Nobu Now Sees Lodging as Its ‘Speedboat’
With 18 hotels signed, opened, or under construction, Nobu Hotels is growing its hotel portfolio rapidly. But the chain is focused only on major global markets.
Nobu Hotels believes there are many advantages to running a hotel company as a successful restaurant operator.
The company's established reputation as a dining destination all but guarantees real estate partners a significant return on investment on both its lodging and food and beverage offerings, according to CEO Trevor Horwell. Hospitality also comes second nature to the growing chain.
Nobu Hotels began in 1994 as a fine dining concept, before opening its first luxury hotel in Las Vegas in 2013. Horwell now calls Nobu Hotels' lodging business "the speedboat of the company," due to its fast expansion in the past decade.
The hotel chain operates nine hotels in several markets around the globe, including London, Manila, Barcelona, and Chicago. Nobu Hotels also expects to open five new properties by the end of the year. By the time it opens its 20th location, Horwell expects revenue for Nobu Hotels to exceed $600 million, excluding any contribution from its restaurant business of which the company now runs 42 worldwide.
