Aimbridge Hospitality has an optimistic outlook for the recovery in 2022.
The company enters the year with an advantage of scale that solidifies Aimbridge as a global leader, with a premium portfolio and robust pipeline across all of its eight verticals inclusive of nearly 50 new-build or renovated hotels anticipated to open in eight countries and territories, it reports. Highlights of properties joining Aimbridge this year include in the U.S., the luxury La Salle Chicago, Autograph Collection (pictured above); The Henderson Beach Resort & Spa in Destin, FL; The Saint Hotel Charleston, SC and the Marriott Knoxville Downtown. In Mexico, the company added the JW Marriott Guadalajara, Aloft Guadalajara Punto Sur and Aloft Playa del Carmen; and added a property in Brussels, Belgium; four properties in the U.K.; a Luxury Collection hotel in Moscow; and the Frenchman’s Reef in St. Thomas, U.S.V.I.
“While the industry continues to be challenged, we’re optimistic about the year,” said Mike Deitemeyer, president/CEO, Aimbridge Hospitality. “Aimbridge has been quick to innovate to meet the challenges on all fronts, which has helped to fuel our growth. We are an industry leader supported by our vast resources, scale and an experienced team across all facets of hospitality.”
Highlights from 2021 include Aimbridge’s addition of Grupo Hotelero Prisma, its first entrance to the Mexican market, along with the acquisition of Dallas-based Prism Hotels & Resorts, a full-service management, investment and advisory services company known for both their traditional hotel management, as well as its hotel receivership advisory. In addition, Aimbridge was selected by NewcrestImage to operate a 27-hotel portfolio, which transitioned to company management in January.
The company launched Taste & Theory Restaurant Group, offering total solutions for food and beverage concepting. Additionally, Aimbridge added to its procurement services capability, further enhancing the company’s capability to provide end-to-end supply chain solutions for the full hotel life cycle.
In a challenging labor market, Aimbridge deployed new recruitment and employment experience initiatives to attract and retain top talent. Aimbridge launched a same-day pay app in June 2021 as a means to address evolving needs of the workforce; Aimbridge associates increasingly participate in the daily pay option. TeamShare was introduced to enable hourly staff to schedule shifts at nearby Aimbridge hotels, a win-win for both the gig worker generation and Aimbridge properties looking to fill gaps in staffing needs, it reports.
The company also deployed market-based recruiters around the U.S. focused on filling hotel hourly openings. In addition, Corporate Task Force leadership was expanded to 70 leaders to assist hotels with management staffing, and an H2B visa program was initiated with Aimbridge’s Mexico office to raise the U.S. workforce for its managed hotels.
The company will continue to focus on employment value, attracting job seekers and increasing retention, growing the topline and thinking differently to optimize operations across all verticals in 2022, it reports.