As Interior Design Manager for Marriott International across the Caribbean and Latin America, André Prieto oversees more than 70 hospitality projects spanning design vision, brand standards, and operational delivery.
As part of our 2026 HRDS Future Leaders series celebrating a new wave of industry talent, we are delighted to introduce André and share his story.
Congratulations on being nominated as a Future Leader! Could you introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about your role and how you got there?
I am an Interior Design Manager for Marriott International in the Caribbean and Latin America (CALA) region. As a design consultant, my role is focused on guiding and facilitating the intersection between design vision and operational requirements, working closely with owners and their design teams to ensure that projects align with both brand standards and long-term operational success.
I am currently involved in more than 70 projects simultaneously across nearly 10 countries, supporting teams throughout the design process and helping translate brand strategy into thoughtful, functional, and memorable spaces.
It is truly an honor to be considered as part of this program in recognition of my work within the industry.
Your work takes place in the hospitality design industry. Can you share your project management manifesto?
I believe the best hospitality design comes from collaboration and trust. My approach to project leadership is guided by four core values: collaboration, growth, wellbeing, and innovation.
I work to build strong partnerships between owners, designers, and operators, creating environments where ideas are shared openly and decisions are aligned around a common vision.
In every project, I seek the balance between design excellence, operational efficiency, return on investment, and long-term relationships. Great hospitality spaces must not only inspire — they must also perform and endure.
For me, success is measured not only by the spaces we create, but by the connections, trust, and lasting value that are built throughout the process.
Handing the mic over to you – what’s an area of your work or the industry that you are itching to discuss?
In connection with my manifesto, one area of the industry I am particularly eager to discuss is the synergy between the many disciplines involved in the development of a hotel project. Recently, I had the opportunity to organize a networking event in Mexico City together with an incredible group of industry suppliers called TRAMA CAPITAL HOTELERA (Capital Hospitality Network).
The intention behind this gathering was to create a space where different professionals within the hospitality ecosystem could listen to one another and openly share experiences, challenges, concerns, and the pressures each discipline faces.
Hotel development is inherently collaborative, yet many times each discipline operates within its own perspective. By fostering these conversations, we can better understand how each of us, from our own expertise and position, can innovate in ways that facilitate the work of others.
Ultimately, these exchanges help build more open, lasting relationships that strengthen collaboration and generate more opportunities across the industry.
Can you explain how, if at all, your job role interacts with sustainability practices?
Across Latin America, we are experiencing significant progress in terms of sustainability within the hospitality industry. From my professional perspective, I have seen that the integration of these practices is becoming increasingly common and intentional in hotel development.
For example, projects such as Solaz, a Luxury Collection Resort in Los Cabos, Mexico, have implemented green roofs across nearly 40% of the guest rooms, contributing to thermal regulation and environmental integration. At Renaissance Santiago in Chile, solar systems have been incorporated for water heating, along with water treatment and reuse systems for landscape irrigation. Similarly, Tambo del Inka, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa in the Sacred Valley of Peru, has developed its own garden to supply fresh ingredients for its culinary operations.
While it is always important for us to stay informed about new sustainable products and technologies from our supplier partners, it is equally important that these partners engage more directly with ownership groups. When sustainability is presented not only as an environmental responsibility but also as a financial benefit in the short, medium, and long term, it becomes much easier to implement these strategies and expand sustainable practices throughout the region.
Of course, this is a celebration of leadership. If you could distil your thoughts on leadership into one principle, what would it be and why?
Successful hospitality projects — from concept to operation —require more than technical expertise. They require the creation of an ecosystem of professionals who lead with empathy, collaboration, and a shared sense of responsibility.
True leadership means bringing together diverse disciplines and aligning them around a common vision, understanding that the final guest experience can influence the growth and success of every stakeholder involved. When people feel heard, respected, and connected, collaboration becomes stronger, decisions become better, and projects become more meaningful.
For me, leadership is about cultivating trust and alignment so that every contributor helps elevate the outcome for everyone involved.
Stay tuned for more Future Leader interviews, articles, and industry news coming soon.
We look forward to celebrating our Future Leaders in person at Hotel & Resort Design South on 9–10 June 2026 at the Miami Beach Convention Center. Join us by registering for your free pass.
