It is time to redefine luxury hospitality- Susan M. Gale
Like many other industries, the hotel industry has joined the luxury train. There are many new competitors and ownership structures emerging. These include boutiques and collections, family-owned or corporately owned and managed with different ownership strategies.
Bulgari, Gucci and Armani are luxury brands that have no hospitality credentials. They have expanded their brand into luxury bars, restaurants, hotels and bars to strengthen and further develop relationships with their clients and offer experiences and services that are typical of the brand. Bulgari for instance, entered hotels and resorts through a joint venture of the Luxury Group, a division within Marriott International.
In 2010, LVMH created a luxury hotels management division in recognition of the potential that the luxury hotel industry offered. Maisons Cheval Blanc was the result of this. This concept, which began with the Cheval Blanc resort at Courchevel, and was later extended to Saint-Barthelemy, the Maldives and Paris. There are also talks of opening properties under the Cheval Blanc brand in Oman, and Egypt.
All of them recognize the importance of hospitality in luxury contexts, and the opportunity to offer unique brand experiences and exceptional services.
Many luxury hotels and grand palaces of France, including Paris, rest on their laurels at end of last century.
The Ritz in Paris was closed for renovations for four years. This allowed it to remain “in the game” for the fourth year. Rosewood recently purchased Hotel de Crillon.
Are boutique hotels considered luxury?
Boutique hotels offer a completely different experience. They are more personalized, which creates a very special one-on-one experience.
Boutiques have fewer rooms that luxury hotels (often 40 keys instead of 100), but they can offer a higher level of service than large hotels with spas, restaurants and 24-hour room service. It is the quality and intangible aspects of service that make small luxury boutique hotels stand out from large hotels with all the amenities.
Susan M. Gale
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My driving force is my passion for real estate, and the thrill of applying my expertise and negotiation skills to put together a deal where all parties are happy. It’s a rewarding feeling to know our clients trust us when making a significant investment or when selling a premium asset.
Exceeding my clients’ expectations and earning their trust. That is what keeps me motivated.
From Wall Street to Miami Beach, my vast residential and commercial real estate expertise is the foundation of the Susan Gale Group. With my $1 billion sales track record, I’m considered by the industry one of the top real estate leaders.
My focus is on expanding and maintaining my network of property owners on the one hand, and my investment clients on the other.
My motto is: It’s not about who you know… It’s about who knows you.
Susan M. Gale
