Your pieces are consistently so great! I especially liked your sargassum one. I thought of it this week as I added the lobby bar bullet about Mexico’s government committing some money to the problem
Thank you, Anne Marie - really appreciate this. It's been really fun finding a community of people on Substack who love hotels from both the travel and development side. Thank you for the mention!
This issue was such a good read, thank you for putting together the substack list. I've been meaning to find more writers in this space and you just handed me a reading list for the next month. Already subscribed to a few, Nadine's The Stanza and Leah Nanpei's Imperfect Process look right up my alley given the design side of what I do.
The suite conversion point landed hardest for me professionally. I'm on the design side of hospitality (architecture and interiors, based between Dubai and India), and this is exactly what I've been pushing for on current projects, shrinking the entry category room count and putting more of the floorplate into suites and connecting configurations. Reading it framed as a K shaped demand signal rather than just a design instinct is useful, it gives me a sharper argument for why that allocation makes sense right now.
The multigenerational and staffed villa point also tracks with where I've been steering layouts, more flexible connecting configurations and family friendly suite clusters, less emphasis on the single dramatic honeymoon suite.
Appreciate the work that goes into an issue like this every week. Looking forward to reading through the rest of that substack list.
Wonderful! I’m so glad you found my article useful. It’s been an interesting couple of years on the travel planning side, seeing this all play out. I’d love to hear more about your design experience for hotels. What are you seeing currently in design demand pull from owners / investors vs travelers? Are they aligned?
So many interesting points made here! When will the US hotels shift to meet the needs of luxury clients who feel the need to fly to Europe for the caliber of service they are looking for?
Such a gem of an article. Perfectly illustrates why, economically, it makes more sense than ever to focus on what makes a hotel or destination worth experiencing vs obsessing over what may make said place go viral
Thanks Sarah! I think the Amanvari scandal is perfect example - gorgeous hard product, but if the service isn’t there, no one is going to go see it. Hotels too often focus on the hard product and not the soft.
As a researcher I find these trends super interesting to read about. While I'm not necessarily in the same bracket as your clients, I also prefer to spend on travel instead of bags. This also had me checking prices for the basic rooms at some of my fav luxury hotels 😅
Check the Rosewood Mandarina - their rates are really good right now for entry level rooms, and it’s a gorgeous property! Chileno Bay as well has low rates into Sept.
Thank you so much for including me on your list of recommendations. I am honored to be included with such fabulous writers and professionals.
Your pieces are consistently so great! I especially liked your sargassum one. I thought of it this week as I added the lobby bar bullet about Mexico’s government committing some money to the problem
Thank you, and yes the government stepping in I am sure is a sigh of relief to many.
Excited to be including in this list! Also - so happy to hear about Hilton's cutting fees; FINALLY something for the owners!
Right?? Franchise owners have had a rough go of it being squeezed from all sides
Thank you, Anne Marie - really appreciate this. It's been really fun finding a community of people on Substack who love hotels from both the travel and development side. Thank you for the mention!
I think hotels are my love language
Thanks for including us and so many others! 🫶 We followed a ton of accounts we hadn’t come across yet!
Oh good! That was my intention. I’ve found some great writers on here worthy of your reading
Thank you for the mention and for the kind words Anne Marie!
Thank you so much for the shout out Anne Marie! I'm honored to be included alongside your work and so many wonderful recommendations.
Your art is so gorgeous
Thank you!!
I’m so honored to be included and thank you so much for the kind words!!!!
Really love everything you write on here!
A great big picture review of travel trends! Very interesting. Thank you for the mention!
Thank you for the mention!
Thanks for being such a great supporter of other writers
It is really my pleasure. I have gotten to know some great folks here through the process. And that community love really showed up for me last week.
Hi Anne Marie,
This issue was such a good read, thank you for putting together the substack list. I've been meaning to find more writers in this space and you just handed me a reading list for the next month. Already subscribed to a few, Nadine's The Stanza and Leah Nanpei's Imperfect Process look right up my alley given the design side of what I do.
The suite conversion point landed hardest for me professionally. I'm on the design side of hospitality (architecture and interiors, based between Dubai and India), and this is exactly what I've been pushing for on current projects, shrinking the entry category room count and putting more of the floorplate into suites and connecting configurations. Reading it framed as a K shaped demand signal rather than just a design instinct is useful, it gives me a sharper argument for why that allocation makes sense right now.
The multigenerational and staffed villa point also tracks with where I've been steering layouts, more flexible connecting configurations and family friendly suite clusters, less emphasis on the single dramatic honeymoon suite.
Appreciate the work that goes into an issue like this every week. Looking forward to reading through the rest of that substack list.
Best,
Laura
Wonderful! I’m so glad you found my article useful. It’s been an interesting couple of years on the travel planning side, seeing this all play out. I’d love to hear more about your design experience for hotels. What are you seeing currently in design demand pull from owners / investors vs travelers? Are they aligned?
My design process is a little unconventional— I just published an article about it if you are curious. (https://substack.com/@stylemessiah/note/p-212687979?r=tfa56&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=notes-share-action) We will take the other conversation about demands from owners/investors vs guest preferences in the DMs! I have loads to say. Keep up the great work, it’s a pleasure to read your content.
❤️thank you!!
So many interesting points made here! When will the US hotels shift to meet the needs of luxury clients who feel the need to fly to Europe for the caliber of service they are looking for?
Many thanks for the shout. This was great.
Such a gem of an article. Perfectly illustrates why, economically, it makes more sense than ever to focus on what makes a hotel or destination worth experiencing vs obsessing over what may make said place go viral
Thanks Sarah! I think the Amanvari scandal is perfect example - gorgeous hard product, but if the service isn’t there, no one is going to go see it. Hotels too often focus on the hard product and not the soft.
Exactly what I was thinking as well re amanvari. I’m a luxury brand marketer and I see this across the spectrum of goods
As a researcher I find these trends super interesting to read about. While I'm not necessarily in the same bracket as your clients, I also prefer to spend on travel instead of bags. This also had me checking prices for the basic rooms at some of my fav luxury hotels 😅
Check the Rosewood Mandarina - their rates are really good right now for entry level rooms, and it’s a gorgeous property! Chileno Bay as well has low rates into Sept.
Thanks!
Excellent article!
thank you! I’m so glad you liked it! Did you learn anything new?
The summary of current luxury travel behavior is spot on. It confirms a lot of trends I’ve been seeing as well.
What a thorough and informative piece!!!
Thanks so much! This one was a labor of love. Took me about 6 weeks to pull it together