Starwood Hotels has named Nijad Fares as General Manager of 1 Hotel Seattle, the sustainable 153-room property that opened in May 2025 in the city's South Lake Union neighbourhood. The property marked the nature-focused brand's first foray into the Pacific Northwest, and it wasted no time making a name for itself — picking up a MICHELIN Key within its first year.
Fares arrives with a résumé spanning more than 20 years across Japan, California, Hawaii and Switzerland. His most recent post was General Manager of Aloft Osaka Dojima, where guest satisfaction climbed, team turnover dropped to 10% annually, and the hotel's leadership index jumped 51 points, earning a top-five ranking in Japan. Before that, he held senior roles at Tokyo EDITION, W Hollywood, Viceroy Santa Monica, San Francisco's Clift Hotel and The St. Regis Monarch Beach, among others. He's also a Certified Sommelier, a Six Sigma Green Belt, and speaks English, French and Arabic — with Japanese in progress.
There's a fitting personal thread, too. At the Clift, he installed a rooftop herb garden and beehives, an early nod to the biophilic, nature-first ethos that defines 1 Hotels. Starwood CEO Raul Leal called his blend of international experience, people skills and appreciation for the outdoors a natural match for the Seattle property.
For travellers, the appointment lands at a hotel worth knowing about anyway. 1 Hotel Seattle sits in the heart of South Lake Union — Amazon's neighbourhood and a handy base for exploring the city — with skyline and Space Needle views. The design leans hard into Pacific Northwest character: reclaimed wood, stone-clad millwork, live-edge furniture and plenty of greenery, paired with locally inspired dining. In a city already strong on design-led hotels, this one has quickly staked a claim in the luxury tier.
If you're planning a Seattle stay and want sustainability credentials with your skyline views, this property is now firmly on the watch list — and with a GM whose track record centres on guest experience and food and beverage, expect the service and dining side to keep sharpening.
