Meet the speakers at MEET UP North
This July, Hotel Designs will be heading to Manchester for a MEET UP North takeover at award-winning hotel, LEVEN. With a number of exciting touchpoints throughout the evening’s event, one of the highlights will be an engaging panel discussion on the topic of Hospitality in the Metaverse. We find out more about the speakers…
If you don’t yet have your tickets for MEET UP North, you need to get your skates on as there’s only four weeks left until the event!
On 11th July, Hotel Designs will host its annual northern networking event at LEVEN, Manchester, for what can only be described as a night of celebration and exploration. Come with us on a deep dive into the metaverse as Editor Sophie Harper asks our expert panellists about their own developments within the digital universe.
Following the talk, guests at the event will have the chance to experience the metaverse for themselves in a Virtual Reality taster session, courtesy of IA Interior Architects, who will help users navigate another world.
From left to right: Timothy Griffin, Vernoica Givone, James Addison
Timothy Griffin, Principal, Wellbrook Hospitality & Co-founder, LEVEN
Prior to founding Wellbrook with his two partners, he was Managing Director for North America for Ennismore’s the Hoxton brand. Timothy launched the Hoxton in the US market, establishing a central office and North American team in New York City and led the highly successful opening of Hoxton hotels in New York, Portland, Chicago and LA.
Previously he was the group’s Global Brand Director where he played a key role in defining the Hoxton brand to enable it to scale globally. He oversaw the graphic design, PR, social media, retail, digital marketing, partnerships and events teams in the London office.
An alumnus of the University of West London where he graduated with a BA (Hons) in Hospitality Management and Cranfield University School of Management’s Accelerated Talent Development Programme. He began his career in hospitality at New York’s The Waldorf Astoria on Park Avenue and the Hilton Short Hills in New Jersey where he held various operational leadership roles.
He has taught Rooms Division Operations at NYU to post graduate students, is a member of the Savoy Education Trust’s Scholarship St. Julian’s Scholars and is on the Advisory Board for Hospitality Design Magazine and the Steering Committee for the Independent Hotel Show North of Britain. He was the recipient of Hotel Designs’ Brit List Awards Hotelier of the Year 2023.
https://liveleven.com/leven-verse/
Image credit: LEVEN
Veronica Givone, Principal & Managing Director of Hospitality, IA Interior Architects
With over 20 years’ experience in the hotel design industry, Veronica Givone serves as the Principal and Managing Director of IA’s Hospitality Practice, based in the firm’s London Studio. Veronica has garnered a wealth of global experience across diverse design sectors, particularly focusing on luxury hospitality interiors and wellness design.
Her expertise is evident in her unwavering commitment to delivering excellence in hotel design, offering exceptional client service tailored to the hospitality industry, and skillfully executing successful operational strategies for hotel projects. Veronica’s leadership has played a pivotal role in establishing IA Interior Architects as a prominent player in the competitive field of hospitality design. Holding a degree in Interior Design from the prestigious Istituto Europeo di Design in Milan, she strives to blend meaningful elements with bespoke, exciting, and authentic design, creating a compelling narrative.
https://interiorarchitects.com/
Image credit: LEVEN
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James Addison, Creative Director, forpeople
James is a Creative Director at forpeople, a multidisciplinary creative studio in London. With over 12 years of expertise in branding, strategy, and experience, he has led the design of many notable branding projects worldwide. His hospitality portfolio includes Regent Hotels (InterContinental Hotels Group), Vignette Collection, Voco, Even, and most recently, the branding and experiential design for Cunard’s new luxury ship, Queen Anne.
James is a passionate AI enthusiast who experiments with new tools to enhance the creative process. He is particularly interested in the interplay between AI, storytelling, and hospitality, aiming to create memorable narratives that resonate with guests. His personal project, The Grande Finto, a hotel made entirely using AI, serves as a platform to explore and expand the creative boundaries of hospitality.
Get your tickets now and see us at MEET UP North for a networking party experience with a difference.
Designers, architects, hoteliers and developers, secure your tickets here
Suppliers to the hospitality industry secure your tickets here
See you there!
Main image credit: Hotel Designs
