10 Leadership Lessons from Sol Kerzner – The Man Who Built Experiences, Not Just Hotels
I recently spent time reading Sol: My Friend and Adversary by Peter Venison.
As someone who has spent much of my career in hospitality, what struck me was that Sol Kerzner did not simply build hotels. He built destinations people wanted to experience.
From The Beverly Hills and Sun City to Atlantis and One&Only, there are powerful lessons for anyone leading in hospitality or business.
Here are 10 lessons I took away from his journey:
1. Be first, not just another.
Kerzner constantly looked for opportunities to create something different rather than simply compete with what already existed.
2. Learn from the best, then make it better.
Before developing The Beverly Hills, he travelled to Miami and studied the Fontainebleau. He learned, adapted and created something relevant to his own market.
3. See everything through the customer’s eyes.
At The Beverly Hills, every room faced the ocean. Sometimes greater customer value matters more than operational convenience.
4. Be where the action is.
Kerzner was known for being everywhere—from the front desk to the laundry and boiler room. Leaders cannot understand the business only from reports.
5. Think big, but pay attention to the smallest details.
He could imagine extraordinary destinations while still questioning individual construction details and operational numbers.
6. Create experiences people talk about.
The opening of The Beverly Hills became an event. Entertainment, celebrities and spectacular experiences became part of his approach to hospitality.
7. Put your own skin in the game.
When raising money for his first major hotel, Kerzner invested his own savings. He asked others to believe only after demonstrating his own commitment.
8. Put a deadline on the dream.
Kerzner believed strongly in opening dates. Once the date was set, the organisation had something clear to work towards.
9. Surround yourself with talented people.
As the business expanded, he went beyond South Africa to find experienced specialists who could help build the organisation.
10. Understand the business you are really in.
Kerzner wasn’t simply selling rooms. He was selling excitement, aspiration, entertainment, memories and experiences.
Perhaps that is the biggest lesson for hospitality leaders today.
Are we simply running hotels, or are we creating experiences people will remember long after they leave?
For me, the Kerzner leadership formula can be summed up as:
VISION → COURAGE → DETAIL → PEOPLE → EXPERIENCE → EXECUTION
See what could be possible.
Have the courage to pursue it.
Get the details right.
Bring great people with you.
Create an unforgettable experience.
And most importantly—execute.
There is much hospitality and business leaders can learn from the life and work of Sol Kerzner.
Great hospitality is not only about where people stay. It is about how we make them feel and what they remember.