and why airport sucks.
Build Community Over Private Clubs!
One of the most overused words in every hotel design pitch is community. Brands dream of venues open to the outside, places where locals and travelers can mingle. Yet most brands fail to achieve this, and many hotel lobbies end up empty outside of check-in and check-out times.
The story of Ronnie Fieg, founder of Kith, and his paddle project proves once again that community cannot be forced, it has to be genuine and grassroots. In this case, the widespread dislike of racket sports on this side of Manhattan was well known. Similar projects had already been rejected in the recent past, yet they still attempted to force it through.
Members of the community quickly organized and fought back, causing not only delays but likely significant financial losses for the project.
I hate turbulence as much as the next guy, but to me the worst part of air travel is the airport itself. Unless crossing oceans, you’ll likely spend more time getting to the airport, passing security, and waiting to board than actually flying. FnB are overpriced and functioning electrical outlets remain a luxury.
Yet, surprisingly few have challenged this industry. Commercial flights are the only option for most, only Taylor Swift jet herself everywhere. Alex Wilcox, founder of JSX, aims to solve this problem. Noting that “between Motel 6 and Aman, there are 100 hotel brands,” he’s building the middle segment between legacy airlines and pricy private jets. With time and convenience becoming the most important metrics in our busy life, having the opportunity to join smaller airport is going to be more and more appealing.
Trains are so back, and they re feeling confident enough to even troll airlines. Good for them!
This comeback is linked to several factors:
Environmental concerns are the most obvious reason, with many choosing to ban air travel entirely. At the expense of creating friction among friends planning weddings or bachelor parties abroad, but it s for the greater cause.
The decline in airline satisfaction is real (see above). Not only are airports inconvenient to access, but recent plane incidents aren’t reassuring anyone. For Europeans, many door-to-door journeys are faster by train, Paris to Amsterdam, for example, is quicker via Eurostar.
Even if Air France aims to make “the sky the most beautiful place on earth,” some routes are simply more scenic from the ground. Certain train journeys are destinations in themselves. According to American Express’s latest Global Travel Trends report, 70% of Millennials and Gen Z want to plan trips focused on enjoying the journey as much as the destination.
Train companies and countries are doing their part to make rail travel appealing again. With colorful new TGVs, high-speed trains have nothing to envy from premium airport lounges. On the luxury end, what Accor is accomplishing with Orient Express is remarkable, cuisine from French chef Jean Imbert decisively outclasses Delta’s Shake Shack burger.
Have you always dreamed of opening a hotel but also wanted a beach house? Why not combine the two? If you’re rich and Japanese, this dream might become reality with Not an Hotel brand.
The innovation lies in its hybrid model: you purchase a stake in a property portfolio rather than a single location. Members might own 1/8 of a Tokyo penthouse but gain access to beach villas in Okinawa or mountain retreats in Hokkaido, all top up with five-star hotel services and amenities.
Europeans mind typically view property through a binary lens,you either commit to a 30-year mortgage or pay rent that builds no equity. This resistance explains why timeshares gained limited traction. However, economic realities are forcing a paradigm shift. With Paris and London housing prices reaching 16-20 times average annual incomes, young professionals increasingly rent their primary residences while investing in vacation properties.
Not an Hotel solves a fundamental modern dilemma by offering both flexibility and ownership, may be that’s the future of hospitality.
