Global Hospitality Talks | Johnathan Garrison

Learning from Tomorrow: Insights and Inspiration from Emerging Hospitality Design Leaders.

As the hospitality industry continues to evolve, design plays an increasingly vital role in creating spaces that resonate with diverse audiences. During a recent Global Hospitality Talks panel, moderated by Johnathan Garrison, Principal at G.A Group New York, a group of emerging hospitality design leaders shared their approaches to shaping the future of the field.

What became clear through the conversation was that while each firm brings its unique perspective, there are certain core principles guiding successful hospitality design today.

Our Panelist:
• Shida Salehi – Founder & Principal of Customs Bureau

• Larah Moravek – Founding Partner of Dutch East Design

• Enrique Mangalindan- Partner & Creative Director of Elastic Architects

• Steen Lin – Founder & Partner at 2piR

The Key Trends in Hospitality Design: Insights from the Panel

One key theme that emerged from the panel was the diverse approaches firms take to create compelling spaces that reflect the unique stories, cultures and history of their surroundings. From cinematic storytelling to tactile, material-based design solutions, each design philosophy connects deeply with the surrounding environment and aims to create an emotional connection with guests.

‘At Customs Bureau, we’ve taken inspiration from cinematic storytelling to create these atmospheres, much like Denis Villeneuve’s approach in Dune. In one recent project, we crafted a custom headboard at the bed’s edge—an unexpectedly high piece that encouraged guests to interact with it physically, almost as Timothée Chalamet’s character does in the film with certain props, leaning against them in a way that suggests history and intentionality. This subtle gesture creates a sense of intimacy and belonging that resonates emotionally.’ – Shida Salehi, Customs Bureau

Whether it’s integrating local cultural elements or drawing on regional design traditions, these approaches reflect the changing nature of how we approach hospitality design in a globalised world.

Adaptive re-use is a theme Larah Moravek from Dutch East Design was particularly passionate about

‘Adaptive reuse can be very challenging but also very rewarding from a local community point of view. And, of course, the sustainability aspect this brings. It’s refreshing when you have clients who are dedicated to making a hotel thrive in a true sustainable way, they get it. Bruce + Kraemer Becker, architect + artist, they gave us the freedom to curate a design that responded to an iconic building in a much subtler way, it became the soft underbelly to the exterior shell. Bauhaus vs Brutalist. Bauhaus came through with textiles, patterns, palette.’

Learning from the Process: Collaboration, Curiosity, and Mentorship

The experience and emotional resonance of a space, rather than any specific design elements or solutions, was also highlighted as an essential factor in creating a successful hospitality environment. All panel members agreed that effective design must resonate with its intended audience. This resonance is the natural outcome of a process that begins with listening and learning about people, behaviours, and the world in which we live.

At G.A Group, we call our approach ‘Restless Curiosity’ . Our design philosophy is defined by our adventurous spirit that drives us to explore different avenues and push the boundaries of what’s possible. For us, it’s not just about the end result but about discovering new narratives and ways of engaging with a space.

It’s also about collaboration – bringing together a team that shares a set of core values and a commitment to understanding the people and place at the heart of each project.

This collaborative spirit is echoed in the importance of mentorship within the design process. The panelist emphasised, fostering an environment where team members are encouraged to learn and grow is critical to success.
 

As we continue to build and train our team, we focus less on technical skills and more on cultivating a mindset of curiosity, passion, and openness to new ideas.