After only 6 months on the job as president and CEO of Loews Hotels & Resorts, Paul Whetsell is making good on his promise to grow the brand. HotelNewsNow.com caught up with him during a break at the 34th annual NYU International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference earlier this month, and Whetsell shared that he plans to double the size of the brand by the end of 2015. According to Whetsell “I came in with a couple of objectives; one was to broaden the customer base of Lowes. You do that in two ways – you do it organically by enhancing your own sales-and-marketing programs, and then you add distribution.” To kick off this expansion, the company recently acquired the 632-room Renaissance Hollywood Hotel & Spa in Hollywood, California. They plan to begin a $26-million renovation later this year that will include many innovative changes on the technology side. To read more of Whetsell’s plans to grow the Lowes brand, click here.
The annual NYU International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference is organized by Jonathan Tisch, the current co-chairman of the board of Loews Corp. and chairman of Loews Hotels. Hotel Management interviewed during the event to chat with him about the city—and industry—he loves so much. Click here to read the full interview.