Craig Stanghetta
Founder & Creative DirectorSte MarieCraig Stanghetta is a designer and restaurateur working at the intersection of narrative,
space, and hospitality, with projects spanning restaurants, hotels, fitness, and wellness.
As founder and creative director of Studio Ste Marie, he leads a globally active practice
with offices in Vancouver and Toronto, shaping a body of work that has redefined the tone
and texture of contemporary dining and experience-driven environments.
With a background in theatre and film, Craig approaches design as world building: each
project begins with a story, often drawn from memory, cultural fragments, or the personal
histories of collaborators, and is developed into immersive environments where material,
light, sound, and service operate as one. Ste Marie spaces are conceived as atmospheres
that are cinematic, sensory, and constructed to unfold over time.
Deeply embedded in hospitality as both designer and owner, he brings an operational
understanding to his work. His projects prioritize longevity and emotional resonance over
surface impact, resulting in spaces that feel lived in and specific from the outset, and
continue to shape a character driven future.
The Choreographed Hotel: Cinematic Design for Evocative Guest Experiences
This session reframes hospitality design as something closer to filmmaking than interiors, where spaces unfold with emotional intention.Drawing on cin…This session reframes hospitality design as something closer to filmmaking than interiors, where spaces unfold with emotional intention.Drawing on cinematic storytelling and art direction, the conversation explores how hotels can be choreographed lik…This session reframes hospitality design as something closer to filmmaking than interiors, where spaces unfold with emotional intention.Drawing on cinematic storytelling and art direction, the conversation explores how hotels can be choreographed like films: lighting as atmosphere, materials as emotional cues, and spatial sequencing as narrative structure. Each room becomes a scene. Each transition, a deliberate cut. The guest moves through a pro…This session reframes hospitality design as something closer to filmmaking than interiors, where spaces unfold with emotional intention.Drawing on cinematic storytelling and art direction, the conversation explores how hotels can be choreographed like films: lighting as atmosphere, materials as emotional cues, and spatial sequencing as narrative structure. Each room becomes a scene. Each transition, a deliberate cut. The guest moves through a property as part of a carefully composed story, one designed to engage, immerse, and stay with them.The panel will highlight how cinematic environments translate into meaningful impact; where mood shapes memory, memory builds loyalty, and distinct, story-driven spaces create cultural and commercial resonance. Through insights on collaboration across design, branding, and operations, alongside the integration of adaptive lighting and digital media, the discussion will reveal how these layered experiences are brought to life and sustained over time.Ultimately, this session positions hospitality as a time-based, sensory medium, where design is experienced in sequence, and where success is measured by how deeply a space resonates, performs, and endures.Show MoreClick the title to see all detailsShow More
