Hospitality Design - July 2009 - 90

on site roger hill From top: The spa lounge at the Four Seasons Chicago; the lobby at Hotel Felix. HD: Gettys has completed more than 600 projects. What stands out? What are the lessons for the future? poolside bar and restaurant, spa, and fitness areas located throughout this high-energy hotel. RH: We were brought to Macau for a project, and ended up opening up an office in Hong Kong. That was a game-changing opportunity for us. We have experienced the same thing in Florida, Dubai, and New York. People in the financial markets want our expertise. We want to be in the war room when they are determining what happens with their assets. HD: What are you working on now? RH: Gettys currently has a number of projects underway in the Middle East, namely: the new Abu Dhabi Golf Club Westin Hotel, Golf & Spa Resort due for completion in 2010; a renovation of a 600-key luxury resort in Dubai; and a new-build hotel and serviced apartments development in conjunction to one of Dubai’s oldest shopping complexes. Our Hong Kong off ice remains incredibly busy including the Newport Entertainment & Commercial Center, a luxury resort and casino in Manila, and a renovation of 370 guestrooms for Shangri-La Hotels in Beihai, China. On the domestic front, we have a number of exciting projects underway. In New York, we are currently working on several projects including a prestigious 5-Star property renovation and as well as providing interior design service for a new-build, 600-key, branded hotel in midtown Manhattan. Other notable projects include the Hyatt Orange County (California), the St. Louis Marriott Union Station, and numerous Radisson projects. We continue to work on U.S.-based projects helping clients realize their capital expenditure goals during the U.S.’s challenged economy, reposition their brand strategies, or renovate existing facilities with the use of Tax Increment Financing (TIF) funding. Positively, we have been on the receiving end of an incredible number of proposals in the U.S., Middle East, and Asia, so we are excited and thankful to have these opportunities and the potential to add more countries and hotel companies to our list of clientele. hd HD: What advice do you have for businesses that really want to think—and work— differently? RH: Surround yourself with people smarter than you, and always be willing to change. HD: Tell us about the newly opened Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Macau. What was Gettys’ role? RH: Gettys provided concept design and interior design services for this destination resort hotel at City of Dreams entertainment complex, on the Cotai Strip in Macau. As our first completed project in the Far East, we are particularly proud of this dramatic property. The client asked Gettys to help them craft an upscale hotel that would feature the rock ‘n’ roll history associated with the Hard Rock Hotel brand and the demands of both Asianstyled gambling guests and western-styled “party until you drop” crowds. The Hard Rock Hotel is the first of three hotels to open in City of Dreams featuring 370 guestrooms and suites offering state-of-the-art dramatic and unexpected accommodations with magnificent panoramic views of the Cotai Strip and the city of Macau. Gettys was also instrumental in the overall concept development of the public areas including the arrival/check-in experience, lobby lounge, www.gettys.com 90 hospitalitydesign www.hdmag.com

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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Hospitality Design - July 2009