Boutique Design - January/February 2018 - 6

reaCHInG FOr THe FuTure
The coming year could well be a deal-a-

palooza in our industry. That became apparent
in mid January, when the following two transactions were disclosed: FRCH Design Worldwide's
merger with NELSON, and Wyndham Worldwide's bid to buy La Quinta Holdings Inc.'s hotel
and franchise management business.
The pairing of NELSON, a global architecture
and design firm, with FRCH, a leading designer
of hospitality and retail spaces, might be the first
of many such combinations to take place this
year. Consider this rationale from NELSON's top
executive for entering the deal: "This merger is
an exciting step demonstrating our continued
commitment to bring more value to our clients
with thought leadership in new practice areas
and market segment expertise," said John
"Ozzie" Nelson Jr., who willl serve as co-ceo of
the combined firms with FRCH's Jim Tippman.
"FRCH's expertise and 50 years of experience in
creating award-winning retail, hospitality, restaurant, entertainment and retail mixed-use environments and innovative consumer experiences
is not only complementary to our organization,
but positions us to respond to the changing
disruption across multiple industries."
Extending their reach was also on the minds
of execs at Wyndham, which unveiled plans to
beef up its presence in the midscale market in a
big way by buying La Quinta's hotel operations
for $1.95 billion in cash. The acquisition, which
involves a fee-for-service business consisting
of nearly 900 managed and franchised hotels,
is not yet a done deal-it's subject to a vote by

La Quinta's shareholders-but most expect it to
pass muster and close in the second quarter of
this year.
"This transaction will build on Wyndham
Worldwide's proven track record of acquiring
companies that are a strong strategic and cultural
fit, add highly regarded brands to our portfolio
and offer clear opportunities to drive shareholder value through growth, shared best practices and sharp execution," says Stephen Holmes,
Wyndham Worldwide's chairman and ceo.
All of this either has you nervously looking
over your shoulder, wondering if your firm is
next, or chomping at the bit, anxious to do a deal
of your own. In today's turbulent, fast-changing
economy, I'd recommend at least considering
whether the latter course could help your firm
hit its growth and performance goals. That, in
turn, could determine whether your firm will be
celebrating the next New Year, or dreading it.
Meantime, to help you make the most of
2018, be sure to check out The Buzz section that
starts on page 12, where we detail the hottest
design trends, market sectors and more for the
coming year.

EDITORIAL
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Mary Scoviak
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Sarah Chaplin
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Oriana Lerner
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elizabeth Duccilli
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