Antony Cestra—principal, studio leader and VP of development at design studio Lemay_id—is set to attend Hotec Design, an annual conference presented by Questex, the parent company of Hotel Management. At the conference—scheduled this year for June 16-18 at the Fairmont Scottsdale (Ariz.) Princess—buyers meet one-on-one with hospitality-focused suppliers to learn about new products and services and to keep up-to-date on emerging trends.
Ahead of the conference, Cestra talked about sustainability, wellness and what design trends hoteliers will need to know.
1. What are you most excited about for your company in 2025 (and beyond)?
Lemay_id stands at the threshold of a landmark period as we advance our core mission of innovative, sustainable hospitality design. Our path forward centers on attaining meaningful growth and pushing creative boundaries in several connected areas. Environmental responsibility continues to guide our design approach, including the practical application of energy management systems that benefit both operations and guest comfort. Meanwhile, to remain engaged with evolving industry priorities, we participate in sector discussions at events like the Hospitality Design Conferences. Through this next year, we’ll seize opportunities to strengthen existing relationships and develop new partnerships with brands and property owners in Canada and the U.S. Additionally, we’re developing our presence in key markets including New York and Miami, with work that spans across hospitality, residential and commercial sectors—always focused on creating inspiring spaces that shape memorable experiences.
2. What are some of the biggest design-related changes you’ve seen in the hotel industry over the past year?
The hotel industry has experienced several notable design shifts recently. The twin themes of adaptability and distinct identity have emerged as driving forces. We have noticed a stronger emphasis on incorporating local cultural elements to create authentic connections to destinations, which is genuinely enthusing for our design team. Similarly, food and beverage offerings have been reconceived with a heightened attention to creating distinctive experiences. Adaptable design has become increasingly prevalent, with spaces that can be reconfigured to serve different purposes and guest needs. Lobbies, for instance, have evolved into versatile hubs accommodating activities from focused work to social gatherings. Throughout these changes, wellness considerations and natural design elements have also gained importance, reflecting broader sustainability concerns and a desire for spaces that nurture wellbeing.
3. How has your business adjusted to these changes?
At Lemay_id, we’ve embraced these industry shifts by developing expertise in designing truly flexible spaces that transform throughout the day to serve diverse guest activities. We’re partnering with regional artisans to deepen the authentic sense of place in our projects, while our culinary space designs focus on creating the distinctive social experiences today’s travelers seek. Our technology integration has become more purposeful yet unobtrusive, enhancing personalization without overshadowing human interaction. Meanwhile, our implementation of energy management systems serves both sustainability goals and operational efficiency. We’ve also intensified our exploration of biophilic design principles, finding that natural elements significantly enhance the restorative quality guests increasingly expect from hospitality environments.
4. How are you incorporating new technology, especially AI, into your business?
Technology and AI now play an integral role in our design approach as we enhance both operational efficiency and guest experience. Fusion by Lemay, an energy intelligence platform, allows us to optimize hotel energy consumption–directly addressing the sustainability concerns that have become increasingly important in the industry while reducing operational costs for our clients. In parallel, we’re working with Lemay Connex technologies, which leverage evidence-based data, 3D modeling, and digital twin technology to improve the relationship between built environments and their users. These tools help us create more responsive spaces that adapt to changing needs —aligning perfectly with the industry-wide shift toward adaptable design we’re witnessing.
5. What steps are you taking to improve sustainability in the industry?
Environmental responsibility is integrated throughout Lemay_id’s approach to design. Our Montreal office, known as The Phenix, embodies this philosophy as a carbon-neutral building with LEED-Platinum, Zero Carbon Building and Living Building Challenge Petal certifications—essentially functioning as our living laboratory for sustainable practices. Across our hospitality projects, we implement our Net Positive™ approach, which aims to create environments that benefit the planet beyond basic green measures. This includes enhancing energy efficiency through technological solutions like Fusion, selecting responsibly sourced materials with reduced environmental impact, and incorporating water conservation practices. The integration of biophilic design principles connects interior spaces with nature, supporting both environmental goals and the wellness considerations that have gained prominence in hospitality design, creating spaces that nurture both the planet and its guests.
6. What are some trends you think will have staying power beyond 2025?
Looking beyond 2025, several key trends will continue to shape hospitality design. Regenerative sustainability will evolve from concept to standard, with hotels actively contributing to environmental health rather than simply minimizing harm. AI-powered personalization will mature, enabling truly predictive service models and customized experiences. Wellness-driven design will expand beyond sleep-enhancing rooms to address holistic well-being throughout the guest journey. Food and beverage concepts will increasingly function as destinations themselves, becoming central to hotel identity rather than auxiliary features. Tech-integrated convenience will make seamless, automated experiences the new baseline, while authenticity and local storytelling will remain fundamental—reflecting an enduring guest preference for meaningful cultural connections and a genuine sense of place.
7. What is the biggest challenge you have overcome over the past year? How did you overcome it?
Expanding Lemay_id’s hospitality presence amid industry uncertainty presented our most significant challenge. We addressed this by diversifying our services to match evolving market demands, leveraging our transdisciplinary expertise for integrated solutions, strengthening key partnerships, and advancing sustainability-driven innovation. Through these approaches, we’ve transformed market challenges into opportunities for innovative design that creates lasting value.
8. What is the value of meeting hospitality suppliers one-on-one?
One-on-one meetings with hospitality suppliers are invaluable to our practice. These connections allow us to discover cutting-edge sustainable materials aligned with our Net Positive philosophy, develop customized solutions for our projects, and optimize procurement processes. Beyond transactions, these relationships keep us ahead of emerging trends and drive innovation—ultimately enabling us to create smarter, more sustainable hospitality spaces that better serve both our clients and their guests.
9. What do you hope to accomplish at Hotec this year?
At Hotec this year, we’re seeking meaningful connections that extend beyond typical networking. We aim to engage with forward-thinking partners who share our vision for hospitality spaces that inspire genuine emotion and lasting memory. While strengthening relationships with industry leaders and discovering innovations in sustainable solutions are certainly on our agenda, we’re particularly eager to participate in the deeper conversations that shape our industry’s future. Hotec provides that rare environment where casual conversations can spark transformative collaborations. We’re coming with open minds, prepared to both share our perspective and absorb fresh insights that challenge our thinking. Ultimately, these exchanges fuel our ability to create exceptional guest experiences that resonate long after checkout—which remains our fundamental purpose.
Hotec Design will take place June 16-18 at the Fairmont Scottsdale (Ariz.) Princess. Applications are open for buyers and suppliers.