News

Restaurant group enters next phase of expansion with investment from KSL affiliate

AUSTIN, Texas – November 9, 2020 – Leading Austin-based, James Beard Award-winning restaurant group Hai Hospitality today announced that an affiliate of KSL Capital Partners has made a substantial investment in the company. This investment will enable Hai Hospitality to accelerate the growth and expansion of their acclaimed restaurant brands and continue to elevate the guest experience. The Hai Hospitality leadership team, including Founding Chef and Partner Tyson Cole, will remain at the helm. The financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

"We opened Uchi Austin in 2003 with a unique and modern approach to Japanese food," said Cole. "It's amazing to see our evolution and the growth of a culture and team so dedicated to offering incredible experiences for our guests every day. I'm excited for KSL's investment and to continue bringing the magic of Hai’s concepts to new markets across the U.S."

The team at KSL have been long-time admirers of the Hai team and culture and its restaurant concepts. "Hai’s extreme attentiveness to the guest experience, exacting attention to culinary and design detail, as well as their focus on people, culture, and community is unmatched in the industry," said Chris Chang, Principal at KSL Capital Partners.

Hai's first restaurant Uchi, which opened in 2003, quickly earned recognition with Cole’s selection as one of Food & Wine Magazine’s “Best Chefs” in 2005. Chef Cole's signature, non-traditional take on Japanese food and the rising popularity of Uchi and sister restaurant, Uchiko, continued to receive accolades, with a designation by Bon Appetit as one of “the 20 Most Important Restaurants in America,” and the James Beard Foundation's "Best Chef Southwest Award" in 2011.

Since the opening of the first location in Austin, five additional Uchi-branded restaurants have opened: Uchiko Austin (2010), Uchi Houston (2012), Uchi Dallas (2015), Uchiba Dallas (2016), and Uchi Denver (2018).

Hai also launched LORO Asian Smokehouse & Bar in 2018, in partnership with Aaron Franklin, a James Beard Award-winning chef and the founder of Franklin Barbecue.  Loro is a relaxed, counter-style restaurant combining techniques from Texas barbecue and bold flavors from Southeast Asia to create a unique dining experience that consistently delights a huge base of enthusiastic fans.

"We couldn't imagine a better partner than KSL for growing our restaurant brands and continuing to foster Hai Hospitality’s culture," said Hai Chief Executive Officer Tony Montero. “Hai’s mission to continue elevating the guest experience through innovative food, exceptional service, and thoughtful design aligns perfectly with KSL's long history of building differentiated, experiential hospitality brands that are committed to people and community impact."

"We feel privileged to partner with a team with such a strong operational foundation and look forward to helping grow Uchi and Loro in new and existing markets," said John Ege, Partner at KSL Capital Partners.

About Hai Hospitality‍

Hai Hospitality is an award-winning restaurant group based in Austin, Texas that began with Uchi, Japanese for ‘home’, and so named for the little red house where Chef Tyson Cole first created his nontraditional take on elevated Japanese cuisine in 2003. Hai Hospitality concepts now include Uchi Austin, Uchi Dallas, Uchi Houston, Uchi Denver, Uchiko Austin, Uchibā Dallas, and LORO Asian Smokehouse and Bar.  Hai Hospitality gives each of their restaurants the space to create and cultivate their own identities and supports them in a variety of capacities so that each location has the freedom to grow while still being part of the bigger family—a family that has a common set of core values; a shared vision for food, service, and design; and a collective pool of knowledge and expertise to draw upon no matter where they call home.

About KSL Capital Partners‍

KSL Capital Partners, LLC is a private equity firm specializing in travel and leisure enterprises in five primary sectors: hospitality, recreation, clubs, real estate, and travel services. KSL has offices in Denver, Colorado; Stamford, Connecticut; and London. Since 2005, KSL has raised approximately $13 billion of capital across both debt and equity funds. KSL's current portfolio includes some of the premier properties in travel and leisure. For more information, please visit www.kslcapital.com.

Names Industry Veteran Mark Burnett President and CEO

DENVER, CO – February 10, 2020: KSL Capital Partners, LLC (“KSL”), a leading investor in travel and leisure businesses, announced that an affiliate of KSL acquired Heritage Golf Group from Tower Three Partners, a private equity firm. The Heritage Golf Group portfolio includes three resort-style properties on Hilton Head Island in South Carolina (Port Royal Golf Club, Oyster Reef Golf Club, and Shipyard Golf Club), two championship TPC clubs in Sarasota and the greater Tampa Bay area in Florida (TPC Prestancia and TPC Tampa Bay), and a private country club in Richmond, Virginia (The Dominion Club). Mark Burnett, who has held previous leadership roles with other KSL portfolio companies, has been named President and CEO.

“The opportunity to acquire Heritage Golf aligns with our strategy of purchasing high-quality assets in the travel and leisure industry,” said Marty Newburger, a Partner with KSL. “With Mark’s strong leadership, we look forward to improving the member and customer experience at each of the clubs and growing the portfolio through strategic acquisitions with a strong focus on private country clubs.”

Burnett brings over 25 years of executive leadership in the golf industry, most recently as President and COO of ClubCorp. Previously, Burnett served as COO at American Golf Corporation, and President and CEO at KSL Fairways Golf Corporation.

“We are excited to welcome Heritage Golf and its outstanding management team and employees to the KSL portfolio,” said Burnett. “These lifestyle clubs are uniquely positioned and provide a wide range of benefits and outstanding experiences to the members and guests. This portfolio provides an excellent platform for future acquisition growth, and combined with KSL’s financial strength, will allow us to expand rapidly in the private club sector.”

Jeff Woolson, an executive vice president with CBRE who serves as the managing director of its Golf & Resort Group, handled the transaction.

About KSL Capital Partners‍

KSL Capital Partners, LLC is a private equity firm specializing in travel and leisure enterprises in five primary sectors: hospitality, recreation, clubs, real estate and travel services. KSL has offices in Denver, Colorado; Stamford, Connecticut; London, England and Singapore. Since 2005, KSL has raised approximately $12 billion of capital across both debt and equity funds. KSL's current portfolio includes some of the premier properties in travel and leisure. For more information, please visit www.kslcapital.com.

About Heritage Golf Group‍

Founded in 1999, Heritage Golf Group is an innovative, industry-leading hospitality company operating premier private, resort and daily fee golf properties spanning Florida, South Carolina and Virginia. Guided by the principle of evolving the golf business experience to the highest level, each individual club’s amenities and operational systems are tailored to augment its one-of-a-kind assets. For more information, please visit www.heritagegolfgroup.com.

Media Contact:
Maureen Richardson, River Communications
mrichardson@riverinc.com
Office: + 1 914-686-5599

DENVER, CO -- November 22, 2019: Soneva, one of the world’s leading luxury resort developers and operators, announced today that an affiliate of KSL Capital Partners, LLC has taken a significant minority stake in the company. Soneva operates a collection of luxury resorts in the Maldives and Thailand. The partnership with KSL underscores the attractiveness of the Soneva brand and will support the company’s short- and long-term development goals.

As part of KSL’s investment, Sailing Capital, which had invested in Soneva in 2014, redeemed its investment in Soneva. With the support of Sailing Capital, Soneva was able to expand its portfolio in the Maldives. This includes the 2016 opening of the award-winning Soneva Jani Resort, which firmly re-established Soneva as a leader in the overwater villa market with its stunning design and architecture.

Tina Yu, a principal at KSL said, "The more we have gotten to know Soneva, the more excited we are about the opportunities to help Soneva grow.  At KSL, we invest solely in travel and leisure, and we recognize the power of the Soneva brand platform in the expanding market for luxury experiential travel. Soneva has 25 years of experience operating at the very highest level and have been pioneers in creating rare authentic experiences for their guests.  We look forward to a long and successful partnership with Soneva and its management team.”

Soneva was founded in 1995 by Sonu Shivdasani and Eva Malmström Shivdasani.

"We are immensely grateful to Sailing Capital for the faith it showed in Soneva and our management team. Sailing has been instrumental in our success to date,” said Mr. Shivdasani.  “We are delighted to welcome KSL as our partner in Soneva. We have many exciting plans, and I cannot imagine better partners to help execute the next stage of Soneva’s growth.”

"Soneva has been a great investment for Sailing Capital,” said Liang Tsui, CEO of Sailing Capital. “We have enjoyed a very productive partnership with Soneva and together we have realised the opening of Soneva Jani, a highly acclaimed environmentally sustainable luxury resort, and delivered a healthy return on our investment. We are very pleased to see Soneva being ideally positioned for future growth. Whilst our partnership with Soneva is ending, our friendship with the company will continue well into the future."

For more information about Soneva, visit www.soneva.com

About Soneva

Soneva is a pioneering family of hospitality properties, offering holistic encounters in luxurious and inspiring environments – from world class resorts to outstanding natural locations.  Soneva Fushi, Soneva Jani and Soneva in Aqua in the Maldives, and Soneva Kiri in Thailand rebuke the traditional concept of luxury and instead promise the luxury of time, purity and solitude. Every day, guests are encouraged to discover sandy feet, inspired minds and full hearts. Combining luxury with a conscientious approach to sustainability and the environment, and proactively changing the nature of hospitality, it delivers intuitive service and meaningful experiences to the guests.    

About KSL Capital Partners‍

KSL Capital Partners, LLC is a private equity firm specialising in travel and leisure enterprises in five primary sectors: hospitality, recreation, clubs, real estate and travel services. KSL has offices in Denver, Colorado; Stamford, Connecticut; London, England and Singapore. Since 2005, KSL has raised approximately USD 12 billion of capital across both debt and equity funds. KSL's current portfolio includes some of the premier properties in travel and leisure. In line with Soneva’s philosophy, KSL has a Responsible Investment (RI) policy, the purpose of which is to define their approach to integrating environmental, social and governance (ESG) risks and opportunities into investments made through its private equity funds. They believe that effective management of ESG issues is critical to preserving and creating long-term value for investors, operators, employees, guests and communities. For more information, please visit www.kslcapital.com.

Media Contacts:
For Soneva: Carissa Nimah, Chief Marketing Officer, Soneva
carissa@soneva.com
D: +66 2631 9624 | Skype: carissa.crowley | www.soneva.com
Bangkok, Thailand

For KSL: Maureen Richardson, River Communications
mrichardson@riverinc.com
Office: + 1 914-686-5599
Mobile: + 1 914-434-6033
New York, USA

Dan Musser III remains as Chairman of America’s Summer Place

Denver, CO and Mackinac Island, MI (September 10, 2019) KSL Capital Partners, LLC (KSL) and the Musser family announced today that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which an affiliate of KSL will acquire the Grand Hotel from the Musser family, whose legacy with the hotel dates back over 85 years. Dan Musser III will remain Chairman, providing leadership and guidance to the team, ensuring a seamless transition. Terms of the transaction will not be disclosed. The transaction is expected to close within the next 30 days.

“It has truly been an honor and a privilege for my family to serve as steward of this incredible Michigan landmark for nearly nine decades. This is a role we have not taken lightly, nor was this decision to transfer ownership to KSL,” said Musser. “KSL is a seasoned investor in travel and leisure businesses, with a depth of resources and capabilities to provide exceptional service. KSL has owned and operated some of the most prestigious destinations in the world, and we are pleased that they will help preserve the history and heritage of Grand Hotel.”

Located on Michigan’s historic Mackinac Island, the 397-room hotel, with its famed 660-foot long porch—the world’s longest porch—is a National Historic Landmark that overlooks the Straits of Mackinac and the Mackinac Bridge. Guests arrive on the motorized-vehicle free island by ferry or airplane and are transported to the hotel by horse and carriage. Open from early May to late October each year, Grand Hotel is currently celebrating its 133rd season.

“KSL understands the importance of Grand Hotel to Mackinac Island, the State of Michigan and beyond, as well as its history, charm and traditions. It is both a privilege and a great responsibility to take over ownership,” said Michael Mohapp, a Principal of KSL. “We are grateful for the trust that the Musser family has placed upon us, and for Dan’s continued guidance that will help ensure that Grand Hotel remains a driving force in drawing visitors to Mackinac Island as it has for generations.”

Pivot Hotels & Resorts, the lifestyle and luxury operating division of Davidson Hotels & Resorts, will be engaged to manage the property for KSL.

About Grand Hotel‍

Grand Hotel is a proud member of Historic Hotels of America. It has been one of America’s premier summer vacation spots since it opened on July 10, 1887. Throughout its history, Grand Hotel has hosted worldwide dignitaries and five US presidents. For 26 consecutive years it has earned the AAA Four Diamond rating, and has been honored with a number of awards including most recently being named Best All-Inclusive Resort in the country and One of the Top 10 Best Historic Hotels by the readers of USA Today in the 2019 10Best Awards, Travel + Leisure Top 5 Best Resort Hotels in Michigan and Best Hotel in Michigan by Condé Nast Traveler. Grand Hotel scored in the top 10 percent of the Best Hotels in the United States, earning the Gold badge from US News and World Report and was also named a Top 10 All-Inclusive Resort for 2019, as well as the 2018 Platinum Choice award by Smart Meetings. Grand Hotel, along with five onsite restaurants, were recognized with the 2019 TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence.

For more information, please visit www.grandhotel.com.

About KSL Capital Partners‍

KSL Capital Partners, LLC is a private equity firm specializing in travel and leisure enterprises in five primary sectors: hospitality, recreation, clubs, real estate and travel services. KSL has offices in Denver, Colorado; Stamford, Connecticut; and London. Since 2005, KSL has raised approximately $12 billion of capital across both debt and equity funds. KSL's current portfolio includes some of the premier properties in travel and leisure. For more information, please visit www.kslcapital.com.

Enters French market with portfolio of five luxury hotels in leading upscale destinations

LONDON (August 6, 2019) KSL Capital Partners, LLC (KSL) announced today the acquisition of Les Hôtels d’en Haut (”the Company”) through an affiliate, from Perseus Group, a European hotel developer, owner and operator, for an undisclosed amount. This is KSL’s first significant acquisition in continental Europe.    

Les Hôtels d’en Haut operates five boutique hotels in premier leisure markets across France. Located in the French Alps, the world’s leading luxury skiing destination, Hôtel Le Val Thorens, Hôtel Le Fitz Roy in Val Thorens, and Hôtel des 3 Vallées in Courchevel, allow guests ski-in/ski-out resort accessibility. The mountain retreat setting of Hôtel Alpaga in Megève faces Mont Blanc, affording guests spectacular views and access to the slopes of Megève. Hôtel Les Roches Rouges, in Saint-Raphaël on the French Riviera, offers a private seafront and direct sea access.

Eric Darde will serve as the Company’s President and COO, continuing to grow his leadership role which began in 2014. Eric said, “Les Hôtels d’en Haut is a group of extraordinary properties, made better by very high standards upheld by our committed team members. KSL has owned and operated some of the most prestigious properties in the world, including many in mountain and beach locations. We could not be more fortunate to have a company such as KSL to invest in and help to grow our Company.”

“At KSL Capital Partners, our primary focus is to invest in travel and leisure properties, and we understand the importance of hotels to their local community,” said Martin Edsinger, Senior Vice President at KSL. “Les Hôtels d’en Haut is a hotel company that truly celebrates the desire to travel. We are very excited to step into the stewardship of Les Hôtels d’en Haut and look forward to not only investing in these hotels but bringing the Les Hôtels d’en Haut to new locations with the same ethos.”

Each hotel has a strong identity, inspired by local architecture that mirrors the beauty and history of their individual locations. With a range of 30 to 80 rooms and suites, the portfolio includes a total of 245 hotel rooms. The Les Hôtels d’en Haut brand offers distinctive food and beverage spaces to serve guests and the local clientele. Among the eight full-service restaurants in the portfolio, two have earned a Michelin Star rating – Hôtel Alpaga’s La Table de L’Alpaga and La Terrasse at Hôtel Les Roches Rouges. Luxury amenities at each hotel also include spa services, concierge services, special events, and of course access to the wonders of nature that surround them.

About Les Hôtels d’en Haut‍

Les Hôtels d’en Haut’s hotels offers the opportunity to discover authentic experiences in unique destinations, where the staff embody the values of service and hospitality that have become its trademark. Choosing to stay in a Les Hôtels d’en Haut hotel means first deciding on the destination: snowcapped peaks or the sun-kissed shores of the Mediterranean, where every piece of the experience conjures its own adventure and the chance to indulge in luxurious calm and to absorb the stunning nature of each place. For more information, please visit https://www.leshotelsdenhaut.com/

About KSL Capital Partners

KSL Capital Partners, LLC is a private equity firm specializing in travel and leisure enterprises in five primary sectors: hospitality, recreation, clubs, real estate and travel services. KSL has offices in Denver, Colorado; Stamford, Connecticut; and London. Since 2005, KSL has raised approximately $12 billion of capital across both debt and equity funds. KSL's current portfolio includes some of the premier properties in travel and leisure. For more information, please visit www.kslcapital.com.

About Perseus Group‍

For more information, please visit www.perseuscp.com