More than 80 leading industry professionals will speak at 30 conference sessions during the 2014 Hospitality Design Exposition & Conference (HD Expo). The industry’s largest and most pre-eminent tradeshow will take place May 14–16th at Mandalay Bay Las Vegas. Here are a few more of these sure-to-inspire session offerings.
In Twice as Good: Design-Chef Collaborations that Succeed, on Wednesday, May 14th at noon, four leading designers and chefs will lead a discussion on restaurant design: Adam Farmerie, principal of AvroKO; Allison Cooke, director of hospitality design at CORE; Michael Mina, chef and restaurateur at Michael Mina Group; and Victor Albisu, chef at Del Campo. These distinguished speakers will share collaborative creative processes, complementary inspirations, and approaches to making successful restaurants.

Living the Lifestyle: Experiential Brands will delve into leading boutique and lifestyle properties. This segment of the industry is about creating inspired and unique experiences, and four brands are ready to shed light on what makes their properties tick, and how design plays an integral role. Panelists include Arash Azarbarzin, president of the hotel group for SLS Hotels; Bill Walshe, CEO of Viceroy Hotel Group; Gary Dollens, senior vice president of product and brand development in the global operations center for Hyatt Hotels Corporation; and Molly Swyers, senior vice president of design for 21c Museum Hotels. Join them Wednesday, May 14th at 1:30 p.m.
Another session focused on restaurant design, Dining’s New Direction will look at the newest trends in fine dining on Wednesday, May 14th at 1:30 p.m. Led by Alessandro Munge, principal of Munge Leung; Ralph Gentile, principal of Ralph Gentile Architects; and Stephen Francis Jones, principal of SF Jones Architects, the panel will examine what patrons seek in a dining room today and how the relationship between designer and restaurateur is growing more collaborative. The speakers will discuss the ever-changing and more accessible dining landscape, particularly as it shifts to more bespoke experiences and unique designs.
