"AM I A designer first and then an entrepreneur, or vice versa?" says Joe Gebbia, carefully repeating my question. He speaks methodically, weighing each word before it takes shape. "Well, it's chicken-and-egg. The act of design is identifying a problem, then coming up with a solution. You have to envision something that doesn't yet exist and then you have to go make it."
Today, Gebbia is best known as one of America's most successful businessmen, a philanthropist and visionary who has revolutionized the hospitality industry and whose net worth last year was estimated by Forbes at $7.4 billion. Since he regards himself as extremely fortunate and wealthy far beyond his needs, he has pledged in writing to give away half his riches before he dies. Yet barely a decade and a half ago, Gebbia was asking himself a question that is all too familiar for many lower-income Americans: How am I going to pay the rent?
It was 2007 and Gebbia and roommate Brian Chesky, both 20-something designers, were gainfully employed yet barely getting by in San Francisco, a city whose housing market had reached boiling point thanks to the massive boom in Silicon Valley's tech industries. When their landlord suddenly raised their rent by an exorbitant 20 percent, they found themselves strapped for cash.
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Denne historien er fra July 2023-utgaven av Business Traveler US.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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A New Leaf - How hotels are incorporating plants to boost guests' mood and productivity
Indoor flora can boost happiness, relieve stress and increase productivity.
Private Flies
FORGET THE DAY when private aviation was reserved solely for celebs, royals and high-powered CEOs. You don’t have to be a Logan Roy scion to travel on your terms. In 2024, private jets are taking off as a viable option for business travelers, shifting toward flexibility, cost sense, ease of use, and convenience.
Bandon Dunes
In 1999, a national golf magazine sent me on a road trip four and a half hours from my home in Portland to review a new resort on the Oregon coast that seemed particularly destined for obscurity.
Bright Ideas
FORNDLY NICKMAED THE the Queen City, Charlotte, North Carolina, is a destination that thrives on many fronts. Visitors can look forward to year round mild weather, a robust food and drink scene that includes more than 40 breweries, and an ever-growing cultural lineup of museums, public murals and music performances.
Full House
Corporate buyouts are on the rise at boutique properties
Remote Control
The Malin, a designforward work-focused membership club, brings professionals together in New York and Nashville
Bigger and Better
Dubai plans a mega airport to attract more flights and passengers
Urban Renewal
How Port Authority executive director Rick Cotton is revolutionizing the airports of New York and New Jersey
LATAM VIP Lounge
The LATAM VIP Lounge in Santiago International Airport’s Terminal 2 offers a peaceful retreat for international travelers. Covering more than 43,000 square feet, this lounge is the largest in South America, providing a combination of luxury, sustainability and comfort.
Fouquet's New York
Francophiles are likely all too familiar with Fouquet’s Paris, the sumptuous and historic hotel on the Champs-Élysées that has been open since 1899.