View all newsletters
Latest in Luxury - Sign up to our weekly newsletter
  1. Travel
  2. Travel News
November 29, 2013

Leading Luxury Hotels – or Rather Hoteliers – Network in New York

By MARY GOSTELOW

By Mary Gostelow

From the top of the Guggenheim’s spiral

The Guggenheim as it is today is mostly Frank Lloyd Wright, although it opened October 21st, 1959, a few months after his death, and ten years after that of Solomon Guggenheim, whose inspiration it was (he lived for a long time, incidentally, at The Plaza Hotel).

The atrium rises up like a giant hollow snail shell. Wander up when it is full of people and the view back down is breathtaking.

Tonight the crowd down there comprises over 400 top luxury hotel owners and managers from around the world, saying hello to each other over glasses of Laurent-Perrier Grand Siècle. They, and the gal, are in New York for the annual Leading Hotels of the World convention.

The spiral is today showing works by Christopher Wool, an American artist who apparently has forced an ‘agile, highly focussed practice’. Really? Oh well, Valeriano Antonioli, CEO of Lungarno Collection, and I use a couple of pieces as a backcloth.

There are hoteliers here from everywhere, even Pakistan (Michel Galopin, GM of the Islamabad Serena). I meet up with the just-appointed GM of Acqualina Resort & Spa on the Beach, inSunny Isles Beach, Tamir Kobrin, whom I last saw in Delhi.

The hotel world is a small one, and a really friendly one. It is, of course, also a business. The main sessions of the three-day conference were held at The Pierre New York – a Taj Hotel. The ballroom, which can seat 600 for weddings (of which they do a lot – they even have one this New Year), was transformed into a very elegant meeting space.

Andrea Kracht opens the conference

Content from our partners
W New York - Times Square: "We Do Things Differently"
The Finest Destinations to Fly Private with Qatar Executive
A Weekend Travel Guide to Austin, Texas

The proceedings were opened by Leading’s Chairman, Andrea Kracht, owner of the Baur au Lac, Zurich (his wife Gigi Kracht is on the board of the Guggenheim, hence having the cocktail there, hosted by the Guggenheim’s gracious director, Richard Armstrong, who has just returned from talking about the forthcoming Guggenheim in Abu Dhabi).

Of course there were marketing speakers, notably a brilliant Columbia professor, Rita Gunther McGrath, who pointed out that as in any industry, competition is not necessarily in your own industry.

It has been shown in the USA, for instance, that increased spend on latest technology has diverted discretionary spend from fashion and, worryingly, travel. Individuals are moving from stable career paths to a series of gigs through life, and from infrequent job hunting to permanent career campaigns managed not by organisations but by individuals. It is essential to realise that all your assumptions will be challenged.

Another good speaker was Vera Wang, enticed by her long-time friend Grace Leo, who is on the board of Leading. Vera Wang pointed out that her main challenge in running and expanding her global fashion empire is actually people, finding them and retaining them. Her clients want to be seduced with glamour, with an allure of entertainment. Her wedding dresses translate dreams. What does she want from a hotel? Simple telephone systems, more mirrors and faster room service delivery. Would she ever do her own hotels? After wavering and talking around the question without directly answering, she said it would have to boost her existing brand.

Of course there were some easily-forgotten speakers, like two McKinsey males who gave a polished production, promoting sharing data on consumer traits – this was shot down with one verbal arrow from Gordon Campbell Gray, who said his clients, at Le Gray in Beirut, want privacy.

Gala at the American Natural History Museum

And then came the final gala, an amazing event at the American National History Museum up on the West Side, at 77th Street. Then-President of the USA Ulysses S Grant laid its cornerstone, in 1874. How amazed he would be to see how psychedelic lighting turns its rooms into a Disney-type arena.

The Pommery Cuvée Louise flowed, the jazz-bop music and singing blared (fine unless, as I was, you were seated at front tables right in front of LOUDspeakers).

Michael Frenzel, GM of The Palace Hotel, Berlin, won a Blancpain watch for being top-ranked hotel by Leaders Club members, and Giampaolo Otazzi, GM of Hotel Cipriani, Venice, won a watch for achieving top marks in LQA quality assessment. The much-loved Joe Giacoponello was deemed living legend.

Afterwards, at least 200 went back to The Pierre for the luxury hotel’s after party, which went on until 2.30am – there were hot dogs for those who were still hungry. This time next year, Leading will be meeting again, in Vienna (no, said Elisabeth Gürtler, the final gala will NOT be in The Spanish Riding School, that will be too cold).

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK

To get a 10% online discount immediately.

UNIQUE WEDDING DRESSES 2016

Bridesmaid dresses, evening dresses, mother of bride gowns and flower girl dresses

LuckyBridals has created a whole new bridal experience for the enthusiastic and sophisticated bride. We offer the possibility for the bride to experience a unique one stop location for bridal gowns online. We understand exactly how the modern bride wants to look and feel on her special day. This is why our wedding dresses 2016 are designed to create the perfect silhouette on each individual bride, allowing her to feel comfortable and look uniquely on her special day.

Below are some new arrival items.

V-neck Long Beaded Chiffon Evening Dress with Little Cap Sleeves
A-line Sleeveless Alluring Shirred Long Chiffon Evening Dress
Beaded Chiffon Cap Sleeve Open Back Empire Long Blue Evening Dress
Stunning Petaled V Neck Long Pearl Pink Chiffon Evening Dress
Lilac Chiffon Handmade Flowers Halter Neck A-line Long Evening Dress
Elegant Nude Flutter Sleeves A-line Long Chiffon Lace Evening Dress

Wedding Dresses 2016

2016 wedding dresses collection

Bridesmaid Dresses 2016

150 colors available & from $99

Bride Mother Dresses

Elegant dress for bride mothers

Evening Dresses

Womens occasion evening gowns

Open Back Wedding Dresses

Sexy open back trends design

Lace Bridesmaid Dresses

Modest lace bridal party gowns

Junior Bridesmaid Dresses

Dresses for young girls

Flower Girl Dresses

Flower girl dresses on weddings

Select and enter your email address Be the first to know about the latest in luxury lifestyle. Get the latest news on hotel openings and in-depth travel guides. Get insider access to exclusive promotions and special offers from our luxury partners.
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thank you for subscribing to Elite Traveler.

Websites in our network