Stephen leads a talented and dedicated team of designers and engineers providing best-in-class brand design stewardship for IHG’s valued partners across Southwest Asia, Middle East and Africa. His 16 year career in hospitality design began with Starwood Hotels & Resorts in 2008 expanding their portfolio of luxury brands across EMEA, followed by roles with Marriott and Accor before joining IHG Hotels & Resorts in 2019. An additional 14 years of prior international experience in architecture and design encompassed positions at the world-renowned firms of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and Gensler between offices in New York and London. He holds an Architecture degree from the University of Notre Dame which included an enlightening year of study in Rome, followed by a challenging internship in Paris to kick start his passion for “globally local” design and sustainable travel.