How did you get involved with the Assemblage, a coworking, co-living social space?
It was developed by [Prodigy Network founder] Rodrigo Niño. He wanted a hotel company that wasn’t stodgy, that was comfortably independent. Assemblage is the vision, Assemblage is the programming, Assemblage is the ethos, and we’re the operator behind the scenes making it a reality. We ended up opening in NoMad [in New York] first, then on John Street last month, and we are going to be opening on Park Avenue South in May 2019.
How is wellness incorporated into the brand?
It’s more like a melding of work and life. When traveling for leisure, [people] still want to be connected to work, and when they’re on business, they want to try to get a little pleasure in. The whole goal of the Assemblage is interconnectedness. And we’re all interconnected with everyone on this planet. It’s also to feel good about yourself.
Will we see more hotels with coworking club spaces in the future?
It’s happening already. For decades, we saw hotel brands moving into business centers and areas in lobbies that people could work and have a drink or a coffee. We’re still trying to make people feel at home.
What else are you paying attention to in the industry?
People are more aware and community-oriented. Also, generational boundaries are gradually going away. Whole generations are not just looking to acquire things, they’re looking to experience things. It’s a renaissance in some ways. You’ve got technology merging with people wanting [a better] quality of life.
What Kokua properties are you excited about?
The Waikiki Trade Center office building we launched in December 2016 is still ramping up. It’s a beautiful project. We’re doing a complete renovation of the Queen Kapiolani Hotel [in Hawaii], an independent hotel from the ’70s. You look to your right and you see the ocean and Diamond Head.
