At this year's Boutique Lifestyle & Lodging Association (BLLA) Leadership Symposium in Santa Monica, BLLA’s founder and chair Frances Kiradjian announced the launch of a new Newport Beach-based hotel brand, KARAS Lifestyle Hotels.
The new brand replaces Unique Hotels & Resorts, and was formed in partnership with hospitality industry executives Eric Prevette and Carlos Lopes – formerly the managing directors of Unique Hotels – and Murray Holland, previously managing director of MHT Midspan, an investment-banking firm based in Dallas, Texas.
Prevette, Lopes and Holland are now the managing directors of KARAS Lifestyle Hotels, which will specialize in managing and developing lifestyle hotels in key U.S. cities.
KARAS Hotels was originally established as Unique Hotels & Resorts, which has developed lifestyle hotels that include Hotel Bel-Air in Los Angeles, Grand- Hôtel du Cap Ferrat along the French Riviera, La Posada de Santa Fe in New Mexico and Cap Juluca in the Caribbean.
KARAS Hotels will focus on both the commercial and leisure markets. Typical properties will have between 150 and 300 guestrooms, with a strong emphasis on design and a connection to the local community.