San Diego Celebrates the Grand Opening of Bistro 39
Modern, new restaurant nestled in Carmel Valley; 3939 Ocean Bluff Ave.
SAN DIEGO, CA – Bistro Thirty Nine, San Diego’s newest fine dining experience, opens its doors to the public during several grand opening celebrations in March. Bistro Thirty Nine is located in the beautiful Hilton Garden Inn, San Diego/ Del Mar.
“We are excited to debut the new and improved restaurant at the Hilton Garden Inn San Diego/ Del Mar,” said Bob Rauch, General Manager of the Hilton Garden Inn. “We are the only Hilton Garden Inn in the U.S. to have a world class Executive Chef. His experience and touch bring a fresh and modern flare to delicious classics.”
Holiday Brunch at the Hilton Garden Inn, as seen on Fox News
Here’s a video of the Christmas Brunch at the Great American Grill!
[flv:https://hotelguru.com/videos/CHRISTMAS_BRUNCH_GREAT_AMERICAN_GRILL_KSWB.flv 320 240]
As you can see, a great time was had by all.
Lodging Forecast 2009
2009 is expected to be a buyer’s market now that the softening economy has created far more price sensitive travelers.
San Diego’s Perfect Hotel Guest Experience
What should a traveler to San Diego expect when visiting?
During the guest experience, a “home away from home” feel should be clear…
We hope they receive a warm welcome from anyone they touch prior to arriving at one of our hotels, however, that might be a bit out of our control. A nice flight with pleasant flight attendants, great rental car agents, great taxi drivers…that is a city-wide goal for the “Wow San Diego Experience” but again, a bit outside of our control.
A hotel guest should expect an accurate reservation, warm smile, suggestions on what to do if appropriate and a smooth check-in. (more…)
Sustaining Growth and Values
Recent occurrences within the hospitality industry and the nation have resulted in a market with extremely different characteristics than those of just a few years ago.
Consolidation, globalization, and business failures continue to reduce the number of industry participants; lending and building excesses have been widespread; and the ability to acquire, finance or sell hinges upon international capital market events.
To review R. A. Rauch’s perspective on industry events, visit our press section.
Entrepreneurial success
There are over 440 hotels in San Diego County, representing over 54,000 rooms and suites. Chains and institutions own most of the larger hotels, but small business operators own many. Whether one gets excited about taking an asset and converting it into a more successful venture or developing “ground-up,” it takes an entrepreneurial spirit as well as a willingness to take financial risk to be successful in this game. After all, hotel performance has ups and downs and the capital markets virtually walk away from the hotel market when times are tough.
This year, at each lodging conference, analysts talk about the Commoditization of the industry due to the transparency of rates, difficulty in obtaining terrorism insurance, the potential for war and the inability to determine where the top or bottom of this cycle is. Generally, the conversations have turned rather pessimistic for the short term. Hence, is it a good time to get in the game? My typically contrarian answer is yes. San Diego’s lodging industry is resilient and growing, and with the proper ingredients, success is very possible.
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Creating Wealth in Turbulent Times
According to Yoram “Jerry” Wind, professor of marketing at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School and founding director of Wharton’s SEI Center for Advanced Studies in Management, “wealth is created during periods of uncertainty. Making money depends on identifying opportunities in a turbulent marketplace.” Wind proposes three essential characteristics of organizations that flourish in times of turmoil:
1. Disciplined opportunism. Think of the world right now as one magnificent fire sale. “There are huge tactical opportunities to buy cheap assets,” Wind says. “You can buy technology or talent for very little money and build assets that will create the great companies of the future. But you need to have discipline about this,” he continues. It’s one thing to snap up a failing technology outfit for half of its book value. It’s another to land an asset that truly plays to your company’s strategic strengths.
The Tourism and Hospitality Industry
We are active and continually involved in the tourism and hospitality industry – the fastest growing industry in the world. This involvement has provided an in-depth knowledge of the market and its rapidly changing conditions. The result is a tangible understanding of complex issues stemming from over-built markets, shifts in the market positioning of effected properties and the difficulty in finding new sources of capital.
Education on Entrepreneurship
Robert A. Rauch, CHA teaches a course on Venture and Entrepreneurship in the Hospitality Industry each semester.
His course requires 40 students to submit comprehensive business plans for review.
Sandiego.com, Inc. Recruits Rauch as New Chairman
San Diego, August 13, 2008 – Locally owned sandiego.com, Inc. operator of the www.sandiego.com web site has recruited Robert A. Rauch as chairman of the board. Rauch is managing partner of Del Mar Hotels (Homewood Suites and Hilton Garden Inn) and director of the San Diego Convention Center, Chairman of San Diego North Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Director of San Diego Tourism Promotion Corp.
“Bob brings outstanding vision and connections to the company in the hospitality industry,” said James Earwicker, CEO of sandiego.com. “He has the pulse of the local and national tourism industry and is a tremendous asset to our team.”
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