Martin Brudnizki is the founder and principal of Martin Brudnizki Design Studio (MBDS). Born in Stockholm, Martin’s love for design started from a young age. His mother was a stylist and his father a structural engineer; the combination of these elements embedded a deep understanding of aesthetics alongside a grounding in functionality. Having gained a degree in economics at the University of Stockholm, Martin enrolled at the American University in London to study interior architecture. Following a number of successful positions at renowned interior design firms, Martin established his eponymous studio in London in 2000, followed by a New York studio in 2012.

MBDS is now an internationally acclaimed interior architecture and design practice with a team of more than 70 interior designers, architects, lighting designers, and product designers and a portfolio boasting hotels, restaurants, bars, private members clubs, as well as residential developments and a select number of residential projects. The studio works across the world with notable clients including: Four Seasons, Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, Six Senses, Soho House, Sydell Group, Nobu Matsuhisa, and Daniel Boulud.

In 2015, Martin established And Objects, a product design studio built on his experience in interior design. Recent collaborations include collections with George Smith, Christopher Farr Cloth, Drummonds, and the Urban Electric Co.

Ted Carroll is the founding partner and president of the Carroll Adams Group, which is celebrating its 20th year in business. Throughout Ted’s years of hospitality experience, he and his team have successfully purchased and installed multiple notable hotel projects worldwide. From his beginnings in hotel operations, then moving into design, construction, and development, Ted has considerable knowledge of every aspect involved in hospitality procurement. His leadership has helped Carroll/Adams rise to become a top-tier procurement agency handling over $1 billion in FF&E/OS&E goods.

Raul Leal is the chief executive officer of SH Hotels & Resorts, a brand management company and affiliate of global private investment firm Starwood Capital Group. SH operates 1 Hotels, Baccarat Hotels, and Treehouse Hotels, with 14 properties under management and 16 in development. As SH expands its global presence, Leal continues to focus first on people and planet.

Over his 40-year career, Leal has proven a natural entrepreneur and visionary, responsible for some of the world’s most iconic luxury and lifestyle brands. Known for his astute design sense, clear communication, operational excellence, and gift for cultivating an energetic and inclusive culture, Leal is a celebrated leader—and has held among the industry’s most prestigious roles. His vast experience as both owner and operator led him to become president and partner at Tecton Hospitality, founder of Desires Hotels, and for the past decade, CEO of Virgin Hotels, recruited directly by Richard Branson to launch and grow the brand.

Leal’s proven track record identifying nimble, sophisticated tactics that drive positive change is embedded into the SH organization. He is a true mentor, driven by his commitment to championing others, and revitalizing communities in swift, smart ways that achieve all the good we can.

Dayssi Olarte de Kanavos is the cofounder, president, and COO of Flag Luxury Group, a real estate development company with a primary focus on luxury hotels, boutique hotels, and retail development in Miami, Orlando, Las Vegas, and New York. Prior to forming Flag Luxury, Dayssi completed a master’s degree in real estate development and finance from New York University and received a Bachelor of Science from the School of Hotel Administration from Cornell University.

Dayssi has served on the board of the Hotel School at Cornell University and is a member of the President’s Council of Cornell Women and the Trustee Council of the University. She also founded the Friends of New Yorkers for Children, which supports children in foster care through initiatives in education, mentoring, and career opportunities. She serves on the board of Save Venice, the nonprofit dedicated to restoring art and architecture in Venice. Moreover, Dayssi has won numerous awards—including CRE Women in Real Estate, Casita Maria Medal of Honor, and the Maryhaven Philanthropist of the Year—and cofounded the Woman’s Day Power Breakfast with her daughter Sophia Kanavos.

Libby Patrick is the founding principal and CEO of Atlanta-based Sims Patrick Studio (SPS). With more than 30 years of experience in the architecture and interior design industry, Libby is an expert in the design and conceptualization of nearly all space typologies, from commercial to residential and across numerous verticals. Drawing on a lifetime of creative endeavors, Libby launched her firm in 1999, and has since spearheaded work on a multitude of projects throughout the United States, utilizing her breadth of knowledge to inform SPS’ ongoing work in the hospitality sector.

Libby has served as a featured panelist and speaker at local and national events, including NeoCon, HD Expo, and IIDA, and her award-winning work has been featured in notable publications such as Architectural Record, Boutique Design, Hospitality Design, Better Homes & Gardens, among others. Libby’s eye for color, use of planning, and aptitude for three-dimensional design direction has made her a force not just in the southeast, but in the broader design industry as she commands the helm of SPS.

The 2023 Manfred Steinfeld Humanitarian Award recipient

Shelia Lohmiller serves as CEO of NEWH, Inc., the Network of the Hospitality Industry, a premier nonprofit networking resource for the hospitality community. NEWH provides scholarships, education, leadership development, recognition of excellence, and business development opportunities throughout the industry.
A longtime hospitality design professional in Chicago and later southern California, Lohmiller helped start the NEWH Los Angeles Founding Chapter and has worked to grow membership, structure, and awareness for NEWH ever since—as a member and now as CEO. She is a driving force of NEWH domestically and globally, nearly 30 chapters strong, awarding more than $8.1 million in educational scholarships to rising professionals pursuing hospitality careers.

Educated at University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Bellin School of Nursing, and Harrington College of Design in Chicago, Lohmiller has 40-plus years’ experience in the hospitality field. She became the first saleswoman for Falcon Products and was named West Coast Regional Manager in 1983, making her the first woman to be named manager for the company. She founded an independent furniture representation business, the Lohmiller Group, in 1984 in Los Angeles. Lohmiller cofounded the Network of Executive Women in Hospitality in 1984 with Dorrit St. John and Susan Spalding. She served as founding president from 1984 to 1986, and then Secretary of the NEWH, Inc. Board of Directors. Shelia was honored as the first recipient of NEWH’s Recognition of Excellence in 1992 for exemplary service to the organization. Shelia served as NEWH, Inc. executive director from 1993 until 2020 when she was promoted to CEO.