Ian Schrager, Credit Chad Batka
Legendary hotelier and entrepreneur recognized for his inimitable impact on the global hospitality industry
Ian Schrager, revered entrepreneur, hotel pioneer and nightlife visionary, received the SevenRooms Icon Award at The World’s 50 Best Hotels 2025 Ceremony, an evening that recognizes best-in-class global hospitality, last night in London.
Credited as the founder of the boutique hotel movement, Schrager has spent the last five decades pushing boundaries and creating one-of-a-kind spaces with a disruptive “luxury for all” mindset, all while making an undeniable impact on popular culture and the hospitality industry at large. Since the 1980s, he has consistently challenged the status quo through his ground-breaking work building iconic brands including Morgans Hotel Group, EDITION Hotels, and now PUBLIC, a cult-favourite brand built on four key pillars – great service, style, unique experience and fun.
Driven by his unrelenting ambition and hunger for innovation, Ian is poised to expand the PUBLIC brand beyond its NYC flagship to Los Angeles with the debut of PUBLIC West Hollywood on the storied Sunset Strip in early 2026. Showcasing a new idea for a new age, the hotel will be situated within a landmark building with design executed by Schrager in partnership with British architect and frequent collaborator, John Pawson.
“To me, what is even more important than success is getting the acknowledgement and recognition from people I respect in the industry and who I consider as contemporaries of mine” said Schrager in a video acceptance speech. “I want to thank you all for that recognition and acknowledgement, and I want to particularly thank The World’s 50 Best Hotels for looking at what we’ve done and giving myself and all the really incredibly talented people I worked with this recognition. It’s very meaningful to me, and very touching.”
