In the realm of high-end hospitality, family plays a significant role in shaping the landscape of luxury accommodations. Leading Hotels of the World, a prestigious hospitality network spanning across 80 countries with over 400 member properties, boasts a remarkable statistic – around 85% of their properties are family-owned. Lauren Alba, the vice president of global marketing and communications at Leading Hotels of the World, emphasized the importance of empowering independent hoteliers within their community to maintain autonomy.
One such independent hotelier is Crescenzo Gargano, a member of the family that has owned the illustrious 67-room Hotel Santa Caterina in Amalfi, Italy, for four generations. Gargano’s journey into the family business was not a straightforward one. Initially pursuing studies in economics and contemplating an MBA in the U.S., fate intervened when financial challenges beckoned him back to Italy at the age of 25. Taking the reins at Hotel Santa Caterina, Gargano led the transformation of the establishment from a four-star hotel to a beacon of luxury in the travel industry.
A New Generation at Grace Bay Resorts
On the other side of the spectrum is Nikheel Advani, the co-founder, COO, and principal at Grace Bay Resorts, overseeing the Leading Hotels member resort, Rock House, in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos. Despite the corporate structure of Grace Bay Resorts, Advani’s commitment to a family-oriented approach is unwavering. His children, aged 8 and 9, are being groomed to potentially take on leadership roles within the company, following in their father’s footsteps.
Unlike his own experience of pivoting from an engineering degree to hospitality, Advani’s children are being immersed in the industry from a young age. However, this exposure does not entail a free pass into the business. Advani plans to introduce his kids to various aspects of hotel operations, starting with back-of-house tasks like dishwashing and housekeeping. This hands-on approach ensures that his children will earn their place within the hospitality realm, culminating in the responsibility of managing their boutique property in Turks and Caicos.
The narrative of familial involvement and succession planning in high-end hospitality reflects a blend of tradition and innovation. Whether through generational ownership like Hotel Santa Caterina or grooming the next cohort of leaders as seen at Grace Bay Resorts, the sector continues to evolve while honoring its roots in family values and commitment.