Tonik Associates have been shortlisted in 6 categories in the International Hotel and Property Awards 2021. Read more about Founder / Managing Director, Gary Marshall below:

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Name: Gary Marshall

Company: Tonik Associates

Position within company: Founder/ Managing Director

Website:  www.tonikassociates.co.uk

Tell us a little about your background in design:
Gary founded Tonik in 2002 with the sole aim of building a creative business working across multi sectors. He is hugely proud that Tonik has been successful in achieving that goal and continues to believe that there is real value in bringing cross-sector ideas and experience to market.

Trained in the UK, Gary graduated in 1986 with an honours degree from Nottingham Trent University and worked with London’s leading creative agencies before starting his own consultancy in 1990. He has honed his experience across diverse market sectors and worked as both Creator, Curator and Developer for some of the world’s leading brands. Has over 35 years experience as designer, creator and developer of  inspirational spaces and brands both locally and internationally.

His experience dovetails the creative process with an instinct as to how buildings/brands work, are developed and become successful. Gary has curated an extensive amount of experience working in a multitude of fields with clients from Harrods to River Island to the world’s leading hotel brands including Hilton, Marriott and Mandarin Oriental.

Early Years
Early in his career Gary was involved in the shopping centre revolution in the UK working on the Metro Centre in Gateshead along with a number of other high profile and groundbreaking retail schemes in the UK and continental Europe. Gary formed his own business Matrix design in 1990 and grew the business predominantly working on retail and retail catering projects in the UK.

Harrods
In October 1996 Gary was asked to join the board of Harrods department store in London aged 33. At Harrods, Gary sat on the board as design Director and was responsible for the creation, development and implementation of over 1,000,000 sq ft of prime retail space in-store and worldwide. Part of this process saw him controlling key international luxury brands including Gucci, Dior, Tom Ford, Prada and numerous others, giving Gary unprecedented insight into the workings of brands at a global level.

Retail
Gary worked closely with the board of River Island, supporting with their specialist projects. More recently Gary has been appointed in a strategic retail role for the London Paramount Resort. He is also a founding member of “uREVO” a group of international retail experts developing diverse projects which will re-vitalise the retail landscape going forward.

Hotels
In addition to his retail background Gary has worked with some of the world’s leading hotel brands including Hilton, Marriott and Mandarin Oriental. Whilst at Harrods, Gary was involved in the refurbishment of the Ritz hotel in Paris for Mohammed Al fayed. Current projects include the creation of a new luxury city hotel brand for a private Hotelier developer in London with 6 prominent sites valued at over £1bn.

Residential
Whilst at Harrods, Gary formed an outward looking interiors agency providing consultancy and specification services for luxury worldwide residential projects including penthouses, country houses and city homes. In addition to this, Gary developed the design of the Royal Palace in Nonthaburi, Bangkok for the Crown Prince of Thailand. More recently, he has designed and developed a number of luxury properties in the UK and Continental Europe. Part of Gary’s international residential experience saw him create 3 ambassadorial size Villas in Abu Dhabi. Gary is currently completing the interiors for a unique house in North London valued at over £25m. A project that has taken over 8 years from conception to fruition.

Events
In 2004, Gary founded Aspire Hospitality. As the brand developed it was appointed as food and beverage supplier for the British F1 GP at Silverstone. Two years later, Aspire was appointed as hospitality provider for the Abu Dhabi F1 GP at The Yas Island Circuit. Later, Aspire was responsible for creating the after race concerts at Yas Island which included headlining acts Robbie Williams and Alicia Keys.
Gary’s diverse experience has been used by the world’s largest catering companies Aramark, Compass and Sodexo to develop leading brands in key locations. Blenheim Palace and The British Library are 2 of his latest projects for these clients.

Workplace
Gary has worked on many projects in the workplace sector including HQ buildings for British Gas and Centrica totaling over 250,000 sq ft. He is currently working on a 22 city strategy based in the Midwest of the US which combines a we-work style co-working space with a Soho house style private members club.

How would you describe your personal interior design style?  
Simple/ natural/Inspirational and Relevant

Where does your design inspiration come from?        
Buildings/ neighbourhoods/nature/people. The mix of environments to give spaces energy through space and material.

In what direction do you feel that design is moving towards in a general sense? 
Energetic simplicity using more ethically sourced materials

Name five key themes to consider when approaching design in 2020 and beyond. 
Simplicity/Organic/Surprise and delight/add a twist/             

If you could offer one piece of advice when it comes to interior design schemes, what would it be?   
Keep things simple but add a surprise. Tell numerous stories within the environment you are creating

How important are The International Hotel & Property Awards as recognition of talent and achievement?
They are important because they are relevant….they are relevant because they are voted for by your peers in numbers

What projects are you currently working on?
A private residence in Buckinghamshire, a pure retail repurposing space in Berlin, a co- working/social members club in the US..

What was your most challenging project to work on and why?
A private residence in London this was the most challenging as it brought together three generations of the same family, being a very personal space I had to get inside the heads of the personalities and deliver spaces that interacted. This was also my favourite project as the end result was just stunning.

Which products/services could you not live without when designing?   The amazing and diverse craftsmen we have around us with intimate materials knowledge and willingness to go the extra mile to create something special.

What are your aims and goals for the next twelve months?  
Invent new solutions/ Invest in new ideas              

Final thoughts; tell us a little more about yourself and your daily inspirations: 
I continually challenge myself and my team to challenge themselves and invent totally new solutions… I never want to accept conformity and I find todays climate of challenge inspirational.

Your most treasured possession?
My Car… it will be a classic one day.

Your favourite holiday destination?
Southern Spain…. sun, sea, people and culture.

Your favourite hotel, restaurant & bar?
The Guardsman because it’s a home from home and the bar at Middle Eight because I remember how it used to be and its been transformed

Your favourite book, film & song?
Biographies
Gladiator because of its epic scale
You’re the voice by John Farnham
          
Your favourite food and drink?
Anything Asian I love food!

Your favourite way to spend an afternoon?
In my garden… I have a new water feature

If you weren’t a designer, what would you be?
In my dreams a F1 driver

Anything else interesting?
We are entering a hugely exciting period of existence and design has an ever more important role to play in helping business re-calibrate for the future short medium and long term…

Tonik Associates have been shortlisted in The International Hotel and Property Awards 2021.