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Equinox hires high-profile luxury exec as its hotel CEO

Equinox's new CEO Christopher Norton
Equinox’s new CEO Christopher Norton

Developer Related Co’s. Equinox Holdings continues to bulk up the executive team for its fledging luxury Equinox hotel brand with a Friday announcement that it has hired Four Seasons COO Christopher Norton as CEO. This comes a few months after it named Patron Capital’s Josh Wyatt, who was instrumental in creating the high-profile Generator hostel brand, as its president.

To date, Equinox, which already operates 82 upscale, full-service clubs, has only publically announced its flagship US$2 billion, 225-room hotel with 60,000 square foot gym set to open in 2019 at the Hudson Yards development in New York City. It reportedly has a deal in Los Angeles, as well as four other properties. Long-term, the group wants to open more than 50 hotels that fuse luxury and wellness worldwide.

Norton will oversee Equinox’s luxury hospitality business and growth strategy. He brings over 28 years of industry experience with Four Seasons, overseeing global hotel operations and defining the brand’s product vision, through design and construction.

“We are thrilled to have Christopher on board, he is one of the most qualified global hotel executives and will work closely with Josh Wyatt, who recently joined as president, in guiding our vision and unique opportunity in the hospitality sector,” said Harvey Spevak, CEO of Equinox and executive chairman of its hospitality business. “Christopher has a great appreciation for what makes a unique guest experience, a strong design sensibility and an understanding of the types of experiences customers will expect of luxury hotel brands in the future.”

“The Equinox philosophy of achieving a balanced life resonated with me both personally and professionally,” said Norton. “Designing premiere guest experiences with holistic health in mind is already an inherent part of my DNA, and I see tremendous opportunity for the Equinox brand to redesign the luxury consumer experience in hospitality.”

At Four Seasons, Christian Clerc, currently president of hotel operations in the Americas, will become president of worldwide hotel operations.

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