Niki Leondakis is keynote speaker for Boutique Hotel Summit 2013

Boutique Hotel Summit, an international b2b boutique and lifestyle hotel conference, is delighted to announce that Commune Hotels and Resorts CEO Niki Leondakis is confirmed as keynote speaker for the 2013 event, which is being held at the Montcalm Hotel, London, on May 22nd and 23rd.

As arguably the highest profile woman in the US boutique and lifestyle hotel sector, Niki is making her mark as one of the most intriguing players in the space, having spent nearly 20 years at Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants, most recently as president and chief operating officer, and now at the helm of Commune.

In her new role as CEO of Commune Hotels and Resorts, Niki is charged with growing the company's annual revenue to a target of $1 billion in the next 5 years. The joint venture between Thompson Hotels and Joie de Vivre Hospitality has a portfolio of 45 hotels throughout the US, and in Canada and London. Commune currently has new projects opening or under development in markets including Honolulu, New York, Chicago, Miami, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico and Palo Alto, California. Target markets for expansion include gateway cities in Europe, Asia and South America.

Event organiser Piers Brown said: “We look forward to welcoming Niki to London, and to hearing her unique insights on an industry in which she has become firmly established as a leader and influencer. Her keynote speech is sure to be a fascinating start to the conference.”

Niki Leondakis said: “This conference provides a much-needed platform for the hospitality industry to come together over current issues and trends in the increasingly vibrant boutique and lifestyle sector.”

For more information, and for speaker and sponsorship enquiries for the 2013 Boutique Hotel Summit, contact Piers Brown: [email protected], +44 (0)208 340 7989

Notes to editors

About Boutique Hotel Summit
Boutique Hotel Summit is Europe's only b2b conference for the booming international boutique and lifestyle hotel sector. Both small independents and large multi-nationals are investing heavily to establish a presence in this exciting market and hotels tailored to this sector are opening at an ever-increasing rate, defying tough economic conditions. Discover what makes this vibrant sector of the hospitality industry tick and learn from the experts at Boutique Hotel Summit 2013. With a comprehensive seminar and networking programme and a stellar cast of international speakers, this is a truly un-missable conference. Sponsors for the event include HVS, The Montcalm Luxury Hotels, Concept Amenities, HotelSwaps, Luxury Hotels Collection, LivingSocial, Patrón Spirits International and Viaggi by Nestlé.
www.boutiquehotelsummit.com

About Commune Hotels and Resorts
In June of 2010, Geolo Capital, a private equity firm founded by John Pritzker, purchased a majority stake in Joie de Vivre Hospitality with plans to expand the brand beyond its California portfolio. The following year, Geolo Capital and New York’s Pomeranc family merged their hospitality interests to form Commune Hotels & Resorts. The resulting merger combined thirty-three boutique hotels operated by Joie de Vivre Hospitality with the twelve luxury Thompson Hotels to form an international collection of lifestyle properties. Since the formation of Commune Hotels & Resorts, the company has announced its acquisition of and/or management of the iconic 5 Beekman in New York’s financial district, Chicago’s historic Chicago Athletic Association, Thompson Chicago (formerly Sutton Place Hotel), Thompson Ocean Drive (formerly the Hotel Victor) and The Epiphany in Palo Alto, California, among others. For more information, please visit www.communehotels.com