Name: Robert Schofield
Title: General manager
Company, city: The Langham, Chicago; Chicago, Ill.
Number of employees: 300
Recent project: As our hotel is only a little more than a year old, we are just in the process of refining and fine-tuning.
First job: A trainee accountant
Little-known fact about you: I am a chartered accountant.
Your Business
Essential business philosophy: Keep a clear vision. To begin, you have to have the product. I believe in the cascade methodology — progress flows from the top to the bottom, and I live that philosophy day after day.
Best way to keep a competitive edge: Never take your foot off the pedal. In addition to staying up to date with the trends, you must pay attention to details and key aspects of your business.
Yardstick of success: At the hotel, we measure our success by the guests and their feedback. Also, I judge by our return on investment and by comparing ourselves to our competitors. Can we produce, sell and promote while controlling our costs and expenses?
Robert Schofield as a Traveler
What is the most important item you take when traveling? My cellphone; it keeps me in constant communication and allows me to use my time fruitfully.
How do you spend your time on board? Reading; I like to read about business trends in the Harvard Business Journal and think about ways we can use those business models in the hospitality industry.
What is your favorite restaurant in the world? More my favorite meal — breakfast at Hotel Danieli in Venice
What is your favorite destination in the world? Venice, Italy; it’s so different from anywhere else.
About The Langham, Chicago
What amenities at The Langham, Chicago make travel easier for business and leisure guests?
The Club Lounge, our concept that combines butler service with the hotel club lounge service model. Butlers add a gracious touch, offering booking and concierge services. It’s less self-service for the guests and an upgraded product. It’s open to families. The 1865 frequent-guest program offers business travelers upgrades and perks across the Langham brand. It’s all about the personalized service.
Our meeting spaces boast large windows and bright sunlight. The Kid’s Suite on the eighth floor is a great escape filled with toys and activities. We host Friday and Saturday family-friendly films in our Cinema Suite.
Our fourth-floor wellness offerings are exceptional; it’s great to get away and enjoy spa treatments or a workout. Our swimming pool’s size is unique for the city and perfect for families. Residents of Chicago can also get spa memberships. The Pavilion Tea Room serves the best afternoon tea in Chicago, and Travelle, our on-site restaurant, attracts a hip, young, eclectic crowd. This summer, we debuted Elle on the River, our alfresco dining concept on the Chicago River. The more casual option serves Mediterranean tacos and small bites.
Tell our readers about your brand-new, modern guestrooms.
Our guestrooms are among the largest in Chicago, around 500 square feet. The windows open up the rooms. We’ve received a positive response to the opaque screen for the shower and the amenities, including a toothbrush, combs and more in our own brand. Our 55-inch televisions are also among the biggest in town, and our technology is state-of-theart. A true differentiator here are our service stylists, dressed in pink Chanel, who are found in the public areas of the hotel to serve our guests.
Why was this property the ideal location to begin expanding the Langham brand in North America?
There is a strong desire to spread the brand, and the Chicago opportunity was too good to turn down — a Mies van der Rohe design in an unbeatable location. The city is spending a $100 million grant to expand along the river, and we are the cusp of what is sure to be the new Chicago. At The Langham, Chicago, the brand’s U.S. flagship, we worked the building’s history into the design. We couldn’t make exterior changes, but our modern luxury interior design changes the feel of an office building.
Read This Next
Lotte Hotel Seoul
2014 / February 2014
Jun 1, 2016All Reads on This Topic
Read Them All

Introducing
FX Excursions
FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.
#globility
Insta FeedDaily
Feb 13, 2025Florida’s Amrit Ocean Resort Launches Wellness Retreat Series
Situated on Florida’s Singer Island, recently opened Amrit Ocean Resort launches a wellness retreat series. Held monthly, this series aims to inspire longevity. The first retreat kicks off Feb. 27.
Sponsored Content
Experience Next-Level Travel with Condor Airlines’ New A330neo Fleet
Condor Airlines completely renewed its long-haul fleet, featuring its new Airbus A330neo. Designed to elevate your travel experience, the A330neo is equipped with cutting-edge technology and offers unrivaled comfort, ensuring an exceptional journey for every passenger. With its striking signature striped livery, the A330neo not only promises a memorable flight but also enhances the start of your vacation from the moment you step aboard.
Daily
Feb 13, 2025Aman to Open Its First Property in Bangkok
More than 35 years after opening its first property, Amanpuri, in Phuket, Aman returns to Thailand with the opening of Aman Nai Lert in Bangkok. Set to debut April 2, the 52-suite property lies within privately owned Nai Lert Park, offering guests a secluded haven in the middle of the bustling city, much like sister property Aman New York.
Daily
Feb 12, 2025Colorado Dragon Boat Film Festival Returns in March
Celebrating the best of Asian and Asian American filmmaking, Colorado’s Dragon Boat Film Festival is a fun mix of screenings by established and emerging artists. The theme of this year’s event is Honoring Our Past to Guide Our Future, held March 14–16 at Denver Sie Center.
Sponsored Content
Extraordinary Egypt
ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME JOURNEY INTO THE ANCIENT WORLD OF THE PHARAOHS
Destinations / North America
Feb 12, 2025Escape to the Carefree Vibe of Mexico’s Isla Holbox
On a tiny island off the northern coast of the Yucatán Peninsula, remote life takes on new meaning. Cars are nowhere to be found, internet connections are sporadic at best, and visitors have no choice but to unplug and indulge in natural wonders.
6 Destinations and Hotels for Solo Women Travelers
Daily
Feb 12, 2025New SIRO Hotel to Open in Tokyo in 2029
eFlyer News
Feb 12, 2025eFlyer Deals
Feb 12, 2025Last-Minute Valentine’s Day Deal at The Benjamin Royal Sonesta Hotel
Still looking for a Valentine’s Day offer? The Benjamin Royal Sonesta Hotel, in New York City, has the LOVE Ben promotion available. With this offer, enjoy a stay in the hotel’s signature suite, as well as a private, late-night MoMA tour for two (with transportation included).
Sponsored Content
A Word with Nat Pieper, oneworld CEO
Name: Nat Pieper Title: CEO at oneworld City: Dallas, Texas First job: Stadium vendor
eFlyer Deals
Feb 12, 2025Take the Ultimate Romantic Trip with Newport Harbor Island Resort’s New Offer
Take a Valentine’s Day or romantic trip back to the days of gilded mansions and cobblestone streets at Newport Harbor Island Resort in Newport, Rhode Island. This ocean-facing property has a special Valentine’s Day offer for couples.
ShareThis