In Memoriam: Celia Geyer
Celia Geyer, Senior Vice President Design & Project Development for Belmond, has died.
A statement from Belmond reveals that she was killed along with her husband and tour guide, while on honeymoon at Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth National Park.
In a tribute on LinkedIn, Dan Ruff, Belmond’s CEO, comments: “Celia was a force of nature – full of unique skills, ideas, creativity, passion, and action. She was incredibly resilient, always seeing the positive in challenging and complicated projects. She was genuine – the real unfiltered Celia – with our teams around the world, and with anyone who was lucky enough to have been in her orbit.”
Geyer joined Belmond in 2018 and was responsible for leading the group’s brand vision across architecture and interior design. Her rare ability to combine masterplanning with core elements of design has been instrumental to the delivery of numerous renovations across the portfolio, including Splendido Mare in Portofino, Cap Juluca in Anguilla, and the Grand Suites on board the iconic Venice-Simplon-Orient Express. She had most recently completed the renovation of Maroma on Mexico’s Riviera Maya.
Geyer previously worked for Hilton, where she held the position of Vice President of Architecture & Design for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA). During her tenure, she oversaw 13 brands and was involved in the design development of several new ones.
Prior to this, she served as Associate Vice President and shareholder for WATG (London), responsible for luxury projects and high-profile clients across EMEA.
Having served as chair of the judging panel for the AHEAD awards and been a regular attendee at industry events, Geyer had become a close friend of Sleeper Media.
“We’re truly devastated to hear of Celia’s passing under such tragic circumstances,” comments Matt Turner, Editor-in-Chief of Sleeper Media. “She was a talented designer with such infectious passion for the hospitality industry, blended with a limitless sense of curiosity and adventure. We feel blessed to have known her as a dear friend as well as an industry figurehead. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family, colleagues and the many industry friends who will be reeling from this loss as we are.”
Managing Editor Catherine Martin adds: “Celia had a real love for craftsmanship; at Belmond Cap Juluca, she spoke with great pride at being able to spend three months living in Anguilla, getting to know the artisans who contributed to the charm of the property. The hotel was just one of many award-winning projects in which she was involved throughout her career.”
Remembering Celia: Tributes from across the hospitality industry
On behalf of our entire team at WATG and Wimberly Interiors, we wish to pay tribute to Celia Geyer, a beloved industry colleague, friend and creative force.
So many of us had the pleasure and privilege to work and become friends with Celia during her tenure at WATG as well as her time at Hilton and Belmond. Her creative talent was unbridled, always pushing the boundaries to ensure experience was at the heart of every design. She understood the magic that design can bring to hotels, to trains – to every travel adventure. She loved what she did and her passion and contribution to our world of design and travel will leave a hole in our hearts and our industry. We will always be grateful for her unwavering support and trust in our team.
We send our heartfelt condolences to Celia and David’s families. We hope they find solace knowing so many people around the world loved and admired them.
Dave Moore – President and CEO, WATG
I remember meeting Celia during a project meeting for the Hilton Schiphol Amsterdam, when she had first joined the Hilton leadership team. She brought with her a lovely creative energy, warmth, enthusiasm and a sense of excitement of what was coming up, which was infectious! As a designer, it was lovely to get her feedback during site walks or having fun while testing furniture!
Later on, she was inspiring and insightful as part of the AHEAD awards judging panel. I am very grateful for the opportunities she gave to our young studio in her recent role at Belmond too. Only a couple of months ago we were discussing the properties of cork as a material and the role of retail in hotels. It was the last time I saw her.
Celia leaves an unparalleled legacy in our industry, which she helped shape while being a great role model in leadership.
Constantina Tsoutsikou – Founder, Studio Lost
More tributes will be added here in the coming days and weeks. If you would like to contribute please contact Matt Turner or Catherine Martin
