Luxury Hoteliers Magazine 2nd Quarter 2020 | Page 40

We will also add our very first property in New York by the end of 2020. Originally built in 1927, the property is strategically located in Manhattan’s central and Midtown East, close to the Rockefeller Center and the Museum of Modern Art. The property is being completely refurbished and will re-open as The 7Pines Kempinski Manhattan by the end of next year. WHAT IS YOUR STRATEGY ROLLING OUT SUCH AN AMBITIOUS PROJECT? The hospitality industry finds itself in a period of great change. The last 10 years have been marked by major consolidation with aggressive growth strategies. If we want to compete, there is no other choice than to grow as well. But we won’t grow at all costs and will only focus on hotel development projects that can deliver the brand promise in terms of product and performance. So far, the Kempinski strategy was based on management contracts. In future, our expansion will also include the acquisition of properties to leverage our core business of Hotel Management services to create additional value through real estate. HOW DO YOU APPROACH PROGRAMMING AND CUSTOMIZED GUEST EXPERIENCES? Delivering the Kempinski brand promise across every aspect of hotel operations – from concept creation through to quality management – is at the heart of the company’s plans to achieve longterm value growth. We follow the guest journey from pre-arrival to post-departure and infuse each guest connection point with Kempinski brand essence through robust Brand Standards. Also, we have for many of our properties, specific standards underlining the uniqueness of the place. Besides the technology assisting us in enhancing our guests’ stay, the most important part of customization is certainly the human factor, and we empower our people to create personalized moments for our guests. We continuously foster and celebrate the culture of hospitality - paying attention to the little clues guests give us, and surprising them with a little extra attention tailored to their needs. 40 ILHA