Skift Take
Big brands have a tendency for stasis: I'm particularly interested to see how AI and new technology will soften the ground for a new wave of hospitality entrepreneurs and visionaries to shape a very dynamic industry, particularly in emerging markets like Saudi.
On Experience
Colin Nagy, a marketing strategist, writes this opinion column for Skift on hospitality and business travel. On Experience dissects customer-centric experiences and innovation across the luxury sector, hotels, aviation, and beyond. He also covers the convergence of conservation and hospitality.
You can read all of his writing here.
I last checked in at the half-year, highlighting the few brands, ideas, and services that deserved a hat tip for their executions. There were a lot of exciting ideas: At that point, we'd gone from the precariousness of a global pandemic into a full-throttle, growth sprint for luxury. Interest in high-end experiences continued to surge, along with eye-watering room rates.
In a sense, hospitality is in the catbird seat: It is in the business of human relationships, care, and empathy. And it exists in the real, physical world.
Other industries may get blown apart by AI. The core hospitality business will remain unchanged: Care, detail, and rarity are among the details that make a luxury experience and they all can continue to exist and be elevated.
And many brands are embracing change and pushing forward. The industry gets a tad too obsessed with the latest "best-of" lists. I've handpicked the brands and experiences I highlight below and believe they execute with integrity and have a strong point of view. Be sure to go deeper with me on the brands and the ideas and leaders behind them with my Skift Ideas Podcast.
Most Inspired OpeningsTrunk Hotel Tokyo: I’ve long been a fan of the Trunk Hotel in Tokyo, and their recent addition on Yoyogi Park feels like a refuge in the urban jungle. It’s a sleek, minimal yet plush boutique situated in one of the most interesting parts of Tokyo. The rooftop pool, overlooking the foliage with a chic oyster bar is the icing on the cake.
Hotel Chelsea: For a hotel that has so much history and importance to the neighborhood, it takes a deft hand to not screw it up. Fortunately the refresh of the Chelsea stalwart is inspired: They tapped into the history of the hotel, added some familiar touches from its other rock & roll hotel, the Bowery, and added an essential lobby bar.
The Georgian: The Georgian is the b-side to the other essential stay in Santa Monica, the Proper Hotel. The team re-booted an art-deco classic dating back to 1933, adding a dose of historical gravitas and much-neeeded elegance to Westside LA.
South American brand to watchI’ve taken to calling Awasi the “Singita of South America.” It operates at a hi