Name: François Luiggi
Title: General manager
Company, city: The Pierre, a Taj Hotel; New York City
Number of employees: 500-plus
Recent project: Launch of our new signature restaurant, Perrine
First job: Assistant manager of room service at the Essex House in New York when it was managed by Nikko Hotels
Little-known fact about you: I was born and raised on Corsica in southeastern France.

Your Business

What innovations/initiatives do you foresee in the industry over the next years? Anything transactional that can be automated will disappear, like the front desk, already being phased out by several hospitality brands. The role of hoteliers will continue to evolve as properties become one of the few opportunities to socialize in person and meet interesting people.

Best career advice you’ve received: The guest should always be at the center of everything we do. Thank you, Horst Schulze [former The Ritz-Carlton president]!

What advice would you give someone starting out in the field? If you wake up in the morning looking forward to serving people, you made the right choice! Otherwise, consider a career change.

François Luiggi as a Traveler

Favorite travel memory or story: I will never forget driving Australia’s Great Ocean Road, one of the world’s most scenic coastal drives, and taking the Ghan train to Alice Springs to see the famous red sands of Ayers Rock.

One travel tip you cannot live without: Always travel with a sarong or something similar, like a shemagh or keffiyeh. Great for the plane (eye mask or neck support), a change in temperature, sun protection, carrying personal items or even as a makeshift towel. It’s truly a multipurpose accessory.

Best advice for business travelers: Learn how to pack correctly. Plan for contingencies like delays or an unexpected meeting by adding a day’s worth of extra clothing to your carry-on.

About The Pierre, a Taj Hotel

What can premium travelers expect from a stay at The Pierre, a Taj Hotel? All our guestrooms offer abundant natural light, high ceilings and a classic, residential-inspired design. In addition to 140 traditional rooms, premium travelers can choose from 49 suites, including 10 spacious Grand Suites with Manhattan views, fourfixture bathrooms and separate pantry kitchens. Grand Suite guests receive full American breakfasts at our signature restaurant, Perrine, or through room service, plus complimentary juices and soft drinks from the minibar, WiFi for up to four devices, pressing of five garments upon arrival and a direct private phone number to our concierge team reserved exclusively for Grand Suite guests. Our two-bedroom Tata Presidential Suite can be combined with other rooms and suites to offer six bedrooms under one key, creating a completely private rental on the entire 39th floor.

Tell us about the hotel’s incredible NYC location. The Pierre has a fantastic location across from Central Park in Manhattan’s most exclusive neighborhood, the Upper East Side. Our rooms feature spectacular views of the Park and the New York skyline. We’re steps away from luxury shopping on Madison and Fifth avenues, and Museum Mile is within walking distance. Our location offers both proximity to the best of New York and a sophisticated respite from the city’s bustling pace.

What is Great Performances at The Pierre? What other unique amenities and offers are available? Throughout its 88-year history, The Pierre has been known for entertaining. During the 1940s and 1950s the hotel’s supper club featured condensed versions of popular Broadway musicals. We are bringing great performances back with cabaret and jazz nights in our Two E lounge. Once a month, Broadway at The Pierre offers an intimate evening of songs and stories from cast members of beloved shows. On Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, Two E hosts live jazz piano from our resident artist, Antonio Ciacca.

Our long tradition of celebrated cuisine continues, with seasonally inspired French-American fare in Perrine and light supper and tableside cocktails in our most iconic space, The Rotunda. The gourmet 24-hour room service includes Perrine’s full menu, Two E’s afternoon tea service and select Indian specialties.

Guests enjoy complimentary coffee, tea and pastries in the lobby daily 5–8 a.m.; on-site, 24-hour valet and hand laundry; packing/unpacking service upon request; and a complimentary Jaguar house car. From our white-gloved elevator attendants to our award-winning Les Clefs d’Or concierge team, we take pride in offering personalized, 5-star service. As our Chief Concierge likes to say, the impossible will be done immediately, and the extraordinary will take a few moments longer!