Priority Status

On this episode of Priority Status, Kristin Moller is joined by Britney Eschelman, Assistant Editor at Hotels Above Par.

Conceptualized by Brandon Berkson and launched in April 2020, Hotels Above Par is an expert-curated guide highlighting the world’s coolest boutique hotels and travel experiences.

Hotels Above Par has garnered a strong community of travelers who, when vacationing, prefer to stay at properties that connect them to the heart and soul of a destination. Britney’s work encompasses reviews and guides on the site as well as managing and curating Hotels Above Par’s presence on social media.

Listen in as Britney shares how she started in travel writing, what it’s like to be an editor at a new and quickly growing travel brand, and what are some of her most favorite hotels and travel experiences to date.

Find Britney on Instagram @briteschelman

Find Hotels Above Par on Instagram @hotelsabovepar

https://hotelsabovepar.com/

On this special episode of Priority Status Kristin Moller is joined by Jaime Black, a podcast pioneer and the producer/host of A Hotel Podcast. Jaime has over two decades of podcasting and digital media work and launched A Hotel Podcast last year after combining his passions for travel and storytelling. Listen in to our conversation as Jaime shares how he got his start in podcasting, what he has learned since launching his new podcast, and how hotels and hospitality professionals can utilize and benefit from digital storytelling.

This episode is extra special because it's one part of a crossover event. If you head over to A Hotel Podcast today you can listen in on my episode with Jaime talking about my role at J/PR, and how we are helping our clients evolve and stay ahead of trends in lifestyle and travel.

https://ahotelpodcast.substack.com/

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0OlNRT74He7wbs183ZC1xl?si=P2O1k1yPTY2k6g4SwmTJVw

On this episode of Priority Status, we're diving into the world of weddings with none other than the dynamic duo, Lisa and Stephanie, sisters and co-owners of Cedar Lakes Estate, the Hudson Valley hotel and epic event venue. Join us as we explore the history of Cedar Lakes and its past lives - and why a wedding venue tour here should be on the short list - whether you’ve secured that diamond or you will soon. We'll dive into the latest trends, tips, and behind the scenes of the wedding industry with Lisa and Stephanie as they offer up can’t miss insights and tell us about one of their most unique weddings on property to date. Whether you’re a hotelier hosting weddings on property or you’re planning your own special day - this episode is a must-listen.

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thesistersofcedarlakes/

Website - https://www.cedarlakesestate.com/

On this episode of “5 Questions With” Kristin Moller is joined by Vinciane Ngomsi, a talented journalist based in Washington DC who writes about sports, travel, entertainment and food. She began her career in sports journalism with bylines at SB Nation, USA Today, and Yahoo and today she is a Staff Writer at Boardroom, covering the intersection of sports and entertainment across football, soccer, tennis, basketball and more.

Vinciane was born in Cameroon and moved to the US as a young child. She grew up in Kansas City and is a lifelong Chiefs fan. Listen in as Vinciane shares how a family tradition helped manifest her career in journalism, what it’s like to travel and write about her favorite sports teams and athletes and what inspires her on a daily basis.

Vinciane on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ngomsi

Vinciane on Linkedin linkedin.com/in/ngomsi

In this episode of “5 Questions With," Eleanore Longley is joined by Beth, Bobbie and Adele who are part of the Garbutt family who own and run Calabash, a boutique hotel on the Caribbean island of Grenada.

The Calabash story starts with a delayed flight. In 1985, Beth, Bobbie and Adele’s father, Leo Garbutt, was asked to visit Grenada by a friend with a view to purchasing a rum distillery on the island. During this trip, he met Lilian Ramdhanny, who in 1986 became his wife. Due to a delayed flight back to the UK, Leo found himself at The Calabash Hotel where he felt an ‘aura of infectious happiness’, which led him to purchase the property with Lilian in 1987.

They set to work immediately, despite never having worked in the hospitality sector and have since grown Calabash to become one of the leading luxury hotels in the Caribbean and a proud member of Relais & Châteaux.

In 2012, daughters Adele and Beth emigrated back from the UK, with Adele leaving behind her marketing job in London and Beth, fresh out of culinary school at Ballymaloe in Ireland. Both sisters are now involved with running Calabash, with Beth focused on developing the Food & Beverage, and Adele heading up Sales & Marketing, as well as overseeing the day-to-day operations. Last year, youngest sister Bobbie joined the family business to support on marketing for the hotel, whilst also becoming closely involved with the family’s organic estate, L’Esterre. She recently launched her own tree-to-bar chocolate company in the UK, using cocoa from the estate.

Listen in as Beth, Adele and Bobbie chat about the story behind Calabash and how it came into the family, life growing up in a hotel, and how Calabash’s warm and genuine service makes it so special resulting in guests returning year after year.

For more information, please visit:

https://www.calabashhotel.com/

https://www.instagram.com/calabashhotel/

In this last episode of 2023, Kristin Moller chats with four J/PR team members about their best travel experiences of the past year, what they are seeing emerge as travel trends to watch in 2024, and which destinations they are most excited to visit in the new year.

Our guests on this episode are:

Hannah Partin, vice president, New York

Emma Silverman, senior director, New York

Mary Burkhardt, senior account supervisor, San Diego

Gemma Kane, account supervisor, San Diego

This episode is part of J/PR's 2024 Trend Report series. Listen in as Heidi Doak chats with freelance writer, Emma Reynolds, on the most exciting trends that we can look forward to in luxury real estate.

https://emmareynolds.com/

@emmarey

This episode is part of J/PR's 2024 Trend Report series. Listen in as Monica Powers chats with freelance writer, Beau Hayhoe, on the most exciting trends that we can look forward to in craft beer and spirits.

@beauhayhoe

In this episode Kristin Moller is joined by Tommy Southworth, President & COO of Southworth, a privately held lifestyle company specializing in the development and management of private clubs and programmed residential communities. Founded to challenge the industry status quo in 1991, Southworth recognized an opportunity to think beyond the restrictive private clubs of the day. While Tommy grew up surrounded by the business, it wasn’t until 2014 when he officially joined the company after working for many years in finance and private equity. Since then he has been focused on innovating the company.

Today, many national and international club communities later; the Southworth legacy continues to evolve. With a newfound commitment to forward-looking culture and values, and with the next generation of family leadership firmly in place, Southworth has reintroduced itself as the trusted curator of an elevated lifestyle whose inclusive clubs offer one-of-a-kind community and connections for a life well-lived. Located in Boston, Massachusetts, Southworth currently owns and operates private clubs and residential communities across North America, the Caribbean and Europe. These award-winning properties include: Willowbend on Cape Cod, Mass.; Renaissance on Boston's North Shore; Meredith Bay on New Hampshire's famed Lake Winnipesaukee; Creighton Farms in Aldie, Va. 35 minutes west of Washington, DC; The Village at Machrihanish Dunes in Argyll, Scotland; and The Abaco Club, located on Great Abaco Island in The Bahamas.

Listen in as Tommy shares more about running a family business and building the Southworth legacy, how his focus on the art of connection is central to the rebrand for current and future Southworth communities and what trends he is seeing emerge quickly in luxury estate. Let's dive in!

https://southworthclubs.com

@southworthclubs

In this episode of “5 Questions With," Emma Hartland-Mahon is joined by Andrew Coney, General manager of The Hari hotel in London.

Andrew joined The Hari as General Manager in 2014. In this position, Andrew oversaw the transition from a Thompson-managed hotel named Belgraves, to an independent boutique in August 2016 and The Hari has grown from strength to strength under his guidance. This success has been reflected in The Hari London’s TripAdvisor position, rocketing from 30th to 6th in just four years. In 2017, Andrew oversaw the opening of il Pampero, the hotel’s modern Italian restaurant, which has quickly become a destination in its own right loved by the area and overseas.

Prior to joining the team at The Hari, Andrew has held the position as Opening General Manager at InterContinental London Westminster (now Conrad London St James), and Slaley Hall in Northumberland and at the Grand Hotel and Spa in York, where he lead the opening of Yorkshire’s only five-star hotel in 2010.

Prevalent within the Belgravia community; Andrew holds positions with the Motcomb Street Traders Association, Belgravia and Knightsbridge Police Ward Panel and The Knightsbridge Business Group. Andrew is also currently growing the hotels CSR focus after a successful campaign supporting the Evelina for the last two years.

Listen in as Andrew shares his answers in our “5 Questions With” Series including why The Hari is so passionate about art, its people and why embracing the neighborhood is so important to the hotel.

For more information, please visit:

https://www.thehari.com/london/