Omni Hotels & Resorts
In 1958, the Dunfey brothers added a thirty-two room motel to their Lamie's Tavern restaurant property in Hampton, New Hampshire. This small start became the foundation for a chain that would eventually span two countries. By 1964, they had established fourteen Sheraton Hotels franchises throughout New England. The expansion continued rapidly with the acquisition of the near-bankrupt Parker House Hotel in Boston in 1968. These early moves transformed a single roadside stop into a regional powerhouse before selling out to larger corporate entities.
The Dunfeys sold their growing empire to the Hartford-based Aetna Life Insurance Company in 1971. Aetna retained the original owners to manage the properties while integrating them into their insurance portfolio. In 1976, Aer Lingus, the national airline of Ireland, purchased Dunfey Hotels from Aetna. This Irish ownership lasted until 1988 when Aer Lingus sold Omni Hotels to World International Holdings and The Wharf Limited for one hundred thirty-five million dollars. Robert Rowling of TRT Holdings bought the chain in February 1996 and moved headquarters first to Corpus Christi then to Dallas.
Dunfey Hotels acquired the Atlanta-based Omni International Hotels chain from Cousins Properties in 1983. That smaller chain had been formed three years earlier and consisted of hotels in Atlanta, Norfolk, and Miami. Reorganization created two operating divisions with Omni focusing on large upscale modern hotels. The remaining motels and Sheraton franchises were branded as Dunfey Hotels during divestment over the following three years. This strategic shift redefined the company identity away from budget motels toward luxury hospitality.
Omni Hotels purchased the Amelia Island Plantation in Florida for sixty-seven point one million dollars in 2010. January 2013 saw the acquisition of ClubCorp's Montelucia Resort & Spa followed by five properties from KSL Capital Partners in June. Those six golf resorts included Barton Creek Resort & Spa in Austin and The Grove Park Inn in Asheville. A deal worth nine hundred million dollars according to The Wall Street Journal made Omni an owner of iconic American golf resorts. Additional purchases like the King Edward Hotel in Toronto and Omni Mount Washington Resort expanded their portfolio through 2015.
Peter Strebel was named President of Omni Hotels & Resorts in March 2018. He led operations until Kurt Alexander took over the role in 2022. These appointments marked significant shifts in operational leadership for the Dallas-based chain. The transition between presidents coincided with major property sales and pandemic-era financial challenges. New management focused on streamlining the portfolio while maintaining service standards across fifty-one properties.
In December 2020, unions criticized Omni for using Paycheck Protection Program funds as a low-interest loan instead of paying workers. Critics argued the money should have turned into grants if used for payroll expenses. Omni accepted millions in PPP funds but did not pay workers during that period. By March 2021, the company sold five aging properties including hotels in Dallas Houston San Antonio Jacksonville and Austin. This divestiture strategy helped stabilize finances after years of aggressive expansion and acquisition spending.
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Common questions
When did the Dunfey brothers start Omni Hotels & Resorts?
The Dunfey brothers started the company in 1958 by adding a thirty-two room motel to their Lamie's Tavern restaurant property in Hampton, New Hampshire. This small operation eventually became the foundation for a chain spanning two countries.
Who owns Omni Hotels & Resorts as of 2023?
Robert Rowling of TRT Holdings bought the chain in February 1996 and moved headquarters first to Corpus Christi then to Dallas. The current leadership includes Kurt Alexander who took over the role of President from Peter Strebel in 2022.
What properties did Omni Hotels acquire in 2010 and 2013?
Omni Hotels purchased the Amelia Island Plantation in Florida for sixty-seven point one million dollars in 2010. January 2013 saw the acquisition of ClubCorp's Montelucia Resort & Spa followed by five properties from KSL Capital Partners in June including Barton Creek Resort & Spa in Austin and The Grove Park Inn in Asheville.
Why did unions criticize Omni Hotels & Resorts in December 2020?
Unions criticized Omni for using Paycheck Protection Program funds as a low-interest loan instead of paying workers during that period. Critics argued the money should have turned into grants if used for payroll expenses while the company accepted millions but did not pay workers.
How many properties does Omni Hotels & Resorts operate today?
New management focused on streamlining the portfolio while maintaining service standards across fifty-one properties. This count follows major property sales and pandemic-era financial challenges that led to divestiture strategies helping stabilize finances after years of aggressive expansion.