Since when did everyone become obsessed with hospitality?
Dissecting the tailwinds and patterns that got us here...
Good afternoon everyone, and happy Friday.
I shared some personal hotel thoughts with Reservation Parfums, my favorite new fragrance brand. The collection includes 7 beautiful and unique fragrances that are evocative of certain moments at a hotel, with names like Chambre Secrète and Bleu Piscine. My two favorites I get complimented on: Late Night and Suite 909.
There’s a lot in today’s letter, so I won’t waste my breath up here. Enjoy!
In today’s newsletter:
The Stanza’s criteria for hotel excellence
Mini deep dive: Hospitality is the hottest consumer product. Why? And why now? What’s next?
Is now a good time to be buying hotel real estate in NYC?
How can art, tourism, and hospitality merge to create an elevated experience?
Branded residences flagged by fashion brands: what’s the strategic angle?
Soho House is going all in on hotels and wellness, and the locations in their pipeline might surprise you.
A creative take on members club financing if no lender will give you money
Why don’t members clubs “work”? Here’s one theory…
Read previous issues of The Stanza here.
“What’s your favorite hotel in Italy?” is a question I get asked a lot when it comes to my view of hospitality in the country I’m lucky to call home. The answer is that I’ll never have just one. The beauty of Italy is that each region vastly differs from the next from a cultural, linguistic, and gastronomic sense. Within an hour’s drive or flight outside Milan, you’ll feel like you’re in a different world.
I’ve been very fortunate to have stayed at many wonderful hotels all over Italy. Even so, there are still so many hotels I’m dreaming of staying at! I’ve compiled a list of just six hotels that I’ve stayed at along with my notes. I may even make a tradition of updating this list at the end of every year.
Here’s my criteria for excellence (in no order):
Sense of place: the real estate itself has to be advantageously positioned and transport me upon entry. All of the hotels on this year’s list have incredible views or are in excellent locations.
Authenticity: I gravitate toward hotels that truly understand their market, the building’s architecture, and the culture that made the destination. These tend to be family-owned or independently operated hotels. Even better if the property has historical significance that’s woven into the hotel’s storytelling.
Elegance: I really appreciate when a hotel owner has invested in quality materials that not only stand the test of time but also develop a beautiful patina. This is the competitive advantage of Italy’s craftsmanship culture and one can always tell when furniture was poorly made! Harmonious and timeless design are two things that calm my nervous system, which is an important quality in a hotel. As someone who subscribes to the Epicurean way of life, being in an environment marked by quality and beauty is a priority.
Generosity and hospitality: This is the foundation of a good experience. I can appreciate that everyone’s definition of “good service” varies, and that’s why hotels are so subjective. But you’ll know when the staff wants to make you feel looked after. It’s even better if they intuitively know when to retreat and allow for privacy, and when to step in and think two steps ahead. Very very difficult to execute! I’m also a huge fan of gifting in luxury hotels. If you’re spending $2K+ per night, then I think that at least one solid gift is necessary (and I’m not talking about flimsy hotel merch).
Food & beverage: The F&B program must be thoughtful, creative, but unfussy. I don’t love fine dining because the experience is often tiring and I don’t love the taste of celeriac (sue me!). Italian food is best when it’s simple and made from quality ingredients that taste truly different from what I’m used to in New York or London, even at the best restaurants. Bonus points for chefs who aren’t afraid to do creative twists on classic dishes. Above all, I need at least one meal at a hotel F&B outlet that makes me happy to be alive (excluding breakfast).
Here’s a list of six hotels that have done all five of these for me. Read here and use code (THESTANZA) to access. On the app, I’m also sharing all F&B spots worth checking out in Milan and beyond, complete with my own photos and notes. If you travel to Europe often, I think you’ll find AmiGo very useful.
No new listings this week, but some interesting ones that are still live are:
Job Opportunity: Membership Director at Soho House West Coast
For sale: Fully-entitled hospitality site in West Hollywood (~45,000 SF)
For sale: 18th century Georgian building in London Mayfair, which could be a private residence or members club (25,000 SF)
For all live listings (hotels for sale, investment opportunities, open job roles), click here.
Advertise with The Stanza Classifieds: via classifieds@thestanzamedia.com.
If 2024 was the year of members clubs, 2025 is the year of hotels. But here’s a sentiment you may have heard quite often:
“Hotels and restaurants don’t make any money and they’re so hard to operate. So why own them?”
I remember when I first started The Stanza just two years ago, no one was talking about members clubs, Aman, nor the hotel and F&B businesses on platforms such as Instagram or TikTok (and certainly not Substack). Now, every marketing / brand strategy person has a take and wants to build a platform to share said views, even if they have zero experience nor have earned knowledge of hospitality, which is a business that requires you to count your dollars and cents at the closing of each day.