Stories
The Art of The Deal: The Hotel Owner, The Billionaire and The Bluff
Jul
It’s true, information is power. But what you do with it is far more important.
And so it happened that one day, not too long ago, I had an epiphany. I was walking down a street in Mayfair holding a Perrier bottle in one hand, a briefcase in the other and a folded City A.M. newspaper under my right arm. I arrived at a street crossing and joined other pedestrians waiting to traverse the street.
As I waited for a signal change, I briefly looked at the people around me and then lifted my gaze to meet one of the most beautiful real estate assets in the world. A magnificent 5-Star hotel steeped in history. I must sell this building.
Creating a market
Who could I sell this to? I didn’t have a buyer in mind. Clearly, it would have to be someone for whom money was no object. Someone who was more interested in the prestige element of having a trophy asset. Someone who wanted more than anything to point and say “I own this”.
What about the hotel owner? Was his hotel for sale? Luckily, I knew that almost anything is for sale. For the right price.
Neither the hotel owner nor the billionaire investor knew what was coming. I told the owner, “Someone would like to buy your hotel”, and the billionaire, “There is a hotel for sale.” And both were told, “This is a unique opportunity”.
See the video.
Takeaway
How to orchestrate a £500 million deal.
1) Approach the owner of an amazing 5-star hotel and tell them you have an investor who wants to pay a lot of money for it.
2) Approach a Saudi billionaire and tell them one of the most beautiful hotels is on sale and that owning it will be a great source of prestige.
3) Introduce the two.
4) Take your cut!
Well done. Enjoyed the video format. More please.
Nice! It has the atmosphere of a Bond movie, probably because of the music? Not only, the actors are very good… Good direction and editing too!
Amazing…
simply amazing…
a Greek island for sale…n then see the ibankers smile
Is it possible to have a transcript as well? So I can read it while at work 😀
Hi Jack,
I posted JPGs of the script on FB: https://www.facebook.com/theibanker
Tib
Awesome! Witty and really good paced video!
Like an extract from a movie.
Great performances, great direction and editing!
Really loved it and looking forward to the next one.
Want to see more of the ibanker’s tales!
Excellent description of the art in a few words, in a few screenshots.