Red Lion?s new CEO talks go-forward strategy and strength of group travel

Los Angeles?? Sporting a bright pair of socks that equally matched his air,?Greg Mount, the new president and CEO of Red Lion Hotels, touched on his go-forward vision for the company, which primarily operates and owns upper-midscale hotels on the West Coast, with Hotel Management during the Americas Lodging Investment Summit.

Mount took over in January from interim CEO?Jim Evans, who helped guide the company through its sale of non-strategic assets. Last November, Evans said, ?The sale of non-strategic assets over the past few years, along with the refinancing of our debt, has considerably strengthened the balance sheet of Red Lion Hotels. We used proceeds from an asset sale in 2011 to purchase 10 previously leased properties which, along with refinancing the company?s maturing securitized debt, gave us control of our properties and the flexibility to divest non-strategic properties.?

At the time, Evans said the next steps included further asset disposals, more aggressive brand promotion and continued enhancements in owned and leased hotels, including funding significant renovations. (Evans remains a member of the Board of Directors.)

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Source: David Eisen (2014). Red Lion?s new CEO talks go-forward strategy and strength of group travel, Hotel Management 1 published Mar 13, 2014. Viewed Mar 18, 2014.