A One Night Stand

An Unconventional Ritual

My unconventional claim to fame in the hospitality industry is my neurotic commitment to a unique ritual: I only stay one night in each hotel, never to return again. Unlike most travelers who seek familiarity and comfort, I choose to reject routine. If I’m in New York for three nights, I’ll move hotels three times, each time seeking a new experience. It is, in essence, my own version of a "one night stand" with hotels—a transient, yet deeply engaging series of encounters that span the globe.

A Global Journey

I have traversed 60 countries and 49 U.S. states, staying in approximately 250 hotels in New York City alone. If I had the patience to prove it, I am confident that I might hold the record for the most hotels stayed in within a single city. My experience spans the entire spectrum of accommodation—from the opulence of the Burj Al Arab in Dubai and Amangiri in Utah to hostels with bunk beds shared among sketchy strangers doing sketchy things. This journey is not solely about indulgence or frugality; it is an exploration, a quest for knowledge, and, admittedly, a way to earn some "Street Cred". There is something exhilarating about the diversity of these stays, about never settling, and always seeking the next novel experience. This ritual has become a central part of my identity as both a traveler and a hotelier.

Lessons from the Field

The lessons learned through these countless stays have, interestingly, taught me more about what not to do than what to do. Out of the 250 hotels I have stayed in throughout New York City, only a handful remain vividly etched in my memory—those where someone went out of their way to genuinely care. Instances of true hospitality shine brightly amidst an otherwise forgettable sea of experiences. It could be as simple as a guest service agent who senses you are having a rough day and offers a sincere gesture of kindness, or a room attendant who remembers your name and greets you warmly. These small but meaningful acts are what made me fall in love with the essence of hospitality. They are the moments of truth that stick with you—the ones you recount when you share stories of your travels. They remind you that in a world that can often feel indifferent, there are still people who care, who see you, and who want to make your day just a little bit better.

Memorable vs. Forgettable

To me, traditional hotel rankings—Forbes stars, AAA diamonds, Michelin keys—are, frankly, inconsequential. These metrics fail to capture the essence of what truly matters in hospitality. In my view, there are only two kinds of hotels:

Memorable or Forgettable.

What makes a hotel memorable is not the thread count of its sheets or the luxury bath products in its bathroom—it is the people. It is those rare moments when a staff member does not just perform their job, but extends genuine hospitality—the kind that makes a guest feel acknowledged, heard, and valued. That is the distinction between service and hospitality.

Service is Transactional; Hospitality is Emotional.

Service is about fulfilling duties; hospitality is about making someone feel something. And in an industry where the vast majority of stays blend into one another, it is the feelings—the emotional connections—that endure. It is those moments that make you feel like you matter, that someone has taken the time to truly see you. It’s about the warmth of a smile, the kindness in a gesture, the human connection that turns an ordinary stay into an extraordinary memory.

The Human Element

The essence of Hospitality is, ultimately, Human.

It is not rooted in perfection but in connection. I have stayed at hotels where everything was immaculately designed, polished, and refined, but there was an absence of warmth—a void where humanity should be. Conversely, I have also stayed in places that were rough around the edges, where the decor was mismatched or the amenities basic, yet the people made me feel like I was the most important guest they had ever served. These are the experiences that endure in my memory. They are the stories I tell, the moments that make me smile long after the trip is over. There is something deeply touching about the human desire to care for another, to extend warmth and comfort to a stranger. It’s those moments—the ones that make your heart swell a little—that make all the difference. When someone looks you in the eye and makes you feel like you belong, even if just for a night, that is true hospitality.

Handling Baggage, Not Just Luggage

At Practice Hospitality, my management company, we have trademarked a tagline that embodies this philosophy:

“Anyone can take your Luggage; we handle your Baggage.”

Taking your luggage is a service—it is efficient, expected, and purely transactional. Handling your baggage, though, is an act of emotional intelligence. It requires empathy, the ability to perceive the invisible weight each guest carries—whether it be personal struggles, a need for comfort, or simply the desire to be acknowledged. Handling someone’s baggage is about choosing to lighten their load. It is about recognizing that behind every reservation is a story, and behind every story is a human being seeking connection, comfort, and care—even if only for a single night. It’s about understanding that sometimes, the heaviest baggage isn’t what’s in the suitcase but what’s on someone’s mind or in their heart. And being able to lift that weight, even a little, is what turns a mere transaction into a moment of genuine human connection.

The Pursuit of Authentic Hospitality

This is precisely why I continue to move, one night at a time. I want to experience it all—the good, the bad, and the utterly bizarre. I want to learn from every hotel, from the ones that succeed magnificently to those that falter. I want to discern who is merely taking luggage and who is truly handling baggage. The nuances of hospitality across cultures and regions also fascinate me—the subtle differences that make a welcome drink in Thailand distinct from one in Morocco, or the way a Guest Service Agent in Tokyo provides service compared to their counterpart in New York City. These differences are the essence of travel; they enrich our experiences and fuel our curiosity. And at the core of it all is the human heart—the willingness of people, across cultures and languages, to make a stranger feel at home. It’s those little moments of grace that remind me, time and time again, why I am so passionate about hospitality.

In Search of Something Exceptional

Perhaps one day I will encounter a hotel that gets it so right, I will break my own rule and stay for a second night. But until that day arrives, I will continue my series of one night stands—because, ultimately, it is those fleeting, authentic moments of hospitality that make the journey worthwhile. It is the warmth of a smile, the sincere effort of someone who truly cares, that transforms a hotel from just a building with rooms into a place that resonates with the heart, even if only briefly. There is magic in those fleeting connections—in the sense that, for one night, someone went out of their way to make you feel special, to make you feel seen. That kind of magic is rare, and it is precious. It is what keeps me moving, what keeps me searching for that next unforgettable moment.

The Human Touch Over Ratings

So, the next time you are booking a stay, perhaps consider bypassing the superficial allure of a five-star rating and instead seek the human touch. Find a hotel where someone will take a moment to connect with you, where the hospitality is authentic, where you are more than just a reservation number. Because at the end of the day, travel is about more than comfort—it is about discovery, connection, and the stories we carry with us. And those stories are always richer when they originate from a place that is unapologetically itself—a place where hospitality is not merely a service, but a genuine act of care. It is about leaving with more than just memories of beautiful decor; it is about leaving with a full heart, touched by the kindness of strangers who, even for a brief moment, made you feel at home.

And maybe, just maybe, there is a hotel out there that is so exceptional, so unforgettable, that I will stay for two nights. But until then, I will keep moving, one night at a time, in pursuit of those moments that matter most. Because in the end, it is not about the number of hotels you have stayed in—it is about how many have truly touched your heart.

Join me as I traverse the globe in search for that fleeting "memorable" moment:

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