Did you find the hospitality industry or did the hospitality industry find you?

Not straight away. I was born into the hospitality industry and my family-owned hotels in Europe, and I went to hotel school and worked in hotels. I left the industry for about 15 years and came back to it when I moved to Maui and started the project at Hotel Wailea.

What do you think is the importance of the hospitality industry and how do you feel you fit in?

I think the hospitality industry is one of the most meaningful businesses to be in because it’s centered on daily human interaction. Our sole purpose is to create happiness, which I think is very unique and very needed in this world. My role overall is to cultivate an environment that fosters meaningful connections for our employees and with our guests, and to pursue innovative and creative ways for the hotel to meet diverse preferences and provide memorable moments.

Are there any aspects that excite you the most about the hospitality industry and invigorate your team?

Creativity is the most exciting part. We’re a privately owned property that strives to create new and compelling experiences throughout the hotel, day in and day out. My function beyond maintaining our beautiful hotel on Maui is to innovate and to position it as a destination within a destination. Collaborating with our talented team members to create programming that exceeds guests’ expectations inspires me every day.

What do you feel are the most serious challenges facing the hospitality industry and how might they be resolved? What is the industry doing well?

The biggest challenge operationally is a limited labor pool already very small in the islands, as it is in general in North America, further decreasing because more and more people have left the hospitality industry following the pandemic. For us to find the right team members is probably the most challenging part of our business at the moment.

What do you envision will take place in the hospitality industry in the years ahead and how might the local industry adapt or change?

I think there will be more and more demand for properties that are truly authentic to their location, which I feel Hotel Wailea is extremely well positioned for. Heartfelt human connection will be essential to the guest experience as AI and technology are increasingly used to streamline operations and increase efficiency. I’m hopeful we are on the precipice of a new era of social wellness, where time together with our friends, families and communities—and away from our phones—are wholly embraced. I think Hotel Wailea is specially designed for those meaningful interactions.