GA Group has named Johnathan Garrison as Principal, marking the firm’s expansion to New York City.

Formerly Managing Partner at Yabu Pushelberg, the industry veteran has lived in The Big Apple since the late 90s and brings over two decades of luxury lifestyle and hospitality experience to the table. He was also an instrumental part of the design team behind the original and somewhat game-changing W Hotel in NYC.

“At GA, we work in the upper tiers of the luxury market, and Manhattan has always been an essential hub for our unique clientele,” says Garrison. “It attracts great talent, continued investment, and is the crucible for numerous design trends; New York is a vibrant and prominent player on the global design stage.”

CEO Jonathan Aeberhard comments: “Being in New York gives us an opportunity to develop more great work for our clients. We have wanted to make this move for a long time, but we have been waiting for the right person to lead our group in NYC. Once we met Johnathan, we felt 100% confident in making a commitment.”

To find out more about Garrison’s appointment, watch the company’s latest ‘On The Couch With’ video here.

GA Group has been creating hospitality experiences for more than 35 years, with a team of 160 designers, architects, strategists, project managers and creatives working on projects worldwide. The design firm is currently collaborating with KPF’s New York office on The Royal Atlantis in Dubai, which will open on Palm Jumeirah in December 2021, while other works include 1 Hotel in London and Park Hyatt in Kuala Lumpur.

Executive Design Director Terry McGinnity adds: “We are already in talks with operators about what the future holds for luxury hotels. If the last year has taught us anything, it’s that the world needs bold ideas.”

The group’s recent projects include The Cadogan in London, W in Shanghai and Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam.