CHARLOTTE, N.C., September 29, 2010�Concord Hospitality Enterprises,
one of the nation�s top-ranked hotel developer/owner/operators, today announced
it has signed contracts to manage a record 18 hotels year to date and is
fast approaching its goal of being ranked one of the 10 largest U.S. hotel
management companies. The company�s portfolio now exceeds 75 hotels.
�Our rapid, but planned, expansion reflects our three-pronged growth
strategy, which includes pure third-party management, joint-ventures and
wholly owned acquisitions and development,� said Mark G. Laport, president
and CEO of Concord Hospitality. �We are fortunate to have the financing
and relationships to continue to grow aggressively, despite the downturn.
With an improving outlook, we believe our diversified platform will continue
to generate significant growth.�
Laport said the company will continue expanding its full-service hotel
portfolio, noting that 30 percent of the company�s rooms growth during
this recent period of expansion has been in the full-service segment.
In 2010, Concord also added two new brand families, Hyatt and Sheraton,
to its existing portfolio of Marriott, Hilton and InterContinental hotel
brand groups. �With more than 75 properties in the U.S. and Canada,
we are geographically diversified and of a size that offers owners the
benefits of extensive economies of scale, proprietary systems and management
depth,� he said.
Development
The company has opened four new built hotels this year and has five
properties under development, including the first LEED-Certified Courtyard
by Marriott, which will open in Pittsburgh next week. The design
will be the �green� prototype for all future Courtyards. The company
has committed to developing only LEED-Certified properties for all future
ground-up development projects.
Joint Venture Investment
Concord has established relationships with several investor and ownership
groups to expand its investment and joint venture activity. �We continue
to partner with organizations that share our values of quality, integrity,
community and profitability,� he noted. �Different groups have different
criteria and needs, which translates into a diverse mix and timetable for
ownership. We established a number of new relationships this year
and look forward to creating new ones.�
Third-party Management
Third-party management now accounts for approximately 60 percent of
the company�s overall portfolio, with the remaining properties either joint
ventures or wholly owned properties. �We always will
co-invest because we believe in the benefits of ownership. However,
as we grow, third-party management as a percentage of our business will
probably expand at a faster rate,� he said.
Outlook
Looking at the remainder of the year, Laport said the company has a
very active pipeline in all of its growth avenues. �Development has
slowed somewhat, with financing hard to come by and the economy still sluggish,
but we are finding great locations,� he said, noting a recent announcement
to develop a Springhill Suites by Marriott in Latrobe, Pa., in a joint
venture with golfing legend Arnold Palmer. �Construction and land
costs both are noticeably lower, helping some projects get off the drawing
board.�
About Concord Hospitality
Concord Hospitality Enterprises Company, an award-winning hotel management
and development company based in Raleigh-Durham, N.C., manages over 75
hotels offering more than 10,000 guest rooms in 20 states and two Canadian
providences. The company operates hotels and resorts under such well-known
industry elite brands as Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, Starwood and Choice Hotels,
as well as select independent boutique hotels. Formed in 1985, Concord
recently was listed as one of the nation�s top management companies in
the nation by independent sources, and recently won Marriott�s elite Partnership
Circle award for the sixth time. Concord properties are some of the
most awarded hotels in the country, having won nearly 30 honors in the
past two years alone, including Marriott�s Hotel of the Year and Developer
of the Year awards. For more information, visit www.concordhotels.com.