Blogger and influencer, Pierre Schuester, believes in making your life a dream, and your dream a reality. Pierre has done just that and is on a mission to discover the world’s best restaurants, hotels, spas, and all things travel-related so that his followers are inspired when they go on holiday. Pierre’s recent win at Luxury Lifestyle Awards was the perfect excuse to talk to him about his love of travel and how his hobby became a lifestyle.

Luxury Lifestyle Awards: Pierre, tell us about your background and the idea that led you to be one of the world’s best influencers and bloggers!

Pierre Schuester: I have always had a passion for travel since I was a child. I never had the chance to fly or travel before I turned 18. I remember when I was young, my mother bought me a globe and I told her: I’m going to go there, there, and there! She looked at me smiling without too much confidence. I have always been very curious with a fierce desire to make the most of my life without asking myself too many questions. When I arrived in Paris and started to make a living, traveling became an addiction and over time, hotels became my second home. I created my Instagram account as soon as the application was launched in France and I started to publish my daily life around the world, above all out of passion and to make people discover unusual places and make them travel through my eyes. Then came the blog. After so many years, I’m quite proud to have kept a certain editorial line and I think that’s why it works quite well today!

LLA: What was the inspiration behind your career?

PS: My main inspiration is my desire for discovery. I have this quote I love and that’s also the base line of Renaissance Hotels “Live life to discover”. I’m also very driven by my determination to be happy in life.

LLA: How would you describe the concept of your career?

PS: I have 2 distinct professional activities.  My main job is an office job and deals with investments. And of course, there is the influence and travel part that takes a very important place in my life. It has even become vital. I have not made plans, but I hope it will last as long as possible.

LLA: How did the pandemic affect your career?

PS: Honestly, I haven’t suffered too much from the pandemic. I have certainly traveled less but I was lucky enough to be able to escape abroad between two lockdowns. It also forced me to discover Parisian hotels and help them in their promotion.  Actually, the pandemic has taught me to function differently over a short period of time and to approach things differently in terms of communication.

LLA: Have you noticed many changes in the travel industry this year?

PS: I was able to notice the enthusiasm around ecotourism, which is important! Today the emphasis is on action, and this applies to the travel sector above all.I also have the impression that “the post-pandemic period” has raised awareness about “what really matters”. A lot of people around me have decided to go on a world tour or to live unique experiences.Finally, I think social distancing has helped raise awareness about the added value of digital tools. More and more hotels have had to use digital and mobile tools. I’ve noticed that there are fewer and fewer contacts between staff and guests. The irony is that some now use WhatsApp to communicate with their guests… Maybe this is closer than they ever had been in the past!

LLA: Travelers’ demands can be difficult to meet. How do you know where to go and what businesses to choose when you’re traveling?

PS: With social media we have so many travel suggestions and ideas. First you go down you bucket list. Once you have found that destination you want to go to, you try and look for unique places to stay. I always look into hotel openings, as there is a higher chance it will be different and unique, and in that regard, they will most likely meet travelers demands.

Some hotel brands are also a pretty good guarantee of excellence: I’m thinking about the Four Seasons hotels, the Mandarin Oriental, Aman Hotels, etc. Some ensure you of their entertaining atmosphere: I’m thinking about the W Hotels, Standard Hotels, etc.

LLA: In recent times, luxury has undergone a massive transformation. People seem to be looking for inclusive, personalized, and authentic experiences rather than exclusive and expensive experiences. Do you agree with this?

PS: Yes absolutely, I completely agree even if the definition of luxury remains specific to each one. But personalized and authentic can often turn out to be expensive too.

LLA: Luxury brands need to change to keep up with an ever-changing society. What advice would you give to luxury brands in this regard?

PS: Luxury can be defined as a way of being, a way of living but also a way of buying, consuming, and using. I believe that all aspects of marketing put in place for luxury brands must ensure a unique shopping and consumption experience.

We must not forget that some luxury brands have long hesitated to use the Internet…They thought it would make them too accessible for everyone to buy… But it’s 2022, they all need to live in their time!

LLA: What is your bucket list’s number one place and activity?

PS: Hard to choose just one! But here are the top 3 on my bucket list: Bora Bora, discovering India and taking a cruise on the Nile. My main concern is that I will never have enough of a lifetime to check all those boxes on my bucket list.

LLA: What advice could you lend to readers inspired by you and considering a similar career path to yours?

PS: I think the main key to success is sincerity and passion. If you do something you love and with some determination it will always pay off.

LLA: What do you see as the key to your success in general and your recent win at the Luxury Lifestyle Awards specifically?

PS: Many of us share our experiences on social networks, especially around travel. Content creators are more and more talented and creative and in this growing sector it is complicated to find a place and be recognized. I am extremely honored to have had this recognition and it is very encouraging for the future. I have always offered my community atypical, luxurious, and unique places while keeping my “eye” which is not that of a professional photographer but that of a man who likes to dream.