THE INTERVIEW : MARK HARMON
Suite at Esperanza Resort in Cabo San Lucas , Mexico
Bath at The Inn at Palmetto Bluff , Bluffton , South Carolina
Cottage at Auberge du Soleil , California
vegan , gluten-free or vegetarian cuisine or whatever guests wish . We are also offering many more performancebased fitness programs . Our recent partnership with the Aspen Club has allowed us to offer some very cool performance programs that have become a big hit with our guests .
H : What former must-haves aren ’ t vital anymore ?
MH : Large , formal restaurants are things of the past . Today ’ s guests appreciate a relaxed environment with innovative cuisine and a lively , fun atmosphere . An example is SolBar at Solage Calistoga in the Napa Valley . At SolBar Executive Chef Brandon Sharp has come up with a comforting approach that is always innovative and features the best of the local products in a very relaxed setting .
H : What ’ s the latest must-have or must-do item on your desk ?
MH : Social media is truly an important area for us as hoteliers . We want to be visible in whatever channels our guests may use as a resource to discover our resorts , or to communicate with us , or others . We have a large fan base on Facebook , and our fans share insights on their experiences , which provide us with great feedback . In turn , that helps us innovate and be responsive to our guests . We are active on Twitter and have a great board of images on Pinterest . Pinterest has been wonderful , since sharing vacation or wedding photos is a great way to tell a story .
H : Where do you envision the resort market heading ?
MH : In the past 10 to 12 years , a lot of resort areas were overbuilt . Now , the real estate paradigm is shifting . There will always be resort real estate at the high end , but the residence club model will be important . Things are quiet right now , but in the next five to 10 years , residence clubs and villas will likely start to take over . Guests want a sense of community — a second home feeling . A hotel room can ’ t give them that . H : How is that affecting your pipeline ? MH : Casa Tropicalia , an Auberge Resort in the Dominican Republic , is now scheduled for a 2015 opening , and the Auberge Residences at the Aspen Club in Aspen , Colorado , is scheduled for a 2014 opening . Both these projects are essentially groundup developments . In addition to those two development projects , we have
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