BET Co-Founder Expands Hotel Brand Salamander in Pursuit of the New Luxury
Photo Credit: The luxury hospitality management company, Salamander, privately owned by CEO Sheila Johnson, sees whitespace in the market to provide accessible, non-traditional luxury without stinting on comfort.A view of Washington, D.C.'s famous cherry blossoms along its Tidal Basin from Salamander DC, a luxury hotel. Source: Salamander Hotels and Resorts. Salamander Hotels
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Entrepreneur Sheila Johnson has been steadily expanding her luxury hotel empire. Some call her business, which has lately generated buzz, an overnight success that's been 17 years in the making.
Salamander Hotels & Resorts has added three properties in the past half-year, bringing its portfolio to seven. The luxury hospitality management company, privately owned by CEO Sheila Johnson, sees whitespace in the market to provide accessible, non-traditional luxury without stinting on comfort.
In September, Salamander took over the management of one of Washington, D.C.,'s most iconic properties after Henderson Park, a private equity real estate manager, bought the 373-room Mandarin Oriental Washington D.C. from Mandarin Oriental International for $139 million. Henderson Park tapped Salamander to manage the 373-room hotel (rebranded to Salamander DC), which is steps from the Tidal Basin — home to the city's famous cherry blossoms and presidential monuments.
A view of Washington, D.C.'s famous cherry blossoms along its Tidal Basin from Salamander DC, a luxury hotel. Source: Salamander Hotels and Resorts.
The deal is the latest in a few. In April, Salamander took over as the manager of Aurora Anguilla Resort & Golf Club on Rendezvous Bay, Anguilla, on request by its owner, Richard Schulze, the founder of Best Buy.
Earlier this year, the Aspen Institute tapped Salamander to manage Aspen Meadows Resort, a 9
