Page 67 - The New Gold Standard

Be Relevant

Born and educated in England, Simon earned an MBA from
the University of Toronto. He began his hospitality career when
he immigrated to Canada in 1972 and worked for Canadian Pa-
cific Hotels & Resorts.
In 2005, Simon was elected to the board of directors of First
Horizon National Corporation. In 2004, he was appointed to the
Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, Canada In-
stitute Advisory Board. In 1999, Simon was appointed as chair-
man of the board of governors for the University of Guelph for a
three-year term (No. 1 Comprehensive University in Canada,
Maclean’s magazine, 1999 and 2002).
In 1996, Simon was awarded the 1995 Commitment to
People Award by the Council of Hotel and Restaurant Trainers,
recognizing his loyalty to the personal development of his em-
ployees. In 1995, he received an honorary fellowship from Ryer-
son Polytechnical University.
To see Simon Cooper interviewed about brand relevance,
please go to www.yournewgoldstandard.com.

In an effort to develop an understanding of consumer changes
that go well beyond demographic variables (younger travelers,
more female travelers, and families), Ritz-Carlton leadership ex-
amined changes in the fundamental wants and values that drive
the modern luxury consumer. As it does before making any
potentially widespread changes, Ritz-Carlton leadership part-
nered with outside groups who possessed great expertise gained
through either experience or science. Paul Westbrook reveals
that as a means of tapping into that experience, “Ritz-Carlton
engaged in conversations with other luxury brands. One such
conversation came in the form of what was called the Luxury
Industry Panel. Participants at the panel included Bulgari,
Mercedes-Benz, American Express, La Prairie, and Prada. This
setting gave us the opportunity to share views about evolving

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