LM: Describe what guests can expect to experience at one of your hotel destinations?
AS: I’d like to think that RPW thinks about how the guest really uses a hotel and designs the spaces to make it easy and intuitive to do so. Plus hopefully, guests get to enjoy the textures, colours and art alongside.
LM: Which is your top recommended design destination in London?
AS: There are so many incredible design destinations in London, which are accessible to everyone from the architectural sights to the incredible selection of museums and galleries. The V&A has to be my favourite for visitors or locals.
LM: In your opinion, which hotel has the most exceptional design in the world?
AS: That keeps changing for me as I continue to experience new properties. The most remarkable design, however, does nothing for me unless the service aspect goes alongside it. My latest stay at the Four Seasons Jumeirah Beach in Dubai was a rare and beautiful example of both coming together for a phenomenal result.
LM: How do you see luxury hotel design evolving?
AS: I hope we can continue to see great product by ourselves and our esteemed colleagues that is pleasingly designed and well managed; instead of hotels that cry for attention in glossy mags or advertorials. True luxury is restrained, unassuming and private to me…anticipatory in that I’d want an experience that I did not know existed, and then can’t live without anymore.
LM: What is next for RPW Design?
AS: We find nothing wrong with continuity, we are planning on staying small and beautiful! Project wise we have two exciting Cruise ship refits for P&O Cruises, the completion of the Intercontinental London Park Lane Business Suites and the start of their guest room refurbishment, a complete renovation of a Marriott Hotel in glorious Tbilisi, Georgia and a new build project in Sofia, Bulgaria. Although I’m from Europe originally, I left for the US in 1983 and I am really enjoying the discovery of my “home continent” these days!
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