The Bezos/Sanchez wedding is a middle finger to those concerned about inequality either because they're not rich and thus resent the rich or because they are rich and fear repercussions to the rich.
Bezos/Sanchez are not reading the room. And they are making themselves symbols and therefore targets.
I read about that wedding. From an American perspective, the Bezos wedding will likely have more of an impact just because he and his bride are American.
👀 me waiting with bated breath to see if Orlando Bloom shows up to the Bezos wedding, thereby confirming the breakup rumors
I love the tidbit about Rio Viera-Newton becoming a licensed esthetician. I always felt my food writing would be better informed by working in restaurants, which I'm sure is a cliche at this point lol, but the thought of specific classes/certifications/experience sounds like an incredibly interesting value add for writers/influencers, etc. looking to work more deeply with brands. I wonder if that will become more prevalent in the future
Working in restaurants would 100% bette inform your food writing! I worked in bakeries and health food stores for 5 years and I have muscle memory from it. Same way if I was a trained journalist my writing about business/workplaces would sound completely different — it sounds the way it does because I’ve worked in so many different industries
Ironically, I ended up working in kitchens for too many years because I couldn't get enough freelance work lol. Bakery work is hands down the hardest job I've ever done!
I appreciate you speaking on the breadth of your experience, and it does come through in your writing. Journalism school does shape a lot of writers very specifically, which is why I appreciate newsletters and smaller pubs with different voices/styles. I used to get called too snarky by my editors, but I feel like it would fly a bit better these days
So many bad luxury resorts - cheesy design, unoriginal programming, bad food, overwrought service. I haven't stayed at an Aman or Six Senses but most of the other big names are overwhelmingly predictable.
Design and location are certainly prime attributes to consider but the hospitality component of a hotel stay seems to be the most difficult to deliver. To share an anecdote, Hotel St Cecilia in Austin has turntables in the rooms with a vinyl library in the lobby (maybe not so groundbreaking now but this was 10-12 years ago). On my first stay I ended up taking out a bunch of Led Zeppelin albums for my room and on my 2nd visit they had 4 Led Zeppelin albums, a book about Led Zeppelin (Hammer of the Gods) and a handwritten note for me on my bed, acknowledging that they noticed I liked Led Zeppelin and hoped I might enjoy. THAT is the stuff of "Unreasonable Hospitality" as Will Guidara might suggest and is my reference standard for hotel service/hospitality.
Someone took the time to train staff to make note of these preferences and personally acknowledge even though I was not yet a regular guest. Well executed and memorable.
Do you think the 8p meetings are a long term effect of parents staying in the workforce and COVID flexibility sticking around?
I feel like my parent friends know how to go dark around 5:30 and then do a late shift after the kids have gone to bed. It used to be for emails + slacks but I guess meetings are on the table now.
I think it's more about our technology behavior (carrying around our work laptops everywhere, using software that is on personal and work devices, following coworkers on IG) and constantly being accessible
Agree. If you haven’t read the whole 996 discourse that’s going on in the tech world I recommend it…. that means 9am-9pm, 6 days a week, and it is an actual workplace policy in a number of American AI companies (and has been the norm in Chinese tech companies for a while)
I threw up in my mouth a little when I read this, and then LOL'd at how little power the Clintons or Soros actually yield these days due to the epic failings and decline of the Democratic Party despite the NYT living in fantasy world. I'm sure the cake was just scrumptious though.
"The Democratic establishment descended on the Hamptons this weekend for something of a political royal wedding that brought together the worlds of big-money politics and Clinton-era insiders. . . Held on Saturday at Mr. Soros’s estate in Water Mill, N.Y., the wedding drew private jets and Clinton aides galore in a rare concentration of wealth and power."
Re: Bezos/Sanchez wedding, I'd like to see a fact check for this piece of reporting (NYT, not linked, guessing because you are also questioning the reporting!): "One taxi driver who will be involved in transporting guests for the wedding said he had been booked to be on call from June 25 to June 30." The guests will be taking normie taxis??
in venice, I presume it's a water taxi? the 'normal' water taxis are really lovely, polished wood finishes and leather seats (and they are fairly expensive). Idk how else you would get around tbh...it's either ferry or water taxi. most of the private small boats were not as nice looking as the water taxis. bigger boats can't go through the smaller canals / under the little bridges.
The hotel is on a cliff and you have to drive almost an hour to get to the beach. It's not finished, there is construction everywhere (LOUD), and the staff def knows they opened too early.
My plans were to check in and stay solo for 3-days and then my husband would join for the remaining 4-days.
When I arrived they did not have my reservation. The front desk agent was extremely unprofessional and told me immediately that they screwed up and ran around trying to fix it. After twenty minutes they put me in a “garden view” room that was overlooking the street. I spent one night there and after zero sleep from noise I asked to move. They said no problem. I had to follow up a number of times until they finally moved me around 5pm.
During the day I ordered a FIFTY DOLLAR salad that was a literal side salad with two shrimp.
The room I moved into was amazing. The view was of the crystal blue ocean and it was spacious and clean.
The staff were all a little sketchy, a couple times the pool boys gave my husband their card in case we had any “after hour requests”
The lobby bar was FULL of escorts.
For lunch one day I ordered a $47 pasta (random I know) and it came COLD after waiting nearly 40 mins.
The cleaners come by multiple times a day which was annoying when I wanted to nap or just enjoy the room.
Overall for $2200usd per night the food should be EXCELLENT and it was mid/terrible.
The grounds are lovely, the beach service was non existent.
The spa service was great but again nothing special for the price point.
and the customer service was not luxury standards. The guest should never feel anything but relaxed and cared for and I absolutely felt their stress and chaos.
So many people in branding got cut from Disney,WB & UMG , thanks for posting this. Ppls livelihoods are on the line out here & this is going to help so much. Thanks Emily.
You say "27 dresses" in context of a wedding and expect me not to imagine the Katherine Heigl and James Marsden romcom?
of course cuomo drives a dodge charger smh!!
Lmao
The Bezos/Sanchez wedding is a middle finger to those concerned about inequality either because they're not rich and thus resent the rich or because they are rich and fear repercussions to the rich.
Bezos/Sanchez are not reading the room. And they are making themselves symbols and therefore targets.
The question is, will they top the 2024 Ambani wedding which took on mythical proportions (in India, where inequality is even more of a problem)?
I read about that wedding. From an American perspective, the Bezos wedding will likely have more of an impact just because he and his bride are American.
👀 me waiting with bated breath to see if Orlando Bloom shows up to the Bezos wedding, thereby confirming the breakup rumors
I love the tidbit about Rio Viera-Newton becoming a licensed esthetician. I always felt my food writing would be better informed by working in restaurants, which I'm sure is a cliche at this point lol, but the thought of specific classes/certifications/experience sounds like an incredibly interesting value add for writers/influencers, etc. looking to work more deeply with brands. I wonder if that will become more prevalent in the future
Working in restaurants would 100% bette inform your food writing! I worked in bakeries and health food stores for 5 years and I have muscle memory from it. Same way if I was a trained journalist my writing about business/workplaces would sound completely different — it sounds the way it does because I’ve worked in so many different industries
Ironically, I ended up working in kitchens for too many years because I couldn't get enough freelance work lol. Bakery work is hands down the hardest job I've ever done!
I appreciate you speaking on the breadth of your experience, and it does come through in your writing. Journalism school does shape a lot of writers very specifically, which is why I appreciate newsletters and smaller pubs with different voices/styles. I used to get called too snarky by my editors, but I feel like it would fly a bit better these days
So many bad luxury resorts - cheesy design, unoriginal programming, bad food, overwrought service. I haven't stayed at an Aman or Six Senses but most of the other big names are overwhelmingly predictable.
Design and location are certainly prime attributes to consider but the hospitality component of a hotel stay seems to be the most difficult to deliver. To share an anecdote, Hotel St Cecilia in Austin has turntables in the rooms with a vinyl library in the lobby (maybe not so groundbreaking now but this was 10-12 years ago). On my first stay I ended up taking out a bunch of Led Zeppelin albums for my room and on my 2nd visit they had 4 Led Zeppelin albums, a book about Led Zeppelin (Hammer of the Gods) and a handwritten note for me on my bed, acknowledging that they noticed I liked Led Zeppelin and hoped I might enjoy. THAT is the stuff of "Unreasonable Hospitality" as Will Guidara might suggest and is my reference standard for hotel service/hospitality.
Someone took the time to train staff to make note of these preferences and personally acknowledge even though I was not yet a regular guest. Well executed and memorable.
Do you think the 8p meetings are a long term effect of parents staying in the workforce and COVID flexibility sticking around?
I feel like my parent friends know how to go dark around 5:30 and then do a late shift after the kids have gone to bed. It used to be for emails + slacks but I guess meetings are on the table now.
I think it's more about our technology behavior (carrying around our work laptops everywhere, using software that is on personal and work devices, following coworkers on IG) and constantly being accessible
Agree. If you haven’t read the whole 996 discourse that’s going on in the tech world I recommend it…. that means 9am-9pm, 6 days a week, and it is an actual workplace policy in a number of American AI companies (and has been the norm in Chinese tech companies for a while)
Love this!! You’re looking out for us on the job hunt ♥️ I know it’s mainly US readership but any chance you’d post jobs based in London?
Job board 2.0 will be international. I would do anything for my London readers 💋
London loves Feed Me ❤️❤️❤️
I threw up in my mouth a little when I read this, and then LOL'd at how little power the Clintons or Soros actually yield these days due to the epic failings and decline of the Democratic Party despite the NYT living in fantasy world. I'm sure the cake was just scrumptious though.
"The Democratic establishment descended on the Hamptons this weekend for something of a political royal wedding that brought together the worlds of big-money politics and Clinton-era insiders. . . Held on Saturday at Mr. Soros’s estate in Water Mill, N.Y., the wedding drew private jets and Clinton aides galore in a rare concentration of wealth and power."
I liked the mentions of the car brands in other coverage
Re: Bezos/Sanchez wedding, I'd like to see a fact check for this piece of reporting (NYT, not linked, guessing because you are also questioning the reporting!): "One taxi driver who will be involved in transporting guests for the wedding said he had been booked to be on call from June 25 to June 30." The guests will be taking normie taxis??
in venice, I presume it's a water taxi? the 'normal' water taxis are really lovely, polished wood finishes and leather seats (and they are fairly expensive). Idk how else you would get around tbh...it's either ferry or water taxi. most of the private small boats were not as nice looking as the water taxis. bigger boats can't go through the smaller canals / under the little bridges.
Looks like Sinna Nasseri is the one shooting the Puglia JCrew crew
They brought all the photographers
Which luxury hotels have you been most disappointed by recently?
I stayed at one in folegandros last summer that has devastated me for almost a year
Was it Gundari? I heard it is not ready for prime time and cosplaying as a “true” luxury hotel
Yea. Do not go.
I want to know more 👀
Folegandros is incredible, you should go there.
The hotel is on a cliff and you have to drive almost an hour to get to the beach. It's not finished, there is construction everywhere (LOUD), and the staff def knows they opened too early.
just looked this hotel up and it looks like their design brief was "Amanzoe lite"
J Crew trip guest list feels very “patron of the arts” and I’m here for it!
I’m ready to talk about Luxury Hotels. Starting with Surfside Four Seasons. 👎🏻
BROOOOOO can you please tell us everything
Travelled there March 2024
My plans were to check in and stay solo for 3-days and then my husband would join for the remaining 4-days.
When I arrived they did not have my reservation. The front desk agent was extremely unprofessional and told me immediately that they screwed up and ran around trying to fix it. After twenty minutes they put me in a “garden view” room that was overlooking the street. I spent one night there and after zero sleep from noise I asked to move. They said no problem. I had to follow up a number of times until they finally moved me around 5pm.
During the day I ordered a FIFTY DOLLAR salad that was a literal side salad with two shrimp.
The room I moved into was amazing. The view was of the crystal blue ocean and it was spacious and clean.
The staff were all a little sketchy, a couple times the pool boys gave my husband their card in case we had any “after hour requests”
The lobby bar was FULL of escorts.
For lunch one day I ordered a $47 pasta (random I know) and it came COLD after waiting nearly 40 mins.
The cleaners come by multiple times a day which was annoying when I wanted to nap or just enjoy the room.
Overall for $2200usd per night the food should be EXCELLENT and it was mid/terrible.
The grounds are lovely, the beach service was non existent.
The spa service was great but again nothing special for the price point.
and the customer service was not luxury standards. The guest should never feel anything but relaxed and cared for and I absolutely felt their stress and chaos.
Let me know if you have any other questions!
Okay now I think you’re wonderfully observant and probably know a thing or two about hotels which makes me wonder… what hotels do you LOVE
Thank you Emily. Oh I love this!
Key West - The Marquesa Hotel
New York - The Marlton
Corsica - Aethos
Paris - Hotel Pas de Calais
Lake Louise - Post Hotel & Spa
Tofino - Wickaninnish Inn
Toronto - Fairmont Royal York
I can give context as to why if you would like as well.
Would love to hear your reasonings!
Client of mine stayed at Aman Venice a couple of years ago and was disappointed, complained about cleaning, exposed wire in the closet
So many people in branding got cut from Disney,WB & UMG , thanks for posting this. Ppls livelihoods are on the line out here & this is going to help so much. Thanks Emily.