Makeready: Crafting Belonging Through Design, Flavor, and Human Connection
By Yousuf Basil and Jennifer Z. Deaton | Travel and Tour World
(Interview conducted on the sidelines of IMEX America 2025, Las Vegas)
Travel and Tour World sat down with Eric Gavin, President of Operations at Makeready, for an insightful, forward-looking conversation about the brand’s ethos and vision: creating richly immersive stays that feel both curated and luxe. Think rooftops and speakeasies, destination spas, and forward-leaning food & beverage—each space layered with local culture and meticulous design. Gavin’s north star is simple: build quality, foster belonging, and let thoughtful details do the talking.
Immersive by Design
“We’re in the business of hospitality,” Gavin told Travel and Tour World at IMEX America, “and part of that is creating the immersive experiences people are seeking.”
Across the Makeready collection—from rooftop lounges to speakeasies and living-room-style gathering spaces—each detail is intentional, handcrafted to connect people through atmosphere, food, and belonging. The brand’s forward-leaning food-and-beverage philosophy threads through every property, turning each into a self-contained cultural hub.
Icons of Character
When asked which property makes him proudest, Gavin laughs. “As any good parent would say, you can’t have favorites.” But a few destinations clearly light him up: the Emeline in Charleston, a reimagined historic gem that merges Southern charm with modern creativity; the Noelle in Nashville, an immersive hotel and creative gathering place for adventurous people seeking a true Nashville encounter; and The Laylow, Autograph Collection, in Waikiki, which extends Makeready’s reach from urban sanctuaries to full resort destinations.
Each tells a story of transformation—of old bones reborn through fresh vision and contemporary design.
Where They’re Growing Next
Looking ahead, Makeready plans to expand its presence in social clubs—reflecting Gavin’s view that affluent travelers seek places of belonging, adjacent to hospitality—and deepen its footprint in resort destinations, bringing high-touch design to destination spas and the full suite of amenities guests love.
Crossroads, Not Silos
Makeready is doubling down on social clubs and independent restaurants as intentional places of belonging—spaces where today’s affluent traveler can plug into a like-minded community. Think curated coffee bars, freestanding restaurants, and gathering rooms that host mixology classes, book clubs, and chef-led events: communal venues designed as crossroads, not silos. The goal isn’t just to serve guests, but to blend guests with locals—so a business traveler, a college student, and an airline pilot might share the same table and feel equally at home.
Growth Rooted in People
Makeready’s expansion is thoughtful, not hurried. The company recently took over the Clayton Hotel & Social Club in Denver’s Cherry Creek neighborhood and will debut the Greenleigh Hotel in Houston next May—a 300-room property with 15,000 square feet of meeting space, a fifth-floor rooftop oasis, and a celebrity-led restaurant concept. Looking ahead to 2027, the Merchant in Columbus, Ohio, promises to be the city’s first ultra-luxury hotel, complete with a spa, fitness center, social club, and a celebrity chef restaurant on the ground level.
And while growth continues, Gavin remains grounded in what truly sustains hospitality: people. “Our cornerstone are our people, and that is truly hospitality. If you take care of your people, they will take care of your guests, and then you’ve created the perfect recipe.”
In the end, Makeready’s formula is straightforward: start with people, design for immersion, and build places of belonging—so unforgettable experiences follow.