Why Wealthy Travelers Are Over Meaningless Hotels

Hey (HAP)pers,

Let’s agree to disagree about these summer travel rankings, why space tourism is going mainstream, and a surprising new trend: wealthy travelers craving purpose over pampering. Our UK Editor, Luke Abrahams, sits down with one of London’s top hoteliers—then reveals a bold opinion about a beloved luxury staple that might spark debate. Don’t miss it.

- Hotels Above Par CEO, Brandon Berkson

This year's top summer destinations, ranked. Summer is coming! Woo! And with it, those darling ranking lists we have all come to love (and secretly hate). The age question after a long AF winter is: Where am I going on vacation this summer? Expedia thought the same thing, and as a result of its latest trending findings on its website, it ranked this year's top summer hotspots according to stats from its platform. Tbilisi, Georgia's capital, came in hot, claiming the list's third spot with Basel (REALLY?!) claiming number two. The first genuinely shocked me, but it is what it is. Find out more here.

Watch out for this EPIC meteor shower. I love that everyone is now obsessed with space. I have been banging on about it for three years now, and I even got a press release the other day headlined "the rise of noctourism." What can I say... HAP is trendsetting. In other news, the Eta Aquariid meteor shower returns for another galactic spectacle this month. Space showers like these are common (there are 30 a year visible from Earth), but as with anything universe-related, there are ideal times to see them. Our friends at Traveler put together a handy guide, so give it a read—don't worry, it's short and sweet.

Experiential digs are all the rage now. Sustainability. It is one of those words that is increasingly becoming more and more meaningless with all this greenwashing, tick box nonsense. Some do it exceptionally well, while others are just damn good marketers. Globally, the travel industry is starting to see a shift toward experiential stays and experience-based holidays among the wealthy. In a nutshell, travelers are looking for meaningful stays, and according to new research, the boutiques are delivering this most by combining sustainable design and high-quality craftsmanship to attract eco-conscious travelers. How clever. Read an insightful deep dive here. - LA

In our latest edition of Meet The Hotelier, HAP catches up with Jeremy Goring, the hilarious man behind the bold, cheeky and British Royal Family favorite, The Goring. Spoiler: expect expert English wit. Thank you, as ever, Mr Goring.

Luke: Sum up your hospitality style in a sentence.

Jeremy: We have the most fun job in the world, so we better enjoy it!

Luke: What's been your biggest mistake during your career, and would you change it?

Jeremy: Engaging with various governments when asked. I’d love to get some of that time back!

Luke: Who is your personal hospitality hero? And why?

Jeremy: So many legends, and it's hard to pick one out. My first boss might be the winner, the late Ramon Pajares, during my Four Seasons Park Lane days. Ramon kept it simple and he outworked all of us.

Luke: Name a hotel you walked into recently that truly blew you away. Why?

Jeremy: The Crillon. I wonder if it might be the most beautiful city hotel in the world.

Luke: You've done a lot of wild things at The Goring, but what sticks out most?

Jeremy: They'll never let me live down the beach bar with its 82 tons of sand and 13-piece Reggae Band.

Luke: Tell us your favorite room in the hotel. What makes it special?

Jeremy: I love our Royal Suite’s hundreds of quirky hidden details. The walls of the master bedroom are lined with handwoven Gainsborough silks, and dotted around you can find handwritten letters dug deep out of the archives, military regalia and a very impressive portrait of Her Majesty Queen Victoria.

Luke: Your proudest moment as a hotelier. What was it and why?

Jeremy: Gosh! Not going bankrupt after Covid might be one of them. Being in The Times’ Top 100 Best Places to Work for the last two years might be another. There aren't any other hotels in it because it can be a tough game.

Luke: You are the only British family-owned hotel left in London. What's your secret, and how have you curbed the trend of not selling?

Jeremy: Are you making an offer?

Luke: There's so much competition in London. How do you stick out from the rest, and what's your formula for success?

Jeremy: We know that we don't have all the advantages of some of the bigger companies, particularly when it comes to capital investment. This means we would be mad not to use the ace cards that we have. The first of these is our people. The second is to do our own thing.

Luke: Tell me your wildest travel story.

Jeremy: I’m not sure this counts as wild, but getting left high and dry for 24 hours in Istanbul a few months ago after a missed connection ranks as one of the funniest ones. It's the best town in the world to get stuck in! I took so many spices back through customs with me that I lost track of what they all were, but they definitely taste amazing rubbed into a grilled turbot or leg of lamb. And I have two beautiful spare backgammon boards now, too. What a place.

"We hate slippers." I found this brandished on a pair of reusable Crocs I found during a recent stay at Thyme. I thought to myself, I love how bold this is, AND how right. In an age of eco-consciousness (rightly so), let's bin the millions of wasted hotel slippers and settle for something reusable. Imagine how much waste that would save, and how much money all you hoteliers would save. Discuss.

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