Greg Keffer

Greg Keffer speaks to Sophie Harper about integrating wellness into design

Episode 43: Integrating Wellbeing into Design with Greg Keffer

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In the first episode of our latest DESIGN POD series, sponsored by Schlüter-Systems Ltd, Hotel Designs Editor Sophie Harper gets to talk to Rockwell Group Partner and Studio Leader, Greg Keffer, about injecting elements of wellbeing into different hospitality settings, and the impact wellness inclusion has for hotel projects.

Greg Keffer, AIA, LEED AP, is a Partner and Studio Leader at Rockwell Group where he leads multiple design studios and manages the firm’s Madrid office. He works on a wide range of projects including hospitality, retail, residential, and workplace, while adding new typologies to the firm’s portfolio. Greg’s combined strengths in architecture and interiors have allowed him to develop innovative and holistic design solutions for an international roster of clients including Marriott, Nobu Hospitality, Accor, Related Companies, Union Square Hospitality Group, and sbe.

Since joining Rockwell Group in 2012, Greg has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the firm through design and management excellence. In 2017, David Rockwell appointed Greg to Partner—the second partner in the firm’s history. As Partner, Greg has taken the lead in developing a firmwide structure and culture that better supports the firm’s designers in doing their best and most creative work.

As the critical link between New York and Madrid, Greg has helped accelerate the growth of the Madrid office. He established a structure for the Madrid office that enables more frequent and consistent collaboration with Rockwell Group’s New York designers and more seamlessly provides the Madrid staff with firmwide support and resources.  Under his leadership, the Madrid and New York offices have completed Nobu Hotel Barcelona, and the Madrid team is currently working on Spain’s first JW Marriott in Madrid, W Naples, the Seda Club Hotel in Granada, the Miraval Monte de Málaga, and a new SLS project in Barcelona.

With wellness tourism being the en vogue topic, I asked Greg how much of a consideration guest wellbeing is within hotel design, and he explained that it’s been a key aspect of hotel design for far longer than it being a trend.

Adding to this, we discussed the different ways in which a hotel without spa facilities can still offer wellness touchpoints, where even the subtlest additions can make all the difference, and whether sustainability counts as a measure of wellbeing.

Listen now to hear the full conversation.

DESIGN POD is brought to you by Hotel Designs. Series 6 is sponsored by Schlüter-Systems Ltd, produced by Kevin Lines and hosted by Sophie Harper.

 

Main image credit: Stephen K. Mack

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Work highlights: Charles joined Forum Events in 2022. With a background in publishing, editorial media and events, Charles brings a wealth of experience to his role as Senior Production Manager. Having being involved with SPACE from the outset, he is excited to see the brand grow and develop.

Fun fact: People tell Sienna she gives off Bridget Jones vibes, and she loves to bake, always making sure there are shortbreads floating around the office

Work highlights: Sienna joined Forum Events & Media Group while studying Communications and Media, starting in the sales team where she managed and helped launch the first the PA Life Leading Venues of London SHOWCASE, where she built relationships with luxury venues across the capital. Drawn to the stories behind these spaces, she naturally transitioned into the editorial team, creating social media and editorial content. Upon graduating in June 2026, she is excited to be joining as Assistant Editor for Hotel Designs and SPACE.

Fun fact: When not working, Jess can usually be found tending to her kitchen garden in the Sussex countryside or foraging for herbs in the nearby woods. A keen grower, she recently studied a RHS Level 2 Diploma in the Principles of Horticulture during her spare time.

Work highlights: Jess joined SPACE magazine in 2022 and has since progressed from Assistant Editor to Editor. During this time, she has worked across many aspects of the publication – from shaping editorial strategy and overseeing operations to contributing to art direction and representing the brand on stage at industry events including Surface Design Show and WOW!house.

Alongside her role at SPACE, Jess has built a creative career spanning the arts, culture, design and travel sectors. Prior to joining the magazine, she spent more than a decade in the commercial art industry, in artist liaison, gallery management, and curating collections for the hospitality sector across hotels and cruise ships. During this time, she also worked on freelance projects as a writer, photographer, and creative content producer.
 
Jess studied photojournalism at London College of Communication and the Danish School of Media and Journalism and holds a first-class BA (Hons) in Culture, Criticism and Curation from Central Saint Martins.

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Work highlights: Katy has been with Hotel Designs since the beginning, way back in 2015 when Forum Events & Media Group acquired the brand.

During this time, she has fostered many meaningful relationships with clients from across the hospitality spectrum, as well as playing a pivotal role in the launch of The Brit List Awards, Hotel Designs MEET UPs, client-led roundtables and panel talks, brand and website redesigns, HD Wellness Sets, DESIGN POD podcast, Hotel Designs LIVE panel talk series, Accessible Design Talks and more. Katy is always on the lookout for the next opportunity to help grow the Hotel Designs brand even further.
 
Most recently Katy has stepped in to the role of Publisher at SPACE magazine, the printed bi-monthly publication focused on hotel design, architecture, and development.

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