Designed to deliver an elevated, highly curated experience for decision-makers shaping the future of hospitality, HD Expo + Conference’s Hosted Buyer Program is tailored for high-volume project managers, designers, architects, purchasers, and brand leaders with purchasing authority. The program, relaunched in an expanded format in 2025, brings together influential professionals for purposeful engagement throughout the three-day trade show.
Here, we catch up with four of this year’s Hosted Buyer ambassadors, who will return to Las Vegas in May alongside approximately 200 participants, about their experience and what they will be looking out for at the show.
María Adelaida Herrera + Miguel León Borda
Cofounders, Studio Crearq
What was your biggest takeaway from HD Expo 2025?
Miguel León Borda: My biggest takeaway was how strongly hospitality is moving toward immersive, emotionally intelligent environments. It’s no longer just about aesthetics or materials, it’s about narrative, experience, and adaptability. We also noticed a clear shift toward flexible spaces that can transform throughout the day, and materials that balance durability with sensory richness. The future of hospitality design feels more layered, more intentional, and more experiential than ever.
María Adelaida Herrera: There are truly no limits to creativity in hospitality, as long as you have a deep understanding of suppliers, materials, and technical specifications—exactly the kind of knowledge you gain at HD Expo.
What are you looking forward to seeing on the show floor?
MLB: Lighting systems that enhance mood and storytelling. Sustainable materials that don’t compromise on sophistication. Outdoor furniture and terrace solutions (we’ve been developing several terrace concepts recently). Integrated technology that supports experience without feeling invasive. We’re excited to connect with brands that understand hospitality as a holistic narrative, not just product-driven design.
MAH: Physical samples that we can bring back to our projects—woods, fabrics, tiles, stones, and a wide range of materials that allow us to experiment and specify with greater precision.
What product trends are you paying attention to?
MLB: We’re closely watching textured, tactile surfaces that invite interaction; earth-driven palettes with deeper, warmer neutrals; modular and adaptable furniture systems; hybrid indoor-outdoor materials; and subtle integration of acoustic solutions into architectural elements. There’s a strong move toward sensory comfort, spaces that feel calm, grounded, and layered rather than overstimulating.
MAH: Bold mixes, strong patterns, and the idea that “more is more”—layered compositions full of texture, character, and personality.
La Estrella in Panama City, Panama
Jessica Black
Director of purchasing, Firmdale Hotels
What was your biggest takeaway from HD Expo 2025?
First and foremost, I was struck by how friendly and welcoming the show felt—it created a genuinely positive environment for engagement and meaningful conversation.
My biggest takeaway, however, was how deeply sustainability is now embedded within innovation. It’s no longer a side conversation—it’s shaping material choices, manufacturing processes, packaging, and longterm operational thinking.
What are you looking forward to seeing on the show floor?
I’m looking forward to seeing the continued evolution of sustainable materials and circular design—particularly solutions that are not only beautiful but also commercially viable. I’m always keen to discover products that enhance the guest experience in subtle yet meaningful ways, whether through thoughtful design details, operational efficiencies, or elevated in-room touches.
I’m also interested in current and future U.S. manufacturing. As a company operating across both the UK and New York, the realities of increased shipping costs and tariffs are an important consideration. Exploring locally manufactured solutions and understanding how brands are adapting to these challenges will be a key focus for me.
9-11 Richmond Buildings, an office space, in London
Ricardo Moreno
Senior designer/project manager, Clear on Black
What was your biggest takeaway from HD Expo 2025?
I liked having an HD Expo [experience that was] edited in terms of how many vendors there are. It made the show much more walkable and meaningful.
What are you looking forward to seeing on the show floor?
I love to see my sales reps (who, let’s face it, are the backbone of our jobs), and I am always on the lookout for a onesie-twosies really great casegood and upholstery shop that we could do some amazing work together.
What product trends are you paying attention to?
Stylish ways to add technology into rooms and public spaces that doesn’t detract from the design and are approachable.
What are you working on right now?
Hyatt Centric Park City in Utah—we’re remodeling a project that we opened many years ago. We enjoy going back and seeing what worked and opportunities that have come up since the time it opened.
What is your dream project?
My dream project is to work with families that own smaller hotels on the beaches of the West Coast.
Candy Cane Inn in Anaheim, California
Register to attend HD Expo + Conference 2026 today!
