Latest news with #Lark
Hospitality Net
5 days ago
- Business
- Hospitality Net
Amber Asher has been appointed Member of the Board of Directors at Lark Hotels
Lark, the premium development and management company encompassing multiple boutique hospitality brands, announces the appointment of boundary-pushing hospitality leader, Amber Asher, to its board of directors. A recognized force in lifestyle hospitality, Asher brings decades of experience scaling bold, design-driven hotel brands and leading transformative growth strategies. Asher joins Lark's Founder and Chairman, Rob Blood; CEO, Peter Twachtman; and Creative Director, Megan Kennedy; as well as Mike Scott, Managing Partner at Thayer Investment Partners, on the board. Asher served as CEO of Standard International, where she oversaw the global expansion of The Standard, Bunkhouse, The StandardX, and Peri hotel brands, growing the company from four U.S. hotels to a portfolio of 24 properties worldwide with over 30 hotels and 7 branded residences in development. Under her leadership, the company achieved 400% topline revenue growth from 2019 to 2024, resulting in a landmark sale to Hyatt Hotels Corporation for up to $335 million. Recognized among the 50 Most Important Women in Travel (Wonderlust), 100 Most Influential in Global Hospitality (IHI), and Skift's Women Shaping the Future of Travel, Amber received the 2022 Independent Lodging Congress "Start Something Award." She has been featured in publications including Forbes, Elle, Skift, Business Insider, HOTELS, and Condé Nast Traveler. Founded in 2012, Lark's branded hotel collections include its signature Lark Hotels, Bluebird by Lark, Blind Tiger Guest House, AWOL, and Life House. The group also manages independent hotels throughout the country and across a diverse range of markets. Lark combines a tech-forward ethos, hands-on development expertise, and people-first culture to maximize profitability for small to mid-sized hotels. In 2024, seven Lark properties were awarded prestigious Michelin Keys from Michelin Guide, a coveted honor that recognizes the country's most outstanding hotels. Lark's most recent openings were The Bow Hotel, a reimagined hotel tucked within a historic warehouse in Portsmouth, and AWOL Stowe, the third location of its emerging AWOL brand in the heart of Stowe, Vermont, complete with an outdoor Nordic spa deck and free-standing A-frame cabins. Most recently, the brand's growth accelerated rapidly in late 2024 upon forming a joint venture with contextual hotel brand and operator, Life House.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Lark Appoints Amber Asher to Board of Directors
Former Standard International CEO Brings Brand-Building Expertise and Strategic Leadership to Award-Winning Hospitality Company NEW YORK, June 04, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Lark, the premium development and management company encompassing multiple boutique hospitality brands, announces the appointment of boundary-pushing hospitality leader, Amber Asher, to its board of directors. A recognized force in lifestyle hospitality, Asher brings decades of experience scaling bold, design-driven hotel brands and leading transformative growth strategies. Asher joins Lark's Founder and Chairman, Rob Blood; CEO, Peter Twachtman; and Creative Director, Megan Kennedy; as well as Mike Scott, Managing Partner at Thayer Investment Partners, on the board. Asher served as CEO of Standard International, where she oversaw the global expansion of The Standard, Bunkhouse, The StandardX, and Peri hotel brands, growing the company from four U.S. hotels to a portfolio of 24 properties worldwide with over 30 hotels and 7 branded residences in development. Under her leadership, the company achieved 400% topline revenue growth from 2019 to 2024, resulting in a landmark sale to Hyatt Hotels Corporation for up to $335 million. Recognized among the 50 Most Important Women in Travel (Wonderlust), 100 Most Influential in Global Hospitality (IHI), and Skift's Women Shaping the Future of Travel, Amber received the 2022 Independent Lodging Congress "Start Something Award." She has been featured in publications including Forbes, Elle, Skift, Business Insider, HOTELS, and Condé Nast Traveler. "I have long admired Amber Asher as a visionary in our field," said Lark Founder and Chairman, Rob Blood. "It's an honor to join forces with her, especially at this pivotal moment in our company's lifespan. After nearly doubling our portfolio in the last 12 months, we're eager now more than ever to pull knowledge and inspiration from one of the hospitality industry's most innovative thinkers." Founded in 2012, Lark's branded hotel collections include its signature Lark Hotels, Bluebird by Lark, Blind Tiger Guest House, AWOL, and Life House. The group also manages independent hotels throughout the country and across a diverse range of markets. Lark combines a tech-forward ethos, hands-on development expertise, and people-first culture to maximize profitability for small to mid-sized hotels. "I've been extremely impressed with Lark's ability to blend thoughtful design, operational excellence, and local storytelling at scale," said Asher. "I'm excited to support their next chapter of growth." In 2024, seven Lark properties were awarded prestigious Michelin Keys from Michelin Guide, a coveted honor that recognizes the country's most outstanding hotels. Lark's most recent openings were The Bow Hotel, a reimagined hotel tucked within a historic warehouse in Portsmouth, and AWOL Stowe, the third location of its emerging AWOL brand in the heart of Stowe, Vermont, complete with an outdoor Nordic spa deck and free-standing A-frame cabins. Most recently, the brand's growth accelerated rapidly in late 2024 upon forming a joint venture with contextual hotel brand and operator, Life House. About Lark: Lark is a leading operator of boutique hotels under 150 keys in North America. Lark combines a tech-forward ethos, hands-on development expertise, and people-first culture to maximize profitability for small to mid-sized hotels. Their portfolio of approximately 75 independent spirited properties delivers compelling guest experiences through distinctive branding, local storytelling, and thoughtful, place-based design. Lark's branded hotel collections include its signature Lark Hotels, Bluebird by Lark, Blind Tiger Guest Houses, AWOL, and Life House. The group also manages independent hotels across a diverse range of markets. For additional information about Lark, visit View source version on Contacts Mary DiLeoAll Heart PRmary@ 978.998.0240
Business Wire
6 days ago
- Business
- Business Wire
Lark Appoints Amber Asher to Board of Directors
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Lark, the premium development and management company encompassing multiple boutique hospitality brands, announces the appointment of boundary-pushing hospitality leader, Amber Asher, to its board of directors. A recognized force in lifestyle hospitality, Asher brings decades of experience scaling bold, design-driven hotel brands and leading transformative growth strategies. Asher joins Lark's Founder and Chairman, Rob Blood; CEO, Peter Twachtman; and Creative Director, Megan Kennedy; as well as Mike Scott, Managing Partner at Thayer Investment Partners, on the board. A recognized force in lifestyle hospitality, Asher brings decades of experience scaling bold, design-driven hotel brands and leading transformative growth strategies. Share Asher served as CEO of Standard International, where she oversaw the global expansion of The Standard, Bunkhouse, The StandardX, and Peri hotel brands, growing the company from four U.S. hotels to a portfolio of 24 properties worldwide with over 30 hotels and 7 branded residences in development. Under her leadership, the company achieved 400% topline revenue growth from 2019 to 2024, resulting in a landmark sale to Hyatt Hotels Corporation for up to $335 million. Recognized among the 50 Most Important Women in Travel (Wonderlust), 100 Most Influential in Global Hospitality (IHI), and Skift's Women Shaping the Future of Travel, Amber received the 2022 Independent Lodging Congress 'Start Something Award.' She has been featured in publications including Forbes, Elle, Skift, Business Insider, HOTELS, and Condé Nast Traveler. 'I have long admired Amber Asher as a visionary in our field,' said Lark Founder and Chairman, Rob Blood. 'It's an honor to join forces with her, especially at this pivotal moment in our company's lifespan. After nearly doubling our portfolio in the last 12 months, we're eager now more than ever to pull knowledge and inspiration from one of the hospitality industry's most innovative thinkers.' Founded in 2012, Lark's branded hotel collections include its signature Lark Hotels, Bluebird by Lark, Blind Tiger Guest House, AWOL, and Life House. The group also manages independent hotels throughout the country and across a diverse range of markets. Lark combines a tech-forward ethos, hands-on development expertise, and people-first culture to maximize profitability for small to mid-sized hotels. 'I've been extremely impressed with Lark's ability to blend thoughtful design, operational excellence, and local storytelling at scale,' said Asher. 'I'm excited to support their next chapter of growth.' In 2024, seven Lark properties were awarded prestigious Michelin Keys from Michelin Guide, a coveted honor that recognizes the country's most outstanding hotels. Lark's most recent openings were The Bow Hotel, a reimagined hotel tucked within a historic warehouse in Portsmouth, and AWOL Stowe, the third location of its emerging AWOL brand in the heart of Stowe, Vermont, complete with an outdoor Nordic spa deck and free-standing A-frame cabins. Most recently, the brand's growth accelerated rapidly in late 2024 upon forming a joint venture with contextual hotel brand and operator, Life House. About Lark: Lark is a leading operator of boutique hotels under 150 keys in North America. Lark combines a tech-forward ethos, hands-on development expertise, and people-first culture to maximize profitability for small to mid-sized hotels. Their portfolio of approximately 75 independent spirited properties delivers compelling guest experiences through distinctive branding, local storytelling, and thoughtful, place-based design. Lark's branded hotel collections include its signature Lark Hotels, Bluebird by Lark, Blind Tiger Guest Houses, AWOL, and Life House. The group also manages independent hotels across a diverse range of markets. For additional information about Lark, visit
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
How freight rail fueled a new luxury overnight train startup
Can a passenger rail startup bring back the glamour of luxury overnight trains connecting Los Angeles and San Francisco that haven't been seen since the 1940s? Co-founders Joshua Dominic and Thomas Eastmond think so — and there's a connection to freight rail at the heart of their proposal. Dreamstar is a private venture reimagining medium-length passenger service in a setting that harks back to the heyday of first-class trains with all-bedroom accommodations, onboard gourmet dining and five-star hotel hospitality. 'Dreamstar started from a deeply personal frustration with the state of American travel,' said Dominic, in an interview. 'After experiencing modern rail across Europe and Asia in my 20s, I kept asking, 'Why don't we have this in the U.S.?' Years later, after hundreds of business and leisure trips that forced a choice between wasting precious daytime or sacrificing sleep, the idea crystallized: Build a better alternative. Dreamstar is our answer — a rail service that brings rest, reliability and elegance to medium-distance travel.'The Southern Pacific's Lark was the last domestic all-sleeper train to run exclusively in one state, operating two daily trains between San Francisco and LA. Espee added coaches after the Second World War; Amtrak's all-sleeper California Zephyr ended service between Chicago and Emeryville, California, in 1997. Dreamstar plans to run over much of the Lark's route, having signed a memorandum of agreement for track access with Union Pacific, which merged with SP in 1996. That includes 400 miles between San Jose and Ventura, which the partners say has minimal overnight freight and passenger traffic. Union Pacific (NYSE: UNP) in a statement confirmed that it is in formal negotiations with Dreamstar but offered no details. Freight tracks are an essential component of the original proposal, like another recent passenger train startup, Brightline, which started out running on the tracks of sister company Florida East Coast said Dreamstar is working on access agreements with commuter agencies Caltrain and Metrolink, as well as the agency that manages Los Angeles Union Passenger Terminal. 'The flagship route is designed as an overnight, limited-stop service optimized for uninterrupted rest,' said Dominic. 'We aim to keep stops to a minimum while ensuring operational viability and regional access.' The startup also claims its trains will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 75% compared to flying. Conceptual renderings emulate the proportions and outlines of contemporary passenger equipment. The cars follow the profile of the original Budd Hi-Level cars of Santa Fe's El Capitan, an all-coach train running between Los Angeles and Chicago, that were passed on to Amtrak and eventually replaced by the bilevel Superliners, also manufactured by Budd, which included sleeping accommodations. There are four classes of accommodations — called private cabins — including standard, bedroom, stateroom and family room sleeping six, as well as lounges, dining spaces and a spa. The renderings also depict Dreamstar's Auto Ferry, car transporters similar to those of Amtrak's Auto Train. Dreamstar's original proposal in 2018 called for construction of an all-new train. Now, the company plans to rebuild four previously owned cars. 'We've completed the concept development phase in partnership with BMW Designworks,' Dominic said. 'The next step is further refinement and engineering drawings. We've identified a handful of potential suppliers and are evaluating next steps.'The Los Angeles design studio has worked with aircraft maker Embraer, John Deere and Singapore Airlines, among many other clients. Construction of rolling stock is expected to take 18 to 24 months, with service to begin prior to the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. A locomotive supplier has yet to be selected, 'but we've identified several viable options that align with our performance and emissions goals. We've reviewed a few promising options and are continuing to explore the right partners for both operations and maintenance.' The company said location planning is underway for maintenance facilities in parallel with operational modeling. Dominic said Dreamstar is working with industry experts to smooth the way through regulatory approval processes. At the same time, California homebuilder Bill Lyon has dropped $100,000 on Dreamstar. 'We've received additional support beyond Mr. Lyon, though we're not disclosing specific names at this stage,' Dominic said. 'Investors do include a mix of real estate families, early-stage angels and mission-aligned private backers.' Dominic did not say what total costs will be to get trains rolling, but added Dreamstar itself does not currently own any property along the proposed route. 'Our cost model is built from the ground up using data from international private rail benchmarks, infrastructure partnerships and real-world U.S. market factors,' said Dominic. 'Unlike legacy operators, we're able to build leaner and smarter — with no statutory obligations or route mandates. Our model prioritizes capital efficiency, operational control and long-term financial sustainability.' Subscribe to FreightWaves' Rail e-newsletter and get the latest insights on rail freight right in your inbox. Find more articles by Stuart Chirls & Knox runs first revenue train on Maine's Rockland Branch Norfolk Southern board chair Mongeau resigns BNSF stands up shortline rail team Regulator concerns pause Watco's Michigan shortline rail deal The post How freight rail fueled a new luxury overnight train startup appeared first on FreightWaves.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Is CRDO Stock Worth a Spot in Your Portfolio Ahead of Q4 Earnings?
Credo Technology Group Holding Ltd CRDO will report its fourth-quarter fiscal 2025 results on June 2. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the bottom line in the to-be-reported quarter is pegged at 27 cents compared with 7 cents reported in the prior year quarter. The estimate has remained unchanged in the past 60 days. The consensus estimate for total revenues is pinned at $160 billion, implying a 163.2% year-over-year increase. For the fiscal fourth quarter, CRDO expects revenues between $155 million and $165 million. Credo beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings in three of the trailing four quarters, while matching in the remaining quarter, with an average earnings surprise of 29.7%. (Find the latest EPS estimates and surprises on Zacks Earnings Calendar.) Our proven model does not conclusively predict an earnings beat for CRDO this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the chances of an earnings beat. But that is not the case here. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they are reported with our Earnings ESP Filter. CRDO has an Earnings ESP of 0.00% and a Zacks Rank #3. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Credo Technology Group Holding Ltd. price-eps-surprise | Credo Technology Group Holding Ltd. Quote Credo is likely to gain from hyperscalers scaling up production of their AI platforms. Amid exponential data growth and rapid AI proliferation, market demand for faster and energy-efficient connectivity solutions continues to increase. This bodes well for Credo. In the last earnings call, management had noted that it received 'solidified' forecasts and is witnessing increasing design activity for its solutions with additional hyperscalers and other customers. Momentum in Active Electrical Cables (AEC) product line as well as SerDes tech is likely to have driven the topline numbers in the to-be-reported quarter. The growth is driven by its increasing adoption in the data center market. The demand for AECs is increasing as ZeroFlap AECs offer more than 100 times improved reliability than laser-based optical solutions. This made AECs an increasingly attractive option for data center applications, contributing to the new expansion of AEC usage and further solidifying Credo Technology's position in the market. Increasing customer interest in CRDO's PCIe retimers and Ethernet retimers for scale-out networks in AI servers bodes well. Another bright spot is Credo's Optical DSP business, which management highlighted as on track to meet fiscal 2025 targets. In April, CRDO launched the innovative Lark Optical DSP family, engineered to transform 800G optical transceivers. The Lark portfolio has two distinct optical DSP products. The Lark 800 is a high-performance, low-power DSP optimized for fully retimed 800G transceivers, designed to meet the stringent power and cooling requirements of hyperscale AI data centers. The Lark 850 is an ultra-low-power 800G Linear Receive Optics DSP, consuming under 10W, making it an ideal solution for AI-driven data environments where power efficiency is exceptional. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Operating leverage from rapid top-line growth is likely to cushion margin performance. In the last reported quarter, non-GAAP gross margin reached 63.8%, exceeding the high end of guidance, while operating income surged to $42.4 million, up from $8.3 million in the prior quarter. For the current quarter, CRDO expects non-GAAP gross margin to be between 63% and 65% Nonetheless, increasing market competition and macroeconomic uncertainties remain concerns. Credo competes with semiconductor giants like Broadcom Inc. AVGO and Marvell Technology, Inc. MRVL. R&D spend is likely to ramp up as CRDO focuses on product innovation. Increasing costs can become a problem if the revenue growth does not keep pace. Credo's non-GAAP operating expenses in the fiscal third quarter surged 16% sequentially to $43.8 million, primarily due to higher headcount. It expects non-GAAP operating expenses to be between $50 million and $52 million in the to-be-reported quarter. Overreliance on a few clients for revenue growth is an additional headwind. In the last reported quarter, 86% of revenue came from a single end customer. This intense customer concentration risk can impact revenues as the company becomes highly vulnerable to the loss of business from those clients. CRDO shares have gained 24.3% in the past three months, significantly outperforming its Electronics - Semiconductors industry, Zacks Computer and Technology sector and S&P 500 composite's gains of 15.6%, 4.5% and 0.5%, respectively. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research The company has outperformed its peers, like Marvell and Cirrus Logic CRUS, which have declined 24.8% and 1.3%, respectively. However, Broadcom's stock has gained 30.9% in the same time frame. Credo Technology stock is also not so cheap, as its Value Score of F suggests a stretched valuation at this moment. In terms of the forward 12-month Price/Sales ratio, CRDO is trading at 15.57, higher than the Electronic-Semiconductors sector's multiple of 7.84. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research In comparison, Broadcom trades at a forward 12-month P/S multiple of 16.53, while Cirrus Logic and Marvell Technology are trading at a multiple of 2.89 and 6.37, respectively. While Credo is experiencing strong growth momentum driven by AI-driven demand, several risk factors temper its near-term upside. Risks like customer concentration, elevated expenses, and competitive pressures from larger players, such as Broadcom and Marvell, present meaningful execution risks. CRDO's stretched valuation — evidenced by a high forward P/S ratio of 15.57 and a Value Style Score of F — is another concern. Consequently, investors should wait for a better entry point. However, existing investors can hold the stock as its growth prospects remain intact. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Marvell Technology, Inc. (MRVL) : Free Stock Analysis Report Broadcom Inc. (AVGO) : Free Stock Analysis Report Cirrus Logic, Inc. (CRUS) : Free Stock Analysis Report Credo Technology Group Holding Ltd. (CRDO) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research Sign in to access your portfolio
