Peek Inside the Club You Can't Join, with Jeff Klein

Summary

On with Kara Swisher – “Peek Inside the Club You Can't Join, with Jeff Klein”

Date: May 14, 2026
Host: Kara Swisher
Guest: Jeff Klein (Hotelier, Hospitality Entrepreneur, Founder of San Vicente Clubs)
Podcast Network: Vox Media, New York Magazine

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Episode Overview

In this episode, Kara Swisher sits down with Jeff Klein, the founder of San Vicente Bungalows and a transformative figure in luxury hospitality and private clubs. Their conversation explores the current boom in private, members-only clubs, what makes a space truly special and emotionally connective, how Klein curates exclusive communities, and the challenge of maintaining soul and authenticity while expanding. The episode offers a rich look into modern hospitality, the cultural importance of community, and a critical assessment of exclusivity versus accessibility in a shifting social landscape.

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Key Topics & Insights

1. Jeff Klein’s Approach to Hospitality (03:09–06:18)

• Klein’s Core Philosophy:

  • Not just selling food, rooms, or drinks, but “belonging and psychological safety" with "trusted human interaction and emotional experiences.”
  • “People think we're selling luxury hospitality, but we're not. We're really selling human connection in an environment where people can actually relax and be themselves.” (Jeff Klein, 03:46)

• Career Path:

  • Started as a bellman. Mentored by Bernard Goldberg.
  • Initially skeptical of private clubs like Soho House, but realized the power of curated spaces for connection.

2. Private Club Boom: Causes & Culture Shift (06:18–10:01)

• What’s Driving the Boom?

  • Loneliness, digital exhaustion, and weakened community institutions (churches, civic groups, post-COVID offices).
  • “The more digital life becomes, the more valuable physical human interaction becomes.” (Klein, 06:57)

• Comparison with London:

  • Clubs have long filled social gaps; US is catching up as community rituals fade elsewhere.

• Demographics and Accessibility:

  • These clubs are not just for the super-rich. Many young people join for experiences over possessions.
  • “I think they are spending money differently. And I think I'm lucky in that clubs are the recipient of one of those things.” (Klein, 08:32)

3. Curation, Exclusivity, and What Makes a Club Special (10:01–17:06)

• Klein’s Niche:

  • “I want to be the Hermes of clubs...very individual in each location...part of the fabric of the community.” (10:08)
  • Focuses on quality and chemistry among members; exclusivity is about attitude, not just money.

• Application Process:

  • Rigorous committee review. Key application question: “What’s your favorite restaurant and why?”
  • Restaurant choices reveal character and authenticity; personal stories and diversity (age, race, occupation, gender) are valued.
  • "We like quirky...diversity is important" (Klein, 15:35)

• On Privacy and Social Media:

  • Privacy is the ultimate luxury. Strict no-photos, no-calls policies, symbolized by the sticker over your phone.
  • “Privacy changes human behavior. The second people feel watched or filmed, they stop being themselves...” (Klein, 17:58)
  • Protecting spaces from the anxiety and performance of social media.

4. Community, Belonging, and Modern Rituals (22:46–29:14)

• Reinventing Community:

  • Private clubs fill the ritualistic and connective void left by declining traditional institutions.
  • “The organizing principle to us is really human chemistry...” (Klein, 23:10)
  • Status is not the organizing principle—it's energy, behavior, and chemistry.

• Inclusivity Concerns:

  • While financial means are required, the desire for belonging is universal.
  • “Wealth just allows you to execute those things at a very high level...there could be clubs that are not as expensive that deliver the same thing.” (Klein, 26:45)
  • Points to other, more affordable forms of community (e.g., hardware store bars, churches).

5. Entrepreneurial Journey: From Bellman to Club Leader (32:17–36:29)

• Early Days:
  • Klein attributes much to luck and mentorship.
  • Bernard Goldberg’s advice: “Always find value where no one else can.” (Klein, 33:30)
• Transforming the San Vicente Inn (“Sin Bin”):
  • Acquired the rundown, clothing-optional motel despite skepticism. Overcame financial and reputational hurdles with creative networking and personal investment.

6. Expansion, Scale, and Maintaining “Soul” (38:04–43:56)

• Careful Growth:

  • Not aiming for mass proliferation—“If I did two or three more in the next seven years, I'd say that's a lot.” (Klein, 38:36)
  • Each club must have its own “soul.”
  • “You can scale systems, but you can’t scale taste.” (Klein quoting his Hermes analogy, 42:49)

• Expert Question:

  • Chip Conley asks (42:09):
    “How are you…going to scale your business in such a way that it still has the exclusivity and the beautiful soul that it’s always had when you’re going to be all over the world?”
  • Klein’s Response:
    • “Scale and soul absolutely are at odds...restraint, curation, and standards [are key]...I’d rather have a few truly exceptional clubs with soul than hundreds that feel efficient but emotionally empty.” (42:49)

7. The Challenge of Competition & Community Saturation (44:38–46:15)

• Saturation Concern:
  • Too many clubs risk diluting quality; performative, status-driven clubs fail to create real community.
  • “It’s easy to create buzz...But to create that emotional attachment and long term loyalty is what's difficult.” (Klein, 45:15)

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Hospitality in the Age of Airbnb and Labor Shifts (47:11–54:38)

• Airbnb vs. Hotels:

  • Airbnb made hotels compete on price—hoteliers pressured by rising costs, union/non-union rules, and job preservation.
  • “Hospitality used to be much more transactional. ... Now, the way to succeed is to emotionally connect.” (Klein, 48:06)

• Labor Market Realities:

  • Staffing shortages, high turnover, rising costs, and immigration impacts all make top-notch hospitality harder.
  • Key to staff retention: respect, empowerment, and meaningful work.
  • “It’s never been this hard...you have to think outside the box with talent.” (Klein, 50:21–51:10)
  • Klein highlights the importance of “emotional labor” and staff as critical carriers of culture.

• Favorite Staff Stories:

  • Magazine editor Gabby leads membership and curation (“She understands it better than anybody...it’s like editing a real-life magazine.” 53:00).
  • Dimitri, the old-school maitre d’, represents classic hospitality values.

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Longevity, Trends, & Final Reflections (54:47–59:01)

• What Sets Long-Lasting Clubs & Hotels Apart:

  • Timelessness over trendiness, focusing on emotional attachment.
  • “Trendy spaces optimize for excitement and enduring spaces like us optimize for emotional attachment.” (Klein, 55:13)

• Favorite Hotels:

  • Swisher: Deetjen’s Big Sur Inn—“my happy place.”
  • Klein: A magical inn in Garzón, Uruguay (“a place that has a soul that they have respected…and enhanced rather than ruined” 56:33).
  • Both reflect on the beauty of places that might one day disappear—the “ephemerality” makes them more special.

• Swisher’s Closing Praise:

  • Swisher lauds Klein’s clubs as “beautiful spaces” that transcend elitism for true human community:
    • “Everybody should have a space...if I joined a club, it would be yours.” (Swisher, 58:35)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “People think we're selling luxury hospitality, but we're not. We're really selling human connection in an environment where people can actually relax and be themselves.” — Jeff Klein (03:46)
• “The more digital life becomes, the more valuable physical human interaction becomes.” — Jeff Klein (06:57)
• “Privacy changes human behavior. The second people feel watched or filmed, they stop being themselves.” — Jeff Klein (17:58)
• “You can scale systems, but you can’t scale taste.” — Jeff Klein (42:49)
• “[On club applications:] 'What’s your favorite restaurant and why?' ... tells you a lot about a person.” — Jeff Klein (13:08)
• “Trendy spaces optimize for excitement and enduring spaces like us optimize for emotional attachment.” — Jeff Klein (55:13)
• “If I joined a club, it would be yours.” — Kara Swisher (58:35)

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Timestamps of Major Segments

• 03:09: Jeff explains his philosophy and early skepticism of private clubs
• 06:18: Why private clubs are booming—digital exhaustion and rise of loneliness
• 10:01: The Hermes analogy, and the importance of quality over quantity in clubs
• 13:08: The club application process and favorite restaurant question
• 17:06: Privacy as luxury—phone stickers and no-photo policy
• 22:46: The role of clubs post-decline of traditional communities
• 32:17: Klein’s path from bellman to owner; mentorship insights
• 34:03: Reviving and pitching the San Vicente “Sin Bin”
• 38:04: Expansion challenges—keeping “soul” while growing
• 42:09: Chip Conley’s expert question on scaling with soul
• 47:11: Airbnbs vs. hotels & shifts in hospitality economics
• 50:21: Labor market, staffing, and culture in hospitality
• 54:47: Longevity vs. trendiness in clubs/hotels
• 56:33: Personal favorite hotels—soul and uniqueness
• 58:35: Swisher’s final, personal endorsement

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Takeaway

Klein’s vision for hospitality is rooted in authenticity, curated diversity, and emotional connection, not just aesthetic luxury or exclusivity for its own sake. As technology fragments experience and traditional social ties wither, spaces like Klein’s—while not accessible to all—illuminate what people deeply crave: safe, private, meaningful connection, and the sense of being truly “at home” in the world.

Transcript

[Kara Swisher]

It's really hard to get me to come into a club and one of the famous ones was like, we'd really like to have you here. And I was like, I'd really like rather not to go. I'm going to the hardware store, which is my favorite club.

[Jeff Klein]

It's on.

[Kara Swisher]

Hi everyone from New York magazine and the Vox Media podcast network. This is on with Kara Swisher. And I'm Kara Swisher. My guest today is Jeff Klein, a hotel owner, hospitality entrepreneur and founder of the San Vicente clubs. They're private members only clubs that have become popular with celebrities and many others in Los Angeles and New York. Klein was early to the now booming private club scene and he's looking to expand his clubs globally. Before San Vicente, Klein opened several boutique hotels and restaurants including the Sunset Tower Hotel in Hollywood. He has a knack for taking distressed historic properties and transforming them into chic, distinctive spaces. I want to talk to Jeff because he has a real joy of entrepreneurship and I always talk to tech entrepreneurs or maybe media entrepreneurs, but hospitality entrepreneurs are very interesting and they put together a lot of things and right now there's a real moment where people really are valuing community and spaces and gatherings. And it's something I talk about in my CNN special. Kara Swisher wants to live forever about social connections being really important. And I think Jeff has exquisite taste and sort of a joy of life that I think is a wonderful thing to have in an entrepreneur. And he makes beautiful things and he doesn't go too far with it and I appreciate that as an entrepreneur. Our expert question today comes from another fantastic entrepreneur, Chip Conley in the hospitality space. He's incredibly well known and I was thrilled that he got to ask Jeff a question. So stick around. A quick note before we get to the interview. I'm doing a special live episode of on with Kara Swisher with guest Marc Maron on the opening night of the Tribeca Film Festival podcast stage. It's June 8th at 8pm Tickets are available at tribecafilm.com audio so see you there.

[Skylar Diggins]

What's up, y'?

[Kara Swisher]

All? I'm Skylar Diggins, seven time WNBA all

[Rabinart Sun]

star, Olympic gold medalist and mom.

[Cassidy Hubbard]

And I'm Cassidy Hubbard, host and reporter

[Kara Swisher]

for nearly 20 years, covering the biggest

[Cassidy Hubbard]

names and stories in sports and mom.

[Skylar Diggins]

And this is and mom, a community

[Rabinart Sun]

for athletes, game changers and moms of all kinds.

[Kara Swisher]

Dropping May 14th.

[Jeff Klein]

Tap in with us if you're tired

[Cassidy Hubbard]

of endless scrolling to figure out where to eat. Same. I'm Stephanie Wu, editor in chief Of Eater, we've just launched the newish and way better Eater app. It has all the restaurants we love, gives you personalized picks wherever you are, and serves up smarter search results just for you. You can find my list of the best places for martinis and fries in New York City, and save your favorite spots, share lists, follow editors, and book right in the app. Download the Eater app at Eater. It's free for iOS users.

[Jeff Klein]

It is on.

[Kara Swisher]

Jeff, thanks for coming on on.

[Jeff Klein]

Thank you for having me.

[Kara Swisher]

So you're nervous about coming on, and you called yourself the gay Larry David, which made me laugh. But you have nothing to worry about. I'm very interested in your business and where it's going, especially right now. So why don't you explain yourself what you do. You've built a successful business by seeing the potential that others miss. You've rehabilitated multiple distressed and neglected properties that weren't obvious candidates for luxury clothes or boutique hotels, and imagine what they could become. I want you to talk about what you do and talk about your sort of overarching philosophy and what you look for when you're thinking about this right now.

[Jeff Klein]

Yeah, I mean, it's an interesting question because I think people often don't. They confuse what I'm selling. I mean, I'm not selling dinner or drinks or a room. You know, those are really delivery systems. And what I'm selling or trying to sell is a belonging and a psychological safety, kind of like trusted human interaction, atmosphere, obviously, access to a certain emotional experience, I would say, and feeling a part of something that's curated and meaningful. People think we're selling luxury hospitality, but we're not. We're really selling human connection in an environment where people can actually relax and be themselves.

[Kara Swisher]

Talk about exactly what you do so people can understand your business.

[Jeff Klein]

Well, I started in the hotel business. I started as a bellman right after college, and I worked for someone who really taught me the hotel business from the ground up. Literally became my mentor, same boss. And I went into the hotel business. So I've always been in hospitality my whole Life. In about 2010, Soho House opened in Los Angeles, and they invited me to be a founding member for free. And I said no, because I was like, that place will never survive.

[Kara Swisher]

Yeah. You were skeptical, initially, very skeptical.

[Jeff Klein]

And I thought, who would pay membership fees, you know, to. To go to a place like this? And I couldn't have been more wrong. And what I noticed was that it was very powerful when it came to town, and I felt like I could do it. Better. I felt like I could create a better atmosphere with a better menu and better service and a better curation of the crowd. And that's when I found the first Anniversary Bungalows, which is a private membership club. And now there's three of them. Two in Los Angeles and one in New York.

[Kara Swisher]

Right. And you also have the hotel business, right?

[Jeff Klein]

I'm a part owner in the sense of tower. I sold a piece of it, I have a partner in it, and I started in the hotel business. And the hotel business is what allowed me to go into the private membership business because essentially I applied all of that knowledge of how to create an experience for a customer and how to deliver food and beverage and whatnot. And the piece that I had to learn was the membership piece, which is not easy, and I made a lot of mistakes. But I think, you know, the reason I'm saying that is because what's harder is today you're seeing, like, a lot of people trying to go into the membership club business.

[Kara Swisher]

Let's talk about this boom, because there's a real private club boom now. Private members only clubs are on the rise in cities across the US there's nothing new about them, especially in New York. And London has, like, that's how people socialize. And they were a fixture in social life during the gilded age. But now we're seeing private clubs in places like Jacksonville, Florida, Lexington, Kentucky. Talk about what's driving this wave. And as you noted, the Soho House is credited with helping spark the private club boom. It opened its first club in London in 1995 and has more than 46 locations at over 200,000 members. So talk a little bit about why the boom is happening here in this country and maybe compare it to somewhere like London.

[Jeff Klein]

Well, yeah, I mean, I think, you know, clubs are booming because people are profoundly lonely and digitally exhausted. Technology has connected everyone, but emotionally, it's disconnected people from each other. And a lot of institutions that used to create repeated human interaction weakened, like churches, town halls, civic groups, even offices after Covid. And so people are still, you know, people still fundamentally need tribes and ritual and familiarity and belonging and club are filling part of that vacuum. The more digital life becomes, the more valuable physical human interaction becomes. I mean, there's just. I notice it every day and I feel kind of lucky. I always say, I'd rather be lucky than smart because we're really providing a sense of community, and people are like, oh, well, do you think there's too many clubs? I think the opposite. I think we're going to Notice a lot more clubs in the future, and the good ones are going to understand how to find their niche. Trying to be everything to everyone, I think, is where these clubs are getting into trouble.

[Kara Swisher]

Right. Or too expensive. There used to be, you know, various clubs around New York was. Everyone belonged to it. And again in London, everyone has a club and has had it for hundreds of years. Correct. There is a sort of a comfort. And it's not necessarily just for the rich. Correct. Not for the super rich. Although this tends to be the demo you have.

[Jeff Klein]

Well, I don't think my demo is super rich.

[Kara Swisher]

Not super rich. Okay. But with some funds.

[Jeff Klein]

Look, I think today most social interaction is transactional, and it's scheduled and it's online. And I think people are willing to actually pay for this, which is why I don't think they're necessarily rich. You know, younger people are joining in droves, honestly. Young. Younger generations grew up online. Ironically, that's made real life interaction feel more novel and valuable to them. I believe it's what I'm noticing. There are these clubs for the rich, you know, which are super expensive. You know, there's golf clubs that are like a million dollars and there's other clubs that are super expensive. So I think people are willing to splurge on this because I think it's much more meaningful. I mean, what I'm also noticing when I talk to some of our younger members, because I'm like, look, I wouldn't be able to afford this when I was, you know, 32, what they're saying is, I'd rather spend this on an expensive bag because it's an experience. And as we know, young people love experiences. And getting a piece of clothing or a special watch or even a car, it's no longer important to them because it's so available. I mean, you can just go online. Even on Amazon, you can buy all these ridiculous luxury goods. So I think they are spending money differently. And I think I'm lucky in that clubs are the recipient of one of those things.

[Kara Swisher]

So when you talk about people have to find their niche. What do you mean by that? Because there could be too many copycats. Right? As you were noting earlier.

[Jeff Klein]

Yeah. I mean, there are copycats. I mean, look, I can only talk about my niche, which is pretty specific. I mean, this is gonna sound like a little haughty, but I always. Well, my aspiration and when I, like, talk to the people that I work with is I want to be the Hermes of clubs. I don't necessarily want to have the most Clubs or the coolest clubs. But I do want to have the best ones. And that means that they're very individual in each location. They're very specific to that location. They're part of the fabric of the community of that location. I don't want them to be hot where it's like, you know, the Kardashians are there every night or whatever. It should feel like it's not a club.

[Kara Swisher]

It's not a club.

[Jeff Klein]

Yeah, it's like your second home almost. And I think that it also comes down to the quality of the club members, and we're really tough about that.

[Kara Swisher]

Well, your clubs are notoriously hard to get into. According to one estimate, there's roughly 7,000 person wait list. You prioritize candidates who are engaging and you reject a lot of billionaires saying that, quote, just because someone has money doesn't make them interesting. I know this, Jeff. You know, I know this. So talk about your criteria and give us a window into how you think about that then. If you're trying to create not just experiences, but Scott was saying, Scott belongs to 900 clubs essentially because he's desperate for something that he's never going to get. A hole, an empty hole that shall never be filled. But you're laughing, but it's true. But talk about crowd curation. What you mean by that, what you're trying to do, and maybe compare it to others.

[Jeff Klein]

Yeah, I mean, we're definitely not looking for the richest people. We're looking for people who make the environment better. And it's really hilarious because people are always saying, oh my God, he's a billionaire. Why don't you take them? And it's like, no, who cares if he's a bit. I mean, no one is going to walk in and say, and by the way, that, you know, it just doesn't make them interesting. It's just another, you know, rigged white guy, really, at the end of the day. So I think what matters is curiosity matters, kindness matters, creativity matters, Social intelligence matters. Energy. We want people that are additive to the atmosphere. The mistake people make is assuming exclusivity means wealth. Wealth alone is not very interesting. And we're trying to create a chemistry in the room. And so I think that we're curating behavior and culture as much as demographics. It's hard to do. I mean, there is a whole process and there's a committee and. But I think that, you know, back to my Hermes analogy, that's part of the quality that we're trying to deliver. So unlike Hermes, where The product is maybe stitching in leather for us. This is part of our product, and it's really. We have to be really tough about it. Right.

[Kara Swisher]

What does the committee do? Do you all meet and, like, start drinking or what happens? We don't drink about the process and the committee.

[Jeff Klein]

So there's an application. Well, the greatest question on the application, I have to admit. I mean, I feel like I'm going to ruin it. We're going to need to find another one. After everybody hears this, the best question is, what's your favorite restaurant and why? And it says so much about a person. So we ask other more traditional questions, like, please tell us who you are. And we also have a great question where we say, are you single? And if not, please tell us about. You're the person who shows a picture that also tells a lot about them. But the restaurant piece.

[Kara Swisher]

Yeah. I want to know why that.

[Jeff Klein]

Well, because if you get somebody that's like, I love Club Cinq en Cinq in Saint Tropez, we're kind of like, that's not the right person for this club, you know? And it kind of catches them off guard because Cinq en Saint may be their favorite restaurant. Nothing against Cinq en Cinq. It's a great restaurant. It's just not my thing. Very serious, very expensive, and it's just not, you know.

[Kara Swisher]

Yeah, I know. I've been there. I was dragging. Somebody says, I did not pay. I will only go. I do not. Yes, of course. No, it was actually during Con Lyons. I don't remember who dragged me, but it was like, are you fucking kidding me? Like, I like. It's like one of those. I like seeing it. I like seeing it. It's like, here.

[Jeff Klein]

No, it's an anthropological. Anthropologically, you have to go there, you know, it's like. But it's not like where I'd want to go.

[Kara Swisher]

I used to call it forced fun. Forced fun is how I felt about it.

[Jeff Klein]

Yes, that's right.

[Kara Swisher]

Forced fun. It was like everyone was paying so much, and therefore they had to have fun or else. So it was funny. I will tell you my favorite restaurant. Anchor Bar in San Francisco in the Castro. Small, Tiny.

[Jeff Klein]

See, that's a great answer.

[Kara Swisher]

That's my absolute favorite place on the earth.

[Jeff Klein]

It's authentic, it's special. You'd probably lean into why it's your favorite, which I'd like to hear.

[Kara Swisher]

Yeah, it's wonderful. Everybody. Well, it's small. You have to wait for it. It's. It's Got amazing food. It's always a lot of the same stuff, but it's always delicious. Seafood and oysters and cioppino. And I've taken my kids there their whole lives. My kids and I love going there. And it's my happy place in San Francisco. One of my happy places in San Francisco.

[Jeff Klein]

That's a great answer. I was gonna give another example, you know, some little restaurant in Uruguay that somebody took their grandmother and now she's no longer, you know, like, whatever. It tells you a lot about a person when they answer that question.

[Kara Swisher]

So. So you're just trying to get an interesting person, and it depends on what strikes you as interesting. Right. It's not necess. I'll take all the quirky people kind of thing.

[Jeff Klein]

No, but we like quirky. Yes. I mean, and you know, I hate to use this word because it's being overused, but diversity is important. And I don't just mean racial diversity, but, like, we will not accept a man if we don't accept a woman. Like sexual diversity. I was so excited when the first trans person applied. And we have a few trans people in all the clubs and then also occupational diversity. So, like, one of the things that happened in Los Angeles that we had to kind of slow down was there were just too many people in the entertainment industry applying. In New York, there were too many people from the banking industry applying and age diversity. You know, some clubs focus on only young people. We. I always say the best party is a wedding, and it has all three generations.

[Kara Swisher]

Everything's right, you're right. Or the worst part.

[Jeff Klein]

It's either the worst, right if it's a bad addict, but it's still good and it's bad. Trying to create the greatest dinner party every day and every night. So that's how you think about it. Like, well, who are you going to invite to your wedding? And who are you going to invite to that list? I mean, look, the thing. The boundaries piece of it, which I think you were alluding to. Like, every meaningful community has boundaries. I mean, universities do, churches do neighborhoods, neighborhoods do. The real question is whether the culture inside of those boundaries creates something valuable and human, which is what my job is to deliver.

[Kara Swisher]

Right, Right. So privacy is a big part of your brand. You've said that. It's the ultimate luxury today. And that seems like a direct reaction. The way cameras on smartphones, social media anxiety, and influencer culture have changed nightlife and made it difficult for people to let loose in public. Not that they're going to be embarrassed but they just don't want to have it. Like, especially you have some celebrities in Los Angele, for example. Same thing in New York. And you noted people are digitally exhausted. And from your perspective, talk about this, how social media has changed the hospitality industry and would be seeing this resurgence of private clubs without it. Because I think there is a plus for that with people. You're the only place I let put a sticker on my phone, which I'm like, happy to do it when you get there for people. And no, they just slap a frigging sticker on your phone and you don't pick it up. You do not pick it up, even when you want to just look something up. I don't even do that.

[Jeff Klein]

Well, that's exactly what we're trying to do. I mean, the sticker is really just a reminder of this is the time to leave the digital world behind. We don't allow phone calls. We don't allow photos. I wish I could say no texting and Googling and everything. I don't. Because people are like, well, my child. I need to know if my child at home, which I understand, or, you know, I have an important thing happening at work. I might need to hear from my partner or whatever. But. So I think we're one of the few places where it is, like, you're forced to talk to people and live and connect. Privacy changes human behavior. The second people feel watched or filmed, they stop being themselves and start performing. And so conversation changes, vulnerability disappears, and spontaneity disappears. Creativity drops.

[Kara Swisher]

And that's for everyone. Not just, say, a famous person who doesn't want to get.

[Jeff Klein]

That's for everyone. We created a place where people can really exhale. The product isn't secrecy. It's psychological safety. And I think that's also, like, what people don't understand. You know, modern life is, like, so performative. I mean, I don't look at Instagram that much, but it's like, when I look on Instagram, I'm like, why are they filming their avocado toast? Like, I don't care about their avocado toast.

[Kara Swisher]

People thought it was delicious. It's delicious. But go ahead. I mean, but talk about this idea of social media anxiety and sort of. It's changed nightlife. Everybody has their phone up. You know, one of the things I used to do, I mean, I kind of created a club at the code conference many years ago. We did. We had an. It was exclusive, yet not. The people that got in were not who you'd think necessarily, right. Sometimes we ding people who you'd imagine we let in. But one of the things I did is I created. As phones became more. In the early days, people weren't using them as much, but as it became clear, I had put together this amazing program, like Gates and Jobs, Pay the fuck attention. Like, so I put a jammer in the room. Walt and I put a jammer, jam signals. And everyone would be like, oh, my phone doesn't work. I'm like, really? Wow, shitty service. But I actually jammed it on behalf of them because I knew they would look at their phones. And rather. I mean, I was like, I spent a lot of time getting these two people up on stage, so you need to focus in on what they're saying kind of stuff.

[Jeff Klein]

I love that I should think of doing that.

[Kara Swisher]

Jammers. I'll help you. I'll help you with the jammers. It's easy.

[Jeff Klein]

It's a great idea.

[Kara Swisher]

They're like, oh, it doesn't work. And then you go, oh, Verizon. Oh, they suck. Yeah. So talk about that idea of how it's changed nightlife, especially in LA or New York or any of these cities.

[Jeff Klein]

Well, I mean, I think absolutely. I mean, to your point about celebrities, I mean, they feel it intensely because fame follows them everywhere. And honestly, almost everyone feels some version of this now. Social media has turned life into performance, and so people don't live anymore. And I think that these spaces, you know, one of the things we're providing or trying to is like, a space where they can live again and they don't have to be scared of a photo being taken of them. I mean, I joke, like, you know, you want to be able to bring your wife one night and then your girlfriend or boyfriend or whatever the next night, and nobody can talk about it. Nobody can take a photo. I mean, there's no places like that. And I'm not saying it's right to have a. A boyfriend or a girlfriend if you have a wife.

[Kara Swisher]

We don't judge on this show, but go ahead.

[Jeff Klein]

But it's also like, you know, it also pertains to, like, business. And I'll just say this because it was written about extensively when Ted Sarandos and Steven Spielberg were having this big war in Hollywood, because Steven Spielberg was saying, you are not making movies because they're not on big screens, even if they're on big screen for a week. It was a very public war. And their makeup dinner, the first time they actually spoke, it was like in the Hollywood Reporter. It was in the New York Times. They went to dinner at the Sancente, as they should, because they knew that nobody would take photos or talk about it. Unfortunately, there was a guest of a member who was a publicist who called Page Six and leaked it to them. And we figured this out and we kicked out the guest. But of course, I'm giving an example where I didn't succeed, because that's how I do. But, you know, that was only one time that's happened. There's been like 10,000 other examples of. So it's also business. Like, sometimes people don't want to be

[Kara Swisher]

seen, and they want to go out,

[Jeff Klein]

and they want to go out. So maybe, you know, they're about to sell their business to someone and they don't want people talking about everything. So public now and transactional, crazy, as you said.

[Kara Swisher]

And as you also notice, not just a business thing, but there is the community aspect to it. And as you said, people don't go to church as much. And fraternal organizations, there used to be the Lions Club, the Elks Club, the Rotary Club my grandfather belonged to, I think all of those. They often built community around acts of service, but it was also social. Talk about the organizing principle of your community. People can have different reasons for going to these clubs.

[Jeff Klein]

The organizing principle to us is really human chemistry. It's like trying to create an environment of interesting, socially additive people who value discretion and curiosity and creativity and connection. You know, the community is really organized around a shared desire for a certain kind of atmosphere that's less performative, more intimate, more thoughtful, more human. It's not. Not organized around status or profession or any of that stuff. It's really organized around energy and behavior. And I think that's why we succeed and are desirable to so many people.

[Kara Swisher]

So how do you deal with the status obsession with people? Like, I didn't get in here. I'm sure you get a lot of pushback.

[Jeff Klein]

A lot. Yeah, Yeah. I actually have a line that I cut and paste, like, when people, like, will send me an email or a text. Because what's unfortunate is, like, knowing me doesn't necessarily help. Like, it has to be. It's a committee of people, and they do. They spend a lot of time on this. So I don't. I never want to be like that, like, dictator that overrules the committee's decisions. And I always say, it's really not you. It has more to do with, like, your age, your occupation, all these things, because we have enough of these people that. That are in your category, and that's really how I answer that we're curating that emotional tone as much as we're curating a membership.

[Kara Swisher]

Right, but when you. And the other thing I have with clubs is sometimes I get asked to join some of them. You've never asked me, which is great, which is fantastic. But a lot of people ask me and I'm like, no. And same thing with rich team owners. They're like, come sit in my box. I'm like, yeah, I don't think so. And they're like, what? And I go, I don't like sports and I don't wanna sit. Well, it's a owner's box. I'm like, I like it even less. Like, I don't even know what you like. I don't mind sitting in a stand kind of thing. And so it's really hard to get me to come into a club. And one of the famous ones was like, we'd really like to have you here. And I was like, I'd really like rather not to go. I'm going to the hardware store, which is my favorite club.

[Jeff Klein]

Well, we would obviously love you to be a member, but I can't do it. I feel like members. Somebody wants to be a member, they figure out how to. And you know, you have to know a member to be nominated.

[Kara Swisher]

No, I get it. I just don't like clubs. I don't. I never have clubs. I'm just not a club. I never go. I'm very.

[Jeff Klein]

And you know a lot of. So I'm like assuming you really want to go there.

[Kara Swisher]

No, I love going there. And by the way, it's a beautiful experience. I have to say. Even though you put stickers on my phone me, it's just. I just, I really just enjoy being home or going to the hardware store. But. And that's where my happiness is and that's where my community is. I know it sounds weird, but I do. I actually really go to one in my TV show. I go to one of my favorite hardware stores. But. But that's weird sounding when I say it out loud. So populism is on the rise in the world and here in the United States the wealth inequality is widest gap more than three decades. Talk to critics who say private clubs are a way for the rich to wall themselves off from the concerns reality of everyday people. Presumably they end up going to expensive restaurants if they don't go there. Right. That's the other option for people. Or belong to country clubs or any number of things, you know, special vacation spots. So I'M not so sure it's that much of a. Like a ding on private clubs. But talk a little bit about this. In this, you know, sort of day and age, the sort of eat the rich thing is happening all over the place and somewhat deservedly in some cases.

[Jeff Klein]

Yeah. And I would say partially, yes, Luxury clubs obviously require financial means, but I think the deeper desire they're responding to is universal. I just can't tell you enough how much people want belonging, trust, intimacy, familiarity, and human connection. Wealth just allows you to execute those things at a very high level. So, you know, there could be clubs that are not as expensive that deliver the same thing. Part of what my experience is, is an elevated experience. So it is going to cost me money, and I have to charge money in return to deliver that. But like your hardware store example, if your hardware store wanted to charge $10 a month to come there and have a beer one day a week or something like, that might be a club that's super cool because it's a club of common interests. I mean, that would be like, what I was describing as a niche.

[Kara Swisher]

My son goes, do you know the Giant Food here has a bar in it? And my son loves the bar at the Giant Food.

[Jeff Klein]

I love it.

[Kara Swisher]

He goes, I was like, why do you go there? He goes, I don't know. I meet people I don't know. And we all sit around and have a beer while people are walking by with strawberries. And I don't know why I like it, but I do. And I'm like, okay. Cause I called him, like, where are you? He goes to the Giant Bar. I was like, giant Food. Like it was. But I see the appeal, like, if he likes the community aspect. My other son is going to church more like. And I never took him to church once. And he loves it. And of course, that is absolutely free. But he loves the community, I think. And that's what they're especially.

[Jeff Klein]

That's exactly. I was just gonna say, like, churches are on the. I mean, did you that article. I think it was in the journal article.

[Kara Swisher]

My son is like, that article. It's exactly right.

[Jeff Klein]

It was really fascinating to me, and it made total sense to me, and it really reminded me of my business. And they're meeting boyfriends and girlfriends or whatever at church. They're not even religious. I mean, I always say, like, we do all these programming events. We'll have like a ceramic painting class. And at first I would say, like, who wants to learn how to paint ceramics? No one is. I mean, they're not really going for the ceramic painting. They're going to meet other people, to meet friends, to meet new people to know. So I think just back to your thing about the wealthy. It's like historically private clubs were about status and access and I think today they're more about emotional comfort and psychological self safety.

[Kara Swisher]

We'll be back in a minute. Support for this show comes from Quince. The changing of the seasons also comes with a changing of your wardrobe. But instead of looking for mismatched items that just don't quite fit, lean into pieces that feel effortless, comfortable and still put together. That's where Quince comes in. They have fabrics that feel elevated, fits that are flattering. Everything just works without you having to overthink. Quince has all the wardrobe staples for spring. Think 100% European linen shorts and shirts from $34, lightweight, breathable and comfortable, but still look put together and clean. 100% Pima cotton tees with a softness that has to be felt. Everything is priced 50 to 80% less than what you'd find at similar brands. Plus, Quince works directly with ethical factories and cuts out the middlemen. So you're getting premium materials without the markup. I've gotten Quint a lot. I buy it myself. I love it. I get all their athleisure clothes, which are very much more inexpensive than similar brands and feel just as good. And right now they have a lot of great seasonal colors and prints for spring that'll make getting dressed a breeze. Refresh your everyday with luxury you'll actually use. Head to Quince.com Kara for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns. Now available in Canada too. That's Q-U-I-N-C.com Kara for free shipping and 365 day returns.

[Mitch Purse]

I'm Mitch Purse, two time IndigoCell champion, championship MVP and forward for the US Women's National Team. Before I went pro, I graduated from Harvard with a degree in psychology, which comes in handy more than you think. Any athlete pursuing greatness knows there's a certain mentality you have to have. What people don't know is what that costs. In my podcast, Confessions of an Elite Athlete, I sit down with the best athletes in the world and explore the psychology, mindset and unseen battles on the path to greatness. So take a seat and learn from the Confessions of an elite athlete on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Rabinart Sun]

Modern motherhood has become an unwinnable game. I'm Rabinart sun and I do not Believe in treating exhaustion as proof of love. A good mother is not a depleted one. An ambitious mother who wants to be someone outside of mom is no less obsessed with her kids. This month on Project Swagger, we are defining motherhood on our own terms in a special series. The Remix in the first episode. Out now. Why balance is a myth and how I started trusting myself over the noise. Listen or watch now at Project Swagger,

[Kara Swisher]

Let's take a step back and talk about your career. As I said, you didn't come from the private club world. As you mentioned, you began as a bellman at the Franklin Hotel in New York in 1993. I actually started in the mailroom of the Washington Post, so I feel that journey. And you worked your way through all the departments, including housekeeping, room service, front desk, reception. Did you have an entrepreneurial vision guiding you through those early jobs?

[Jeff Klein]

Honestly, so much of my life and career has been luck. I mean, even the fact that I'm in private clubs right now. I wish I could have said, like, I knew AI was coming, and I knew social media was coming, and I knew how important these clubs were gonna be. It's just, I'm lucky. I was always very dyslexic growing up. I never thought I'd own a hotel or hotels or private clubs. And so I just got really lucky. This guy, Bernard Goldberg, who was my mentor, just taught me everything I knew, and he was a pioneer in the boutique hotel industry in the 90s. It was really just him and Ian Schrager.

[Kara Swisher]

Was there a thing he said to you that stuck with it? Mine was Walt Mossberg in writing, and he said, always parachute in with your cleats on. That's what it says. And it stays with me every step of my career.

[Jeff Klein]

That's so great. I'm trying to think. I don't think there was any one thing, but he really taught me how to look for value. So if you look at my career, everything I did when I bought the Sunset Tower, you know, no one believes this. They couldn't give the Sunset Tower away. It was called the Argyll Hotel. It was a dump. I remember they kept on lowering the price, and I bought it for like $18 million. And that's a lot of money, but when you think about it, to buy a property like that. And he said, always find value where no one else can.

[Kara Swisher]

Speaking of which, in 2013, you purchased the San Vicente Inn in West Hollywood. And at the time, it was rundown, clothing optional, men only motel that community news site described as the sin bin Nobody wanted to invest in you.

[Jeff Klein]

Nobody could.

[Kara Swisher]

What was the pitch?

[Jeff Klein]

It was so hard. Well, first of all, even as a gay man, it was hard for me to go there because there was like. It was also very druggy and it was just this weird, crazy place. They were having sex out in the open, nothing wrong with that. But it was very hard to get like a buttoned up investor or banker because I didn't own it yet. I was just in escrow, so I couldn't get investors. In fact, this is a very funny story. The I went to like 52 lenders and they all said no because they'd go there and they'd be really kind of like, ugh. Cause no one has a vision, no one can see. And so my husband said to me, you know what? I'm going to show you how we get a movie made. Invite your banker, invite his wife, and we're going to invite some movie stars to dinner and you're going to get that loan. And he was right. It happened. So I had to kind of like

[Kara Swisher]

explain who your husband is.

[Jeff Klein]

My husband is a man named John Goldwyn whose grandfather was Sam Goldwyn and he ran paramount pictures for 13 years. He was vice chairman. He's also a producer. He produces many shows and movies and he's a brilliant person in the industry and, and obviously very connected. So we.

[Kara Swisher]

And he knows how to get movies made. So it's not unsimilar. But how did you get people to like the sin bin, did you say now with 100% less naked druggery?

[Jeff Klein]

It was really hard. I would try to. You know, there were moments in the day, like especially early in the morning when they usually weren't out, although sometimes they would still be coming off of one of their, like, benders. So I would try to do the tours like 8 in the morning or 9 in the morning. It was really hard. It was really hard. But even more than just like seeing the people there, the place was such. It was like a rundown motel. Now it's this incredibly glamorous, beautiful place that you feel like it's been there forever and will be there forever.

[Kara Swisher]

Right. Like what happens in Palm Springs? Palm Springs had all these Yankee hotels and now they're beautiful. The gays came in and gayed them up and they're fantastic. But what was the pitch that didn't work for investors. What did. What finally did when you were bringing them in?

[Jeff Klein]

Well, I mean, essentially what happened was I had to put together. It really was tough. I couldn't get investors I had to really cobble investments together, like $50,000 here. And then that loan that I got was a construction loan that we use celebrities to get us. And then right before I opened is when I found my, my current investor, which is this company, Ohana. And there's a guy named Franco Famularo who works at Ohana, who's very smart. And he had been speaking to me actually about the Sunset Tower. And he said, what's going on with that private club? And I said, oh, I had to cobble together. I'm about to open. He said, well, can I see it? And he came and saw it and he said, I'd like to take out all your investors. They'd only been in the investment for like 18 months. He said, I'll give them like a 60% return, which is great for an 18 month investment to make. 60% return. I've never, you know, you're lucky if you make 8% a year. And I'd like to take them all out. And he did. And then he also helped me grow because, you know, Ohana was able, when I found the Jane Hotel, to help finance that.

[Kara Swisher]

Right. So now you and your partner, this is Ohana real estate investors, you're looking to sell a stake in the company to fund global expansion. So how do you think about that? Because obviously expansion is always the thing to do. You open Jane, you have Jane San Vicente Bungalows. You've got. And Jane is. The San Vicente is Jane and the San Vicente Bungalows.

[Jeff Klein]

Well, it's no longer the Jane, it's San Vicente West Village.

[Kara Swisher]

Right, okay. But you have these two east and west coast investments and these things. But you want to expand global. Talk about how you think about that. Because with doing these things, it's always a risk.

[Jeff Klein]

Obviously it is a risk. I'm not trying to build hundreds of clubs. I think luxury brands often die when growth or go public itself becomes a strategy or go public. What makes these environments work is the culture in the atmosphere and trust. And so it's fragile. I mean, I can't do a cut and paste and just copy these. And I'm really trying to build institutions, not trends. So I can only do a few of these. I mean, if I did two or three more in the next seven years, I'd say that's a lot. And as I say, it's like, I don't want these to be hot. I want places to feel like they've been there forever and will be there forever.

[Kara Swisher]

Are you considering certain cities like Washington or Seattle I don't know.

[Jeff Klein]

I haven't considered Washington, but I think Washington would be interesting.

[Kara Swisher]

Well, they have the Ned and then that stupid Trump one. I almost bought a very expensive membership there, which is. I think it's about 100,000. I just was like, this is an investment in irritating people. And to sit there in the dining room and wave at Scott Bessant every five minutes or. Or David Sacks, like, hey, hey, girl. What up?

[Jeff Klein]

It's hilarious. You know, I was friendly with Scott Bessant.

[Kara Swisher]

He was very lefty. Let's remind Trump of that. He was quite a lefty. But what would you think? What's. What's the ideal kind of city you're looking for when you're not in? The obvious ones are Los Angeles and New York and maybe San Francisco. Right? Presumably.

[Jeff Klein]

Yeah. You know, for me, right now, I'm more focused on this transaction and finding a new partner that I haven't really been, because I just opened Santa Monica and I just opened West Village. I haven't really been uber focused on where the next club is. I have these fantasies of doing one in Paris. I love Paris. Me and my husband, like, you know, we take French lessons. We love. We're Francophiles. And so a lot of it also depends on the actual physical space that I see. Like, so much of it, people think I'm this, like, perfect, like, corporate person, but I really have none of that in me. And so much of this is like, I'm almost like an artist. Like, I have to see the place. And then I kind of am like, I think we should turn this into a club. Like, I never am. Like, okay, I want to open in Washington, D.C. so I start, like, you know, spending months in D.C. looking at spaces. It's just these things kind of, like, hit me.

[Kara Swisher]

Yeah, I can't think of one space you'd find interesting here, I have to tell you.

[Jeff Klein]

Well, yeah, I mean, I don't like the Ned.

[Kara Swisher]

I'll be honest with you.

[Jeff Klein]

Really?

[Kara Swisher]

I've been there. No, it's very thirsty.

[Jeff Klein]

It seems to be doing well.

[Kara Swisher]

It's doing fine. I get why people go to it, actually. You know what? It's beautiful. They're gonna call and yell at me, but I don't care. It's beautiful. It's really interesting. It's just very performative. It's trying. So when I'm in your places, I feel like it's exactly the way. It's like hotels. Sometimes hotels are really performative, and I find. I know they did it for the way it looked not because it was. Someone had a heart. It doesn't have heart. I don't know what else to say.

[Jeff Klein]

That's a big mistake. Every location has to have its own soul.

[Kara Swisher]

Otherwise it has its own thing, right? And that's why I originally liked some of those Soho houses. Cause I thought they had heart. Like, they had some, and then they become sort of cookie cutters in a lot of ways. But, you know, I was there and I ran into a lot of people, and my wife and I were like, we gotta get outta here. We never. You know what I mean? Like, I just couldn't imagine wanting to spend any time there. But people like it. Cause Washington is really performative, so it works just fine. I want to go to the one that Don Junior's running. That's the one I want to get into. Anyway, every episode we get a question from an outside expert. Here's yours.

[Chip Conley]

Hey, Jeff. Congratulations on all your success. This is Chip Conley, fellow hospitality entrepreneur, boutique hotelier, modern elder of Airbnb, and the founder of mea, the Modern Elder Academy, the world's first midlife wisdom school. I have learned along the way that scale and soul sometimes are at odds with each other. You want to grow revenues, and yet you want to keep exclusivity. How are you, as a social alchemist, a mixologist of people, going to scale your business in such a way that it still has the exclusivity and the beautiful soul that it's always had when you're going to be all over the world? I wish you all the best on your journey.

[Kara Swisher]

Anyway, great question from Chip.

[Jeff Klein]

Obviously, that's a great question. I think scale and soul absolutely are at odds with each other. And most hospitality brands lose their soul because growth becomes a strategy instead of the consequence. The way you protect soul is through restraint, curation, and standards. We're very intentional about not expanding too quickly. Culture is fragile. I don't think exclusivity comes from price alone. It comes from emotional consistency. And members have to feel the same trust and intimacy and discretion and atmosphere. And so I think staying focused on that is the way. You can scale systems, but you can't scale taste. And back to my Hermes. I'm obsessed with Hermes. Hermes is valuable because they protected the standards, not because they maximize distribution. And I really respect that. And so I don't want. Again, I just don't. I'd rather have a few truly exceptional clubs with soul than hundreds that feel efficient but emotionally empty.

[Kara Swisher]

But does that make a problem if there'd be Too many private clubs and the market becoming oversaturated. That was one thing I worried about as a media entrepreneur is everyone copied me. The stuff I did with code, which was very, I could have done it worldwide. Right. And I didn't because I just wanted it to be good the way it was. And whenever I expanded, I was always regretful some of the time, some of the time it worked. But I was always wary of expansion, very much so because you can't just stamp it out and make it good. And also from a business perspective, then it got problematic because everyone was trying to hire my reporters or they were trying to copy it. And then ultimately there is a saturation problem, especially among sponsors or in your case, investors.

[Jeff Klein]

Well, I think, I mean it depends. I think most cities are still very underserved when it comes to real community and gathering spaces. I mean our friends and Britt Morgan Sachs is opening in Jacksonville, Florida. And I think that's really cool. I think we're see a lot more of that. That said, I do think there are too many clubs being created as social scenes or real estate products instead of being created as communities. And that's the mistake that we're seeing and I think we're going to see those places fail.

[Kara Swisher]

Yeah, it's like the tequila brand of the week, right? Or perfume brand or whatever that everyone

[Jeff Klein]

must have and they're kind create buzz and far they can create, it's easy to create buzz. I mean anybody can create buzz. But to create that emotional attachment and long term loyalty is what's difficult. And so that I think is what they have to be focused on.

[Kara Swisher]

Yeah, absolutely. We'll be back in a

[Jeff Klein]

foreign.

[Skylar Diggins]

This week on Net Worth and Chill. We're diving into another edition of Am I the Asshole Finance edition. And trust me, these money dilemmas will have you questioning everything. I'm breaking down real stories from real people who are navigating financial situations that range from mildly awkward to absolutely unhinged. And I'm giving you my unfiltered take on who's in the right and who needs a serious reality check. Because let's be real. When it comes to mixing relationships and finances, someone's always asking if they're the asshole. Learn how to set boundaries, protect your wealth and avoid becoming the villain in your own financial story. Listen wherever you get your podcasts or watch on YouTube.com YourRich BFF does Chinese

[Jeff Klein]

President Xi Jinping see Trump as a partner or an opportunity? So President Xi comes to this meeting with quite a lot of confidence. They recognize that President Trump is, is dangerous, potentially is unpredictable. But I think they also believe that they can manipulate him. I'm John Finer. And I'm Jake Sullivan. And we're the hosts of the Long Game, a weekly national security podcast. This week, former U.S. deputy Secretary of State Kirk Campbell joins us to discuss the Trump Xi Summit in Beijing. The episode's out now. Search for and follow the Long Game wherever you get your podcasts.

[Kara Swisher]

So let's talk about the broader hospitality industry, because that's also part of it, because you are providing some level of hospitality and you don't just own private clubs, you also own hotels. And when you started out in the hotel business 1990s, the landscape was very different. Boutique hotels were on the rise and competed with big chains like Marriott and Hilton. And then vacation rentals like Airbnb and VRBO took off and they're operating under a totally different economic model. How do you you think of your competition? Because right now there was a great story, and I agree with this, is that they knocked Airbnb out of New York and now hotel rooms are just more expensive. It didn't make it a better scene in any way or less. And I'm almost like, bring back the Airbnb because it hurts. I understand it was being abused, but it didn't mean hotels rose to the occasion. How do you look at the economic models of hotels vs Airbnbs vs vs other ways of hospitality?

[Jeff Klein]

Well, I mean, listen, as a hospitality person, I actually appreciated that they don't allow Airbnbs in New York because they really hurt us. And the thing is, you know, Airbnb has all these things that they can do that hotels can't do, whether you're a union or a non union hotel. You know, it's very expensive to run a hotel. And so an Airbnb can deliver something much cheaper. And it would really be putting a lot of people out of work. I wish LA quite frankly would do that. But hospitality used to be much more transactional. You know, great food, beautiful design, good service. Those things still matter enormously. But today people are. The way to succeed in hospitality is to emotionally connect. And again, it's like back to this whole idea of the product having a soul. That is to me how it's different now and how. So that's my strategy. You know, hospitality historically has really, it's all, you know, you talk about Four Seasons or you talk Hilton, all these products, they're all commodities. Their rooms are just commodities. And so my job is to do the opposite of that. And not just deliver white boxes that you can get everywhere, everywhere.

[Kara Swisher]

But President Trump's tariffs have led to higher operating costs. That's another thing for hotels. Last week, a federal trade court ruled against Trump's new 10% global tariffs, which he imposed after his previous tariff strategy was struck down by the Supreme Court. Has that affected you on the hotel with workers? Where is the real push and shove right now in the hotel business? And again, you have higher end hotels, but it's the same thing everywhere, I think, especially because employment is back to pre pandemic levels. But the staffing shortages, high turnover, the administration's obviously heavy handed immigration enforcement has led to decline in international visitors and a tightening of the labor market. And so your businesses depend on maintaining high standards and flawless service. So talk about those economic wins that you have to face to retain good workers. At the same time, keep costs down in order to make money. What do you think the most important things right now in the hospitality industry for you are?

[Jeff Klein]

It's really hard. It's never been this hard. Covid really also changed my industry because people don't want to be, they don't want to actually, you know, they want to work from home, which you can't do in hospitality. Hospitality is really an emotional labor. People stay when they feel respected, empowered and proud of the environment. And that is part of something meaningful. So I feel like we still have that. We spend a huge amount of time thinking about culture internally, not just to members, but for staff and guests feel that immediately when the staff culture is very healthy like ours. But it's very, very hard to do. It's very hard to find good managers. I mean, we have some of the greatest people. I mean, Gabby is a great example of this.

[Kara Swisher]

She's great.

[Jeff Klein]

Yeah, she's just amazing. But you know, I had to really think outside. Everybody was like, you're crazy. Why are you hiring this former magazine editor like to lead up your membership? You know, she doesn't understand hospitality. She understands it better than anybody. I mean, she's also a brilliant, brilliant woman and can adapt to anything. But you know, it's just getting harder. And I've been forced to think outside the box with people like Gabby. Dimitri's another example of that. I mean, even though he's worked for me for 22 years, everybody was like, no one wants that old school maitre d. He's, I love a maitre.

[Kara Swisher]

What are you talking about? That's the best thing.

[Jeff Klein]

Well, now we do because we've, you know, we realize that the old world ways are so exciting and thrilling. But at the time, you know, great hospitality. People like Chip Conley are artists in their own way, and they're creating atmosphere and comfort and, you know, emotional tone.

[Kara Swisher]

Explain who Dimitri and Gabby are.

[Jeff Klein]

So Dimitri's the maitre d at the Tower Bar. He's this old school. He's from Macedonia. He bows. He just loves his job. He is literally the definition of hospitality. And Gabby has become as well. Gabby's the head of membership, global membership. She oversees all three clubs. So she's really with me, curating who and this committee who we're going after. I mean, Gabby will wake up one day and say, we don't have enough people in Broadway, in the theater, you know, in New York. Let's find some and let's find some. Let's contact some producers, directors, whatever it is, and get that community. It needs to be more well rounded. This is like one area of the community.

[Kara Swisher]

That's what a great magazine editor does, by the way, just so you know.

[Jeff Klein]

Well, that's why I kind of knew she was gonna be so amazing, because really, that's what she is. Editing a magazine, a real life magazine.

[Kara Swisher]

What about travelers, when you think about, like, has that been affected with the terror of people coming here?

[Jeff Klein]

So I'm really lucky. I mean, honestly, my only. I have two hotels. I have the Sunset Tower, and then I have this little hotel, 850, which is so sweet, and they're both so unique, and there's nobody truly competing with either of them. I mean, for example, and to me, this is a trick in business. It's like the Sunset Tower is singular. It's this art deco Hollywood hotel. Okay, yes. If you want old Hollywood, perhaps you could go to the Chateau, or perhaps you could go to the Beverly Hills Hotel. Those are also two very different things. But if you want old Hollywood and you want it to be chic and you don't want it to. To be a ripoff, and you don't want it to, then we're the only game in town. So I feel like we're lucky that we're so singular in that respect.

[Kara Swisher]

So you have people, you don't think you have just one of a kind. You know, you're in your own lane. So it's not that I think so,

[Jeff Klein]

but I also would never do like, I like the London hotel is for sale in la, and they keep on trying to get me to buy it. I would never buy it. It's on San Vicente in Sunset. It's a great location, but nobody can make that special. Nobody can give that place a soul. You'd have to tear it down.

[Kara Swisher]

Yeah, I agree with you. I absolutely agree. I've stayed at every hotel in Los Angeles. I'm a hotel whore. I go from one to the next quietly. It's the thing I do spend money on. Doesn't have to be.

[Jeff Klein]

Again, spending money on experiences. See, you're not a rich person.

[Kara Swisher]

I don't always. It's not always a fancy hotel. It's really weird. There was one in Venice that I loved that clothes that I loved.

[Jeff Klein]

Oh yeah, the little one.

[Kara Swisher]

The little one. You know what?

[Jeff Klein]

I love that place too.

[Kara Swisher]

That was a wonderful hotel. I love that hotel so much. So I have one last question. You've worked in hospitality long enough to have seen lots of trends come and go. And you've said that it's easy to make something that's hot. But longevity in your business isn't easy. I can imagine it is. So what is your long term vision for sustaining a hospitality business? Does it outlive you or is it just Jeff was here and made this

[Jeff Klein]

and then, I mean, and I hope it outlives me. That's a great question. I've never been asked that. I mean I've seen a lot of trends come and go in hospitality. Longevity is much harder than relevance. For a moment. You know, my long term vision is not to build the hottest places again, but to build, you know, places that are. That have weight to them. That really, that's what I'd like to be remembered for. I want the clubs and the hotels to feel timeless rather than trendy. And that affects every single decision. You know, where we grow, the design, the membership, the music, the lighting, press exposure, how much attention we seek publicly. Trendy spaces optimized for excitement and enduring spaces like us optimized for emotional attachment.

[Kara Swisher]

Yeah. Can I ask you a final question? I'll answer first. What was your favorite? I love hotels and I have so many good memories from hotels. What was your favorite hotel? Mine remains. Deechin's Big Sur Inn. Although there's some beautiful hotels in Big Sur.

[Jeff Klein]

Oh, Deechin's, Yeah.

[Kara Swisher]

Dietz. And there's beautiful hotels nearby and they're all gorgeous. Ventana and the rest. They're gorgeous. Dietz, Big Surin. Because I'm so happy when I'm there.

[Jeff Klein]

That's a very magical place and a great example of a place that has a soul that they have respected and, and enhanced rather than ruined. Cause so many of these places like could get deacons, could get bought by Some asshole who's rich.

[Kara Swisher]

And that was always my worry.

[Jeff Klein]

I know. And it happens. There was a place in the middle of nowhere in a town called Garzon, that the chef Francis Melman. Uruguay.

[Kara Swisher]

Uruguay, okay.

[Jeff Klein]

That I went to that was, I would say, one of the most special hotels I've ever been to. And he would. The chef would cook over an open flame. There was like. Each room had its own personality. It was just like, really. It wasn't fancy. There was no. And it was in this, like, weird little town in the middle of nowhere. It was really cool. It was just a very. I connected to that place very profoundly. And also, the food was delicious. And you'd look at the stars at night, and it was just the really pretty pool, and it was a very cool place.

[Kara Swisher]

Yeah. It's a moment. That's what hotel is.

[Jeff Klein]

It's a moment. We're creating feelings, and so it's hard to do. So, you know, it's like, Deakin's is great at that. Cause, I mean, Deakin's, it's like, even the smell of the wood, you know, and the.

[Kara Swisher]

It's such a great place. Someday it won't be there. But I love the fact that someday it won't be there also.

[Jeff Klein]

Yeah.

[Kara Swisher]

Like, just go. This ephemerality of it is. With the beautiful thing about it. Anyway, you're wonderful. You create beautiful spaces. I really appreciate everything do. Jeff, I'm not going to join your clubs, but. Because I'm at the hardware store. But I'm going to come as a guest with my friends, like Brooke and others, and I think what you do is beautiful, actually. I know everyone, like, goes, oh, private clubs. But I'm like, no, no, it's something else that's happening here. Everybody should have a space of.

[Jeff Klein]

I appreciate that, and I. I agree. And it's funny, when I started it, I was nervous about, like, is this elitist thing, and it really is not. It's a community thing. And. Yeah, I love that you see that, and I'm very proud of it.

[Kara Swisher]

Yeah. My grandfather had a place like that. It was called the Dugout. And he went there and played pinochle every day, and it was his hotel, and he played cards with his buddies, and they smoked cigars, and it was a space, and it was. I would always have to go get them. And I always used to think, oh, wonderful place. I wouldn't go there, but it was wonderful. Anyway, that's what you do. That's how I feel every time I go to one of your places. Anyway, if I joined a club, it would be yours. How thank you.

[Jeff Klein]

I really appreciate it.

[Kara Swisher]

Anyway, Jeff, thank you so much.

[Jeff Klein]

Thank you. Thank you.

[Kara Swisher]

Today's show was produced by Christian Castro Wisel, Michelle Eloy, Katherine Millsop, Megan Burney and Kalyn Lynch. Nishat Kurwa is Vox Media's executive producer of podcasts. Special thanks to Bradley Sylvester and Julia Sharp Levine. Our engineers are Fernando Arruda and Rick Kwan and our theme use is by Trackademics. If you're already following the show, congratulations. You're a member of a very exclusive club. If not, you're on the wait list. Come meet me at the hardware store. Go wherever you listen to podcasts. Search for on with Kara Swisher and hit follow. Thanks for listening to on with Kara Swisher from Podium Media, New York Magazine, the Vox Media Podcast Network, and us. We'll be back on Monday with more.