For the past 9 years, the DLN’s annual Business Forum has convened thought leaders from the design industry and beyond for a day of dynamic discussion on the business and future of luxury design. For the first time, the 2024 Business Forum featured a specific focus on hospitality, a lens which enabled attendees to dive deeper into an industry that has become deeply enmeshed with our own. Through a series of talks spanning travel, wellness, boutique hospitality, F&B, real estate development, and more, the Business Forum provided a nuanced, multi-faceted look into what it means to work in hospitality today.
The lineup was packed with informative insights from esteemed industry speakers and some of the design world’s biggest corporate entities, from The Four Seasons to Equinox Hotels to Major Food Group. Each of the day’s main stage sessions is now available virtually for our community to enjoy.
Explore the programs below:
Session 1: Inside Today’s Most Successful Hospitality Firms
With Will Meyer, Sara Duffy, Adam Farmerie, and Anne Wilkinson; moderated by the DLN’s Hadley Keller
What does it take to provide design service to the world’s leading hotels? Hear firsthand from some of the best in the business in this panel, where Will Meyer of Meyer/Davis, Adam Farmerie of AvroKO, Stonehill’s Sara Duffey, and BAMO’s Anne Wilkinson (who collectively boast clients including The Four Seasons, Six Senses, Marriot, and The 1 Hotel) join the DLN’s Hadley Keller for a lively and informative discussion on running a hospitality-focused design firm. Highlights of the discussion include the tricky dynamic between developers and hotel owners, the most in-demand amenities right now, and the art of maintaining a studio identity across global offices.
Session 2: Capital Perspectives on Hotel Development
With Richard Born and Christine Gachot
The best project is nothing without the finance to back it. Watch DLN Board Member and Gachot Studios cofounder Christine Gachot in discussion with visionary developer Richard Born, founder of BD Hotels, whose portfolio includes such beloved properties as The Mercer and The Greenwich. In a wide-spanning discussion, the two touch on everything from branding to financing models, to Born’s predictions for the industry’s future.
Session 3: The Future of Branded Residences
With Jenny Naylor, Jade Chan, and Scott Miller
The ultimate intersection of residential and hospitality design, luxury branded residences are at once a bellwether and a case study for the hospitality industry at large. Jenny Naylor—whose consulting firm, Graf London, boasts a client roster including One&Only Resorts, Atlantis The Palm Dubai, The OWO, The OWO Residences by Raffles, Finchatton, and Four Seasons Residences at Twenty Grosvenor Square—leads a talk on this growing phenomenon. Joining Jenny onstage are Douglas Elliman’s Jade Chan, who oversees a $2 billion portfolio including the Mandarin Oriental Residences Fifth Avenue, and 1508’s Scott Miller, who has spearheaded creative for brands including Six Senses, Four Seasons, Rosewood, and Waldorf Astoria.
Session 4: The Next Generation of Boutique Hotel Design
With Ari Heckman, Leigh Salem, and Giancarlo Valle; moderated by the DLN’s Michael Diaz-Griffith
It’s now been over two decades since the “boutique” concept gripped the hospitality industry and indelibly changed the trajectory of hotel design—and the concept of unique, site-specific properties continues to drive the industry approach to design. Ash’s Ari Heckman, Leigh Salem from Post Co., and Giancarlo Valle—three of today’s most in-demand designers for luxury boutique hotels— discuss their approaches to boutique hotel design today in a lively conversation moderated by the DLN’s Michael Diaz-Griffith.
Session 5: Hospitality in the Golden Age of Luxury Travel
With Dan Rubinstein and Maura Egan
At a time when travelers are more savvy than ever, luxury isn’t just about the most expensive hotel or the private jet—it’s the “IYKYK (if you know, you know)” concept. Dan Rubinstein, host of The Grand Tourist podcast, and Maura Egan, Editor-in-Chief of Prior, know this well; they are some of the people who today’s savvy travelers turn to for insights on what’s worth making a trip for. In a casual onstage conversation, these two experts share their insights on the state of high-end travel.
Session 6: The Wellness Revolution
With Christopher W. Norton and Peter Sallick
It’s difficult to imagine that a decade ago, the extent of “wellness” in most hotels was an on-site gym. Now, an ethos of wellbeing is inherent to the mission at many properties. No one knows this better than Chris Norton of Equinox Hotels, who joins DLN Founder Peter Sallick to speak on the intersection of hospitality and wellness and what it means for the luxury sector. With an impressive background in the luxury hospitality world and a boundary-pushing attitude, Norton has a bold vision for the future of this ultimate branded property.
Session 7: F&B + Design: The Perfect Recipe
With Ken Fulk and Mario Carbone
When Ken Fulk embarks on a project, it’s never just the design he oversees: Fulk is known to have a hand in every detail of his projects, from the menu to design for the matchbooks and coat check cards. In his partnership with Major Food Group, this attention to detail has met its match. In this dynamic, entertaining conversation, Fulk and his longtime collaborator and Major Food Group founder Mario Carbone discuss the details behind design, service, and F&B that make up the X Factor of luxury hospitality, all while citing examples from their many beloved collaborations.