Name: Luc Delafosse
Title: Managing Director
Company, city: Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills; Beverly Hills, Calif.
Number of employees: Close to 400; guests can expect two employees per room when the hotel opens.
Recent project: Opening the hotel, scheduled for June 1, 2017
First job: I was a chef during hotel school.
Little-known fact about you: Even though I may be someone who portrays a cool persona, I am not that cool.
YOUR BUSINESS
What innovations/initiatives do you foresee in the industry over the next years? Service innovation and enhancing the guest experience through smarter use of technology will define the next years. Hospitality must adapt to changing lifestyles, especially those of millennials, and use guest feedback to shape services. The future will bring deeper integration of digital tools with traditionally service-driven operations to create a seamless, personalized stay.
What is the best career advice you’ve received? Never say “No,” and never take “No” for an answer.
What advice would you give someone starting out in the field? Engage younger colleagues and students. I often meet second-year master’s hospitality students and tell them to be authentic: mean what you say and say what you mean. Honesty, clarity and consistency build trust and leadership.
LUC DELAFOSSE AS A TRAVELER
Favorite travel memory or story: Time spent with family stands out above all. Hospitality is a 24/7 industry and balancing work with personal life matters. I am planning a week in France soon with my daughters — those moments are precious.
One travel tip you cannot live without: Travel sensibly and practically. Pack light, keep things simple, and be mindful of your surroundings so you can fully enjoy each destination.
Best advice for business travelers: Similar to personal travel tips: use available services, simplify logistics, and focus on making the trip efficient so you can enjoy the experience and stay productive.
ABOUT WALDORF ASTORIA BEVERLY HILLS
What can premium travelers and residents expect from Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills?
Upscale guests can expect a highly personalized experience that begins before arrival, with outreach to confirm arrival details, transfers and preferences. Anticipating needs through small, thoughtful touches is central to how we exceed expectations. In-room technology is intuitive and reliable, with fast WiFi and connectivity to familiar streaming and entertainment services. We combine today’s best technology with warm service to create a true home away from home.
The hotel’s design team includes Pierre-Yves Rochon Inc., Gensler and PYR, and Perkins+Will. Tell our readers about the designs.
Our intent was to introduce something new to Beverly Hills. Pierre-Yves Rochon’s interiors reflect California easy living with fresh, modern art déco influences. The exterior prioritizes green space, creating a garden connection to the neighboring Beverly Hilton. Trees, flowers and fragrant plantings form a landscaped link that enhances the guest experience and integrates the hotel with its surroundings.
What unique on-site amenities will Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills bring to the neighborhood?
Beyond 170 guestrooms and suites, the hotel features a ground-floor and rooftop Jean-Georges restaurant, a lobby bar serving a California-style afternoon tea, and a rooftop pool. The spa, created in partnership with La Prairie, includes six private treatment rooms and two relaxation areas across 5,000 square feet. Every guestroom offers a terrace and unobstructed city views, and guests can select their preferred view at booking. Three villa suites provide about 1,200 square feet for greater privacy, while the 4,000-square-foot presidential suite includes a spa treatment room, kitchen facilities and a media room. Above all, service is paramount: from day one we aim to create authentic, memorable moments for our guests.