At an early age, Jorge Gonzalez was captivated by hotels, having visited many in the U.S. with his parents from his native Mexico. His fascination paid off. Today he is general manager of the Mandarin Oriental, Miami, a position he has held since 1999. In 2008, Gonzalez became Mandarin Oriental’s executive vice president of the U.S. Southern region. As a hotelier at a top luxury lodging company, he knows the good life. Here, he shares with Luxury Travel Advisor some worldly loves and memories.
Vacation Spot: Taos, NM
Favorite Hotel (not your own): One&Only Palmilla in San Jose del Cabo, Mexico
First Travel Memory: When I was eight years old, my parents took me to Los Angeles and we stayed in the Presidential Suite at the Biltmore Hotel. We went to Disneyland and then flew to Las Vegas where we stayed at Caesars Palace. We saw Frank Sinatra and Liza Minnelli play. I was so excited about the whole experience that when my parents left me in the hotel room to go out, I slipped out the room and went to the casino on my own. A few minutes later, security got hold of me and dragged me back to my room!
Car Crush: Ferrari
Restaurant: Hakkasan
Watch: Cartier
Mobile Phone: iPhone 4
Laptop: Apple MacBook Pro
Suit: Armani
Bottle of Wine: Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon
Book: Game Change by John Heilemann and Mark Halperin
Cologne: Hermes
Hobbies: Skiing and golf