Great hospitality is all about creating moments that guests remember, and this episode of The Briefing explores how luxury hotels are designing experiences that do just that.

Melissa Messmer, Global Head of Design for Luxury Brands at IHG, offers an insightful look at how inclusive design, sustainability, and guest wellbeing are shaping luxury hotels across the UK, Europe, and beyond. Drawing from her decades of international experience, Melissa explains how thoughtful lighting, neurodiversity considerations, and circadian rhythm–aware design create more comfortable and meaningful guest experiences.

The conversation also examines the challenges and opportunities of working across diverse cultural and architectural landscapes, including emerging markets in Eastern Europe and the Middle East. Melissa reflects on how creativity and problem-solving remain essential, even when balancing design innovation with business objectives, and why curiosity is critical for the next generation of hospitality leaders.

Aligned with NEWH’s mission of education, networking, and mentorship, this episode emphasizes the value of professional connection and lifelong learning. Melissa closes with practical advice for emerging designers, highlighting the importance of creativity, adaptability, and the courage to pursue a career guided by curiosity rather than convention.