Meet Katherine Cortese: Executive Creative Director, Hospitality Design Guild

We had the good fortune of connecting with Katherine Cortese and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Katherine, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I have always been the type of person who has a creative sensibility and a deep appreciation for high-end style and great design. But I also have a head for business. I was raised in a very entrepreneurial family, so those instincts come naturally, and I searched for a way to combine my creativity and business acumen. Interior design – and specifically, hospitality – was the perfect avenue for me to pursue both. I have been able to design and build incredible, luxurious spaces for a variety of clients and brands, while learning and maintaining meticulous budgets and schedules. The ability to combine my love of travel and experiencing places all over the world with running my own business is the most fulfilling and rewarding career I can imagine. And now, after more than 20 years in interior design, I realize it’s the collaboration and combining everyone’s ideas and visions, that allows me to find joy in my work and know that what we’re building has an impact on everyone who experiences our creation.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
We are a hospitality design company that works with clients of all sizes and scales. From commercial to residential. Nationally, and all over the world. We try not to execute in one particular style but instead work hard to bring the right aesthetic to every client we serve. We consistently execute high-quality work and believe it’s in part to having a very senior team on every project. Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my 20+ year career, it’s that no single person or organization or book leads to your success. The most important principle I’ve learned over the course of my career is what you build with people is way more important than what you build on a job site. It’s all about the relationships we build and maintain over time that help in our success. I would not be where I am in my career and life today without the collective people, experiences, and learning opportunities along the way.

Website: https://hdesignguild.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hospitality_design_guild

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hospitality-design-guild/

Image Credits
Photos by Zane Cooper