2025 GUEST SPEAKERS & PANELISTS

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

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.

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 on the boards of both NEWH (Network of Executive Women in Hospitality) and ALC (Ageless Living Collaborative), and is an active member of the HD Advisory Committee. His leadership and commitment to the industry are further exemplified by his role as the Master of Ceremonies and Host for the NEWH National 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Emmanuelle Le Vaillant

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.

Awards

Keynote Speakers

Olivier Giraud

Olivier Giraud

Owners Roundtable Participants

Valeriano Antonioli

Lungarno Collection

Chief Executive Officer

Valeriano Antonioli

Lungarno Collection

Chief Executive Officer

Christina Budd

Carnival UK

Senior Interior Architect

Christina Budd

Carnival UK

Senior Interior Architect

Rodolphe Frégé

Capital Hospitality Europe

Managing Director – Cofounding Partner

Rodolphe Frégé

Capital Hospitality Europe

Managing Director – Cofounding Partner

Tom Hupe

Hilton EMEA

Senior Director of Design

Tom Hupe

Hilton EMEA

Senior Director of Design

Thomas Lamson

The Ascott Limited

Vice President/Development & PTS EMEA

Thomas Lamson

The Ascott Limited

Vice President/Development & PTS EMEA

Melissa Messmer

IHG Hotels & Resorts | Creative Strategies

Global Head of Design Luxury Brands

Melissa Messmer

IHG Hotels & Resorts | Creative Strategies

Global Head of Design Luxury Brands

Jane Moyses

Belmond

Director of Procurement

Jane Moyses

Belmond

Director of Procurement

Brian Quinn

Sonesta Hotels & Resorts

Chief Development Officer

Brian Quinn

Sonesta Hotels & Resorts

Chief Development Officer

Arun Rana

AccorHotels Group

Head of Interior Design Accor ENA Premium | Midscale | Economy, Europe & North America

Arun Rana

AccorHotels Group

Head of Interior Design Accor ENA Premium | Midscale | Economy, Europe & North America

Stacy Shoemaker Rauen

Editor in Chief , Hospitality Design magazine

Senior Vice President, Design Group, Emerald

Stacy Shoemaker Rauen

Editor in Chief , Hospitality Design magazine

Senior Vice President, Design Group, Emerald

Ludovica Rocchi

R Collection Hotels Group

Brand Director

Ludovica Rocchi

R Collection Hotels Group

Brand Director

Laura Roldán Saso

Hyatt Hotels Corporation

Senior Manager Brands - EAME

Laura Roldán Saso

Hyatt Hotels Corporation

Senior Manager Brands - EAME

Sam Suleman

Equinox Hospitality and Equinox Hotels

Principal & Executive Vice President