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Growing the Conrad Brand An Interview with Robert Rechtermann, General Manager, Conrad New York The entrance to Conrad New York EDITORS’ NOTE Robert Rechtermann hotel brand, we feel that this important Running a hotel restaurant in any city is al- arrived at Conrad New York follow- new property will help reestablish the ways a challenge because you’re competing with ing a four-year run as General Conrad brand in the U.S. New York is a great local restaurants. But we wanted to create Manager of Five Star Five Diamond huge gateway city, so this particular des- something that was approachable for both the Peninsula New York. Previously, tination and market is key for the brand community and the traveler; we had one great Rechtermann held a range of man- as it continues to evolve and expand. space to work with on the second fl oor off of our agement-level positions including But part of our role in opening atrium lobby – there is a lot of traffi c there. You can Resident Manager of The Peninsula this hotel in lower Manhattan was to also have drinks in the lobby. We created a concept Chicago; Director of Operations at introduce this part of the world to the called Atrio, named after the atrium, and we have a The Ritz-Carlton, Boston Common Conrad brand. great chef from the Four Seasons New York hotel. in 2006; EAM F&B at The Ritz-Carlton, How are you building the brand It’s a breakfast/lunch/dinner restaurant but there is Boston Common from 2003 to 2006; in North America and will there be a separate barista for coffee in the morning; the EAM F&B at the Five Diamond Robert Rechtermann a consistent feel to the properties? actual bar is in the restaurant as well – it’s an open Hilton Short Hills from 1998 to 2003; There is some consistency, but kitchen so you see a lot of activity. Director of Food & Beverage at Shutters on the the hotels are quite unique. We don’t want We were fortunate to add a rooftop bar to Beach in Santa Monica, California, from 1996 to cookie-cutter hotels. the project called Loopy Doopy – named after 1998; and Director of Food & Beverage at Hilton As far as expansion domestically, with the the spectacular Sol LeWitt drawing that over- Long Beach from 1993 to 1996. Rechtermann building of this hotel, there is even a greater looks the hotel’s lobby/atrium – and it offers began his career as Management Trainee at the interest with developers and investors to open great views of the Hudson River and Statue of Waldorf Astoria New York. Conrads in the U.S. Now that they have seen Liberty, and has been wildly successful to date. one successfully opened in New York City, it We also have great restaurants in the com- PROPERTY BRIEF In March 2012, Conrad New will help the brand immeasurably. plex itself. York (www.conradnewyork.com) opened its We have a few great hotels in Chicago, How broad is the offering for meetings? doors in New York City’s Battery Park City neigh- Miami, Indianapolis, and Puerto Rico. But hav- We have about 30,000 square feet of meet- borhood. Rising 16 stories along the Hudson River ing a hotel in New York is key, because it helps ings space including pre-function space. It was waterfront, the 463 all-suite luxury hotel is the fi rst promote the brand overall. a focus because we wanted to bring a lot of new New York address from Conrad Hotels & Resorts, What feel did you look to create in the group business to the area, especially in light of the global luxury brand of Hilton Worldwide. The rooms? the companies moving down here. Conrad New York features spacious guest rooms We’re an all-suite hotel with 463 suites; we Aside from Cipriani’s, our hotel ballroom is that average over 430 square feet, each outfi tted have a few specialty suites above that. The idea the biggest in the area. We have a ballroom up- with integrated technology, flat-screen televi- was to work with the existing footprint but to stairs that can seat up to 500 people and a smaller sions, and individual climate control. The ho- create great value. ballroom downstairs to accommodate 250 as well tel’s seasonal “green roof” features a rooftop The size of the rooms – 430-square-feet on as several smaller studios for 10 to 50 people, and bar with endless views of New York Harbor and average and up – is huge by New York standards. a great boardroom as well. Manhattan. The hotel boasts over 30,000 square The building itself is only 10 or 12 years old. We’ve also had a few good social events feet of adaptable meeting space, including the Every room has a parlor with a desk, a and are looking to get weddings and bar mitz- 6,200 square-foot Gallery Ballroom. couch, and a 42-inch TV so you can work and vahs on the books going forward. relax separate from the bedroom; we expanded Will LEED be the norm going forward? Have you been happy with the awareness the bathrooms so you have a wonderful walk-in Everyone expects the basics of recycling for the property? shower separate from the toilet and sink area; we and energy conservation, but when you have The property has been received very well in also have a second sink and wet bar; and the bed- the opportunity to build a new building or the local community as well as the business travel room can be made private by sliding glass panels, retrofi t an existing building, you have to take community. We had some great success with press as can the living room. advantage of the technology out there to en- we did surrounding the opening as well as post So it’s the idea of creating a space that is hance that. It saves you money and protects the opening. So we have been fortunate with what the workable if you’re here for business but livable environment. hotel looks like, the focus on the design, art, etc. if you’re here for pleasure. Knowing via motion detectors that you’ve left But we’re constantly working on ways to We also have the latest technology with the room so we can shut down the lights and increase awareness. As a member of Hilton a vibrant wireless system from which you can TVs, but when you come back, your settings are Worldwide’s Luxury Brands portfolio, Conrad order room service via your TV or an app on recalled, is a seamless procedure but we save en- Hotels & Resorts is highly regarded internationally your iPhone. ergy. We will be a Gold LEED-certifi ed building. and is becoming more well-known domestically, In terms of what you’ve done with the We also have the low-fl ow showers and as the brand expects to double its current portfolio restaurant concept and the rooftop bar, the toilets that have two buttons to fl ush, so size of more than 20 hotels over the next three to how challenging is it to be successful in that we’ve done a lot of wonderful things to protect four years. As the world’s fastest-growing luxury part of the business? the environment.• 90 LEADERS POSTED WITH PERMISSION. COPYRIGHT © 2013 LEADERS MAGAZINE, INC. VOLUME 36, NUMBER 1.