David Gergenhardt Griffin Jr.

Is Bigger Better? Global Strategies in Hospitality

Jesse Scharf, Alan Firstman, Mahmood Kimji, David Palmer, Michael Rosenfeldt, Henry Silverman, David Gergenhardt Griffin Jr., Eric Schmidt, Henry Haynes, Michael Passmore, Mark Blythefield Jr.

At the Milken Conference, five hospitality leaders including Alan Firstman of Montage Hotels and Mahmood Kimji of Highgate analyzed critical market themes such as all-time pricing peaks, capital market liquidity, and the disruptive impact of Airbnb. The panelists detailed how asset-light financing models and shifting brand strategies are driving multiple expansion while technology giants force a transition from traditional OTAs to direct distribution channels. Concluding that future value lies in niche differentiation rather than scale, the group anticipated a wave of strategic mergers designed to reduce overhead and optimize returns in a saturated global market.