Starwood Hotels makes its comeback, Pharrell Williams invests in a 17th-century Paris hotel, and U.S. restaurants react to Trump’s immigration crackdown. All that and more in this week’s Five on Friday.
Barry Sternlicht is bringing Starwood Hotels back
The 277-room 1 Hotel Melbourne is slated to open in March; rendering courtesy of SH Hotels & Resorts
American billionaire Barry Sternlicht has announced plans to rename his hotel management company, SH Hotels & Resorts—which comprises 14 properties under the 1 Hotels, Baccarat Hotels, Treehouse Hotels, and SH Collection banners—to Starwood Hotels, reports Skift. Sternlicht, who also currently serves as CEO and founder of Starwood Capital Group, sold the original Starwood to Marriott in 2015 for $13 billion. The new Starwood has 22 hotels in its pipeline through 2028, including 1 Hotels locations in Seattle, Austin, and Crete. Treehouse will open in Manchester, England, and Miami, while and Baccarat is slated for in Dubai, the Maldives, and Rome. All three brands also have Riyadh locations on the books.
U.S. restaurants fear increased ICE raids
Photo courtesy of Adobe Stock
The Trump administration’s recent immigration policies have intensified concerns within the U.S. restaurant industry, which relies heavily on immigrant labor. Approximately 21 percent of restaurant workers are immigrants, with an estimated additional one million undocumented employees, reports The New York Times. The administration’s crackdown on unauthorized workers has led to heightened anxiety among restaurant owners and staff. In Chicago, for instance, rumors of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) sweeps have led chefs and business operators to begin instructing staff members of their rights and what to do if approached by ICE agents. The climate of uncertainty has even resulted in decreased business and foot traffic, both immigrant customers and employees fear raids.
Pharrell adds a Paris hotel to his résumé
Pharrell Williams at the Goodtime Hotel in Miami; photo by Alice Gao
Multihyphenate Pharrell Williams is delving further into the hospitality world. According to WWD, the musician and fashion designer has invested in a Paris property, formerly occupied by the Hôtel Saint-James & Albany, alongside Mohari Hospitality (which acquired Tao Group Hospitality in 2023) and Omnam Investment Group. “This project exemplifies our dedication to identifying and creating unique luxury hospitality projects that deliver unparalleled experiences in the world’s most desirable destinations,” said Mohari Hospitality CEO J. Allen Smith in a statement. The new hotel endeavor follows Williams’ foray into the Miami hospitality scene, both with Groot Hospitality founder David Grutman on the Goodtime Hotel and Swan restaurant, plus two new Japanese restaurants in the city’s Design District in collaboration with Launchpad Hospitality.
Waldorf Astoria New York welcomes residents back
Rendering by Noë & Associates, courtesy of the Boundary
The legendary Waldorf Astoria New York’s overhaul is finally nearing completion. Nearly a decade after closing its doors to renovate, condo sales have begun at the Midtown Manhattan property. According to Curbed, the three closings so far range from a $1.8 million studio to a $3 million one-bedroom unit, with others currently in contract. The hotel portion—revamped by architecture firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) and interior design studio Pierre-Yves Rochon—is slated for a soft opening this spring and reservations are now being accepted for September. Room rates start at $1,500. (Waldorf Astoria New York was one of 76 hotels included in HD’s just-released 2025 Hot List.)
Calling all students! The HD/West Elm Product Design Competition is open
Submissions are now open for the seventh annual HD/West Elm Student Product Design Competition, inviting current students and recent graduates (within one year) to design a dining chair tailored for hospitality and commercial spaces. The winner will receive a $5,000 prize, have their product produced by West Elm, be celebrated at the 21st annual HD Awards ceremony on May 6th in Las Vegas during HD Expo + Conference, and be featured in Hospitality Design’s May/June issue. Submissions are due March 14th.
Additionally, the deadline for HD Awards project and product entries has been extended to February 18th. Don’t miss your chance to be recognized! Find out more and submit today.
