The Unfamiliar Shift with Ariela Ariela Kiradjian

James Bermingham is responsible for delivering Virgin Hotel’s global growth, operational excellence, multi-award-winning customer experience, and unique culture. But where did he get his start? Well, James began his career in his hometown of Dublin, Ireland, followed by ten years in London, England, including executive roles with ITT Sheraton Corporation and the Luxury Collection. Through the course of time, James was drawn back to the United States, where he held prestigious General Manager roles at the St. Regis Hotel in Houston and the Montage Laguna Beach. Since 2008, James served as Executive Vice President of Operations for Montage International, overseeing all elements of operations for the well-renowned properties of the Montage and Pendry Hotel brands. Now, with over 35 incredible years of hospitality experience, James is the CEO of Virgin Hotels and is the true definition of an authentic leader.
What You Will Hear:
How James entered and flourished in the hospitality industryThe importance and benefits of apprenticeship Importance of BrandingVirgin Hotel’s EthosLucy Technology platformVirgin pillar of values and serviceAdvice for building loyalty with your teamEnvironmental impact, awareness and actionWhat boutique means to James
Quotes:
“I have huge respect and huge appreciation for our housekeeping teams in our business and in our company. They do a great job and it's every bit as important as any other role, and even arguably more so.”
“We go to great lengths to hire for personality and for character. We really want their individuality and personality to come through that service experience.”
“Design and being true to place is a big part of the brand experience at Virgin hotels.”
“If you're having fun and the teammates around you are having  fun, then you're guaranteeing that  your guests are going to have fun.”
“By 2030 at Virgin hotels, we want to be net carbon zero.”

Mentioned:
Virgin Group
Lucy App
Fairmont 
Trusthouse Forte
Sponsored by Solonis
BLLA

Kevin O’Shea is the Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Salt Hotels. After graduating from the prestigious Rhode Island School of Design, Kevin pursued a career in the corporate hotel design world. From working with Starwood Hotels and Resorts to Morgans Hotel Group, he strengthened his passion for interior design with every project that came his way. In 2009, he founded a full-service interior design studio called Kevin O’Shea Designs. Specializing in hospitality and residential projects, his studio worked on a range of properties including an executive office at Sony World Headquarters in New York, The Martin House, which has been featured by This Old House and The New York Times, and even his own home.  In 2011, Kevin turned Salt House Inn into Provincetown’s most stylish hostelry, leading the property to numerous design awards and serving as the launchpad for Salt Hotels. This spurred the launch of present day properties such as Eben House in Provincetown, Massachusetts, The Chequit in Shelter Island, New York, Hutton Brickyards in Kingston, New York, and Hotel Greystone in Miami Beach.
What You Will Hear:
How Kevin built his career in the hospitality industryWorking with partner David Bowd and opening their first hotelSalt Hotel EthosFunding process.  Self funding and lendersThe importance of experienceThe entrepreneurial spiritNewest project in HollywoodRules and breaking rulesThe essence of hospitality and importance of attention to detailHow do you stay uniquely boutique even through scalingWhat boutique means to Kevin
Quotes:
“We are super passionate about service and we are super passionate about getting rid of a lot of the silly rules of the hotel world.”
“We’re building an inclusive club.”
“It's about just being hospitable and coming from a place of empathy and understanding that
travel is stressful, it's long, it's arduous. We gotta get you unplugged as soon as you get here.”
“For us the common thread is our service standards and that's how we built from.”
“Our employees are as important as the people coming through the door.”
Mentioned:
Salt Hotels
Le Meridien 
Starwood
The Aster
Salt School
Sponsored by Solonis
BLLA

Carolyn grew up in sunny Los Angeles and graduated from New York University. After working in New York City nightlife and restaurants, it was not long before she fell in love with hotels and started managing Events at Ace Hotel New York.
 From there, she joined the team at Vikram Chatwal Collection in New York, bringing her sales and marketing skills to the forefront. 
When Ace Hotel Group decided to open in Downtown LA, Carolyn was recruited to head on back to the West Coast to build accounts from the ground up in a culturally emerging landscape. 
 Her experience did not stop there. From her work with Proper Hospitality to Sydell Group to even co-founding a consulting company for emerging hospitality companies, Carolyn was a champion of the boutique lifestyle.     
 Fast forward to the present day, Carolyn is with Casetta Group and is furthering her passion for hospitality, management, and revitalizing small boutique properties.
What You Will Hear:
How Carolyn established her career in hospitalityBuilding Casetta GroupCasetta Group’s mission statementWorking in a partnership with Montecito Venture PartnersNew project in SilverlakeWhat is Los Angeles culture to Carolyn?Being an artisan. Curating art for properties.  Being a woman owner in the hospitality industryAdvice for up-and-coming hotel ownersThe importance of understanding all of the aspects of how a hotel runsWhat boutique means to Carolyn
Quotes:
“LA is very iconic visually, and it's all just little postcards everywhere. The scenery is just so beautiful. You really remember how incredible just nature even in this city is, that you can go to Griffith Park or go to Malibu and have such a totally different visual.”
“I'm not the one painting the portrait, but I definitely have a lot of excitement around bringing artists together and making that experience for people and setting the scene.”
“I think it's all about relationships, honestly. It's not just making friends, but making a good first impression, keeping in touch, and always looking for what else is out there.”
“Hospitality is about human connection. Technology enhances it.”
“Boutique is definitely about personalization.”
Mentioned:
Casetta Group
Casa Cody
Sponsored by Solonis
BLLA

Katherine “Kat” Lo is the Founder & President of Eaton Workshop.
Born in Hong Kong, Kat Lo is a next-generation leader, driven by her moral compass and committed to reimagining the future of hospitality for the betterment of the people and the planet.
In 2011, Kat joined her family business in hospitality, and just a few years later, her father appointed her President of Eaton Workshop.
It was in 2014 when Kat founded Eaton as a global hospitality company with a mission “to uplift the human spirit” and “to transform hospitality into a force for creativity and social and environmental impact.”
Building upon her creativity and passion for the arts, Kat and her team launched Another World is Possible in 2020, which is an online multimedia festival featuring innovative panel discussions and original short films produced by Eaton, itself.
 Now, fast forward to the present day, and Kat Lo is officially the Chair of Eaton Workshop, with an emphasis on progressing Eaton’s storytelling and sharing impactful pieces of thought leadership with the world.
What You Will Hear:
How Kat built her career in the hospitality industryCreating Eaton WorkshopEaton’s ethosLos Angeles cultureHow boutique hotels can be a vehicle for progression in local communities Stress points for boutique hotel owners todayCreating and retaining a familial environment with your teamCreating a brand that transforms an established industryIntergenerational mentors and teachersAdvice for boutique hotel ownershipWhat boutique means to Kat
Quotes:
“It's really about reimagining a hotel space as a cultural and community center.”
“LA, for me, is music, art, and wellness.”
“Boutique hotels can really be a vehicle in local communities, reaching out to make those connections and working with people who are embedded in the communities.”
“I think an important thing is for our mission, vision, and values to not only be reflected for the guests, but also for everyone that works there.”
“We can get caught up in the disruption and these exciting, big picture things, but it is also important to remember just how to take care of people when you're in hospitality.”
Mentioned:
Eaton Workshop
Pioneertown Motel
Sponsored by Solonis
BLLA

Sarah Sklash is a passionate Motelier and Co-Founder of The June Motel.
 You may recognize Sarah as half of the iconic duo who starred in Motel Makeover, a Netflix series that followed their renovation of The June Sauble Beach. Through light-hearted and sincere episodes, Sarah and her Co-Founder, April Brown, painted a beautiful picture of how their brand came to be and why boutique concepts are here to stay.
 Before Sarah became a full-time Motelier, she spent a decade working in public service, focusing on vital statistics and creating customer-centric processes. She finds her years of government experience to be especially useful in navigating all the government interactions required as an entrepreneur.
 When away from her desk, Sarah is a passionate traveler who believes that “the moment you first open the doors to a new hotel room is the best feeling in the world.”
What You Will Hear:
How Sarah built her career in the hospitality industryCareer shift and first property purchaseMotelierDisadvantages and advantages of no formal hospitality industry educationBeing unique and individualisticEthos of The June MotelAdvice on maintaining good partnershipsImportance of communicationBusiness modelsObstacles and lessons in property ownershipWhat is success to Sarah?Understanding riskMotel Makeover on NetflixWhat does boutique mean to Sarah?
Quotes:
“So much of The June actually comes from just our personal desires as travelers.”
“The June Motel is really all about being a throwback to the good ol’ days and enjoying the simple pleasures.”
“Communication is such a key part.”
Mentioned:
The June Motel
April Brown
Motel Makeover on Netflix
Sponsored by Solonis
BLLA

Based in New York City, Ernest Lee has an extensive range of business experience in investments, real estate, finance, strategy, and even operations. It’s safe to say, in the bustling “City That Never Sleeps”, he is truly doing it all.
As the Chief Growth Officer for the famous citizenM Hotels, Ernest is responsible for implementing new growth initiatives, products and programs, pursuing strategic partnerships, and developing long-term commercial strategy in collaboration with citizenM’s Chief Commercial Officer. And, to top it off, he is recognized for guiding the complex, multi-regional expansion of citizenM’s North American portfolio. These luxury properties or “proud misfits of traditional hotels,” are satisfying the modern traveler’s desire for affordable luxury and brilliantly shifting the status quo of hospitality as we know it.
What You Will Hear:
How Ernest built a career in the hospitality industryChief Growth Officer explainedLearning by looking at other industriescitizenM EthosCreating a new category, Affordable Luxury, in the boutique hotel industryBuilding a boutique hotel portfolio based on transparencyThe 360 experience. Advice and tips on owning and operating a boutique hotelAuthenticity and the importance of listeningChoosing locationsWhat boutique means to Ernest
Quotes:
“I've always had the ambition to become more well-rounded as a hotel owner and hotelier and get much closer to our guests.”
“Protecting the customer experience was the number one goal for us, and in order to do that, that requires a significant amount of control. For us, it means that we want to play developer, play owner, play designer, play operator, and play brand all at the same time.”
“When you focus less on a tangible thing, but you focus more on capturing a feeling, then that is when the execution becomes more heartfelt, and it actually feels real and authentic.”
Mentioned:
citizenM
Cushman and Wakefield
Sponsored by Solonis
BLLA