Maria Vafiadis

Maria is an established thought leader within the hospitality design world, admired for her roll call of exceptional and award-winning projects, sought out by discerning clients and respected for the value she brings to all her work. She believes that design is a societal issue and that it has the power to change how we behave and how we feel. She is also a keen advocate for encouraging young talent and diversity within her sector. An architect by training and an interior designer by choice, Maria combines visionary use of space together with design that reaches out beyond trends, to create commercially astute, innovative and delightfully surprising work.
Maria established MKV Design in London in 2000 after an early career which took her from Athens to Milan and onto the UK. Since then, she has cultivated a business which has worked in Europe, the Middle East and in Africa. Recent projects include: Bürgenstock Resort in Switzerland; Costa Navarino, Greece; Matild Palace - a Luxury Collection Hotel, Budapest; the Sheraton Grand London Park Lane; Grand Hyatt Athens; Mykonos Grand Hotel & Resort; and Grand Hyatt Hotel & Residences, Abu Dhabi. Maria has also designed a number of award-winning spas and luxury golf clubhouses including Alpine Spa, Althea Spa and The Bay Clubhouse. At the end of last year, her design of W Costa Navarino was awarded Winner in the resort design category of AHEAD Europe. She is a regular contributor at prestigious industry events across Europe, and has recently spoken at both IHIF in Berlin and the Hix event in London. She has also published a book entitled Design Alchemist (Architecture, Location, Culture, History, Experience, Memories, Identity, Stories, Transformation) which reflects on the power of hospitality design to give meaning and hope to our lives.
She is a regular contributor at prestigious industry events across Europe, and has recently spoken at both IHIF in Berlin and the Hix event in London. She has also published a book entitled Design Alchemist (Architecture, Location, Culture, History, Experience, Memories, Identity, Stories, Transformation) which reflects on the power of hospitality design to give meaning and hope to our lives.