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Opinion Articles

Opinion Article

Hawaiian Ultraluxury Rebirth with Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort

There’s no better word to describe Kona Village – nestled in Kahuwai Bay along the western coast of the island of Hawaii – than as a paradise. Considered a sacred spot by the first Polynesian settlers who have called it home in centuries-old village of Kaʻūpūlehu, Kona Village Resort was first established in 1965 and run by a husband and wife team who welcomed guests for decades with a charming ‘ohana (family) spirit.

Larry MogelonskyAdam Mogelonsky
By Larry Mogelonsky and Adam Mogelonsky
Kona Village, Hawaii, United States
Opinion Article

What Makes Smart Controls the Secret to Memorable Hotel Experiences?

In the competitive landscape of modern hospitality, hotels are not merely selling a place to sleep; they are selling an experience, a memory, a story. For decades, hotel design has relied on static elements—décor, furniture, art—to set a scene. But a scene is not a story. A story has a beginning, a middle, and an end; it unfolds over time and evokes a range of emotions. Today, by integrating smart automation into the core of the design process, hoteliers and designers have a powerful new medium to move beyond static scenes and become authors of a dynamic guest journey.

Fabio Zaniboni
By Fabio Zaniboni, Founder and CEO, BubblyNet
Opinion Article

Design Dollars Decoded: an Interior Designer's Guide to Strategic Spending

I recently met with a hotel owner whose enthusiasm for the design of his upcoming hotel renovation was infectious. Think high-end finishes, custom furniture, and curated moments at every turn. Then came the budget: firm, finite, and far from matching the vision. And that’s not unusual. In fact, it’s common. The good news? These goals aren’t incompatible. But success comes down to strategy.

Beth Temple
By Beth Temple, Associate Design Director, Baskervill
Opinion Article

How Hospitality Leaders Can Retrofit Existing Properties for the Growing Wellness Economy

Over the last five years, the wellness economy has seen tremendous growth with no signs of slowing. It continues to reshape industries, prompting companies to prioritize holistic health and meaningful experiences while embracing sustainability as a foundation for long-term well-being – a shift that resonates with today’s travelers.

Scott LaMont
By Scott LaMont, Chief Executive Officer, EDSA
Opinion Article

Comfort & Style: a Look at Hilton Anaheim's Full-Property Renovation

At Hilton Anaheim, we operate with one goal in mind: to provide our guests with an experience that feels equal parts comfortable and distinctly local. We understand our guests arrive in the heart of Orange County with expectations—whether they are here on a family vacation, attending a major convention, or simply seeking a peaceful escape. We considered these different scenarios when planning our renovation so we could meet and exceed those expectations in every way possible.

Sergio Bocci
By Sergio Bocci, General Manager, Hilton Anaheim, Hilton
United States
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Opinion Article

Hospitality Meets Real Estate: The Future of Working

In 2005, as part of the founding team of citizenM, I watched the concept of social lobbies come alive. Communal spaces where people felt connected, serviced, and productive. It was the first time I saw hospitality’s transformative power to embed itself into the fabric of the local neighbourhood.

David Turnbull
By David Turnbull, Hospitality Entrepreneur , Founding Partner, ATworld
Opinion Article

Revamping Hospitality: the Future of Hotel Renovations for Modern Travelers

According to Holistique Training’s Evolution of Hospitality Industry Trends, the hospitality industry is undergoing a profound transformation driven by shifting consumer expectations, technological advancements, and a growing focus on sustainability and well-being. In response, hotels worldwide are investing in renovations to meet the demands of the modern traveler.

Sergio Bocci
By Sergio Bocci, General Manager, Hilton Anaheim, Hilton
Opinion Article

Personalization versus Customization with Aleksandra Kotle, GM of Crockfords Las Vegas

As we see time again, the story of a hotel is the story of the people working at the hotel. This is especially true for the luxury hospitality segment where service excellence, exclusive amenities and personalization are hallmarks of an experience worthy of the term ‘luxury’. With so much buzz around personalization these days, what is often missed is the precision of service delivery necessary to execute this attention to detail at scale, for which there’s no truer form of expressing this precision than through customization of the guest journey in a seamless blend of meticulously curated experiences.

Larry MogelonskyAdam Mogelonsky
By Larry Mogelonsky and Adam Mogelonsky
United States
Opinion Article

2025’s Top 10 Actionable Trends Shaping Boutique Hospitality

Boutique hotels are known for pushing boundaries, setting trends, and creating memorable experiences that larger brands struggle to replicate. In 2025, this spirit of innovation is driving major shifts in guest experience, technology, and operations. BLLA’s (Boutique & Luxury Lodging Association) board members, some of the most respected voices in the industry, weigh in on what’s next.

Frances Kiradjian
By Frances Kiradjian, Founder/CEO, BLLA
Opinion Article

Defining the New Miami with EAST Miami

The story of an urban hotel is the story of a city. The two move in stride, with the hospitality industry offering a home and a helpful hand to visitors while also providing dining and drinking hotspots that enable newcomers to evolve into lasting denizens of the locale. In this case study, EAST Miami (operated by Swire Hotels) that first opened in 2016 has grown to be the cultural steward for the booming neighborhood in Miami that is Brickell, presenting a picture of where hotel trends in luxury amenities, branding and customer mindsets are headed.

Larry MogelonskyAdam Mogelonsky
By Larry Mogelonsky and Adam Mogelonsky
Miami, Florida, United States
Opinion Article

Designing With Purpose: Luxury Frontiers' Impact at Babanango Game Reserve

In the heart of Zululand, South Africa, lies Babanango Game Reserve, a once cattle-farmed landscape that now stands as a true testament to the power of environmental renewal. This reserve recently underwent one of South Africa’s most ambitious rewilding projects, reintroducing the Big 5 after nearly 150 years. The land, which is rich with history, culture, and natural beauty, has undergone an extraordinary transformation, and Luxury Frontiers had the honor of playing a key role in its incredible rebirth. Our design work at Madwaleni River Lodge, located within the reserve, embodies the essence of sustainability, cultural heritage, and community upliftment.

Graeme Labe
By Graeme Labe, Managing Partner & Chief Design Officer, Luxury Frontiers
South Africa
Opinion Article

The Mille Club: Two Rocco Forte Hotels in One Incredible Trip to Italia

Known to many as the Eternal City, Rome has an uninterrupted history spanning two and a half thousand years. Apart from incredible historical sites, Rome has some of the world’s finest luxury hotels, often carved out of grand palazzos that once served members of the royal court of the Papal elite, and all of them adorned with opulent finishings and fine art.

Adam MogelonskyLarry Mogelonsky
By Adam Mogelonsky and Larry Mogelonsky
Italy
Opinion Article

The Progressive Luxury Hotel Evolution in Focus with EAST Hotels

The 21st century has already seen immense changes in how people travel and their demands for hotel services and amenities. In focus here is the growth, evolution and diversification of the luxury segment, wherein we recently sat down with the team behind the rebranding of EAST Hotels, a hotel brand that’s emblematic of this modern dynamic and the aspirational nature of travel for the 2020s and beyond. EAST Hotels has launched three hotels in Beijing, Hong Kong and Miami, with several more in the pipeline on multiple continents.

Larry MogelonskyAdam Mogelonsky
By Larry Mogelonsky and Adam Mogelonsky
Opinion Article

200 Years of Sitting Pretty in Dublin: A Short Walk Through History and Hospitality at The Shelbourne Hotel

Since 1824, The Shelbourne has been a warm and inviting jewel of hospitality and the setting for some of the most dramatic cultural and political moments in Irish history. Beloved by guests and locals as “Ireland’s living room,” The Shelbourne has always reflected the spirit of the city around it, playing a significant role in the literary, social, political, culinary and artistic traditions of Irish society.

JP Kavanagh
By JP Kavanagh, General Manager, The Shelbourne, Autograph Collection, Marriott
Dublin, Ireland
Opinion Article

A Rising Tide

My husband, Jack, and I have been in the hospitality industry for many years, but the origins of this business date back to the 1980s, when we were asked to help revive the Miami Beach area, which was overwhelmed with crime. We opened Penrod’s Beach Club at One Ocean Drive in 1989 and it soon became very popular.In 1997 my husband’s daughter, Nicole, was killed in a car accident, at the age of 18. At that mo-ment, we decided that instead of mourning her death, we were going to celebrate her life. We took out the property’s pool and Jack planted trees to create a garden by the sea, filled with lights and candles.

Robert Walters
By Robert Walters, Chief Investment Officer (CIO), Global Asset Solutions
Opinion Article

Designing Diversely

For today's traveler, the possibilities are nearly endless. Someone vacationing in my homebase of Honolulu, for example, can stay anywhere from a limited-service hotel to a luxe oceanfront resort and spa to a secluded Airbnb.

Paul McElroy
By Paul McElroy, Executive Vice President, Highgate, Highgate Hotels, L.P.