The International Luxury Hotel Association (ILHA) held its 11th annual INSPIRE22 conference from December 14 to December 15, 2022, in Phoenix, Arizona at the Arizona Biltmore. Christof Pignet, Jet Linx Vice President of Client Experience, represented Your Personal Jet Company on the main stage, speaking with a panel on Building a Luxury Guest Experience. Serving as a distinguished panelist is a great individual privilege within the hospitality space, and one that also speaks volumes for Jet Linx’s well-respected standards of service. 

ILHA is the luxury hospitality’s preeminent association promoting, unifying and advancing the industry through insight, opinion and research. ILHA reaches an audience of more than 600,000 hotel professionals in 90+ countries and produces LUXURY HOTELIERS Magazine, WEBINAR SERIES, and the INSPIRE SUMMITS in Europe and North America.

Over the past decade, INSPIRE has become the preeminent event in the luxury hotel industry, bringing together owners, operators, designers, developers, hoteliers, and others who share a passion for hospitality. The agenda for 2022 included topics such as the evolution of luxury hotels, adapting to post-COVID challenges, innovative technologies, and navigating complex markets to attract the ever-changing profile of a luxury traveler. Bill Walshe, CEO, Viceroy Hotel Group, opened the event with a keynote on Lodging Leadership.

In the Building a Luxury Guest Experience roundtable, Pignet shared the stage with Frank Giacomini, Vice President Restaurants, Bars & Events – Hyatt Hotels Corporation; Amanda Armstrong, Senior Vice President Brand and Community Engagement, Encore; Amanda Frasier, President of Ratings – Forbes Travel Guide; and moderator Alex Susskind, Senior Director & Professor, Cornell University.

Topics covered in the discussion included the waning leniency of clients in the post-COVID era and the importance of ensuring that a brand’s value proposition matches the price tag, as well how both internal and external service can be impacted by mental health and wellbeing.

While discussing the influence of technology, panelists also highlighted the greater importance of the human component, which is what can make or break an experience, and remains a facet of the luxury travel industry that will never fade away. Pignet urged for the continuous embrace of technology and the need to continually improve products and services, but challenged panelists and attendees to remember the importance of humanity at the heart of the industry.

“To be invited as a panelist while representing Jet Linx among other industry luminaries was a tremendous honor and privilege. Being the only individual hailing from a private aviation company, I provided unique perspectives while also considering the masterful approaches of our industry partners. This was a delightful and positive experience, and I look forward to representing Jet Linx among the industry’s finest soon again,” said Pignet.