The following is an excerpt from Wellbeing Brand Experience concept statement written for the proposed Luxury Collection Tokyo (March 2025). The water cradles me in its warmth, a cocoon of vapour that feels like an embrace against the crisp, biting air. I’m submerged to the shoulders, every muscle lulled into a quiet rhythm by theContinue reading “Being well.”
Category Archives: Travel
Mastering Luxury at JW Marriott: The 8 Essentials Every Leader Must Know
Luxury is more than just grand gestures and opulent spaces – it is a carefully curated experience that evokes deep emotions, creates genuine connections, and delivers effortless elegance. At JW Marriott, operational leaders are the custodians of this philosophy, ensuring that every guest encounter embodies mindful luxury in its purest form. Normal . developed “DefinitionContinue reading “Mastering Luxury at JW Marriott: The 8 Essentials Every Leader Must Know”
A monument to witness – interview with Pamela Longobardi
Normal is curating a series of experiential programming for Patina Hotels & Resorts throughout 2013. This fall, we are collaborating with the renowned artist Pamela Longobardi to unveil a large scale art called Ocean Archeology of Our Time in the upcoming multi-day program, Cosmopolitan Ocean. Words: Jinou Park A large scale, permanent art installation calledContinue reading “A monument to witness – interview with Pamela Longobardi”
Experience as Healing
Experience as Healing was the inaugural event of a series of experiential programming Normal created for Patina Hotels & Resorts to supercharge Patina brand experiences. Event took place on 2 -3 June, 2023 at Patina Maldives, Fari Islands. Words: Jinou Park / Images: Guojie Khoo For a short weekend in June, Normal brought together aContinue reading “Experience as Healing”
Descent into baloney we must fix
Boisterous bullfrogs wake me up earlier than usual. They’ve been going literally since three in the morning, went on for 30 minutes, stopped and started again at six, they haven’t stopped since. I am not in favor of killing them but I’d love to figure out a way to get them outta here. Yesterday, aContinue reading “Descent into baloney we must fix”
On travelling while Covid
Familiar hubbub greets me, although today it feels a little awkward as it has been months since my last routine. Flight crew performs their usual and soothing benedictions while the plane taxis on the runway in snail speed, flanked by permanently idling planes on either side. The wings lift and comes alive, the wheels foldContinue reading “On travelling while Covid”
Cities, profit from this
As I write this story I glance down from my perch in Seoul. On this particularly crisp October morning I was enjoying a cup of Fall Blend on the terrace of a coworking café. Groups of young men dressed in the sharp, telltale style of consultants in their first year on the job (navy suit,Continue reading “Cities, profit from this”
K House
Way beyond Galle and past Ahangama and Matara in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka is K House, a secluded beach front property surrounded by lush Indian Ocean flora and open ocean views. It is where minimalist architecture of two villas effortlessly blend into nature and stand in comfortable distance to provide intimate privacy within.Continue reading “K House”
Yakumo Saryo – in cloud eight
My taxi ride is getting longer, going deeper into nondescript residential neighbourhood. I pass by some oppressive modernist gymnasiums of 1960 Tokyo Olympics era … and then it keeps going again. Finally I’m dropped off curb side in front of a gated residence (again nondescript) and I wonder “is this going to be another sit andContinue reading “Yakumo Saryo – in cloud eight”
Belitung EcoBeach and surrounding islands
When Davide (pseudonym) first made an appearance in my office with an hour notice and announced he owned one-tenth of Belitung Island and that he’s wanting advice for developing that area as socially and environmentally responsible project, I only had two questions – first, where in the heck is Belitung (I’ve been in hospitality forContinue reading “Belitung EcoBeach and surrounding islands”
Normal . 