THE INTERVIEW
“ SILENCE – ANYTHING ABOUT SILENCE . I DON ’ T KNOW IF I AM GETTING OLD , BUT SILENCE . AND CAR-LESS CITIES , BIKING CITIES , PLACES WHERE YOU CAN WALK EVERYWHERE AND NOT WASTE TIME IN TRAFFIC . THOSE ARE THE NEIGHBORHOODS WE WANT TO BE IN .”
– COUTURIER ON THE NEXT BIG THING IN HOTEL DEVELOPMENT
H : What advice would you offer a young ‘ Carlos ’ getting into the hotel business ?
CC : Follow your instinct . Have a passion . If you don ’ t have a passion nothing will happen . You have to be passionate , especially about the hospitality industry . You have to let go of your ego because guests become the centerpiece of whatever you are building . Always step back . It ’ s not about you ; it ’ s about them .
So many people tell me they want to build a hotel when they retire . I tell them , ‘ no you don ’ t .’ You have to do it when you are young and when you have the energy . If you really want to manage your own hotel , you need a lot of energy .
My son told me when he was younger ,
‘ Dad , I want to be a hotelier like you .’ I asked , ‘ Why ?’ He said , ‘ Because you are always going to parties and sipping Champagne .’ Sure , that is what people think of hoteliers . To have a great time you better wake up early and you have to love it . Otherwise , do something else .
One other thing : Do it with someone else . I don ’ t think you can build a hotel or a brand by yourself . You need great partners . I am lucky to have great partners . It ’ s like a marriage – just find the right person that can do what you don ’ t want to do or can perform as well with different expertise . Then you grow together . Otherwise , you are going to suffer in this industry . The success of Grupo Habita is because of my partners . We have a solid group .
January / February 2017 hotelsmag . com 41