ben weprin

How did you get into hospitality? I had no experience in hospitality but I was working for prolific entrepreneur and restaurateur Larry Levy's family office, and he had just bought the Esperanza Los Cabos; he acquired the hotel in a partnership and then bought part of Auberge Resorts, the operating company. Why did you think it was a sector that you could outperform the bigger or more experienced real estate guys at the very early stages of your company? Because of the downturn there were more opportunities in the space that traditionally haven't traded or never did. How you activate and program a space, it's all the same fundamentals but with the design-driven twist. Since this is the new icons issue, is there anyone you think is doing great things in the industry right now?