Quotes of the Week: Castle Peak, Revolution, IHG, LROH

QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“We are seeing guests who otherwise would have taken a trip to Italy last summer now make the three-hour drive to the beach twice instead of the one big overseas trip… On the flip side, we’re seeing some of our more aspirational guests probably filter out. But ultimately, net-net, we’re pretty encouraged by what we’re seeing.” – David Better, Castle Peak Holdings   Read story

“It was clear to us that Costa Rica was a market on the rise. When I first landed in Guanacaste, the airport was really only available for local prop planes. Now, there are more than 20 international airlines and nearly 3 million passengers. We've witnessed it transform from primarily an agricultural economy to one also heavily focused on tourism, much like Hawaii when I was growing up there.” – Steve Case, Revolution   Read story

“Reflective of a growing demand for upscale collection brands, Series by Marriott is designed to offer regional owners a conversion opportunity that provides access to global revenue and demand generation platforms, while preserving each hotel’s unique brand identity and delivering an authentic guest experience.” – Noah Silverman, Marriott International   Read story

“In bringing Ruby to the U.S., we will retain what’s made the brand so special in Europe – including its unique design and operating model – while localizing certain elements to reflect market needs. We look forward to introducing the Ruby experience to a new group of owners and guests and showcasing what sets the brand apart in the increasingly popular ‘urban micro’ segment.” – Lauren Krostue, IHG Hotels & Resorts   Read story

“What we’ve seen is a lot of sponsors that have creative minds and creative capital stacks have been able to get a lot done and ultimately will be able to put themselves in a good spot for the future. Because it’s not getting any cheaper to build.” – Zach Chandler, Thompson Financial Group   Read story

“This [Brussels Marriott Hotel Grand Place] is a high-quality asset in a truly outstanding location. It aligns perfectly with our investment criteria – a European capital, prime real estate, and a franchise structure that allows us to unlock further value through active asset management. We see continued upside, particularly with the evolution of the surrounding area, including new luxury retail openings directly opposite the hotel.” – Henri Wilmes, LRO Hospitality   Read story

“We’ve learned to extend our shoulders and give value to the leisure-transient guest and that’s allowed us to fill the property and hold that rate. Our group base has been consistent in certain markets. We work with some Fortune 100 companies and they’ve seen a little decrease, but we’ve been able to backfill with leisure guests.” – Kyle Hughey, Charlestowne Hotels   Read story