We recently had the opportunity to interview Miguel Angel Clavero, a strategic and entrepreneurial Interior Design and Hospitality Development leader. With over 29 years of international experience in the field, he currently leads as the Managing Director at Luxury Design Consultancy, and as the Director of Hospitality at Red Sea Global.
Well-known for his proven expertise in establishing new design operations and driving growth from inception, Miguel Angel Clavero’s leadership transforms creative vision into profitable business units within large multidisciplinary organizations.
Spark Behind the Journey
We started the interview by asking, “What first inspired you to pursue your current industry or professional path? Was there a defining moment or influence that shaped your direction?”
Miguel Angel shared, “From a very young age, I knew I wanted to be involved in design and architecture. Looking back, growing up in Granada, Spain had a profound influence on that certainty. It is a city where cultures, histories, and aesthetics coexist naturally, and living alongside one of the most beautiful palaces in the world leaves a lasting impression on how you understand space, proportion, and emotion.
That early exposure to layered cultures, combined with a restless curiosity, a love of travel, and a deep passion for food, shaped the way I see the world. Those elements became the engine that led me into design—and more specifically into luxury hospitality and high-end residential projects. For me, hotels and homes are where architecture, culture, gastronomy, and human experience come together, and that intersection has defined my professional path ever since.”
Navigating through Uncertainties
Challenges are a part of every professional journey. So, we asked Miguel Angel Clavero, “Can you describe one significant challenge you’ve faced in your career or business, and how you successfully overcame it?”
Miguel Angel mentioned, “One of the most significant challenges has been bridging the gap between visionary design and operational reality—especially in large-scale luxury developments involving multiple stakeholders, brands, and cultural expectations.
The solution was not technical alone; it required developing a leadership style centered on alignment, clarity, and trust. I learned to translate creative ambition into operational language, ensuring that design decisions enhance long-term performance, guest experience, and asset value. That ability to operate fluently between design, operations, and business strategy has been essential to delivering complex projects successfully.”
Potential Trends of the Industry
Intrigued to learn more about the key trends or changes Miguel Angel Clavero foresees shaping the future of his industry over the next 3–5 years, we asked him to share the same.
“Three major shifts will define hospitality in the coming years. First, experience over spectacle. Guests are seeking meaning, authenticity, and emotional connection rather than excess.
Second, intelligence over automation. Data and AI will quietly enhance personalization, efficiency, and decision-making rather than replace human service.
Third, design accountability. Sustainability, operational efficiency, and adaptability will no longer be optional—they will be expected outcomes measured over decades, not opening day,” Miguel reflected.
Plans we asked Miguel Angel Clavero
We then asked, “What are your long-term aspirations for your company or role, and what strategies are you implementing to reach them?”
Miguel Angel explained, “My long-term aspiration is to continue shaping hospitality at a strategic level—where design, technology, operations, and human experience converge. I aim to influence how destinations are conceived, not just how hotels are designed.
To achieve this, I focus on thought leadership, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and mentoring future leaders. Sharing insights through writing, advisory roles, and strategic project leadership is as important to me as delivering built work.”
Impact of AI on the Hospitality Sector
AI is redefining businesses across various industries, and hospitality is no exception. To understand Miguel Angel Clavero’s views on AI, we asked, “How do you see artificial intelligence and emerging technologies influencing your industry or business model?”
“Artificial intelligence will fundamentally change how hospitality is designed, operated, and experienced—but its most powerful impact will remain largely invisible to the guest. Rather than replacing hospitality, AI will operate quietly in the background, improving how decisions are made long before a guest arrives and long after they leave.
In the short to medium term, AI will significantly enhance planning, forecasting, and operational efficiency. It will allow developers, operators, and designers to anticipate demand, personalize experiences at scale, optimize resources, and reduce friction across the entire guest journey. Used correctly, this intelligence frees teams from repetitive tasks and enables them to focus on what truly defines hospitality: human connection, intuition, and care.
The real challenge is not adopting technology, but adopting it without losing the soul of hospitality. Luxury, in particular, is built on emotion, empathy, and authenticity—qualities that cannot be automated. The leaders who will succeed are those who use AI as an enabler rather than a substitute: enhancing creativity, empowering teams, and supporting more meaningful guest experiences instead of standardizing them.
Ultimately, the future of hospitality lies in balance—where emerging technologies and human sensibility coexist, creating environments that are not only intelligent and efficient, but also deeply personal and emotionally resonant,” Miguel commented.
Core Values Guiding Miguel Forward
Interested to learn what drives Miguel Angel Clavero forward in this industry, we asked, “What are the core values or guiding principles that influence your decisions and the way your organization operates?”
Miguel Angel responded, “Three principles guide my decisions: My focus on human-centered design, as every decision must enhance how people feel, not just how a space looks. I also prefer long-term thinking, with a belief that hotels must perform emotionally, operationally, and financially for decades. And lastly, the design, sustainability, and innovation must be authentic—not marketing narratives.
These values create trust with partners, operators, and teams.”
From Setbacks to Success
We requested Miguel Angel Clavero to share an innovative strategy or approach that helped his company stand out or achieve a breakthrough with our readers.
“One key strategy has been reframing design as a business and operational tool, not a final layer of aesthetics. By integrating operational workflows, maintenance logic, and guest journey mapping early in the design process, we’ve consistently improved efficiency, reduced lifecycle costs, and enhanced guest satisfaction.
This approach has proven particularly effective in large-scale luxury destinations where complexity is the norm,” he mentioned.
Evolution of Miguel Angel Clavero as a Leader
Lastly, we asked, “How has your leadership style evolved throughout your journey, and what lessons have shaped your approach to leading teams or businesses?”
Miguel Angel shared, “Early in my career, leadership was about expertise and control. Today, it is about clarity, empowerment, and trust.
Leading large, multicultural teams reinforces the idea that the strongest results emerge when people understand not only what is expected of them, but why it matters. Effective leadership today is less about control and more about clarity, alignment, and trust—creating environments where talent can perform at its best while remaining anchored to shared standards, values, and purpose.”
Connect with Miguel Angel Clavero on LinkedIn to gain industry insights.
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