Hospitality Design - July 2012 - 116

Verena Haller and Dan Flannery
Senior Vice President of Design and COO, Morgans Hotel Group, New York
Morgans Hotel Group is going back to its roots. And it’s fitting that two Ian Schrager alums— COO Dan Flannery and senior vice president of design Verena Haller—are at the helm. “Our goal is to be true to the same approach and values that Morgans has been built off of,” explains Flannery, a 30-year Marriott veteran who most recently helped expand the MarriottSchrager Edition brand. “We still want a lot of individuality in each project—daring, fun, sexy— but [we also] want the hotels to be timeless and a big part of the local culture scene, so they don’t have to be repositioned in six to ten years.” Adds Haller, who before coming to Morgans some seven months ago also worked side-by-side with Schrager on the Edition brand: “It’s really about creating a whole experience for the guest; not only the design itself, which is clearly important, but a whole picture—from the design to the lighting—that Before renovations of the existing portfolio and new properties get underway, Haller is first clearly defining each of the brands: Mondrian, the urban, sophisticated, playful hotel that ties into the fashion, culture, and art of the city in which it lives; Hudson fits into its surroundings, but still boasts its own edgy character where the public spaces act as social hubs; and beachchic Delano, the iconic, high-end brand. A Delano is slated to open in Marrakech this September, with Baroque interiors by Jacques Garcia mixing marble, velvet, and rare fabrics throughout the 73 rooms, 20,000-square-foot spa, three pools, roof deck, and two restaurants. Mondrians in Doha, Istanbul, London, the Bahamas, and Marrakech are also in the works, with most set to open in 2014. There’s also a Hudson planned for London in 2015, which coincides with the current renovation of the original (and only) Hudson in New York. As Flannery says, “There is a huge booming growth in travelers looking for a more interesting experience, so there is a lot of room in the pool here for great ideas. We [hope to] combine this with a level of service and sophistication that will be differentiators in the segment.” hd

Above: Morgans COO Dan Flannery. Top, clockwise from far left: Verena Haller, Morgans’ senior vice president of design; and three of Delano South Beach’s renovated spaces, now operated by the Light Group: Italian restaurant Bianca; subterranean nightclub FDR (formerly the Florida Room); and Rose Bar, done with upholstered rose-colored walls and Venetian chandeliers.

touches all the senses.” One of the biggest changes for Morgans is the shift from a predominantly owner-operator role to a branding and management focus, with a large international push. And to streamline its F&B, Morgans also bought a controlling interest in Las Vegas-based the Light Group to run the majority of its various outlets.

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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Hospitality Design - July 2012
