LEVELS Turns 5
This week, LEVELS turns five.
Which, if you’d told me back in 2020 when we kicked this thing off during the first lockdown, I might’ve laughed and then cried into my coffee. Because, let’s be honest, starting a hospitality consulting company in the middle of a global pandemic? That’s not the kind of plot twist you’d voluntarily sign up for.
But we did it anyway. High hopes. Big aspirations. The belief that things would bounce back quickly. Spoiler: they didn’t. What followed was bumpy, really bumpy. And if I’d known then how long that tunnel would stretch, I might’ve hesitated. But in hindsight? I'm glad I didn’t. Because what doesn’t break you makes you sharper, more focused, and, frankly, a little scrappier. And I wouldn’t trade that kind of growth for anything.
Fast forward to today, and LEVELS feels more dialed-in than ever. Our scope is more refined. Our purpose is clear. And we’ve got a portfolio of clients and projects I’m genuinely proud of.
Next month, we’re opening the brand-new Kimpton Aqeos in Clearwater Bay, Hainan—our very first Kimpton hotel project to open its doors. We’ve spent years crafting four distinct F&B concepts for the property, each one rooted in the spirit of the island but with its own bold identity. It’s going to set a new standard for hospitality in that part of China—and for us, too.
But that’s just the start.
Later this year, we’ll finally see the opening of Kimpton Kuala Lumpur. This one’s personal—it’s here in our hometown, and it’s been five years in the making. We signed on right at the beginning of 2020, and it’s surreal to see it nearing the finish line.
Beyond that, there’s Kimpton Suzhou and Kimpton Shanghai in the pipeline. And coming in June, we’ve got the launch of our rooftop venue at Hotel Indigo in Bandung—a modern barbecue restaurant and bar that we hope becomes a signature spot for Indigo across Southeast Asia.
Looking a bit further out, we’re deep in the trenches with the LET-X Integrated Resort in Manila. It’s shaping up to be the next big thing in Entertainment City, and we’ve been involved from the ground up—developing the full F&B strategy, concepts, branding. We’re talking 25+ venues, each with its own story. This is one to watch for early 2026.
And if you’ve caught glimpses of our travels to Dubai lately, let’s just say something very exciting is cooking with Emirates Airlines. I can’t spill too much yet, but it’s going to be a big one. A game-changer, even.
So yeah. Five years in. We’ve had sleepless nights, tough calls, and moments of absolute uncertainty. But there’s something about launching a business during hard times, it forces you to focus. You can’t coast. You trim the fat, you sharpen your tools, and you come out the other side with clarity, grit, and a better idea of what you actually want to build.
To everyone who’s been part of this journey—our clients, collaborators, partners, and the brilliant people I get to work with every day—thank you. Truly.
