EDITOR ’ S DIARY
PASSION FOR HOSPITALITY
WHAT ’ S YOUR
HURRY ?
As a new decade begins , we read all the predictions related to new hotel technologies , ranging from virtual reality to facial recognition and robots . I cringe , and I am not the only one who looks foolish in VR goggles . Please give me the slow life and anticipatory , personal service and check-in all day , every day .
Shrewd investors KSL Capital Partners and GIC , a sovereign wealth fund established by the government of Singapore , recently invested US $ 200 million into veteran hotelier Sonu Shivdasani ’ s sustainably focused Soneva brand and its barefoot ,
Editor In Chief no news , slow life hospitality philosophy . I am very excited to speak with Sonu soon to find out how he plans to grow the brand without spoiling what has made it so special and maintaining a devoted following – environmentally sensitive wellness prgramming inside a uniquely design space . While Sonu struggled to develop the Six Senses brand he created , investors seems to think he has the right formula with ultra-luxury priced Soneva . Call me old school , but I agree with his new investors .
This is where it is at , people . Create hotels that cater to stressed-out guests . Even the next-gen guest is growing up and starting to appreciate the benefits of the slow life .
When I read about how the experiential movement is taxing operators struggling to come up with a truly unique proposition or promotion , I think maybe it is simply about doing a better job catering to the basics , including thoughtful and creative F & B that is not overdone and is incorporated into wellness practices . Wellness tourism is growing at a 6.5 % annual rate and could be the best space to bet your capex .
Let me give you a fun example : The Kimpton Gray Hotel in Chicago is teaming up with wellness media company ASweatlife for a wellness and goal-setting event , the # Sweatworking Summit , in late January . The hashtag gives you the tech fix , if it makes you feel better . Workshops , curated brand activations and wellness-driven programming are at the heart of the event . It is thoughtful and focuses on mindful eating , career growth and self-care . There will be workouts , yoga classes , group massages and a happy hour . There will also be a lounge with curated products and experiences representing travel and wellness trends , ranging from cannabis to meditation . It ’ s cool , it speaks to next-gen and it ’ s all about self-care .
I know technology can and will play a huge role in the success of any hotel company , but keep most of it in the back-of -the-house to control costs and drive yield during uncertain geopolitical times .
Yes , self-check-in is convenient and you need to make the call as to whether it fits your product , but if you slow down it might act as your greatest differentiator yet .
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 Bert Ganzon , Senior Art Director 1.312.274.2227 E-mail : bganzon @ mtgmediagroup . com Steve Vanden Heuvel , Vice President / Creative 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 Judith Crown , Megan Rowe , Juliana Shallcross , 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 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
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6 hotelsmag . com January / February 2020