AIR MILES

AIR MILES WITH Antonio Gonzalez

Antonio Gonzalez is the CEO and Founding Partner of the Sunset Hospitality Group (SHG)

WORDS SONIA SULTAN

What attracted you to hospitality? e hospitality industry is a very complex yet exciting industry. It is focused on customers’ satisfaction and providing speci c experiences for them. You also work with a great team from many diverse cultures, which o en adds to the overall enrichment of the workplace.

What makes SHG unique?

Our business brings people together to celebrate life. We put our customers at the centre of everything, so the hospitality and lifestyle concepts we have developed must add value to our guests’ experiences. Our goal is to exceed expectations, so we empower our teams to go the extra mile to deliver the best possible experiences.

Your concepts o er some of the best views of Dubai; how do you select these locations?

Securing the right location is crucial in ensuring a successful business. You want customers to nd your restaurant, enjoy your food, and keep coming back. Our venues are situated in areas where guests can access or view the most popular attractions in the city. We look at the overall experience and create a dining destination within the location.

What is your favourite concept and why?

It’s impossible to choose one because they are all amazing in their own way. Each concept suits di erent times of the day, seasons, moods, and audiences.

Why did you diversify into the hotel space?

We have been recognised as a food and beverage company, which is still our key engine, but we have realised we can create a hotel experience around F&B. We can do that on a small scale, a very curated experience, with a small number of rooms, or go for a larger property where our beach club and restaurants become a destination. us, METT Social Living was created to accommodate travellers looking for a relaxing place to celebrate life and unwind. METT is a unique concept focused on entertainment, dining, and experiences.

Last year you opened the first of your many planned METT hotels – what made you choose Bodrum as the inaugural location?

Bodrum is the hottest destination on the Turkish Riviera and competes with some of the Mediterranean’s best. It appeals to local and international travellers and is home to some of the most luxurious brands globally, attracting an excellent quality of clientele. Our mission of bringing people together to celebrate life blends perfectly with Bodrum’s positioning and makes it a fantastic destination to open our rst of many METT Hotels & Resorts.

Your hotels are built on the ‘Social Living’ mantra; what does this mean?

e brand is inspired by the way people live in the Mediterranean; its welcoming culture and vibrant culinary scene are re ected in our dining portfolio. It is a part of the world where human connections mean a lot, and Social Living became our mantra to describe these beautiful interactions.

What has changed permanently in the hospitality industry due to the pandemic?

e pandemic has changed customer behaviour and expectations. Months of selfisolation and signi cant spending constraints have dramatically changed how they behave. To persuade consumers to return to the new normal, the hospitality industry must deliver a clean and safe experience.

What would be your dream destination to open a METT property, and why?

We are focusing on the Mediterranean Riviera. Places like Greece, the South of France, and the Italian coast are all locations where we are negotiating hotels. In addition, we see our model working very well in lifestyle ski resort destinations.

What’s your indispensable travel gadget?

My AirPod headphones; I cannot travel without them.

What’s your in-flight entertainment pick?

I mix up my time on aircra between listening to podcasts, working, and watching HBO TV series or a good movie.

ABOUT SUNSET HOSPITALITY GROUP (SHG)

The SHG portfolio of brands includes Drift Beach Dubai, METT Hotel & Beach Resort in Bodrum, Black Tap, Azure Beach Club, and SUSHISAMBA among others. The group is present in nine countries across 26 brands. sunsethospitality.com