Another example of how the DeVos family uses their power in Grand Rapids to expand their wealth

Last week, Crain’s Grand Rapids Business ran an article entitled, AHC Hospitality brings back longtime leader as its new president.

The article primarily focuses on the fact that George Aquino will replace Richard Winn to lead the DeVos-owned AHC Hospitality. AHC manages a portfolio of 16 hotels with 2,800 rooms and 42 restaurants and lounges in Michigan, Florida and the British Virgin Islands. Four of those hotels are in downtown Grand Rapids – JW Marriot Grand Rapids, AC Hotel Downtown Grand Rapids, Amway Grand Plaza Hotel and the Courtyard by Marriot Downtown, with another hotel in nearby Ada.

The replacement of Richard Winn by George Aquino isn’t terrible notable, but there are some comments in the article that I believe are more relevant in terms of understanding how power functions in Grand Rapids. The first comment from the article I want to point out is:

“As the Acrisure Amphitheater moved through its first season of shows, downtown saw higher overall hotel occupancy over the summer.”

The second comment was from George Aquino, where he states:

“As far as the demand, we expect really good demand for rooms and also for food and beverage because of the soccer stadium.”

What both of these comments reflect is that the Amphitheater and the soon to be open Amway Soccer Stadium generates a great deal of money for the DeVos family. In addition to the hotels they own in downtown Grand Rapids, they also own or manage the following food & beverage venues in or near their hotels in Grand Rapids:

• AC Lounge
• Allora
• Amway Grand Plaza Catering
• The Bistro
• IDC
• Lumber Baron
• Margaux
• MDRD
• The Placery & Breakfast Bar
• Rendezvous
• Right Bank Wine Selections
• Ruth’s Chris Steak House Grand Rapids
• The Kitchen by Wolfgang Puck
• Starbucks JW Marriott
• Woodrow’s Duckpin Grand Rapids

The point is that the DeVos family created Grand Action 2.0 to propose venues like the Amphitheater and the Soccer Stadium, using lots of public funds, in order to expand their wealth through the AHC Hospitality hotels, bars and restaurants located in downtown Grand Rapids. This is exactly why Rick DeVos started ArtPrize, as a tool to expand the family’s wealth.

The DeVos family also has operatives that make up groups like the Grand Rapids Downtown Development Authority (DDA) the Grand Rapids–Kent County Convention/Arena Authority and  Downtown Grand Rapids Inc. to influence what those entities do that will benefit their interests.

Lastly, the DeVos family spends millions annually on state, county and city elections as a means of buying access and to make sure that elected politicians will do their bidding. It is what I like to refer to as an inter-locking system of power. Welcome to the DeVos Oligarchy!