|
Page 1
2
As the idea of a hotelier leading hotel company might be
nearing extinction, the financial experts are making good
business decisions for the lodging industry.
Steve Goldman, president and c.e.o., Sunstone Hotel
Investors, noted that the last "non-hotel" leader to make and
impact was Barry Sternlicht, chairman and c.e.o. of Starwood
Capital Group and former chairman and c.e.o. of Starwood Hotel
and Resorts Worldwide.
Witzel said it wasn't an issue. "There was a time when
hoteliers really rand the hotel world," he said. "Then it was
marketing executives, then the finance guys. There is not any
one set of competencies that you have or do not have."
Goldman said while there are clearly more public companies
going private, it raised the question of where the money goes.
"As Equity, Winston and Highland goes private, all of those
millions of shareholders are now getting their money back, " he
said. "Where are they putting it? Will they invest in private or
public or invest outside of the sector?"
The possibility of more buyouts is real.
"The hunt is still very much on," Woodworth said. "It
doesn't seem like the level of private capital interest and
opportunities slowed down at all."
|
