EDITOR ’ S DIARY
PASSION FOR HOSPITALITY
EDITORIAL Jeff Weinstein , Editor In Chief 1.312.274.2226 E-mail : jweinstein @ hotelsmag . com Barbara Bohn , Managing Editor 1.312.274.2209 E-mail : bbohn @ hotelsmag . com Chloe Riley , Associate Editor 1.312.274.2229 E-mail : criley @ hotelsmag . com Bert Ganzon , Senior Art Director 1.312.274.2227 E-mail : bganzon @ mtgmediagroup . com Steve Vanden Heuvel , Senior Art Director 1.312.274.2218 E-mail : svandenheuvel @ mtgmediagroup . com Brittney Hackbart , Associate Art Director 1.312.274.2216 E-mail : bhackbart @ mtgmediagroup . com Carolina Martinez , Freelance Design E-mail : cmartinez @ mtgmediagroup . com Bill McDowell , Vice President , Editorial Director 1.312.274.2201 bmcdowell @ mtgmediagroup . com
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Oriana Lerner , Erin Sund
PUBLISHING David Wood , Publisher 1.312.274.2225 dwood @ hotelsmag . com Bill Kinross , Vice President , Group Publisher 312 / 274-2214 bkinross @ meatingplace . com
INTERNATIONAL ADVISORY BOARD Nakul Anand Executive Director , ITC Ltd ., Gurgaon , India Stephen Bartolin President , Broadmoor Sea Island Co ., Colorado Springs , Colorado Geoffrey Gelardi Managing Director , The Lanesborough , London Alex Kyriakidis President and Managing Director , Middle East and Africa , Marriott International , Dubai Christopher Nassetta President and CEO , Hilton Worldwide , McLean , Virginia Monika Nerger Chief Information Officer , Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group , Atlanta Paul Sistare President and CEO , Atlantica Hotels International , São Paulo Susan Terry Vice president of culinary and food and beverage operations , Marcus Hotels & Resorts , Milwaukee , Wisconsin
EDITORIAL AND PRODUCTION OFFICES , HOTELS Marketing and Technology Group 1415 N . Dayton Street Chicago , Illinois 60642 USA 1.312.274.2200 ; fax : 1.312.266.3363 edit @ hotelsmag . com
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In search of your
TRUE NORTH
For HOTELS annual People Issue ( and in the spirit of inclusion ), the editors worked hard to identify hoteliers , developers and industry supporters who aren ’ t so typically found in the headlines , who march to an inspired beat , and a few emerging leaders who are breaking new ground in an industry now regularly challenged by other business models disrupting the status quo .
We found Fadi Boustany , who , while working in a privileged , almost fairy tale-like destination like Monte Carlo , toils everyday to deliver the very best in all aspects of service as he battles a crippling
Editor In Chief disease . He has only managed one hotel , but he is doing so with the level of grit and determination of which legends are born . His cover story is one we are proud to share .
We found Peggy Berg , whose timing couldn ’ t be more perfect . As the founder and president of the Castell Project , a nonprofit initiative that aims to publish statistics tracking the progress of women in hospitality and also offers leadership training , we hope she keeps all of you on your toes and further drives the conversation about leadership roles more women should be assuming .
We found radical Landis Smithers , the former vice president of marketing at Grindr , a gay dating app , who was recently named chief creative officer by Standard International . He sees hotels as stages with opportunities to create ever-changing and less predictable productions . He ’ s not afraid to use a word like “ spectacle ” to draw in consumers , shifting the game plan away from the oft-pushed out predictable messaging we see from most companies .
We found Maram Kokandi , who took some time away from preparing to open the Park Inn by Radisson in Jeddah to discuss the significance of her trailblazing role as the first Saudi female general manager . She represents diversity for companies brave enough to believe in its potential power .
We found someone who believes in the future of eco-tourism and its ability to tame civil war in the central African mountains .
We found risk-takers , newcomers and second-generation hoteliers who are winning in business and life – not always an easy combination .
We identified all of the personalities profiled in The People Issue to inspire you to think outside the box , because we ' re at a crossroads where change must become an almost constant aspiration for companies to thrive and set a higher bar for those who come next . We congratulate all hoteliers here and beyond working with an aim to make a difference , and we hope this issue helps enthuse those still searching for their true north .
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