Colin Nagy

We're back with another installment of inspiration in hotels and hospitality, with an emphasis on craft and touch amidst a hyped-up business cycle for luxury. Here are a few brands, ideas, and services that deserved a hat tip in the first half of 2023.

Texas hotelier Liz Lambert has linked up with noted architect Bjarke Ingels and 3D printing firm ICON to reimagine the future of El Cosmico. Despite the bleeding edge tech, the emphasis will be on the spirit of self reliance and community that defined the early iterations of the property.

Under Canvas's new ULUM brand is going after a well-heeled, outdoors-centric crowd and sees the opportunity sitting between the glitz of Amangiri and the more minimal brand the company created with Under Canvas.

Hospitality brands stand to benefit from both the creative possibilities and the efficiency that AI will bring. Here's how to start thinking about it now.

There is a boom in private clubs around the world. But, in the race to garner members and open outlets, personalized service and the underlying craft have gone missing. True hospitality plus thoughtful social and commercial dot-connecting remains a nice open white space.

As luxury hotels struggle to hire and retain talent, a new north star sell is necessary. Turns out great luxury brands create an incredible, well-rounded style of leadership. The appeal of caring for people will always remain relevant, even as AI disruptions ripple through other industries.

As hotels seek to broaden their cultural offerings to guests, the Shangri-La Al Husn in Oman offers a masterclass. Through a specially trained cultural ambassador, the hotel brokers connections with art, architecture, and notably frankincense, an essential ingredient in the daily lives of Omanis.

Sales and marketing needs to evolve to address the cultural depth luxury consumers now demand. The best hotels are moving beyond "heads-in-beds" marketing to creatively place brands in culture, catering thoughtfully to sub groups and interests. When done right, the resulting glow adds value to businesses owning their brands fully.

Wendy Panaino has a unique job — she studies climate change in the Kalahari desert, mostly through her research on the elusive and endangered pangolin. She's had to turn half nocturnal to study and track in its natural habitat, and monitor its adaptation to a changing climate that will increasingly impact how and why we travel.

We're back with another installment of inspiration in hotels and hospitality. Female-led luxury seemed to be a common theme this year, alongside those maintaining standards, leading teams, and executing on subtle touches for the people who notice. Here are a few brands, ideas, and services that deserved a hat tip in 2022.