Coming off an award-winning 2015 and experiencing 15 percent portfolio growth year after year, the East Coast ownership and management group is anticipating yet another stellar year
[Danbury, Conn., February 2, 2016]—With more than 35 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Meyer Jabara Hotels continues to get better with age. The company’s ongoing success stems from the trusted partnerships and lifelong relationships forged through Chairman William Meyer and President and Chief Executive Officer Richard Jabara, and the positive results driven by the executive team and property managers responsible for the group’s 22 hotels, representing 4,000 guestrooms across 10 states, and its 14 restaurants. Year over year, the hotel ownership group continues to grow by 15 percent through acquisitions, new construction projects, and third-party management contracts. Year after year, more than half of all hotels in its portfolio win awards. 2016 is expected to be yet another year that won’t disappoint.
“‘Outstanding’ . . . ‘Excellent’ . . . and ‘Best’ aren’t just words used to describe Meyer Jabara Hotels, they’re actual accolades bestowed on our properties and staff year after year by groups such as USA Today, TripAdvisor, Booking.com, Open Table, and the industry’s leading hotel brands,” said Justin Jabara, Meyer Jabara Hotels VP of Development and Acquisition. “Our properties have been hailed ‘Most Romantic,’ ‘Best Boutique,’ even ‘Fido’s Favorite.’ They are among the most ‘Green’ and the ‘Most Haunted’ in America. Our team also is highly regarded in their communities, earning titles such as ‘Hotelier of the Year,’ ‘GM of the Year,’ ‘Business Leader of the Year,’ and ‘Outstanding Business Woman of the Year’ by local associations. Travelers can choose to stay at one of our four independent hotels – three of which are boutique properties in the Baltimore Inner Harbor – or they may select one of multiple brands, including the Hilton, Marriott, Sheraton, Crowne Plaza, Cambria, Courtyard by Marriott, Holiday Inn, Hyatt Place, and Residence Inn by Marriott, each offering ‘Exceptional’ customer service.”
Established in 1977, Meyer Jabara operates with a culture in which its employees help shape the direction of the company, as well as their own hotels. For several years, the group has enjoyed nearly-zero voluntary turnover among management, which is almost unheard of in this business. Each member of the leadership team is on a personal learning and development plan. Justin Jabara, representing the third generation of the Meyer Jabara legacy of excellence in hotel management and ownership, is being groomed to take the helm in the future.
Justin Jabara spent over a decade mastering a variety of positions in a number of Meyer Jabara Hotels throughout the eastern United States, and is a graduate of Johnson and Wales’ hotel management program. As Vice President of Development and Acquisition, he strives to seek out quality opportunities in markets with strong in-place demand. Projects include new build, mixed-use, extensive renovations and brand positioning, with an end goal of achieving operational efficiency and profitability. Corporate marketing has recently fallen under his directive as well.
In addition to the unique culture, a commitment to the communities in which they operate also distinguishes Meyer Jabara Hotels from among its competition. Managers pride themselves on being leaders in the neighborhoods they serve by partnering with local attractors and organizations. Meyer Jabara Hotels is recognized as an employer of choice in several markets around the country.
The majority of the Meyer Jabara Hotels portfolio operates in the “Top 10” percent in their market, ranked by TripAdvisor. The company’s success is attributed in large part to having the best associates and business partners in the industry. Bill Meyer and Richard Jabara have focused on developing their associates for the past 35 years. Their company culture is known as the “Journey” — a combination of strategic leadership tools and behavioral principles that focus each associate on providing exceptional and memorable experiences for their guests. At the end of the day, what makes Meyer Jabara Hotels different is its people. This culture enables them to attract and retain the best-of-the-best associates who deliver an industry-leading customer experience.
A new concept introduced by Justin Jabara in 2015 called “The Chef’s Tables of Meyer Jabara Hotels” has placed many of the company’s restaurants and its top Chefs on the radar of national media and local residents and businesses. Combining the art of delicious and beautiful food preparation with the gift of engaged learning, The Chef’s Table experience has become an in-demand VIP offering and it is changing the way that Meyer Jabara hotels is servicing its clients and selling catering through this program. Participants interact with property Chefs to experience tableside preparation and receive specialized education in the form of small-group cooking classes. Not only do guests enjoy a night of amazing food and drink, but they leave with a photo keepsake and a wonderful story to tell. Each Chef honors local food products from their specific regions, focusing on freshness, origins and sustainability. Meyer Jabara Chefs each stand as culinary experts in their own rights, holding numerous titles and prestigious awards.
Growth, Renovations on the Horizon In addition to an award-winning staff, Meyer Jabara Hotels is earning recognition for the physical appearance of its assets. The company is consistently adding new construction projects to its portfolio, and approximately 20 percent of its legacy hotels undergo a partial or complete renovation each year.
- Since 2013, Meyer Jabara Hotels has opened one new-construction property each year.
- In 2015, Meyer Jabara Hotels invested $6 million in renovations at five properties, including guestrooms, meeting rooms and public spaces.
- In 2016, five properties will receive facelifts at the cost of approximately $15 million.
“We are just 30 days into the new year and already I have five deals on my desk that I am actively working to close,” Jabara said. “Our main focus in 2016 is securing third-party management contracts. When it comes to new construction, our eyes are fixed primarily on the limited-service and select-service sectors, however we will continue to support the full-service segment and welcome management opportunities. In today’s hotel market, select service is where the growth is happening. It’s here that we will hang our hat.”
Of the 22 hotels in the Meyer Jabara Hotels portfolio, 14 are fully or partially owned, and 100 percent are under their management. All 14 restaurants in the portfolio are company owned and managed. Meyer Jabara also holds leases with numerous well-known food chains, including Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood & Steaks, TGI Fridays and Chipotle. New leases with 8 Ball Meatball and Points South Latin Kitchen have been signed, and the eateries are scheduled to open next month in Baltimore. 2016 should be another rewarding year for Meyer Jabara Hotels.
For more information on Meyer Jabara Hotels, visit www.meyerjabarahotels.com. To follow the “Just Journey” Blog, click here. For media inquiries, call Barb Worcester of PRpro at (440) 930-5770 or email her at barbw@prproconsulting.com.
