In the first interview of its new Design Series, HotelierMiddleEast.com spoke with Wilson Associates principal in charge / design director James Carry to find out how the company has successful completed the interior design on projects such as Atlantis, The Palm and One&Only Royal Mirage in Dubai.
HME: Creating a hotel is complex with many stakeholders involved — where does an interior designer fit into this and how do you manage the different viewpoints?
JC: It is important to keep in mind that there needs to be clear communication 100% of the time between all consultants. If issues are not addressed from the start of the project, they will never go away. The whole team should be striving to achieve the same vision. You must keep your “eye on the ball” (creating an amazing property) at all times.
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Working with multiple international consultants always poses complicated challenges. During the 6 years Wilson Associates worked on the Atlantis, The Palm, we worked with over 30 different contributing consultants. We had to adapt quickly to working with a team this large especially in terms of their own culture, office culture, expectations, and time zone. Fortunately we live in a world with cutting edge communication devices (video conferencing, email, etc.) that constantly allow us to be in communication. Between our 7 global offices we can literally work on a project 24 hours a day. In the end the team truly came together to integrating the worlds of land and ocean into one creating an unsurpassable Atlantian experience- from myth to reality.
My advice to owners and operators is to pick their consultants based on team capability, not on a fee and trust them to execute the vision.
HME: Over the past 18 months, owners have clamped down on spending, hotel budgets have been reduced and, as a result, some have complained that quality has been compromised. How has this affected your role?
JC: Our role is important in uniting the architectural expression, interior with exterior. A budget should be in place and discussed from day one. Then, intensive work sessions between the designer, architect, client and operator are instrumental in the development and direction of the design. Together we reach an understanding of the client’s goals, needs, budget parameters and other pertinent issues.
Wilson Associates has invested time and effort to build relationships with manufacturers worldwide. We draw on these global resources in order to achieve the best product available for the budget.
If the focus is on economizing an aspect of the development, the focus should not be on compromising the “bones” of the property. The hotel planning and function of the space is of utmost importance in the process.
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