This is the latest in the Seeking Alpha series of interviews with leading companies of interest to our readers. These, however, are interviews with a twist: the executive has agreed to answer questions and respond to comments not from a single interviewer, but rather from our community of readers and contributors.
This interactive Q&A is with Mitchell Presnick, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Super 8 Hotels (China), which through its parent company Tian Rui Hotel Investment Corporation, is licensed by Wyndham Worldwide Corporation (WYN) to develop the Super 8 brand in China. This interview works like this:
- Mitchell briefly introduces himself and the issues he's focused on below.
- Readers and contributors can immediately start to post questions and remarks using the comment box below (Note: you need to sign up for free registration and be logged in to do so).
- Seeking Alpha editors will not filter or edit the questions and comments from readers, except to delete profane or hostile language.
- Mitchell will respond to the questions and remarks beginning Monday, July 2nd. Readers can track his answers and respond to them during that period, with the resulting dialogue remaining on the site.
Yahoo Finance readers may join the Q&A by following this link.
Over to Mitchell:
Hi - I'm Mitchell Presnick, Chairman & CEO of Super 8 Hotels (China), which through our parent company Tian Rui Hotel Investment Corporation, is licensed by Wyndham Worldwide Corporation (WYN) to develop the Super 8 brand for the territory of China, including Hong Kong and Macau.
According to Smith Travel Research, Super 8 is the largest economy hotel chain based upon number of properties. The Super 8 franchise operates hotels in China, the United States and Canada.
We entered the China market in 2004 and opened our first hotel in Beijing on June 8, 2004. As of June 2007, we currently have 49 properties open and operating, and more than 70 properties under construction in over 60 cities across China.
Prior to Super 8 China, I served as China country manager for Edelman Public Relations, where I provided brand development counsel to multinationals such as Procter & Gamble, M&M Mars, Johnson & Johnson, and Anheuser-Busch. I have been a resident of Beijing and Hong Kong for over 18 years. I am originally from Brooklyn, New York.
I also serve as a director of the China Hotels Association, commissioner of the Franchise Committee of the China Chain Store & Franchise Association or CCFA, and executive member of the Hotel Industry Experts Committee of China’s Ministry of Commerce.
I'm happy to discuss a range of topics with Seeking Alpha readers, including:
- Super 8's China growth strategy
- China's hotel and travel market
- The Chinese economy and real estate market
- Western companies establishing themselves in China
Please leave your questions by using the comment box below.
Thank you!
-- Mitch
