In this FocusCore podcast episode, host David Sweet interviews Meret Brunner, Hotel Manager of The Peninsula Tokyo, a Swiss-trained hotelier who has led luxury hotel operations in New York, Bangkok, London, and Tokyo, including serving as Director of Rooms at The Dorchester and playing a key role in the pre-opening of The Peninsula London. Meret explains how The Peninsula replaced hundreds of service standards with a small set of core principles, why “omotenashi” comes down to reading the air, and why she sees herself first and foremost as a culture carrier. She shares how the hotel built its own in-house recruitment team, treats every interview as a Peninsula experience, and keeps people through a clear three-month onboarding plan, regular round tables, and genuinely listening to new colleagues. They also discuss visa changes and international talent, women in leadership and career conversations, avoiding burnout in a 24/7 business, and her key advice for international executives arriving in Japan: success is not achieved individually.

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In this episode you will hear:

• Why The Peninsula replaced hundreds of service standards with a few core principles
• Omotenashi as "reading the air" before guests have to ask
• How to attract top talent in Japan by making hiring a brand experience
• Onboarding, listening, and work-life balance that drive retention
• Opening The Peninsula London versus running an established icon in Tokyo
• Why success in Japan is never achieved individually

About Meret:

Meret Brunner is a Swiss hospitality executive with a distinguished career across The Peninsula Hotels, currently leading operations at The Peninsula Tokyo as Hotel Manager.

Having progressed through key roles in New York, Bangkok, London and Tokyo, Meret brings a rare combination of international perspective and deep operational expertise. Known for an energetic and visionary leadership style, she excels in building high-performing teams, driving commercial performance, and translating strategic ideas into tangible results.

Her time in Tokyo has been a defining chapter, immersing herself in one of the world's most sophisticated and demanding luxury hospitality environments. Through a deep understanding of Japanese service philosophy, particularly omotenashi, she has successfully balanced global brand standards with local cultural expectations, strengthening consistency, quality, and guest experiences at scale.

Recognized for her ability to challenge convention and inspire change, she has focused on elevating service culture, driving operational excellence, and aligning teams around a shared vision of excellence. Her leadership is characterized by a strong emphasis on people development, adaptability, and the ability to navigate complexity with both clarity and creativity.

Today, her role in Tokyo reflects a continued commitment to refining luxury hospitality through innovation, cultural alignment, and a relentless focus on delivering exceptional, personalized guest experiences.

Connect with Meret:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meret-brunner-4a70584/

The Peninsula Tokyo: https://www.peninsula.com/en/tokyo/5-star-luxury-hotel-ginza?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=ptk_prop_row_t3_int_eng_sem_goog_con_brand_em_txt_hotel-alwayson_alwayson_hotel-brand-en_na&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23437912926&gbraid=0AAAABCDBF6cS4tZwEF8Jl847DpkbKwQSk&gclid=CjwKCAjwotzWBhBFEiwA1JhPoGFluMRURd8G3xFAiAfzwQ9Gg1roqpk2-aO3r45BLfapNW5HjDlUahoCX_UQAvD_BwE

Connect with David Sweet:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdavidsweet/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/focuscorejp

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/focuscoreasia

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/focuscorejp/

Website: https://www.japan.focuscoregroup.com/

This podcast was proudly produced by Lisa Yasuda.

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