Some thoughts on the changing face of hospitality, and why the places that interest me most are the ones with a story to tell.
I've been spending quite a bit of time lately researching new hotel openings, following interesting renovations and discovering places that are doing things a little differently.
It's something I've always enjoyed. Not necessarily looking at what's fashionable, but understanding why a place works, what makes it memorable and what the people behind it are trying to create.
And one thing keeps catching my attention.
Some of the most interesting hotels emerging today aren't necessarily the grandest or the most extravagant. They're the ones that seem to have a real understanding of where they are.
Take Na Praia, on Portugal's Alentejo coast. What interests me isn't simply the architecture, but the relationship between the buildings and the landscape. The use of local materials, the connection to traditional craftsmanship and the idea that luxury doesn't always need to announce itself.
Then there's The Newman in London's Fitzrovia, which draws inspiration from the area's artistic and literary history. A completely different setting, but an equally interesting question: how do you create something contemporary without losing the character of what came before?
Having spent years working in luxury hospitality before moving into interior design, I've always believed that the experience of a place begins long before someone notices the furniture.
It's in the welcome, the atmosphere, the small details and the feeling you take away with you.
Of course, beautiful interiors matter. But beautiful interiors alone don't necessarily make somewhere memorable.
I think we're seeing a renewed appreciation for places with a sense of identity. Whether that's through architecture, local makers, food, landscape or the people who bring a hotel to life.
And perhaps that's what interests me most about this next chapter in hospitality.
Not simply what's new, but what's worth paying attention to.
