Hospitality Unpacked with NEWH – Details, episodes & analysis

Theme: The People
Episode: Scholarship Stories

Guests:

• Barbara Bischoff – Director of Scholarships, NEWH Inc. | Project Interior Design Associate, Roam
• Valerie Coleman – Vice President of EID, NEWH Inc. | Director of Interior Design Select Brands, Marriott International
• Michael Quaglia – Communications Chair – Scholarships, NEWH Inc. | Intermediate Interior Designer, ODA

What happens when a scholarship becomes more than a cheque? In this episode of Hospitality Unpacked, we sit down with three designers whose careers were transformed by the support, mentorship, and community of NEWH.

From changing careers to crossing continents, Barbara Bischoff, Valerie Coleman, and Michael Quaglia share how receiving an NEWH scholarship opened doors far beyond the classroom. Their stories highlight the power of generosity in hospitality—the kind that shapes not only projects, but people.

Listeners will hear how each designer discovered their path, built lifelong connections, and turned scholarship opportunities into thriving careers across Marriott International, ODA, and Roam Interiors.

Hosted by Matt DeShantz, this conversation brings together three generations of NEWH scholarship recipients whose experiences span design studios, hotel brands, and international chapters.

Key Topics
• How scholarships validate creative risk and career pivots
• The network effect—why NEWH connections outlast graduation
• Mentorship and giving back through chapter involvement
• Inclusivity and diversity as drivers of design excellence

Hospitality Unpacked by NEWH is where the global hospitality industry comes to connect, learn, and be inspired. Powered by NEWH, Inc.—the leading network for education, scholarships, and professional growth in hospitality—this podcast peels back the layers of an ever-evolving industry through authentic, thought-provoking conversations.

Each episode dives into one of three core themes: The People, spotlighting individual journeys and mentorship that shape our community; The Design, exploring the creative forces behind spaces, products, and innovation; and The Guest Experience, unpacking how brands, technology, and cultural shifts redefine what it means to welcome and belong.

Hosted by industry voices who understand both the business and the art of hospitality, Hospitality Unpacked goes beyond headlines and trends—it’s about impact. From scholarship stories to design breakthroughs and brand evolution, listeners gain real-world insight into the people and ideas pushing hospitality forward.

Whether you’re a designer, brand leader, manufacturer, or student finding your path, this is your invitation to listen, learn, and be part of the conversation shaping the future of hospitality.

At the NEWH Leadership Conference in Paris, two familiar faces reunited after more than a decade apart — Diana Dobin, Co-CEO of Valley Forge Fabrics, and Will Dowling, Director of Design for Virgin Hotels.

What began as a mentorship when Will was a hospitality student has evolved into a story of friendship, growth, and paying it forward. In this heart-warming minisode, they reflect on how one conversation can spark a lifelong connection—and how mentorship continues to shape hospitality’s next generation of leaders.

🎙️ Recorded live in Paris during the NEWH Leadership Conference.

Design never sleeps—especially when your studios span continents.

In this episode of Hospitality Unpacked: The Design, Adele Rankin and Brigitte Bédard of CHIL Interior Design share what it takes to lead hospitality projects that cross time zones, cultures, and expectations. From 24-hour collaboration between Vancouver, Toronto, and Hong Kong to navigating client customs in the Middle East, they unpack the creative thrill (and chaos) of designing on a global stage.

Hosted by Matt DeShantz, this conversation explores cultural sensitivity, global sustainability, and the rush of creating spaces that redefine luxury—one timezone at a time.
🎙️ Listen now wherever you get your podcasts.

Correction Notice:
This episode was recorded while Adele Rankin was serving as Principal and Global Design Lead at CHIL Interior Design. Since the time of recording, Adele has moved into her new role as Vice President of Interior Design at Kasian Architecture. We’re thrilled to acknowledge her continued leadership in global hospitality design.

What began as a formal match in the NEWH Martha’s Mentors Program grew into something far bigger: confidence built, careers shaped, and a new generation being lifted as they rise. This episode pulls back the curtain on what mentorship really does in our industry.

Three leaders sit down to talk about the power of being guided, challenged, and championed: Jeanne Varney, former International President of NEWH; Dana Kelly of Penrose Hospitality Solutions; and Dallas Bentley, NEWH’s VP of Education.

It is a candid look at how mentorship becomes momentum. Not through grand gestures, but through consistent connection, perspective, and the kind of support that makes people step into their potential.

Growth in hospitality doesn’t happen alone. It happens in community.

Learn more about the Martha’s Mentors Program with NEWH: https://newh.org/resources/marthas-mentors/

This minisode of A Seat at the Table was recorded live at the 2025 NEWH Leadership Conference in Paris. It captures a candid and thoughtful conversation with Agnès Roquefort, drawing on her insights as a global hospitality leader and her perspective on mentorship, collaboration, and the next generation of talent.

The energy of the conference carries straight into the dialogue, offering listeners a quick but meaningful look at the ideas shaping hospitality right now.

In this episode of A Seat at the Table, we sit down with four global voices to explore how NEWH connects people, careers, and companies across borders. Joining him are Chris Tucker, CEO of NEWH, Inc.; Jonathan Young, principal of Jonathan Young Associates and NEWH VP of International Relations for the EU & UK; Boris Gentine, designer and partner at Saguez & Dash; and Pam Neimann, founder of Neimann Design.

Together, they unpack how a volunteer-driven network becomes a powerful global engine for opportunity. Boris shares his recent move from Paris to New York and how NEWH turned an intimidating relocation into a soft landing—introducing him to chapters, clients, and friends who helped him quickly find his place in a new market. Pam reflects on taking her entire studio to NEWH Leadership Conferences in Nashville and Paris, and how those experiences deepened her team’s cohesion, exposure to international design thinking, and long-term commitment to the organization.

Jonathan offers a vendor’s perspective on NEWH as an “international matchmaker,” helping manufacturers and designers navigate cultural nuances and expand into new regions—from American brands entering Europe to European firms tackling projects in the US and Middle East. Chris rounds out the conversation with real stories of NEWH scholarship winners whose careers have crossed continents, demonstrating how education, mentorship, and internships are evolving as NEWH grows globally.

Listeners will come away with a deeper understanding of how NEWH’s international chapters, events, and scholarship programs create a truly borderless community—one where students, designers, and manufacturers can belong, be supported, and build meaningful careers anywhere in the world.

Cultural authenticity cannot be an afterthought.

This essential dialogue examines what it truly means to design hospitality spaces rooted in Native American identity—through tradition, lived experience, and forward-thinking innovation. Centered on Indigenous voices, this conversation reframes culture not as a visual reference or design trend, but as a living, evolving narrative shaped by community, place, and purpose.

Bringing together three Indigenous leaders from architecture, design, and project management, the panel explores the role of materials, symbolism, and storytelling, while confronting the risks of appropriation and the critical need for Indigenous leadership on Native projects.

Through candid insight and real-world perspective, this episode challenges conventional design frameworks and offers a more respectful, informed approach to hospitality development—one that honors culture, responsibility, and long-term impact.

Hospitality is where comfort, innovation, and human connection create unforgettable guest experiences.

In this episode, Ludovica Rocchi, Brand Director of R Collection Hotels Group, shares how luxury hotels in Europe are using design, technology, and leadership to elevate guest experience. She discusses motivating staff, adapting to change, and creating stays that leave lasting impressions.

Perfect for anyone interested in hotel innovation, hospitality leadership, and guest-focused excellence.

Hotels and restaurants cycle through furniture at an incredible pace. Pieces meant to last a decade often barely make it five years before being tossed. In this episode, we look at how the industry can rethink that pattern and shift toward circular design that keeps materials in use longer.

Our panel digs into the real barriers cost, logistics, changing trends and the pressure to deliver a constant sense of “new.” They draw from hands-on examples, including San Francisco International Airport’s commitment to zero waste, a Grand Hyatt built with circularity in mind, and a Colorado hostel that turned reclaimed materials and custom-built bunk beds into a sustainability win. We also explore innovative materials like recycled plastics, biodegradable textiles, and early-stage alternatives such as mycelium.

If you work in design, purchasing, operations, or simply care about building a more sustainable hospitality ecosystem, this conversation will spark ideas and challenge the way you approach specifications and project planning.