Boutique Design - November 2018 - 144

VICE PRESIDENT, DESIGN & PROJECT
MANAGEMENT (CLASSIC FULL SERVICE BRANDS
(MARRIOTT, DELTA, GAYLORD), MARRIOTT INTL.

WHAT'S NEXT FOR DESIGN:

Creating holistic designs that have a point of view,
support a brand's story and are connected to their
location is critically important. From F&B to the
guestroom, we want to put on the lens of, "How does
this add to the guest experience?" People are seeking
meaning; thus experience is becoming more and
more important. Understanding the impact of what
this means to a brand and how to incorporate this
thinking into a brand's point of view and its design,
based on their target guest, will be key.
HOW SHE'S MAKING "EXPERIENTIAL" MORE
THAN A CLICHEE:

Guest and consumer feedback coupled with a strong
business position greatly influence the evolution of
design. Working closely with our global strategies,
brand and operations teams, we align on brand-critical items such as providing showers (not bathtubs)
in the majority of guestrooms, developing unique
F&B experiences that resonate with the local
community, enabling guests to connect easily in
public space areas and anticipating the ambiance
and functionality they want in the guestroom. Not
only do we equip our talented team with the design
strategies for each brand, including detailed guardrails, we also empower them to embrace and champion new ideas on each project that will continue to
elevate our brands to new levels of design.
144 boutiquedesign.com

NOVEMBER 2018

COURTESY OF MARRIOTT INTL. (UROVSKY); WERNER SEGARRA PHOTOGRAPHY (IRVINE)

TERI UROVSK Y

more independent experiences. That allows for more
room to experiment.
Marriott, Courtyard and
Sheraton are more about
delivering consistent experiences. But, while it's important to maintain the various
swim lanes, the design also
has to take risks to move
each brand forward.
Professionally, I think
staying with the same
company for over 32 years
MARRIOTT IRVINE SPECTRUM
and being a part of the
considerable evolution and
change that has taken place is very bold. The fact
HER LATEST LAB EXPERIMENT:
Last year, we set up our first-ever Internet of Things that Marriott is such a growth-focused company
has kept me engaged and energized throughout my
Guestroom Lab at headquarters to deepen our
career. It's a continual learning experience, which is
understanding of what might be possible in the
exciting to me. I'm typically traveling with my
future when it comes to helping our customers
young adult children, which always provides a new
personalize their stay. For example, we explored
perspective. I'm also proud to work for a company
in-room technology that lets a user ask a virtual
in which the leadership has-and uses-the ability
assistant for a 6:30 AM wake-up alarm, start a yoga
to effect change across such a large brand. I am
routine on a full-length mirror or play photos from
grateful and proud to have been part of the team
their smartphone on a smart screen-by voice or
that developed a new Marriott guestroom (elimiapp. We think this has a lot of potential to help
nating floral bedspreads!). Believe it or not, 15 years
differentiate the guest experience, and we continue
ago that transition helped bring Marriott to the
to explore the possibilities.
modern aesthetic it employs today worldwide.
Skydiving or racing a Ferrari in Italy are two of
WHY DESIGN IS MORE THAN MARKETING:
the scariest things I have done personally.
Good design can absolutely be transformative. Just
look at the Sheraton brand. It is being reinvented.
In large part, that's being achieved through design.
HER GOALS FOR HER CAREER AND HERSELF:
Much of the work was informed by our owners and
I would like to continue to be a strategic influencer
done in collaboration with them. Because of this,
in the evolution of our flagship brand. I plan to
25% of our owners have already committed to reno- spend more time with design students and junior
vations of their hotels.
staff as a mentor and coach. I also feel it's my
responsibility to share my love of design and travel
with students, to talk them about design as a career
SUCCESS STRATEGIES FOR GETTING OWNER
AND DESIGNER BUY-IN:
and to offer perspective on why they should consider
being part of the hotel/design/travel industry.
My job is to help owners and project designers
understand each of our 30 brands, and dissect the
ideas behind the individual brand to create the
HOW SHE ACHIEVES WORK/LIFE BALANCE:
right design for a specific location. It's important
I am blessed to work for a company that places
that both the owner and designer be very clear
tremendous value on family and personal wellness.
about our brand message, so I use a range of tools
Marriott takes a very proactive stance on that. I've
to do that--from simple things like PowerPoints to
been encouraged throughout my career to make
virtual walk-throughs and concept rooms.
time to maintain a healthy frame of mind both at
work and personally. And, too, my children keep me
grounded and focused on what is important in life.
HOW MUCH RISK SHE'S WILLING TO TAKE
PROFESSIONALLY AND PERSONALLY:
The biggest plus to any success I might enjoy is
hearing them say they're proud of me. They'll be my
For our brands, it's a question of balance. Flags such
ultimate legacy. 
as Autograph, Tribute and Luxury Collection are

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Boutique Design - November 2018

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