THE INTERVIEW
The veranda outside the ballroom at the recently renamed Montage Palmetto Bluffs in Bluffton , South Carolina
are things where Michael needs critique sometimes Jason ’ s the guy that will work through more complex issues with him , and that ’ s a great compliment .
H : Alan , how do you let go of some of the responsibility for a company you started ?
AF : With Montage , the aesthetic , design , look and feel is something that I hold on to very closely . On the Pendry side I lean on Michael ’ s eye – he ’ s very artistic , has a great flair for the design part , and even when I might not necessarily agree I am more apt to follow his instincts . I ’ m just trying to balance , let go of some of the things that on the Montage side I ’ ve controlled so closely .
H : Is there a succession plan ?
AF : We are really well situated for growth so we ’ ll just continue to grow as is . I love what I do every day and I don ’ t see that changing . I see Michael taking the lead with Pendry , growing that brand and more . Between him and Jason , and the gray hair that I have , we ’ re really well situated for many years of growth together . There is a succession plan in place … Michael is aware of that .
H : Any advice for other fatherson teams ?
AF : I have unbelievable respect for what Michael does and how he does it . I have to stop every once in a while and remind myself to give him the reinforcements and the acknowledgment of what he ’ s doing . There ’ s a tremendous amount of pressure the next generation puts on itself – greater than what I put on . I see it ; I see how hard he works . I see how personally he takes everything , and I have to try to find that balance of support and still not lose sight that he ’ s my son and enjoy the son aspects of the relationship as well as work . It ’ s been a very interesting dynamic and it ’ s just been rewarding for me .
H : How do you make the working relationship work so well ?
MF : Know what you ’ re getting into before you get into it . It ’ s been easy for me because I ’ ve always had a great relationship with my dad . I ’ ve always respected what he does . I ’ ve always known if I were ever to work for or with him I would be held to an even higher standard . So I think you just have to know what to expect before even considering working together … If you ’ re lucky enough to have this opportunity , do it . But if you don ’ t have the special relationship we have maybe consider alternatives , as well . ... But it is funny to attend industry events like the NYU investment conference , doing the panels and the funny grind , sitting through speed dating meetings , whatever party you are packed into , everybody blowing off steam and having beers , and it ’ s very funny to see my father going through these grinds alongside me . AF : Part of what makes it work is that we ’ re not trying to force something that wasn ’ t meant to be ; that we ’ re not compromising because the son , Michael , is doing something that we ’ re benefiting from . MF : There ’ s no plan for any of this . We ’ re really fortunate to have a really great relationship , and I ’ ve liked hospitality . I didn ’ t think I was necessarily 100 % going to , and I loved it . I ’ m really fortunate . I like what I ’ m doing . I like who I ’ m working with . It ’ s more special that it ’ s my dad – that we get to grow this thing together . It ’ s awesome .
44 hotelsmag . com November 2016