In this episode of The Lifestyle Series, host Andrew Taylor speaks with Jinou Park, Founder of Normal and a keynote speaker at the recent Boutique Hotel Series in Bangkok. 

Jinou shares insights from his rich career in the hospitality industry, working with renowned brands like IHG and Disney, and his experiences leading Design Hotels in the Asia-Pacific region. 

The conversation covers the evolution of boutique hotels, the importance of authenticity and purpose in hotel branding, and designing meaningful guest experiences. Jinou emphasises the need for hotels to inspire guests beyond just providing a place to stay and discusses the methodology of 'less but better' in design. 

You’ll also learn about his personal journey and global perspective, highlighting his passion for creating unique and lasting hotel experiences.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a comment and rate us on your favourite podcast platform. Don’t miss the latest insights from leaders in design, hotels and hospitality!

LINKS

You can find Jinou Park on LinkedIn or Instagram

Visit his website

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Timestamps:

00:00 Welcome to the Lifestyle Series

00:35 Introducing Jinou Park

01:25 The Journey to Boutique Hotels

02:20 Defining Boutique Hotels

04:34 Career Highlights and Industry Insights

05:49 The Role of Design in Hospitality

09:04 Challenges and Innovations in Hotel Branding

18:22 Creating Unique Guest Experiences

28:59 Big Brands and Boutique Innovations

30:22 The Importance of Mission and Purpose

31:37 Work-Life Integration and Authenticity

36:47 Design Philosophy: Less But Better

44:22 Global Perspectives in Hospitality

50:39 Closing Thoughts and Future Plans

In this episode of The Lifestyle Series, host Andrew Taylor sits down with Paul Fischmann, one of Australia’s most innovative hotel developers. Paul shares his journey from humble beginnings in backpacker hostels and boarding houses to creating some of the country’s most iconic boutique hotels. 

Known for his unorthodox approach and ability to see potential in overlooked markets, Paul dives deep into the highs and lows of his career, the art of adaptive reuse and how he built a unique brand of welcoming, design-driven hotels.

You’ll learn:

• How Paul fell into the hotel industry by accident, beginning with property deals and evolving into a hospitality visionary

• How Paul navigated setbacks and used creativity to transform struggling properties into vibrant, welcoming spaces

• Paul’s thoughts on the evolution of boutique hotels and why he believes in making design more accessible and inviting, rather than exclusive and pretentious

• The importance of hiring the right people and empowering them, often bringing in staff with little to no hotel experience but a passion for hospitality

• Insights into the design decisions behind some of Paul’s notable projects, including the game-changing move of placing lobbies on rooftops and making spaces that guests truly enjoy

• The future of hotels in Australia: Paul shares his perspective on the current state of the hotel industry, where it’s heading, and why he believes there’s still room for more innovation in boutique hospitality.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to The Lifestyle Series, rate us and leave a review on your favourite podcast platform. Don’t miss the latest insights from leaders in design, hotels, and hospitality!

LINKS

Connect with Paul on LinkedIn

Follow us on Instagram

Visit our website and sign up to our newsletter for insights on all things hotels & lifestyle

Welcome to Episode II of The Lifestyle Series podcast with me, your host, Andrew Taylor, Managing Director at Cre8tive Hotels & Lifestyle.

In this episode I spoke with Lee Lin, Regional Director, Asia Pacific for Nobu Hotels, gaining insights in hotels and design that spans the globe.

From Lee’s journey growing up in Taiwan and studying traditional architecture in the U.S., to working on iconic projects in Bangkok, New York, the Middle East and beyond, this episode is packed with stories of adventure, creativity, and innovation.

Lee shares his experiences working for some of the world’s leading design firms and developers, offering a unique perspective on the fusion of Eastern and Western design principles. He discusses the challenges and triumphs of bringing the Nobu brand to new markets in Asia, the importance of legacy in his work, and how his global upbringing has influenced his approach to hospitality and design.

Lee has some fascinating stories one can only be inspired by. He demonstrates how consistently stepping outside of your comfort zone and being open to new experiences can lead to extraordinary outcomes. 

He opens up about:

Join us as we explore Lee’s fascinating career, the evolution of lifestyle hotels, and the exciting future of hospitality in the Asia Pacific region.

If you enjoyed listening to this episode, don’t forget to rate 5 stars and subscribe to the show to be notified of new releases.

LINKS

Connect with Lee on LinkedIn

Follow us on Instagram for our upcoming New York Lifestyle Tour in September 2024

Visit our website and sign up to our newsletter

Welcome to The Lifestyle Series Podcast with me, your host, Andrew Taylor from Cre8tive Hotels & Lifestyle. This podcast is the place where we delve into the lives of extraordinary individuals in the hotel, lifestyle and design industry and find out who they really are beyond their title and what makes them tick when they’re approaching a project.

In this first episode I sat down with Tracey Wiles, Principal and Regional Interior Design Leader at Woods Bagot, where we uncover the dynamic world of a top female executive in the architecture and design industry.

A talented designer with a compelling story, Tracey opens up about:

Tune in to be inspired by a story of resilience, passion and unwavering dedication to both career and family.

If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe to the show to be notified of new releases.

You can find Tracey on LinkedIn

Follow us on Instagram

Visit our website and sign up for our upcoming New York Lifestyle Study Tour in September