Hospitality Design - July 2024 - 39

The recently opened 265-room Caesars
Republic Hotel Scottsdale in Arizona
Roman columns inspired the reception desk
at the Caesars Republic Hotel Scottsdale
The lobby of the Caesars Republic Hotel
Scottsdale is anchored by stone-wrapped columns
They've also united over their
Midwestern roots. Sirna is a native of Kansas
City, Missouri, and Huff man calls Wichita,
Kansas home. It's not uncommon for them
to text each other during Kansas City Chiefs
games, or for Huff man to act as a de facto
uncle to Sirna's two sons. " He's truly like
family, " says Sirna.
Huff man's roots are in fi nance. His
brother-in-law supported him through his
Series 6 and Series 7 exams in New York, and
then he launched his career at a Wall Street
pension company before heading back to
Wichita to join his brother-in-law's company
Primeline Securities Corporation. " But my
heart was always in construction, " he says,
" because I did that until I was 21. "
Aſt er dabbling in the sports world
for a few years, handling investments for
NBA players, he decided to nurture that
passion, forming HCW in 1992. With the
help of a $500,000 loan, he and partners
Sam Catanese and Marc Williams formed
Luna restaurant at the Caesars Republic Hotel Scottsdale
boasts a glass wall offering views into the kitchen
a multi-state timeshare resort development
and management company. In 2004, they sold
it for $68 million to Westgate Resorts. Now at
HCW, Huff man oversees a portfolio spanning
such hotel brands as Tru by Hilton, Residence
Inn, and Hyatt Place, as well as restaurants and
residential communities.
Most recently, Huff man and Sirna joined
forces on the 265-key Caesars Republic Hotel
Scott sdale in Arizona. Launched earlier
this year, it includes the restaurant Luna by
Giada from chef and TV personality Giada
De Laurentiis and signals a new direction for
Caesars Entertainment. When HCW embarked
on a relationship with the brand in 2019, it had
some 55 million rewards members, and " they
wanted to create a luxury, non-gaming concept
that would expand and build the rewards
program in other markets, " explains Huff man.
The prime sett ing required a distinct
aesthetic that Huff man was confi dent Studio
11 Design could execute alongside Springfi eld,
Missouri-based BRP Architects. " We asked
Kellie to create interiors that are warm and
welcoming but eclectic and modern, " he
says, and Sirna and her team responded with
plentiful artwork and an earthy palett e that
pulls from the surrounding landscape.
" The design changed a lot from when we
started until its completion, " says Sirna, noting
how the hotel was on hold for several years.
Aſt er revisiting the plans, however, she was
convinced she could take them even further.
" We spent a couple days redesigning the
guestrooms, and now there's a beautiful tower
of liquor bott les in them, so when the party
shuts down, guests can carry on. "
Such evolutions are an organic outgrowth
of Sirna and Huff man's long, trusting
relationship. They communicate honestly,
which inevitably leads to what Sirna describes
as creative friction. " We go back and forth
about how to space plan, program, or generate
revenue, but we always align in the end. " Adds
Huff man: " We work hard and try to have good
ideas. It's worked well for us so far. " hd
hospitalitydesign.com July 2024
039
http://www.hospitalitydesign.com
Hospitality Design - July 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Hospitality Design - July 2024
