I met Elizabeth through my amazing Breakfast Club ladies who wanted us to connect and meet. Little did I know, Elizabeth Mullins would turn out to be the most inspiring woman I have met in recent memory. Our worlds seemed to be similar with both of us coming from diplomatic backgrounds, having grown up seeing adventures but also her ability to be so humble yet so engaging. The Fifth Avenue Hotel is one of the best hotel stays I have had in recent times. Attention to detail, engaging staff and just the sheer beauty of every corner of the hotel is encapsulating.

What is your earliest memory of the best hospitality experience you received and how it moulded your path?

When I was five years old my father took me to afternoon tea at The Ritz-Carlton in Boston.    I was absolutely enthralled by the experience – the fragrance of the hotel, the music of the harp, the taste of the scones, the weight of the silverware – the service that made me feel like a princess.   In this moment I looked at my dad and said “Daddy, this is what I want to do”…… I graduated from college with a dual degree in Business and Hospitality and five days later started at that very same hotel as a management training.

This experience as a five year old shaped my entire adult life.   

How would you describe the Fifth Avenue Hotel to those who haven’t been yet?

The Fifth Avenue Hotel is wonderous cabinet of curiosities waiting to be explored.   It’s a combination of new build tower meets gilded age  mansion, maximilist design, and a vision to create a new form of unpretentious luxury.   Our guests are encouraged to wander, to view our vast art collection, to enjoy some of the finest food and beverage in the Portrait Bar and Cafe Carmelini and let the world slow down around them.

Your favourite part of the hotel?

My favorite part of the hotel is our Mansion Suite Collection.  The mansion suites independently are some of the most beautiful accommodations in NYC – but you can also reserve the entire mansion “Your Mansion on Fifth” as the perfect venue for a business retreat, family reunion, wedding or getaway with friends.   This experience comes with 24 hour butlers, the ballroom converted to your private salon serving four food and beverage presentations, transportation and a team of dedicated Mansion attaches to attend to your every need.

What makes New York special to you?

New York is an incredible city – it’s the only place in the world where I have lived 3 times….. It draws me back like a magnet – I love the energy, the people, the fast pace, the cutting edge food and beverage,  the gorgeous parks, the neighborhoods, the soul of a city that balances its historical charm with incredible innovation and a future forward vision.

The future of luxury in your opinion?

The future of Luxury is bright – guests want experiences that they can feel and remember… That is why The Fifth Avenue Hotel is so special.   It makes you smile. It turns a fantasy into reality and brings dreams to life.  I am incredibly lucky to have the opportunity to open and run this lovely hotel and to be part of the launch of a new Luxury hospitality brand – Flaneur Hospitality.

Your favourite hidden gem of New York?

There is only one answer:   The Fifth Avenue Hotel!   Hint – make reservations in the Portrait Bar and order the martini. 

That said our neighborhood of NoMad is also incredibly special, explore the home design shops that surround us, the beauty of Madison Square Park, Our vibrant food scene and The New York Flower District – all of which are on our doorstep.

Your advice to women who want to be in your position some day, i.e. running a leading luxury hotel and brand?

Believe in yourself,  Learn every day,  surround yourself with the best leaders in the industry and grow them, have a vision for the future, develop your personal brand and never ever ever give up.