Preeminent Dallas, Texas-based Hospitality Design Firm Realizes Design Vision and Sets the Standard in Recent Projects in Beijing and Macau
DALLAS, May 12 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- If you ask Trisha Wilson, Founder and CEO of Wilson Associates (http://www.wilsonassoc.com ), consistently ranked as one of the world's top hospitality design firms, the key to her company's success, she will tell you that international expansion has been an important factor. Established in Dallas in 1971, the 300-person firm opened offices in New York and Los Angeles in the 1980s and its first overseas office in Singapore in 1990. Today that office is staffed with over 150 people and is the largest of any Wilson office; an office in Shanghai was opened in 2002 as well to serve the growing Chinese market.
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With branches and clients in almost every time zone, including an office in Johannesburg and an associate office in Cochin, India, Wilson Associates counts more than 90 percent of its work as international and the firm's recognition is steadily increasing in the very important parts of the world like China, where it is setting the standard for high-end hospitality design.
"China is such an exciting, inspiring place to work," said Trisha Wilson. "The hospitality market is really focused on high culture and luxury design, and the very rich Chinese heritage provides great inspiration. Wilson Associates is not known for having a single design style -- instead, we design for the client and for the market, incorporating the art and culture of a project's location where we can and with the client's approval."
For the Hilton Beijing Wangfujing, which opened in August 2008 in time for the 2008 Olympic Games, the Forbidden City's traditional architecture as well as the Rococo style provided the inspiration for the design. The concept redefines an urban hotel into one of serene sophistication, infused with a strong residential feel. The lobby resembles the great room of a spacious country residence with a library attached where two large fireplaces flank the seating area. Distinctive friezes and objets d'art showcasing the work of acclaimed Beijing artists grace the walls, while contemporary-styled furnishings in dark, rich leathers are softened by lavish suede fabrics in a quiet palette of beige and bronze with cream and white accents.
Each guestroom and suite was carefully tailor-made, with distinct zones for relaxation. Large sliding doors open up the entire bathroom to the other areas. In keeping with the boutique hotel's residential theme, the floor with the restaurants, meeting rooms and ballroom was envisioned as the dining room, den and great hall with each area flowing into the other. The common language of poetry harmonizes the three dining experiences.
For the MGM Grand Macau, opened in December 2007, the design concept drew on the city's Portuguese background and references the grand houses and castles of Portugal, in particular, the blue color seen in that country's architecture. The large-scale VIP Lobby, for example, features marble floors with intricately cut designs based on Portuguese knot gardens, and the blue is showcased in floor details as well as in glass lanterns, stained-glass windows, ceramic balustrades and embossed leather.
At Beijing's China World Hotel in Beijing, the Forbidden City and its centuries-old design traditions proved the central inspiration. Its lobby appears as an imperial palace with traditional Chinese design elements and a rich red color scheme, which are combined with bold, contemporary furnishings.
Additional Wilson projects recently opened throughout the region include The St. Regis Singapore, The Venetian Macau, The Four Seasons Hong Kong and The Westin Guangzhou. Other Wilson projects in the works include the Four Seasons Hotel Shanghai, Grand Hyatt Shenzhen and the Intercontinental Nanjing.
With her years in the business and her ability to lead the firm through today's challenging economic times, Wilson stays focused on her top priority -- providing the world's best design for the world's best clients. She also recognizes the importance of gratitude. "It's essential to maintain an 'attitude of gratitude,'" concluded Wilson. "I am grateful for the tremendous projects our clients entrust with us - projects that take us to all corners of the world."
