MEET THE SPEAKER

Pete
Champion

Group Partner & Creative Strategy Director
I-AM

Pete Champion, one of the brilliant minds behind the inception of I-AM, boasts an impressive 23 years of experience driving innovations in retail and branded environments across diverse sectors and global markets. With a passion for fostering lasting emotional connections between brands and consumers, Champion’s mission revolves around delivering sustainable commercial value by enhancing human experiences offered by brands — making them more rewarding, memorable, and conversation-worthy.

Throughout his career, Champion has earned a reputation as a fearless creative leader, fearlessly taking on challenges across multiple sectors. His expertise lies in directing major client accounts and projects for food and beverage retailers, ranging from well-established giants to promising start-ups.

Champion’s exceptional portfolio boasts an array of iconic projects, including collaborations with renowned brands such as The John Lewis Partnership, Starbucks, Enterprise, Unilever, Diesel, Adidas, KFC, The UK Post Office, Nationwide, Hamptons, Wall's, Waitrose, TSB, Bank of Ireland, and Co-operative Bank.

His visionary leadership and innovative approach have left an indelible mark on the industry, transforming ordinary spaces into captivating brand experiences that resonate with consumers on a profound level.

SESSION DESCRIPTION

Unlocking Hospitality Trends: A Journey with I-AM

Join Pete Champion and Kirsty Vance of I-AM for a journey through the ever-evolving landscape of hospitality design, uncovering the hidden dynamics of modern hotel experiences through research, insights, and real-world application. 

To begin, your hosts will introduce their ‘LIFE-LED™’ philosophy, a distinctive method based on the intersection of research, design, and human experience that allows them to create immersive and purposeful spaces that cater to the evolving needs of today's guests, building brand value. Next, dive into a discussion about how the emphasis on hotel experiences is increasingly pivoting from the traditional focus on rooms and stays to the ‘peripherals’ that surround them. To illustrate the implications it holds for future design, you’ll walk through a compelling case study centred on Center Hotels, showcasing how I-AM's principles were brought to life in a tangible project, and see how Vectorworks played a crucial role in realising the vision of Center Hotels, highlighting the software's integration within the design process.