Hospitality Design - June 2017 - 83

A suite offers sweeping views of the beach at the Cape, a
Thompson Hotel in Cabo San Lucas

The Parts and Labor-designed Thompson Nashville
features a 1970s-inspired design

Most rewarding parts of the job: the travel,
all the amazing people you meet along the
way, and knowing you are bringing people
together in an elegant environment to
create memories.
My design style is understated luxury with
a refined masculine edge. My personal style
is essential and utilitarian. I like to remain
underrated in fashion and my décor at
home. That way my mood is free to develop
with the surrounding circumstances. My
influences are Tom Ford, James Perse, with
a layer of Vivienne Westwood.
A lobby rendering of the upcoming Thompson San Antonio, Texas

and was introduced to the Thompson
brand. I decided I wanted to focus strictly
on hotels and learn the business, so I took
an opportunity with the Gettys Group in
Chicago and then New York. Commune
[which was then the parent company of
Thompson] was expanding their in-house
design team, and I jumped at the chance
to work with [Thompson founder] Jason
Pomeranc, who I greatly admired, and on a
brand I loved. Commune went through many
changes, and I took on many roles until it
became Two Roads Hospitality [through a
merger with Destination Hotels].
First reality check: getting on the wrong
plane in Mexico my first week on the job.
I made it to my final destination, but the
events that preceded that are now legendary.
I realized, 'Wow, my responsibilities are so
much more than design now.'
Why hospitality: it's an avenue to truly
influence culture, or at least bring the
right players together to do so. You are an
active participant in driving what is next in
culture, not a bystander.

The next project should always be the most
challenging. The minute it becomes easy
and formulaic we are missing something
that someone else out there will seize upon.
I'm most proud of the Cape in Cabo San
Lucas, Mexico. This was one of the first
projects I headed up for Thompson and
the brand's first true resort. It's a one-ofa-kind location with an amazing architect
[JSa Arquitectura] and interior designer
[Arquitectura de Interiores], on top of a
seasoned developer willing to take chances.
It got off to a rocky start, but during the
development we all became family and
had so much fun with the process. We
knew the guests would love it as much
as we did. Ultimately, the public did
and the cards and accolades continue to
pour in.
I am excited about the next crop of
properties to open before 2020. Thompson
will make a massive impact in every major
city of Texas, make a glamorous return
to LA, and launch our first [microhotel]
tommie in Hollywood.

I thrive on stress and pressure-when there
is pressure from all ends both creatively
and financially, that is when you are forced
to create magic.
Success is having the time and freedom to
do what you want at the pace you want.
My tombstone will read: 'Loving life was
his only sin.'
Select Past and Future Projects
Katsuya Hollywood and SLS Beverly Hills with
sbe; design by Philippe Starck
Hyde Lounge, LA and the Spare Room at the
Hollywood Roosevelt, with Studio Collective
The Cape, a Thompson Hotel, Cabo San Lucas,
Mexico; design by Arquitectura de Interiores,
architecture by JSa Arquitectura
Thompson Playa Del Carmen, Mexico; design by
Niz + Chauvet
Thompson Seattle; design by Jensen / Fey
Thompson Hollywood; design by Tara Bernerd
& Partners
Tommie Hollywood; design by Studio Collective
Thompson Dallas; design by Merriman Anderson
Architects and Studio 11 Design
Thompson San Antonio, Texas; design by
Amass & G

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