Omni Hotels/Gold's Gym/TRT Holdings Owner
Dallas, Texas

Photo credit: Danielle Sabol/Courtesy of Omni Hotels & Resorts
Robert Rowling At Ribbon-Cutting For The Omni Frisco Hotel
Robert Rowling is the son of Reese Rowling, co-owner of Tana Oil and Gas. Tana was acquired by Texaco in 1989 for $476M. From that sale, Rowling launched the private equity firm TRT Holdings.
TRT’s assets include Gold’s Gym and Omni Hotels. When Rowling was preparing to get into the hospitality industry, his father said, “You’re going to lose your shirt in the hotel business.” The hotel chain’s 60 properties now bring in more than $2B a year in sales. — Scott Klocksin