Steve Kass, founder and former CEO of American Leisure, has launched a new business, Steve Kass Consulting. The global leader explains his goals as an innovative concept and design creator
Steve Kass has gained a reputation as an innovator and expert consultant, while having his feet firmly planted on the ground.
As founder and former CEO of American Leisure, Kass has been responsible for the conceptualisation and design of iconic projects in the US and internationally, specifically in the spa, fitness, lifestyle and wellness communities markets.
Following the sale of American Leisure in 2015, Kass launched his own boutique consultancy, Steve Kass Consulting, through which he will continue to work as a global leader and innovator, offering a world-class service to clients. Kass speaks exclusively to Spa Business about his goals and ambitions.
Tell us about the venture The purpose of Steve Kass Consulting is to offer my services internationally as a concept and design consultant for the real estate and hospitality industries.
And your current projects? We’re working on luxury projects with some of the largest residential builders and hospitality companies in the world, including Lennar, Tishman Speyer and Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts.
We’ve been brought on board to be a part of the design team on a 50,000sq ft spa and wellness facility that will service 1,500 luxury apartments in Long Island City, US.
Other projects include the Spa at the Kimpton Hotel in the Cayman Islands, the new Four Seasons Hotel, New York City and the Four Seasons in Houston, Texas. All these jobs are exciting and I love the challenge. We get an opportunity to work with some very talented people.
What’s the need? It used to be that when you were selling a residence, it was enough to give people a roof over their heads, but as a great quality of life has become essential, people want much more from the places they live in. Developers who are building homes, condominiums, communities and hotels are recognising that it’s advantageous to offer not only spas, but also other facilities for leisure and recreation, such as fitness, wellness and community social spaces. Creating wellness communities like these is my area of expertise: I partner with developers to deliver these components of the scheme.
Why should they choose you? In many cases, the experts who conceptualise high-end spa and wellness facilities create aesthetically beautiful designs and features, but it’s difficult or impossible to actually build them.
With experience of successfully operating hundreds of facilities, Steve Kass Consulting offers a highly effective alternative, by delivering the wow factor – new concepts, new ideas and new design features – while at the same time ensuring those features are operationally sound and can actually be built for a sensible budget.
At what stage do you get on board? We like to get involved in projects early on, at the stage where the goals and aims are being defined. Then we present how our ideas, plans and designs will contribute to the success of the sales and enhance the bottom line of a project.
Is there a focus on adding value? One of my proven strengths is forecasting trends and demand in facility design.
On new projects we typically start with the basics of what we know is expected as a minimum requirement. Then we get creative and work to see how much value we can add within the budget to elevate the bottom line and social value of the scheme.
How much room is there for innovation? In all of the facilities we’re currently designing we add social components, such as bowling alleys and gathering spaces. We’ve also devised the concept of the ‘Living Lobby’ which offers – among other things – social activities and has proven to be successful. In all cases we create custom solutions.
What does this new direction mean for you professionally and personally? It has allowed me to step away from being a CEO of a company with varied responsibilities, to really focus on what I love to do the most: conceptualise, design and create world-class facilities.
It also allows me to apply the many lessons I’ve learned through working with some of the world’s most respected architects, interior designers and engineers.
What are your goals and ambitions for Steve Kass Consulting? To continue to be part of high-level teams working together to create outstanding luxury wellness-related projects and wellness communities.
We’re very proud of the company we keep, such as Clodagh and David Rockwell, to name but a few. We continue to work with clients repeatedly, because what we bring to the team are fresh ideas that work, innovation and effective solutions.
What’s the bottom line? I hope Steve Kass Consulting will continue to make a difference and to do work that enables developers to sell their properties more quickly. Also that we bring added value which results in them being able to get higher margins on their investments.
Read more from this issue of Attractions Management magazine
View contents of Attractions Management 2016 issue 1
Interview: Kenneth Ryan
Marriott’s global head of spa talks exclusively to Katie Barnes about the new ‘game-changing’ Ritz-Carlton Spa brand and market domination
Promotional feature: Steve Kass Consulting
Steve Kass, founder and former CEO of American Leisure, has launched a new business, Steve Kass Consulting. The global leader explains his goals as an innovative concept and design creator
Research: Work it out
Ophelia Yeung gives a sneak preview of a new study on workplace wellness that debuts later this month
Fitness: Competitive edge
Could a touch of rivalry help spas to engage more people in fitness? Niamh Madigan finds out
Promotional feature: Ojmar
A growing number of spa operators across the UK are working with Ojmar to upgrade their traditional keyed locking systems to electronic solutions
An opportunity to reimagine one of the UK’s most recognisable towers has been formally
opened by Rivington Hark, as St Johns Beacon invites operators and partners to shape its
next phase. [more...]
Steve Kass, founder and former CEO of American Leisure, has launched a new business, Steve Kass Consulting. The global leader explains his goals as an innovative concept and design creator
Steve Kass has gained a reputation as an innovator and expert consultant, while having his feet firmly planted on the ground.
As founder and former CEO of American Leisure, Kass has been responsible for the conceptualisation and design of iconic projects in the US and internationally, specifically in the spa, fitness, lifestyle and wellness communities markets.
Following the sale of American Leisure in 2015, Kass launched his own boutique consultancy, Steve Kass Consulting, through which he will continue to work as a global leader and innovator, offering a world-class service to clients. Kass speaks exclusively to Spa Business about his goals and ambitions.
Tell us about the venture The purpose of Steve Kass Consulting is to offer my services internationally as a concept and design consultant for the real estate and hospitality industries.
And your current projects? We’re working on luxury projects with some of the largest residential builders and hospitality companies in the world, including Lennar, Tishman Speyer and Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts.
We’ve been brought on board to be a part of the design team on a 50,000sq ft spa and wellness facility that will service 1,500 luxury apartments in Long Island City, US.
Other projects include the Spa at the Kimpton Hotel in the Cayman Islands, the new Four Seasons Hotel, New York City and the Four Seasons in Houston, Texas. All these jobs are exciting and I love the challenge. We get an opportunity to work with some very talented people.
What’s the need? It used to be that when you were selling a residence, it was enough to give people a roof over their heads, but as a great quality of life has become essential, people want much more from the places they live in. Developers who are building homes, condominiums, communities and hotels are recognising that it’s advantageous to offer not only spas, but also other facilities for leisure and recreation, such as fitness, wellness and community social spaces. Creating wellness communities like these is my area of expertise: I partner with developers to deliver these components of the scheme.
Why should they choose you? In many cases, the experts who conceptualise high-end spa and wellness facilities create aesthetically beautiful designs and features, but it’s difficult or impossible to actually build them.
With experience of successfully operating hundreds of facilities, Steve Kass Consulting offers a highly effective alternative, by delivering the wow factor – new concepts, new ideas and new design features – while at the same time ensuring those features are operationally sound and can actually be built for a sensible budget.
At what stage do you get on board? We like to get involved in projects early on, at the stage where the goals and aims are being defined. Then we present how our ideas, plans and designs will contribute to the success of the sales and enhance the bottom line of a project.
Is there a focus on adding value? One of my proven strengths is forecasting trends and demand in facility design.
On new projects we typically start with the basics of what we know is expected as a minimum requirement. Then we get creative and work to see how much value we can add within the budget to elevate the bottom line and social value of the scheme.
How much room is there for innovation? In all of the facilities we’re currently designing we add social components, such as bowling alleys and gathering spaces. We’ve also devised the concept of the ‘Living Lobby’ which offers – among other things – social activities and has proven to be successful. In all cases we create custom solutions.
What does this new direction mean for you professionally and personally? It has allowed me to step away from being a CEO of a company with varied responsibilities, to really focus on what I love to do the most: conceptualise, design and create world-class facilities.
It also allows me to apply the many lessons I’ve learned through working with some of the world’s most respected architects, interior designers and engineers.
What are your goals and ambitions for Steve Kass Consulting? To continue to be part of high-level teams working together to create outstanding luxury wellness-related projects and wellness communities.
We’re very proud of the company we keep, such as Clodagh and David Rockwell, to name but a few. We continue to work with clients repeatedly, because what we bring to the team are fresh ideas that work, innovation and effective solutions.
What’s the bottom line? I hope Steve Kass Consulting will continue to make a difference and to do work that enables developers to sell their properties more quickly. Also that we bring added value which results in them being able to get higher margins on their investments.
Read more from this issue of Attractions Management magazine
View contents of Attractions Management 2016 issue 1
Interview: Kenneth Ryan
Marriott’s global head of spa talks exclusively to Katie Barnes about the new ‘game-changing’ Ritz-Carlton Spa brand and market domination
Promotional feature: Steve Kass Consulting
Steve Kass, founder and former CEO of American Leisure, has launched a new business, Steve Kass Consulting. The global leader explains his goals as an innovative concept and design creator
Research: Work it out
Ophelia Yeung gives a sneak preview of a new study on workplace wellness that debuts later this month
Fitness: Competitive edge
Could a touch of rivalry help spas to engage more people in fitness? Niamh Madigan finds out
Promotional feature: Ojmar
A growing number of spa operators across the UK are working with Ojmar to upgrade their traditional keyed locking systems to electronic solutions
Experience design company, BRC Imagination Arts, has completed a transition that sees founder
Bob Rogers pass ownership of the business to four long-serving senior executives, while
remaining actively involved with the company.
Movie Park Germany has opened a new Paramount Pictures-themed attraction as part of its 30th
anniversary celebrations, using immersive storytelling and adaptive reuse to reinforce the park’s
longstanding “Hollywood in Germany” positioning.
Therme Manchester’s 28-acre development, which will include interconnected glass pavilions
that measure 65,000sq m, will be the largest bathing and wellbeing attraction in the world once
complete, according to prof David Russell, CEO of Therme UK.
Efteling has opened Hooghmoed, a new family drop tower designed to broaden the appeal of its
recently launched Sirene Island themed area and introduce younger visitors to thrill attractions.
A proposed Puy du Fou development near Bicester and Universal Destinations and Experiences’
planned resort in Bedford are emerging as part of a wider transformation of the Oxford–
Cambridge Growth Corridor into a major centre for UK leisure and tourism inv
Shedd Aquarium has opened the Immersion Theater developed in partnership with SimEx-
Iwerks, as part of a wider strategy to enhance the guest experience and create additional
revenue opportunities.
The UK government has announced a temporary reduction in VAT on visitor attractions and
children’s meals as part of a summer cost-of-living support package designed to stimulate the
visitor economy and encourage family days out.
As designer Yinka Ilori prepares for his first solo gallery show in London, he speaks exclusively
to CLADmag about his mission to spread joy, the power of play, and his bold approach to using
colour (including the colours you won’t see in his work).
The government of Thailand is exploring plans for a THB300bn (£6.3bn, US$8.3bn)
entertainment complex in the country’s Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), with officials
proposing a large-scale theme park and sports destination as part of a broader tourism and
economic development strategy.
Royal Caribbean has revealed its Hero of the Seas cruise ship, home to the most pools at sea
(nine), and a record-breaking 28 dining venues, as well as attractions including a waterpark
with two new family raft slides.
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