Meet The Member: Patricia E Hayes – Patricia Hayes & Associates, Inc.

Patricia Hayes & Associates, Inc. is a fully licensed interior design firm that has spent many years specializing in cruise ships, super yachts, and resorts.

Their diverse portfolio includes cruise ship interior design, large ship renovations, and the rehabilitation of multi-million dollar yachts and resort properties.

This knowledge has led to opportunities to work for the bulk of the world's largest cruise lines, and they have even won awards for outstanding interior design.

Let's get into it! What's your name, job title, and company?

I'm Patricia Hayes of Patricia Hayes & Associates, and I am the president of the firm.

Lovely to be meeting with you, Patricia. Can you tell me about your role with the company?

As the owner of an interior design firm specializing in the marine industry, I take charge of all aspects of this business such as:

- hiring employees or engaging the services of consultants

- marketing the business

- negotiating contracts

- develop design concepts with clients and/or their consultants

- create project budgets

- present design solutions

- oversee the development of bid documents

- analysis of final bids with the client

- participate in project progress meetings

- oversee installation

Whew! That's impressive. With your experience in the sector, I have to ask...What has been your favorite project to work on?

There have been numerous cruise ship, and mega yacht projects, which have afforded me and my team, wonderful and rewarding experiences. The design briefs have been challenging. Sometimes the cost of custom-designed components and the overall budgets have been limitless. The scope of work from one similar project to another is rarely repetitive which makes the marine industry incredibly interesting.

I can imagine. What's your favorite ship, and why?

As a child, I sailed with my family, transatlantic crossing, onboard the S/S United States. I found the entire experience fascinating, and I believe this was the beginning of my interest in passenger ships.

What a lovely origin! What's the biggest obstacle you've faced in your career so far?

Like every business, cash flow is critical. If you are placed in a position where there are delays in payments of invoices, ongoing overhead costs, and work production can be seriously impacted. It is not profitable for any company to fund the production of contracted design work. A contentious situation may impact your current/future working relationship with your client.

Do you have an industry insight you can share or a fun fact about the sector you work in?

The outfitting of a new vessel, or extensive refurbishment, is more expensive, requires much of the interior components to be prefabricated, and will have less time for installation than a land-based project.

What's one piece of advice you would offer someone new to the industry?

If you are hired by a large interior design firm, or the in-house design department of a cruise line, do not allow yourself to be pigeonholed into doing only one part of the project. Do not do your job with blinders on. Learn from colleagues in the design department what their responsibilities are. Learn from the cruise line management team in technical/operation, hotel, entertainment departments, and retail/spa consultants, what it takes for a cruise ship interior to be successful, profitable, and safe for passengers/crew. As your understanding of how the cruise industry works so will your ability to contribute to the success of your design projects.

Solid advice! What’s the career highlight you’re most proud of?

Many projects have been featured in international publications for the cruise industry, interior design, and yacht magazines. I have won an award from the Illuminating Engineering Society for good lighting design onboard a cruise ship. A mega yacht, in which we had done major interior renovation work, became the feature article and cover for the primary yachting magazine for a South Florida International Boat Show. I was contracted by a major entertainment/resort company to introduce them to the cruise industry as they contemplated building their first cruise ship.

What do you like about CSI Plus or What are you looking to get out of your membership?

I thoroughly enjoy and support the CSI Plus platform, which features designers, products, and services for cruise ships and yachts. Also filled with great networking opportunities and introductions to new products, and people.

What do you love about the Cruise Interiors industry?

Travel opportunities are tremendous. Sometimes you have to sail with a vessel to do a shipboard survey. Sometimes, a ship will be drydocked in a country you were not familiar with. I have met some wonderful people connected with the cruise ship industry.

What are your top resources for this industry?

All resources that are attractive, durable, cleanable, and/or easily repaired. Ships move, and they will also show evidence of high traffic. If you can keep an interior well maintained for each group of passengers, for several years, the design team has done a good job.

Who or what inspires you in your career?

Great interior design! Beautiful, diversified lighting for task or mood settings. Decorative light fixtures match the scale and beauty of a great ship's interior. Clever/attractive ways of storing things in passenger staterooms and public areas.

What has changed the most about the cruise interior sector since you started?

The industry has expanded exponentially...

What are you looking forward to in 2023 or what are you hoping to achieve?

I am so happy to see the cruise and yacht industries return from the forced shutdown by COVID. I can already foresee a very busy time for designers, marine contractors, and suppliers. I would like to be actively involved as part of the management team overseeing a significant project for a new ship, a major renovation to an existing vessel and/or a yacht. I know I would be great at mentoring young designers coming into this industry.

Let's delve a little deeper, and get to know you a bit more!

Where do you live? Where do you spend most of your time?

I live in the Village of Palmetto Bay or Miami, Florida. Palmetto Bay is a lovely residential area, with great schools, and beautiful parks, adjacent to Biscayne Bay. Palmetto Bay was incorporated several years ago because we, the residents, wanted to control tax dollars for police/security, business/residential growth etc.

What was your first ever job? Or how did you get into this industry? What have you learned?

My previous employer was rated as one of the top interior design firms in the United States. When we were contracted to renovate several cruise ships, as a senior interior designer, the account was assigned to me and a naval architect.

What did you want to be when growing up? What was your dream job as a child?

I wanted to be an artist. I love working with color and the science of how color affects us.

What’s the scariest thing you’ve ever done, and why did you do it?

I was traveling back from a meeting in Germany. I rerouted myself for a weekend visit with family in the UK. Then, I was on a Pan American flight to New York City, on a Monday. The plane was delayed at the gate for several hours because a bag was checked but the passenger did not show up for boarding!?! On Wednesday, that same Pan Am flight blew up!?! It was the Lockerbie, Scotland flight. It just made me realize that traveling, even in a comfortable business class, can be very scary and quite often totally out of one's control.

What’s your favorite way to spend a day off?

Maybe the beach, maybe reading by the pool, maybe working on the orchid collection.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

Sanibel/Captiva Island on the west coast of Florida.

What was the best vacation you ever took and why?

A beautiful wedding anniversary cruise, Monte Carlo to Venice, on a Silversea vessel.

What a dream! If you could relive one moment in your life, which would it be?

Too many wonderful moments to pick just one.

I couldn't pick either. Is there a product/item that you couldn't live without?

My pets!

Me too, Patricia!

Can you tell us a fun fact about yourself or something we don't know? Any hidden talents?!

I'm a very good baker and a pretty good cook if I have adequate time to prepare in advance. I don't like to be rushed and like to clean the kitchen as I am making a mess of it.

Best film you've seen or best concert you've ever been to?

Too many - love great books/films/music.

Which famous person in history would you want to spend the day with?

Audrey Hepburn was a great actress, fashion icon, and humanitarian. She led an incredible life, survived WWII like my parents, became a graceful dancer, and a great actress, and gave back to so many through her charitable work.

What’s an essential part of your daily routine?

Taking care of my pets.

3-course meal! What are you having for starters, main, and dessert? - and a drink!

Hot & sour soup, sushi with heaps of salmon roe, key lime pie!

Favorite film / book and why?

Too many - love great films and books. However, I enjoy the Outlander television series and books. Nice fictional love story mixed in with some historical facts.

Amazing!

Thank you Patricia for your time and knowledge. It's been a pleasure getting to know you.

Make sure to follow CSI+ Member Patricia Hayes on LinkedIn for more!