An inside look at how Major Food Group built their restaurant empire, the Equinox Hotel in New York could be changing hands, and a brief lesson in how hotel design has evolved. All that and more in this week’s Five on Friday.
What did U.S. hotels look like when you were born?
A vintage postcard depicting the Minoru Yamasaki-designed Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles, now the Fairmont Century Plaza; photo courtesy of William L. Bird/Flickr
House Beautiful put together a fun history lesson showcasing examples of what American hotels looked like every year between 1960 and 1999. From the circular, vibrating beds of the 1960s and ‘70s to motor inns and guestrooms with layers upon layers of rich draperies and prints, there’s no denying that hospitality design trends have changed over the years. As for the year I was born? Late actress Eartha Kitt was pictured in 1992 laying across a bed within the Plaza Hotel in New York. The guestroom is kitted out in pink, complete with an embellished silk canopy and gold crown molding.
Mario Carbone knows the recipe for success
The sign that hangs outside Carbone’s flagship restaurant in New York; photo by Robby Virus/Flickr
Red sauce but make it fancy. Major Food Group managing partner Mario Carbone—along with cofounders Rich Torrisi and Jeff Zalaznick—have built a true restaurant empire. Their concepts attract a high-profile crowd just as much as they bring in those who want to sit amongst A-listers. But how did Carbone get from operating a small sandwich shop in downtown Manhattan to launching ventures in Hong Kong, Tel Aviv, and beyond? In a recent profile by columnist Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair tells the Queens native’s compelling story of how taking a chance and opening an eatery that elevated classic “Italian Italian” cooking as well as the experience catapulted the group to success.
New York’s Equinox Hotel may soon hit the market
The outdoor pool deck, part of Equinox Hotel New York’s 60,000-square-foot fitness club and spa; photo by Jesse Dittmar
Just three years after opening, the Equinox Hotel in Manhattan’s Hudson Yards neighborhood may soon be offloaded by real estate firm the Related Companies, according to Bloomberg. The company helmed by billionaire developer Stephen Ross is said to have enlisted an advisor to solicit interest in the 33 Hudson Yards property, which comprises the 212-room hotel as well as office and rental space, that could fetch an estimated $200 million. Despite the potential sale, Equinox will reportedly remain on to manage the property and has plans to expand its hospitality arm further.
Adam Neumann takes another go at launching a startup
Photo courtesy of Cryptocurrency News/Flickr
The former disgraced CEO of WeWork, Adam Neumann, has a hand in a new real estate startup, reports CNN. Less than three years after stepping down from his post at WeWork, Neumann is now in charge of Flow, a company looking to shake up the residential rental market that’s already valued at more than $1 billion following a $350 million investment from notable venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz. “Adam is a visionary leader who revolutionized the second largest asset class in the world—commercial real estate—by bringing community and brand to an industry in which neither existed before,” Marc Andreessen, cofounder of the VC firm, wrote in a recent blog post. However, Flow and its website leave much to the imagination aside from noting a potential 2023 debut.
HD Expo + Conference is available on demand
Heather Ciszczon, NuovoRE; Jim Merkel, Rockbridge; Gary Dollens, Hyatt; Helen Jorgensen, Host Hotels + Resorts; Kavitha Iyer, IHG; and moderator Stacy Shoemaker Rauen, HD during the “What Clients Want: Ask the Owners and Brands” panel; photo by PWP Studio
Weren’t able to join us at HD Expo + Conference in Las Vegas this year? Curious what you missed? Well, you’re in luck. We recently launched HD Expo + Conference OnDemand, a library of 10 recorded conference sessions from the 2022 event that span a wide range of topics—from development and F&B trends to budget challenges. Every session is AIA and IDCEC accredited and worth one CEU|LU credit for one hour of learning. For the full roster of distance-learning sessions that are now on demand, click here. Sessions will be available through Sunday, October 30th, 2022.
