Event Invitation: Specify Bravely, with EGGER and Design Insider
Join us for a special evening at EGGER LONDON, the collaborative home of EGGER, CLEAF and BLUM in the heart of London’s design district, Clerkenwell. Specify Bravely – A 360° exploration of bolder decision making when specifying for the commercial market.
We look forward to welcoming you on the 17 Sept 2025, 18:00 – 21:00 at EGGER LONDON, 1 Dallington St, London EC1V 0BH, UK
About the event
Answering a growing appetite in the design sector to approach the hotel interior as a commercial entity, and not simply a design space, we take a 360° exploration of the hotel interior specification chain from the first-hand perspectives of the brand, designer, fabricator, and operations to understand the opportunities, obstacles, successes, and current shortfalls in the industry.
Joined by Head of Interior Designs (Europe & North Africa) at Accor, Arun Rana; Interior Designer & Partner at Blacksheep, Toni Black; Commercial Director at Sylvan Enterprises, Amanda Page; and Chief Operations Officer at Yotel, Sven Goosen, we are delighted to offer this rich and inspiring discussion hosted by Editorial and Marketing Director at Design Insider, Alys Bryan.
Industry-leading panellists
As Head of interior design for Accor Hotels, Europe & North Africa, Arun’s remit covers multiband from Lifestyle, Premium, Midscale and Economy segments. He is responsible for supporting Accor’s vision of growth and creating a second-to-none guest experience.
Originally educated in contemporary furniture and lighting design, with a passion for graphics, architecture and travel, Arun found Hospitality Interior design to be a great way to bring all his creativity into one place. Previously he has managed two studios and a team of designers, he has worked on a variety of projects from one-off restaurants & bars, large scale roll outs, and hotels. Focusing on strong concepts to tell a story, he loves interiors that allow the guest to explore, discover, and find joy in subtle design touches.
Arun has a focus on designers of the future and has been working with universities, charities, and associations to collaborate to teach, inspire and nurture the designers of tomorrow.
Toni Black: Interior Designer & Partner at Blacksheep
With over 25 years of experience, Toni leads Blacksheep’s interior design team, specialising in hotel and luxury hospitality projects.
Toni has worked for leading design firms, overseeing teams of over 100 people to deliver exceptional hospitality projects around the world. She is an avid storyteller with the kind of energy that steers, inspires, and encourages her designers to always push the bar on their creative output and design thinking.
Toni has been behind some of Blacksheep’s most highly acclaimed projects including St. Regis San Francisco, Noxe at the W Barcelona, Linn House Scotland, Hyatt Regency in Nice and Prince De Galles Luxury Collection Hotel in Paris, and many more..
Amanda Page: Commercial Director at Sylvan Enterprises
Amanda began her career with InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), where she worked as a Sales Director for over 23 years, developing a deep understanding of hotel operations and the needs of the hospitality sector.
In 1999, she began supporting her family’s business, Sylvan, in Sales and Marketing. After balancing both roles for several years, she became Sylvan’s Commercial Director and Co-Owner in 2013.
Now celebrating 30 years of manufacturing, Sylvan has grown into a trusted UK supplier of bespoke contract furniture for the hotel and care sectors. Based in Nottinghamshire, the company manages every stage in-house, from design through to installation, delivering high-quality, tailored solutions with the support of its dedicated 25-person team
Sven Goosen: Chief Operations Officer at Yotel
With over thirty years of experience in the hospitality sector Sven is responsible for the operations of all existing and future YOTEL, YOTELAIR and YOTELPAD hotels globally.
Sven brings with him a wealth of experience having held numerous senior hospitality positions covering general management at a multi-unit regional level as well as individual hotel properties, project management and a strong focus on hotel real estate development and asset management. Prior to his appointment with YOTEL, Sven held strategic positions with Hilton Hotels and Resorts in Russia and UK.
Sven has a BCom degree in Hotel & Tourism Management and a BCom (Hons) degree in Marketing & International Communications Management both from the University of Pretoria (South Africa) as well as an MBA (with distinction) degree from the University of Liverpool. He is an ESG advocate, DEI ally, Mentor, Advisor and Hospitality Thought Leader.
Moderated by Alys Bryan: Editorial and Marketing Director at Design Insider & Commercial Interiors UK
Alys is a passionate design editor with 20 years’ experience as a commercial furniture designer. As Editorial Director of Design Insider and Marketing Director of Commercial Interiors UK, she brings deep industry insight to every initiative.
Alys leads editorial strategy, curates engaging content, and delivers events that unite designers, architects, suppliers, and operators. She thrives on sparking conversations that challenge and inspire, and is committed to amplifying the ideas shaping the future of commercial interiors through writing, talks, and collaboration.
Supplier Finder is the UK’s only search platform for accredited suppliers of commercial interior furnishings.
At Supplier Finder, our mission is simple: to help you find the perfect commercial furnishing suppliers for your interior schemes and projects. We understand the importance of having confidence in the suppliers you specify and the products that bring your designs to life. That’s why each supplier featured on our platform is accredited through Commercial Interiors UK’s rigorous membership application process. This ensures that you engage with only the best in the industry!