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 Brittany Farb , Associate Editor 1.312.274.2229 E-mail : bfarb @ hotelsmag . com Dani Friedland , Managing Editor , New Media 1.312.274.2223 E-mail : dfriedland @ mtgmediagroup . 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 Michelle Villadolid , Freelance Design E-mail : mvilladolid @ 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
INTERNATIONAL ADVISORY BOARD Nakul Anand Executive Director , ITC Ltd ., Gurgaon , India Stephen Bartolin Chairman , The Broadmoor , Colorado Springs , Colorado Geoffrey Gelardi Managing Director , The Lanesborough , London Kirk Kinsell President & CEO , Loews Hotels & Resorts , New York City 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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A shot of inspirAtion
Keywords we use to make content decisions include “ inspiring , elegant and global ,” and this month we truly want to focus on inspiration and aspiration . What has become our annual summer Hot issue we hope offers a view of what ’ s trending in operations , as well as insights into the people making waves and breaking away from traditions .
One can ’ t helped but be inspired by the decision Marriott International CEO Arne Sorenson has made to take on the job of a lifetime , leading the team tasked with the monumental job of
Editor In Chief integrating Starwood into the giant Marriott system . This was not a job he had to take on as his mentor , Bill Marriott , first asked him if this was what he really wanted . But in talking to Arne , you can tell he sees this as the challenge of a lifetime , and he ’ s truly excited about defining what will surely become his professional legacy .
On the other end of the spectrum you have Christian Boyens , who has had to overcome multiple obstacles to re-launch what is no doubt one of the world ’ s most iconic hotels , The Ritz Paris . It was set to open on June 1 after a top-to-bottom , almost four-year refurbishment , which carefully combines the old with the new , not to mention the managing director ’ s formidable task of taking his team back up to 500 from the 25 charged with leading the renovation . The eyes of the world are on The Ritz and Boyens . I won ’ t hide it : I ’ m rooting for affable and dedicated Arne and Christian . Across the pages of this issue , take further inspiration from new ideas in design , F & B and technology , where thought leaders are helping define what ’ s important now . For example , read how The Gettys Group in Chicago revamped the once-traditional lobby of the Renaissance Chicago Downtown into one that reflects how today ’ s consumers want to live with amenities including the Staytion Market & Bar , which serves local ales and lagers , hand-crafted cocktails and local street food . A high-low design approach pairs high-end finishes with raw , gritty , concrete and graffiti-inspired surfaces .
Speaking of cocktails , you can also learn about how hotels bars aren ’ t just mixing the drinks – they ’ re brewing , distilling and fermenting them , too . Cocktails are the rage and bar managers are most often focused on giving customers unique choices by partnering with local distilleries and breweries , or making their own batches of hooch to create stories and no doubt energize high-profit sales .
Of course , we do not leave out technology and this month we open our Trending section with a piece on messaging , which nicely compliments the Hot Technology section ’ s lead about guest experience apps . The takeaway on both stories : personalization rules the day and mobile is the only way to do it . If you can show guests service delivery excellence on their terms this is the way forward – like it or not .
Enjoy our summertime Hot issue . We hope we have served up some tasty and refreshing ideas and inspiration .
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