A $300 Face Serum to a Thai Resort: Corinthia London Director Thomas Kochs Dishes on His Favorite Things

In a city crowded with opulent five-star hotels, the Corinthia London stands out as a magnet for celebrities including George Clooney, Beyoncé and Jay-Z, and Rihanna.

“We have 100 different guests who have 100 different expectations,” says Thomas Kochs, managing director of Corinthia London. He says they have to tailor service to meet each individual’s needs.

The European-based brand plans to open its first U.S. hotel in New York later this year.

Kochs, who has overseen operations at the Corinthia London for six years after working at other iconic five-star London properties like Claridges and the Connaught, shared his favorite places and things with Penta.

My favorite neighborhood in the world is… Marylebone [in London]. I’d recommend visiting High Street for boutiques, and I love La Fromagerie, Daunt Books, the Ginger Pig [a butcher],and [designer clothing boutique] Matches.

The place that inspires me the most is… the Dolomites [in northeastern Italy]—the silence of the mountains is magical.

The one thing in my home I can’t live without is… a Laguiole Waiter’s Corkscrew.

When I’m traveling, I always bring… Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Acid Serum.

My travel uniform is… Frame jeans, a loose, baby cashmere sweater, a Bottega Veneta holdall, Golden Goose sneakers, and a Ron Dorff T-shirt.

The first thing I do when I check into a hotel is… Take in the ambience and the atmosphere, walk around the hotel and its neighborhood, check out the restaurant bar and, of course, the gym.

My drink of choice is… a margarita or a glass of fine wine.

A passion of mine that few people know about is… my work with the Gold Service Scholarship, an organization dedicated to mentoring aspiring hospitality professionals.

The one trip I’ve taken that I would love to do again… Kamalaya in Koh Samui, Thailand—it was a holiday for my body, soul, and mind. Soneva Kiri in Thailand is also one of the few hotels I have traveled to over three times.

The thing that gets me up in the morning is… my working spaniel, Sammy—he gets up, stares at me, and wags his tail to start the day.

My nighttime ritual includes… I always read for 20 minutes before bed.

The restaurant/bar in my hometown that I love to take a visitor is… Schumann’s in Munich—it’s a German institution where you will always bump into friends or famous people.

A person who inspired me to do what I do is… Peter McDermott in the movie Hotel.

If I could have a drink with anybody, anywhere, it would be… a negroni with Stanley Tucci at our garden at the Corinthia London.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity,