Happy Friday Hospitality Hero,

I have a confession: I’m taking a few days off with my family, and I wasn’t going to publish today. But based on the fantastic engagement I’ve received from all of you, I’d be letting my Hospitality Heroes down if I didn’t keep the streak going.

This week’s episode with Vibha Sawhney explores building opulent luxury Hospitality projects with Kempinski Hotels. Still, I also experienced another kind of Hospitality this week, which I appreciated - the “Hospitality of Efficiency.” I took my first flight on Ryan Air. I heard many things about what to expect before the flight and didn’t know what to expect. Truth is: It was super fun and incredibly efficient, and it had a very young demographic that thirsted for experiences. In a first for me, they also told the passengers 5 or 6 times that “it’s not permitted to drink the alcohol they had just purchased in Duty-Free” (which most passengers ignored!). I loved the experience and wish the airline was founded by a close relative of mine 😢. I hope they land in North America soon.

The Friday Five

1. This Week's Feature: I learned so much about creating alignment on Kempinski’s projects with Vibha Sawhney and how her journey and interests made her incredibly suited for her role in helping design successful global luxury Hospitality properties. 

2. Memory Lane: In Episode #141 with Anne Wilkinson from BAMO, we explore empathy's critical role in designing for luxury. Anne’s approach to understanding and anticipating the needs of luxury clients highlights how tailored and thoughtful design can elevate the guest experience. This episode is a deep dive into the nuances of luxury Hospitality design and how empathy is key to creating unforgettable experiences for discerning guests. 

3. A Dash of Inspiration: After working for a few days in London, I met up with the family in Ibiza - if you’ve not been here…I suggest you check it out. The view was perfectly described by one of the good humans below: “Its like an Apple Desktop Photo” - And I wholeheartedly agree.

4. Journey Shorteners: As discussed above, increased empathy is important in all facets of life: personal, family, and work. This book, “The Untethered Soul” helped me take a giant leap forward in strengthening my empathy with others. 

5. Upcoming Industry Events: Below is a list of exciting industry events where we can connect, learn, and grow together. Let's continue to build our hive and support one another on this incredible journey!

I hope you had a happy 4th of July. Thanks for reading!

Naturally,

Dan Ryan