Amid the profusion of hotel brands, who defines luxury? According to the 2017 Forbes Travel Guide, they do. Forbes (the successor of the Mobile Travel Guide) uses anonymous inspectors to evaluate hotels against 800 objective standards. Bray Whaler is proud to have purchased luxury hotel furnishings for more than 20 of the award winners. “What makes… Read More
From furnishings – to financing – to in-bound foreign travel, the U.S. lodging industry is deeply, and happily entangled in a global marketplace. As the U.S. rescinds its participation in the Trans Pacific Partnership (an agreement which included 12 countries trading in the Asia Pacific region, accounting for a quarter of world trade), and talks… Read More
Skamania Lodge sits amidst 175 acres of Pacific Northwest forest on the Washington side of the Columbia River Gorge. To help guests fully experience the pristine setting, the resort recently created two secluded, cozy tree houses, elevated 15 – 20 feet in the air overlooking a canopy of Douglas Fir trees and the river. The hotel’s… Read More
Ronnie Bray, founding principal of Bray Whaler, participated in the NEWH Leadership Conference 2017 Industry Outlook Panel in Denver last weekend. The panel, moderated by Meg Prendergast of The Gettys Group, included Meghann Day, Hirsch Bedner Associates, Bill Langmade, Purchasing Management International, Joe Khairalla of Marcus Hotels and Steve Reiswig of BRE Select Hotels. An… Read More
We’re looking for energetic, detail-oriented people who enjoy being part of a team; working in a fast-paced environment where no two days are the same. Exceptional communication and organizational skills are essential for success; as is the ability to thrive inside of a growing, youthful company where well-mannered dogs are welcome at work. In our… Read More
We extend best wishes to our friends around the globe celebrating Chinese New Year, a festival based on the Chinese luni/solar calendar that is celebrated by 1/5th of the world’s population on the first new moon of the Chinese lunar year. Factories throughout Asia including those in China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and Vietnam have holiday… Read More
Check out Moxy’s provocative new brand programming, as reported in Hotel Business Magazine, Monday, January 16. For a closer look at the sexy brand, the curious can visit the brand’s hosted YouTube videos on the Moxy website. Bray Whaler is excited about its first Moxy project in a yet-to-be disclosed location. Here are a few excerpts… Read More
The former MileNorth Hotel in Chicago now flies the Cambria Hotels & Suites flag. This is the first conversion for Cambria, Choice Hotel’s upscale lifestyle brand. The 215-key Cambria Chicago Magnificent Mile boasts one of the highest rooftop lounges in the city — 52Eighty. Fillmore Hospitality converted the 29-story hotel located in the Streeterville neighborhood,… Read More
San Diego, California’s second largest oceanfront city is a hot bed for both new hotel development and innovative design. Kimpton’s Hotel Solamar was recently featured in Hospitality Design’s recap of the city’s most design-forward hotels. Overall, the design reflects the “casual Southern California lifestyle with a bit of bohemian flair,” says David Lasker, principal of Paletteur… Read More
Sicily meets SoHo in Sessanta, a new Italian restaurant in New York’s SIXTY SoHo hotel. The goal, says restauranteur John McDonald of Mercer Street Hospitality, was to “build a mid-century Italian space that feels as if it has been there for a long time, and is neither country rustic or slick Milan.” SIXTY Hotels founder… Read More
