Q&A with Matthew Brittain: A Deep Dive into the Future of the Hotel Business

Question: Has there been a significant shift in the mindset of a vacation rental investor? 

Matthew Brittain: Absolutely. On one hand, you have investors purely seeking returns, ready to shift their investment based on those returns. On the other, there are those who view their investments from a more personal lens, as a vacation spot. There is a barrier to entry given current construction costs in established markets, so we need to diversify.

Question: Considering your expertise, what is Brittain’s ideal property type for third-party management?

Matthew Brittain: Given our experience in managing complex resort settings – from gift shops, restaurants, and spas to condos – our sweet spot lies in complicated full-service hotels. Be it in the mountains of Tennessee or the beaches of Florida, we excel in managing and marketing properties, both independent and franchised, that have a lot of moving parts.

Question: What is something you wish you had known at the beginning of your career?

Matthew Brittain:  I wish I had learned to listen earlier, to not be so proud of what I knew. I think that’s a healthy thing for all young people to have an urgent desire to express themselves, and there is nothing wrong with that. But I think I learned too late in life that other people have a lot to say, and you can learn more by listening than you can by giving your thoughts.

Question: What is a mistake you are glad to have made?

Matthew Brittain: If I had to reflect, majoring in English literature and moving to France might have seemed like mistakes initially. They didn’t directly align with a corporate path in the hotel business. However, now I value those experiences for the unique perspective they provided.

Question: Any predictions for the future of the hotel business?

Matthew Brittain: The hotel business has a longstanding history and a promising future, especially in the leisure sector. I’m very bullish on the idea that people are going to have more leisure time and ability to travel.  While it’s hard to pinpoint specific changes or threats, I believe there will be more disruptors like Airbnb entering the scene, significantly altering the business landscape.