Hospitality
Designing Happiness Through Cultural Inspiration
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
MÖVENPICK HOTEL BUR DUBAI – DECEMBER FESTIVE LISTINGS
A Very Merry Light-Up – Tree Lighting Ceremony

Welcome the festive season with Mövenpick’s enchanting Tree Lighting Ceremony, where glowing lights, carols, and joyful moments create the perfect start to December. Guests can enjoy a live choir, Santa meet & greet, kids’ giveaways, and a cheerful raffle draw, while adults savour festive canapés and beverages. With magical snow moments and charming décor, it’s an evening designed to bring families together in the spirit of the holidays.
The lobby at Mövenpick Bur Dubai is known for its welcoming warmth and elegant ambiance, making it the perfect gathering place for families to come together and celebrate the start of the festive season. Its open, bright layout brings a sense of harmony and connection to every moment.
Date & Time: 5th December | 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM | Venue: Lobby | For more information, please call +971 04 336 6000 or +971 50 210 6033
Santa’s Sweet Stop at Fountain Café
A holiday favourite returns, Mövenpick’s Christmas Plum Cake, baked with love and steeped in tradition. Made with plump fruits, warm spices, and a rich, buttery crumb, each cake captures the essence of the season in every slice. Whether you’re gifting it to loved ones, bringing it to a festive gathering, or simply enjoying it at home, it brings a sense of warmth and nostalgia to any holiday table.
Families often return year after year for this much-loved treat, a symbol of togetherness, celebration, and the comforting tastes that make the season special.
Fountain Café offers a cozy, elegant setting at the heart of the hotel, making it the perfect spot for guests to gather, savour seasonal treats, and enjoy relaxed moments with family during the festive season.
Date: 1st–31st December | Venue: Fountain Café | For more information, please call +971 04 336 6000 or +971 50 210 6033
Turkey Takeaway – A Festive Feast at Home

Celebrate the holidays in the comfort of home with Mövenpick’s lovingly prepared Turkey Takeaway, a heartwarming feast designed to bring families together around the table. Each turkey is seasoned, roasted, and paired with classic trimmings, creating a centerpiece that invites storytelling, laughter, and meaningful moments shared with the people who matter most.
Perfect for intimate gatherings, extended family dinners, or festive hosting, this takeaway offering allows you to enjoy restaurant-quality flavours without the stress of preparation freeing you to focus on connection, togetherness, and the joy of the season.
Mövenpick Bur Dubai is celebrated for its culinary craftsmanship rooted in Swiss hospitality. Every festive dish reflects a dedication to flavour, harmony, and creating memorable family moments that bring people closer together.
Date: 24th November – 30th December | Extra: Free delivery within Oud Metha | For more information: +971 04 336 6000 | +971 50 210 6033
Art of Brunch: Holly Jolly Feast – Christmas Saturdays

Every Saturday in December, families are invited to step into a joyful world of festive magic at Mövenpick’s Holly Jolly Feast. This heartwarming brunch brings the spirit of the holiday season to life with mouth-watering roasts, colourful live stations, and decadent desserts that delight young and old alike.
Children can enjoy unforgettable moments with Santa, experience gentle snow flurries, bounce through the day on the bouncy castle, and decorate gingerbread houses while parents relax to cheerful entertainment and savour time together.
A celebration crafted for families, filled with laughter, festive flavours, and memories that will be cherished long after the decorations come down.
The Fountain Restaurant is designed with families in mind, offering generous space, warm lighting, and interactive live stations that bring a sense of excitement and connection to every meal. It’s a venue where celebrations feel personal, joyful, and truly memorable.
Dates & Time: Saturdays, 6th, 13th, 20th & 27th December | 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM | Venue: The Fountain Restaurant | Info: +971 04 336 6000 | +971 50 210 6033
Jingle Roast Sunday at Garden Lounge

Make Sundays extra special this December with Mövenpick’s Jingle Roast Sunday, a comforting, family-friendly gathering that celebrates the joy of slowing down together. Enjoy a beautifully prepared roast with all the festive trimmings, golden potatoes, rich gravies, seasonal vegetables, and indulgent desserts, all served in a relaxed open-air setting.
Live music adds warmth to the atmosphere, while children enjoy a heartwarming Santa meet & greet and receive festive giveaways. It’s a laid-back, wholesome afternoon designed to bring families closer and create holiday memories that last a lifetime.
Garden Lounge is a beloved open-air escape where families can relax together under soft lighting and a welcoming atmosphere. Its spacious setting features a massive screen for live matches and sports, making it perfect for fans and families alike, and it also offers a full shisha menu for guests who want to unwind in comfort.
Dates & Time: Sundays, 7th, 14th, 21st & 28th December | 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM | Venue: Garden Lounge | Info: +971 04 336 6000 | +971 50 210 6033
Winter Wonderland Christmas Eve Dinner

Gather with family and friends for a heartwarming Christmas Eve celebration at The Fountain Restaurant, transformed into a festive wonderland for the night. Enjoy a beautifully curated buffet of seasonal favourites, international dishes, and sweet holiday indulgences that bring comfort and joy to every plate.
Children will delight in a magical visit from Santa, while gentle snow moments, festive music, and warm décor set the stage for a memorable evening. It’s an invitation to pause, come together, and embrace the harmony and togetherness that define Christmas Eve.
Known for its inviting décor and harmonious ambiance, The Fountain Restaurant provides an elegant yet comfortable setting for family celebrations. It’s a place where festive traditions come alive and cherished moments are created around every table.
Date & Time: 24th December | 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM | Venue: The Fountain Restaurant | Info: +971 04 336 6000 | +971 50 210 6033
Grand Christmas Day Brunch

Create meaningful Christmas memories with a joyful family brunch at Mövenpick, where delicious food, festive entertainment, and warm hospitality come together in perfect harmony. Enjoy a lavish buffet of roasts, global dishes, vibrant live stations, and festive desserts, all designed to bring families closer through shared flavour and celebration.
Children will enjoy Snow Time moments, Santa giveaways, face painting, a bouncy castle, and holiday activities, while parents relax to live music and the joyful spirit of Christmas. It’s everything the holiday should be, loving, lively, and unforgettable.
With its bright festive décor and family-friendly layout, The Fountain Restaurant offers the perfect environment for joyful Christmas gatherings. Its warm atmosphere encourages connection, shared experiences, and celebratory moments that last long beyond the holiday.
Date & Time: 25th December | 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM | Venue: The Fountain Restaurant | Info: +971 04 336 6000 | +971 50 210 6033
New Year’s Eve Glitter Gala

Welcome the new year surrounded by loved ones at Mövenpick’s dazzling New Year’s Eve Glitter Gala. Enjoy a spectacular night filled with a lavish buffet, vibrant bar offerings, and an impressive lineup of entertainment including a live DJ, band, belly dancer, and Tanoura show.
The evening is designed for families and friends to celebrate side by side, sharing laughter, music, and hopeful anticipation for the year ahead. As the countdown begins, raise a glass together and welcome 2026 with harmony, joy, and unforgettable memories.
The Fountain Restaurant’s elegant design and celebratory ambiance make it the ideal destination for an unforgettable New Year’s Eve. Here, families come together to enjoy exceptional dining, joyful music, and meaningful moments as they welcome a new year in harmony.
Date & Time: 31st December | 7:30 PM onwards | Venue: The Fountain Restaurant | Info: +971 04 336 6000 | +971 50 210 6033
Hospitality
HOUSE OF HYPE DUBAI JUST FLIPPED THE HOLIDAYS, UNVEILS THE WINTER WONDERVERSE
This festive season, House of Hype, Dubai Mall’s most spectacular immersive mega-experience, turns the holidays upside down with The Winter Wonderverse, a surreal festive universe that only Dubai could dream up.
Running from December 13 – 28, 2025, The Winter Wonderverse @ House of Hype delivers a larger-than-life remix of holiday classics across the park’s 25 immersive worlds. Expect glowing snow, dancing lights, spontaneous performances, mischievous elf photobooths, chaotic parades, and snacks almost too cute to eat — all crafted to surprise, delight, and spark unforgettable shared moments.
But this isn’t nostalgia, and it’s definitely not the winter village you’ve visited five times before. This is House of Hype in Dubai! Where everything is bigger, wilder, brighter, and far more fun.
A Holiday Universe, One Wild World at a Time
From the moment you step inside, you’re not entering a venue, you’re crossing into a surreal festive season multiverse. One minute you’re inside a shimmering snow globe where neon snow falls around you, the next, you’re being pulled into an elf transformation photobooth where the “elves” are a little too enthusiastic and definitely up to mischief.
Turn a corner and suddenly a world-hopping parade bursts through the space, sweeping you into a swirl of bold characters, dancers, glitchy holiday creatures, and spontaneous performances that feel like they jumped out of a fever dream.
Blending humor, fantasy, nostalgia, and hypersaturated design, The Winter Wonderverse @ House of Hype is for people who want their holidays to feel anything but ordinary, families, friends, creators, travelers, and anyone chasing a festive escape with a twist.
Festive Highlights:
Inspired by House of Hype’s signature mega-experience DNA, here’s what guests can expect:
- Glowing Snow & Dancing Lights: A surreal holiday landscape perfect for unforgettable photo and video moments.
- Elf Transformation Photobooths: Snap, record, and instantly drop into the Winter Wonderverse storyline with playful, social-ready content.
- World-Hopping Parades & Outrageous Performances: A spontaneous cast brings the universe to life through bold interactions and unexpected spectacle.
- A Surprise Treat Awaits Anyone in Ugly Sweaters: Show up to Dubai’s most chaotic holiday showdown, loud, fun, and delightfully unhinged.
- Cute Holiday Snacks & Limited-Edition Treats: Delicious, highly Instagrammable snacks curated by Michelin-starred culinary talent.
House of Hype invites guests on a 60–90 minute adventure through Dubai Mall’s full-scale City of Dreams, a joyful mega-experience built from the brightest corners of digital pop culture. Across 25 surreal, interactive zones, visitors drift through neon Tokyo nights, K-Pop stages, shimmering Bollywood energy, robotic light shows, projection domes, hidden pathways, exclusive shopping, and limited-edition global snacks. With live performances, AI-powered photo moments, and unexpected worlds opening at every turn, every visit becomes a journey to dream big, live loud, and have fun.
Hospitality
SOFITEL THE OBELISK CELEBRATES CHEF IMPIAZZI’S 2025 BERNACHES AWARD
Sofitel Dubai The Obelisk is proud to announce that Executive Chef Russell Impiazzi has been honored with a 2025 Bernaches Award, Accor’s highest global recognition celebrating innovation, creativity, and the transformative spirit of Heartists®.
Now in their thirty-fifth year, the Bernaches Awards spotlight outstanding initiatives across the Group. This year, an international jury reviewed 48 projects selected from 260 applications representing nearly 50 countries, ultimately naming 23 winners for their impact and forward-thinking approach. Chef Russell was recognised for his exceptional contribution to sustainability within Accor and the wider hospitality industry.
“We are immensely proud of Chef Russell’s recognition at the 2025 Bernaches Awards,” said Haytham Omar, Managing Director of Sofitel Dubai The Obelisk. “His dedication to sustainability, innovation, and culinary excellence represents the very best of our brand and our Heartists®. His actions continue to inspire our guests, and the wider industry.”
A Leader in Responsible Gastronomy
As Executive Chef of Sofitel Dubai The Obelisk since 2020, he brings more than 30 years of international culinary expertise to the hotel’s five dining destinations. His commitment to zero food waste, carbon-neutral menus, and locally sourced ingredients has redefined responsible luxury at the hotel. Under his stewardship, the hotel has achieved Green Key certification and Dubai Sustainable Tourism’s Gold Tier, firming its position as a regional sustainability leader.
An Award-Winning Sustainability Project
Chef Russell’s winning project demonstrates measurable impact across the UAE’s sustainability landscape. Highlights include zero-waste kitchens with “no bin days,” carbon-neutral menus, expanded plant-based options, community collaboration with the UAE Food Bank, and 30% local sourcing, targeted to reach 35% by year-end.
His influence extends beyond the hotel, inspiring more than 1,000 students through his “Veg Pledge,” supporting Farm-to-Table education programs, and contributing to national initiatives such as NE’MA, the UAE’s Food Loss and Waste Initiative. His leadership has also earned him recognition as a Sustainability Champion of the year by Gault & Millau (2023) and The Caterer (2024).
Chef Russell’s work reflects Accor’s vision for bold, purpose-driven hospitality—creating meaningful change for teams, communities, and the planet. Learn more about Sofitel Dubai The Obelisk’s Commitment to Sustainability.
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