Hospitality Design - November 2016 - 26

from the guest editor

deﬁning an icon
The greatest drawback of being a hotelier is that you are forced to present the world
with only a highly edited finished product. Guests are your viewers, but they don't get
any insight into the process-the journey or the community it often takes to get there,
or from whom you draw inspiration to create this seemingly precise environment.
For me, this "community" is a group of motivated, creative, and brilliant individuals
from different fields who inspire me-some aesthetically, some through their cultural
point of view, and some simply for their raw artistic talent or passion.
In my career, it is difficult to reference anyone who's been involved in hotels,
restaurants, or nightlife in an impactful
way and not discuss Ian Schrager. While
the concept of a boutique hotel has had
many incarnations over the years, he did
it differently at a time when the industry
was screaming for reinvention. While
others have taken on the mantle over
the years and put their own stamp on
this ever-changing hotel landscape, the
original Schrager hotels were the game
changers that made the industry accept a
new set of rules and opened the playing
field for a generation of aspiring hoteliers.
Jim Walrod and Steven Mark
Klein both helped me find my brand
voice. Steven when it came to historical
iconography, and the intellectual pursuit
of branding. A brand is more than just
a logo, identity, or paper texture; it's very much the layers and deeply intellectual
conversation you are trying to have with your customer. Jim believes that great design
is never stagnant, that it evolves like a stately home or architecturally significant
building-you layer things on top of each other to create an individualized style.
Furniture is not just an object you sit on or sleep in, but rather fine art to be revered and
admired along with the titans of great style who created them.
Designer Tara Bernerd is a dear friend and in many ways our target demographic
for SIXTY-she is a worldly, sophisticated, stylish person who is a local everywhere
she goes. Through her work she is redefining luxury, and her personal style speaks to
our audience in an incredible way.
Others are those who I admire for the passion they infuse into their work: Ben
Weprin, an entrepreneur who is blending finance with creativity; jewelry designer
Loree Rodkin, who in my mind is what LA is all about-or at least should be-
resonates with powerful women because of her strong yet sexy aesthetic; Summit and
Habitas' nomadic and engaged view of travel is reinventing the traditional; and Luca
Bassani of Wally is reimagining luxury in the world of yachting. And we cannot forget
the one and only Lapo Elkann whose personal style with Italia Independent and his
many other endeavors set a new standard for the term "jet set."
They all speak to my inspirational subconscious. While you aren't emulating
anyone, you are drawing inspiration, and hopefully that translates into the work
that my brothers, Michael and Larry, and I are doing. This issue isn't so much about
past, present, and future, but about today. All of those included are doing something
incredibly pertinent and relevant that draws from the past, is happening in the now, but
also has an eye for the future. That's my definition of the new icons.

Jason Pomeranc
Founder
SIXTY Hotels

Hospitality Design Exposition &
Conference (HD Expo)
May 3-5, 2017
Mandalay Bay Convention Center, Las Vegas
www.hdexpo.com

Contact us:
1145 Sanctuary Parkway, Suite 355
Alpharetta, Georgia 30009
770.291.5400
LIZ SOMMERVILLE < Group Show Director
elizabeth.sommerville@emeraldexpo.com
770.291.5456
KEELI SCHMIDT
T < Sales Manager
keeli.schmidt@emeraldexpo.com
770.291.5433
JANA ROESCH < Account Executive
jana.roesch@emeraldexpo.com
770.291.5604
KARI NYLUND < Account Executive
kari.nylund@emeraldexpo.com
770-291-5513
LAURA CASKEY
Y < Conference Manager
laura.caskey@emeraldexpo.com
770.291.5590
JENNIFER YARBER < Marketing Director
jennifer.yarber@emeraldexpo.com
770-291-5459
AYESHA SHAKOOR < Marketing Coordinator
ayesha.shakoor@emeraldexpo.com
770-291-5476
DERRICK NELLOMS < Senior Operations Manager
derrick.nelloms@emeraldexpo.com
770.291.5452
JOE RANDALL
L < Executive Vice President
joe.randall@emeraldexpo.com
770.291.5454

DAVID LOECHNER
CEO and President
PHILIP EVANS
CFO and Treasurer
BILL CHARLES
CIO
DAVID GOSLING
Vice President, General
Counsel and Secretary
LORI JENKS
Senior Vice President,
Operations

TERESA REILLY
Senior Vice President,
Digital
JOANNE WHEATLEY
Senior Vice President,
Marketing Services
EILEEN DEADY
Vice President, Human
Resources
DENISE BASHEM
Vice President, Corporate
Operations

Hospitality Design is a trademark owned exclusively by Emerald Expositions, LLC.
Copyright © 2016. Emerald Expositions, LLC. All rights reserved.

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Hospitality Design - November 2016

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