Hospitality Design - June/July 2021 - 128

Photo courtesy of DESIGN HOTELS
back space catching up with
markus schreyer
How would you describe the Design Hotels community?
We currently collaborate with just over 300 member hotels.
We're more than a collection of unique hotels. We are part
of a community of visionaries in travel and hospitality that
recognize the truly transformative power of space and
design.
How have you seen the hotel industry evolve?
Being boutique is no longer unique. It's all about
transformation: taking guests on a journey that's beyond
the space they're in. Hospitality has the power to bring
people together and use space in a meaningful way, and so it
should-for the benefi t of everyone involved.
What makes a successful hotelier?
Success largely depends on who is behind it. That is, the
passion, vision, and personal connection of the hotelier to
the space itself. There needs to be a lived story or narrative
that speaks of the hotelier-a refl ection of their deep
connection with their guests and community.
How did you get involved in the hospitality business?
Impulsively. I was fresh out of college, interning at
DaimlerChrysler in Tokyo when I decided to drop out of
the program to pursue a career in hospitality. I come from
a family of educators and musicians, and everyone was
shocked. I blame it on the U.S. West Coast road trip that my
parents took me on when I was 16. My fi rst job in the industry
was with a Hilton in Germany. I polished silver, washed
dishes, and trained in all of the departments. What drew me
to hospitality-and keeps me there today-is that it's at the
intersection of so many disciplines: design, architecture,
technology, innovation, people, culture, and travel.
What is your perfect vacation?
It's all about being free to spend time with family, immerse
myself in the local community, and explore a new place as
I wish. I plan as little as possible, and usually have no idea
where I'm going until a week in advance, which, I realize
makes me rather atypical for a German-a consequence of
living in New York for too long!
Favorite hotel?
La Ferme de Georges, an exceptional eco-retreat in
northeastern Brazil. Located in Atins, a village on the edge
of 370,000 acres of dunes in Lençóis Maranhenses National
Park, La Ferme is so diffi cult to reach it's the antidote to
overtourism, which is part of the experience. Its masterful
simplicity opened up a new horizon, allowing me to
reconnect with nature and explore new perspectives with
zero distractions.
Greatest lesson learned?
It can be summed up in a single proverb: 'Don't follow a
caravan, know your own path.' If you believe in a certain
project that hasn't been done before, commit to building it
and see it through. Don't just follow what everyone else is
doing. The other lesson: Quality will always win, and there's
no shortcut-no shorter path-to achieving it.
See more at hospitalitydesign.com
Senior Vice President, the Americas,
and Global Business Innovation
Design Hotels
New York
128
June/July 2021 hospitalitydesign.com
http://www.hospitalitydesign.com http://www.hospitalitydesign.com
Hospitality Design - June/July 2021

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