Hospitality Design: What I've Learned

Chantell Walsh, Strategic Hotels & Resorts

23 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Growing up in a small town in central Minnesota, Chantell Walsh’s creativity took the form of graph paper floorplans and endless hours outdoors inve...

Greg Bradshaw, Adam Farmerie, Kristina O'Neal, and William Harris, AvroKO

09 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

For more than two decades, AvroKO has pushed the boundaries of what it means to be a design firm. Founded by longtime friends Greg Bradshaw, Adam Farm...

Craig Stanghetta, Ste Marie

26 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Raised in Sault Ste. Marie, a small industrial town in Northern Ontario, Craig Stanghetta grew up surrounded by hospitality—his family owned the cit...

Sarah Klymson and Simon Marxer, Hyatt

10 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

As senior leaders shaping the future of Hyatt's wellness-focused brand Miraval, Sarah Klymson and Simon Marxer bring complementary expertise to t...

Dr. Jonathan Leary, Remedy Place

28 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 A...

Caroline and Sabri Farouki, Farouki Farouki

14 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Caroline and Sabri Farouki, partners behind New Orleans-based studio Farouki Farouki, bring a personal and global perspective to their practice. Caro...

Suchi Reddy, Reddymade

30 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Jacu Strauss, Lore Group

16 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Born in the Kalahari Desert of South Africa, Jacu Strauss’ early years were marked by his imagination—crafting dollhouses from wine boxes and draw...

Morris Adjmi, Morris Adjmi Architects

02 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

As founder of his eponymous New York firm, visionary architect Morris Adjmi's work is deeply rooted in a respect for heritage while embracing inn...

Cathy O'Brien, Naturopathica

18 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

From her childhood in Larchmont, New York to leading a renowned wellness company, Cathy O'Brien’s wide-ranging career spans the music industry ...

Brad Guidi and Jason Brown, Blue Flag Capital

04 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

When Jason Brown and Brad Guidi joined forces to create hospitality real estate private equity firm Blue Flag Capital, they weren’t just building ho...

Darius Davie + Matthew Sears, Groom Guy

19 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Growing up  in Brooklyn, lifelong friends Matthew Sears and Darius Davie started their entrepreneurial journey thanks to a shared passion for design,...

Elizabeth Blau

05 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Sigurlaug Sverrisdóttir

22 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Icelandic hotelier Sigurlaug Sverrisdóttir has built a reputation for her innovative approach to creating immersive guest experiences.Growing up in a...

Vincent Celano, Celano Design Studio

08 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 Yo...

Matt Goodrich, Goodrich

18 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Matt Goodrich, principal of his New York-based design studio Goodrich, has cultivated an approach that is rooted in collaboration, curiosity, and purs...

Episode Re-release December 8, 2020: Tara Bernerd, Tara Bernerd & Partners

04 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Revisit our conversation with prolific designer Tara Bernerd, founder of  her eponymous London-based firm Tara Bernerd & Partners. Back in 2020, ...

Aliya Khan, Marriott

20 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Having lived across continents—from Hong Kong to Houston and Singapore to Pakistan—Aliya Khan’s upbringing instilled a appreciation for culture,...

Tom Ito, Gensler

06 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Tom Ito, a third-generation Japanese-American, was destined to be in the hospitality industry. He worked at his grandp...

Sam Fox

23 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Born in Chicago and raised in Arizona, Sam Fox’s early experiences working in his parents’ diners, Mexican restaurants, and delis shaped his under...

John Meadow, LDV Hospitality

09 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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. ...

My Nguyen, Holland America Line and Seabourn

25 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Settling in Seattle as a Vietnamese refugee, My Nguyen began her 22-year design career as an intern for Holland America Line followed by nearly nine y...

Juan Bremer, Xala

11 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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, ...

David Montalba, Montalba Architects

29 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Born in Florence and raised between Switzerland and Northern California, David Montalba, founder of Montalba Architects, was exposed to many different...

Eric Papachristos, A Street Hospitality Group

13 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Eric Papachristos, who lived in Greece before returning to the U.S. at age 10, spent his life in restaurants, working at his father's diner as a ...

Karen Herold, Studio K Creative

31 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

After a 13-year stint at Chicago firm 555 International, Karen Herold, who grew up in Holland, went out on her own, founding Studio K Creative in 2014...

Michael Pandolfi, Nora Liu-Kanter, and Tim Rooney, JBI

16 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 Be...

Mark Eacott, Ennismore

03 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 dr...

Sam Nazarian, SBE

19 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In 1979, as the Iranian Revolution swept through the streets of Tehran, Younes Nazarian and his wife Soraya Sarah made the decision to leave behind a ...

David Barry, Urby

05 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

New Jersey native David Barry studied law before getting into real estate development alongside his brother, focusing on redeveloping shipyards and tr...

Mary Celeste Beall, Blackberry Farm

22 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 hos...

Gulla Jónsdóttir, Atelier Gulla Jónsdóttir

08 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Known for her sensual, dynamic designs that integrate with their surroundings, the Iceland-born, West Hollywood, California-based Gulla Jónsdóttir c...

Alejandro Bataller, SHA Wellness

24 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

A diagnosis of colon cancer led Alejandro Bataller’s father Alfredo Bataller to launch the SHA Wellness Clinic in Alicante, Spain 15 years ago. Toda...

Mario Tricoci, Aparium Hotel Group

10 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Growing up in the Chicago suburbs, Mario Tricoci got the entrepreneurial bug at an early age, watching his parents revolutionize the salon world and i...

Leslie Kale, Adam Goldstein, and Christian Schulz, Studio Collective

27 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Studio Collective partners Leslie Kale, Adam Goldstein, and Christian Schulz founded their firm during the Great Recession. Though they started out to...

Julien Albertini, Asthetique

12 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Growing up in Brooklyn, New York and then Long Island, Julien Albertini, cofounder of Asthetíque, was influenced by his architect father and his moth...

Asher Warr and Robin Faulkner, Amarla

14 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Childhood friends Asher Warr and Robin Faulkner, cofounders of Amarla Hotels, launched their first property in Cartagena in 2018. The 17th-century man...

Ross Mollison, Spiegelworld

31 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

From an early age, the Melbourne-bred, New York-based Ross Mollison had a love for music and live entertainment. This nascent passion led him to launc...

Carlos M. Martínez Flórez, Gensler

18 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 st...

Louis Thompson, Nomadic Resorts

20 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Louis Thompson began his hospitality career working with Six Senses. While there, he learned about the importance of sustainability, innovation, and r...

Iain Watson, David Collins Studio

06 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Growing up in Scotland, surrounded by Glasgow's vibrant culture and architecture, Iain Watson, CEO of David Collins Studio, found his passion ear...

Maryellis Bunn, Museum of Ice Cream

21 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Born in Laguna Beach, California, Maryellis Bunn, founder of the Museum of Ice Cream, was influenced by her artist mother, who shaped her creative min...

Ken Fulk

08 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Designer Ken Fulk is a renaissance man, avid traveler, and a design dreamer. He’s known for his artistry and creativity, conjuring cinematic experie...

Andy Goodwin and Tom Parker, Fettle

25 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 de...

Tolù Adẹ̀kọ́, Adẹ̀kọ́ & Co

11 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

British-Nigerian designer Tolù Adẹ̀kọ́, who founded his London-based Adẹ̀kọ́ & Co in 2014, is known for his compelling design narrati...

Cobi Levy and Will Makris, Prince Street Hospitality

27 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 Makr...

Tina Edmundson, Marriott International

14 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

As president of luxury at Marriott International, Tina Edmundson oversees all aspects of Ritz-Carlton, Ritz-Carlton Reserve, BVLGARI Hotels & Reso...

Matt Kliegman, Authentic Hospitality

30 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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,...

Emlyn Brown, Accor

16 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 wit...

Linda Boronkay, Linda Boronkay Design Studio

02 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Born in Budapest, the London-based Linda Boronkay was inspired by her architect father and her journalist mother. Indeed, her interest in design was p...

Libby Sims Patrick (re-release)

19 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In November 2023, Libby Sims Patrick will be inducted into Hospitality Design's Platinum Circle, an honor bestowed on those who have made signifi...

Andrew Fay and Roger Hill, The Gettys Group

28 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

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 le...

Malene Djenaba Barnett, Artist and BADG Founder

13 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

For Malene Djenaba Barnett, the common thread of her life's work is her ancestors, whom she pays homage to through her multidisciplinary pursuits...

Noah Tepperberg and Jason Strauss, Tao Group Hospitality

16 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The Co-CEOS of Tao Group Hospitality share the unique distinction of being business partners and best friends. After meeting in high school, Tepperber...

Meghann Day, HBA

02 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

After 17 years ascending the ranks of Hirsch Bedner Associates (HBA), starting out as a designer before eventually becoming a partner, Meghann Day was...

Clint Nagata, BLINK

18 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Clint Nagata founded BLINK Design Group with the goal to create a firm that would outlast him by placing the emphasis on the brand as a whole—and it...

Kevin O'Shea and David Bowd, Salt Hotels

04 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Partners in love and in life, Kevin O'Shea and David Bowd are the minds behind Salt Hotels. After walking their own paths in hospitality, with O&...

Barbara Parker and Miriam Torres, Parker-Torres

21 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Barbara Parker and Miriam Torres made their way into design independently but it wasn't long before they decided to go into business together, af...

Helen Jorgensen, Host Hotels & Resorts

07 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

"You [have] to embrace change. Don't doubt it," says Helen Jorgensen, who would certainly know. Her nontraditional journey into the hos...

Mark Zeff, MARKZEFF

07 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Designer Mark Zeff's life changed in 1982 after boarding a flight bound for New York City from Australia. What was intended as a short trip soon ...

Ian Rolston, Decanthropy

26 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Wanting to combat burnout after stints at several high-profile firms, Barbados-born, Toronto-raised Ian Rolston set out on his own to found Decanthrop...

K.J. Hughes, Manifest

11 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Entrepreneur K.J. Hughes has proven himself time and again, first  cutting his teeth as a nightlife promoter before founding a sports and entertainme...

Celebrating 100 Episodes

21 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this 100th episode clip show of Hospitality Design's What I've Learned podcast, editor in chief Stacy Shoemaker Rauen reflects on 100 fas...

Marcus Samuelsson (Re-Release)

29 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In November, Marcus Samuelsson became the first chef to guest edit Hospitality Design magazine, and to celebrate, we're re-releasing his episode ...

Michael Suomi, Suomi Design Works

16 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Michael Suomi's multifaceted career in architecture and interior design has included stints with Jordan Mozer and Associates in Chicago to Stoneh...

Kellie Sirna, Studio 11 Design

25 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Born into a family of painters, musicians, and designers for Hallmark, and growing up in the art-centric city of Kansas City, Missouri, creativity was...

Amar Lalvani, Standard International

12 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Amar Lalvani says, “You have to be bold at the right time.” Lalvani exemplifies his own advice with a career that has seen him working with some o...

Corinna Kretschmar-Joehnk and Peter Joehnk, JOI Design

27 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Intertwined by their love for design (and each other), Corinna Kretschmar-Joehnk and Peter Joehnk are the minds behind the Hamburg, Germany-based JOI ...

Victor Body Lawson, Body Lawson Associates

09 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Born in Lagos, Nigeria to a family of entrepreneurs, Victor Body Lawson seemed destined to build something of his own. After moving to the states, he ...

Tristan du Plessis, Tristan du Plessis Studio

25 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Tristan du Plessis’ rise through the ranks of the design world has been meteoric, going from self-taught designer to partner at a firm to founding h...

Tina Norden, Conran and Partners

10 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Tina Norden has built her career at the esteemed Conran and Partners since graduating from University of Westminster, joining the firm in 1997, and be...

Little Wing Lee, Studio & Projects

03 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

After cutting her teeth in the interiors department at SOM and Atelier Ace, Little Wing Lee became part of the Exhibition Design Team for the National...

Bill Walshe, Viceroy Hotel Group

13 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Born in Limerick, Ireland, Bill Walshe’s passion for design has taken him all over the world—from Dubai, working for the Jumeirah Group to sunny L...

Kia Weatherspoon, Determined by Design

23 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A champion of diversity and inclusion, Kia Weatherspoon founded Determined by Design 10 years ago with the belief that everyone deserves well-designed...

Lionel Ohayon, ICRAVE

07 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Lionel Ohayon says "The most important thing you'll ever do is design your own path." Since founding ICRAVE in 2002, Ohayon has taken a...

Lisa Simeone and Gina Deary, KTGY Simeone Deary Design Group

01 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Design duo Lisa Simeone and Gina Deary met while working at a firm in Chicago in the 1990s and became fast friends. Realizing they had a similar visio...

Tom Dixon, Tom Dixon Studio

11 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

From learning how to weld for practical reasons to designing the iconic S-Chair for Cappellini to founding his eponymous label, Tom Dixon took an unco...

Roman Alonso, Commune Design

22 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Before founding Los Angeles-based Commune Design in 2004, Roman Alonso let his curiosity lead the way. Following his affinity for art and design led t...

Susie Ellis, Global Wellness Institute

13 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Before the term "wellness" became a buzzword and grew into the trillion-dollar industry it is today, Susie Ellis was championing the cause. ...

David Galullo, Rapt Studio

22 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

David Galullo roots himself in the idea of placemaking and how people use spaces to connect and build communities rather than the utilitarian side of ...

Jason Pomeranc, SIXTY Collective

09 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Cherishing the creative process, hotelier Jason Pomeranc continues to push it to its limits and redefine the hotel experience. First, in the early 200...

Libby Sims Patrick, Sims Patrick Studio

22 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Libby Sims Patrick’s Southern U.S. roots are both the foundation of her upbringing and her approach to design. Born in Memphis, Tennessee, Sims Patr...

Dyonne Fashina, Denizens of Design

08 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Dyonne Fashina,  founder and principal designer of Toronto-based studio Denizens of Design, takes an empathy-first approach to her work. She designs ...

Chad Oppenheim, Oppenheim Architecture + Design

25 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

After graduating from Cornell with a bachelor's of architecture, Chad Oppenheim continued his education by living in Spain, Israel, Italy, and Ja...

Erik Nissen Johansen, Stylt Trampoli AB

11 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Sweden-based, Norway-born designer Erik Nissen Johansen always felt drawn to the creative world. After studying design in Florence, Italy, he went on ...

Ini Archibong

21 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In November, during ICFF and WantedDesign, editor in chief Stacy Shoemaker Rauen sat down with multidisciplinary design Ini Archibong for a candid one...

Tye Farrow, Farrow Partners

09 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Tye Farrow is a bit of a philosopher when it comes to design, seeking out projects that inspire hope where the future is unknown. He cut his teeth wit...

Tony Chi

24 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Born in Taiwan, Tony Chi moved to New York when he was 9 years old, cultivating a global sense about the world that is embedded into everything he tou...

Lyndon Neri and Rossana Hu, Neri&Hu Design and Research Office

11 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Lyndon Neri and Rossana Hu's  Shanghai-based practice is as prolific as its work is thought-provoking, thanks to the leadership provided by the ...

Kona Gray, EDSA

27 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

EDSA principal Kona Gray says he stumbled upon landscape architecture, and for the past 25 years, he’s been a crucial voice in creating immersive en...

George Gottl, UXUS

12 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

George Gottl is the chief creative officer and cofounder of UXUS, a strategic global design consultancy. But it’s also much more than that. When Got...

Ed Ng, AB Concept

14 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Ed Ng, along with partner Terrance Ngan, founded the Hong Kong-based design firm in 1999. He counts the W Bali, which opened in 2009, as the firm’s ...

Jennifer Johanson, EDG

31 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We revisit our conversation with president and CEO of EDG Jennifer Johanson, who, later this year, will be inducted into HD's Platinum Circle. Jo...

Naomi Heaton

18 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The former advertising executive turned real estate maven, Naomi Heaton recently launched the Other House, a members’ club-meets-longterm rental opt...

Anouska Hempel

03 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Known for blending luxury with individuality, actress-turned-designer Anouska Hempel is a singular talent. The former Bond girl made her mark on the h...

Antionette Carroll

21 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Antionette Carroll, president and CEO of Creative Reaction Lab, founded her St. Louis-based nonprofit after the Ferguson uprisings in 2014. She descri...

Deborah Berke. Deborah Burke & Partners

07 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Queens, New York-born and raised architect Deborah Berke fascination with design started as a teenager while imagining the inside of houses in her nei...

Paula Scher, Pentagram

22 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Paula Scher's career is as wide ranging as it is inspirational. The former art student, who pivoted to graphic design, is also a children’s boo...

Joe Gebbia, Airbnb

08 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

For this episode, we toe the line of hospitality a bit with a chat with entrepreneur and cofounder of Airbnb Joe Gebbia. There’s no question that wh...

Lukas Rungger, noa*

27 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Hailing from northern Italy, Network of Architecture, or noa*, cofounder and architect Lukas Rungger cites Roman architecture as a major influence on ...