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