La Vie Hotels & Resorts, Asia Pacific’s leading owner-centric third-party hotel management company, is set to grow its boutique hotel offering this year following the incredible success of its existing stable of boutique hotels including 202 Elizabeth, ADGE Hotel & Residences and The Islington, Hobart. 

As part of its expansion plans, experienced boutique hotel manager Sam Giles has been appointed as General Manager at 202 Elizabeth and will also be responsible for bringing La Vie’s vision for boutique hotels to life thanks to his previous experience working for Spicers Retreats for over 13 years where he was Regional General Manager, before moving into an Area Manager role for Salter Brothers.

Charged with overseeing new hotels and restaurant openings, Sam achieved 1 and 2 Chef’s hats while managing three of Spicers restaurants in Brisbane and Sydney, amongst numerous other wins.

According to Jerry Xu, CEO of La Vie Hotels & Resorts, Sam’s appointment is a defining step in building out their boutique hotel offering and capitalising on the growing demand from travellers for a more personalised hotel experience.

“We’re thrilled to be welcoming Sam to the La Vie family and very pleased to have someone of his calibre not only leading 202 Elizabeth, but imparting his wealth of experience and knowledge on what it takes to manage successful boutique hotels. 

“We’re finding more and more that guests are seeking more than just a place to stay for the night. They want a touch of uniqueness and a hotel with personality, which is demonstrated by the ongoing success of 202 Elizabeth and ADGE Hotel & Residences,” he said.

“We thrive on creating personalised experiences and compelling boutique spaces that deliver more than just a hotel bed. Using 202 Elizabeth as an example, this personalisation is highlighted through custom designed and made furniture, using only Australian made products, being pet friendly and creating colourful spaces that ignite the senses. It’s this attention to detail together with a hands on, tailored guest experience that is driving occupancy,” he said.

“We have big plans to grow our boutique portfolio across Asia Pacific, particularly in Australia, and look forward to sharing more details in the coming months”.

Since opening last year, 202 Elizabeth has garnered much interest thanks to its incredible location in the heart of Surry Hills and its impeccably styled interiors that mix signature Sydney style with creative eclecticism and flare. 

As part of his new role, Sam is looking forward to continuing to build the momentum of 202 Elizabeth which has captivated the hearts and minds of locals and visitors to Sydney.

“I have a real passion for the industry, in particular boutique hotels, and am thrilled to be joining the team at 202 Elizabeth and La Vie. The thing I love most about boutique hotels is the relationship you develop with guests during their stay which often sees them treating you and the team like family,” Sam explained.

“My main focus will be on building a luxury experience that utilises our amazing location by giving guests easy access to local restaurants and suppliers. At the end of the day, we want guests to feel like they’re coming home rather than to a hotel after a day of exploring the city.” 

“Sustainability is also a big focus for us and we’re looking at ways of reducing the amount of waste, energy and water we consume at the hotel so we are building a team of people to lead this vision,” Sam said.

Boasting more than 20 years experience managing boutique hotels, Sam has also been busy working behind the scenes to activate 202 Elizabeth’s signature spaces such as the Rooftop and wine cellar-cum-cafe, to deliver an exciting lineup of experiences for guests.

The Rooftop Terrace is soon to come alive with the introduction of a curated food menu that can be enjoyed while soaking up the views over Surry Hills while an existing area near reception will be transformed into an intimate lounge that guests can use as a place to meet fellow travellers over coffee or glass of wine. In addition, corporate guests will also have access to a new space from which they can work from or meet clients within the comfort of 202 Elizabeth.

 

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