I love hearing about how success was built step by step, as growth and expansion made sense. It's probably good your dad won the computer battle, but it does sound like your grandfather's values anchored everything. The other thing that is striking to me is how your grandfather served exactly the people that are increasingly left out in our "K" shaped economy. Surely there are still opportunities in that middle space? Anyways, thanks for sharing such a fascinating and personal story!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! My grandfather and dad were fascinating people, and shaped a lot of why I love the hospitality industry. I am curious to see how this K shaped economy continues to affect these travelers. Our select service hotel investments have done so poorly over the past five years.
I loved this, Anne Marie. To read a story that is so wonderfully human in my feed of forgettable trends and immaculate hospitality imagery. A reminder of finding simplicity in a world that has become too beholden to data, systems and specialists.
Thank you so much, Rosanna! My grandfather was such a character. I loved diving into the articles about him out there. I’ll continue to publish pieces like this and excerpts from my father’s book in Hotel History for paid subscribers.
What a great read! It is always amazing what could be done so informally back then. I also think this highlights the value of relationships which your grandfather seemed to understand.
Thanks Leah! Crazy that he could by a lot in Waikiki for $5k. That’s $119k today. I think we forget how untouched Hawaii was back then. Here’s the Royal Hawaiian hotel from the WWII era
I love hearing about how success was built step by step, as growth and expansion made sense. It's probably good your dad won the computer battle, but it does sound like your grandfather's values anchored everything. The other thing that is striking to me is how your grandfather served exactly the people that are increasingly left out in our "K" shaped economy. Surely there are still opportunities in that middle space? Anyways, thanks for sharing such a fascinating and personal story!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! My grandfather and dad were fascinating people, and shaped a lot of why I love the hospitality industry. I am curious to see how this K shaped economy continues to affect these travelers. Our select service hotel investments have done so poorly over the past five years.
Sounds like you have a lot of interesting intell :)
I loved this, Anne Marie. To read a story that is so wonderfully human in my feed of forgettable trends and immaculate hospitality imagery. A reminder of finding simplicity in a world that has become too beholden to data, systems and specialists.
Thank you so much, Rosanna! My grandfather was such a character. I loved diving into the articles about him out there. I’ll continue to publish pieces like this and excerpts from my father’s book in Hotel History for paid subscribers.
What a great read! It is always amazing what could be done so informally back then. I also think this highlights the value of relationships which your grandfather seemed to understand.
Thanks Leah! Crazy that he could by a lot in Waikiki for $5k. That’s $119k today. I think we forget how untouched Hawaii was back then. Here’s the Royal Hawaiian hotel from the WWII era