We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Carolyn Schneider. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Carolyn below.

Carolyn, appreciate you joining us today. Alright – so having the idea is one thing, but going from idea to execution is where countless people drop the ball. Can you talk to us about your journey from idea to execution?

After graduating from college, I began my career in art galleries. While in the art world, I became excited about the idea of hospitality as a fully immersive art experience. It’s 360 and taps all senses. There are so many iconic and memorable hotels in the world, but the hotel industry is still saturated with beige boxes, with a few inspirational gems peppered in.

I had worked at restaurants in high school and college, but felt that I needed to dive into the hotel world in order to understand it and build something that I was excited about. I started as a cocktail server at Ace Hotel New York, and took up front desk roles at other hotels in the city. I ended up getting some good advice that events are the place to truly understand hotel operations as you’re in the middle of it all and have to collaborate with all departments in order to successfully execute an event. As I was navigating through different hotel roles, in the background I was working on my own hospitality concept, which at the time was to renovate small motels and transform them into boutique hotels. I saw so much potential, especially in America, to re-envision the roadside motel and make it a design and service-forward space.

In 2013 I moved back to my hometown of Los Angeles to open Ace Hotel DTLA as a Creative Sales Manager. From there, I went on to open a Proper Hotel in Hollywood as a Director of Sales, and The NoMad Hotel DTLA as the Director of Guest Experience. All the while, I was further developing my own concept and trying to find the right financial parter to make it happen. I ended up partnering with an investment fund who had purchased 3 motels but did not have the hospitality experience or concept to bring them into the boutique space. We partnered to create what is now Casetta Group – a collection of boutique hotels in destination locations.

At the end of 2023 I left my active role with Casetta to launch Corner Booth, a creative hospitality agency. With Corner Booth, I am able to work with clients at all stages of their hospitality journey. As a creative hospitality agency, we approach projects from an artful perspective for guests to soak up. We care deeply about the details, building in partnership and creating magic spaces to enjoy. We’ll help you to clearly envision your hotel, restaurant, flower shop, bar, bodega (any communal space for humans, really). Together we’ll plan for its development and turn it into a welcoming place.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Corner Booth serves as a Creative Director (or Conductor) for development projects in the hospitality space. There are many moving parts in order to create a successful hospitality concept that both draws guests in and makes them want to return. It’s more than just the interior design, space planning and branding. It’s about telling a brand story and involves training a team of dedicated players that serve as ambassadors for that brand.

Corner Booth works in partnership to create hotel brands that excite our guests and stand out in a sea of hotels. We care deeply about the details and creating memorable touch points that guests can click with.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

Hotels are generally a luxury. I think for some time, there was this mindset that the “red velvet rope” and “exclusivity” made a property extra special. I actual believe the opposite and personally aim to create thoughtful spaces that are friendly, warm and inviting. There is a give and take with hospitality in that it’s clearly rooted in the service industry. But the people who work in hotels are truly creating experiences for guests and that should be celebrated and valued. I love checking-in to a hotel and feeling right at home because the staff is enthusiastic about making my visit memorable and including me in the property’s story. That makes me feel connected to the city I am visiting as well.

I think it’s important to remember that the service industry is about service, obviously, but it’s also about human connections and relationships.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

With Corner Booth, I have really enjoyed working with Architecture and Development firms whose clients are hospitality based. It’s an inspiring way to approach a concept – by starting with the bones of the building and the history of the place. It’s been fun to work with firms that are looking for a fresh perspective, and my experience creating a brand that is also functional and operational. It has to look great, but it also has to work.

Contact Info:

• Website: corner-booth.com
• Instagram: @lecornerbooth
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolyn-schneider-7aab928/

Image Credits
Sergio Abuja Jordan Rose Cathie Rattanakone