Monday, April 8, 2024

When I met Homi Vazifdar, I was immediately struck by his infectious smile and how much fun he seemed to be having. He instantly puts you at ease and makes you feel like he's playing a different game than others in hospitality today.

And it’s a game that is working - he and his teams at The Canyon Group have created the best resorts in the world, including Amangiri.

I left our conversation feeling motivated and inspired by what's possible, both personally and professionally, by leaning into the power of hospitality - and I think you will as well. Read on for some of my top takeaways…

TOGETHER WITH THE HUDDLE

Learn, Build, and Grow With Some of the Best Hospitality Providers Today

Through interviewing more than 400+ leaders around the world for Hospitality Daily, I’ve learned so much—but I also found that there are some limitations to how I can help you through an email, podcast, or social post. A lot of Hospitality Daily's magic has been in connecting people who are building, operating, and investing in the world of hospitality.

That's why I’ve created The Huddle. It's a private membership group where we can have those conversations, ask each other questions, and meet interesting people building interesting things in the world of hospitality.

I invite you to join us, learn, build, and grow together.

Send me an email ([email protected]) if you’re interested, and I’ll tell you more.

FEATURE STORY

Contrarian Thinking with Homi Vazifdar

Homi Vazifdar is the Founder and Chairman of The Canyon Group, a vertically integrated investment company focused on the acquisition or development of ultra-luxury and best-in-class resorts in unique destinations around the world, including Amangiri, the #1 resort in the United States.

Listen to our conversation here now

Here are a few takeaways I had from our conversation:

Embrace Contrarian Thinking

The takeaway: Don't be afraid to challenge industry norms. If you believe in a unique vision for your hospitality business, pursue it, even if it's unconventional.

Focus on Operations

One of those contrarian approaches I heard from Homi was a focus on operations first, instead of the finance-first approach many hospitality companies take.

The takeaway: A strong operational foundation is key to success. Ensure that your business’s day-to-day operations are efficient and guest-focused to drive profitability.

Think Bigger and Innovate

According to Homi, the key to doing this:

The takeaway: Always look for ways to reinvent your hospitality offerings.

Reinventing Yourself Requires Pushing Through Mental Barriers

Reinventing sounds good in practice, but it can be hard. Homi told me you need to push through mental barriers to do this.

In our conversation, he talked about the next thing he’s focused on - a spin on a hot trend that may surprise you - and also:

• Building and managing ultra-luxury resorts

• The significance of friendships and relationship building in business

• The concept of residential products alongside hospitality services

• The evolution of experiential luxury in the hospitality industry

• The influence of investment banking on the hospitality industry

• The psychology of financing ultra-luxury hospitality ventures

• The value of mentorship and personal development in hospitality careers

• Building and maintaining long-term professional relationships

Listen to our full conversation here now

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