2025: A Year in Review

If 2025 proved anything, it is that the appetite for extraordinary experiences is stronger than ever. As we celebrated WATG80,  the year was defined by market-moving openings and a renewed commitment to cultural sensitivity, sustainability, and data and digital innovation.

Across the Americas, EMEA, and Asia-Pacific, we saw the tangible results of bold strategies, delivering destinations that didn’t just enter the market but propelled it forward. As we look back, we celebrate the iconic projects, strategic expansions, and award-winning designs that we have been part of and set the stage for the next cycle of hospitality growth.

This year, the built work spoke for itself, showcasing the full spectrum of our integrated expertise and services in Master Planning, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Interior Design, and Advisory. We applied the core tenets of hospitality design to branded residential, gaming, senior living, and urban mixed use projects across the globe.

Wimberly Interiors continued to lead the luxury conversation in 2025, crafting elegant, immersive environments where storytelling meets operational excellence. Through thoughtful listening, bold curiosity, and creative versatility, we brought visions to life with layered artistry, precision and care.

2025 was a pivotal year for our growth in North America, and in the gaming and entertainment sectors:

Atlantic City

Following a strategic integration, our new Atlantic City office has cemented WATG as a leading force in the gaming sector. Building on the legacy of SOSH Architects, this studio is delivering measurable results without losing sight of emotion, culture, or craft.

Dallas

Our Dallas studio is fully operational and thriving at The                    Centrum. Led by Richard Luis and Kathy Chavez, this office has rapidly become a hub for our lifestyle, hospitality, and residential practice, deepening our connection to clients in the              South-Central U.S. and beyond.

In 2025, we moved beyond viewing sustainability and wellness as separate verticals, instead treating them as an integrated ecosystem where ecological resilience directly enhances the guest experience. Our Landscape Architecture and Master Planning teams demonstrated that true luxury is now rooted in a deep, restorative connection to nature and culture.

In an era of rapid market shifts, successful development demands rigorous, data-backed strategy. Throughout 2025, our Advisory and Research teams served as the compass for the industry’s leading investors, operators, and governments, translating complex global performance data into clear, actionable roadmaps. By bridging the gap between economic feasibility and digital innovation, we empowered our clients to look beyond the immediate horizon, identifying the diversified revenue streams that will secure the commercial viability and cultural relevance of their assets for decades to come.

In 2025, we harnessed the power of digital innovation not as a replacement for creativity, but as its ultimate amplifier. Moving beyond theoretical application, our Digital Practice team, led by Sean Harry, streamlined efficiency and unlocked new frontiers, allowing us to visualize, test, and refine the future of hospitality with greater precision than ever before.

As populations age, the demand for forward-thinking senior living environments is accelerating. We draw on our decades of hospitality design experience to redefine what retirement living can be. Our Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Interior Design teams work in harmony to design spaces that promote wellbeing, connection, and independence, supported by thoughtful technology and a deep understanding of how people want to live as they age.

Our measure of success has always been the enduring value we create for our clients. In 2025, that value was recognized on the global stage. We are incredibly proud to celebrate the partners and properties that took home top honors this year, validating that exceptional design is the foundation of world-class service. Here are a few of our key wins:

+ Forbes America’s Top Hospitality Architects & Designers 2026

+ NEWH Las Vegas 2025 HOSPY Award for Club Privé & Baccarat at the Bellagio Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas

+ The Sunday Times’ Best Place to Work 2025 

+ The Michelin Key Hotels 2025

+ Singapore Landscape Architecture Awards 2025: Hoiana Resort & Golf in the Hotel & Resort Landscape category, and Izumi Waterfront City in the Analysis & Planning category

+ AHEAD 100: Hotel Wuxi, MGallery Collection, Regent Bali Canggu, Ritz Carlton Rabat, Viceroy at Ombria and Nujuma, A Ritz Carlton Reserve

+ Hotel Wuxi – MGallery Collection: International Hotel and Property Awards 2025, Best Hotel Design – Asia Pacific

+ Hotel Designs‘ The Brit List 2025: Damien Follone – Interior Designer of the Year, John Paul Pederson – Interior Designer of the Year, Nick Carrier – Architect of the Year

+ 46th in this year’s AJ100

+ Phu Quoc Master Plan 2050: National Architecture Awards by the Vietnam Association of Architects

+ Hawai‘i’s Best Places to Work: Hawaii Business Magazine.

A defining moment of 2025 was WATG80. Eighty years ago, we set out on a journey to reimagine the way the world experiences hospitality spaces. What began in Honolulu has grown into a global design powerhouse, crafting projects across six continents and creating memories along the way. As we celebrated our 80th anniversary, we took time to reflect on where we’ve been, what we’ve learned, and where our pencils and passports will take us next.

As we wrap up a year defined by milestone celebrations and incredible momentum, our overwhelming feeling is one of gratitude. 2025 was special not just for the destinations we launched or the awards we won, but for the shared ambition and trust that our clients put in us to make it all possible.

Celebrating our 80th anniversary was a powerful reminder that while we cherish our history, we are most excited about what comes next. To our clients, collaborators, co-workers, and the communities we design for, thank you for an unforgettable year.

We look forward to dreaming bigger and building the future together in 2026.