Consolidation in the boutique and lifestyle hotel space has been gaining traction ever since InterContinental Hotels Group acquired Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants in early 2015 for $430 million. Since then, Commune Hotels & Resorts—the product of a 2011 merger between Joie de Vivre Hospitality and Thompson Hotels—merged with Destination Hotels in January. And just last week, Sam Nazarian’s SBE announced plans to acquire Morgans Hotel Group for a hefty $794 million. The hotel industry is riding this wave of consolidation to achieve economies of scale, but some experts say it can be difficult for those who operate specifically in the boutique and lifestyle segment. Boutique hotelier Ian Schrager and other sources said they expect consolidation to continue in this portion of the industry, Hotel News Now reports. To read more, click here.
