San Francisco-based Commune Hotels & Resorts, parent company of Joie de Vivre Hotels, Thompson Hotels and tommie, announces a new partnership with Singapore-based Alila Hotels & Resorts to create a global, lifestyle hotel management platform.
“This partnership will further Commune’s mission to build a global multi-brand platform that offers travelers a diversified collection of experience-driven boutique and lifestyle hotels,” said Niki Leondakis, CEO of Commune. “We look forward to successfully building the awareness of Commune’s brands beyond North America and Europe and throughout Asia.”
This alliance is the result of Geolo Capital, the private equity firm that owns Commune, acquiring an interest in Alila, a leading Asian lifestyle hotel company. It will allow Alila and Commune to leverage their combined strengths and collective expertise across their respective stronghold markets. Both companies will benefit from and gain access to each other’s brands and sales, marketing, and revenue management channels to generate wider exposure and distribution internationally.
“Alila Hotels & Resorts is an attractive investment opportunity because of its strong reputation in Asia and a natural partner given Geolo Capital’s history of financial investment and partnership with Alila president and founder, Mark Edleson,” said John Pritzker, chairman of Commune Hotels & Resorts and founding partner of Geolo Capital. “Our intent is to cross-promote Commune and Alila to both domestic and international travelers and to enhance each company’s global presence.”
“We believe this partnership will be a major milestone in achieving the global ambitions of the original Alila partners. Together, we will be a much stronger global player,” said Mr. Edleson.
Alila and Commune share a commitment to a purpose-driven ethos, desirable destinations and immersive, inspiring experiences rooted in each hotel’s location.
As a multi-brand hotel management company, Commune offers a leading portfolio of boutique lifestyle hotel brands that cater to different lifestyles and demographics, each designed to inspire the human spirit through personalized interactions, creative interior design and locally connected experiences. Commune will continue to deliver experience-oriented properties through its Joie de Vivre Hotels, Thompson Hotels and tommie brands.
Frederic Flageat-Simon, CEO of Alila, and its Singapore-based executive team manage the Alila portfolio, which comprises two distinct brands, Alila Villas and Alila, represented by ten properties across three countries in Asia. Alila, derived from Sanskrit and meaning “surprise,” is characterized by innovative design, a strong commitment to responsible tourism and a new level of guest experience focused on building unique emotional moments between the guest, the hotel, and the destination. Alila has a current pipeline of 15 hotels developing across Asia.
“Our partnership with Commune gives Alila exposure in North America and allows for synergies between our sales, marketing and revenue management channels, which will benefit both of our portfolios of hotels,” said Frederic Flageat-Simon, CEO of Alila. “We’re working closely and strategically together to explore mutually-beneficial business opportunities as well as joint marketing, sales and promotion activities.”
