London-based JPA Design, a world leader in hospitality and transport design, is strengthening its presence in the Middle East with the appointment of industry professional Carol Finnie as regional director, Middle East and North Africa (Mena).

The appointment follows the company’s recent merger with Dubai’s S2 Interiors, a boutique interior architecture and design studio.
 
Finnie will lead the design direction and management of the company in Dubai and in the Mena region.
 
Finnie is a commercial interior designer with over 26 years of international expertise in the hospitality and leisure sector, having previously led creative design teams in Asia, the Middle East, Europe and the US. She has extensive design experience, from initial concept through to onsite design project management and her in-depth knowledge of construction methods and site services has been essential in ensuring her clients’ design vision is delivered on time and on budget.
 
“We’re extremely excited to have Carol on board. Her breadth and depth in all aspects of the design process combined with her knowledge of the Middle East market will be key, as we continue to strengthen our focus and build our presence in the region,” noted James Park, JPA Design founder and principal.
 
“I’m thrilled to be part of the JPA Design group, a company with an exceptional reputation. I look forward to working with the team to deliver cutting-edge designs and utilising innovative technologies and materials to ensure our clients’ vision is realised to the highest standards,” said Finnie.

The Dubai office is currently working on projects for Accor, Hilton, Taj Hotels, Centara, Nakheel Properties and Emaar Properties Group.
 
Finnie joins JPA Design from dwp, where she served as regional portfolio director for the Middle East, with responsibility for the interior design operations and business development expansion across the region. Prior to moving to the Middle East, she was a design director in Malaysia and the UK.
 
“JPA has grown tremendously over the last 30 years. Following the merger with S2 interiors, we have established a new identity and a stronger presence in the Middle East. We’re continuously building our design capabilities to serve the growing demand in the design market, one which is expected to be worth $148 billion in 2019. With a stronger team and greater market insight, we look forward to creating exceptional and memorable interiors in the region,” said Park.
 
Award-winning JPA Design is a world leader in the design and creation of premium environments for the hospitality and transportation sectors. Founded in 1982, JPA Design works with many of the world’s most prestigious brands on the design of hotels, aircraft, train, and airport lounge interiors.  The team includes specialists across interior design, architecture, engineering and product design and innovative use of materials. JPA Design owns a number of patents and has received international acclaim and awards for their work.
 
Notable projects in Europe include the Orient Express, the GNER East Coast Main Line and the Belmond Royal Scotsman. Projects in Asia include the Lake Palace Hotel in Udaipur, The Pierre Hotel in New York for Taj Hotels, The Fullerton Hotel in Singapore, the Amara Shanghai hotel and the pioneering Singapore Airlines Airbus A380 Business Class seats.
 
Huge growth for interiors industry in Mena
 
Mena’s design market is expected to grow by 15 per cent to $148 billion in 2019, with interior design growing seven times faster than the global average.
 
According to market analysts Ventures, the GCC’s interiors industry is worth $17.7 billion, growing by more than $2.2 billion in the last year. The industry is valued at its highest within the residential sector, with an annual worth of $3.6 billion, followed by the hotel sector at $2.1 billion, commercial real estate at $1.1 billion, retail at $872 million, hospitals at $410 million, and education at $339 million.
 
The robust growth is on the back of growing local and expatriate populations and mega events such as the Dubai Expo 2020, 2019 World Championships in Athletics, and the Fifa World Cup 2022. - TradeArabia News Service