ROSEWOOD MAYAKOBA
8. ¿Qué te hace sonreír?
RA: George, mi cocker spaniel inglés, siempre
me hace sonreír.
9. ¿Qué significa el lujo para ti y cuál es el
mayor lujo en tu vida?
RA: A medida que el ritmo de la vida cotidia-
na se vuelve más agitado y ocupado, y está
impregnado de tecnología, el mayor lujo son
las conexiones genuinas con otras personas.
Para mí, lujo hoy significa crear y compartir
experiencias auténticas con seres queridos. El
mayor lujo para mí es el tiempo que puedo
compartir con mi familia y amigos, así como
la posibilidad de viajar por el mundo mientras
hago lo que amo.
10. ¿Qué accesorio debe llevar siempre
un caballero?
RA: Un reloj con estilo es una necesidad para
un caballero. Especialmente cuando se trata de
un reloj que, además, es una reliquia para pasar
a la siguiente generación. Mi favorito es un Pa-
tek Philippe que uso casi todos los días.
11. ¿Hacia dónde se dirige la hospitalidad
de lujo? ¿Cuál es la tendencia?
RA: Un nuevo tipo de viajero está generando
un cambio global en la hospitalidad de ultralu-
jo. Llamamos a estos viajeros “exploradores
afluentes”. Este grupo demográfico está menos
preocupado por la opulencia, el mimo y el lujo
tradicional del pasado y, en cambio, busca co-
nexiones más profundas, la autenticidad y una
visión de las culturas desde adentro, vivencial.
1. Where does your passion for hospitality
come from?
RA: My passion for hospitality is generational.
My father was in the diplomatic corps, and as a
youth I traveled extensively and was fortunate to
learn through assimilation the importance of be-
ing artful and sincere in your approach to others.
I also developed an eye for detail and its impor-
tance in everything we do, whether it’s related to
a product, service, management style, etc. These
experiences helped guide my decision to go into
hospitality, as it truly is an opportunity to actualize
all of these elements.
2. Every locale has its own unique cultural char-
acteristics. What are the most interesting ele-
ments of a locale that you have encountered?
RA: Since Rosewood’s inception, our guiding
philosophy has been A Sense of Place, which is
a notion that I find really captivating. We tap into
the culture and heritage of the destination as the
inspiration for the experience of our properties,
and it is fascinating to discover what a destination
has to offer. For example, on the Riviera Maya, I
am consistently drawn to how the Mayan culture
is preserved through spiritual journeys and expe-
riences designed to educate the traveler on the
culture and history of the destination.
3. For someone who travels so much, is it still
possible to be surprised? What surprises you?
RA: Absolutely! Whether you’re visiting a locale
for the first time or the tenth, it’s always possible
to find something new and surprising, as long as
you aren’t afraid to be curious and open-minded -
walk down a street you haven’t explored before or
try a new restaurant. A locale’s culture is a living,
breathing entity that is constantly evolving, which
means there is always something new to discover.
4. What has your most memorable trip been,
and why?
RA: Lucky for me, Rosewood has properties in
many of my favorite destinations that I travel to
for pleasure, as well as business. Paris, for exam-
ple, is one of my absolute favorite destinations,
and we recently opened Hôtel de Crillon, A
Rosewood Hotel, in the summer of 2017. So, I’ve
been lucky enough to spend a lot of time there
over the past year. Hôtel de Crillon is daringly
sophisticated, and I find it so memorable, as it’s
the antithesis of what is expected in Paris/France,
due to the friendly intuitive nature of the hotel
that continues to wow me on every trip.
5. In your opinion, where is the best city to eat?
The best city to buy clothes? The best city to
see architecture? The best city to go out? The
best place to rest?
RA: For food, I’m partial to London. For clothes,
Italy is unparalleled. For architecture, Vienna,
Austria. For nightlife, New York really is the city
that never sleeps. To rest, Mayakoba, from the
powder white-sand beach and turquoise ocean to
the tranquility of its canals.
6. What is your dream holiday?
RA: The Amalfi Coast always captivates me for
its stunning blend of natural beauty, architecture,
tantalizing food and sense of style that only the
Italians can capture.
7. What makes you laugh?
RA: If I’m looking to really laugh, I turn to my
favorite classic comedic shows from the U.K,
like Fawlty Towers and Pink Panther. I could
watch those series again and again and still find
them funny.
8. What makes you smile?
RA: George, my English cocker spaniel, always
brings a smile to my face.
9. What does luxury mean for you, and what’s
the biggest luxury in your life?
RA: As the day-to-day pace of life becomes more
hectic and busy, and permeated by technology,
the biggest luxury is genuine connections with
other people. For me, luxury today means cre-
ating and sharing in authentic experiences with
loved ones. The biggest luxury for me is time that
I can share with family and friends as well as the
ability to travel the world while doing what I love.
10. What accessory must a gentleman always
wear?
RA: A stylish watch is a must for a gentleman, es-
pecially one that is not just an essential timepiece
but an heirloom to pass to the next generation.
My personal favorite is a Patek Philippe that I
wear almost every day.
11. Where is luxury hospitality headed?
RA: A new type of traveler is creating a global
shift in ultra-luxury hospitality. We call those
travelers “affluent explorers.” This demographic
group is less concerned with opulence, pamper-
ing and traditional luxury of the past and, instead,
seeks deeper connections, profound authenticity
and life-changing insights into the cultures they
enter and experience.
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