Sonesta

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Sonesta Hotels & Resorts
Type	Public (NASDAQ:SNSTA)
Founded	1943
Headquarters	Boston
Industry	Hospitality, Hotels, Tourism
Website	Sonesta Hotels

Sonesta (NASDAQ:SNSTA) is an upscale international hotel company based in Boston, MA. For over 60 years, Sonesta has owned, managed, designed, built and marketed hotels throughout the world. Sonesta International Hotels Corporation is an outgrowth of Sonnabend Operated Hotels, founded in the 1940's by the legendary A.M. Sonnabend ^[1] and Childs Restaurant Company ^[2] which was founded in 1889. In 1955, they merged to become Hotel Corporation of America, one of the first major U.S.- based international hotel companies.

There are presently 26 Sonesta hotels and resorts, including 5 Nile cruise ships. The properties of the Sonesta Collection are located in Boston, Miami, New Orleans, St. Maarten, Brazil, Peru, and Egypt; and opening soon in Orlando, FL; Jaco Beach, Costa Rica; San Carlos, Mexico and Cartagena, Colombia.

1 History
2 Hotel Portfolio
3 References
4 Links

[edit] History

In the 1940's, A.M. (Sonny) Sonnabend ^[3], a successful Boston realtor and financier, merged his burgeoning hotel acquisitions with the newly acquired Childs Restaurants chain and named it Hotel Corporation of America (HCA). Thus began one of the most successful hotel operations in the U.S. and the evolution into what is today Sonesta International Hotels Corporation ^[4].

A.M.'s three sons began their careers in the hospitality industry at an early age. Roger, the eldest, graduated from MIT and was only 21 when he took the helm at the Nautilus Hotel and Beach Club, in Atlantic Beach, Long Island, NY. Paul Sonnabend became General Manager of Boston's Hotel Shelton, immediately after graduating from Cornell's Hotel Administration School in 1950 and Stephen, Sonny's youngest son, graduated from Harvard and jumped into an executive position with the Childs chain.

By the time A.M. passed away in the early 1960's, his three sons were managing a rather large hotel business. However, Roger, Paul and Stephen preferred their role as hoteliers rather than financiers or real estate magnates. As a result, they decided to sell their unprofitable properties and keep the company relatively small. This decision gave them the opportunity to develop a hotel management company and maintain their hands-on approach to the operation of hotels. in 1970, the company was renamed "Sonesta," the name used by their parents, Sonny and Esther, for a dairy farm they owned in Holliston, MA. "Sonesta" is a mix of their first names.

By the 1980's a third generation of Sonnabends had begun to join the executive ranks, and now works alongside non-family members to manage the company:

Stephanie Sonnabend, CEO and President
Peter J. Sonnabend, CEO and Vice Chairman
Jacqueline Sonnabend, Executive Vice President
Alan Sonnabend, Vice President Development
Kathy Sonnabend Rowe, Senior Vice President, Food & Beverage
Tom Sonnabend, Regional Sales Director New England
Patti Sonnabend Wagner, Director of Corporate Accounting

The Sonnabend family transitioned from the second generation to the third generation and has kept Sonesta successful. Their harmony as a family has translated into a company-wide commitment to manage upscale hotels that deliver uncompromising personal service and reflect the history and culture of their locations. Proof of the Sonnabends' successful management is shown by Sonesta's ability to attract and retain the best and brightest managers and staff.

[edit] Hotel Portfolio

Royal Sonesta Hotel Boston
Sonesta Bayfront Hotel Coconut Grove
Royal Sonesta Hotel New Orleans
Chateau Sonesta Hotel New Orleans
Sonesta Great Bay Beach Resort & Casino St. Maarten
Sonesta Maho Beach Resort & Casino St. Maarten
Sonesta Hotel Brasilia
Sonesta Hotel Sao Paulo
Sonesta Hotel El Olivar Lima
Sonesta Posadas del Inca Cusco
Sonesta Posadas del Inca Miraflores/Lima
Sonesta Posadas del Inca Lake Titicaca/Puno
Sonesta Posadas del Inca Sacred Valley/Yucay
Sonesta Posadas del Inca Arequipa
Sonesta Hotel & Casino Cairo
Sonesta Pharaoh Beach Resort Hurghada
Sonesta Hotel Port Said
Sonesta Beach Resort Sharm El Sheikh
Sonesta Club Sharm El Sheikh
Sonesta Hotel St. George Luxor
Sonesta Beach Resort Taba
Sonesta Moon Goddess Cruise Ship
Sonesta Nile Goddess Cruise Ship
Sonesta Star Goddess Cruise Ship
Sonesta Sun Goddess Cruise Ship
Sonesta St. George I Cruise Ship

[edit] References

^ Turkel, Stanley (2007) "A.M. Sonnabend - Legendary Financier, Hotel Pioneer" http://www.hotelinteractive.com/index.asp?page_id=5000&article_id=7045 Hotel Interactive (2/6/2007).
^ Austin, Kenneth L. (1943) “Childs Company’s Ups and Downs Touch Eating and Investing Public,” The New York Times (8/29/1943).
^ Turkel, Stanley (2007) "A.M. Sonnabend - Legendary Financier, Hotel Pioneer" http://www.hotelinteractive.com/index.asp?page_id=5000&article_id=7045 Hotel Interactive (2/6/2007).
^ Johnston, David (1998) "James Lavenson, 79, Marketer Who Once Headed the Plaza Hotel" http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9801E3DB1539F935A1575AC0A96E958260 (9/26/1998)