Kat Lash-Williams

Mom, wife of @ollielashw, passionate about hotel investment, the New Orleans Saints, and wine. 🇺🇸➡️ 🇬🇧 ➡️ 🇺🇸 Views are my own etc

[Kat Lash-Williams @klashwilliams]

Well between @Hertz @HertzUK’s X response and the email response from the Heathrow branch, we will never be using Hertz again. I don’t usually get this upset about poor customer service but WOW. Truly an astoundingly bad customer experience all around.

[Kat Lash-Williams @klashwilliams]

@Hertz Hi @Hertz thanks for your canned answer in my dms. There are cars available and your staff member tried to argue that we weren’t president’s circle.

[Kat Lash-Williams @klashwilliams]

@Hertz it’s incredibly disappointing to be a President’s Circle member and to have such poor service at your Heathrow location. Refusing the upgrade and then your staff being incredibly rude is really upsetting.

[Kat Lash-Williams @klashwilliams]

@Hertz Done. This has truly been some of the worst customer service I’ve ever received from Hertz.

[Kat Lash-Williams @klashwilliams]

@OllieLashW Yes I’d love it 😂

[Ollie Lash-Williams @OllieLashW]

For the first time in three centuries, the British monarch will attend the Catholic requiem mass of a family member. Totally unimaginable in living memory. Amazing.

[Kat Lash-Williams @klashwilliams]

Thinking about offloading an ultra-luxury hotel? Dispositions are a strategic play, but you’ve got to approach it with eyes wide open. I’ve seen too many owners trip up at this stage. Here’s the sharp advice I’d give you to nail the exit.

1. Understand Your Property Objectively:
Take a hard look at your asset in today’s local market and where it’s headed next. Markets evolve; the dynamics when you bought might not hold in 2025. CBRE’s Q2 2025 report shows ultra-luxury demand shifting toward experiential destinations, with RevPAR up 5% in coastal markets like Miami. Be okay with that change, don’t cling to outdated assumptions. I’ve seen owners overestimate value because they ignored a cooling market, losing leverage at the table. Know your property’s current worth and future potential, or you’ll misprice the deal.

2. Don’t Fear Upside, Buyers Love Opportunity:
If your hotel’s performance isn’t flawless, don’t panic, that’s not an automatic red flag. Savvy buyers crave upside potential. Maybe occupancy lags at 70% but ADR could climb with a tweak. STR data from 2024 shows well-positioned ultra-luxury hotels with repositioning potential fetch 10-15% higher sale prices. The key is balancing value: price it right to reflect both current earnings and future gains. I’ve watched a seller turn a “problem” property into a $90M win by highlighting renovation upside. Embrace the story, not the imperfection.

3. Check Brand or Management Encumbrances:
Is your asset tied to a brand or management contract? If it’s a market-leader like Four Seasons or Rosewood, that’s added value, buyers pay a premium for credibility, with branded ultra-luxury hotels selling at 8-10% higher multiples, per JLL 2025 trends. But if the brand or manager underperforms, it’s a drag. Think stagnant NOI or guest complaints. I’ve seen owners stuck with a weak operator, slashing sale value by 12%. Weigh your options: renegotiate, exit the contract, or disclose the burden upfront. Clarity here is your edge.

The Takeaway:
Offloading an asset demands objectivity on market shifts, confidence in upside, and a hard look at brand/management ties. Get these right, and you’ll maximize your return. Get them wrong, and you’re leaving money on the table. I’ve seen both play out. Don’t be the cautionary tale.

#UltraLuxuryHotels #HotelDispositions #RealEstateStrategy #Hospitality

[Kat Lash-Williams @klashwilliams]

Developing an ultra-luxury hotel? Assembling the right development team is your make-or-break move. I’ve seen too many dream projects derail from a shaky start. Here’s the no-nonsense guide I’d walk you through to get it right.

1. Market Experience (Don’t Skip the Basics):
It sounds obvious, but hiring a top-tier developer means nothing if they don’t get your market. If you’re building in the U.S., they need to know the union vs. non-union labor divide (costs can swing 20-30% depending on location, per CBRE 2024 construction data). In the UK, expertise in Grade One and Two Listed statuses is non-negotiable for heritage projects. I’ve seen a developer flounder on a London site because they ignored listed building regulations, adding months and millions to the timeline. Pick a team that lives and breathes your market, or you’re setting yourself up for a costly lesson.

2. Brand Experience (Complexity Is King):
Brands like Aman, Four Seasons, or Rosewood bring fees, guest expectations, and operational quirks that can trip up even seasoned developers. If you’ve got a brand (or a range of brands) in mind, your team must know their ins and outs, from franchise costs to design specs, plus backup options if negotiations stall. As a first-timer wanting a flag, good luck getting that call returned without trusted advisors on your side. I’ve watched a team navigate a brand switch mid-project, saving a $50M deal by knowing the alternatives - STR 2024 shows branded ultra-luxury hotels outperform independents by 15% in RevPAR. Don’t wing this.

3. Alignment with Your Vision (Passion Meets Expertise):
If your dream is an Aman with ultramodern architecture or exotic prime-location vibes, your team needs to love and master that vision, or they’ll deliver mediocrity, not a Condé Nast Traveler cover. I’ve seen a mismatch tank a Bali project when the team pushed traditional design over the owner’s bold aesthetic, missing the ultra-luxury mark. Your architect, designer, and project manager must share your passion and have the chops to execute—think expertise in sustainable luxury or remote-site logistics. Misalignment here costs millions in rework.

The Takeaway:
Nail market know-how, brand mastery, and vision alignment, and your ultra-luxury hotel dream takes flight. Get it wrong, and you’re staring at a financial disaster. I’ve seen both outcomes—choose the winning path with a rock-solid team.

#UltraLuxuryHotels #HotelDevelopment #HospitalityTeam

[Kat Lash-Williams @klashwilliams]

Something I’m often asked is, what’s the key to a really strong ultra-luxury hotel acquisition strategy. Here’s the thought process, it’s actually super-simple!

Develop or Buy? Your first choice:

Developing - is for visionaries who know exactly what they want and aren’t afraid to lean on trusted advisors. Building your first ultra-luxury hotel—like a Four Seasons or Aman—means checking your ego at the door, no matter who you are. You’ll need a clear vision, deep pockets, and often, land with a jaw-dropping view (think cliffside in Santorini or beachfront in the Maldives). I’ve seen developers nail it by hiring the best architects and operators from the start, creating properties that command $2,000+ per night—STR’s 2024 ultra-luxury data backs this, with new builds in prime locations seeing 85% occupancy at premium rates. But if you’re not ready to trust your team and play the long game, this path will eat you alive.

Buying - suits hands-on investors who love the thrill of the hunt. Think of it as a high-stakes shopping spree—I’m your personal hotel shopper, but the catalog’s price tags are massive. Ultra-luxury hotels like The Ritz-Carlton or St. Regis often start at $100M+ for a trophy asset, per CBRE 2024 transaction reports. Success here hinges on credibility and contacts. You need to know who to call—whether it’s the seller, the operator, or the financier—and they need to take your call seriously. I’ve seen buyers with the right network snag a gem in a prime market like NYC, boosting NOI by 20% through strategic management shifts. But if you don’t have the clout or connections, you’ll overpay or get outbid every time.

The Takeaway:

Whether you develop or buy, ultra-luxury hotel ownership demands vision, trust, and access. Developing requires a no-ego approach and a stellar team; buying needs deep networks and a shopper’s savvy. I’ve watched too many underestimate this game and get burned—don’t be one of them. Know your strengths, or this dream will turn into a very expensive nightmare.

Next up - assembling your development team!

#UltraLuxuryHotels #HospitalityInvesting #RealEstateDeals

[Kat Lash-Williams @klashwilliams]

@NWischoff Amangiri is great for a dramatic backdrop in a contemporary high-luxury setting. For something a little more low key try One&Only Palmilla.
For something classic there’s always the Beverly Hills Hotel.

[Kat Lash-Williams @klashwilliams]

@DovForman Her words and her story were so powerful and inspiring. Thank you for helping her share them so that new generations do not forget what happened. May her memory be a blessing.

[Ollie Lash-Williams @OllieLashW]

So proud of my mate @BunamObi, nominated for his first African Academy Movie Award for his work on the screenplay for the Nollywood sensation #TheWeekendMovie!! EPIC!

[Kat Lash-Williams @klashwilliams]

@GoBrightline I have to shout Chad in carriage 4 on the train from Miami to Orlando at 10:50 this morning. I was solo traveling with my young children and he was so helpful and considerate. He made what could have been a rough trip so pleasant!

[Kat Lash-Williams @klashwilliams]

Just watched @AhirShah’s Ends on Netflix and as the daughter of a Goan immigrant, thank you. Truly a stunning work and you should all watch it.

[Kat Lash-Williams @klashwilliams]

FIGHT ON!!!

[ESPN @espn]

Breaking: Reggie Bush is getting his 2005 Heisman Trophy back, amid what the Heisman Trust calls “enormous changes in the college football landscape,” @petethamel has learned.

Bush forfeited his Heisman Trophy in 2010 in the wake of significant NCAA sanctions for USC.

[Kat Lash-Williams @klashwilliams]

@OllieLashW You may call this a road. I call this “white knuckles, praying a Hail Mary over and over in between crying”

[Kat Lash-Williams @klashwilliams]

England v Wales time!!! So glad that Peacock shows it now so we don’t have to pay a fortune for a cover at a bar #cmyruambyth!

[Kat Lash-Williams @klashwilliams]

@KrisPaver @OllieLashW @UKinFlorida Thank you!!!

[Kat Lash-Williams @klashwilliams]

@OllieLashW @hornby Yup

[Kat Lash-Williams @klashwilliams]

It’s pretty easy for me to forget why I’m happy we moved back to the States. @OllieLashW puts it perfectly.

[Ollie Lash-Williams @OllieLashW]

I was chatting to a friend recently was feeling down about the state of things in the USA. So I wrote a piece about why I love living in America and how Thanksgiving in Miami, a town of immigrants, reminded me of that.

An American by Choice. https://t.co/eWWr0NpSVQ