Internally , Fasel is committed to creating a purpose-driven company with clear values and brand pillars where everybody understands the goal is to create sanctuaries for guests . “ I have a very detailed brand architecture established first and foremost . So , every decision then becomes much easier to make … A lot of people start with strategy ; I start with purpose values and then the strategies support the purpose .”
More personally , as a leader , Fasel says he operates quite relaxed on multiple levels . “ The people I usually get along with have high emotional intelligence – who have respect and understand the context they ’ re in , are friendly and open in their communication style .”
Fasel also says he gets along better with people who have passions outside the hotel business as he remains very curious and passionate about what is going on around him in the world . The former marathon runner who tries to lead a healthy lifestyle still runs , plays polo , roots for the Chelsea football club and sleeps properly . He says he loves his rock ‘ n roll music and tries to get to shows as often as possible , sometimes with his lifelong mates from back home in Switzerland . “ We still do things together , travel together ,” Fasel says . “ It keeps me grounded , as well .”
When asked if he ’ s made any mistakes during his career , Fasel says for the longest time he struggled to find work-life balance . “ It took me a long time to finally understand the different stakeholders and to protect my inner circle significantly more than everybody else ,” he admits .
What changed ? The rewards of having children , naturally . “ When decisions were to be made between family and business , I started to make decisions for the family first , and it didn ’ t harm any of my progress ,” Fasel says . “ We ’ ve become quite a tight unit and it helps with everything else .”
So , what ’ s next to accomplish for Fasel ? Growth through the next cycle , he says , with potentially new structures and approaches to the business . “ That ’ s , again , new learnings , new investors , board meetings – all that discipline .”
But in the next breath , Fasel talks about more exploring with his family and eventually becoming a grandfather .
“ It ’ s an absolutely brilliant business ,” he adds . “ But it takes a certain degree of resilience and a great degree of agility . You have to stay focused , but I do believe if you are able to go through the learning years there is no limit to what you can achieve .”
Outdoor terrace dining at the new Aman in New York City
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