DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT
187 | Creative, Flexible and Durable Design with Belinda and David
DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT
Belinda O’Kelly brings a decade of experience, a comprehensive skill set and dedicated design focus to O’Kelly + Kasprak. She is a licensed architect in Illinois, as well as a LEED accredited professional with a specialty in building design and construction.
David Kasprak has been leading the highest quality restaurant, hotel, and retail design teams for decades, and he’s known for designs that are not only award winning, but that also work functionally and are not cost prohibitive.
David holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in architecture, is self-certified for the City of Chicago, and is also a LEED accredited professional.
In This Episode, Belinda and David Reveal …
- The biggest things often overlooked from a design perspective, including creativity, flexibility and durability.
- The biggest trends they’re seeing in hotel design now, including tech, textures, authenticity and local focus.
- Some game changers in the industry – what is really innovating the hotel game – again, including tech, social media, and data-driven design.
- The biggest challenges in the design field right now.
Resources & Links
Belinda O’Kelly
- Email: belinda@okellykasprak.com
David Kasprak
- Email: david@okellykasprak.com
O’Kelly Kasprak
DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT
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330 | Youthful Perspective: Industry leader Bijal Patel mourns the loss of ‘an entire generation’ of hospitality workers
Bijal Patel, 31, is CEO of Coast Redwood Hospitality and the youngest chair of the California Hotel & Lodging Association. He’s made even more history at CHLA by agreeing to serve an unprecedented second term as the lodging industry emerges from the coronavirus pandemic. Patel is a third-generation hotelier. Being so steeped in hospitality at such a young age is not new for members of the Indian American hotelier community, but Patel fears the pandemic has drained the industry of emerging talent. Lodging Leaders spotlights Patel, who represents a leadership demographic that is fighting for the life of the hospitality industry as they watch their peers veer toward other career paths.
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329 | Ruff and Ready: ADA gives hotels a short leash when accommodating guests with service animals
Many hotels these days have made room for guests with disabilities. Hotel managers and staff should also know what the Americans with Disabilities Act says about accommodating guests with pets. During the pandemic lockdowns, a lot of people added a pet to their household and now they’re bringing Fido along on vacation. Hotel employees need to know how to cater to both consumers who are pet owners as well as guests who travel with a trained service animal. Episode 329 of Lodging Leaders podcast reports on how the ADA defines a service animal and how a hotel is legally obligated to serve a guest who comes with a dog or any other animal.