PMR Hospitality Partners is launched

Tony Romer-Lee

"We say 'reimagined' in our tag line, quite simply due to the fact our thinking towards modern-day hospitality is not restricted, non-corporate and non-traditional," explained Romer-Lee. "We are driven by maximising top-line revenues and nett profits through a strong team culture combined with personalised emotional relationships with guests, associates and trading partners.

"We had become extremely concerned by the quality of service delivery worldwide and have set out to reimagine and re-engineer all the possibilities to bring back 'wow' into the modern-day traveller's vocabulary," McGlashan added.

Romer-Lee and McGlashan will operate the company from both continents and cross-promote through the US infrastructure, which includes strong sales and marketing representation and a significant network throughout the entire country. "The benefits include access to the latest industry thinking, technology, systems, techniques and ideas, coupled with the ability to manage sales and marketing seamlessly on the two continents from which the majority of the international business is derived," McGlashan said.

PMR's significant competitive advantage

Euan McGlashan

Employing a small team of executives with highly specialised skill sets is PMR's significant competitive advantage. The team covers all facets of hospitality, such as due diligence, design and development, operations, management, sales, marketing and PR, human resources and financial management, deal underwriting, revenue generation, cost and expense controls - all culminating in profitability maximisation. Services also include: site selection entitlements, conceptual design, construction and project management, procurement, technical services, pre-opening management, and total operations management.

"PMR provides turnkey solutions", said McGlashan and Romer-Lee. "As a comprehensive services provider, we represent a cost-effective alternative to mainstream companies, which are often focused on select services only. PMR can plan and oversee developments from the ground up, refurbish existing properties, and assist ownership in positioning their property, be it independent or branded. As a preferred and approved management company for the larger brands in the US, yet having operated some of the best boutique properties in southern Africa, PMR is perfectly positioned to offer the best advice and knowledge an owner could seek."

We have to roll our sleeves up

Driven by excellence and achievement of top- and bottom-line targets, PMR's on-time/on-budget ethos, combined with a desire to be immersed in projects through its hands-on practicality, ensures it is aligned with ownership interests. "We have to roll our sleeves up and get stuck in," said Romer-Lee. "We need some meaningful action and positive change."

Whilst the achievement of financial goals and results is of utmost importance, the investment in the surprising and delighting of the hotel or resort guest is never relegated to second place. Romer-Lee's and McGlashan's decades of experience in the industry has been recognised from both perspectives, with dedication to philosophies that include honesty, respect, integrity, empathy and family values.

"There are two absolutes in our business," McGlashan said. "Your relationship with your associates is cultural and your relationship with your guests is emotional. You need to understand both to operate the best properties from both an experiential perspective and a financial one."

These two businessmen previously worked together both at The Bay Hotel with Halcyon Hotels and the V&A Waterfront's Cape Grace Hotel with the Brand family.

Known for building and developing teams both personally and professionally, Romer-Lee and McGlashan have track records of the highest industry awards. Over the course of their careers, they have been involved in turning around distressed properties as well as building and developing new ones, from luxury boutique, city centre luxury, luxury resorts, and safari lodges, to upper upscale, mid-market and select service hotels, and restaurants.

CEO of The Collection by Liz McGrath with responsibility for three Relais & Chateaux Hotels in the Cape, GM of One&Only Cape Town, Singita and Cape Grace are only the most recent credits in Romer-Lee's portfolio of more than 20 years in luxury hospitality. Known as one of the leading boutique hoteliers in southern Africa, Romer-Lee realised that, through a partnership with McGlashan, he had more to offer on a larger scale and believed the next natural step was to create his own company.

McGlashan began his career in Scotland, followed by a stellar global career in hospitality in Europe, South Africa and the US. The highlight of his South African career was to take Cape Grace to be recognised by Condé Nast Traveler as the Best Hotel in the World in 2000. He formed his own business in the US in 2007, developing, renovating, operating and leading many hotel projects for several ownership groups; creating unique guest experiences, passionate teams of associates and strong bottom-line performances.