PHOTO: Radha Arora, president of Rosewood Hotel Group. (Courtesy of Rosewood Hotel Group)

Rosewood Hotels & Resorts features properties across the globe, from the Americas to Europe and the Middle East to Asia. In 2016 the company will debut new properties in Mexico, Cambodia and Thailand, followed by openings in Paris, China and Bali in 2017.

We caught up with Rosewood Hotel Group President Radha Arora to talk about the company’s business philosophy, its expanding presence in Asia, the role technology plays in the hospitality industry and the Rosewood Elite agent program.

What is Rosewood’s overall mission?
Rosewood’s overall mission, at its core, is to provide the most personal, original and authentic travel experience possible in today’s luxury space. Since Rosewood was founded in 1979, the company’s core philosophy has been “A Sense of Place.” Simply put, this means that each property, whether it be in Beijing, Santa Fe or Virgin Gorda, is a reflection of its location’s history, culture and geography.

This continues to be the brand’s guiding philosophy, even as we continue to grow. It is an incredibly exciting time of expansion right now for Rosewood, with a handful of new properties set to open in the most vibrant destinations around the world over the next few years.

Regardless of whether we are a brand of 18 hotels or 50, however, our Sense of Place philosophy means that the portfolio will always be a carefully curated collection of one-of-a-kind properties. We will never be a group of cookie-cutter hotels.

Rosewood has been in the hospitality business for more than 35 years. What is intrinsically the same about the company and what has changed?
From the beginning, Rosewood Hotels & Resorts has honored that Sense of Place philosophy. Even as we continue to expand on a global scale, we look to tap into the rich, local culture of the destination for every property, new and existing. As the brand has evolved, we have been sensitive to changes in the way people travel.

For example, the influx of technology in people’s daily lives has changed the way people travel today. With travelers more connected to each other, their families and the office than ever before, we have updated our offerings in ways that complement this new connectivity and enhance the overall experience. For example, we offer guests the ability to read the daily newspapers on their devices, rather than delivering print copies, as many travelers prefer this. Even as we recognize how technology has permeated our lives, however, we also realize that the opportunity to ‘unplug’ is perhaps today’s greatest luxury of all.

What are some new, award-winning and/or upcoming properties travel agents and their clients should be excited about?
Since 2011, we have been growing the brand on a global scale, announcing new openings across Europe, Asia, Latin America and the U.S. Rosewood London opened in October 2013 to great acclaim and numerous awards, which significantly increased Rosewood’s profile in Europe. We also opened Rosewood Beijing in November 2014, marking Rosewood’s first property in mainland China. An additional eight hotels have been announced in Asia. Most recently we announced Rosewood Edinburgh and Rosewood Sao Paolo, our first property in Brazil, which will both open in 2018. It’s thrilling to say that we have hotels opening in every corner of the globe.

How important is your new partnership with Asia Miles?
To enhance our growing presence in Asia particularly, we recently partnered with the Asia Miles reward program, which offers its members extra mileage points for staying at any Rosewood property. Given Asia Miles’ extensive network of partner airlines, this was a natural and strategic alliance for Rosewood that will allow us to reach a broader audience as we continue to expand globally.

What do travel agents need to know about Rosewood?
Travel agents should definitely be aware of our Rosewood Elite program. This invitation-only program is geared toward luxury travel specialists dedicated to going above and beyond traditional levels of service — and it provides special recognition and benefits at all Rosewood hotels and resorts worldwide.