Hospitality Design - March/April 2016 - 32

from the editor

unveiling luxury

STACY SHOEMAKER RAUEN < Editor in Chief
stacy.shoemaker@emeraldexpo.com
646.668.3751
MICHAEL ADAMS < Editorial Director
michael.adams@emeraldexpo.com
646.668.3690
JONATHAN MARSLAND < Creative Director
jonathan.marsland@emeraldexpo.com
646.668.3733

Photo by JEFFREY MOSIER

For this issue, I had the distinct pleasure of sitting down with Auberge Resorts

Collection's founder Mark Harmon at the New York Edition, and our hour-long
conversation stood out when I was thinking what this issue's letter should be about.
Not only because Harmon is extremely down to earth and honest, but also because his
philosophy on luxury sums up what we are trying to showcase in these pages: The idea
that luxury is personal. It depends on a person's current mindset, travel motivation-
be it a splurge or family vacation-the desire to be in a grand city hotel or a one-withnature island resort. That's why the creator of arguably some of the most distinctive
resorts in the U.S. and Mexico is launching a lifestyle brand-so that guests wanting
luxury, but perhaps for a different pricepoint or
reason, can still find a unique experience.
Across the industry, memorable experiences
come in all shapes and sizes, and we have gathered
together a breadth of projects that showcase how
luxury has evolved for today's traveler in various
parts of the world-a Four Seasons in Seoul,
thatched-roof freestanding huts in the rice fields of
Cambodia, fine dining in New York for a French
chef, and Aman's latest contemporary work of
genius in the Dominican Republic. A few may
seem a tad more old school in nature, but they
aren't in their thinking and finished product.
Speaking of old school, we look at an extensive
group of grand dames getting facelifts-and the
interesting finds behind the more modern layers-
because authentic experiences don't have to only come from the newest lifestyle hotels.
And I also spent an afternoon with Brian Povinelli and Julie Frank of Le Méridien,
who have redefined Starwood Hotels & Resorts' upper-upscale brand into a boutiquelike, midcentury-inspired offering that is seeing undeniable growth. Of course the
Starwood-Marriott merger leaves a lot of unknowns, but in the meantime, the brand's
latest openings showcase a wealth of talent from various designers.
I will get a chance to further explore the idea of luxury during the Creating
Extravagance panel at HD Expo, on Thursday, May 5th at 1:30 p.m., where we will
bring together four panelists who have helped set the standard for what the category is
and should be. It's just one of the many conference sessions during the three-day affair
at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, and we hope to see you there. The amazing lineup of
speakers is updated weekly, so make sure to visit hdexpo.com for the latest schedule.

Stacy Shoemaker Rauen

Editor in Chief
stacy.shoemaker@emeraldexpo.com
@StacyRauen

hd editorial advisory board
Andrew Alford AJ Capital Partners Jeffrey Beers Jeffrey Beers International Malcolm Berg EoA Mark Boekenheide
Related Companies Glen Coben Glen & Co. Meghann Day HBA Gary Dollens Hyatt Hotels & Resorts Deborah
Lloyd Forrest ForrestPerkins William Harris AvroKO Kemper Hyers Starwood Capital Amy Hulbert Best Western
International Tom Ito Gensler Ted Jacobs Starwood Hotels & Resorts Gulla Jonsdottir Gulla Jonsdottir Architecture
& Design Helen Jorgensen Host Hotels & Resorts Jon Kastl Champalimaud Aliya Khan Neuehouse Studio Raul
Leal Virgin Hotels Scott Lee SB Architects Tony Machado Morgans Hotel Group Lisa McClung INT LLC Julia
Monk HOK Will Meyer Meyer Davis Studio Alessandro Munge Studio Munge Barry Nidiffer Chartres Lodging
Group Lionel Ohayon ICRAVE Robert Polacek Puccini Group Thomas Schoos Schoos Design Lisa Simeone Simeone
Deary Design Group Kellie Sirna Studio 11 Design Sam Suleman Equinox Hospitality Shawn Sullivan Rockwell Group
Michael Suomi Stonehill & Taylor Roger Thomas Wynn Design & Development Larry Traxler Hilton Worldwide
Audra Tuskes Lightstone Group Joel Villalon BraytonHughes Design Studios Anne Wilkinson BAMO Glenn Wilson
Marriott International

KATHLEEN KERVIN < Managing Editor
kathleen.kervin@emeraldexpo.com
646.668.3728
ALISSA PONCHIONE < Associate Editor
alissa.ponchione@emeraldexpo.com
646.668.3749
PAULINA GLOZMAN < Executive Assistant to Editor In Chief
paulina.glozman@emeraldexpo.com
646.668.3691
GRACE CASEY < Production Manager
grace.casey@emeraldexpo.com
646.668.3706
KARA KOBRZYCKI < Conference Director
kara.kobrzycki@emeraldexpo.com
770.291.5513
DOUG HOPE < Vice President/Content
doug.hope@emeraldexpo.com
770.291.5453
JOE RANDALL < Executive Vice President
joe.randall@emeraldexpo.com
770.291.5454

advertising
PAUL BIENKOWSKI < Publisher
860.644.3861 pbienkowski@cox.net
COLIN VILLONE < Associate Publisher
770.291.5413 colin.villone@emeraldexpo.com
PHYLLIS VISCIDI < East/Midwest Brand Strategy Manager
781.431.1320 phyllis@viscidi.com
LILIANA CONNOLLY < East/Midwest Brand Strategy Manager
781.431.1320 lil@viscidi.com
GERRY KREGER < Western Brand Strategy Manager
323.999.0991 kregerg@aol.com
SUBSCRIPTION INQUIRIES/BACK COPIES
nhd@omeda.com
800.697.8859
847.291.4816
Reprints and Eprints
The YGS Group < ANASTASIA MINICHINO
anastasia.minichino@theygsgroup.com
800-501-9571 x 100
www.theygsgroup.com
List Rental < GREGRY GILROY
gregry.gilroy@reachmarketing.com
845.201.5329

Editorial + Executive Offices

> 85 Broad Street, New York, New York 10004
646.668.3701
http://www.hdexpo.com http://www.theygsgroup.com
Hospitality Design - March/April 2016

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Hospitality Design - March/April 2016
