111 How has the type of design brief you receive from cruise brands changed throughout your career? The biggest change has been the diversification of cruise experiences. When I started my career, ships seemed to be designed for a singular experience – sailing the Caribbean (except for Princess, which operated on the Pacific coast of Mexico). Cruising was generally seen as a luxury experience but the industry made a concerted effort to attract mid-market guests, which had a big impact on how we designed and who we designed for. Today, we have a much more stratified market with very specific and wellanalysed target demographics. We have ocean, river and expedition ships sailing all over the globe – from Antarctica to Asia – offering everything from contemporary to luxury, premium and premium-plus experiences and amenities. The market is far more sophisticated, which has been driven by guests having higher expectations, and that has been a good thing for designers. What have been the most surprising changes in the hospitality and cruise industries during your career? I’m tempted to say that very little surprises you when you’ve been at it as long as I have, but I have to admit I see new things every day. The typical guest has become infinitely more sophisticated over the past few years and has elevated expectations Walton’s award-winning design career began while he was still a student, when his French Renaissance garden-inspired design for Les Halles food marketplace in Paris earned him acclaim in an international competition
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