When considering the hotel headlines made in 2012, there was not a blockbuster story that most definitely could be categorized as “the story of the year.” However, it was a year of intrigue with some changes at the top of a few big chains, a year of continued hand-wringing over the impact of OTAs and social media, some courtroom battles, only a handful of new brand launches, continued domination by a handful of powerful owners and always some innovation.
The editors at HOTELS considered the headlines made since January and created this list of the most important stories of 2012, by category:
Most of the big deals
Gaylord becomes REIT as Marriott buys brand
Accor sells Motel 6 to Blackstone for $1.9 billion
Apollo wins Great Wolf bidding war
Accor buys 15 Grupo Posadas hotels
Singapore buys 4 Paulson resorts for $1.5 billion
Sahara Group finalizes NYC Plaza purchase
Private equity fund buys Six Senses brand
Ellison buys Hawaiian island, 2 Four Seasons resorts
Great Eagle buys Setai Fifth Avenue for $229 million
Strategic confirms Essex House purchase
Blackstone monster
Blackstone forecloses on 13-hotel portfolio
Blackstone affiliate to buy Apple REIT Six
Blackstone buys largest hotel in Dublin
Blackstone takes ownership of Chicago Sofitel
Accor sells Motel 6 to Blackstone for $1.9 billion
$3.5 billion of Extended Stay debt to be sold
Barry’s world
Starwood Capital stake sale under consideration
Investors buy Times Square parcel, may build hotel
Sternlicht’s 1 brand could be revived in Brooklyn
Sternlicht expands on his Baccarat plans
Starwood Capital-led consortia buys former Gansevoort Miami Beach
Starwood Capital buys InTown Suites chain
Louvre reportedly selling 4 luxe hotels to Katara
Barclays-Maybourne tussle
Barclays win court battle for Maybourne hotels
Room Key
6 giants launch hotel search engine
CEO turnover
Neumann to replace Ritter at Rezidor
Joly resigns at Carlson; Rautio takes over as CEO
Geller abruptly steps down at Strategic
IHG new brands
IHG launches Hualuxe, new brand in China
IHG signs 8 Hualuxe management deals
HOTELS Interview: Healthy goals for Even Hotels
OEH rejects Tata, again
Orient-Express rejects Tata buyout, picks new CEO
Commune power-up
Commune umbrella for JDV, Thompson, maybe more
Commune announces Leondakis to be new CEO
Obama’s tourism plan
Obama announces international tourism strategy
Hyatt takes F&B to next level
Hyatt launches global F&B philosophy
Hyatt overhauls kids’ menu in North America