#65 Artistry and Magic with Cecilia Cuff

Cecilia Cuff is a 20-year veteran of the hospitality scene and
the Founder and Managing Principal of The Nascent Group, a
hospitality design and project management agency. Cecilia has
established herself as a pacemaker in the hospitality design
industry, focusing on art and efficiency-inspired design,
inclusivity, community  development and sustainability.
 


Cecilia has managed hospitality openings and brand launches for
companies like Hyatt Hotels & Resorts all over North &
South America, Ski Resort and Adventure Resort Renovations for
companies like Taos Ski Valley and M Vacation Resorts &
Properties. Her involvement and enthusiasm for corporate brand
development is always guided using  community development,
food sustainability and minority inclusion as a moral compass.
Regenerative farming practices, local ingredient sourcing and
at-risk youth professional development are common threads that
link her work and programming that remain strong long after she
has developed a project.  


As a part of a career dedicated to flawless and carefully
executed hospitality service, Cecilia’s career client  list
brags seamlessly handling celebrities from Sheryl Crow, Lil
Wayne, Emeril Lagasse, Snoop Dog,  Rihanna, Kanye West,
Seal, Brad Pitt & Angela Jolie. Elevated hospitality
experiences in event production  has remained her
differentiator, creating and curating large scale wine festivals
all over the United States, as well as aiding in the production
of multi day music festivals and experiences.


Cecilia now operates her own firm, The Nascent Group, acting as
an ally to urban planners and community developers to create more
inclusive economic design, as well as aiding businesses with
hotel and restaurant openings, operation brand launches and
design. She also operates Parse SECO, a multidisciplinary art
space offering art residencies  and space for
underrepresented communities and mentorship for at-risk youth
with sister branches in  New Orleans, San Francisco, New
York and Mexico.  


In this episode, Cecilia shares her career journey in the
hospitality industry, using her entrepreneurial spirit as a force
for good, and pushing for inclusivity in her work with
developers. We also talk about how the hospitality industry has
the power to change the trajectory of people’s lives, and the
magic of walking into a space and having your breath taken away.