Josiah Mackenzie

🏨 On April 24, 2025, Matthias Huettebraeuker interviews Stijn Oyen, Managing Director at Design Hotels. The discussion revolves around the interplay of authenticity, culture, and originality in creating standout hospitality experiences. The content is part of the Hospitality Daily Podcast.

📌 Matthias and Stijn discuss Design Hotels' unique approach to hospitality on a radio show. Design Hotels, originating from the early '90s, emphasizes individuality and visionaries' concepts, often located off the beaten track, attracting discerning travelers. The collection's growth is not metric-driven but based on careful curation and human judgment. Despite Marriott's full ownership, Design Hotels maintains its original values while achieving commercial success. The brand's portfolio resists sameness, with properties like the Manna in Arcadia, a 1929 sanatorium turned hotel after a 10-year project. Design Hotels acts as a cultural echo, connecting diverse industries and celebrating originality in hospitality, showcased during events like Milan Design Week.

🏠 Josh Wyatt, CEO of Avant Gardner and former Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Generator Hostels, discussed the impact of creativity in hospitality on April 17, 2025. Highlighting the transformation of Generator Hostels into a top global brand, the episode explores balancing creative vision with financial performance and crafting unique experiences for guests and investors. Wyatt emphasizes creativity as a key competitive advantage, even during economic downturns. 🎵 Music by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound.