SPOTLIGHT ON Marc Marrone, Culinary Consultant at Dream Doha
A glimpse of the Dream Hotel & Residences, Doha, Qatar, concept and the story behind the culinary superstar playing a senior role in making it happen.
Sharon Hirschowitz
Global Head of Media & Communications
Sharon Hirschowitz is the editor of the ILHA's magazine, Luxury Hoteliers, and is involved in content creation across all of the ILHA's platforms. She heads up the curation of the ILHA's INSPIRE conference, taking place internationally, as well as in the United States, creating the agenda and securing senior hospitality experts to speak on trending topics. As fashion editor, she was part of the launch team for the South African edition of the New York-based InStyle magazine. Prior to that, she was involved in the conception, production, styling and art direction of all instore posters, magazine ads, mailers, and television ads for Truworths, a South African department store with multiple brands, and took part in the Rooi Rose Supermodel event as a sponsor, covering it in the inhouse magazine. She has a BA English and Journalism diploma from the University of Cape Town.
Insights by Sharon Hirschowitz
The World Is So Focused On Wellbeing At Such A Critical Time.
Vishal patel
Shares how sensei has created a
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SPOTLIGHT ON Gregory Habeeb, President, North America, WorldHotels
A glimpse to the future as WorldHotels creates unique and meaningful experiences for their guests, identifying seven different types of travelers where every individual’s story is heard.
SPOTLIGHT ON Bill Petrella, Chief Executive Officer, Hotel Emma
Insight into Hotel Emma’s fascinating history as a reimagined brewery and time proven resilience through the Prohibition and now the Pandemic.
SPOTLIGHT ON Niamh O’Connell, Group Vice President – Wellness and Brand Experience, Rosewood Hotel Group
Niamh tells us how Rosewood has prioritized the shifting needs of guests, creating virtual support programs, wellness sabbaticals interwoven with workcations, and a 24-hour intensive immersion program designed to reset one’s circadian rhythm and promote sleep.
Spotlight On Emmanuel Sauvage, Co-Founder & Managing Director of EVOK
Keeping the spirit of hospitality alive in a fluctuating landscape with a sense of community and technology innovations
SPOTLIGHT ON Jesus Zalvidea, Director of Grand Palladium Costa Mujeres
Talking trends, sustainability and wellness and preparing for the year ahead.
Q&A: Joel Contor, Director of Sales & Marketing, The Kimpton Gray
Staying safe and following the CDC and WHO guidelines, along with those of the CIty of Chicago and State of Illinois, have allowed the Kimpton Gray to stay open and still tap into their creativity.
Announcing INSPIRE Conference Raffle Winners
Virtual conference, real prize winners! The ILHA is enormously grateful
to our generous sponsors who not only made the event possible but also fun.
SPOTLIGHT ON Tom Underwood, CEO, StayNTouch
ILHA interviews Tom Underwood, who had just completed his second week as the new CEO of StayNTouch, a leading cloud PMS provider for hotels.
SPOTLIGHT ON Mia Kyricos, President and Founder, Kyricos & Associates LLC
Mia talks about gaining the consumer’s trust and seizing the opportunity to reimagine your hotel wellness offerings to offer a personalized experience that meets everyone’s desires while also ensuring ROI.
Sustainability initiatives that mean something
Guests are invited to participate in the projects, to contribute their time and expertise or even to simply donate.
SPOTLIGHT ON Feisal Jaffer, Global Head of LXR Hotels & Resorts, Hilton
Feisal gives an indepth look at how Hilton has been rising to the challenges of the pandemic, the policies and procedures they have put in place to make their guests and staff feel safe as well as their Hilton EventReady program for event planners.
People making it happen
Le Barthélemy Hotel & Spa’s personalised service is exemplified through Guest Experience Manager Michael Ferreira.
Q&A: Roxie Sarhangi, Sound Healer
Roxie will be doing a sound healing meditative experience at the International Luxury Hotel Association’s INSPIRE2020 Conference. She tells us about the roots of her practice and how she is sharing her art with hotels and her virtual audience.
SPOTLIGHT ON Robert Grosz, EVP, and Chief Commercial Officer, World Cinema, Inc.
Hospitality will always be about doing things that make guests happily return. We believe that technology is an important variable in that guest satisfaction equation.
SPOTLIGHT ON David Tarr, Hyatt’s Senior Vice President, Real Estate and Development, Americas
It has been a challenging year for the hotel industry but also the opportunity to stand strong as a brand and respond with grace and compassion.
INTERVIEW: Marcus Cornelious, Director of Sales & Marketing at Sheraton Grand Chicago
Insight into their decision to close during the height of the pandemic and preparation for reopening early 2021.
SPOTLIGHT ON Russell Kett, Chairman, HVS, London
Russell joined HVS in 1995 and was appointed managing director in 1996, becoming chairman in 2012. He has received a Lifetime Achievement Award from HOSPA, the hospitality professionals’ association, in 2011, and the ‘Hall of Fame’ Lifetime Achievement Award at the Hot.E hotel investment conference in London in 2017. He shares his thoughts on the long term effects of the pandemic and strategies to survive.
SPOTLIGHT ON Gregory Maliassas, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Playa Resorts Management
We worked very hard with our hotel teams to be able to ensure that despite the fact that our safety protocols would have been crucial to a successful reopening, the guest experience would not be inferior because of those protocols.
SPOTLIGHT ON Anna Bjurstam, Senior Strategic Advisor, Six Senses
Anna is the “Wellness Pioneer” of the Six Senses brand and talks to us about how they have pivoted their wellbeing programs to reach their guests while at home and create a blueprint for the future.
SPOTLIGHT ON Jeff David, President, Fitler Club
Jeff David’s survival strategy has many layers, taking the austere measures necessary to thrive during a pandemic while also remaining mindful of their staff, community and brand DNA.
SPOTLIGHT ON Jason Kruse, General Manager at Amilla Maldives Resort and Residences and The Small Maldives Island Company
When the borders to the Maldives closed Jason and his team decided to use the time to take advantage of their setting and get creative with some innovative projects that include sustainable superfood gardening, a jungle gymnasium, “Cluckinghampalace” and more.
ILHA NorthEast Webinar Series: Market Recovery Trends
The lodging industry is various shades of bad until the COVID case count is reduced.
SPOTLIGHT ON Mathias Cocuron, Regional Director of Finance, Four Season Hotel London at Park Lane
Mathias gives us an insight into the thoughtful process behind their reopening strategies and the creative initiatives they have put in place to reduce costs and take care of their staff.
SPOTLIGHT ON Nicolas Ilickovic, General Manager, Amanpuri, Thailand
Nicolas talks about how his staff are prepared to provide exemplary service while following new safety protocols, and the Integrated Medical Immune Support Immersion at their Holistic Wellness Centre, led by highly trained physicians.
SPOTLIGHT ON Stephen Meredith, General Manager, Taj Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai
Taj Hotels, a subsidiary of the Indian Hotels Company, expanded into the Middle East with the opening of its second hotel, Taj Jumeirah Lakes Towers. Stephen Meredith tells us how the 200 room hotel with views of the Emirates Golf Club, Dubai Marina and the Arabian Gulf, are prepared and ready for their guests.
The Future of Hotel Design
The International Luxury Hotel Association’s NorthEast Chapter hosted a webinar on The Future of Design where they discussed how they have had to respond to the crisis in current projects and adapt with innovative solutions and technologies while placing a renewed value on vendor relationships as we all face a pandemic reality.
SPOTLIGHT ON Anna Domingo, Founder, PADZZLE
Brands need to stay connected to their community by building trust and engaging with their guests each step of the journey. Safety is key and investment in technology is essential as contactless solutions, AI and loyalty based programs determine success.
SPOTLIGHT ON Elizabeth Blau, Founder & CEO of Blau + Associates
Elizabeth reinvented the Las Vegas culinary scene, transforming it into a lively experience with celebrity chefs and world-class dining. Her clients include New York’s Rainbow Room, Montage Resorts, Ritz Carlton Hotels and Resorts, Netjets, Celebrity Cruises, Trump Casinos, and Viceroy Hotels, to mention a few. She also moderated The International Luxury Hotel Association’s webinar on the Future of F&B, facilitating a discussion with experts on real-life challenges in an unprecedented time.
SPOTLIGHT ON Roland Fasel, Chief Operating Officer, Aman
Offering guests a sanctuary that is safe but still retains the DNA of the Aman brand is at the forefront of the group’s philosophy as they navigate the new travel landscape. Advice: your staff are at the center of everything you do. Focus on the elements you can control to offer genuine, heartfelt hospitality.
SPOTLIGHT ON Oliver Ripley, Co-Founder & CEO of Habitas
Habitas is using the downtime to work on its brand expansion into Mexico, Central America, Asia, and the Middle East over the next couple of years. Oliver shares the thought process behind the Habitas concept and their approach to the pandemic.
SPOTLIGHT ON Brian de Lowe, President & Co-Founder, Proper Hospitality
A glimpse into the life of a unique hotel group stretching the limits on surprising and delighting their guests.
SPOTLIGHT ON Sebastien Silvestri, CEO, The Dinex Group
It is inspiring to see such a dynamic and purposeful approach to a catastrophic event. Sebastien talks about Chef Daniel’s generosity towards his team and first responders as his restaurants closed. He also outlines their plan for the future, with safety a priority and innovative ideas to keep guests entertained.
SPOTLIGHT ON Santiago Rodriguez, Director of Operations, Nobu Hotels
As former chief operating officer for Nobu Restaurants and director of operations for Nobu Hotels, Santi is the opening task force manager for this global brand.
INTERVIEW: Romy Bhojwani, Head of Hospitality Asset Management, Brookfield
The International Luxury Hotel Association spoke with Romy Bhojwani during the COVID-19 crisis to understand how the hotel industry is being affected and what strategies he is putting in place for the future.
SPOTLIGHT ON Jerry Henry, CEO of H2R Market Research
What factors are travelers using to determine whether it is safe to travel and how is this influencing their travel behavior? Market research by H2R Market Research gives a glimpse into the state of the traveler’s mind as they navigate their own journey through the health crisis that is having a profound affect on the luxury hotel sector.
SPOTLIGHT ON Michelle Woodley, President, Preferred Hotels & Resorts
Michelle details creative imaginings their hotels are designing so that guests can have fun while feeling safe. She talks about the last three months in travel, their Open Road Series, and what the future could possibly hold.
SPOTLIGHT ON Kathy Conroy, MAI, Senior Managing Director, Miami, HVS
Kathy explores options for hotels facing difficult decisions and discusses how lower than normal new construction will assist hotels in the long run.
SPOTLIGHT ON Neil Jacobs, Chief Executive Officer, Six Senses
Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas have been the leaders in sustainability and wellness before the concepts were on the radar as trends worth talking about in the industry. Neil goes into depth about their thought process behind the brand and their unique narrative.
SPOTLIGHT ON Ofra Gelman, Principal, Dwell Design Studio
Ofra’s first project was the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas followed by the design and construction of the Mirage Conference Center. Both had no budget nor deadline. She has since had a reality check and has done extensive work on both hotels and mixed-use projects. The ILHA asked her how COVID-19 has affected the design industry and its influence for years to come.
SPOTLIGHT ON Anna Domingo, Founder, PADZZLE
Brands need to stay connected to their community by building trust and engaging with their guests each step of the journey. Safety is key and investment in technology is essential as contactless solutions, AI and loyalty based programs determine success.
SPOTLIGHT ON David T’Kint, Principle of HBA EMEA
A glimpse into the future as COVID-19 challenges hotel design to be more sustainable and relevant, moving agiley to reflect the importance of wellness, privacy and space. David T’Kint, who has worked on some of the most prestigious hotel brands, including the Great Scotland Yard in London’s Whitehall, talks about how this will be reflected in the aesthetic experience.
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The Future of F&B
Elizabeth Blau, Founder & CEO of Blau+Associates moderated the International Luxury Hotel Association’s webinar on The Future of F&B, with panelists Santi Rodriguez, Operations Director, Nobu Hotels, Sebastien Silvestri, CEO, Dinex, Steven Kamali, Founder, Hospitality House, and Daniel Hostettler, President, Relais & Châteaux, North America & Group Managing Director, OHM Collection.
SPOTLIGHT ON Euan McGlashan, Global Co-founder & Chief Executive Officer, Valor Hospitality Partners
Valor Hospitality has been raising the bar on guest experience, investing, owning and operating hotels worldwide that have a unique story to tell, from luxury safari lodges in Africa to the recent acquisition of the Kimpton hotel The Rouge in DC. Euan McGlashan has led the way.
SPOTLIGHT ON Arlene Coke, Director Accounting, Treasure & Strategic Relationship, Club Med
Sustainability is more than a trend, it’s a way of life that the luxury hospitality industry is investing both its time and resources into towards a better future for the next generation and our planet. Arlene tells us about Club Med’s sustainability initiatives, their challenges, and the importance of having the right partners who also want to do the right thing.
SPOTLIGHT ON Joël RANDRIAMANDRANTO, Minister of Transport, Tourism, and Meteorology, Madagascar
The minister spoke at the International Luxury Hotel Association’s INSPIRE’19 Summit in Miami about how their new government has made tourism a priority and are attracting travelers to visit the beautiful island to explore their unique natural resources.
SPOTLIGHT ON Matt Stuhl, Vice President of Restaurants, Bars and Events, Hyatt Hotels
Matt took part in the International Luxury Hotel Association’s INSPIRE’19 Summit panel talking about partnerships and the importance of building a network of like-minded partners.
Navigating Today’s Hotel Financing & Transaction Environment
The International Luxury Hotel Association (ILHA) hosted its second in a series of timely and topical webinars, hosted by the NorthEast Chapter, with Navigating Today’s Hotel Financing & Transaction Environment.
SPOTLIGHT ON Martin Smura, CEO, Kempinski
Appointed as CEO in 2019, Mr. Smura talks about the group’s expansion internationally, as well as their first property in New York, situated close to Rockefeller Center. At the heart of this growth are the Kempinski Brand Standards that set the tone for personalized guest service along the entire journey.
SPOTLIGHT ON Azadeh Hawkins, Creative Director, Montage International
Azadeh will be speaking on the Partnerships – Expand your Narrative panel at the International Luxury Hotel Association’s INSPIRE’19 event where she will share how she lead the Pendry Hotels & Resorts’ collaboration with like-minded partners and also Montage International, to create unique experiences for their guests.
SPOTLIGHT ON Bridgit Tran, Vice President, Global Digital Strategies & Innovation, Nobu
Bridget will be talking about how hoteliers need to change their approach to Digital Revenue Optimization to a profit-forward strategy at the International Luxury Hotel Association’s INSPIRE’19 summit. Here she explains her thinking behind this concept, along with how she has lead phase 1 of their new adaptive website.
SPOTLIGHT ON Alex S. Furrer, General Manager, The Setai, Miami Beach
Alex has spent the last seven years at The Setai, Miami Beach, leading the Quality and Training program that earned them the 2015 Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Award. Guest Satisfaction, loyalty and developing new business with high profile partnerships like Art Basel Miami Beach are key components to his successful leadership of the 90-room hotel, 40 luxury suites and the 125-unit residences.
SPOTLIGHT ON Jaclyn Riley, Hospitality Brand Marketing & Communications Consultant
We caught up with our INSPIRE ‘19 emcee Jaclyn Riley, a hospitality brand marketing and communications consultant who launched Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants internationally after overseeing all communications for the hotels and resorts in the Eastern U.S. and the Caribbean.
SPOTLIGHT ON Deborah Yager Fleming, CEO and partner of Acqualina Resort and Spa on the beach
Deborah joined the Acqualina pre-opening team in 2004 and in 2011 she became a partner in the hotel with ownership interest. She has been the driving force behind their Forbes Five Star Award and AAA Five Diamond award, and heads the hotel’s Executive Committee, seeing the brands long term strategies through from conception to execution.
SPOTLIGHT ON Jean-Pierre Lacroix, President, SLD
Jean-Pierre is a visionary design thinker who is dedicated to working with retail brands on interpreting the latest trends for their business and creating strategies that have measurable results. He will be discussing the future at the ILHA’s event in Miami and shares some detail on his talk as well as mistakes brands make when defining their future.
SPOTLIGHT ON Shadi Omeish, General Manager, 1 Hotel South Beach
We were fortunate enough to stay at the 1 Hotel South Beach late last year just as the weather was starting to cool but the days warm enough to enjoy an afternoon relaxing around the pool.
SPOTLIGHT ON Beth Campbell, CEO of Wilson Associates
Beth spoke at the International Luxury Hotel Association’s INSPIRE’18 Summit in Las Vegas on Creating Experience Through Design and highlighted trends that they have incorporated in recent projects. She has over 25 years of experience in global design and has worked on a diverse portfolio of luxury projects that include the Renaissance Xi’an Hotel in China, the Skye Niseko in Japan, Four Seasons Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, the Elysium Hotel in Paphos, Cyprus, and the Marriott Taghazout Bay opening in Morocco late 2019.
SPOTLIGHT ON David Varley, Vice President – Food & Beverage, Canyon Ranch
How can you not get excited listening to David talk about his passion for plant-facing cuisine and inspiring guests to take their recipes home? A trendsetter in the luxury hospitality food & beverage realm, he is dedicated to leading the way to wellness through the art of healthy eating.
SPOTLIGHT ON Stowe Shoemaker, Dean, Harrah College of Hospitality, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Stowe was kind enough to host the International Luxury Hotel Association’s launch party for our INSPIRE’18 Summit in Las Vegas at their brand new campus and also moderate the session Insights from the Asset Managers with Romy Bhojwani and David Israel from HotelAVE. His passion for the process of learning and hospitality is palatable and inspiring as he constantly strives to transform the student experience.
SPOTLIGHT ON Jay Stein, CEO, Dream Hotel Group
We are committed to the philosophy that forward-thinking design, service and guest experiences should be available across all market segments.
SPOTLIGHT ON Do Van Dan, Founder & CEO of Elegance Hospitality Group, Vietnam
A true story of simple beginnings, hard work and a passion for the hotel world that started with a Receptionist position in a 4-star hotel in Hanoi. Do Van Dan understands the importance of guest experience and places it at the core of their philosophy.
SPOTLIGHT ON Robert Cima, Regional Vice President and General Manager, Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village, California
So, we look at how you can get your community to adopt you, how do you become the mousetrap that everyone is attracted to. You need to have great therapists, we don’t hire anyone unless they have 2,000 hours on the table.
SPOTLIGHT ON David Goldstone, President for the Americas, DigiValet
Mood lighting, themed wake up and drapes slowly opening to a set wake up are other innovations that we are proud of. This leads me into personalization – at the luxury and ultra-luxury level where more than 80% are returning guests, hotels today put tremendous effort into remembering their guest preferences – our technology makes this seamless for a hotel, whether it be their desired room temperature, pillow preference, TV channels or dining requests.
SPOTLIGHT ON Ellis O’Connor, Co-President and Asset Manager, MSD Hospitality
As Co-Founder and Co-President of MSD Hospitality, Ellis O’Connor has an impressive portfolio of properties under his leadership, including the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai and the Hualalai Resort, both on the Big Island of Hawaii, and the Fairmont Miramar Hotel and Bungalows in Santa Monica California.
SPOTLIGHT ON Jonathan Pogash, President & Owner, The Cocktail Guru
Educator and consultant for bars, restaurants, and well-known beverage brands, and voted “Best Craft Cocktails of New England” by Yankee Magazine, Jonathan Pogash tells us how hotels are getting it right, where he can work with them on improving their bar program and highlights trends for 2018.
SPOTLIGHT ON NADINE SYKORA, Travel Influencer – Top Travel Vlogger
Nadine Sykora has some impressive statistics behind her. She is the top travel influencer and travel videographer on Youtube having made over 800 videos gaining 40 million+ views. Here, she talks about identifying the right travel blogger for your property and how to build a successful partnership where both of you benefit.
SPOTLIGHT ON Roland Herlory, Chief Executive Officer Vilebrequin
The story behind the French luxury swimwear brand, Vilebrequin, is dreamy, spirited and inspirational. Their dedication to true style, quality, and an endless summer comes across in their vibrant prints and interesting collaborations. In this interview, Roland Herlory dips into their story, successful partnerships, and the way forward.
SPOTLIGHT ON Christian Glauser Benz, Vice President, Development & Acquisitions, Dream Hotel Group
Christian Glauser Benz heads up the expansion of Dream Hotels across all regions with a focus on the South-East US, Latin America, and the Caribbean. The brand is pushing the boundaries of guest experience, incorporating so many of the much talked about hotel trends and focusing on the guest, their journey, and their dream.
SPOTLIGHT ON Jonathan Blue, Chairman & Managing Director, Blue Equity
Bringing sophisticated technology and self-sustaining infrastructure to a remote island destination is no mean feat. Jonathan Blue takes us through the exciting journey of creating an ultra-luxury, self-sustaining paradise resort in the jungle.
SPOTLIGHT ON Geoffrey Toffetti, President, Frontline Performance Group
Geoffrey Toffetti began his career in hospitality as a valet, eventually working his way up to Director of Guest services for Fortune Hotels in St. Petersburg Beach, FL (now the Tradewinds Island Grand). During his tenure, he learned the true nature of service, and how to achieve outstanding revenue performance while providing world-class guest experiences.
SPOTLIGHT ON: Tom Marchant, Owner, and Co-Founder of The Black Tomato Group
Tom prefers to do things differently, and The Black Tomato Group is an extension of his philosophy, creating bespoke travel experiences that start with the dream and discover the destination on the way. Here he talks about truly connecting, engaging and creating experiences that are transformative, and tells us about some favorite travel destinations you’ll want to visit.
SPOTLIGHT ON Daniel Hostettler, President and Group Managing Director at OHM Collection, Relais & Châteaux
Daniel Hostettler talks about Relais & Château’s dedication to both their guests and the environment when exploring culinary trends, or, as he prefers, culinary convictions. As President and Managing Director of Ocean House since the development of the resort in 2009, he has played a pivotal role in the exceptional and sincere performance of Ocean House and its two sister properties, the Weekapaug Inn and Watch Hill Inn.
