Close User Name Password
Hotel stories straight to your inbox:

Tags: / / / / / /

Getting to Know the Thompson Hotels Co-Owners

October 29, 2007 at 12:51 PM | by juliana | 5 Comments

We've been chronicling every move of Thompson Hotels here recently so we weren't surprised by yesterday's article in the NYT Square Feet section on all the newest hotels popping up under this name. We've pretty much got all their newest hotels expected openings marked down on our calendars. (Just to be safe, we bought calendars up to 2012.)

However, we did get to learn a little bit about the other co-owners of the brand aside from party boy Jason Pomeranc and the most eligible NYC bachelor Stephen Brandman.

So here they are from left to right:

· Michael Pomeranc: 50, described as "mild-mannered." But will scream if you call them a boutique hotel chain. Prefers the term small luxury hotel group.

· Jason Pomeranc: 36, may have been having a bad hair day. Was also a lawyer and "did a stint in finance" in a previous lifetime.

· Larry Pomeranc: 53, oldest and shortest brother. Admits that they got into luxury hotel biz unexpectedly.

· Stephen Brandman: 43, dares to be different by posing sideways. Is responsible for operation end of things. Hates "over-sized red lampshades."

MORE

Aside from profiling these owners and talking about the new hotel projects, we also get a look into how Jason Pomeranc, arguably the creative force of the brand, conceptualizes his hotels:

“You have to keep going back to your inspirations, and it varies from property to property,” he said. “At 60 Thompson, it was the new American bohemia, Kerouac and Pollock. At the Roosevelt it was classic Hollywood. In Beverly Hills, it’s Valley of the Dolls. For 6 Columbus, we drew from the 1960s, a swanky time for Central Park South, so we used Yves Klein’s international Blue, a mod color prevalent in that period. The Lower East Side will have a very industrial feel. Each property has its own intellectual soul.”

We're not going to lie...we like all of these inspirations. Valley of the Dolls for Thompson Beverly Hills? Bring it on. Although one would think there would be more pink inside the place. But we are sure the hotel will place the "pill bottles" of M&Ms on the nightstand like they do at the Roosevelt.

And aside from obstacles like the crappy hospitality market after 9/11, two-years of construction delays at Six Columbus and some reports of bad service, Thompson Hotels seems to be winning the boutique/small luxury hotel game. 60 Thompson was able to hold occupancy in the rough years of 2001, 2002 and 2003. Hollywood Roosevelt needs no explanation, once they worked out a put-the-guests-first policy. Gaige House in Sonoma made the Conde Nast Travelers top hotels list at #42 for U.S. hotels.

Next up is rapid expansion across North America including some hotel residences. But whether or not the winning streak can continue as more Thompson Hotels open remains to be seen. Let's hope Jason has a lot more soul-making ideas up his sleeves.

Related Stories:
· Yes, It Has a Mood, but It’s Not a ‘Boutique’ [NYT]
· What's Next for Thompson Hotels? Apparently, A Lot [HotelChatter]
· Thompson Hotels [Official Site]

5 Comments

Post a Comment
  1. pbb

    HotelChatter Contributing Editor

    That photo...

    Looks like its from the title sequence of Law & Order: Small Luxury Hotels Unit.
    October 29, 2007 at 1:44 PM
  1. juliana

    HotelChatter Editor

    That photo, part two...

    I can't quite put my finger on it but something about this photo reminds me of a boy band. Perhaps its because Jason is slightly in front of the rest you know like how they used to do that with Nick Carter of the BSB and J-Timberlake of Nsync.

    And yes, I just wrote BSB.

    October 29, 2007 at 6:31 PM
  1. Jenna

    HotelChatter Member

    Re: Getting to Know the Thompson Hotels Co-Owners

    I spy with my little eye...
    A Prada bag in the background-- you KNOW some assistants just ran out and bought part (or the entirety) of these outfits to take this photo. Also, if they were a boy band, they'd totally be 98 Degrees because they have the whole brother thing going on.
    You know.
    October 29, 2007 at 9:37 PM
  1. Hotelmgr

    HotelChatter Member

    Re: Getting to Know the Thompson Hotels Co-Owners

    Frankly they really look like an ugly mob...

    ...and given the money they make, they can probably afford to.

    October 30, 2007 at 11:16 AM
  1. juliana

    HotelChatter Editor

    How did i miss the prada bag?

    is my luxury radar waning in my old age? and ugly mob is way harsh. i would say it looks like a 98 degrees reunion...thanks jenna for reminding me of that one. the lachey boys could never get the same respect as timberlake and carter!
    October 30, 2007 at 12:35 PM

Leave a Comment

Not yet a member? Click here to become a member.

Already a member? Log in below:

Comment with your Facebook account.