Are the best hotels just fun art projects for rich people - or real businesses that can make money?
I know that might sound a little crazy, but I couldn't shake this feeling after staying at some exceptional hotels around the world over the past few years. I posted about this a while back on LinkedIn, and it seems I'm not the only one thinking this 😅
I knew I had to ask Bashar Wali, the legendary hotelier and CEO of Practice Hospitality and This Assembly, who's been behind some of the hottest hotels and brands in the world, about it. Today, Bashar doesn't just answer my question - he takes us on a journey through what's happening in hospitality today.
Bashar Wali
The big idea: The best hotels can't be created using checklists. They're created by artists, but that doesn't mean they can't be profitable businesses at the same time.
Why this matters: Soul in hospitality is everything. You can buy all the pieces of a "cool" hotel, but unless it has soul, it's going to feel off.
Putting this into practice:
Work with artists, and cultivate your own creativity. (Check out some of these episodes if you want creative inspiration.)
If you're in a position to do this, don’t shy away from being the public face of your company. (I’d argue that this is a good mentality to operate from regardless of whether you're the founder of the company or not – leading with yourself and your humanity is where great hospitality starts. CoralTree CEO Tom Luersen has some great thoughts on this here.)
Find a problem to fix. This was Bashar's closing advice, and it is something that all of us can apply to our work today. Solving problems for customers is how great businesses are built.
Listen now to the full conversation on this on the Hospitality Daily Podcast (Apple Podcasts, Spotify)
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-Josiah
