Nicholas Clayton’s priority as new president of Kor Hotel Group is getting to know the team.

“The first thing I need to do is build rapport and trust,” Clayton said. “It’s something you really need to work at.”

Clayton joined the Kor Group in September, bringing 20 years of luxury hospitality industry experience from his positions at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group and Ritz-Carlton.

He hopes to expand the Kor Hotel Group brand and enter emerging luxury markets. Locally, Kor owns the Viceroy properties, the Avalon Hotel, Maison 140 and Chamberlain. There are also Kor hotels and resorts in Washington D.C., San Francisco, Miami and the Mexican Riviera.

“The focus will be the gateway cities in North America,” Clayton said. “The goal will be to enter population centers that do a lot of business like Chicago and New York. We certainly want to enter Dallas. There’s also an interest in delving further into the resort business in South America.”

International destinations are Clayton’s specialty. During his tenure with Ritz-Carlton, he managed the resort in Mauna Lani, Hawaii; improved the profit margins of two five-star hotels in Sydney, Australia; and headed the Ritz-Carlton Millenia, an award-winning 610-room property in Singapore.

The design and ambiance of Kor’s hotels in Los Angeles will influence new properties abroad.

“Design is our unique signature and very associated with the brand,” Clayton said. “We try to be a bit funky and use outdoor spaces, our properties become social scenes and popular in the community. We will definitely try to expand on that.”

Clayton cites the group’s Santa Monica hotel, the Viceroy, as an example of the results he hopes to achieve at future locations. Both local residents and hotel guests frequent the restaurant and outdoor patio, which has become a trendy social destination.

Clayton lives in Pasadena with his wife and two daughters. He enjoys yoga, hiking, running and spending time with his family.