FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wimberly Interiors Expands in Southern California

WATG acquires Los Angeles Design Firm

Los Angeles, May 2012

Visionary design firm WATG announced that it has acquired Spectacular Rooms Design of Los Angeles, and will merge that firm with Wimberly Interiors, WATG's interior design studio.  "Spectacular Rooms is a fantastic boutique interior design firm with an extremely talented team of design professionals," said Michael R. Seyle, president + CEO of WATG. "By integrating Spectacular Rooms with our Wimberly Interiors studio, we are continuing to broaden our platform for interiors and increasing the breadth of services to our clients."

As part of the expansion, Rhonda Rasmussen and her team of interior design professionals will relocate from WATG's offices in Irvine to Los Angeles, effective June 1. The Los Angeles studio of Wimberly Interiors will be led by Stacey Larsen as operations director and Rhonda Rasmussen as studio director. "We couldn't be more pleased about merging with Wimberly Interiors and joining the WATG family," said Larsen. "Together we will be able to diversify our portfolio of projects and cultivate a broader roster of clients."

"We recognize the strategic importance of LA within our global footprint, and the Los Angeles studio will immerse us within an eclectic design community and provide convenient access to our international clients," commented Margaret McMahon, managing director of Wimberly Interiors. "I am thrilled to have Stacey join forces with Rhonda to lead our ambitious expansion and to continue delivering top-quality design to our clients."

Stacey Larsen is a seasoned interior design leader, having managed more than $100 million worth of design projects, including boutique hotels, mixed-use developments, residential palaces and restaurants. Her design experience spans operations, business development and project management. Before founding Spectacular Rooms Design, Larsen was the managing director of Wilson Associates' Los Angeles office.

The Los Angeles studio of Wimberly Interiors is located at 446 South Cañon Drive, and was the original office of legendary actor and interior designer William Haines. Once the integration is complete, Wimberly Interiors will have a dedicated team of approximately 25 design professionals in Los Angeles.

WATG and Wimberly Interiors are the premier hospitality design consultancy in the world, according to surveys by Hotel Design and Hotel & Motel Management magazines. Hospitality Design magazine's survey of companies ranked WATG's corporate culture among the top in the world: best career advancement, best firm philosophy, best client list, best list of projects, and most innovative.  By offering a full range of design services in the areas of strategy, planning, architecture, landscape, and interiors specific to the travel and tourism industry, WATG has become the world's largest niche firm.  Since its founding in 1945, WATG has designed destinations in 160 countries from its offices worldwide. For more information: visit www.watg.com.

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Dean Kawamura
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