26 Aug 2026 09:00
Culture By Design - Adam Lara - Defining Hospitality
In this episode of Defining Hospitality, Dan sits down with Adam Lara, principal at KTGY Interior Design and Branded Environments, to talk about career, culture, and what it really takes to build a studio that works. From formative early experiences to his latest chapter leading a growing team in Chicago, Adam offers a grounded look at what shapes great design work over the long haul.
Adam Lara has spent nearly three decades moving across architecture, interiors, and brand side operations, giving him a rare, well rounded view of the hospitality design world. His career has included time at Hyatt, a formative stretch under acclaimed designer Jordan Mosher, and now a leadership role at KTGY. That range makes him one of the more thoughtful voices working in hospitality design today.
Chapters:
00:00 Why Hospitality Matters
00:35 Meet Adam Lara
01:55 Defining Hospitality
02:53 Career Pivot After 9/11
04:22 Inside-Out Design Thinking
05:29 Why Architects Avoid Interiors
07:26 Hyatt HQ Memories
08:31 Brand Side Lessons at Hyatt
10:27 Ops and Owner Mindset
13:40 Jordan Mozer Maker Culture
16:27 Micro to Macro Design
18:40 Joining Simeone Deary
20:25 Merging Into KTGY
22:44 Learning From Gina and Lisa
24:48 New Office and Integration
28:49 Venetian Bars Storytelling
34:59 Leadership and Culture
45:06 In-Person Collaboration Finale
Quote of the Show:
"It's not just design, it's basically problem solving." - Adam Lara
Building a hotel, brand, or guest experience? Reach out to Dan on LinkedIn or hit reply on the Substack to share what you’re working on.
Links:
- Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@defininghospitality?sub_confirmation=1
- Substack: https://www.defininghospitality.live/
- Guest’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-lara-aia-leed-ap-ishc-7aa04751/
- Guests Website: https://ktgy.com/
- Dan Ryan LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thedailydanryan/
🏨✨ Defining Hospitality is Sponsored by Berman Falk https://www.bermanfalk.com/ - Check out their impact page! 🌍🌱 https://www.bermanfalk.com/impact/
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