We're fresh off a trip to New York where our Chairman, Chris Jones, and Associate Principal, Matt Page, took to the stage to discuss the global hospitality sector, which, despite experiencing a slowdown in growth, is demonstrating resilience and optimism.

As cities evolve and the need for community grows, we need to explore how can we leverage hospitality design to breathe new life into existing buildings. At Global Hospitality Talk New York, another home run event for Can Faik and Lorraine Jack, Chris Jones discussed “Blurring the Boundaries: How the Re-Purposing of Buildings can Extend Hospitality Design Across the Real Estate Market.” Moderated by Daniel Englender of Benjamin West International, the panel includes Greg Keffer, AIA LEED of Rockwell Group, Andrew Miele of Proper Hospitality, and Jessica Pfeifer of Host Hotels & Resorts.

At Boutique Design | BDNY, Matt Page joined forces with Will Meyer and Tara Chung in a discussion on “Resi Meets Hospitality: Blending Luxury and Living,” moderated by William Speros. Branded residences represent a unique intersection between luxury residential and hotel services and are currently achieving premiums of 30% compared to unbranded.

“It’s an incredible value add. Including branded residences as part of a hotel development can help with the upfront capital costs by offering presales and stronger long-term investment returns.”

Reflecting on our conversations, we’re cautiously optimistic for the sector and look forward to seeing what drivers will continue to define hospitality design in 2025.