The Magic of Manhattan, Hospitality and the Hall of Fame
This article reflects on a week in New York centered on hospitality, leadership, and progress at HRS, highlighted by Tobias Ragge’s induction into the Business Travel News Hall of Fame and key moments shaping the year ahead.
Key Takeaways
New York during the holidays is either a winter wonderland or a logistical mess and last week it was both. On Wednesday evening the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree lighting drew thousands of tourists and holiday shoppers to midtown Manhattan with traffic barely moving. However, inside the legendary Plaza Hotel, the atmosphere felt entirely different as it was electric and exciting. I was there with colleagues to witness something very special…
At the 14th annual event, it was an evening filled with admiration and reflection. Tobias was recognized alongside respected leaders in our industry including Cathy Sharpe of ITW. With his wife in the audience and our colleagues from around the world in the room, Tobias spoke about legacy, leadership and the real meaning of hospitality...not amenities or rate negotiations but how we show up for people.
He shared stories about his father starting HRS Group and how it grew from a family business into a global technology platform driving corporate travel forward. Thorsten Eicke from Siemens introduced Tobias and spoke warmly about the partnership with one of the largest hotel programs in the world. It was a proud moment for all of us.
We had a strong multinational representation from HRS. From Germany we were joined by Alexandra Barth , Tobias Pohl, Dorothea Rosen, Martin Biermann and Lukasz Dabrowski. Our US colleagues included Tobias Bittner, Michael Brophy, Corporate Storyteller, Alexander Olsen, Chaney Waddell and Kari Wendel. We were also excited to welcome Gabriele Indrieri, our new CRO from Milan.
After the ceremony at The Plaza we gathered at the Aman Jazz Club. The music was great and the energy in the room matched our vibe. We celebrated Tobias and the enormous progress HRS has made this year.
While in New York, our leadership group met for our annual review and planning sessions. We celebrated the momentum of Copilot and Connect which continue to attract attention from customers and consultants. We discussed how organizations are eager for new approaches especially around meetings and lodging where they expect greater transparency and improved traveler experience. Our growing pipeline reflects that interest.
.jpg)
.avif)
.avif)