Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 53
helen
jorgensen
perspectives
interview
By Stacy Shoemaker Rauen
1
©HOST HOTELS & RESORTS, L.P., Rendering by DAWSON DESIGN ASSOCIATES
CLIENT CONFIDENTIAL
Understanding the importance of form and function
Helen Jorgensen is the client everyone
wants. Not only is her passion and knowledge
undeniable, but she is vice president of design
and procurement for Host Hotels & Resorts,
the industry's largest lodging real estate
investment trust. Jorgensen is responsible
for all procurement and purchasing-related
matters, as well as design management and
design firm qualification for Host's portfolio
of more than 130 properties (both owned and
in joint ventures), mostly divided across major
brands such as Marriott, Westin, Sheraton, RitzCarlton, and Hilton, to name a few, in some 50
markets worldwide. Now the company is trying
its hand at independent properties with three
boutique hotels in the works in San Francisco,
Philadelphia, and Phoenix. Here, Jorgensen talks
early jobs, achieving balance between form and
function, and the importance of storytelling.
How did you end up in hospitality?
My first experience was at Marriott's architecture
and construction division upon completion
of a graduate certificate in administrative
management at Harvard University. The
importance of the partnerships between
procurement, design, and construction for
the success of each project really excited
me and catered to my business background.
Add in the artistry of design, and I was
hooked. Unfortunately, after several years,
the hospitality industry went into a downturn
cycle, and I moved to another opportunity at
Telecommunication Techniques. That move
gave me insight into manufacturing, which later
became a strength.
After that role came 11 years at Disney
media in strategic sourcing. What made
you want to get back into hospitality?
I realized hospitality was the most engaging
industry I had experienced. I set out for
opportunities when Host opened a new position
in development, design, and construction for
a director of procurement. From my previous
positions, I was able to bring new insights in
procurement and design by understanding the
business side and adding a long-term process to
the renovations by engaging in operation issues,
durability of product, and partnership programs,
which were lacking in hospitality, especially
on the owner's side. [As a result], I developed
the Strategic Supplier program shortly after
1. A rendering of the
lobby of Host's Logan,
Philadelphia's Hotel,
which will be part of
Hilton's Curio Collection.
joining the company, and it's now becoming a full
strategic partnership program with design and
architecture.
What have been some of the biggest
changes in the industry-and the
resulting challenges-since you started?
In supply management, some of the biggest
changes have been in manufacturing from local
factories to overseas to trying to become local
again. A lot of the talent has to be redeveloped
locally, which takes time. Another real challenge
is capacity with today's strong market being
stretched both in production and in labor with
our suppliers and consultants. Everyone is busy
and all projects have tight schedules, which only
adds stress in the process.
In design, there are three areas of change
which create the challenges we face: creative
reuse, or how to make the big impact on partial
renovation projects with limited time and budget;
finding the balance between form and function,
or how to keep finishes durable enough for our
investment while maintaining design; and the
growth of the boutique and non-branded hotels
and how to create authentic, unique design
experiences and use technology properly.
hospitalitydesign.com August 2015
053
http://www.hospitalitydesign.com
Hospitality Design - August 2015
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Hospitality Design - August 2015
Hospitality Design - August 2015
Contents
Online TOC
From the Editor
From the Show Director
People
Sketchbook
Trends 3d Printing
Interview Helen Jorgensen
5 Questions for Karim Rashid
Profile Kelly Hoppen
Profile Poesis Design
Profile 13&9
Profile Maria Cornejo
Profile Design by Them
Profile Ladies & Gentlemen Studio
Profile Emerging Designers
Trends Collaborations
Trends Spanish Influence
Textiles
Bath
Carpet
Special Feature Custom Solutions
Airland Hotel
Press Hotel
Hotel Henriette
Newport Marriott
Industry Kitchen
Ad Index
Back Space
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - Intro
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - Hospitality Design - August 2015
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - Cover2
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 1
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 2
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 3
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 4
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 5
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 6
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 7
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 8
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - Contents
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 10
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 11
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 12
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 13
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 14
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 15
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 16
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - Online TOC
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 18
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 19
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - From the Editor
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 21
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 22
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 23
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 24
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 25
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - From the Show Director
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 27
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 28
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - People
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 30
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 31
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 32
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 33
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 34
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 35
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 36
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - Sketchbook
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 38
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 39
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 40
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 41
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 42
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 43
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 44
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 45
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 46
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 47
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 48
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - Trends 3d Printing
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 50
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 51
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 52
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - Interview Helen Jorgensen
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 54
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 55
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 5 Questions for Karim Rashid
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 57
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 58
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 59
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 60
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 61
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 62
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - Profile Kelly Hoppen
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 64
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - Profile Poesis Design
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 66
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - Profile 13&9
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 68
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - Profile Maria Cornejo
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 70
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - Profile Design by Them
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 72
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - Profile Ladies & Gentlemen Studio
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 74
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - Profile Emerging Designers
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 76
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 77
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 78
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - Trends Collaborations
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 80
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 81
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 82
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 83
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 84
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 85
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 86
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - Trends Spanish Influence
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 88
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 89
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 90
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 91
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 92
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - Textiles
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 94
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 95
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 96
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 97
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 98
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 99
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 100
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - Bath
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 102
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 103
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 104
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 105
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 106
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - Carpet
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 108
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 109
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 110
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 111
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 112
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 113
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 114
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - Special Feature Custom Solutions
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 116
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 117
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 118
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 119
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 120
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 121
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 122
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 123
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 124
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 125
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - Airland Hotel
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 127
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 128
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 129
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - Press Hotel
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 131
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 132
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 133
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - Hotel Henriette
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 135
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 136
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 137
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - Newport Marriott
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 139
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 140
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 141
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - Industry Kitchen
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 143
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 144
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 145
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 146
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 147
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 148
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 149
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 150
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - Ad Index
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - 152
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - Back Space
Hospitality Design - August 2015 - Cover4
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