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CEO Interview: Barry Sternlicht Is His Own Biggest Critic

Barry Sternlicht has a lot to be happy about these days.

Just minutes after we spoke to the former founder and CEO of Starwood Hotels, who is now the founder, chairman, and CEO of Starwood Capital Group, Sternlicht officially opened his latest hotel, proclaiming it to be the “most exciting, greatest hotel I’ve ever done.”

And with panoramic views of Manhattan and an enviable location in the heart of New York City’s Brooklyn Bridge Park, it’s hard to disagree with him.

But as you’ll see in our following interview with Sternlicht, as happy as he is with his newest hotel, 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge, he isn’t completely satisfied just yet.

For the billionaire real estate investor, everything is always a work in progress. There’s always room for improvement. There’s always room for more innovation.

Skift spoke to Sternlicht about what it’s like to build a new hotel brand from the ground up today, how the industry has changed, and what hospitality needs to do today to avoid becoming just a commodity.

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Hotels Near Destin Rank Among the Best of Their Brand

The Residence Inn Sandestin at Grand Boulevard and the Courtyard Sandestin at Grand Boulevard Win 2015 Marriott Brand Service Awards

DESTIN, FL–(Marketwired – Jun 2, 2016) – The Marriott brand is as widespread as it is diverse, featuring franchised properties across the United States, as well as several brands with an international presence. The common thread uniting all Marriott brands is outstanding service and quality. This year, two hotels in Sandestin, Florida have won Marriott’s highest distinction for brand service. Both the Residence Inn Sandestin at Grand Boulevard and the Courtyard Sandestin at Grand Boulevard have won Platinum Circle Awards for their respective brands.

Platinum Circle Awards are based on guest satisfaction surveys that are reflective of guest experience and exceptional level of customer service received. As one of Marriott’s highest franchise honors, the Platinum Circle Award is a confirmation for each distinguished property owner that their staff, ethics, service, and acumen are among the most valued in Marriott’s family of brands. Marriott International’s belief in these properties is a beacon to guests that the already lofty standards Marriott expects of its brands and franchises are upheld at the highest level by the Residence Inn Sandestin and the Courtyard Sandestin at Grand Boulevard.

What’s more, both of these Miramar Beach, Florida hotels received recognition in even more granular aspects of Marriott’s brand service assessments. The Residence Inn Sandestin at Grand Boulevard won 1st place in the brand for Breakfast Service, 1st place in the brand for Marriott Rewards Elite Appreciation, and 2nd place in the brand for Breakfast Quality. The Courtyard Sandestin at Grand Boulevard won 3rd place in the brand for Overall Satisfaction, 4th place in the brand for Staff Service, and 5th place in the brand for Intent to Recommend.

It’s one thing to see those accolades, it’s another to understand them. Exceptional logistical, sales, and service strategies go a long way towards achieving the high level of success that these properties have made standard, but they aren’t enough. What truly distinguishes these properties, the “why” of their greatness, is a dedication to Marriott’s philosophy of the cyclical nature of happiness. A priority of any Marriott brand is employee welfare. When employees are well cared for, well compensated, and given purpose and praise, they will be happy. Happy employees take better care of their guests and take greater pride in their work, which leads to enhanced guest satisfaction. It’s a heightened commitment to employee welfare that has allowed Sandestin at Grand Boulevard and the Courtyard Sandestin at Grand Boulevard to maintain their outstanding success rate.

Standing out among Marriott’s impressive brands, and stand-up to the company’s internal standards of accountability and service is an amazing achievement for both properties. Marriott’s assessment of the quality of these two franchises is affirmed by ratings from both Booking.com and TripAdvisor. The Courtyard received a score of 9.3 for 2015 — the highest score in the market, while the Residence Inn came in second place for the market with a score of 9.2. Those scores, paired with maintained 2nd and 3rd place guest-preferred rankings for Destin on TripAdvisor throughout all of 2015 mean it’s been a quite a year for Residence Inn Sandestin at Grand Boulevard and Courtyard Sandestin at Grand Boulevard. Both properties aim to maintain this high level of service, satisfaction, and success well into the future.

About Courtyard Sandestin at Grand Boulevard
Guests visiting Courtyard Sandestin at Grand Boulevard need to be sure, that no matter their schedule, they make room for a little fun. The hotel is proud to feature redesigned guest rooms, meeting rooms, and a bright, welcoming lobby. WiFi and GoBoards throughout the hotel keep guests connected, while inviting seating areas create a social atmosphere. At Courtyard Sandestin at Grand Boulevard, there’s something for everyone. The newly renovated guest rooms feature thoughtful amenities, designed with travelers’ needs in mind. In-room coffee and tea service elevates the experience, while plush bedding and crisp linens await after a day’s work. The hotel is just a short walk away from the endless entertainment and dining options of Grand Boulevard, a quick trip from the artisanal bistros and cozy boutiques of charming Baytowne Wharf, a worthwhile drive along the highway for some of the best golf in the area, and visiting any of South Walton’s 16 beaches is made easy. At the hotel, guests can enjoy The Bistro on-site for classic restaurant fare, cocktails, and delicious breakfast options, including a Starbucks. Whatever the occasion, Courtyard Sandestin at Grand Boulevard is a great escape for work and play, and always a little fun.

About the Residence Inn Sandestin at Grand Boulevard
Visitors are guaranteed to feel right at home during their stay at Residence Inn Sandestin. Guests can roll right out of bed, leave one of the 120 supremely relaxing suites the hotel claims, and head downstairs for a hot breakfast buffet every morning to fuel up for their day. A beautiful outdoor pool and surrounding patio make the the hotel feel like an oasis unto itself while a fully furnished fitness center and multi-sport rec courts make for an active and healthy stay.The experience is totally shareable using the hotel’s comlimentary WiFi. Then, guests can unwind for the night with the kids and the cat in the comfy, pet-friendly living rooms. Fully equipped kitchens complete the living areas. Most importantly, guests will get the sleep they deserve in Residence Inn Sandestin’s plush beds. And finally, nightly social events organized by the Residence Inn Sandestin make for an unforgettable getaway without even leaving the hotel grounds. This hotel is the perfect lodging at impressive value for nearly all vacationers.

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An Inside Look at The Pearl in Rosemary Beach

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The Pearl in Rosemary Beach, Florida is boutique perfection that opened in 2013. With 55 rooms and a gorgeous interior and exterior, we practically had to be dragged out of there. While we didn’t stay overnight, we toured the property and spent quality time on site this year and last, sipping cocktails at the bar, eating in the Cuban-themed onsite restaurant Havana’s Beach Bar & Grill and gazing at the ocean from the rooftop lounge.

 Here are some highlights:

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Rooms: The rooms are exquisitely light and airy with tech-y touches like an iPad on which guests can order room service, control room temperature and contact the concierge. There are door ringers which can also signal “do not disturb” while the nightly turndown service comes with freshly baked goods. The balconies overlooking town or with ocean views are comfy spots to take in the scene.pearlcabanas

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Pool: The pool deck is next to the spa and therefore it’s an 18 and older sanctuary. Guests of the hotel have privileges at the community pools within Rosemary Beach so families with younger children can hit those after the beach. The sizable cabanas above the pool deck are a fun place for groups to relax and are gratis with a $300 tab for food and drink. Beach chairs and umbrella setups are complimentary each day.

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Décor: The property features artwork by Tommy Crow – and it’ll make you want to visit his shop to bring some pieces home for yourself. Colorful and whimsical, the lobby and rooftop lounge are pretty public spaces and Havana’s is filled with Crow’s Cuban-inspired artwork which gives it a really authentic vibe.

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Dining: We experienced cocktails at Havana’s beautiful bar as well as dinner and it makes you want to hop on a plane to see if the real Havana is as impressive. Start with a Cuban style cocktail like the Hemingway Daiquiri (Havana Club rum, maraschino liquor, sugar, lime juice, grapefruit juice) or the Cuba Libre (English Harbour rum, juice of half lime, Mexican Coke) and huge appetizers of tuna escabeche or cured ham and artisan cheese empanadas filled with spicy chorizo. For dinner we ordered the filet and grouper, both excellent. Desserts like the coffee semifreddo (coffee custard, cake doughnuts, milk foam, espresso ganache) and a chocolate martini are a decadent way to end the evening.

One of the best features of The Pearl is its location. Built in the middle of Rosemary Beach’s town square puts it in the heart of a lovely seaside town bustling with energy, shops and open-aired cafes. Bottom line: The Pearl is indeed a gem.

Rates in August start at about $350.

[Photos: LindaM / The Pearl]

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The New Miami Hotel That Oozes Eco-Friendly Cool

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A farmstand in the lobby, a fleet of Tesla electric vehicles, and 100 percent organic linens: 1 Hotel South Beach in Miami Beach, Florida, is the ultimate eco-friendly oasis. And its debut marks Barry Sternlicht’s latest step in revolutionizing the hotel industry. “I call it ‘the luxury of enough,’” says Sternlicht, who birthed W Hotels. “It’s very comfortable, but not ridiculous. It will be refreshing.” (Two more 1 Hotels will open, in N.Y.C., by the end of the year, and an additional 12 are in the pipeline worldwide.) In Miami Beach, Sternlicht worked with property co-owner Richard LeFrak and tapped design studio Meyer Davis to transform a 17-story landmark on Collins Avenue built in 1925, through the use of woods, stones, and organic textiles. The décor is just one part of the all-green, all-serene experience that guests can expect. The 426 rooms—each a spacious 700 square feet, on average—come with Triple-Clear water filters, hemp-blend-filled Keetsa mattresses, terrariums, yoga mats, and meditation guides (there’s an app for that on the in-room tablet). Plus: the hotel’s three restaurants will be helmed by farm-to-table maestro Tom Colicchio, in his Miami debut.

Full Article

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Inside the New 1 Hotel South Beach

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Forget everything you think you know about Miami: At the new 1 Hotel South Beach, the buzzword is understated. The New York design firm Meyer Davis Studio transformed a sprawling 1970s oceanfront condo building into a breezy yet refined oasis. “It’s an eco-friendly hotel that celebrates natural materials,” says designer Will Meyer, “so we viewed the project through that prism, taking into account what it means to be on that beautiful coastline.” Weathered-wood accents, polished-concrete floors, and white-linen upholstery contribute to the relaxed, sophisticated vibe. The firm also did the property’s airy seafood-focused restaurant, Beachcraft, overseen by chef Tom Colicchio. From $699/night; 1hotels.com

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