Eric Danziger
Eric Danziger last week was tapped to become CEO of the Trump Hotel Collection starting in September. Danziger, who has more than four decades of experience in the hotel industry, joins a luxury hotelier with 14 properties worldwide. It has also recently been the subject of some boycotts because of comments made by its principal and Republican presidential candidate, Donald Trump, that were seen as disparaging to illegal Mexican immigrants. Danziger, 61, has been CEO of Hampshire Hotels Management since April 2014, and was previously CEO of Starwood Hotels & Resorts, CEO of Wyndham Hotel Group and COO of Carlson Hotels Worldwide. He spoke with hotels editor Danny King.
Q: You're joining a company with a lot of PR issues. Why?
A: It's a wonderful opportunity with a great luxury brand. The Trump kids are wonderful people and deeply committed. Every company has its own type of challenges. I'm not here to talk politics. This company is completely focused on great hotels and great execution. The other stuff is just noise and not really relevant to what we do, which is to execute great hotels. There are PR problems everywhere, but companies are larger than any individual or event of the day.
Q: But some travel agent groups have boycotted the company because of Trump's comments. How do you address that?
A: I don't start until Sept. 1 and haven't gotten opinions from everyone, so I can't speak knowledgably on that subject. But those same customer associations and corporate groups will ultimately judge a property based on the things customers want, which is a great experience, and the brand is delivering. The hotels are exceeding RevPAR [revenue per available room] expectations. The customers will separate that kind of noise of a comment and how it's interpreted from their experience at the hotel.
Q: Given the hospitality industry's large immigrant workforce, are you concerned about hiring or keeping employees?
A: God bless the media. I can't comment on anything except the following: I have never seen a more passionate, caring, loyal group of people than I have in that company. There are people of all ethnicities, races and religions, and there is no anti-immigrant sentiment that I'm aware of. I don't have any concerns, and I see great passion. At Trump Tower, I saw every race, creed and color. They love their hotel and love their brand. They've been treated fairly, well and with respect. That's a hallmark of a company that cares about their people.
Q: What are you growth goals with Trump Hotel Group?
A: I'd love to see us at least double our hotels within the next five years. The buzz within the company is "30 in '20" [30 hotels by 2020]. We have development representatives in Asia, the United States, the Middle East. There's an enormous opportunity in the U.S., and there are parts of the Middle East, Asia and Europe that have spectacular upside.
Q: You only joined Hampshire Hotels last year. Why the switch?
A: You cannot pick your timing in life. We got a lot of things done; we exported some new brands and we're growing. I didn't pick the timing to be the CEO of one of the great luxury brands. But, for me, in a life cycle, I'm assuming it's my last job, and I will have had more than 50 years in the business. It's a way to complete that circle of my life.