Veteran of the hospitality industry, Steven Ellingsen, has inaugurated the Somnium Hospitality Group, a comprehensive, multi-brand approved enterprise for hotel and asset management, where he fulfills the role of president and founder. This new venture, headquartered in Chicago, encompasses an array of properties such as branded hotels, full-service resorts, golf courses, and boutique establishments, and marked its official beginning on January 1st.

The name 'Somnium,' Latin for 'dream,' symbolizes the group's mission to transform the conventional model of hospitality management. According to Ellingsen, the objective is to forge environments and experiences that blend dreams with ambition and performance.

Somnium provides a wide range of services, including strategic planning for assets, sales and marketing, management of revenue, IT solutions, accounting and financial oversight, culinary and beverage operations, digital marketing, representation of owners, and economic analysis among others. These services are designed to fulfill the expectations of property owners, aiming at maximizing their investment returns and value. The strategic approach of Somnium dedicates considerable effort to comprehending the nuances of the owners' investments, thereby gaining a detailed insight into the operational dynamics of the business in real-time. This comprehensive understanding, combined with the firm's industry expertise, empowers Somnium to advise owners and their management teams on optimal strategies and actions for property-level operations.

Distinctly departing from traditional management philosophies in hospitality, Somnium champions a culture that values uniqueness, passionate living, and the freedom to pursue one's purposes, according to Ellingsen. He describes this as a profound realization and execution of hospitality management, focused on nurturing significant relationships and serving others collectively to achieve shared goals.

Somnium's portfolio currently includes several managed and asset-managed properties, such as the Chicago Oak Brook Hills Resort and Conference Center; Holiday Inn in Fairborn, Ohio; Homewood Suites in Fairborn, Ohio; Moxy Portland; and Pali Hotels in Seattle, San Francisco, and Santa Monica.

Dan White, the COO/CFO of Somnium Hospitality Group, oversees operations and financial management at the property level. White began his career in hospitality finance and has led operations generating over $50 million in annual revenues as an area director for more than 15 years. Over the past decade, he has also spearheaded general management across a variety of management companies.

Ellingsen is responsible for the management of all properties and assets. A Santa Barbara native, his passion for hospitality was sparked by his early experiences with The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company in California, over 31 years ago. Throughout his career, Ellingsen has managed, developed, and repositioned numerous prominent properties across the U.S.