with plans for further expansion fueled by the collaboration between Sports Hospitality Ventures, Authentic Brands Group, and Kituwah LLC, representing the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, who have committed $320 million to propel the growth of the Sports Illustrated Resorts brand.
With a vision to deliver immersive experiences celebrating the iconic moments of Sports Illustrated's outstanding history, Sports Illustrated Resorts has become a destination beyond conventional lodging. The resorts' unique design will transport guests and owners into the heart of sports culture, with diverse attractions, live sports and entertainment, fine dining, and wellness facilities. While the initial focus is on university locations, the broader portfolio will extend to chic beach clubs and experience parks in prime leisure destinations. Sports Illustrated Resorts is adopting an asset-light development financing model for its expansion, with the Tuscaloosa resort anticipated to welcome guests in late 2025. While Travel + Leisure Co. foresees no immediate earnings impact, it anticipates this venture will drive incremental growth from the latter half of 2025 onwards.
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Hospitality Management
globenewswire | July 26, 2023
Sonder Holdings Inc a leading next-generation hospitality company that is redefining the guest experience through technology and design, has launched its first hotel collection, Powered by Sonder.
Powered by Sonder is a collection of uniquely designed boutique hotels, powered by Sonder’s technology and operated by Sonder. These hotels are infused with local flair, and have their own distinctive design aesthetic.
In common with Sonder’s wider portfolio of hotels and multi-unit apartment properties, Powered by Sonder hotels are located in the center of key travel destinations and provide app-enabled modern service, thoughtful amenities, and consistent high quality.
23 Sonder hotels across 13 markets are part of the Powered by Sonder collection, with new properties expected to be added. Among them are Atala in Paris, Chambers in New York City, and Yelo Jean Médecin in Nice.
“Hotels make up a significant and growing part of our portfolio. The Powered by Sonder collection offers authentic, local stays in the heart of vibrant neighborhoods – at global scale and with the consistency and quality that our guests expect. Each hotel has a strong design perspective, which is distinct from Sonder’s core design aesthetic, while featuring our seamless, app-driven service. Many have unique features for our guests to discover, including on-site food and beverage outlets,” said Francis Davidson, Co-Founder and CEO at Sonder.
Powered by Sonder hotels can be booked on Sonder.com, in the Sonder app, and via online travel agent partners in the same way as Sonder’s wider portfolio.
“Hotels in the Powered by Sonder collection benefit from our proprietary technology and operational expertise, and existing boutique hotels can be efficiently integrated into our portfolio. We’re continuing to expand and diversify our portfolio, with hotels and resorts in both our Powered by Sonder and wider collection, in addition to multi-unit apartment properties,” said Martin Picard, Co-Founder and Chief Real Estate Officer at Sonder.
Sonder operates in 40+ markets across ten countries, and has approximately 18,200 live and contracted units worldwide as of Q1 2023. The company distinguishes itself in the hospitality industry through modern design and by using technology to deliver a frictionless guest experience at a lower cost structure. The Sonder app puts guests in full control of their stay – from booking, to interacting with guest services, to check-out – via their own mobile device.
Sonder recently announced expansion in EMEA and Florida, and shared that over a third of its properties are in the top 10% of Tripadvisor listings.
About Sonder
Sonderis revolutionizing hospitality through innovative, tech-enabled service and inspiring, thoughtfully designed accommodations combined into one seamless experience. Launched in 2014, Sonder provides a variety of accommodation options — from spacious rooms to fully-equipped suites and apartments found in over 40 markets spanning ten countries and three continents. The Sonder app gives guests full control over their stay. Complete with self-service features, simple check-in and 24/7 on-the-ground support, amenities and services at Sonder are just a tap away, making a world of better stays open to all.
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