Hospitality Daily Podcast Kempinski Hotels: What's Magical & What's Next - Barbara Muckermann
Sep 18, 2025
Barbara Muckermann shares her journey leading Kempinski Hotels, emphasizing the brand's rich legacy and authentic service culture. She discusses the strategic shift to an asset-heavy approach to enhance product influence and growth. Key development priorities in European capitals and regions like the Middle East and Southeast Asia are explored. Listeners gain insights into the future positioning of luxury hospitality and the importance of sustaining a genuine hospitality culture in a competitive landscape.
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People Create The Kempinski Magic
- Barbara says Kempinski's people create a mysterious, genuine hospitality that shows up everywhere in the brand.
- She even mystery-shopped Kempinski properties and found exceptional service before joining as CEO.
Influence Product To Define Luxury
- To stand out, Kempinski believes you must have a clear point of view on luxury and influence the product to express it.
- Controlling or showing 'skin in the game' with owners enables genuine influence over the guest experience.
Sit With Owners And Elevate The Asset
- Do work closely with owners and treat hotels from an owner's perspective to maximize asset profitability and quality.
- Invest in refurbishments and product teams to elevate properties rather than chasing numbers alone.