Hospitality, Resort & Recreation
Industry leaders in hospitality
At Brownstein, we know the world of hospitality exists far beyond your standard hotel. From ski runs to golf resorts. From casinos to spas. From fitness retreat centers to other travel and leisure destinations—our legal and policy expertise extends across all types of properties. And no matter what category yours is in, we’re the right choice to help your company drive value.
With the ability to assemble multidisciplinary teams from across our firm, we ensure our clients’ issues are handled comprehensively—bringing legal, business, regulatory and policy perspectives to the unique issues facing the hospitality industry and the many arenas it intersects. From developing hotels and resorts and advising private equity firms on acquisitions and dispositions to working on state and federal policy issues impacting hotel management companies, our team has the geographic reach and relationships needed to support this growing industry and its workforce.
Our Experience
Employment & Employee Benefits
The world of hospitality is powered by people—everyone from the concierge behind the desk to the marketers behind the brand. We help our clients navigate the ins and outs of employment law, ensuring that they are compliant as they support their workforce.
Acquisition, Disposition, M&A
In the world of hospitality, consolidation is par for the course—especially as players look to increase their influence in the market. Whether it’s a property sale or a complex joint venture, we advise hotel and resort clients involved in mergers and acquisitions, helping to make their deals a success.
Management & Franchising
As hotel and resort brands look to expand, many turn to franchising. At Brownstein, we offer legal counsel to these chains and business groups, to ensure their companies are always managed in a smart and safe way as they continue to grow.
Development
Developing iconic properties from the ground up requires a strong foundation. At Brownstein, we offer a legal blueprint to help our clients bring their buildings from idea to reality—operating by their side across real estate, regulatory and other issues in order to make their project a success.
Trademark & Brand Management
Instantly recognizable. Renowned around the world. For their properties and businesses to achieve this status, our clients need strong support when it comes to trademark and brand management. At Brownstein, we work with domestic and international hotels, resorts and related businesses to develop strategies to protect and grow their brands and corresponding intellectual property. From trademark acquisition to domestic and international intellectual property enforcement actions, the deeply experienced and respected IP team at Brownstein assists clients in reaching their goals and growing their brands.
Government Relations
The hospitality and travel industries face disruption from a myriad of sources. From immigration and workforce issues to complex tax policy and AI, our government relations team helps clients remain engaged and understands the balance between how policymakers weigh concerns, how the public perceives them and what the industry needs to succeed.
National Recognition
50 Golf Clubs: One Successful Transaction
Capitalizing on an opportunity to strengthen its position as The World Leader in Private Clubs™, ClubCorp sought to acquire Sequoia Golf’s stock and assets consisting of 30 owned, three leased and 17 managed properties. The challenge was that it had to be negotiated and closed in two months. A long-term client relationship with ClubCorp allowed Brownstein to ramp up quickly facilitating the equity purchase and managing the real estate aspects of the transaction. The deal, valued at roughly $265 million, successfully closed within the two-month timeframe increasing ClubCorp’s private club count from 150 to 209. Today, Brownstein continues its long-term representation providing legal counsel on a number of matters.
Helping Vail Resorts Fulfill its Mission Through $125 Million Acquisition
Our clients rely on us to not only understand their long-term goals, but to also create legal strategies to achieve those goals. For longstanding client, Vail Resorts, Inc., this means Brownstein’s team helps execute on their commitment to bring the “experience of a lifetime” to individuals near urban centers across the country. When Vail Resorts sought to acquire three Pittsburgh-area resorts—Seven Springs Mountain Resort, Hidden Valley Resort and Laurel Mountain Ski Area—our team made this dream a reality. We handled all aspects of the $125 million acquisition, including real estate and hospitality matters. The result? Vail Resorts continues to deliver on its commitment to provide an “experience of a lifetime.”
Facilitating Development of the Nation’s First “Carbon-Positive” Hotel
When Urban Villages decided to make Denver home to the first “carbon-positive” hotel in the nation, they knew it would be a challenge. That’s why our Real Estate and Construction teams were brought in to make this dream a reality. From negotiating the acquisition of the city-owned land; navigating entitlements, variances and transferrable development rights; securing construction financing; negotiating design and construction contracts; and advising on change of scope during construction, our team made the process as smooth as possible for Urban Villages. Set to be completed in 2024, the aspen tree-inspired design of the 13-story Populus Hotel will feature 265 guest rooms, a rooftop restaurant and bar, and retail and event space.
Full Circle: Real Estate Counsel From Development to Sale
Brownstein continues to be integral in advising Caesars Entertainment, Inc. in the management of its vast real estate portfolio. Over 13 years ago, we helped with the complex development of the popular LINQ Promenade which includes retail, dining and entertainment elements as well as the world’s tallest observation wheel at the time of development. The LINQ Promenade has become an iconic part of the Strip’s skyline. When Caesars recently sought to sell this asset, our Nevada Real Estate team saw the project come full circle. The team skillfully navigated every aspect of the real estate components of the $275 million disposition to TPG Real Estate and Acadia Realty Trust, including restructuring several aspects of the development. The sale closed in the fourth quarter of 2024.
Transforming Rockies’ West Lot into a Vibrant Mixed-Use Development
When the owner of the Colorado Rockies sought to develop what has been deemed one of “downtown Denver’s most ambitious construction projects in years,” Brownstein was tapped to turn this dream into a reality. McGregor Square, an award winning 659,000 square-foot mixed-use development, will be a year-round destination for fans, visitors and local residents. The Brownstein real estate team was instrumental in securing its home—a former parking lot adjacent to Coors Field— via a 99-year ground lease. McGregor Square houses a Colorado Rockies Hall of Fame facility, a full-service hotel, 234,000 square-feet of office space, 65,000 square-feet of retail space, 114 residential condominium units and an outdoor plaza with state-of-the-art audio-visual technology for concerts and entertainment.
Multi-Billion Dollar Purchase of Iconic Vegas Property
As long-time legal counsel to Apollo Global Management, Inc., Brownstein gaming, corporate, real estate and water attorneys served as Nevada counsel and gaming regulatory counsel to Apollo in connection with its $2.25 billion purchase of the legendary Venetian Resort Las Vegas and Sands Expo in Las Vegas from Las Vegas Sands Corp. The deal involved the purchase by Apollo of the operating assets of the Venetian and Palazzo, a secured financing by Sands, and the lease of the real estate assets from affiliates of VICI Properties. Brownstein’s expertise navigating the complex Nevada gaming and liquor approvals process coupled with its extensive strategic structuring experience were instrumental in closing this historic acquisition of one of the Las Vegas Strip’s most iconic properties.
Our Team
Industry Group Chair
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