As a part of our series about women who are shaking things up in their industry, we had the pleasure of interviewing Sylvia Wong.

In 2020, after a successful legal career at prominent law firms and a global technology firm, Sylvia Wong founded The Roundtree, Amagansett, a boutique hotel that has since become one of the most sought-after hotels in the Hamptons, New York. After opening the award-winning hotel, Sylvia turned her focus to the development of Ariva, a 30-acre multifamily luxury development in Las Vegas and has recently opened Ariva Serviced Residences, a collection of stylishly furnished apartments designed for travelers who enjoy the luxuries of a hotel stay and the convenience of a private residence. Ariva has recently been named The Official Luxury Apartments of the Las Vegas Raiders.

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dig in, our readers would like to get to know you a bit more. Can you tell us a bit about your “backstory”? What led you to this particular career path?

Iwould mention two things in particular that motivated me to explore and ultimately chose this new career path. First, I am a big believer in learning and revel in opportunities that take me outside of my comfort zone (admittedly it can be scary!). Moving into a new field that is completely different from my legal career for sure meets the definition of getting outside of my comfort zone. Second, I have always loved traveling, architecture and design. The Roundtree is a historic property located on a site that was the homestead of one of the first three families that settled in Amagansett in the 1600’s. After we acquired it, we worked closely with the architect to preserve the historic aspects of the property while incorporating modern aesthetics and features that are harmonious with the farmland and ocean nearby. Ariva Serviced Residences, on the other hand, are brand new furnished apartments located in the prime South Las Vegas corridor that is a short commute from all things Vegas. On the surface, The Roundtree in the Hamptons and Ariva Serviced Residences in Las Vegas could not be more different, but our objectives in the development and ownership of these properties are the same — creating beautiful and modern spaces that exude quiet luxury and delivering attentive and yet unobtrusive services.

Can you tell our readers what it is about the work you’re doing that’s disruptive?

In designing guest experiences at The Roundtree and Ariva Serviced Residences, we have deliberately adopted a broader and more modern notion of luxury. For instance, many of the accolades The Roundtree received describe a stay at The Roundtree as akin to a stay at a friend’s house:

Condé Nast Traveler: “Everything felt personal — as if an old friend was waiting for us to arrive. I stayed impressed throughout the weekend, from the anything-you-need service and comfortable suites to the prime location and proximity to local beaches and attractions.”

Avenue: “Once you slip down the gravel driveway, you are immersed into a lush, private paradise. The feel is completely residential — as if a friend with impeccable taste lent you their Hamptons hideaway for a few days (or weeks — you won’t want to ever check out). It’s all best described as quiet luxury.”

CNN Traveler: “It was like a stay at an upscale boutique hotel with excellent service and an ambiance of being at a treasured friend’s home who goes out of her way to be hospitable and has fantastic taste.”

Similarly, Ariva Serviced Residences are designed for discerning travelers who want the experience of a luxury hotel stay, but also enjoy the convenience and comfort of a private apartment when work or leisure take them to Las Vegas for a longer period. Like hotel rooms, Ariva Serviced Residences are stylishly furnished, offer housekeeping services and provide access to resort facilities, including four swimming pools, a state-of-the-art fitness center, yoga and cycle studio, business center, resident lounges, basketball and sand volleyball courts and more. But guests at Ariva Serviced Residences also enjoy more spacious accommodation (with the apartments ranging from 750 square feet to over 3,000 square feet) and a wide array of conveniences not found in hotels, from washer and dryer in the apartment to a fully stocked kitchen.

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

When we launched Ariva Serviced Residences earlier this year, we placed vibrant plants around the property. We did not realize that with the dry weather in Las Vegas, watering could become a full-time job. When summer arrived and the temperature went up to over 110 degrees, we found ourselves busy replacing sad looking plants with desert friendly plants. This lesson is a good reminder of the importance of paying attention to details.

We all need a little help along the journey. Who have been some of your mentors? Can you share a story about how they made an impact?

Going into a new field of business is not easy and I could not have done it without the help of many mentors. I have the good fortune of meeting several industry veterans in hospitality who have experiences in different areas, from marketing, personnel to technology systems. This group includes general managers of 5-star hotels to seasoned executives in the corporate housing sector. They collectively have provided enormous help in my journey.

In today’s parlance, being disruptive is usually a positive adjective. But is disrupting always good? When do we say the converse, that a system or structure has ‘withstood the test of time’? Can you articulate to our readers when disrupting an industry is positive, and when disrupting an industry is ‘not so positive’? Can you share some examples of what you mean?

I view disruptions as generally positive. It is important to experiment and to embrace change. We need that so we can improve, or at least open up the aperture for improvements. In considering what is a positive vs. a not so positive disruption, I would be guided by questions such as these:

• Does the change help to improve the customers’ experience?
• Does the change help to make us more efficient or effective?
• Does the change help our team?

Can you share 3 of the best words of advice you’ve gotten along your journey? Please give a story or example for each.

This doesn’t exactly answer your question, but I hope it is still relevant. When I was an executive at a global technology firm, as a part of a Women’s Day celebration, I was asked to give advice to younger lawyers at our company. I have since put that advice in a letter and gave it to my son Justin on his 18th birthday. Here is an excerpt of the letter:

“Years ago, people at work asked me what advice I would give to young lawyers. As you embark on the journey of life as an adult, I’d like to share the same advice with you. I hope it is useful no matter what career you decide to pursue. Here it goes:

Be Humble and Confident

You will probably say isn’t it contradictory to be humble and confident at the same time. Not really. By being humble, you recognize that you don’t have all the answers. You are keen to learn from others. At the same time, always keep in mind that you have lots of good qualities and are ready to contribute. So have plenty of confidence in yourself.

Be Open-Minded but Have a Point of View

Make a conscious effort to listen to others’ viewpoints, especially if they are different from yours. I sometimes fall into the trap of hearing only what I want to hear. Before making any major decisions, get advice from people you trust and respect. You may end up doing exactly what you had planned, but I can assure you that this will make your decision a better one. Once you have done your due diligence, don’t be afraid to have a point of view, even if it is different from others.

There is no Substitute to Working Hard

There is no short cut in life. Whatever it is that you are working on, give it your best shot.

Embrace Change and Challenges

Change may be scary at times. It may take you out of your comfort zone. But more often than not, you will find that the change is positive, perhaps in ways that you didn’t anticipate. Life can be challenging, and you are bound to run into obstacles or experience setbacks sometimes. These obstacles and setbacks may even seem overwhelming. But no matter how bad things may seem at the time, they always get better eventually.

You will have a great future ahead of you. Enjoy the journey!”

We are sure you aren’t done. How are you going to shake things up next?

I am not exactly sure how I might shake things up in the future as the industry is always changing, but I am enjoying the journey and am gathering knowledge along the way that I hope to use to shake things up in the future.

In your opinion, what are the biggest challenges faced by ‘women disruptors’ that aren’t typically faced by their male counterparts?

It is a personal journey for each of us. But if I were to generalize, I think some people may place too much value on building or maintaining consensus and are not comfortable taking positions or actions that they think others may not agree with. My view is as I said in the letter to my son — once we have done our due diligence, we should not be afraid to take a position even if it is different or even unpopular.

Do you have a book/podcast/talk that’s had a deep impact on your thinking? Can you share a story with us?

The book “Who Moved My Chess?” by Spencer Johnson has greatly impacted my thinking. I strongly believe that we are largely the driver of our own destiny. While many things outside of a person’s control can have a great impact on their lives (for example, whether they are born into a poor family or have a physical disability or simply luck), they also have the ability to influence the outcome as well.

You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂

It is not really an idea for a movement, but anything that can help to give everyone access to good education will give more people opportunities.

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

As I mentioned earlier, I think embracing life’s changes and challenges is my favorite as it has been the most relevant to my life as of recently. Stepping out of one’s comfort zone into a new industry can be scary, but embracing this change and the challenges that come with it has kept me going. It has helped me grow and learn in ways I didn’t think were possible. It has pushed me out of my comfort zone and has been an overall positive experience, rather than a negative one.

How can our readers follow you online?

A few of the best ways that readers can find me is through:

1. Ariva Serviced Residences Website: arivaservicedresidences.com
2. The Roundtree website: www.theroundtreehotels.com

This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for joining us!