Hospitality Design - October 2023 - 65

Panoramic views dominate Cameo,
the cocktail bar at the Ritz-Carlton
Melbourne, with interiors by BAR Studio
Guests make their way through a dramatic
arched entrance to the JW Marriott Madrid's
Qú by Mario Sandoval restaurant
Like the rest of the property, the lobby of Rissai Valley, a
Ritz-Carlton Reserve, takes the form of a regal villa
The peaceful entry to the spa at the Studio
Gang-designed St. Regis Chicago
best luxury portfolio in the industry. We are
well positioned to serve the modern luxury
traveler. We have brands that appeal to
different segments within luxury. We have
brands for every trip, purpose, and travel
need. Luxury was once prescribed. Today,
it is much more about what the individual
wants. It's also moved away from this notion
of being exclusive. Luxury is now very much
inclusive. It's gone from acquisitive luxury,
which is acquiring goods and showing off, to
meditative luxury, which is being proud of
the experiences you have and the memories
you're creating with friends and loved ones
People say, 'Behavior has changed since
the pandemic.' It hasn't changed, [but] it's
accelerated. It was happening anyway. It
feels more heightened now that we're in a
post-pandemic world. [The vision] is about
continuing to innovate and offer interesting
experiences within our portfolio.
Like the trip you recently took to Egypt
to belatedly celebrate your mother's
80th birthday?
It was truly amazing. Pictures don't do it
justice-you can't experience, you can't feel the
emotion. This is why travel is here to stay. When
you're looking at things that are 3,000 years old,
you have to see [them] in person.
What's the most challenging part of your
job?
The most challenging is making sure we can
react quickly. We're a big company, and I want to
make sure we don't miss an opportunity-that
we're nimble enough to move fast.
What's the most rewarding?
I'm passionate about people and our industry. I
love travel. I want it to be beautiful, and I want
it to be better. I want people to have amazing
memories. It drives me.
How have you navigated a maledominated
industry?
My first general manager was a woman named
Lynn Doherty. She was a great role model. As a
young person, you see that and you think, 'I can
do that,' because you can see yourself in those
positions. It hasn't been easy, but it isn't easy in
any job because of the role women play in society.
I have a wonderful husband, and he's very helpful,
but at the end of the day, you have to balance a lot
of things. There's no silver bullet. There's no easy
answer, no how-to book. You have to figure out
what works for you and ask for help. That's one of
my biggest lessons learned. Sometimes we think
we have to do everything, and you don't. You
should ask for help. It's not easy, and we all have
to find our own way to succeed.
Hear more from Edmundson on HD's What
I've Learned podcast at hospitalitydesign.com/
podcasts
hospitalitydesign.com October 2023
065
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Hospitality Design - October 2023

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