Interview with Diego Calvo CEO and Founder of Concept Hotel Group, who’ll chat with us about two hoteliers that have inspired him when it comes to creating his hotels.

Good afternoon Captain, why do Alan Faena and André Balazs fascinate you so much?
Because they were among the first to define a new concept of hotels, establishments that are more than just simple places in which to rest. They created hotels for people to meet and socialise in, places were something is always happening: exhibitions, catwalks and concerts for example, turning them into energetic cultural and social nerve centres.

OK, let’s start with Alan Faena, please explain to our uneducated readers (and our even more uneducated interviewer) who is this guy and why we should respect him?

Alan Faena, who could be defined as an artist-entrepreneur, is a hotelier and real estate developer who is also heavily involved in the design of his projects. When he was 19 years old he created his own fashion brand Via Vai, which was a huge success in Argentina, the place of his birth. After selling the brand towards the end of the 90s, he entered into the world of real estate where he has worked with the giants of design and architecture including Philippe Starck and Norman Foster. One of his most impressive creations is the Faena District in Miami, an entire cultural neighbourhood created from scratch, and in which we find ultramodern buildings, restaurants, hotels and even a forum for major events related to the art world. And as if this wasn’t enough Alan Faena, he is also crazy about rock ‘n’ roll, just like me. Total respect!

By Pablo Burgués

This is the first in a series of interviews in which Diego Calvo (CEO and founder of Concept Hotel Group) will tell us about the characters that have inspired him the most when it comes to creating his hotels.

Good morning Diego. First of all, tell me how you started with your hotels.
My teenage summers were always linked to nightlife. 1990’s Ibiza was marvellous, the streets were full of happy, shiny people and the beaches were full of beautiful girls in bikinis. I loved all that and more, and even though I knew I would have to leave the island and see the world, I also knew that I would return and dedicate myself to the world of tourism and hospitality.

How much of the blame did Ian Schrager and Tony Pike have for this??
A hell of a lot! When I finished high school in 1997 I didn’t know what I wanted to study at university. I came across a magazine which had an article about boutique hotels, including Pikes Hotel (built by Tony Pike), The Royalton and Morgans (created by Ian Schrager). This was my road to Damascus moment, I was fascinated by how each of them had taken the hotel experience beyond the classic ritual of sleep, shower and breakfast. These are places for living, socialising and enjoying. As I read the article I knew that this was my calling, to create different hotels where people had fun and were happy.