Podcasts about hotel design

Growing up in a small town outside Providence, Rhode Island, Dr. Jonathan Leary always had big dreams. At a young age, he had plotted to move to Los Angeles and pursue a career in medicine, despite never having visited the city. Those dreams evolved as he explored ways of helping people on a deeper level—not just improving their physical health but enhancing their lifestyle.After completing his undergraduate studies in kinesiology at the University of Rhode Island and obtaining a doctorate in chiropractic medicine from Southern California University, Leary had a traditional path to becoming a medical doctor in mind. But his perspective shifted as he spent time in hospitals. Instead of the fulfillment he imagined, he found chaotic and stressful environments that didn't align with his vision of care. Struggling with the rigidity of these systems, he realized the traditional medical model wasn't for him.That's when the idea for Remedy Place began to take shape. Through his studies and an introduction to alternative medicine, Leary was inspired by the power of holistic care. He saw potential for meaningful change by merging proven wellness practices with a hospitality-driven, healing environment.The idea was bold. And today, with four locations in West Hollywood, New York, and Boston, Remedy Place is rooted in the belief that social connection is essential to health, transforming the concept of self-care and setting a new standard for wellness.Thank you for listening! For more of our great interviews, find us at hospitalitydesign.com.

Caroline and Sabri Farouki, partners behind New Orleans-based studio Farouki Farouki, bring a personal and global perspective to their practice. Caroline grew up in Lafayette, Louisiana in a home designed by Louisiana architect A. Hays Town, known for pioneering reusing materials. Surrounded by antiques and architectural details, her passion for design started early. She studied architecture in college, but shifted to environmental studies with a minor in architecture before earning her master's in fine arts in interior design from the Savannah College of Art and Design.Sabri, born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, spent his formative years in Egypt, attending an American international school in Cairo. His exposure to varied cultural environments shaped his worldview of what design could be. After completing his undergraduate studies at Washington University in St. Louis, where he met Caroline, he went on to earn his master's of architecture from Columbia University in New York.The pair launched Farouki Farouki in 2015 after working at acclaimed firms like AvroKO, Diller Scofidio + Renfro, and Bjarke Ingels Group. Today, their firm balances architecture and interiors across a range of hospitality projects, including the recently opened Hotel Henrietta in New Orleans and the Hotel Indigo Grand Cayman.Thank you for listening! For more of our great interviews, find us at hospitalitydesign.com.

Suchi Reddy's creative journey began in Chennai, India, where she grew up in a vibrant home curated by her mother—think scenic wallpaper, terrazzo floors embedded with marble fragments, and a rich mix of textures. Surrounded by gardens and books, Reddy developed an early sensitivity to how environments shape our sense of self. That awareness grew into a passion for architecture, which she pursued both in India and the U.S.In 2002, she founded her New York–based multidisciplinary studio, Reddymade. From Humanscale's sustainably minded Chicago showroom to immersive installations for the Smithsonian, her work reflects her guiding principle: form follows feeling. Rooted in the science of neuroaesthetics—the intersection of neuroscience and design—Reddy's approach centers on creating spaces that resonate emotionally. Whether through retail, residential, or institutional projects, her mission remains the same: to make people feel seen, included, and inspired.This episode is brought to you by American Leather. For more information, go to americanleather.com.Thank you for listening! For more of our great interviews, find us at hospitalitydesign.com.

Born in the Kalahari Desert of South Africa, Jacu Strauss' early years were marked by his imagination—crafting dollhouses from wine boxes and drawing urban streetscapes in the dirt. With limited access to TV or the internet, he turned to encyclopedias and magazines to fuel an inner world that laid the foundation for his future.At 18, he left for London on what was meant to be a brief gap year. It quickly turned into a journey through banking, architecture studies in New Zealand, and ultimately, back to the UK. His career took a turn when he joined Tom Dixon, where he helped dream up the transformative Sea Containers hotel.That philosophy continues to anchor his work as creative director at Lore Group, where he oversees a diverse portfolio of hotels. From the charming Pulitzer Amsterdam to the intimate sophistication of the Lyle in Washington, DC, Strauss designs with both whimsy and purpose—always seeking to humanize spaces through material, form, and story.This podcast is sponsored by StyleNations. For more information, go to stylenations.com.Thank you for listening! For more of our great interviews, find us at hospitalitydesign.com.

As founder of his eponymous New York firm, visionary architect Morris Adjmi's work is deeply rooted in a respect for heritage while embracing innovation. With a career shaped by early experiences working alongside Pritzker Prize-winning architect Aldo Rossi, Adjmi developed a distinct approach that balances modern aesthetics anchored in a deep understanding of architectural and cultural history. His projects, spanning adaptive reuse to new construction, reflect a meticulous attention to detail. Take the recently opened Forth Atlanta, which is revitalizing the Georgia city's Old Fourth Ward with Adjmi's signature refined yet curated style. Adjmi's forthcoming projects—including the renovation of the Swan Hotel at Disney World in Orlando, Florida and the Four Seasons Hotel Charleston in South Carolina—maintain a dialogue between past and future to honor each city's identity while reimagining its possibilities.This episode is brought to you by American Leather. For more information, go to americanleather.com.Thank you for listening! For more of our great interviews, find us at hospitalitydesign.com.

From her childhood in Larchmont, New York to leading a renowned wellness company, Cathy O'Brien's wide-ranging career spans the music industry as well as the beauty and wellness sectors, where she helped rethink brand strategies at luxury companies like Jo Malone.Driven by her vision for holistic wellness and inspired by her own health challenges, O'Brien came to Naturopathica in 2022 with the goal of revolutionizing the way people approach self-care. Recognizing the powerful connection between nature, science, and wellbeing, she sought to create products and experiences that were both effective and innovative. Under her leadership, the company has become a pioneer in natural health, offering therapeutic solutions that emphasize balance, sustainability, and the importance of nurturing the mind, body, and spirit. Through Naturopathica, O'Brien continues to redefine what it means to live a truly healthy and harmonious life.Thank you for listening! For more of our great interviews, find us at hospitalitydesign.com.

ABOUT CHARLES LEON:CHARLES' LINKEDIN PAGE: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chleon/COMPANY WEBSITE: charlesleon.uk CHARLES' BIO:Writer and Illustrator of Sketch Journals, including The Kew Sketch Journal. International Speaker and Trainer on the Creative Process and how Applied Innovation actually works. With more than 30 years experience in design, and an extensive knowledge of neuroscience and the working of the creative mind, I bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to helping Organisations and Individuals overcome Innovation Stagnation and achieve Creative Breakthrough.SHOW INTRO:Welcome to the NXTLVL Experience Design podcast.EPISODE 77… and my conversation with Charles Leon. On the podacast our dynamic dialogues based on our acronym DATA - design, architecture, technology, and the arts crosses over disciplines but maintains a common thread of people who are passionate about the world we live in and human's influence on it, the ways we craft the built environment to maximize human experience, increasing our understanding of human behavior and searching for the New Possible.    he NXTLVL Experience Design podcast is presented by VMSD Magazine part of the Smartwork Media family of brands.VMSD brings us, in the brand experience world, the International Retail Design Conference. The IRDC is one of the best retail design conferences that there is bringing together the world of retailers, brands and experience place makers every year for two days of engaging conversations and pushing the discourse forward on what makes retailing relevant. You will find the archive of the NXTLVL Experience Design podcast on VMSD.com.Thanks also goes to Shop Association the only global retail trade association dedicated to elevating the in-store experience. SHOP Association represents companies and affiliates from 25 countries and brings value to their members through research, networking, education, events and awards. Check then out on SHOPAssociation.org On this episode I connect with Charles Leon who has 30 years experience in design, and an extensive knowledge of neuroscience and the working of the creative mind.We'll get to all of that in a moment but first though, a few thoughts…                 *                                  *                                  *When I was nine years old my mom put me in a after school art program in a small little studio a few minutes walk from my school. Every Thursday afternoon, after my regular school classes were done, I would walk down the street, sit in an art studio and learn how to paint in oils. For the next 10 years this was a welcome change in my daily routine that became in some sense a safe place. A place where all the world's troubles or the typical challenges I was having as a teenager would disappear and I would spend a couple of hours focused on painting. My mom had recognized early on that I was pretty handy with a pencil and very interested in creative expression. She did her very best to make sure that I was continually engaged in creative processes whether it was doing Ukrainian Easter eggs or sketching and drawing or baking creative Christmas cookies.She was always there pushing the go button on creativity. As it turns out, she was actually a pretty good artist herself and later in her life she began doing decorative painting which she became exceptionally adept at and the house was full of wonderful pieces of her craftsmanship.My interest in art followed me through the first few years of high school and finally landing in a place where it was just time to decide where I was going to university and to which program I would go.My mom, recognized that I was firmly sitting on either side of the creative and scientific fence, 1 foot firmly in both worlds, and she suggested architecture since it seemed to combine both of my interests.While I was studying to be an architect I took every single drawing and painting course that I could possibly take, whether they were weekly freehand drawing studios or evening classes or sketching schools.These courses during my university years were a safe place there I had more confidence than in doing pretty much anything else.But it really wasn't until those years in university under the tutelage of a great art teacher Gerry Tondino that I really began to understand drawing and painting.It wasn't so much that I was learning technical aspects of drawing or painting but that I was more learning how to see rather than simply look at things.Gerry would say, ‘once you learn to see and draw what you actually se, rather than what ou think you see, the drawing takes care of itself.'I had deep respect for Gerry Tondino and I think I really finally learned how to deeply appreciate the world around me to see the color, texture and value relationships. To understand how objects exist within a context and it wasn't specifically the thing you   looking at but everything around it that helped to define its edge.In college I would continue to take afterschool watercolor courses thinking that it was more convenient than painting in oils since there was a technical challenge of oil painting taking much longer to dry.There was something about the immediacy of watercolor that I liked. You had to think fast and plan. Watercolor was the process of painting in the shade and shadows leaving the white of the paper as the light and highlights. In oils, or now acrylic which I use almost exclusively, you are starting from the dark tones and building in layers to bring out the light.In watercolor there was equally some unpredictability and a learned skill of being able to get certain effects like running a clean wash of graduated blue for a sky over a background or how some pigments we opaque and others transparent, or how colors would interact with each other as water spread across the paper.I was taking workshops once and the teacher said to me “well it's clear you can draw and you've got, you know, a good hand, but I guess the question really is what do you want to say with the work that you create”That was a whole different way of thinking that I'd never really spend time with prior to that moment. I painted and drew simply because it was fun.What did I want to say?...And so I began to think pretty significantly about what message I wanted to convey or rather what stories the things that I drew or painted I might want to share with other people.It was interesting when I began to study architecture and think about design of places and things that I was drawn to the same question about what the architecture meant and what stories it would hold over the years that people would use it.I was always fascinated with traveling and standing within old buildings and wondering what the people wore when they were visiting here hundreds of years ago.What would they talk about. What was the news of the day or the politics what secrets were being not told as people visited and who came and went from within a building's walls.As I moved along my career, thinking about the stories that buildings would hold, it's perhaps not surprising that I somehow serendipitously end up in the world of brand experience place making,that the places that I would create for retailers would be imbued with a brand narrative and that somehow the buildings, stores or hotels would need to be able to demonstrate that subplot about who the intended user was, what their story was and how the place was a physical expression of both the person and the brand.Another experience while an architecture school was with a visiting professor and while I don't remember the exact project we were working on, I do remember her saying a phrase including the word “hodological”Hodological refers to the study of pathways or connections. It's used in fields of neuroscience sometimes thinking about the pathway and connections between neurons and synapses how signals move from one place to the other how information is shared across brain functional areas – In psychology it talks about things like paths in a person's life space and in the world of philosophy it might be considered to take in things like the interconnection between ideas a pathway between thought exercises and where one thought leads to another and what conclusions we might draw from that that decision making treein terms of geography it's really is about actual paths, walking paths for example, connection paths between geographic locations thing like trade route pathsThe interesting thing about the word hodological is not just that all these years later I clearly recall that word but that it also seemed to me that the idea of ‘transition' - moving from one place to the other - was very much a part of experience - that we don't stand still in buildings or public squares or on streets, we move and as we move, we naturally have a different experience at every moment.Sure, there's a gestalt experience of being in Times Square for example but every time we take a step our perspectival view of the context around us ends up changing and every moment technically speaking is also new,We're are clearly taking in some constants in sensory input but our point of view within that context ends up changing.I love this idea of walking through space and experiencing it differently with every step. Every step is a different vantage point to learn something new to see something from a different angle. In a broader sense, my fascination with the nature of change totally aligns with the idea the early -learned term – hodological.Pathways of change. Change through experience or experience through change. We may think that buildings don't change, but they do, albeit in some cases slowly. And over their lifetime they may be experienced be multitudes each one leaving and taking away a story.Transitions are important. I might suggest that all the good stuff happens in the in betweenness of moments in time, places and things. Transitions are where learning lives.Transitions become important as experience makers. So, things like stairs become fascinating places for architectural study. It's not surprising that many of the great architects also spend time designing stairways so that transitions between floors were less about a practical matter of moving your body up to a different level, but could be seen as an opportunity to experience new things along the way. An experiential moment that requires the person's commitment, to willingly give them self over to the idea of change. Cities have memories and our bodies have memories of cities. Buildings have memories and our bodies have memories of buildings.I have expressed before that I believe that there's very much a ‘give and make' of experience - that we interact and share with the built environment around us and it affects us as well. We and the environments we spend time in are deeply connected and our experience lives within us, within our bodies, not just within our heads. Our experience of building leaves within us a body memory, a narrative residue of how we felt while in one place or another.If you look at buildings overtime and understand that they've been used for years, they too have held countless numbers of stories of people that used them. Where they came from. Where they would go back to. Maybe they were transitioning through for a moment. Maybe they were lost and ended up taking a wrong turn and discovering something new.Those stories of buildings are interesting because it gives a life to architecture beyond stone, steel and glass. And this is where my guest Charles Leon comes into the story. Charles is a writer and illustrator of Sketch Journals, including The Kew Sketch Journal. He is an international speaker and trainer on the Creative Process and how Applied Innovation actually works. With more than 30 years experience in design, and an extensive knowledge of neuroscience and the working of the creative mind, Charles brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to helping organizations and individuals overcome Innovation Stagnation to achieve Creative Breakthrough.During the COVID pandemic Charles had a challenge simply staying inside while all of us were held up in our homes for months. With sketchb  ook in hand, Charles saw London England as a hodological space – one to be experiences not in the scientific, objective and measurable sense of streets of a certain distance ad width, buildings of a certain height, pathways connecting purpose driven users or as seen from a 3d person sense but more in the Jean-Paul Satre sense aptly described in Satre's essay, "Sketch for a Theory of Emotions," where his city was to be experienced in a lived-existential subjective sense. One in which he would travel daily, which sketchbook in hand, not always sure about the destination but certain that the path would be one of discovery, connection, and collecting through drawing and painting the memories of the buildings he encountered along the way.The output of these wanderings yielded 5 volumes in drawings and paintings of learnings about the buildings, their architectural details as well as the stories they revealed from within their walls…                 *                                  *                                  *ABOUT DAVID KEPRON:LinkedIn Profile: linkedin.com/in/david-kepron-9a1582bWebsites:  https://www.davidkepron.com    (personal website)vmsd.com/taxonomy/term/8645  (Blog)Email: david.kepron@NXTLVLexperiencedesign.comPersonal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidkepron/NXTLVL Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nxtlvl_experience_design/Bio:David Kepron is a multifaceted creative professional with a deep curiosity to understand ‘why', ‘what's now' and ‘what's next'. He brings together his background as an architect, artist, educator, author, podcast host and builder to the making of meaningful and empathically-focused, community-centric customer connections at brand experience places around the globe. David is a former VP - Global Design Strategies at Marriott International. While at Marriott, his focus was on the creation of compelling customer experiences within Marriott's “Premium Distinctive” segment which included: Westin, Renaissance, Le Meridien, Autograph Collection, Tribute Portfolio, Design Hotels and Gaylord hotels. In 2020 Kepron founded NXTLVL Experience Design, a strategy and design consultancy, where he combines his multidisciplinary approach to the creation of relevant brand engagements with his passion for social and cultural anthropology, neuroscience and emerging digital technologies. As a frequently requested international speaker at corporate events and international conferences focusing on CX, digital transformation, retail, hospitality, emerging technology, David shares his expertise on subjects ranging from consumer behaviors and trends, brain science and buying behavior, store design and visual merchandising, hotel design and strategy as well as creativity and innovation. In his talks, David shares visionary ideas on how brand strategy, brain science and emerging technologies are changing guest expectations about relationships they want to have with brands and how companies can remain relevant in a digitally enabled marketplace. David currently shares his experience and insight on various industry boards including: VMSD magazine's Editorial Advisory Board, the Interactive Customer Experience Association, Sign Research Foundation's Program Committee as well as the Center For Retail Transformation at George Mason University.He has held teaching positions at New York's Fashion Institute of Technology (F.I.T.), the Department of Architecture & Interior Design of Drexel University in Philadelphia, the Laboratory Institute of Merchandising (L.I.M.) in New York, the International Academy of Merchandising and Design in Montreal and he served as the Director of the Visual Merchandising Department at LaSalle International Fashion School (L.I.F.S.) in Singapore.  In 2014 Kepron published his first book titled: “Retail (r)Evolution: Why Creating Right-Brain Stores Will Shape the Future of Shopping in a Digitally Driven World” and he is currently working on his second book to be published soon. David also writes a popular blog called “Brain Food” which is published monthly on vmsd.com.  The next level experience design podcast is presented by VMSD magazine and Smartwork Media. It is hosted and executive produced by David Kepron. Our original music and audio production by Kano Sound. The content of this podcast is copywrite to David Kepron and NXTLVL Experience Design. Any publication or rebroadcast of the content is prohibited without the expressed written consent of David Kepron and NXTLVL Experience Design.Make sure to tune in for more NXTLVL “Dialogues on DATA: Design Architecture Technology and the Arts” wherever you find your favorite podcasts and make sure to visit vmsd.com and look for the tab for the NXTLVL Experience Design podcast there too.

When Jason Brown and Brad Guidi joined forces to create hospitality real estate private equity firm Blue Flag Capital, they weren't just building hotels—they were crafting experiences rooted in storytelling, design, and a sense of place.Their journey began with a bold vision on Nantucket and has since expanded to destinations from Martha's Vineyard to Jackson Hole.With a philosophy of hospitality as theater, Blue Flag Capital, with Brown and Guidi at the helm, continues to redefine hospitality, one immersive stay at a time.Thank you for listening! For more of our great interviews, find us at hospitalitydesign.com.

A driving force behind the evolution of Las Vegas dining scene and beyond, Elizabeth Blau began her F&B journey under the legendary Sirio Maccioni at Le Cirque in New York. That foundation propelled her to Las Vegas in the late ‘90s, where she played a crucial role in transforming the city into a culinary powerhouse.Today, as founder and CEO of Blau Associates, she continues to shape the future of hospitality alongside her husband, chef Kim Canteenwalla, blending her passion for design with culinary excellence.Thank you for listening! For more of our great interviews, find us at hospitalitydesign.com.

In this episode of Masters of Moments, I take a step back to reflect on how far the show has come and express my gratitude to every listener who's been part of this journey. If you've been enjoying the conversations, I'd love for you to leave a review and send in your dream guest suggestions—your input helps shape the show's future!This time, I'm diving deep into the art of bringing a boutique hotel to life—from the first spark of an idea to the moment guests step through the doors. I break down the essential steps: crafting a compelling brand identity, assembling the perfect team (think top-tier designers, architects, lighting experts, and kitchen consultants), and setting a crystal-clear vision with a detailed mood board to shape every detail of the guest experience.I also explore the power of model rooms—why they're game-changers—and the importance of seamless coordination to ensure every element comes together flawlessly. Plus, I share insider tips on leveraging social media and building an online presence that makes your hotel stand out. Whether you dream of developing a boutique hotel or love the behind-the-scenes of hospitality design, this episode is packed with insights you won't want to miss!Connect & Invest with Jake:Follow Jake on X: https://x.com/JWurzak1 on 1 coaching with Jake: https://www.jakewurzak.com/coachingLearn How to Invest with DoveHill: https://bit.ly/3yg8PwoCheck out Sleeper Magazine - https://www.sleepermagazine.com/Topics:(00:00:00) - Intro (00:00:34) - Reflecting on 100 Episodes of Masters of Moments (00:02:08) - How to Conceptualize and Design a Hotel (00:04:12) - Creating a Vision Board for Your Hotel (00:09:43) - Hiring the Right Team: Designers and Architects (00:14:32) - The Phases of Hotel Design (00:17:51) - Additional Consultants and Model Rooms (00:23:12) - Final Steps: Technology, Marketing, and Launch (00:26:54) - Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In this episode, we discuss all things hotel design. I share my experience staying at Liverpool's stunning 5-star Municipal Hotel, which sparked a deeper dive into the world of hotel design. We explore the psychology behind hotel interiors, how social media is shaping the industry, and what it takes to create a memorable guest experience. From iconic hotels to the future of design, we'll also discuss how you can transform your own home into a hotel-worthy space. Tune in for a blend of inspiration, insights, and practical design tips!The Mind of an Interior Designer episodes Every Tuesday @ 7am -  Don't forget to subscribe so you dont miss an episode and if you reallyyyy are loving the pod you can leave a review as it would mean the world thank you!

From working in a butcher shop as a child to immersing himself in the world of art and architecture, Vincent Celano's upbringing in Brooklyn, New York instilled in him a love of storytelling and a deep appreciation for the power of design.After graduating from Pratt Institute, he cut his teeth at design giants like Rockwell Group, Jeffrey Beers International, and ICRAVE, where he honed his craft in experiential and hospitality design.In 2005, he founded Celano Design Studio, a multidisciplinary firm dedicated to creating dynamic, guest-centered environments. Today, the studio has expanded to include furniture and industrial design, reflecting Celano's unwavering commitment to human-centered experiences.Thank you for listening! For more of our great interviews, find us at hospitalitydesign.com.

Matt Goodrich, principal of his New York-based design studio Goodrich, has cultivated an approach that is rooted in collaboration, curiosity, and pursuing the unexpected. With a career that spans more than two decades, including stints at Rockwell Group and AvroKO, Goodrich's perspective champions the art of storytelling.Since founding his eponymous firm in 2017, Goodrich, who was recently named Boutique Design's 2024 Designer of the Year, has leaned into projects that push boundaries, taking on challenges that stretch the team's capabilities, from Ci Siamo, his collaboration with restaurateur Danny Meyer to the UBS Arena in Elmont, New York. The latter, home to the New York Islanders hockey team, challenged the studio, which had little prior experience in either live entertainment or sports venues, to create a unique, hospitality-driven project. It became a defining moment for the firm, reinforcing Goodrich's ethos: learning by doing and embracing the unfamiliar to create something extraordinary.Thank you for listening! For more of our great interviews, find us at hospitalitydesign.com.

Revisit our conversation with prolific designer Tara Bernerd, founder of  her eponymous London-based firm Tara Bernerd & Partners. Back in 2020, as the world was facing an unprecedented pandemic, Tara shared how her team was navigating Covid, as well as detailed her work on projects including the Hari Hong Kong. This year, Tara was guest editor of our November 2024 issue, where she and her team highlighted the New Dolce Vita, a celebration of all things Milan, from its people, places, and projects. Read the issue here.Thank you for listening! For more of our great interviews, find us at hospitalitydesign.com.

ABOUT MARDI NAJAFI:LINKEDIN PROFILE:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/mardi-najafi-rdi-idc-772b1328/MARDI'S BIO:Mardi Najafi is an award-winning, multidisciplinary designer with over 30 years of experience at the forefront of the design world. A visionary leader in the field, Mardi believes that design has the power to evoke emotion, create unforgettable experiences, and leave a lasting impact. His work spans a diverse range of high-profile retail environments, from intimate boutiques to large-scale, branded experiences for some of the world's most iconic companies, including Coca-Cola, Adidas, Virgin Mobile, Telus, Loblaws, Penguin Random House, Keilhauer, and Versace. His global portfolio reflects his ability to blend innovation and cultural context, with projects across Paris, New York, Toronto, and beyond.As the Principal, Chief Creative Officer, and Retail & Hospitality Practice Lead at SDI Design, Mardi is passionate about pushing the boundaries of design to craft immersive, transformative environments that captivate audiences. Known for his attention to detail and his ability to seamlessly merge art and commerce, he excels at creating spaces that are not only visually striking but also deeply meaningful and engaging. His work continues to redefine the retail landscape, setting new standards for brand experiences that resonate long after customers leave.Beyond his design practice, Mardi is an active voice in the industry as an accomplished speaker, educator, and panelist. He is deeply committed to fostering innovation, sharing his expertise with the next generation of designers through mentorship and his involvement in various professional advisory committees. A lifelong advocate for education, Mardi has taught at prestigious design schools around the world, inspiring students and shaping the future of the design community.In 2023, Mardi was honored as the first Canadian inductee into the Retail Design Institute's prestigious Legions of Honor, recognizing his exceptional contributions to the field. He is also currently serving as the President of the Retail Design Institute Canada, where he continues to shape industry standards and advocate for the advancement of design excellence. SHOW INTRO:Welcome to the NXTLVL Experience Design podcast.EPISODE 73… and my conversation with Mardi Najafi. On the podcast, our dynamic dialogues based on our acronym DATA - design, architecture, technology, and the arts crosses over disciplines but maintains a common thread of people who are passionate about the world we live in and human's influence on it, the ways we craft the built environment to maximize human experience, increasing our understanding of human behavior and searching for the New Possible.    The NXTLVL Experience Design podcast is presented by VMSD Magazine part of the Smartwork Media family of brands.VMSD brings us, in the brand experience world, the International Retail Design Conference. The IRDC is one of the best retail design conferences that there is bringing together the world of retailers, brands and experience place makers every year for two days of engaging conversations and pushing the discourse forward on what makes retailing relevant. You will find the archive of the NXTLVL Experience Design podcast on VMSD.com.Thanks also goes to Shop Association the only global retail trade association dedicated to elevating the in-store experience. SHOP Association represents companies and affiliates from 25 countries and brings value to their members through research, networking, education, events and awards. Check then out on SHOPAssociation.orgMardi Najafi  is the Principal, Chief Creative Officer, and Retail & Hospitality Practice Lead at SDI Design.We discuss his life of growing up the son of an Iranian diplomat, a professional path through the fashion, exhibit design and retail industries and how teaching is about giving back to young designers in their fledgling careers…We'll get to all of that in a moment but first, a few thoughts…             *                         *                         *There are interviews that I have done over the past 73 episodes that have been specifically about a person's work, There have been those that have been about a brand or product category, Or the study of neuroscience and its role in experience making,  We've delved into art and creativity, leadership, climate issues, and many other subjects.And there are other interviews that I have done that focused in on a person's career path, how their experiences brought them to where they are today. In these cases, I often find that my guest and I identify how serendipity stepped in front of them as they careened through a career, how taking the road less traveled lead them to creative professional journeys that were unexpected, and how a shift in their mindset resulted in profoundly rewarding roles at companies or with personal and professional relationships. I love discussions about serendipity – how our life paths seem to be guided by novel circumstances that were unforeseen, yet when confronted with them, we found a moment to step aside from our pre-determined story, one that we might have created with specific objectives, a place to be at some future moment, and in the midst of new circumstances, a choice was to be made about what the next move would be without really knowing where it would lead.There seems to be some magic in this process – a sense of wonder that keeps the creative spirit alive. There is also a good dose of courage needed at the nexus of ‘now and next, when a calling summons new thinking and a re-evaluation of our pre-suppositions about how things are supposed to be now, or in the future, need re-evaluation.I think it is often the case with creative paths or projects.To start out knowing where you are going would suggest that you have you have already been. To start out with the end in mind creates a path of production, of doing, rather than one of seminal discoveries along the way.There is something in the unknowing that I believe maintains the creative path as an adventure, one where in the doing of the thing we are continuously discovering rather than just in production mode.In the discovering, we remain engaged, learning, exploring and the path is laid out as we move along it. However… being in a place of unknowing, can be fear inducing since I think we so often like the assuredness of the pre-determined and predicable.I have found this particularly true in teaching at universities in design fields. Students don't like the unpredictable so much. Many prefer the determinism of knowing where their projects will eventually end up. But I think in taking this approach we short circuit the opportunity to discover something new – something we could not have predicted but when discovered, results in a sense of awe that shifts our perspective and maybe our purpose. And I think it takes courage to follow a set of rules about designing something, call it strategy, and let the rules of the strategy guide the process. As we pursue the path of the work the rules help to guide decisions that make the next step self-evident. Then the next, and the next and so on, until a conclusion to the process meets the requirements of the design brief.Assuming the strategy is well founded, you can rely on the rules to guide the process and decision-making. Along the design path, all decisions can be cross-referenced against the strategy and the outcomes that don't align with the determined set of rules can be set aside in a preference for the ones that best exemplify them.Then there is the emergence of circumstances that throw you a curve ball – conditions shift within which you have little control – and your path necessarily changes. The resilience and the flexible mindset that is required in these moments are factors that influence your ability to adjust – to find yourself in a place of positive transformation or maybe to simply survive.I have found that the key to positive transformation is to keep saying yes to serendipity. To loosen the rigidity in my mindset and welcome the unexpected. It can be a struggle because I have generally been geared to knowing where I'm going. I don't mind saying that I have long preferred the predictable over the mercurial. It is at times not easy, but these moments of re-alignment with new realities can be the success factor supporting our determination to keep going and to leverage the “new” for the purpose of re-making ourselves. I think that in this, there is a sense of agency. I think that we are, in fact, in little control of anything but for our own reactions to adversity or the everchanging circumstances of life.Perhaps this is the proverbial ‘making lemonade out of lemons.' When life gives you lemons… you know… make lemonade.And this is where the life path of my guest in this episode comes in. Mardi Najafi has had a colorful host of experiences influencing his professional path.Having grown up the son of an Iranian Diplomat, he was schooled in multiple countries including Iran, France and Russia. He was conscripted into Iranian military service and made a friend with whom he, after his release from service, created a business bringing watches into Iran. That adventure eventually allowed him to earn enough money to buy his father's release from prison and ironically lead to a career in design.After a building a successful professional track record working in Europe, he landed in Canada where he fostered his interest in retail design. In 2023, Mardi was honored as the first Canadian inductee into the Retail Design Institute's prestigious Legion of Honor, recognizing his exceptional contributions to the retail design field. He is also currently serving as the President of the Retail Design Institute Canada, where he continues to shape industry standards and advocate for the advancement of design excellence.Mardi Najafi is an award-winning, multidisciplinary designer with over 30 years of experience at the forefront of the design world. A visionary leader in the field, Mardi believes that design has the power to evoke emotion, create unforgettable experiences, and leave a lasting impact.His work spans a diverse range of high-profile retail environments, from intimate boutiques to large-scale, branded experiences for some of the world's most iconic companies, including Coca-Cola, Adidas, Virgin Mobile, Telus, Loblaws, Penguin Random House and Versace.Mardi is deeply committed to fostering innovation, sharing his expertise with the next generation of designers through mentorship and his involvement in various professional advisory committees.After having a few conversations with Mardi, I would say he lands squarely in the camp of actually following Robert Frost's ‘Road Not Taken' welcoming the discovery born of life's moment of significant change - even when it is uncomfortable.             *                         *                         *ABOUT DAVID KEPRON:LinkedIn Profile: linkedin.com/in/david-kepron-9a1582bWebsites:  https://www.davidkepron.com    (personal website)vmsd.com/taxonomy/term/8645  (Blog)Email: david.kepron@NXTLVLexperiencedesign.comTwitter: DavidKepronPersonal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidkepron/NXTLVL Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nxtlvl_experience_design/Bio:David Kepron is a multifaceted creative professional with a deep curiosity to understand ‘why', ‘what's now' and ‘what's next'. He brings together his background as an architect, artist, educator, author, podcast host and builder to the making of meaningful and empathically-focused, community-centric customer connections at brand experience places around the globe. David is a former VP - Global Design Strategies at Marriott International. While at Marriott, his focus was on the creation of compelling customer experiences within Marriott's “Premium Distinctive” segment which included: Westin, Renaissance, Le Meridien, Autograph Collection, Tribute Portfolio, Design Hotels and Gaylord hotels. In 2020 Kepron founded NXTLVL Experience Design, a strategy and design consultancy, where he combines his multidisciplinary approach to the creation of relevant brand engagements with his passion for social and cultural anthropology, neuroscience and emerging digital technologies. As a frequently requested international speaker at corporate events and international conferences focusing on CX, digital transformation, retail, hospitality, emerging technology, David shares his expertise on subjects ranging from consumer behaviors and trends, brain science and buying behavior, store design and visual merchandising, hotel design and strategy as well as creativity and innovation. In his talks, David shares visionary ideas on how brand strategy, brain science and emerging technologies are changing guest expectations about relationships they want to have with brands and how companies can remain relevant in a digitally enabled marketplace. David currently shares his experience and insight on various industry boards including: VMSD magazine's Editorial Advisory Board, the Interactive Customer Experience Association, Sign Research Foundation's Program Committee as well as the Center For Retail Transformation at George Mason University.He has held teaching positions at New York's Fashion Institute of Technology (F.I.T.), the Department of Architecture & Interior Design of Drexel University in Philadelphia, the Laboratory Institute of Merchandising (L.I.M.) in New York, the International Academy of Merchandising and Design in Montreal and he served as the Director of the Visual Merchandising Department at LaSalle International Fashion School (L.I.F.S.) in Singapore.  In 2014 Kepron published his first book titled: “Retail (r)Evolution: Why Creating Right-Brain Stores Will Shape the Future of Shopping in a Digitally Driven World” and he is currently working on his second book to be published soon. David also writes a popular blog called “Brain Food” which is published monthly on vmsd.com.  The next level experience design podcast is presented by VMSD magazine and Smartwork Media. It is hosted and executive produced by David Kepron. Our original music and audio production by Kano Sound. The content of this podcast is copywrite to David Kepron and NXTLVL Experience Design. Any publication or rebroadcast of the content is prohibited without the expressed written consent of David Kepron and NXTLVL Experience Design.Make sure to tune in for more NXTLVL “Dialogues on DATA: Design Architecture Technology and the Arts” wherever you find your favorite podcasts and make sure to visit vmsd.com and look for the tab for the NXTLVL Experience Design podcast there too.

Having lived across continents—from Hong Kong to Houston and Singapore to Pakistan—Aliya Khan's upbringing instilled a appreciation for culture, architecture, and art.After studying architecture at Pratt Institute in New York, Khan began her career in residential design before transitioning to the hospitality industry, working for Starwood Hotels & Resorts (now Marriott), helping launch brands like W Hotels, Aloft, and Le Méridien.Today, as vice president of global design strategies for Marriott International's lifestyle brands, Khan has redefined the design language for Aloft, Moxy, AC Hotels, and Westin.Thank you for listening! For more of our great interviews, find us at hospitalitydesign.com.

Born in Chicago and raised in Arizona, Sam Fox's early experiences working in his parents' diners, Mexican restaurants, and delis shaped his understanding of the industry. He dropped out of the University of Arizona, where he was studying real estate finance, to pursue his passion, using his tuition money to open his first restaurant—all before he turned 21. Now, with a vast portfolio of successful eateries, Fox has taken on a new challenge with the opening of the Global Ambassador, a luxury hotel in Phoenix that is centered around five of his newly created restaurants. Here, he shares how his past paved the way for a career as one of the country's most prolific restaurateurs. Thank you for listening! For more of our great interviews, find us at hospitalitydesign.com.

Raised for much of his childhood in Connecticut before moving to New York as a teenager, John Meadow developed a love for hospitality at a young age. He got his start as a dishwasher and sandwich maker at Au Bon Pain before attending Cornell's hotel school. By 24, he opened his first restaurant, and in 2008, launched Scarpetta, which won accolades for its refined yet unpretentious take on Italian dining. As president and founder of LDV Hospitality, Meadow has built an empire that spans multiple countries and cities. His portfolio now includes the forthcoming Barlume, slated to open next month in New York, and his first foray into hotels with LDV at the Maidstone, which opened this summer in the Hamptons.Thank you for listening! For more of our great interviews, find us at hospitalitydesign.com.

In this episode, Jennifer Clay, Vice President of Hotel Operations at Appellation, shares her unique perspective on how hotel design choices play a vital role in immersing guests in a destination - and how she thinks about this as an operations leader.Listeners will learn:How hotels can embody and celebrate the destination they are in [01:58]The evolution of hotel design from formulaic to celebrating local materials and artisans [02:34]The journey of selecting specific design elements like chairs and fabrics [04:12]The importance of balancing form and functionality in hotel design [07:03]How the physical product of a hotel should match what is advertised and provide a consistent experience [08:11]A few more resources: If you're new to Hospitality Daily, start here. You can send me a message here with questions, comments, or guest suggestions If you want to get my summary and actionable insights from each episode delivered to your inbox each day, subscribe here for free. Follow Hospitality Daily and join the conversation on YouTube, LinkedIn, and Instagram. If you want to advertise on Hospitality Daily, here are the ways we can work together. If you found this episode interesting or helpful, send it to someone on your team so you can turn the ideas into action and benefit your business and the people you serve! Music for this show is produced by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands

Why You Should Listen to Today's  If you've ever wondered what goes into designing spaces that are not only beautiful but truly functional, today's episode is for you! We're joined by the incredibly talented Helen Hughes, an interior architect and designer whose journey from the fashion world to spatial design has given her a unique approach to creating spaces that resonate on every level.  Helen shares her passion for problem-solving in design, her experience working with global brands, and her creative process that focuses on understanding not just how spaces look, but how they work for the people who use them. Whether it's residential homes, luxury hotels, or commercial spaces, Helen's insights will inspire anyone interested in design, architecture, or simply making their surroundings better. Tune in to hear how Helen brings creativity, function, and innovation to every project. This is an episode you won't want to miss! To contact Helen, please visit her website https://helenhughesdesign.com/

In this episode of No Vacancy Live, Glenn has a phenomenal guest— Monika Nessbach - NCIDQ, RID, MBA, IIDA from DESIGNBAR. Together, they discuss the evolving world of hotel design, including experiential spaces, biophilia, and how social media is reshaping how guests interact with hospitality environments.   Tune in as Monika shares her insights on:   The importance of Instagrammable moments and how they create free marketing for hotels.   Shifting from static design to dynamic, film-like spaces that align with social media trends.   The role of biophilic design in improving guest experiences and well-being. The integration of circadian lighting and how it enhances restaurant and hotel environments.   Creating memorable guest experiences through thoughtful design that combines aesthetics, functionality, and social media appeal.   Monika's experience designing unique spaces like restaurants and how design storytelling elevates the overall guest experience.   Plus, don't miss how her design philosophy continues to push boundaries in hospitality.   Main Points:   *Instagrammable moments and dynamic design in hospitality. *The role of biophilia and circadian lighting in enhancing guest experience. *Experiential design: blending aesthetics and function. *Social media's impact on hotel marketing and guest interactions. *The importance of storytelling through design in hospitality.   See slideshow here: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/wbtx6hmo5epv5yj3gn27s/designbar.pdf?rlkey=lrxtke2rnsvj43dljvel19hxj&dl=0  

Juan Bremer has a deep connection to nature that has shaped his journey into the world of luxury hospitality. Growing up as the son of an ambassador, Bremer's early years were a whirlwind of cultures, spanning Moscow, Germany, and Mexico. (Today, he splits his time between Mexico and Italy.) This multicultural upbringing instilled in him an appreciation for diverse environments and languages, a foundation that continues to influence his philosophy around development.Bremer's creative spirit was evident from a young age, leading friends on adventures and conjuring up games. This innate creativity, combined with a love for the outdoors, has become the cornerstone of his work. His entry into hospitality was born from a desire to preserve the untouched beauty of Mexico's virgin beaches, and his first major project, the One&Only Mandarina via his RLH Properties company, set the stage for Xala, a 3,000-acre luxury development in the Costalegre region of Jalisco, Mexico. Found on the Pacific coastline, it will be home to residences and a Six Senses resort, slated to open in 2026.Thank you for listening! For more of our great interviews, find us at hospitalitydesign.com.

Born in Florence and raised between Switzerland and Northern California, David Montalba, founder of Montalba Architects, was exposed to many different cultures growing up, which is evident in his work today from the rustic yet refined Whitepod eco-chalets in Monthey Switzerland to the bespoke Nobu Palo Alto in California.Today—with offices in Santa Monica, California; New York; and Lausanne, Switzerland—his multidisciplinary firm is celebrated for their thoughtful balance between modernity and timelessness, all while maintaining an approach that is as much about the people who inhabit the space as the space itself.Thank you for listening! For more of our great interviews, find us at hospitalitydesign.com.

The industry lost an icon when architect and designer Jeffrey Beers passed away earlier this year at age 67 after a battle with cancer. But Jeffrey Beers International (JBI), the New York practice Beers founded in 1986, will uphold his visionary legacy and continue to shape the hospitality design sphere under the guidance of newly appointed partners Michael Pandolfi, Nora Liu-Kanter, and Tim Rooney.At the time Pandolfi joined the firm in 2000, JBI resembled a carefree artists' studio more than an office. Beers took over a closet, turning the open space under a massive skylight in the main room over to his small team. Las Vegas was fast transforming into a high-end food and drink destination then and JBI was smack in the middle of that energetic shift, bringing to life venues like Tabu—the MGM Grand ultra-lounge flaunting tables with holographic images projected onto them—and Rumjungle at Mandalay Bay, a fantastical tropical restaurant and nightclub fusing fire and bongo drums. “Those were things that Jeff loved—crazy ideas that not everybody would propose to a client,” recalls Pandolfi, noting how Beers regularly encouraged his staff to share such wild notions in an office he treated as an open forum. “Nobody had titles. Everybody was equal. If you had a great idea, everybody would listen to it and it could be executed.”Here, the three partners share how they plan to continue their late founder's legacy.Thank you for listening! For more of our great interviews, find us at hospitalitydesign.com.

Growing up in Kent in southeast London, Mark Eacott was always a curious kid—inspired by his artist grandfather, who taught him how to sketch and draw, and his dad, who was a builder with a strong do-it-yourself skillset. Those influences, coupled with Eacott's creative mind, fostered his passion for design. He majored in architecture at the University of Bath, where he studied abroad as part of the Erasmus exchange program at TU Delft, a specialized architecture school in Holland. That was a life-changing experience for Eacott, ultimately leading to an internship at OMA in Rotterdam where he worked alongside Rem Koolhaas. (Eacott went on to earn his master's degree from the Royal College of Art in London.)His career took off from there, and he added a list of hospitality giants to his résumé including Soho House, Yoo, HBA, and SBE, before landing at Ennismore (the latter two companies were both acquired by Accor), where he's been the global vice president of design since 2019. Eacott's philosophy is centered around service and experience. He's unafraid to retool brands that need a facelift or to call upon nostalgia for reboots of industry gamechangers, like the refresh of the Delano in Miami. Now based in Dubai, Eacott shares lessons learned along his impressive journey and how a successful brand is rooted in emotion.Thank you for listening! For more of our great interviews, find us at hospitalitydesign.com.

New Jersey native David Barry studied law before getting into real estate development alongside his brother, focusing on redeveloping shipyards and truckyards. When the W brand was being developed in Hoboken, New Jersey, Barry entered the hospitality side of the real estate business. Today, he counts Chiltern Firehouse in London, New York's Chelsea Hotel, and Caldera House in Jackson Hole, Wyoming on his client list.Barry has always been a curious person and interested in exploring new frontiers, which led him to founding Urby in 2012, the hospitality-inspired urban housing concept centered on modern design, high-end amenities, affordable pricing, and programming.Simplicity is key to the success of Urby, which is currently found in six locations with four more on the boards in Philadelphia; Washington, DC; Wynwood, Florida; and Journal Square, New Jersey.As he looks ahead, Barry says his greatest lesson learned is to not get caught up in the noise and chatter of the present moment but to think longterm and plan accordingly.Thank you for listening! For more of our great interviews, find us at hospitalitydesign.com.

Located in the Great Smoky Mountains in Walland, Tennessee, the 68-room Blackberry Farm is a verdant escape known for its food, wine, and Southern hospitality. The small inn was originally purchased by Samuel E. Beall III, founder of the Ruby Tuesday chain, in 1976. After adding land and more buildings, it blossomed into the exclusive property it is today. In 1998, Samuel's son and Mary Celeste's husband, Sam, took it over, transforming it into a culinary powerhouse and must-visit getaway tucked away in East Tennessee.After the unexpected passing of her husband in 2016, Mary Celeste took over as proprietor while raising her five children. She didn't shy away from the challenge. In fact, she credits the power of believing in herself for ushering the resort into its next and most exciting era yet. Thank you for listening! For more of our great interviews, find us at hospitalitydesign.com.

Known for her sensual, dynamic designs that integrate with their surroundings, the Iceland-born, West Hollywood, California-based Gulla Jónsdóttir creates unique spatial experiences that exist at the intersection of organic beauty and function.Since 2009 when she launched her firm Atelier Gulla Jónsdóttir, she has spearheaded projects including China's Macau Roosevelt hotel and the renovation of Hollywood's Chinese Theater. With the Sandbourne Santa Monica in California and 1 Hotel Crete in Greece on the boards, Jónsdóttir continues to immerse guests in their surroundings with an approach centered on  all five senses.Thank you for listening! For more of our great interviews, find us at hospitalitydesign.com.

A diagnosis of colon cancer led Alejandro Bataller's father Alfredo Bataller to launch the SHA Wellness Clinic in Alicante, Spain 15 years ago. Today, the family-run business has established itself as of one of the leading wellness resorts in the world. A recently opened outpost in Costa Mujeres, Mexico designed by local firms Sordo Madaleno and Alejandro Escudero (a forthcoming  property set on a 25-acre island on the coastline between Dubai and Abu Dhabi is on the boards) continues the company's goal to transform people's health and wellbeing through innovative, cutting-edge practices wrapped in a hospitality-focused luxury experience. Additionally, the company's real estate development arm, AB Living Group, is working with Marriott to develop branded residences and resort projects in Mexico under the SHA Wellness brand. “For us, this is much more than a business, it's a mission,” says Alejandro.This episode is brought to you by American Leather. For more information, go to americanleather.com.Thank you for listening! For more of our great interviews, find us at hospitalitydesign.com.

Growing up in the Chicago suburbs, Mario Tricoci got the entrepreneurial bug at an early age, watching his parents revolutionize the salon world and invent the day spa concept. He saw what they created and wanted to emulate it, but with his own spin. When he opened the Simeone Deary Design Group-crafted Elysian hotel in Chicago in 2009, it changed the hospitality landscape as a refined luxury hotel that put community first and offered approachable service. The project was short-lived (they sold it in 2011), but Tricoci was just getting started, launching Aparium Hotel Group in 2012. Today, the hotel owner and operator counts 11 properties in its portfolio, with four more slated to open this year. Here, the CEO and founder shares how his philosophy of finding the right partner, place, and product has led to Aparium's decade-plus of success.This episode is brought to you by American Leather. For more information, go to americanleather.com.Thank you for listening! For more of our great interviews, find us at hospitalitydesign.com.

Studio Collective partners Leslie Kale, Adam Goldstein, and Christian Schulz founded their firm during the Great Recession. Though they started out to make ends meet, they soon found successful with cocktail lounge the Spare Room at the Hollywood Roosevelt before diving into hotels with the Landsby in Sylvan, California. Today, the trio leads a 20-person team, where they've expanded their portfolio with notable projects like the Hotel Figueroa in downtown Los Angeles, Proper Hotels' spinoff brand Hotel June on LA's Westside, and recently, Ferraro's Bar & Restaurant at the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea. With more than two decades of experience, the Venice, California-based design firm has learned how to let the client and project dictate where things are headed. “You have to trust that it will still be great,” says Schulz.Thank you for listening! For more of our great interviews, find us at hospitalitydesign.com.

Victoria Taylor is Experience Partner to hospitality, tourism, cultural destination, and luxury experience brands. She works with her clients to create unique experiences that impact people, profit and planet whilst proofing for the future.  Fascinated with traditional craftsmanship and "maker" based hospitality experiences that delve into the origins of people and place, she has an insatiable curiosity for the exceptional and the unusual. Her unique work has taken her all over the world and as a seasoned keynote speaker, Victoria enjoys events that spark ideas to change things and challenge what always "has been." In this episode of Masters of Storytelling, Maya talks to Victoria about the art of designing experiences, how destinations can transform communities, and the courage that's required to create something truly singular. For more information about Victoria, visit:  www.victoriatayl.uk For more information about BRC Imagination Arts, visit: www.brcweb.com

Childhood friends Asher Warr and Robin Faulkner, cofounders of Amarla Hotels, launched their first property in Cartagena in 2018. The 17th-century mansion, a former tobacco factory, celebrates the community via authentic experiences—a pillar of the newly founded  brand. Next came Amarla Casco Viejo, the eight-room boutique that is reimagining Panama's hospitality scene. The British entrepreneurs are rethinking hospitality by creating hotels centered around what they call a heartfelt hospitality approach—one that transcends the property and immerses visitors into the location.Thank you for listening! For more of our great interviews, find us at hospitalitydesign.com.

Carlos Martínez Flórez, who left Cuba when he was 3 years old, spent his early years in Puerto Rico, where he developed a passion for reading and storytelling. He struggled in school but was always interested in architecture, which he pursued at the Ohio State University. He cut his teeth with Holabird & Root, the Doblin Group, and Perkins&Will before landing at Gensler in 2001. With more than four decades of industry experience, Martínez Flórez now serves as the co-managing director and design principal at the firm's New York office, where he has become integral in fostering the next generation of design professionals.

Louis Thompson began his hospitality career working with Six Senses. While there, he learned about the importance of sustainability, innovation, and regeneration. In 2011, after 10 years with the wellness-focused brand, Thompson founded Nomadic Resorts. It was a natural next step for the entrepreneur, who was experimenting with crafting eco-friendly resorts in remote locales. Take the Wild Coast Tented Lodge near the Yala National Park in Sri Lanka. Thompson, who designed the building to blend into its natural surroundings, also trained 80 people from a neighboring fishermen's village to help with the construction. Today, Thompson is again pushing the envelope as he introduces salutogenic architecture to a new audience, where he hopes to influence mental wellbeing through design. Here, he shares his vision for the future of hospitality, including the development of niche experiences that cultivate community.

Growing up in Scotland, surrounded by Glasgow's vibrant culture and architecture, Iain Watson, CEO of David Collins Studio, found his passion early on. A chance meeting with David Collins changed his life forever. He started working alongside the designer over the summer. Since that pivotal moment, spanning more than three decades, Watson has remained an integral part of the studio's evolution. Together, they carved a niche in the hospitality industry, crafting iconic spaces, including chef Pierre Koffmann's La Tante Claire in Chelsea, Claridge's Bar at the Claridge's Hotel in London, and the Blue Bar in London's Berkeley Hotel. The firm is also one of a handful of designers behind the highly anticipated Fontainebleau Las Vegas, opening this month. After Collins' death in 2013, Watson took the reins of the company, where he has ushered the studio into a new era while still honoring Collins' legacy.

The German born architect and interior designer Johannes Hart is the owner of the company Layan in the Melbourne suburb of Cremorne, which specializes in designing luxury hotels. Ritz-Carlton, Hyatt, Le Meridien - these are just a few from a long list of luxury hotels, wellness resorts and restaurants all over the world that bear the signature of Johannes Hart and his team of designers. - Was macht ein Luxushotel aus? Super-Kingsize-Betten? Feinste Bettbezüge und Vorhangstoffe? Seidenfarbene Badezimmerfliesen? Oder eine palast-ähnliche Lobby Über solche Fragen zerbricht sich der aus Deutschland stammende Architket und Innenarchitekt Johannes Hart den Kopf. Er ist Inhaber der Firma Layan im Melbourner Vorort Cremorne, die sich auf das Entwerfen von Luxushotels spezialisiert hat. Ritz-Carlton, Hyatt, Le Meridien - das sind nur ein paar wenige aus einer langen Liste an Luxushotels, Wellness-Ressorts und Restaurationsbetriebe in aller Welt, die die Handschrift von Johannes Hart und seinem Designer-Team tragen.

Born in Laguna Beach, California, Maryellis Bunn, founder of the Museum of Ice Cream, was influenced by her artist mother, who shaped her creative mindset. Dubbed the Millennial Walt Disney, Bunn launched the original concept for the Museum of Ice Cream as a pop-up in New York in 2016, and has since transformed it into brick-and-mortar experiential spaces that invite people to slide into a pool made of biodegradable sprinkles or enjoy a cocktail at the pretty-in-pink bar. With standalone museums in New York, Chicago, Austin, and Singapore, Bunn continues to evolve the brand's mission to create spaces that inspire imagination and unite people around something “as simple and beautiful as ice cream,” she says,

Designer Ken Fulk is a renaissance man, avid traveler, and a design dreamer. He's known for his artistry and creativity, conjuring cinematic experiences that defy expectations. Take his longtime partnership with nightlife empresario David Grutman. Together, they have created the whimsical Goodtime Hotel and the recently opened, equally eclectic and singular, Casadonna, both in Miami. Fulk is also evolving his office, owning and operating some of the restaurants he designs. “There's no exit strategy here,” he says. “People ask if I'll ever slow down, and I hope not. We will continue to evolve, grow, and stay curious.”

Potter, author, and renowned global designer Jonathan Adler joins Melissa to talk about travel style and design. Jonathan has created one of the leading design labels of our time through his colorful and modern American glamor patterns and designs. He left his day job in film to pursue his passion for pottery, and 10 years later opened his first store in SoHo. His namesake brand is now a leading global design company with stores in Chicago, New York and a new location in London. With humor, Jonathan shares his unexpected path to success with Melissa. He reveals how following his love for pottery redirected his life with  purpose, as well as his inspiration behind the design of the iconic Parker Palm Springs in California, and who he identifies as his favorite muse.  In this episode, Melissa and Jonathan explore the idea of re-inventing oneself, both stylistically and in one's career. Jonathan also shares the story behind his work with Aid to Artisans and how he stumbled into love with Peruvian weaving. As Jonathan says, “modern, clean design with soulful craft is about the magic” and Jonathan delivers magic through charm and wit. He also shares his favorite places to travel, including an intense enthusiasm for everyone to experience Japan, and where he wants to go next. Melissa ends the episode by sharing Jonathan's favorite favorite hotels with design in mind. For more information about Jonathan Adler and to view his collections and retail locations, visit www.jonathanadler.com. For Jonathan's latest updates, and to see more of his Modern American Glamour vision, follow him on X, @jonathanadler, Instagram @jonathanadler and TikTok @jonathanadler. For more information on the hotels mentioned in today's episode and for the latest travel news and hotel openings, visit Indagare.com to sign up for our newsletter.

Tom Parker and Andy Goodwin founded the London- and Los Angeles-based Fettle in 2013 after a decade of working with some of London's most notable design firms including United Designers and Martin Brudnizki Design Studio. Launching their own firm was the natural next step for the friends-turned-business partners. “At the time, it was very exciting and it felt like we were on the precipice of something great,” says Parker. Today, their portfolio includes the Hoxton, Portland in Oregon, the Draycott in LA, and the just-opened Georgian, their meticulous revitalization of a grande dame in Santa Monica, California.

Join us in this captivating episode, broadcasting live from a recent gem in the Best Western Hotel Group's portfolio, as we sit down with Meegan Gillett, the Production Manager for Best Western Hotel Group. Meegan, with her seasoned expertise, oversees Construction & Renovation, FF&E for Design, decor, and spa, ensuring each element resonates with the brand's ethos and guest expectations.Her illustrious journey, spanning various projects that epitomize elegance and functionality, showcases her adeptness in marrying construction and design to curate remarkable guest experiences. Our discussion traverses the lanes of her innovative approaches in managing construction and renovation projects, ensuring they align perfectly with the brand's vision and operational excellence.This episode unveils the meticulous processes behind Meegan's role in orchestrating the decor and spa aesthetics, ensuring a seamless blend of comfort, luxury, and brand identity. Her insights into managing FF&E (Furniture, Fixtures, and Equipment) for design, form a narrative of excellence that many hoteliers aspire to emulate.Don't miss this riveting discussion that peels the layers of construction, renovation, and design management in the hospitality sector, offering a glimpse into the world of Best Western through Meegan Gillett's lens. Tune in to the Virtual GM Podcast to discover the art and science of creating enchanting hotel spaces that promise a memorable guest stay.Website: https://www.bestwestern.com/en_US.htmlInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/bestwestern/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meeganberner/ Follow us on Instagram - @thevibrantteam@virtualgmpodcastCheckout our website - www.thevibrantteam.com

In this episode, we're thrilled to have Matt Ionta, Purchasing Agent at J/Brice Design International, joining us from a newly adorned setting of a renowned hotel, reflecting the impeccable aesthetics J/Brice Design is famed for. Matt, with his profound expertise, navigates the realms of purchasing that brings the envisioned design concepts to life.His role in procuring the right elements, be it for construction, renovation, or infusing a fresh breath of design, is instrumental in ensuring the final outcome is nothing short of a masterpiece. Our conversation ventures into the core of J/Brice Design's ethos, the meticulous approach towards purchasing, and how it intertwines with the design aesthetics to craft unique, captivating spaces.Matt unfolds the journey of how a mere concept blossoms into a tangible, inviting ambiance through the lens of purchasing. His narrative sheds light on the synergy between purchasing and design, and how it significantly impacts the guest experience.Dive into this enlightening episode to explore the fascinating world of hospitality design purchasing with Matt Ionta, and unravel the process that shapes the inviting ambiance of hotels. Tune into the Virtual GM Podcast now!Website: https://jbricedesign.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-ionta-942a64159/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jbricedesign1/ Follow us on Instagram - @thevibrantteam@virtualgmpodcastCheckout our website - www.thevibrantteam.com

British-Nigerian designer Tolù Adẹ̀kọ́, who founded his London-based Adẹ̀kọ́ & Co in 2014, is known for his compelling design narratives that nod to his childhood in Lagos, Nigeria. He moved to London at the age of 6, and it wasn't long before Adẹ̀kọ́ started sketching furniture and clothing that caught the eye of his teachers and landed him a slot in a summer product design program led by Terence Conran.  His resumé includes stints with United Design Partnership and David Collins Studio, where he helped design Waldorf Astoria Lusail, Doha's outpost of Italian restaurant Scarpetta. Today, along with his eight-person team, he is crafting luxe interiors for a forthcoming fleet of cruise ships and designing a scullery inside a London men's hostel where residents find community in cooking and eating together. 

When COVID hit, Lola Taverna in New York's SoHo neighborhood had only been open for a few months. The world had stopped, and Cobi Levy and Will Makris, the duo behind Prince Street Hospitality, had to pivot. They turned Lola Taverna into a communal gathering spot, offering takeout food with chairs to rent (the money went to first responders). Utilizing the park next door, they served up to 250 people a day. It helped them survive those uncertain pandemic days, and when restaurants were finally able to reopen, Lola Taverna was on everyone's mind, with a waitlist on the weekends that numbered up to 4,000. Today, their portfolio includes seven restaurants in New York and Miami, with Alba on the boards in Los Angeles, the pair's first foray to the West Coast.

As president of luxury at Marriott International, Tina Edmundson oversees all aspects of Ritz-Carlton, Ritz-Carlton Reserve, BVLGARI Hotels & Resorts, St. Regis Hotels & Resorts, EDITION, Luxury Collection, JW Marriott, and W Hotels Worldwide brands. But Edmundson, an industry veteran, first made a significant mark on the company as global brand and marketing officer, leading a portfolio of 30 distinct hotel brands upon the massive merger of Marriott and Starwood Hotels & Resorts. Raised in Mumbai, India, where Edmundson's parents worked for an airline before her entrepreneurial mother opened a string of beauty salons, Edmundson graduated with a finance degree from the University of Bombay, and then ventured to the U.S. to pursue her MBA in hotel and restaurant administration at the University of Houston's Conrad N. Hilton college.

With a roster of venues including New York hotspots Ray's, Jac's on Bond, and Georgia Room, the trio behind Authentic Hospitality—Matt Kliegman, Matthew Charles, and Carlos Quirarte—have been reshaping New York's F&B scene since they opened the Smile In 2009. One of those partners, Kliegman, started his party-planning career back at New York University (NYU) and his résumé speaks for itself. Whether working with Ian Schrager at the Public Hotel or bringing an Old School sophistication to Rock Center with the Pebble Bar, Kliegman says the secret to his success is his team. “Partnerships are like marriages,” he points out, “and it's important to take the time to pick the right partners.”

With a father in the military, the Paris-based Emlyn Brown attended 13 schools over 18 years. During high school in Munich, he traveled constantly with his family, from Italy to Cyprus and Hong Kong. He graduated from the University of Manchester in the UK with a degree in leisure and sport, and furthered his education in the field by studying sport science and psychology. That led him to his first job with Holmes Place, a health, fitness, and wellness concept, which Brown describes as the Equinox of the '90s. His seven-year journey there took him from the sales floor to eventually becoming the area director for Europe. Today, his résumé is a who's who of gamechanging wellness brands, including Six Senses, GOCO Hospitality, Resense Spa, and currently Accor, where he serves as the global senior vice president of wellbeing. Here, Brown explains how if wellbeing is done right, it can create a sense of community.

In November 2023, Libby Sims Patrick will be inducted into Hospitality Design's Platinum Circle, an honor bestowed on those who have made significant impact and contributions to the hospitality industry. In February of 2022, Sims Patrick joined editor in chief Stacy Shoemaker Rauen for a wide-ranging conversation, where she reflected on her southern upbringing, launching her Atlanta-based firm, and her role as an owner-developer of the River Runner Hotel, slated to open in 2024. 

Andrew Fay and Roger Hill met at Cornell University and became fast friends bonding over their shared passion for hospitality. In 1988, they took a leap of faith and founded the Gettys Group. It was a big risk at the time, but one that has paid off in the three-plus decades they've run the Chicago-based company as COO and CEO, respectively. Their work speaks for itself. Consider the Farnam Hotel's vibrant interiors, which have reinvigorated Omaha, Nebraska, or the Grand Bohemian Orlando's lush designs.  Today, the 70-person firm is made up of experts in everything from interiors  and development to branding and procurement. This collaborative spirit has allowed the Gettys Group to offer a truly holistic approach to design, ensuring that each project is as unique and memorable as the next.