It was January 1995, and optimism was ringing in the New Year. HOTELS had something to celebrate, as well: The issue that month included Jeff Weinstein’s inaugural Editor’s Diary. Since then, he has written more than 200 them and never run out of words, thanks to the ever-changing and -evolving world that HOTELS covers.
Two themes were dominating the news in 1995: Emergence—of growing markets in Latin America and the Middle East—and resurgence, as demand for the luxury market grew in the wake of a world recovery. It was an optimistic time despite concerns, Jeff wrote, including the difficulty of financing, labor costs and long-term political stability.
What Jeff wrote back then, though, is still true for the man today: “I’d love to hear from each and every HOTELS reader about developments at your properties, challenges you face and the solutions you’ve devised to overcome business concerns. Tell me about news of your careers and what HOTELS can do to help make your jobs a little easier. Keep those cards, letters and faxes coming” (although these days he’d probably amend that last bit to read “emails, texts and Skypes”).
In 2016—HOTELS’ 50th anniversary—Jeff’s 21-years-and-counting tenure as editor of HOTELS is officially old enough to drink (in the U.S., at least), so cheers, Jeff, and here’s to another 21.