Seatmates: Nadine Choe
On the limits of ultra-luxury, the hospitality brand she believes in most, and what truly defines Italian excellence
This interview is part of Seatmates, a Window Seat series where tastemakers and creatives share how they move through the world—what they pack, where they stay, and the travel rituals that shape their lives.
Nadine Choe has a rare fluency in the business of hospitality.
Years spent structuring capital for ultra-luxury developments gave her a rare vantage point—one that now underpins The Stanza, the media platform she founded to unpack how the hospitality world is built, financed, and sustained, not just marketed. Her approach to the economics behind great experiences has a way of permanently altering how you move through the world: once you understand how places come together, you can never quite travel the same way again.
Read on to learn the hotel she could imagine living in for a seasonal sabbatical, why today’s travelers are so fascinated by how hoteliers build from scratch, and the details she notices first when evaluating a stay.
Tell us a little about yourself.
I started The Stanza after nearly a decade in real estate private equity and development in NY and LA. During the last three years of that time, I was at Cain International working on the One Beverly Hills project, which is flagged by Aman Hotels & Residences. Cain was one of the few institutional real estate asset managers with the “experiences over possessions” investment thesis, and therefore I got a lot of exposure to various lifestyle real estate deals, such as members clubs and ultra luxury hotel & residential projects. Two summers ago, I posted a video on TikTok about how Aime Leon Dore could open a members club as an extension of their brand, and it unexpectedly gained a lot of traction. Back then, no one was talking about members clubs or hospitality brands on social media! During my time at Cain, many of my industry colleagues thought that hotel real estate wasn’t the best place to be as it’s an incredibly risky daily operating business. But I’ve always loved hotels, restaurants, and travel since I was a child (and have been fortunate to have experienced so much at an early age), and therefore one could say I was in the right place at the right time!
You grew The Stanza to over 100,000 followers in under a year. What does that tell you about what modern travelers are truly curious about today?
Just as intelligent and affluent young people have been curious about what it takes to build consumer brands and tech companies, the same type of people who travel often and love staying at beautiful hotels are also curious about the businesses behind their favorite experiences. What’s interesting about hospitality is that it’s not only the “brand”, but more the real estate and capital structure decisions that dictate the fate of the “brand”. I find that my audience are very curious to learn how entrepreneurial hoteliers have started from scratch: sourcing the real estate, raising money to buy it and start the operating business, and telling the story through service, experience, and sense of place.
You’ve evaluated countless business models. When you travel now, does the investor in you switch off? Or do you find yourself instinctively analyzing how the experience is built?
If I were a hotelier with me as a guest, I’d be a bit nervous! The real estate developer in me is trained to look at every detail: are the cabinets lined up perfectly? What materials were used—light materials such as glass and steel, or hard materials such as stone and wood? Is the floorplan efficient or could it be better? How do the doors open to allow for circulation? Is the lighting flattering yet bright enough? How will the materials age over time? If something feels cheaply made or disharmonious to me, I tend to not be fully satisfied. It drives my husband nuts! I always take mental notes on how the experience can be better. Perhaps certain staff members can learn to be more efficient or ask better questions, or perhaps the programming can be better optimized to avoid wasting time on a trip. However, after staying at several ultra-luxury hotels, I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s unreasonable to expect perfection, even if you’re paying $2K+ per night, because the experience is ultimately made by humans, who are prone to error sometimes.
You’ve framed Aman as the ultimate case study in scarcity-driven luxury. Is there another brand you think is writing the next chapter of that playbook?
Les Airelles, without a doubt. It’s a brand that isn’t about being viral nor imposing minimalist & modern design trends onto heritage destinations, which is quite rare these days. Most hospitality brands have “storytelling” in a consulting deck, but don’t really understand what it means to tell impactful stories through experience and the destination’s history. In a world where brands engineer for either mass or status, authenticity and thoroughness tend to be forgotten values, and therefore scarce.
What’s something people consistently get wrong about Italian hospitality, and what do Italians get right that the rest of the world keeps missing?
I think travelers would get more out of the Italian experience if they took the time to understand the history behind the places they visit. Popular destinations such as Capri, the Amalfi Coast, Florence, Rome, etc. have so much incredible history, and learning about how these places came to be adds an unseen dimension of satisfaction to the overall travel experience. It’s not about going to the TikTok viral restaurants or taking selfies everywhere. There’s so much depth and richness if you look under the surface. On the other side, Italians are obsessed with quality and craftsmanship and it shows, especially at the 4 or 5 star level. Quality fixtures, linens, ingredients, etc are subtle yet impactful details that I see many American or British hotel groups cut corners on.
What’s been your most memorable stay?
It’s hard to choose just one! A recent stay that I truly loved was Passalacqua. I love Italian art history, food, neoclassical interior design, and opera music, so Passalacqua really indulged my obsessions. It’s one of the very few luxury Italian hotels I’ve stayed at where the food was consistently delicious - not too fussy, but a nice balance between elegance, creativity, and flavor. It’s a hotel I could easily see myself living in for a spring or fall sabbatical.
Is there a destination or property at the top of your wishlist?
Les Airelles Le Grand Controle—Guests can get a private evening tour of Versailles. I’d also love to do a horseback tour of the gardens. What a dream! Outside of Europe, I’d love to surf at Nihi Sumba and ski at Aman Niseko.
What are your must-haves when it comes to luggage and items you travel with?
Being in Europe and mostly traveling on this side of the world, I always try to get everything into a carry-on and a large tote bag to reduce friction. Bric’s makes great Italian luggage that is well-made and has a unique look, and I use an old canvas tote bag to carry my laptop and other plane essentials, such as the Evian Brumisateur and Biotherm lip balm.
What is your go-to airport outfit?
Dignified yet comfortable pants, such as black flared leggings, a cotton long sleeve top, a cashmere sweater, and sneakers.
Do you have any rules or rituals when it comes to air travel?
It’s a great time for uninterrupted work and getting into a good book. Otherwise, one trick to minimize jet lag is to sleep on the plane during the nighttime hours of your destination. I also try to fast during the flight to avoid feeling inflamed and tired after landing.
Last question: aisle or window seat?
Aisle seat!
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Tori Simokov is a Travel Writer and Graphic Designer/Strategist based in New York. To get in touch, email tori@v1projects.com. Want more? Check out Instagram, TikTok, or shop her curated favorites.
Thanks for having me Tori!
Really enjoyed this!