Hospitality Design: What I've Learned
In this series, Hospitality Design magazine's editor in chief Stacy Shoemaker Rauen talks with influential hotel and design leaders on how they got to where they are today, what drives them, and their biggest lessons learned navigating an ever-changing industry.
Hospitality Design: What I've Learned
Craig Stanghetta, Ste Marie
Raised in Sault Ste. Marie, a small industrial town in Northern Ontario, Craig Stanghetta grew up surrounded by hospitality—his family owned the city’s oldest hotel. Though initially drawn to theater, he worked as a professional actor until he found the same sense of connection in the world of design.
His first project, the Chinese brasserie Bao Bei in Vancouver’s Chinatown, solidified the career pivot. From that moment, his focus shifted. What began as a hands-on, instinctual approach—learning on the fly, designing furniture, pouring countertops, and collaborating with friends—evolved into Ste Marie, a multidisciplinary design studio known for its immersive storytelling and mood-driven environments.
Today, with a portfolio that spans restaurants, residences, and hotels, he continues to design with a sense of purpose and place, he remains committed to designing emotionally resonant spaces that take guests on a journey.
Thank you for listening! For more of our great interviews, find us at hospitalitydesign.com.