Hospitality

Designing Happiness Through Cultural Inspiration

Published

2 years ago

August 30, 2024

Integrator Web-Editor

Exclusive interview with Clint Nagata, Founder and Creative Partner, BLINK Design Group

How was your journey from starting at WATG to founding BLINK Design Group, and what inspired you to take this path?

Upon graduation from the University of Hawaii, I joined WATG in their Honolulu office. I was fortunate to have had the opportunity to mentor under Don Goo and ended up becoming the youngest partner of 22 other partners in the firm. Realizing that this wasn’t for me, I decided to leave the firm at the age of 35 and relocate to Bangkok, where I was attracted to the culture, its people, and most of all, the talented designers that reside here. You could say that WATG was instrumental in shaping my design career.

How does your passion for travel and appreciation of diverse cultures influence BLINK’s design philosophy and approach to each project?

My passion for travel has resulted in a strong appreciation and respect for diverse cultures, which has influenced me greatly. ‘Place making’ is my mantra that has been widely imbued in our group philosophy. We take both our clients and guests on a journey that tells the story of a place through a modern design lens. We seek to create wonderful interior-based designs that capture the spirit of the place through simplicity, balance, and proportion. The W Dubai Mina Seyahi is a clear case study for this – incorporating the ‘Port of Travellers’ theme laden with lavish touches and hints of intrigue, adventure, and romance from dhow boat shapes to Arabian calligraphy.

With studios in Thailand, Shanghai, Singapore, and Dubai, how do you maintain a cohesive company culture while adapting to the unique design demands of each region?

Our office hierarchy is quite flat; I do not dictate design downwards. It’s more a collaborative relationship between the design directors and me. I am a believer in developing the next generation of leaders, so we try to nurture staff, empowering them to lead the designs and giving them opportunities to grow.

What innovative materials or design elements does BLINK frequently use in interior design to enhance the luxury experience?

Keeping to our ‘place making’ philosophy, we at BLINK aim to translate our clients’ visions into awesome, unforgettable pieces of architecture inspired by travel experiences and cultural encounters. To do this, we need to listen to our clients’ narrative for the choice of location, its site history, the community relationship, and connection with guests.

For example: For Regent Phu Quoc, we use materials like lacquerware with the delicate duck eggshell inlays for which the region is famous. In addition, there is a strong emphasis on natural materials in line with the island’s pristine natural setting, such as hand-woven abaca wall coverings used in the villas as a soft contrast to the local dark natural stones for the floor. For the new Six Senses Kyoto, we showcased local arts and artisans from Japan in an elegant, courtly manner to not only support the local arts but also encourage a continuation of these traditions. This is reflected in elements like Washi partitions, Sakan, the plasterwork that flourished during Japan’s Edo period, and traditional Sudare Japanese screens, made of horizontal slats of high-quality bamboo to lend intrigue and privacy.

How does BLINK Design Group tailor its interior design solutions to meet the specific needs and preferences of each client?

At the start of every project, we make it a point to look at the project through the lens of a local – as if we were born and raised there and not through the lens of a foreigner. To be successful, the design needs to resonate with locals and visitors alike. Although it seems quite simple, it can be challenging and requires us to deep dive into the place in order to understand the true elements that define the uniqueness of a place through its history. Of course, this is combined with a detailed brief from the client to understand their objectives.

August is the month of happiness so how does BLINK Design Group create spaces that promote happiness and well-being for guests?

With work being done more remotely, on the go, or via a hybrid mix, hotels are transforming themselves into pleasant social spaces. We recognize that not everyone wants to work in a co-workspace but may choose to work away in a café, park, etc. One example is the WOW Spa (Bar-B Spa) at W Dubai Mina Seyahi – the heart of the spa is the lounge bar with swing seats that were meant to become a social gathering space. ‘Bleisure,’ or combining business with leisure or pleasure, is now the norm. It’s not unusual to see guests pounding away on laptops at the poolside, bar, or café these days.

Hospitality

Stomping Grounds Marks International Coffee Day With Buy One, Get One Free Coffee and Bottomless Filter

Published

21 hours ago

September 22, 2026

Integrator Web-Editor

Stomping Grounds, the Aussie-owned café in Jumeirah 1, is marking International Coffee Day with an offer built around one simple idea: have another cup or three! On Thursday, 1 October 2026, guests who buy any coffee can pick one of two ways to keep going:

•Taking it away? Buy any coffee and get a second one of the same, free.
•Dining in? Enjoy bottomless filter coffee all day.

This year’s International Coffee Day is the first since the United Nations General Assembly formally recognised 1 October in March 2026, acknowledging the millions of farming households whose livelihoods depend on coffee.

“Every cup we pour started with one hardworking farmer and their family. They put in the hard yards all year, then we grind a few grams, push a couple buttons, pull a lever or two, draw a little leaf with the milk and take all the compliments, ” said Ryan Godinho, founder of Stomping Grounds. “So have another cup, ask the team where it came from, and give a quiet nod to everyone who got it here. We’ve been at this since 2015, and the best part is still seeing someone who popped in for a quick coffee settle in an hour later, second cup in hand, chatting with our team. That’s the whole idea.”

The coffee is roasted in Dubai by its partners at Specialty Batch, who have been pioneering the UAE’s specialty coffee scene since 2011 and have filled every grinder at Stomping Grounds since day one. The menu runs from its house blends through to rotating single origins and seasonal micro lots.

On the day, the filter brews will rotate through exceptional coffees from Brazil, Kenya, El Salvador and Colombia. Four countries, no passport required.

The baristas are trained, know their stuff and love a coffee chat. Guests can discover a new favourite micro lot or simply get a recommendation based on what they normally drink.

Whether you stick to your usual order, try something new or settle in for a bottomless cup of filter, it’s a good day to drink a little more and find out what you like.

About Stomping Grounds
Tucked away in Jumeirah 1, off the main roads and away from the malls, Stomping Grounds is an escape from the hustle: close enough to the water for a post coffee wander, far enough from the traffic that you can actually hear yourself think. Owner-operated since opening in 2015, it has a warm, rustic vibe, a menu built for people who properly enjoy eating, and an exceptional coffee programme roasted locally by Specialty Batch. It’s pet-friendly, so four-legged regulars are welcome too, and the team are switched on hospo professionals who care about the details, from the first coffee of the morning to the last plate out of the kitchen.

There’s plenty of free parking nearby, which makes life that much easier. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, afternoon tea, a quick cuppa, a laptop session, or one of those “I’ll just pop in for a coffee” visits that somehow turns into brunch. Happens to the best of us.

Terms:
Valid Thursday, 1 October 2026 only, during opening hours. Takeaway: one free coffee per coffee purchased; the free coffee must be the same drink, same size, and
is served on the same visit. Bottomless filter coffee is for dine-in guests only and runs all day with any coffee purchase. Cannot be combined with other offers. While coffee stocks last.

Details
Location: Villa 98, 12D Street (corner of 51st Street), Jumeirah 1, Dubai | Phone: +971 4 344 4451 | Hours: Monday-Thursday: 7:30am to 8pm; Friday-Sunday: 7:30am to 11pm | Instagram: instagram.com/stompinggroundsdxb | Website: stompinggrounds.me

Hospitality

Tbilisi Youth Art Market is launching its first exhibition project in Tbilisi

Published

24 hours ago

September 22, 2026

Integrator Web-Editor

TYAM – Tbilisi Youth Art Market is launching its first exhibition project in Tbilisi. The project brings together emerging and independent artists, galleries, collectors, cultural institutions, and international experts from the art world.

The event will take place from September 25–27, 2026, at the National Palace of Youth, on Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi. TYAM is a new platform created to support young and independent artists, increase their visibility, and establish connections with the broader art market.

The first edition brings together artists working in Georgia and abroad under the theme “COEXISTENCE.” The concept reflects the meeting of different generations, artistic practices, perspectives, and approaches within one shared creative space.

The programme includes an Art Market section, public and panel discussions featuring international guests, opportunities for professional networking and the development of an artistic network, as well as a special VIP programme. TYAM aims to become a new point of attraction for Georgia’s and the international creative community, connecting artists with collectors, galleries, institutions, and the wider public.

TYAM 2026, September 25–27, 2026
National Palace, Rustaveli Avenue, Tbilisi, Georgia
Tbilisi Youth Art Market

Hospitality

COFFEE PLANET CELEBRATES SAUDI NATIONAL DAY WITH A TRIBUTE TO THE STORIES, MEMORIES AND PRIDE OF THE KINGDOM

Published

1 day ago

September 22, 2026

Integrator Web-Editor

This Saudi National Day, Coffee Planet is inviting customers to celebrate the Kingdom through the memories, messages and everyday moments that make it feel like home.

As part of the celebrations on 23 September, Coffee Planet cafés in Hail and King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD), Riyadh, will be dressed for the occasion with Saudi flags and National Day decorations, creating a festive setting for customers to enjoy with friends and family.

At the centre of the celebration will be a Memory Board, where customers can leave a short message sharing their feelings, memories or pride for Saudi Arabia. The initiative will bring together personal reflections from visitors throughout the celebrations, creating a collective expression of what the Kingdom means to the people who live, work and spend time here.

Customers will also be invited to enjoy complimentary coffee and a dessert, adding to the relaxed National Day experience and giving visitors another reason to pause, gather and celebrate together.

The activation will take place at Garden Mall in Hail and KAFD in Riyadh, two locations that reflect the brand’s growing presence in the Kingdom.

For Coffee Planet, the National Day celebration is a natural extension of the role its cafés play in bringing people together, whether over a morning coffee, a catch-up with friends or a shared moment with family.

“Saudi National Day is about celebrating the Kingdom and the people who make it what it is,” said Allan Jones, Founder and Chairman of Coffee Planet. “We wanted to create an experience that gives our customers a chance to share their own memories and feelings of pride, while enjoying a simple moment together over coffee. It is a small gesture, but one that reflects the warmth and connection at the heart of the occasion.”

With Saudi Arabia’s coffee culture continuing to evolve, Coffee Planet has seen growing demand for premium specialty coffee and café experiences across the Kingdom.

“Saudi National Day is a proud moment for all of us at HB Brands and an opportunity to celebrate the Kingdom’s remarkable journey, its people, and its ambitions for the future,” said Abdullah Ihlaiel, Group Marketing & Business Development Director, HB Brands. “As Coffee Planet continues to grow in Saudi Arabia, our focus is not only on expanding the brand’s presence, but on building a meaningful connection with the communities we serve. We are proud to be part of this journey and to celebrate this special occasion together with our customers across the Kingdom.”

The celebration reflects the spirit of Saudi National Day 2026 and its theme, ‘Our Pride is in Our Nature’, while giving customers an opportunity to mark the occasion in a way that feels personal, social and rooted in community.