An unabashed free spirit hailing from Texas, president and CEO of EDG Jennifer Johanson walks us through her unplanned entry into the hospitality world, her evolved managing style thanks to COVID, the importance of collaboration, what she loves about restaurants versus hotels, and her secrets to success with an inspiring matter of fact approach. Her illustrious career spanning decades, our conversation spans her search on the San Francisco waterfront for a job to her instant classic the Andaz Scottsdale. Later this year, we also have the honor of inducting Jennifer into HD’s Platinum Circle.

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Since she was a child growing up in Detroit, Kimberly Dowdell, the former president of NOMA and principal in the Chicago office at HOK, saw how the built environment can improve the quality of urban life, leading her to pursue degrees in both public policy and architecture. This summer, amid Black Lives Matter protests and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, NOMA—with Kimberly at the helm—addressed these twin crises by emphasizing the importance of mentorship, representation, inclusivity, and equity. This shift to advocacy and empowering communities has been a big part of Dowdell's journey, allowing her to tap into a reservoir of resilience, she says, that keeps her fighting for another day to do the work that’s so important.

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Prolific designer and architect Jeffrey Beers grew up traveling the world with his parents, which instilled in him a love of hospitality and design—a skill he honed under a who’s who of mentors, including Dale Chihuly, Oscar Niemeyer, and I.M. Pei. For the self-described rebel entrepreneur, his passion for the industry is as present today as it was more than three decades ago, cementing his legacy as one of the forefathers of hospitality design today.

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On this week’s What I’ve Learned podcast, hoteliers Alex and Carrie Vik of Vik Retreats discuss their properties, primarily found in South America, and sustainably immersing guests into their natural surroundings. In this illuminating conversation, the couple details how they first fell in love with Uruguay on family vacations and holidays before building properties there. They also speak to their passions for wine, art, agriculture, and the little things that make a design work.

Thank you for listening! For more of our great interviews, find us at hospitalitydesign.com.

Long-time friends and partners at Toronto-based studio DesignAgency, Allen Chan, Matt Davis, and Anwar Mekhayech, discuss their beginnings working in restaurants and designing hotel branding before taking on sizable projects such as The Generator and Momofuku. Our extensive conversation puts their energy and kinship on display as they detail how they came together, their studio’s ethos, and what’s next for hospitality design.

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Among her many accomplishments, the tennis superstar has found time to launch her own design firm, V Starr Interiors, as well as start her own fashion brand, EleVen. Unsurprisingly, Williams is driven by a competitive spirit that has made her a noteworthy contender on and off the court.
 
 This episode is brought to you by Global Allies. For more information, go to globalallies.com.

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London born and raised designer Tara Bernerd’s sprawling career spans leaving school at age 16, a stint at Vogue magazine, and invaluable industry experience at London firm YOO before setting off to build her own firm. She credits her greatest inspirations and mentors as journalist Jane Mulvagh, design legends John Hitchcox and Philippe Starck, as well as her father, who she says taught her her greatest lesson to date. In our conversation, she details her work with Equinox Hotels, her favorite travel destinations, and dealing with COVID-19.

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Though born in Ohio, award winning chef and restauranteur Andrew Carmellini’s Italian roots have pervaded much of his storied career, which includes New York City mainstays new and old, from Locanda Verde, The Dutch, and Bar Primi to across the East River with Leuca and Westlight in the new William Vale. The James Beard and Michelin star honoree talks through his foundational trips through Italy and France’s respective wine countries, cooking for the Cuomos, the cities that entice him outside the Big Apple, and much, much more.

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Sheldon Scott is an artist of many disciplines based in Washington, DC who is bringing attention to the crucial issues of racial inequality and systemic racism through his work. In fact, he was among the inaugural finalists in performance art for the Smithsonian’s 2019 Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition, for which he kneeled on a burlap sack and hulled rice for six days straight as a tribute to his ancestors. Scott started his career in psychology, finding Boys & Girls Club of America before diving into the art world. Today, he is also the director of culture at Eaton DC, entering the hospitality fray with a brand committed to activism and inclusivity. In our fascinating interview, Scott clued us in on what makes his artistic and entrepreneurial mind tick.

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Industry legend Roger Thomas, the designer behind such iconic Las Vegas mainstays as the Wynn and the Bellagio, details his entire career from first meeting Steve Wynn to taking his work across the globe and starting his own product line. Full of anecdotes from his stories history on the Vegas strip and beyond, the endlessly charming Thomas reflects on his career while offering sage advice for the creatives dreaming up tomorrow's future.

Thank you for listening! For more of our great interviews, find us at hospitalitydesign.com.