Meeting… Mark Burns As Chedi Hospitality enters the next phase of growth, the group’s Chief Design & Construction Officer reveals how a philosophy rooted in place, culture and emotion is shaping its next chapter. Words: Naomi Chadderton
Mark Burns Chief Design & Construction Officer Chedi Hospitality With over 30 years of experience in luxury hospitality design, Mark Burns oversees the Technical Services division at Chedi Hospitality, where he’s responsible for shaping the creative narrative of each new property and ensuring the brand’s design philosophy is brought to life consistently across its growing global portfolio. Prior to joining Chedi Hospitality, Burns founded a luxury advisory firm, and in recent years, has been a consultant for private offices of royal family members on international hotel investments.
G
rowing up, Mark Burns had ambitions
creative legends who wanted nothing other than
of becoming a theme park designer. Yet
perfection closely resonated with the projects I
with hospitality already in the family –
have undertaken for Royal Households,” he says.
through ownership and operations – his path
His latest career move marks an important
quickly became clear. “I think it was always a
new chapter in a relationship with GHM, which
calling to pursue a career in design,” he reflects.
stretches back almost three decades. It also
After leaving school, Burns went straight into
comes at a pivotal time for the group, which
a design studio, quickly gaining exposure to
has recently evolved into Chedi Hospitality
some of Europe’s most prominent hotels. “I was
under the leadership of newly appointed CEO
involved in several prestigious refurbishments
Stephan Schupbach. The refreshed corporate
across Europe such as Claridge’s and The
identity reflects Schupbach’s broader vision
Connaught in London, as well as The Amstel in
for the group, with ambitions to embrace a
Amsterdam. In the mid-90s I moved into a lead
multi-faceted approach to high-end living and
consultant role to pursue more international
experiential travel while building upon the
greenfield developments where I could tune in
group’s heritage. At its core is a renewed focus
on unique creative interpretations,” he explains.
on strengthening and reinventing its flagship
“The assignments took me across the globe,
Chedi brand, expanding beyond hospitality into
introducing me to new cultures and crafts that
private residences and developing a new hotel
still influence me today.”
brand, Serai.
Now, more than three decades into a career at
Burns was first introduced to the group in
the forefront of luxury hospitality design, Burns
1997 while working with Regent Hotels, later
has collaborated with leading practices on more
supporting the team in completing elements of
than 500 developments spanning five continents.
The Chedi Muscat in Oman. In the years that
He credits his time in South America and China
followed, he continued to serve as a consultant on
in particular with broadening his understanding
select projects, before joining Chedi Hospitality
of different cultures, materials and approaches
exclusively in October 2024. Now heading up the
to design. His career has also taken him to some
Technical Services division, he leads the creative
of the world’s most celebrated hotels, including
direction of new properties, as well as overseeing
Villa d’Este on Lake Como and Royal Mansour
the continued evolution of the group’s existing
Marrakech. “Working with ownership and
portfolio, which stretches from Switzerland and
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