I came across an great blog post today in the New York Times “The Moment” blog, Jeff Klein, who owns the JK Hotel Group, which has the City Club Hotel and the Sunset Tower Hotel in their portfolio. Before this post, I had never heard of Jeff Klein, or the JK Hotel Group – although I have heard of his two hotels, but nothing more than the fact that they were located in New York City and LA respectively – I was not even aware they were owned by the same firm.

The first few paragraphs really caught my eye:

Ever since I can remember I have been freakishly obsessed with hotels, much more so than the average hotel geek who concerns himself only with bathroom products, bed linen thread count and front-desk service…

…During a family Christmas vacation in Rome when I was 15, I asked my parents to take me to various hotels that I had read about in magazines and books. On the last day of our trip, after I had dragged my family to every hotel on the list except the Hassler, my mother announced with delight that she had scored a highly coveted private tour of the Pope’s art collection at the Vatican. I love art, and there’s no greater thrill than procuring an “impossible to get” invitation. But in my opinion it wasn’t even a contest: I had to visit the Hassler….

That sounds exactly like me! Except - instead of turning down a Vatican invitation with my parents - I drag my friends to any major hotel that we pass while visiting large cities, while giving them a rundown of some interesting facts about the hotel, while I simultaniously take in the look, feel and atmosphere of the hotel.

Jeff demonstrates how it is not easy to make it as a hotelier – especially if you are starting out on your own.. But that’s definitely something that I want to do – work in the hotel industry, starting in the hotel development field, learning everything I can about what goes into creating & building both a hotel brand and the physical hotel - from the ground up.

Jeff opened his first hotel (The City Club) at the age of 31… I don’t know if I’ll be doing the same at that age, but I know this much:

• I want to create or work with a brand that is known worldwide
• I want to work with multiple brands
• I want to have an impact.. I want what I create or work with to be recognized and respected – not necessarily with my name attached to it (although – it would be great!)

I’m really looking forward to seeing what the remainder of his posts this week will contain. It should be interesting.

andrew@alconic-inc.com

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