BOND Five Star USA
Networking with America's Leading Luxury Hotel Designers
June 18-21, 2026
AZ, USA
1-on-1 Meetings and Networking with America's Top Luxury Hotel Designers
BOND Five Star USA is the exclusive annual business retreat that connects North America’s top luxury hotel designers with the premium product suppliers they need.
It is three whole days and nights of 1-on-1 meetings and relaxed networking with the Principals and Design Directors heading North America’s biggest and best luxury hotel projects.
The quality of attendees, the hospitality projects they’re working on and the access you get are guaranteed.
Manufacturer places are strictly limited and sell out quicker every year. If you want to know who’s coming, what they’re working on and how to get in front of them, get in touch right now:
America’s Leading Luxury Hotel Designers. Guaranteed.
Every hotel designer you’ll meet at BOND Five Star has a portfolio of confirmed luxury hotel projects throughout North America and the authority to influence who gets specified and who doesn’t.
If you believe your products deserve their place in America’s most prestigious hospitality projects, these are the people you need to convince and BOND Five Star is the only hotel design event to give you the access you need.
BOND Five Star regular attendees include:
Hogan Chun
Design Director | Senior Associate | SouthWest Regional Hospitality Leader
Gensler
Eloisa Bustos
Director of Design
Virgin Hotel Group
Louie Sison
Studio Design Leader
Curioso
Derek Sola
Principal
JCJ Architecture
Manuel Dominguez
Director of Design & Principal
Cooper Carry
Miriam Torres
Founding Partner
Parker-Torres Design
Jennifer Smith
Director of Interior Design
RAD Architecture
Craig Wora
Founder & Principal
Lujo Collective
Luxury Hotel Projects Throughout America
Scroll down for a sample of the 100s of luxury hotel projects our architects and designers are bringing to the table in June.
BOND Five Star is not like any other hotel design event because of who comes and the access you get to them. Every single architect and designer that’s invited must:
- Be at Principal-level or above
- Work nationally in scope
- Evidence a portfolio of live, confirmed luxury hospitality projects.
That’s how BOND delivers an unmatched event experience and the best ROI in the hotel design event space.
So much more than a trade show
You know exactly who’s going to be here before you arrive and you will have a number of guaranteed, pre-scheduled 1-to-1 meetings with the ‘buyers’ of your choice. And that’s just the start.
You know who’s going to be here before you arrive and you will have a guaranteed number of 1-on-1 meetings with the hotel designers and architects of your choice.
What trade show gives you that?
You are all together for three days and nights at a luxury resort, away from all the usual distractions and this is the game changer. Because everyone’s more relaxed, open and helpful so any conversation can open up the luxury hotel project trail right in front of you.
> 18 pre-arranged 1:1 meetings
+ 72 hours of networking in a luxury resort
= a proven formula for success.
We will deliver America’s true luxury hotel project influencers with time and space to get to know each other way beyond the sales pitch.
What happens from there is your story…
Save your place
Sublimely prepared event with wonderful people, fantastic contacts, and undivided attention to every detail. The planning, communication and follow up was 2nd to none. By far the best of any event that I have ever attended.
Lee Fuhrman
Program
Seminar timings and/or content may be varied at our discretion.
- Day 1
- Day 2
- Day 3
- Day 4
Thursday, June 18
Friday, June 19
Seminar - Invisible Luxury: A Conversation on Lighting for Wellbeing and Bespoke Living
Lisa Bartlett | Lighting Director Mountain - West, AKLD Lighting Design
Synopsis
Light is one of the most powerful yet overlooked tools available to designers working at the highest level. We spend 90% of our lives indoors, but most artificial lighting works against the body’s natural rhythms rather than with them. For clients focused on longevity and healthspan, this is no longer an acceptable gap.
Purposeful, human-centered lighting elevates a luxury-focused project beyond beauty and function. It shapes how a space feels to live in: how deeply we sleep, how energized we feel in the morning, how seamlessly the environment supports our body’s needs across the full arc of a day.
In this conversation, we’ll examine the science of the circadian system directly. We will uncover why light matters biologically, and how that knowledge drives design decisions that discerning clients can see, feel, and value. Real-world examples from luxury residential and hospitality projects will anchor the discussion throughout.
You’ll leave with a clear, research-informed framework for integrating dynamic lighting systems into projects, and the language to advocate for wellness-focused lighting as invisible luxury.
Biography
Lisa is an award-winning architectural lighting designer passionate about creating spaces that support wellness. She has led lighting projects for corporate offices, universities, hotels, residences, and civic institutions across the country, working in both specialized lighting studios and multidisciplinary design environments. She currently leads the Colorado office for AKLD Lighting Design, a Chicago-based, woman-owned architectural lighting design firm. Recognized as a thought leader in the lighting industry, Lisa translates emerging research on light and human health into practical design solutions. Her work demonstrates how evidence-based lighting strategies can enhance occupant wellbeing and performance. Lisa holds architecture and interior design licenses, along with EDAC, LEED, and Certified Lighting Designer (CLD) credentials. She is a professional member of the International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD). She has presented at MED Talks, IESNA, LightFair, and Environments for Aging, participated in the National Institutes of Health's Health in Buildings Roundtable, delivered keynote addresses on lighting and health, and was featured in the documentary LD2020: A Story About Lighting Design.
Seminar - Power Shift: The Economics of Electrified Kitchens
Christopher A. Galarza | Founder & CEO, EcoChef
Synopsis
This presentation explores the economic, environmental, and operational advantages of transitioning from gas-powered commercial kitchens to fully electrified, induction-based systems. Grounded in real-world data and current hospitality industry trends, it demonstrates how electrification aligns with global sustainability demands, improves working conditions, reduces utility costs, and enhances system efficiency. Attendees will gain insights into induction technology, ventilation strategies, thermal comfort improvements, and health impacts associated with combustion-based kitchens. The session includes a detailed case study illustrating how architects can integrate electrification into new builds and retrofits, highlighting infrastructure considerations, energy modeling, ventilation design, and long-term savings. By connecting culinary operations with modern building performance strategies, this presentation equips architects to design the next generation of high-performance, low-carbon commercial kitchens.
Biography
Chef Christopher Galarza is a pioneering leader in sustainable culinary innovation and a driving force in the movement to decarbonize commercial kitchens. As the founder of Forward Dining Solutions LLC and co-founder of EcoChef, he champions the Green Industrial Revolution within the foodservice industry, empowering chefs, operators, and designers to embrace environmentally responsible practices.Chef Galarza’s career includes distinguished roles in renowned kitchens such as The Greenbrier. A nationally recognized expert in electric and induction cooking, he is a sought-after consultant and speaker, guiding organizations toward efficient, low-carbon kitchen operations. In 2024, he became the first chef in history to earn the Certified Executive Chef designation entirely in an all-electric kitchen, disproving the myth that great cooking requires fossil fuels.He is the Past President of the American Culinary Federation’s Pittsburgh Chapter and serves as President of the Pittsburgh Culinary Initiative. His bestselling book, Understanding the Green Industrial Revolution, has become an essential resource for those navigating the future of sustainable hospitality.Honored with numerous awards including the ACF Presidential Medallion, ACF Pittsburgh Chef of the Year, and recognition as part of the Grist 50 Chef Galarza continues to set new standards for sustainable, high-performance kitchen design worldwide.
Saturday, June 20
Seminar - Design Sanctuaries: A Framework for Experiential Hospitality & Enduring Asset Value
Holly Mae Post | CEO & Founder, Post Projects
Synopsis
High net worth clients are quietly reshaping luxury hospitality, moving beyond conventional boutique hotels toward intimate environments that create value through experience, escape, wellness, and lasting memory. The design sanctuary model—an original framework for translating founding intent into built experience — begins with a founder’s or investor’s idea before a fully articulated real estate project exists and expands it into a living brand and spatial narrative that resonates with what clients crave now while remaining resilient beyond trend. Drawing on experiential sanctuary precedents and early stage design sanctuary work, the session explores why spatial flow and emotional coherence matter, and how a clear brand framework can guide design teams, so the vision remains recognizable from concept through construction and into an active, revenue generating asset. Designed for investor confidence, the framework pairs experiential clarity with capital discipline — ensuring original intent is carried with integrity through development and into long term asset stewardship.
Biography
Raised in the heart of rural Australia, Holly-Mae's early years were steeped in community, creativity, and a profound connection to the land. Inspired by the dreamtime and the values of collaboration, she carried this foundation into a life defined by artistry, ambition, and purpose. Her journey began in Melbourne, where she immersed herself in the performing arts before transitioning into the corporate sphere—first in FinTech, joining the mergers and acquisitions team of a global financial technology firm. This role carried her across continents and ultimately to New York City, a vibrant hub of innovation that sparked her next chapter.Motivated by the brilliance and ambition surrounding her, Holly-Mae pursued a degree at New York University in Sustainability, Economics, and Business Leadership, complemented by a specialized certification in Energy. This transformative period inspired a bold industry shift: first into luxury retail with one of America's most iconic fashion houses, and later into high-end construction, where she discovered her true calling.Today, as Founder and CEO of Post Projects, Holly-Mae empowers clients to bring their visions to life—delivering complex, beautiful projects that embody architectural excellence and the values of creativity, collaboration, and intention.
Seminar - Design the Creative Leadership You Love: Your Biggest Project
Ayse Birsel | Co-Founder, Designer & Author, Birsel + Seck LLC
Synopsis
Have you ever thought about using your design superpowers for leadership? What if the same creative process you use for amazing architecture and design could transform how you lead?
I’m Ayse Birsel, and I’ve spent 15 years teaching leaders to design the creative leadership they love. In this interactive session, I’ll show you how the same process I use to design award-winning products for Herman Miller, Toyota, and Moroso can revolutionize your leadership approach.
Think about it – designers are naturally optimistic, empathetic, collaborative, and playful. These aren’t just design skills; they’re leadership superpowers waiting to be unleashed!
Together, we’ll explore my signature “Heroes” exercise that connects you with your core values – especially crucial in today’s uncertain world of AI, climate change, and political shifts. You’ll discover how design thinking can break through mental blocks and help you navigate seemingly impossible contradictions.
Whether you lead a small team or a large organization, you’ll leave with practical design tools to transform challenges into opportunities and craft leadership that truly reflects who you are and what you value.
Join me to discover how designing your leadership can be as exciting and fulfilling as designing your best work. Design the Creative Leadership You Love!
Biography
Ayse (Eye-Shay) Birsel is one of the world’s leading industrial designers, recognized for her human-centered approach to design. Her work is in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and was named one of The 25 Most Defining Pieces of Furniture From the Last 100 Years by The New York Times. She has designed hundreds of products—from toilet seats to office systems to concept cars—for brands like Herman Miller, Knoll, Target, and Toyota.
Named one of Fast Company’s Most Creative People in Business, Ayse was awarded Best Of Year Product Designer by Interior Design Magazine in 2020. Through her movement, Design the Life You Love, she has helped thousands of people apply her design thinking methodology to transform their lives and work. She applies the same principles and process to help organizations codesign experiences customers love.
Ayse co-founded Birsel + Seck, a woman and Black-owned innovation studio, with her partner Bibi Seck, a French-Senegalese automobile designer. She is the author of Design the Life You Love and Design the LONG Life You Love. Born in Turkey, she came to New York on a Fulbright scholarship, where she continues to live and work.
Sunday, June 21
I love the event. The intimate nature and the ability to make lasting connections with potential clients and vendors is incredibly valuable.
