Eco-friendly Lifestyle Hotel Mixed Use Project Closes Financing | By Jim Butler

This is a significant transaction for several reasons.

A flagship, lifestyle, hotel mixed-use development.

"This is going to be one of Hollywood's flagship developments," said attorney Guy Maisnik, lead counsel specializing in hospitality transactions. "This is a very high-profile asset, backed by two of the most respected developers in the hospitality arena. Their expertise, combined with JMBM's experience in hotel transactions and HSH Nordbank's hands-on approach to construction lending, is exactly the kind of synergy that will make a development project of this magnitude a success."

One of the first major hotel projects to be LEED certified as eco-friendly.

Here at www.HotelLawBlog.com, we have increasingly devoted more attention to the GREEN hotel phenomenon, because we think it is one of the most important developing trends in the industry. (See, for example, "Hotel Lawyer on developing GREEN hotels"). And the Hollywood W Hotel & Residences will be a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified project. This places it at the forefront of the "Green" hotel movement sweeping the country.

A joint venture planned by developers HEI Hospitality, a hotel investment and operating company, and Gatehouse Capital Corporation, the largest owner and developer of W hotels in the United States, the all new luxury hotel mixed-use development will be located on a 4.5 acre site at the world-famous intersection of Hollywood and Vine. Featuring more than 60,000 square feet of street-level retail space, the all-inclusive structure will include spectacular views of the Hollywood Hills, a 300 room hotel, with 143 luxurious condominiums and 374 apartments as well as a 9,200-square-foot Bliss® Spa.

The "Green" movement is just beginning to gain traction with hotels.

According to Guy Maisnik, "Our research shows that, as of today, there are only 3 LEED certified hotels in the United States. And they have tended to be smaller properties like the 132-room Gaia in Napa, and the 86-room Orchard Hotel in San Francisco." But Maisnik, like other members of the Global Hospitality Group® think this is just the beginning of a tidal wave of "Green" hotel development, and the Hollywood W Hotel & Residences is further evidence of the powerful trend.

This is not a boutique hotel. This is mainstream, branded product -- one of the hottest hotel brands in the country. It is a large project, and one built by some of the most respected, business savvy developers around. And obviously, they are able to make commercial sense with the sustainable hotel mixed-use building as well, as confirmed by the capital markets.

Complex transaction.

The complexity of the financial transaction required a multidisciplinary understanding of standards unique to a hotel/residential/retail mixed-use property, such as shared facility issues and maintenance obligations. Drawing on practical experience and resources that the Global Hospitality Group® has developed in advising clients on more than 100 hotel mixed-use projects over the past 5 years alone, the team led by JMBM hospitality partner Guy Maisnik was able to guide the transaction to a successful on-time closing.

"The Hollywood W will add a whole new element of class to one of the most celebrated intersections in the world," continued Maisnik. "Its construction is expected to give a significant lift to the exciting ongoing revitalization of Hollywood."

Expect to see a lot more on this subject in the near future, and start making your reservations to attend The Hotel Developers Conference™. It will focus entirely on all the pragmatic issues of green hotel development.