We are talking in the last week of 2025 – how is este’r partners feeling as the year draws to a close?
We have had a very busy, eventful year. We are ending the year on a high note, with two new hotel openings and several real estate development projects to which we have contributed our creative and professional expertise. We are particularly pleased that we played a major role not only in the design but also in the implementation of the projects, and that in addition to the larger projects, we also handed over new offices and apartments. We have expanded our team with enthusiastic and dedicated young colleagues and have learned a lot from our professional travels. It’s been a good year!
Let’s start the year-end summary with a recent event: in Milan, the studio’s work was recognized by a prestigious international organization. What does this mean to you?
We have been members of a very exciting professional community for several years: este’r partners is a member of NEWH Milan, an international non-profit networking organization in the hospitality sector. This organization values female leaders and focuses on education, development, networking, and emphasizes the importance of recognition. It is a special honor that, alongside many high-ranking international and Italian design firms, our work was highlighted and praised this year.
At this event, you also mentioned two large and complex hotel projects this year. Why is this area so special?
Yes, I talked about two completely different projects at the awards ceremony, the Petit Bois boutique hotel in Balatonfüred and the new airport hotel in Budapest. In my opinion, an office needs to be experienced in hotel design, as this is one of the most complex areas of our profession. By drawing on professional experience gained in various projects and combining a creative and economic approach, it is easier to build successful and good hotels. Functionality, sustainability, implementation, and long-term operability must all be kept in mind during the creative process. As designers, we feel a great responsibility to ensure that these buildings function well, provide guests with a pleasant experience, and bring professional success to investors and operators.
International scale, specialized team, recognition. There has been a lot of talk about the TRIBE Budapest Airport hotel this year. How is it different from your previous work?
We have been working for several international hotel chains for years. Tribe is one of Accor’s dynamic and dominant brands, with a design focus on people, social connection, and accessible luxury. The brand and its brand book provide a defined framework for design, but designers are still expected to create something unique and recognizable that gives each Tribe Hotel its own identity.
How do these major projects shape your team?
We work hard on organizational development, but the planning areas cannot be completely separated from each other. In addition to project management, we have a creative team and a team focused on implementation planning. We have to place great emphasis on specifications and accurate material descriptions, which are fundamental to implementation, so some of our colleagues specialize specifically in FF&E expertise.
You are working on new international projects with your team. What can you tell us about them at this stage of planning?
Yes, the big news at our office for 2026 is that we have been working in Warsaw for some time on a heritage project for a well-known hotel chain. We are very much looking forward to its completion, for which we will be active consultants, and the opening is expected in 2027. In addition, we have several foreign projects in the pipeline or already underway, which I will be able to talk about next year.
Finally, how were your holidays?
After a very busy year, I spent the holidays with my family. Since we live and travel in three countries, it was really nice to be together with my children in one place. I would like to thank all our readers and partners for their collaboration, support, and opportunities in 2025, and I wish everyone a productive and successful new year!
