Mark Yoshizaki, Vice President at WATG, has worked on many notable hospitality, leisure and entertainment projects throughout the United States, Asia, and the Middle East. His experience includes hospitality, entertainment, leisure, residential, mixed-use, renovation and corporate design.

Prior to joining WATG in 1996, Yoshizaki worked with Walt Disney Imagineering in Glendale, where he was involved in concept and schematic design work for various Disney projects including: Tokyo Disneyland, Disneyland Paris, and Tokyo Disney Seas in Japan. Yoshizaki graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Hawaii in 1996, and was the first recipient of the George J.Wimberly Scholarship.

Designing Destinations

Creating Hotels and Resorts with Location, Personality and People in Mind

by Mark Yoshizaki

THE PROCESS OF DESIGNING a destination can take its cue from looking at the reasons people travel - whether for adventure, escape, indulgence, relaxation, or cultural curiosity. From an understanding of these motivations comes a range of design solutions. While expectations are constantly evolving, three elements should always be kept in mind: location, personality, and people.