Great Hotels of the World wants to expand its footprint into the U.S. The European hotel marketing and distribution consortium plans to add six properties in the U.S. by the end of 2020 and is exploring options in New York City, Miami and Dallas.
The company will target 200- to 300-room upscale hotels that align with outbound European business travel demand and with outbound European meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions business. "We want properties that have something unique, that have great business facilities and have a leisure angle," said Great Hotels CEO Pedro Colaco. He also predicted that a stable of U.S.-based member hotels not only would raise awareness of the collection among the U.S. market but also would drive U.S. business to the brand's established member properties in Europe.
The company has put marketing and business development boots on the ground in the U.S. in partnership with its San Diego-based parent company, GuestCentric. Stateside members of Great Hotels will offer meeting spaces for 50 to 300 people with a minimum of eight meetings rooms.
Great Hotels was founded in 2004 and represents over 60 hotels, mostly in Europe, though it recently expanded into South America. The company is looking to extend its presence in Europe; Germany is a key target, particularly for MICE business, Colaco told BTN. In total, the company's ambition is to reach 100 member properties globally by 2020.