Hospitality Design - Expo 2020 - 20

perspectives interview

Beth Campbell

CEO, Wilson Associates
What are the biggest challenges you're facing?

We are fortunate to have an incredibly close-knit team, hallmarked by a
collective spirit that has continued to push our organization forward despite
the current situation. What we were once able to do in the presence of
our colleagues, the team is now quickly adapting to accomplish digitally.
Adversity always leads to positive outcomes. We've embraced change
under the new normal through means of increased collaboration and
communication between all studios. Though we are physically divided, there
is no longer the barrier between studios.

What does this mean for the future of hospitality?

The crisis will bring forth a great deal of lessons to us, both as a team and as
individuals. We will not only be tasked with questioning ourselves, but also
questioning the way we operate a business and prepare for unexpected and
monumental events such as the current pandemic. We cannot predict when
life will resume to normalcy, but the hospitality industry must be prepared
for the inevitable bounce-back of society. Hotels will flourish when this day
comes, as people scurry to travel and do all the activities they missed out
on while the world stood still. However, it is up to us to design spaces that
will be welcoming safe havens for guests who may have concerns about
cleanliness and face-to-face interactions.

Matt Berman

Principal, Workshop/APD
In addition to our weekly all-office meeting, we've implemented regular
virtual lunches, internal presentations, and happy hours to keep the staff
connected. Of course, we have had to make some hard decisions as well.
Our team is our family, and many have been with us for more than 10 years.
We're committed to seeing this through with them. However, with an office
to run, we're extremely conscious of our financial runway. We've tried to
balance that math with our commitment to our staff and our family, which
does require us to look at every decision we make through a critical lens.

What is your pulse on the industry?

As a firm, we're also extremely focused on craft, and we know this has been
a hard time for many smaller workrooms, makers, artisans, and craftsmen.
It would be catastrophic for them to not come out on the other side of this.
To support the makers and other manufacturers, we created an opensource guide for the A&D industry, so specifiers can easily figure out who is
operational, their capacity, and how to reach them now.

How are you staying busy in these times?

I've been sheltering in my parents' home in Florida with my husband and
son. I haven't spent this much time with my parents since I left home at 18.
It's something I never expected would happen, but my son is having the
time of his life and my parents are loving it. We're taking advantage of this
unforgettable opportunity to connect.

020

HD Expo + Conference 2020

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Photos by WILLIAM BICHARA and courtesy of WORKSHOP/APD

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Hospitality Design - Expo 2020

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