Olivier Giraud

Discover the fascinating and atypical journey of Olivier Giraud, a man who succeeded in turning a dream into reality! From cooking to acting, via the prestigious rooms of a luxury hotel in Florida, follow the journey of a passionate man determined to follow his dream.

Go behind the scenes of his bold, never-before-seen creation, “How to become a Parisian in One Hour”, which defies expectations and celebrates cultural differences with humor and insight. Prepare to experience a multicultural journey through laughter, truths and sharing, embodied by a man who has followed his own path. Welcome to the captivating world of Olivier Giraud!

At the age of 8, Olivier promised his mother that one day he would perform at the Olympia. A promise that made her smile…

As a teenager, he developed a passion for cooking and decided to become a chef. A few years later, he graduated from the Ferrandi French cookery school (Paris 6th arrondissement).

In 2001, Olivier packed his bags for the USA. He obtained a 6-year visa and became Maître d’Hôtel at one of the most prestigious hotels on the East Coast, “The Breakers”, in Palm Beach, Florida.

On the eve of his 30th birthday, Olivier realised that living under palm trees and blue skies all year round was no longer enough… Obsessed by his childhood dream, he decided to put an end to his American adventure and return to Paris to fulfil his childhood dream… To go on stage!

Agnès Roquefort

AccorHotels Group

Chief Development Officer Luxury & Lifestyle

Agnès Roquefort holds a MBA from ESSEC Business School in Paris, with a specialty in Corporate Finance.

Agnès is a seasoned professional with more than 15 years’ experience in hospitality, travel and tourism with different positions in Strategy, Business Development, M&A, Marketing, Digital, Revenue Management and Data. On top of these expertises, Agnès is an enthusiastic team leader with a strong dedication to talent development.

Agnès started her career in the Private Equity Fund Turenne Capital. In 2002, she joined Bain & Company, the major strategic consulting firm where she mainly worked on due diligence projects for multiple industries. From 2004 to 2010, she pursued strategic consulting at Advancy as Principal, working on strategic projects mainly in the Tourism, Travel, F&B and Hospitality sectors.

Agnès joined Accor in 2010 and was successively Chief of Staff for the Global COO, Global Head of Revenue Management & Pricing, Global Head of MGallery and SVP Digital Strategy, Integrations & Data and Group Chief Development Officer.

In January 2023, Agnès joined Accor’s Luxury & Lifestyle Executive Committee, as the division’s Chief Development Officer.

Agnès is the mother of 2 daughters, and is a strong advocate of gender equality at work. She contributes to RiiSE, the Accor diversity network and pays a particular attention to talents’ mentoring.

Rodolphe Frégé

Capital Hospitality Europe

Managing Director – Cofounding Partner

Rodolphe Frégé co-founded Capital Hospitality Europe in 2019 with former teammates at Algonquin, one year after the sale of the company to Schroder. During the last 10 years in the hotel industry, he has totaled over 1 bn€ investment volume all over Europe, from France to Poland, and added value over under-performing hotels.

Rodolphe graduated from HEC, started his career in Strategy Consulting (A.T. Kearney) and Private Equity (Butler Capital Partners and Lov Group) before specializing in Real Estate at BNP Paribas REIM.

Valeriano Antonioli

Lungarno Collection

Chief Executive Officer

Valeriano Antonioli is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and member of the Board of Directors of Lungarno Collection, the hospitality management company owned by the Ferragamo family. With over thirty years of experience in managing luxury hotels and resorts in Italy, Germany, Russia, England, and the United States,
Antonioli is a veteran of the hospitality industry. His career has always been driven by a passion for luxury and innovation, a keen attention to detail, and the ability to reinvent traditional properties, transforming them into vibrant lifestyle destinations.

His most recent success story has been the creation of the Portrait brand, with multiple award-winning hotels in Rome, Florence, and Milan. With Portrait, he has managed to turn the uniformity of luxury into spontaneous personalization, filling an important gap in the luxury hotel industry.

Antonioli is a black belt in Taekwondo, an outdoor sports enthusiast, and the author of Passione e Cucina and The Joy of Discovery. Fluent in Italian, English, and German, he was honoured in the Legion of Honour by the Italian Republic as “Cavaliere della Repubblica Italiana” in 2007.

Christina Budd

Carnival UK

Senior Interior Architect

Christina joined Carnival UK in 2017 as design lead for P&O Iona before moving on to Queen Anne for Cunard. More recently she has been delivering fast-paced refit projects across the P&O and Cunard fleet.

Prior to working in the cruise industry Christina worked many years in fashion retail with brands such as Arcadia, Kurt Geiger, Harrods and Selfridges. This work heavily encompassed delivering British brands to international markets.

Taylor Cluff

Marriott International, Inc.

Director of Interior Design Luxury Brands

Taylor Cluff has 16 years of experience in hospitality design. As Director of Interior Design for luxury brands at Marriott International, she is actively engaged in the design, execution, planning, and strategic growth of Marriott’s luxury portfolio. She has supported the design of over 500 hotels in more than 60 countries, as well as the full fleet of The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection. Her thoughtful, analytical, and collaborative approach to design management has made her a respected and trusted partner for designers and owners alike.

Taylor studied interior design and art history at The George Washington University, furniture design at The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, and luxury management at ESSEC Business School and Parsons School of Design.

Ngahuia Damerell

AccorHotels Group

Global Brand Design Director – D&TS Lux Global (Sofitel Legend, Sofitel, MGallery, Emblems)

Ngahuia Damerell is a key member of Accor’s Global Brand Design team, where she helps shape the creative vision and design standards for the group’s luxury portfolio—Sofitel Legend, Sofitel, MGallery,and Emblems. Since joining the company over five years ago, she has played a pivotal role in defining design principles and brand initiatives that enhance performance, elevate the guest experience, and ensure long-term relevance in an ever-evolving hospitality landscape.

Specialising in global luxury interiors, Ngahuia brings a discerning eye and thoughtful approach to crafting spaces that embody brand identity while resonating with diverse cultural contexts. With a background in textile design, focused on interior applications, and more than 15 years’ experience in design-led international environments, she is deeply committed to creating refined, responsible spaces that connect with both guests and local communities.

She works within a strategic global team that bridges Regional Design & Technical Services with Brand, Operations, Marketing, and Development. Together, they support projects from concept to realisation, ensuring every space reflects brand DNA while adapting sensitively to regional market needs around the world.

Ngahuia’s design thinking is informed by her New Zealand Māori heritage and a global career journey that has taken her from Sydney and London to New York, and now Paris. She is passionate about bringing personality to spaces and brands, developing unique visual languages that elevate the guest experience and leave a lasting impression.

William Dowling

Virgin Hotels Collection

Development Europe Middle East and Africa

Will Dowling has seventeen years experience in the real estate and hospitality sectors. He started his career at Morgan Stanley in New York City in their Fixed Income Division before joining the hedge fund, Mariner Investments, an $11b fund-of-funds. In 2018 he returned to Madrid, Spain working with Greystar Real Estate Private Equity Partners managing a portfolio exceeding €1.0b of real estate on the Iberian Peninsula. He has been working with Virgin Group since 2020 assisting in the growth of the Virgin Hotel and Virgin Limited Edition Brands. He is bilingual in Spanish and English and is a graduate of the Cornell School of Hotel Administration.

Tom Hupe

Hilton EMEA

Senior Director of Design

Tom Hupe is the Senior Director of Design, Hilton EMEA.

Within this role Tom oversees the Hilton EMEA design team based in the UK, Central Europe, Dubai and South Africa. Collectively the team is responsible for the review, elevation, approval and brand alignment of designs for all Hilton brands across EMEA.

The team currently oversees over 400 active projects, which range from renovations and conversions to new developments.

Tom brings 25 years’ experience of working as a designer exclusively in the hotel and leisure sector. During this time, he has been responsible for the design and project delivery of a diverse and impressive range of hotels.

Aliya Khan

Marriott Int'l, Inc.

VP/Global Design Strategy and Product Development

Aliya Khan is the Vice President of Global Design Strategy and Product Development at Marriott International, where she oversees the creative direction for over 30 brands across the Premium, Select, Midscale, and Outdoor portfolios. With a background in both Architecture and Industrial Design from Pratt Institute, she has built a reputation for translating brand strategy into thoughtful, resonant guest experiences at scale.

Throughout nearly two decades in the hospitality space, Aliya has played a key role in launching and evolving brands that have shaped the hotel landscape. Her leadership was central to the expansion of the iconic W Hotels brand in the mid 2000s, served as a driving vision for the pioneering, select-service design-led Aloft Hotels in partnership with the Rockwell Group, and led the development of new concepts such as Apartments by Marriott.

Aliya also plays a key role in shaping flagship properties and creative partnerships that push design forward. From Moxy Banff with Workshop APD and The Westin Washington DC Downtown with Parts and Labor Design, to the award-winning Bentley Suites collaboration with St. Regis, she consistently curates design relationships that elevate both the brand and the guest experience. These projects reflect her belief in the power of cross-disciplinary collaboration to drive innovation and differentiate Marriott’s global portfolio.

Based in Washington, D.C., she remains deeply engaged in the broader design conversation, drawing inspiration from travel, art, and architecture around the world. Her work continues to redefine how design lives within hospitality, not just as a visual language, but as a strategic force for business and brand growth.

Thomas Lamson

The Ascott Limited

Vice President/Development & PTS EMEA

VP Development & PTS (Product & Technical Services) at The Ascott Limited, Thomas is instrumental in structuring the development strategy with strongly skilled developers. He has also the charge of monitoring the constructions and performing the renovations with a dedicated and experienced team, all located in the EMEA region.

Prior to joining The Ascott Limited, Thomas worked for more than 6 years as Chief Development, Design & Real Estate Officer at Adagio. He was also in charge of the asset management.

Beforehand, he worked c.6 years for JLL Hotels & Hospitality as Director of Capital Market. Until 2011, he served as MD France at Christie & Co.

Emmanuelle LeVaillant

Terlia

Group Operation Director

Passionate about hospitality and catering, I was fortunate to follow an enriching path, starting with a bachelor’s degree at EHL, followed by a Master’s in Entrepreneurship at EM Lyon. These programs allowed me to develop a solid expertise in the hospitality industry.

Throughout my studies, I had the opportunity to work in diverse environments, ranging from prestigious luxury hotels to 4- and 5-star establishments, as well as traditional, collective, and fast food catering. This variety of experiences provided me with a comprehensive understanding of the many facets and opportunities offered by this sector.

After EM Lyon, I embarked on an entrepreneurial adventure in China, with the aim of creating an innovative salad bar concept. Although the project did not succeed, the experience was particularly rewarding, strengthening my passion for innovation and business management.

Melissa Messmer

IHG Hotels & Resorts | Creative Strategies

Global Head of Design Luxury Brands

As Global Head of Design for Luxury Brands for IHG, Melissa is overseeing the new and evolving design strategies for IHG’s top luxury brands as part of the company’s commitment to growing and improving this segment within a highly competitive market. Her academic journey began with a first-class honors degree in Art History, exploring cultural and artistic traditions worldwide—an education that profoundly influenced her career. Over the years, Melissa has resided in five countries across the Middle East and Europe, collaborating with premier luxury hotel operators and developers including Starwood, contributing to the inception of the W Hotels brand, as well as Accor Luxury Brands, Marriott Luxury Brands, and IHG. As a designer, her client base included top clientele such as Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, Ritz Carlton Hotels, Peninsula Hotels as well as private residences for the Sultan of Brunei along with other private family members of the royal family in Saudi Arabia.

With her background in art styling, fashion and curation, her design accomplishments go beyond the typical confines of architectural planning and detailing. She has a passion for the entire holistic guest experience, pushing boundaries of creativity and tapping into how modern luxury travel is evolving for the next generation.

Jane Moyses

Belmond

Director of Procurement

Driven by a passion for exceptional quality and sustainability, Jane joined Belmond in 2022 to spearhead global procurement across its renowned portfolio of luxury hotels, trains, and boats, with a particular focus on elevating local, artisanal sourcing.

Previously, Jane spent over a decade at Hilton, where she played a pivotal role in the development and expansion of their project procurement team across EMEA. She was instrumental in the successful launch of multiple high-profile brand initiatives during her tenure.

With 18 years of strategic sourcing expertise in the hospitality industry, Jane’s career spans five continents and includes a diverse range of high-impact projects. She thrives on the challenge of navigating emerging markets and driving sustainable growth through innovative procurement strategies.

My Nguyen

Holland America Group

Director Interior Design & Interior Operations

My leads a team focused on the Interior Design and Interior Asset Management of the Holland America and Seabourn fleets. My’s design experience is diversified across Newbuild and Refurbishment, high-end residential design and land-based hospitality. As a globally recognized thought leader, My’s repertoire of achievements span both land and sea. She is known not only for her internationally acclaimed, award-winning designs, but also for being a public speaker on topics close to her heart such as Sustainability in Marine Interior Design. My is an active leader in the design community including Chair of the Advisory Board for Cruise Ship Interior Expo, Advisory Board member for the Sustainable Design Summit, BrandEd embassador for NEWH, and has judged several notable Design Awards.
My came to Seattle as a Vietnamese refugee. She graduated with honors from the University of Puget Sound with an emphasis in oil painting and was awarded the prestigious Watson Fellowship to travel around the world to create paintings. My continued her education in Interior Design and began her career over 23 years ago as an intern for Holland America Line. My is a career driven working mom passionate about making the world a more beautiful and sustainable place.

Eric-Michel Omgba

ALBORAN | Hotels & Hospitality

Founding Partner (Associé - Fondateur)

Brian Quinn

Sonesta Hotels & Resorts

Chief Development Officer

Brian Quinn joined Sonesta as the Chief Development Officer with 20+ years of experience in executive roles in public companies and private equity firms. Prior to joining Sonesta in 2021, he worked at Choice Hotels, Driftwood Hospitality, InterContinental and Hilton Hotels Corporation. He served the American Hotel Lodging Association and Intercontinental Hotels Group Owners’ Association and Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association as a board member. Quinn currently serves on the United States Travel and Tourism Board. He led the development of the upscale segment strategy for IHG in the Caribbean and has experience in international strategic planning. His areas of expertise include hospitality, real estate, finance, acquisitions and hotel operations. Quinn brings these talents to Sonesta as he oversees the development effort for the company.

Stacy Shoemaker Rauen

Editor in Chief , Hospitality Design magazine

Senior Vice President, Design Group, Emerald

Stacy Shoemaker Rauen is the senior vice president of the Design Group at Emerald, a leading events and media company. There she oversees multiple brands in the hospitality, commercial, and residential design spheres, including Hospitality Design magazine and HD Expo + Conference; ICFF; Boutique Design magazine and BDNY; and EDspaces.

Shoemaker Rauen is a well-respected and talented editor and writer, and also is the editor in chief of Hospitality Design magazine, the leading publication for the industry.

Shoemaker Rauen—who has been with the company for 21 years—is a noted speaker at industry events, and as an avid tracker of trends, places, projects, and people, and has been quoted in various respected media outlets including CNBC and the Washington Post. She holds two degrees from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, including a master's in magazine journalism.

Ludovica Rocchi

R Collection Hotels Group

Brand Director

With international professional experience and a strong commitment to Italian excellence in hospitality, Ludovica Rocchi is the Brand Director of R Collection Hotels, a collection of leisure and business properties in iconic locations. The hotel group has a prominent presence on Lake Como, with the Grand Hotel Victoria in Menaggio, a 5-star luxury hotel, the Royal Victoria and Villa Cipressi in Varenna, and the two new properties, Casa du Lac in Varenna and Bianca Relais in
Oggiono. In the mountains, the group owns the renowned Montana Lodge & Spa and the prestigious Grand Hotel Courmayeur MontBlanc in La Thuile and Courmayeur. On the Ligurian coast, it includes the Grand Hotel Bristol Portofino Coast. The group also offers a business portfolio in the city of Milan, with the three hotels Hotel Mentana, City Life Hotel Poliziano, and Hotel King.

Ludovica Rocchi is a highly regarded professional in the field of hotel management. With a rich background, her educational journey began in England, where she graduated with A-levels from Millfield School in London. After completing her studies, she decided to move to Switzerland, to Glion and Montreux, where she pursued a three-year university degree in Hospitality Management.

During these years, she worked for prestigious international hotel chains, including Four Seasons in Florence and Rocco Forte Hotels, specifically at Brown’s Hotel in England. She gained significant cross-disciplinary experience in various areas of the hospitality industry, from Sales and Event Management to Public Relations and Marketing. Since 2018, she has been the Brand Director of R Collection Hotels.

Laura Roldán Saso

Hyatt Hotels Corporation

Senior Manager Brands - EAME

Laura Roldán Saso lives and breathes her passion for hospitality brands. With over 12 years of experience in the hospitality sector, specializing in independent brands, she is currently Hyatt’s Senior Manager Brands for the EAME region. Since joining Hyatt in 2013, Laura has supported and enforced Hyatt’s brand strategy and brand standards across more than 55 hotel openings. During this time, she has held various roles, from Operations to Brands & Marketing, including managing Hyatt’s cultural localization efforts in EAME—demonstrating her expertise in brand strategy and marketing execution across diverse international markets. Prior to joining Hyatt, she worked at a renowned research institute and an intellectual property agency in Barcelona, consistently bringing a unique interdisciplinary approach to brand management. Based in Zurich, Laura’s work continues to shape Hyatt’s brand presence and growth strategy across key global regions.

Sam Suleman

Equinox Hospitality and Equinox Hotels

Principal & Executive Vice President

Sam Suleman has extensive experience in a number of areas of hospitality including new hotel development; new brand development & strategy; repositioning & renovation of existing hotel properties; hotel operations; food & beverage operations and concept development; and hospitality technology.

Mr. Suleman has worked extensively on projects throughout the US, UK, mainland Europe, and in the Middle East. He has also been a speaker at various hospitality, development, and design conferences in the United States and Europe.

Mr. Suleman has served on the IHG OA Board of Directors, as Chairman of the Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts Board, Chairman of the IHG Technology Board, and as Chairman/Founder of the Emerging Leaders Council, a group representing the next generation of hotel owners and operators.

Mr. Suleman currently serves as Vice Chairman of the IHG Americas Regional Board, on the Editorial Board of Hospitality Design Magazine, and as a member of the American Hotel and Lodging Association’s Management Committee.

Barry Sullivan

Hilton Worldwide

Senior Director, Luxury & Lifestyle

Barry joined Hilton joined Hilton in 2015 to work on the launch of Canopy, Hilton’s entry into the Lifestyle market. Subsequently, he has participated in the launch of Motto and most recently Tempo that debuted in 2020. Barry and his team oversee the design of all Canopy, Motto, and Tempo projects in North America. Following the brand’s premier with Tempo Times Square in August, Nashville will be Tempo’s second hotel to open.

Luigi Tilotta

Garibaldi Hotels

Chief Commercial Officer

Luigi Tilotta, born in 1976 in Calabria (Italy), is a lawyer specializing in international contracts.

He has worked as a contractor and consultant in real estate, collaborating with international law firms and founding the Italian Lawyers Network.

Since 2009, he has been active in tourism, initially in tour operating and the incoming sector, holding roles such as Contract Manager, Contract Director, and COO.

Later, he moved into hospitality as Chief Commercial Officer at Garibaldi Hotels.

He specializes in international markets, studying tourist flows in Italian destinations, and has a strong focus on business development.

Sylvain Morgaine

AccorHotels Group

Vice President/Innovation Lab

Sylvain Morgaine is a researcher, inventor and entrepreneur with a combined 35-year experience in Innovation consulting and development.

He joined Havas Advertising in 2002 as director of Marketing and Innovation where he developed new ways of connecting Brands with Consumers through proprietary technology.

Today, he heads Accor’s Innovation Lab to improve the group’s performance while creating novel hospitality concepts and rethinking the guest experience.

Sylvain graduated with a BA in Computer Science & Visual Studies from Boston University and a Master of Science in Visual Studies from the M.I.T Media Lab. He is certified in Product innovation from M.I.T Sloan School of Management.

Andrea Prestigiacomo

Missoni S.p.a.

Branded Real Estate Director

Andrea Prestigiacomo graduated in Economics with a specialization in Marketing, including a year of graduate studies at Hong Kong University. He has developed a solid career in licensing and branded real estate, working with some of the most prominent names in the Italian fashion industry. He is currently Branded Real Estate Director at Missoni Spa, following previous roles at Roberto Cavalli Spa, Gianni Versace Spa, and the Marzotto Group.

Valeriano Antonioli

Lungarno Collection

Chief Executive Officer

Valeriano Antonioli is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and member of the Board of Directors of Lungarno Collection, the hospitality management company owned by the Ferragamo family. With over thirty years of experience in managing luxury hotels and resorts in Italy, Germany, Russia, England, and the United States,
Antonioli is a veteran of the hospitality industry. His career has always been driven by a passion for luxury and innovation, a keen attention to detail, and the ability to reinvent traditional properties, transforming them into vibrant lifestyle destinations.

His most recent success story has been the creation of the Portrait brand, with multiple award-winning hotels in Rome, Florence, and Milan. With Portrait, he has managed to turn the uniformity of luxury into spontaneous personalization, filling an important gap in the luxury hotel industry.

Antonioli is a black belt in Taekwondo, an outdoor sports enthusiast, and the author of Passione e Cucina and The Joy of Discovery. Fluent in Italian, English, and German, he was honoured in the Legion of Honour by the Italian Republic as “Cavaliere della Repubblica Italiana” in 2007.

David Ashen

Saguez & dash

CEO

David Ashen is the CEO of Saguez & Dash, where he leads with a visionary approach that seamlessly integrates branding and interior design to create impactful, user-centric experiences.

In 2002, David founded dash design with the ambition of using innovative and strategic creative thinking to enhance the success of his clients. His market-savvy approach, which blends business acumen with a keen design eye, has made him a trusted partner for global brand leaders.

With over two decades of experience in multidisciplinary design and branding, particularly in the hospitality, senior living, and retail sectors, David has built a reputation for delivering strategic, on- target solutions through a collaborative process. His expertise in crafting compelling environments has made him a sought-after leader in interior design and branding services.

As CEO, David continues to drive Saguez & Dash's vision, ensuring the firm delivers innovative, strategy-driven solutions that meet the evolving needs of its clients.

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Human Factors Engineering from Tufts University and a Master of Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania

Lee Birchall

DV8 Designs

Managing Director

As Owner & Director of DV8 Designs, I lead an award-winning interior design firm shaping the future of hospitality, commercial, aviation, and place-making projects. Since 2006, we've redefined spaces with innovation, style, and functionality, creating environments that inspire and connect. Our visionary approach transforms hotels, restaurants, workplaces, airports, and communities, ensuring every design is both cutting-edge and future-proof. With a passion for pushing boundaries, DV8 Designs continues to set industry standards, crafting spaces that are not only aesthetically stunning but also enhance experience and efficiency. We don’t just design interiors—we create destinations with impact.

Alys Bryan

Design Insider

Editor

Alys is a knowledgeable design editor who is focused on instigating conversations, both online and in-person, with industry experts which challenge, educate and advance the commercial interior sector. Alys’ training and 15 years of professional experience as a furniture designer for the commercial sector makes her uniquely placed to lead Design Insider as Editor. Leading the editorial content of the publication, she curates unique industry events, including Design Insider Talks seminar programme, which bring together commercial designers and suppliers. Alys’ highlight in her position as Editor is the opportunity to commission thought provoking editorial, from carefully selected authors, which answer the needs of commercial interior designers.

Keisha Byrd

Hospitality Design Group at Emerald

Vice President & Brand Director

Keisha Byrd is the Vice President & Brand Director of the Hospitality Design Group at Emerald, a leading event and media company. She leads strategic brand development and industry engagement for the Hospitality Design and Boutique Design portfolio of tradeshows and networking events, including BDNY and HD Expo. With a strong background in event management, she plays a key role in shaping experiences that bring the design community together. Known for her visionary leadership and deep industry insight, Keisha has played a key role in elevating the group’s presence and impact across events and initiatives.

Taylor Cluff

Marriott International, Inc.

Director of Interior Design Luxury Brands

Taylor Cluff has 16 years of experience in hospitality design. As Director of Interior Design for luxury brands at Marriott International, she is actively engaged in the design, execution, planning, and strategic growth of Marriott’s luxury portfolio. She has supported the design of over 500 hotels in more than 60 countries, as well as the full fleet of The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection. Her thoughtful, analytical, and collaborative approach to design management has made her a respected and trusted partner for designers and owners alike.

Taylor studied interior design and art history at The George Washington University, furniture design at The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, and luxury management at ESSEC Business School and Parsons School of Design.

Matt DeShantz

Decorative Textiles Industry Veteran | Board Member | Speaker

With over 30 years of experience in the decorative textiles industry, Matt DeShantz is a seasoned professional who has made a lasting impact on the hospitality and contract fabric markets. Throughout his career, he has had the privilege of contributing to hotel and casino projects around the world, delivering expert knowledge and creative solutions to some of the most dynamic spaces in the industry.

Matt serves as Host and Moderator for NEWH (Network of Executive Women in Hospitality) and is an active member of the HD Advisory Committee and ALC (Ageless Living Collaborative). His leadership and commitment to the industry are further exemplified by his role as the Master of Ceremonies and Host for the NEWH International Leadership Conference for the past three events, where he has fostered connections and inspired the next generation of hospitality leaders.

A strong advocate for integrity and transparency in business, Matt has built a reputation on the values of honesty and fair dealings. For him, the hospitality and contract fabric industry is more than just a profession—it's a life passion, a hobby, and a continual source of inspiration. Where many view their work as a job, Matt has always seen his profession as an integral part of who he is.

In every project he undertakes, Matt brings an unwavering dedication to quality and craftsmanship, coupled with a deep enthusiasm for creating beautiful, functional environments that elevate the guest experience.

William Dowling

Virgin Hotels Collection

Development Europe Middle East and Africa

Will Dowling has seventeen years experience in the real estate and hospitality sectors. He started his career at Morgan Stanley in New York City in their Fixed Income Division before joining the hedge fund, Mariner Investments, an $11b fund-of-funds. In 2018 he returned to Madrid, Spain working with Greystar Real Estate Private Equity Partners managing a portfolio exceeding €1.0b of real estate on the Iberian Peninsula. He has been working with Virgin Group since 2020 assisting in the growth of the Virgin Hotel and Virgin Limited Edition Brands. He is bilingual in Spanish and English and is a graduate of the Cornell School of Hotel Administration.

Boris Gentine

Saguez & Partners

Directeur Général Création

Boris joined SAGUEZ & Partners as Artistic Director in 2002 and later became Associate Creative Director, leading major international real estate projects like São Paulo Airport, Huawei’s Shanghai headquarters, and Überseequartier in Hamburg. He has played a key role in shaping the agency’s global projects. In 2015, he created the hospitality department, bringing a sharp, creative, and refined vision to the field. In 2024, after the acquisition of New York-based DASH Design, he became co-leader of Saguez & Dash, a hospitality design subsidiary that combines the strengths of both countries.

Andrea Grigg

CBRE

Senior Managing Director, Global Head of Hotels - Asset Mgt.

Tom Hupe

Hilton EMEA

Senior Director of Design

Tom Hupe is the Senior Director of Design, Hilton EMEA.

Within this role Tom oversees the Hilton EMEA design team based in the UK, Central Europe, Dubai and South Africa. Collectively the team is responsible for the review, elevation, approval and brand alignment of designs for all Hilton brands across EMEA.

The team currently oversees over 400 active projects, which range from renovations and conversions to new developments.

Tom brings 25 years’ experience of working as a designer exclusively in the hotel and leisure sector. During this time, he has been responsible for the design and project delivery of a diverse and impressive range of hotels.

Aliya Khan

Marriott Int'l, Inc.

VP/Global Design Strategy and Product Development

Aliya Khan is the Vice President of Global Design Strategy and Product Development at Marriott International. She is an award-winning designer who leads the design strategy for over 30 brands across Marriott’s Premium, Select, Midscale, and Outdoor portfolio.

Her career in hospitality began nearly two decades ago with W Hotels, where she played a role in expanding the brand globally. She also led the design efforts for Aloft, a pioneering select-service design-led brand. Over the years, she has reshaped both brands to align with evolving cultural trends.

Aliya briefly stepped away from hospitality to lead the design and development of NeueHouse before returning to Marriott, where she continues to innovate in guest experience and business impact through design. She has been involved in launching new brands, such as Apartments by Marriott, and overseeing select flagship projects globally.

She holds degrees in Architecture and Industrial Design from the Pratt Institute and is a global traveler, currently based in Washington, D.C.

Hamish Kilburn

Kilburn Communications

Director

Hamish Kilburn, Owner and Director of Kilburn Communications, is a respected voice in the design and hospitality industries. Formerly the Editor of Hotel Designs and Features Editor of SPACE Magazine, Kilburn has built a career around storytelling, thought leadership, and connecting industry pioneers.

As the host of two series of Marriott Bonvoy’s acclaimed podcast, Travel By Design, Kilburn showcased his expertise and influence by engaging with globally renowned interior designers, architects, and hospitality visionaries across various platforms – on stage, in print, and on screen.

Kilburn Communications specializes in amplifying compelling brand narratives. The PR and marketing agency creates personable networking opportunities and bridges connections between interior designers, architects, hoteliers, brands and developers worldwide. With roots in 24 years of industry experience, the company has emerged as a market disruptor, offering tailored PR, marketing, and business development solutions that stand out in today’s competitive landscape.

Thomas Lamson

The Ascott Limited

Vice President/Development & PTS EMEA

VP Development & PTS (Product & Technical Services) at The Ascott Limited, Thomas is instrumental in structuring the development strategy with strongly skilled developers. He has also the charge of monitoring the constructions and performing the renovations with a dedicated and experienced team, all located in the EMEA region.

Prior to joining The Ascott Limited, Thomas worked for more than 6 years as Chief Development, Design & Real Estate Officer at Adagio. He was also in charge of the asset management.

Beforehand, he worked c.6 years for JLL Hotels & Hospitality as Director of Capital Market. Until 2011, he served as MD France at Christie & Co.

Adrien Lanotte

MKG Consulting EMEA

Head Economist

Adrien Lanotte joined MKG in 2010, and in 2012 became head of the Research & Publications Department (macroeconomic analyses of the tourism sector), then of Strategic & Sector Studies.

He assists players in the tourism & hotel ecosystem, as well as investors, local authorities and suppliers / service providers in the real estate services sector, in particular with the ideation of new services, the sizing of addressable markets, the study of competitive positioning and the design of strategic development plans.

In particular, he has led "big data" studies on business performance, e-reputation, the global installed base or investment dynamics, benchmark and product positioning studies, as well as impact and feasibility studies for tourism products (hotels, casinos, B&Bs).

He has also carried out several impact studies, including impact models for the Covid-19 epidemic, and ideas for supporting the recovery of the tourism industry, as well as studies on changing uses, new services, mixed-use real estate and investment programs.

Prospective analysis hotel :
- Hotel market performance forecasts
- Implementation of tools to analyze the operating accounts of French hotels to estimate the future impact of the COVID-19 pandemic
- Reflection on tourism and events after the health crisis for Alliance France Tourisme
- Keynote speaker at events such as the Global Lodging Forum: "Where will tomorrow's growth take place?” & speaker in higher education institutions (Vatel Bordeaux, Ecosup Lille...)

Strategic analysiss :
- National and regional Tourism investment dashboard – Atout France (since 2013)
- Study on the tourist attractiveness of French regions - Alliance France Tourisme (2019)
- Annual report « European Hospitality Report », analysis of macroeconomic indicators of the tourist market
- Strategic plan for the development of an emerging destination in the MEA region (2022)

Emmanuelle LeVaillant

Terlia

Group Operation Director

Passionate about hospitality and catering, I was fortunate to follow an enriching path, starting with a bachelor’s degree at EHL, followed by a Master’s in Entrepreneurship at EM Lyon. These programs allowed me to develop a solid expertise in the hospitality industry.

Throughout my studies, I had the opportunity to work in diverse environments, ranging from prestigious luxury hotels to 4- and 5-star establishments, as well as traditional, collective, and fast food catering. This variety of experiences provided me with a comprehensive understanding of the many facets and opportunities offered by this sector.

After EM Lyon, I embarked on an entrepreneurial adventure in China, with the aim of creating an innovative salad bar concept. Although the project did not succeed, the experience was particularly rewarding, strengthening my passion for innovation and business management.

My true career launch took place in Paris 10 years ago, at Honotel, a hotel group that was managing 40 hotels under the Happyculture brand at the time. I started as a business developer before moving on to financial management, where I helped create their first investment fund. These two roles allowed me to develop key strategic skills in hotel management.

Desiring to return to the heart of operations, Honotel entrusted me with the management of Hôtel Sacha, a 50-room 4-star hotel in Paris. Then, in 2018, the Groupe Expérimental hired me to oversee the operation of their new establishment: Hôtel des Grands Boulevards, a 4-star hotel with a restaurant, bar, and rooftop. This highly formative experience allowed me to enrich my view of hospitality with an innovative and creative approach.

In 2020, I took the helm of Hôtel Maison Breguet, a 5-star hotel in the 11th arrondissement, before joining the headquarters of the Terlia Group as Director of Operations.

Terlia is a young and dynamic hotel group with ambitious projects in Paris, across the country, and internationally. We currently manage hotels for our owners, as well as for independent owners, with five new openings planned between 2025 and 2027.

Melissa Messmer

IHG Hotels & Resorts | Creative Strategies

Global Head of Design Luxury Brands

As Global Head of Design for Luxury Brands for IHG, Melissa is overseeing the new and evolving design strategies for IHG’s top luxury brands as part of the company’s commitment to growing and improving this segment within a highly competitive market. Her academic journey began with a first-class honors degree in Art History, exploring cultural and artistic traditions worldwide—an education that profoundly influenced her career. Over the years, Melissa has resided in five countries across the Middle East and Europe, collaborating with premier luxury hotel operators and developers including Starwood, contributing to the inception of the W Hotels brand, as well as Accor Luxury Brands, Marriott Luxury Brands, and IHG. As a designer, her client base included top clientele such as Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, Ritz Carlton Hotels, Peninsula Hotels as well as private residences for the Sultan of Brunei along with other private family members of the royal family in Saudi Arabia.

With her background in art styling, fashion and curation, her design accomplishments go beyond the typical confines of architectural planning and detailing. She has a passion for the entire holistic guest experience, pushing boundaries of creativity and tapping into how modern luxury travel is evolving for the next generation.

Tim Mutton

Blacksheep

Founder

Tim is the founder partner of Blacksheep, a multi-disciplinary creative studio that partners with global brands to create powerful hospitality experiences.

When Tim founded Blacksheep over 20 years ago, he envisioned bringing something different to the hospitality and food-and-beverage sectors. However, his experience in hospitality and interior design convinced him that a designer’s responsibility went beyond design. “To give a hospitality brand the depth of meaning it deserves, designers should tailor every aspect of the guest experience.”

Today, Tim has successfully grown Blacksheep into a leading global design practice recognised for transforming brands and spaces worldwide. Tim has developed and expanded the business with two distinct areas of speciality – Hotel, Luxury & Lifestyle and F&B Retail & Leisure - allowing the studio to work as a close-knit collective and assist their client partners from project conception to opening and beyond.

Tim and his team have helped to develop and innovate some of the world’s most renowned and respected hotel brands, including Ritz Carlton, Luxury Collection, St Regis, W Hotels, Autograph Collection, Fairmont Hotels and Resorts, Mandarin Oriental and SH Hotels and Resorts, alongside, working with global hospitality brands and acclaimed culinary chefs, such as Hyundai, Pernod Ricard, Live Nation, Five Guys, The Alchemist, Jamie Oliver, Akira Back, Nobu Matsuhisa, Raymond Blanc and Simon Rogan. Leading industry organisations have also honoured their work, receiving numerous creative accolades from the British Institute of Interior Design and Hospitality Design’s Wave of the Future. In addition, Blacksheep has been named a finalist for Mixology’s Design Practice of the Year.

Regularly representing Blacksheep on the world stage, Tim shares his insights and creative thought leadership to help future-poof brands and inspire them to enhance their guest propositions, speaking at events like the IHIF Berlin, Peach 2020, To the Table and BIID Conference. He has also participated in several top broadcast shows such as BBC Radio, Monocle Radio, The Fixer with Alex Polizzi, Mary Queen of Shops and Gordon Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares.

Outside the studio, Tim is passionate about sharing his journey and experience from designer into the business through teaching and mentoring support through The London Metropolitan University, KLC and the Business Design Association (DBA), whilst attending Cranfield University and the Berlin School of Creative Leadership.

Antoine Ménard

PARIS SOCIETY

Chief Creative Officer

Creator of brands and concepts, Antoine Menard has been working within the Paris Society teams for 8 years. Visionary in his ability to create new customer experiences in the Luxury Lifestyle sector, Antoine has developed with his teams several places and brands that have become iconic. Examples include GiGi, CoCo, Maison Revka and the Abbaye des Vaux de Cernay. Consultant for many years, then entrepreneur, Antoine was able to master the different facets of the Hospitality sector by occupying positions of Development Direction, New Business Direction, Operations Direction, and more recently that of Chief Creative Officer.

Antoine is now leading a broad team from Paris to Dubai and leads Paris Society and Rikas brands under Ennismore umbrella.

My Nguyen

Holland America Group

Director Interior Design & Interior Operations

My leads a team focused on the Interior Design and Interior Asset Management of the Holland America and Seabourn fleets. My’s design experience is diversified across Newbuild and Refurbishment, high-end residential design and land-based hospitality. As a globally recognized thought leader, My’s repertoire of achievements span both land and sea. She is known not only for her internationally acclaimed, award-winning designs, but also for being a public speaker on topics close to her heart such as Sustainability in Marine Interior Design. My is an active leader in the design community including Chair of the Advisory Board for Cruise Ship Interior Expo, Advisory Board member for the Sustainable Design Summit, BrandEd embassador for NEWH, and has judged several notable Design Awards.
My came to Seattle as a Vietnamese refugee. She graduated with honors from the University of Puget Sound with an emphasis in oil painting and was awarded the prestigious Watson Fellowship to travel around the world to create paintings. My continued her education in Interior Design and began her career over 23 years ago as an intern for Holland America Line. My is a career driven working mom passionate about making the world a more beautiful and sustainable place.

Alejandra Obregon

The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection

Director, Architecture & Hotel Design

Alejandra Obregon is a Colombian-American architect. Enriched by her multifaceted experiences across cosmopolitan hubs including New York, Miami, Beijing, France, and Spain, she channels an unparalleled international perspective into her role as Director of Design for The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection. As a beacon of design innovation, she is celebrated for her adept navigation within the echelons of ultra-luxury hospitality and design. Proficient in the art of collaboration, she orchestrates creativity, seamlessly harmonizing with expansive teams of designers, consultants, and stakeholders. Leading a team of esteemed architects and maritime engineers, she curates experiences that transcend the ordinary, crafting seafaring sanctuaries that redefine the boundaries of luxury and innovation.

Gilda Perez-Alvarado

AccorHotels Group

Chief Executive Officer, Orient Express / Group Chief Strategy Officer

Gilda Perez-Alvarado has a strong academic background developed across both Europe and North America, at Cornell University and IE Business School.

She started her career at PwC before joining JLL in 2004. Working in the company’s Hotel & Hospitality division, Gilda has accrued nearly two decades of experience providing top-tier strategic advice to the industry’s largest owners and investors including sovereign wealth funds, private equity, global brands, and family offices/UHNWIs.

In her most recent role as Global CEO of JLL Hotels & Hospitality, Gilda was responsible for overseeing the global investment sales, debt and equity placement, strategic advisory and asset management services, offering leading expertise throughout the Americas, EMEA and Asia Pacific. In addition, Gilda led the Global Hotel Desk, the group’s cross-border investment sales team which executed the sale of some of the world’s most iconic hospitality assets worldwide. In recognition of her capabilities spanning both real estate and hospitality, Gilda holds board and membership positions at a number of high-profile organizations, among which: Blackstone Mortgage Trust Inc, Cornell University Board of Trustees, World Travel & Tourism Council and IREFAC.

Gilda Perez-Alvarado joined Accor in October 2023 as Chief Strategy Officer and member of Accor’s Management Board. As part of her role, she in will be in charge of overseeing global strategy, relations with hotel owners, and strategic partnerships.

In January 2024, in addition to her current role as Chief Strategy Officer, she was also appointed as CEO Orient Express.

Damien Perrot

AccorHotels Group

Global Chief Design, Technical Services and Innovation Officer Accor Premium, Midscale & Economy brands

After graduating from Vatel Hospitality School, Damien Perrot joined Accor in 1998 as IT Project manager for the Wagon-Lits Company. He was then appointed Project manager in the Procurement Department.

From 2000 to 2012, he successfully occupied various positions within the Hotels Equipment Services: as IT Project leader first, then as Department Director before being appointed Design & Technical Services Communication Director in 2009. In 2013, he joined the ibis Family teams as Technical Vice-President for Europe.

From 2014 to 2022, Damien led the Group Global Design department and from 2021 the Innovation Lab as well. As of January 2023, he oversees the Global Design, Technical Services and Innovation for Premium, Midscale & Economy brands at Accor.

Damien has been fond of cuisine since his childhood and of board sports later on.

Damien’s major challenge today is to define and deploy the Design and Innovation strategy for the Premium, Midscale & Economy brands. He also ensures to reinforce the brand equity and brand identity, bringing his team and the group strategy beyond hospitality traditional borders in terms of design, technical services and innovation. Always respecting operational obligations, the department Damien leads is increasingly looking for creativity to build experiences and arouse emotions, while also increasing the performance for our investors.

Brian Quinn

Sonesta Hotels & Resorts

Chief Development Officer

Brian Quinn joined Sonesta as the Chief Development Officer with 20+ years of experience in executive roles in public companies and private equity firms. Prior to joining Sonesta in 2021, he worked at Choice Hotels, Driftwood Hospitality, InterContinental and Hilton Hotels Corporation. He served the American Hotel Lodging Association and Intercontinental Hotels Group Owners’ Association and Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association as a board member. Quinn currently serves on the United States Travel and Tourism Board. He led the development of the upscale segment strategy for IHG in the Caribbean and has experience in international strategic planning. His areas of expertise include hospitality, real estate, finance, acquisitions and hotel operations. Quinn brings these talents to Sonesta as he oversees the development effort for the company.

Heleri Rande

Think Hospitality

Partner

Originally from Estonia, Heleri has lived in seven countries and holds a bachelor’s degree from New York University in Economics and Business, as well as an executive MBA in Hospitality Administration from École Hôtelière de Lausanne (EHL) in Switzerland.

After leading Puccini Group’s growth in EMEA for two years after graduation, she has partnered with Think Hospitality to deliver on F&B strategy projects helping brands and owners assess the market, find the right concept positioning and/or operator and chef for the properties through strategic advice and review. Her focus is mostly on hotel and mall development projects with a portfolio that includes the likes of Accor, Hilton, Hyatt, Kempinski, Meliá Hotels International, 25Hours Hotels, Puro Hotels and Peel Holdings.

She is the Consulting Editor of Supper Magazine and programme director at various major hospitality events around the world. She co-founded Ideas-Flavours-Experiences, the leading gastronomy event in the Baltics and the New Baltic Hospitality Forum, the first hotel focused event in the region. Heleri also sits on the board of the Global Restaurant Investment Forum and is the Stammvater of the UK Chapter of EHL Alumni Network.

Ludovica Rocchi

R Collection Hotels Group

Brand Director

With international professional experience and a strong commitment to Italian excellence in hospitality, Ludovica Rocchi is the Brand Director of R Collection Hotels, a collection of leisure and business properties in iconic locations. The hotel group has a prominent presence on Lake Como, with the Grand Hotel Victoria in Menaggio, a 5-star luxury hotel, the Royal Victoria and Villa Cipressi in Varenna, and the two new properties, Casa du Lac in Varenna and Bianca Relais in
Oggiono. In the mountains, the group owns the renowned Montana Lodge & Spa and the prestigious Grand Hotel Courmayeur MontBlanc in La Thuile and Courmayeur. On the Ligurian coast, it includes the Grand Hotel Bristol Portofino Coast. The group also offers a business portfolio in the city of Milan, with the three hotels Hotel Mentana, City Life Hotel Poliziano, and Hotel King.

Ludovica Rocchi is a highly regarded professional in the field of hotel management. With a rich background, her educational journey began in England, where she graduated with A-levels from Millfield School in London. After completing her studies, she decided to move to Switzerland, to Glion and Montreux, where she pursued a three-year university degree in Hospitality Management.

During these years, she worked for prestigious international hotel chains, including Four Seasons in Florence and Rocco Forte Hotels, specifically at Brown’s Hotel in England. She gained significant cross-disciplinary experience in various areas of the hospitality industry, from Sales and Event Management to Public Relations and Marketing. Since 2018, she has been the Brand Director of R Collection Hotels.

Barry Sullivan

Hilton Worldwide

Senior Director, Luxury & Lifestyle

Barry joined Hilton joined Hilton in 2015 to work on the launch of Canopy, Hilton’s entry into the Lifestyle market. Subsequently, he has participated in the launch of Motto and most recently Tempo that debuted in 2020. Barry and his team oversee the design of all Canopy, Motto, and Tempo projects in North America. Following the brand’s premier with Tempo Times Square in August, Nashville will be Tempo’s second hotel to open.