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Signature event featuring thought leaders from companies at the forefront of hospitality design, investments, operations and product manufacturing will share their success strategies at the sixth annual Boutique Design New York trade fair and conference, Nov. 8-9 at the Javits Center

CINCINNATI, OH, September 30, 2015 – Professional tennis player Venus Williams, who also heads Jupiter, FL-based design firm V*STARR Interiors, will join other visionary women leaders in the hospitality design community at the “Boutique Design Power Players: Women Leaders in Hospitality Breakfast and Panel Discussion,” Monday, Nov. 9, at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.

Williams will also keynote the event, which kicks off day two of the Boutique Design New York (BDNY) trade fair and conference. Held concurrently with HX: The Hotel Experience (formerly IHMRS), the BDNY trade fair combines inventive elements for hospitality interiors with signature educational and social events, unique Designed Spaces created by leading hospitality design firms, and an extensive conference program.

Mary Scoviak, executive editor, Boutique Design, and conference director, Hospitality Media Group, will moderate the Women Leaders panel discussion, co-sponsored by NEWH. Panelists include:

Dominique Colliat, chief operating officer, North & Central America and the Caribbean, ACCOR Hotels
Elizabeth Lowrey, principal, Elkus Manfredi Architects
Tarrunumn Murad, chief executive officer, Tramz Hotels Group
Brenda Smith, president, Signature Hospitality Carpets
Therese Virserius, president, Virserius Studio
Venus Williams, chief executive officer, V*STARR Interiors
Christina Zimmer, senior vice president, Ian Schrager Company

“This signature Boutique Design event brings together some of the most influential executives from all sectors of the hospitality design industry,” says Scoviak. “The fact that they’re women is incidental. It’s their vision and their strategic execution of forward-looking ideas that make them powerful voices for innovation and compelling role models. This is a crash course in how to succeed in design and business.”

Williams, who holds seven Grand Slam singles titles in professional tennis and four Olympic gold medals, founded V*STARR Interiors in 2002, the year she was ranked World No. 1 in women’s singles. The firm began designing for commercial clients in 2011 and has created spaces for Howard University, Buffalo State College and InterContinental Hotels & Resorts. Williams is also creator of the ready-to-wear fashion line EleVen.

More than 5,000 interior designers, architects, purchasing executives, and hospitality owners and operators are expected to attend BDNY 2015. The event will feature 600+ manufacturers and marketers displaying the latest FF&E products in 80,000 square feet of exhibit space.

BDNY’s conference program features 100+ speakers in more than 30 sessions, addressing topics such as next-gen technology for hospitality spaces; business and design opportunities in the hotel/residential hybrid market; and the competitive hospitality landscape in Cuba. Ten sessions are CEU/AIA accredited.

Registration options for BDNY 2015 include an Exhibits-Only registration fee of $50 ($30 through Oct. 12); a BDNY Conference/All Access pass for $175, which includes admission to BDNY and HX exhibits; and a One-Day Conference Access pass for $100. Registration for Per-Session CEU Access is $50.

Ticketed events include the ISHP Annual Fundraiser and BDNY Opening Reception on Saturday, Nov. 7; Lifestyle Leaders’ Opening Breakfast on Sunday, Nov. 8;Boutique Design Power Players: Women Leaders in Hospitality Breakfast & Panel Discussion on Monday, Nov. 9; Hospitality Design Power Panel on Monday, Nov. 9; and the 35th Gold Key Awards Gala on Monday evening at the Waldorf Astoria, New York.

Attendee registration and trade fair details are available at bdny.com.