The best part of any hospitality project isn't the design phase, the construction milestones, or even watching the first paying guests walk through your doors.
It's something much closer to home.
After spending the past month celebrating our Onera Fredericksburg expansion opening, I've been reflecting on what actually makes all those late nights, budget meetings, and construction headaches worth it.
And I’ve come to the conclusion that there are three moments that stand above everything else…
The first happens when you witness your loved ones' genuine appreciation of what you’ve created.
When my wife and my four-year-old son suggested we spend the Fourth of July at Onera Wimberley without any prompting from me, I knew we'd built something genuinely special.
But it was a few weeks earlier during Father's Day at our Fredericksburg expansion that really drove this home.
We stayed in Diamond, one of our newest units, and as my wife said: "You don't fully appreciate the design until you stay in it."
She was right - the way the 20-foot vaulted ceilings open up the space, how the light filters in and throws shapes across the walls, the quiet elegance of how the back deck hot tub tucks into the forest with complete privacy.
I opened my Father's Day gifts in the soft morning light with my wife and two boys, then we walked through Monolith - our boldest new unit that had just been completed.
Watching their awe at what we'd created will stay with me forever.
That validation hits differently than any guest review or industry recognition ever could.
The second moment comes when friends finally see what you've been talking about for years actually standing in front of them.
For so long, this expansion existed only in sketches, construction photos, and my probably-too-enthusiastic explanations over dinner.
But a few weeks ago, my partners on my next project, Steve Turk and Victor Feria from Baya, our tropical landscape resort in South Florida, came to experience the expansion firsthand.
Watching them walk through these spaces, I could see the wheels turning as they imagined what we'll create together.
There's something incredible about experiencing a completed vision before embarking on the next one, and seeing their excitement reminded me why we push through all the challenges of bringing these ideas to life.
There's something powerful about sharing a completed vision with people who believed in it when it was just an idea and a raw piece of land.
But the moment that really got me was getting to share the finished project with the people who poured their heart and soul into building it.
Our soft opening celebration with the entire Onera and JB Chisum construction teams and their families was unforgettable.
Kids running around the pool at The Great Lodge, spouses meeting each other, everyone who poured their expertise and creativity into this project finally getting to experience it as guests for the first time.
Seeing the pride in their eyes as they showed their families what they'd built - that's when you remember this isn't just about creating a business or generating revenue.
These are dreams made tangible by people who cared enough to make them perfect.
Four years ago, this expansion was just an idea. Today, it's 35 units of landscape hospitality that's redefining what American travel can be.
Now I'm looking ahead to Baya, our tropical landscape resort in South Florida, and I'm excited to experience these same three moments all over again.
The sketches have already started, it feels like we have the best team I’ve ever worked with, and I’m already looking forward to our opening celebration in just a few years.
That's what makes this work worth doing - not just the properties we create, but the people we get to share them with along the way.
Exciting news for your hotel!
We’ve expanded the Oasi team to bring you the same strategies and expertise that fueled Onera’s success.
From boosting your social media presence and marketing strategies, to optimizing pricing and offering full-service property management, we’re ready to help your property attract the Modern Traveler and maximize your returns.
Fill out an inquiry here and let’s explore how we can work together.
See you guys next week!
-Ben Wolff
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Ben Wolff
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