AHOY , LADIES AND GENTLEMEN
AHOY , LADIES AND GENTLEMEN
talk to . And we have been completely blown away by the response of everybody in the individual neighborhoods that have been so excited , because it gives everybody a chance to grow their businesses and be more successful … If we have a hotel that has a great coffee shop right next to it , we ’ re not going to open a coffee shop in the hotel , because that ’ s going to destroy somebody ’ s business . It ’ s about being complementary to the neighborhood , rather than destroying it . H : What about Muji entering the space ? DB : The Muji ( prototype ) room looks exactly as you would expect in a Muji store . Everything tends to be from that . Whereas we are a little bit more eclectic , a lot more layers to the brand , and , as I said , everything being individually designed for each hotel sets it apart . I think everyone ’ s watching what happens with West Elm , and there will probably be quite a few decisions made by the end of next year
Prototypes of a West Elm bedroom ( l .) and living room .
ON TRAINING : " I WORRY THAT IF YOU ’ RE NOT TRAINED PROPERLY IN THE VERY BEGINNING AND YOU DON ’ T HAVE ONGOING TRAINING , THEN YOU ’ VE GOT NO PERSONAL INCENTIVE TO STAY ."
— DAVID BOWD and saying OK , this is an area that we can diversify into . All eyes are upon us , for sure , right now .
H : What do you think the hotel industry needs right now ?
DB : I worry that there ’ s not enough training in the industry , which is what Salt School was about , which is what West Elm Academy is about . But it doesn ’ t stop there . What I really want to see the West Elm Academy , Salt School become within the industry is where we can help you develop your next position . H : Anything surprising about the retail side ? DB : From the minute a retail company signs a lease to go into a high street to opening the doors , it ’ s super , super quick . They change the style so frequently … The commonality between the two is the passion and the design and the eye for detail , but it ’ s a much bigger area than the hotel world is , for sure .
Ritz-Carlton Hotel Co . is heading for the high seas . Next spring it begins taking reservations for the first of three small cruise ships that will set sail starting in 2019 . The first vessel will offer 149 suites and two penthouses . With the largest cabins in the cruise business and Michelin-starred chefs leading F & B offerings , brand President and COO Herve Humler says The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection will be the costliest ticket in cruises going ; he says he needs 12,000 guests per year to achieve 90 % occupancy .
About 10 years in the making , Ritz-Carlton partnered with maritime experts Douglas Prothero and Lars Clasen , in collaboration with funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management .
With 405,000 Ritz- Carlton guests telling the brand that they had taken a cruise in the previous year , the company thinks their future is watertight .
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