DLS Hotels & Spas is a multi-disciplinary Hospitality development firm, offering everything from Brand conceptualization and repositioning through to design and development, construction administration, turnkey installation, market strategy and new product launch.

Lisa Holt has spent almost 30 years in the hospitality design industry, designing everything from international flagship resorts to luxury boutique hotels. Additional recent projects include the restoration of the Uptown Theater, the newly completed 80-room Hotel Yountville, (a full service resort with restaurant, conference center and spa), and the award-winning Milliken Creek Inn & Spa. Milliken Creek was unique, in that Lisa, along with her partners in DLS, re-positioned, designed, owned and operated the hotel and spa, selling the property in 2006 for a record-breaking per-key price. The success of these projects has made her an expert in hospitality design, delivering the desired experiences for any target demographic. 

After studying in Europe, Lisa joined John Portman & Associates, working on multiple domestic and international projects for leading industry firms such as Hyatt, Marriott, and Westin, including the flagship Marriott Marquis properties in Times Square and Atlanta. The DLS team of design professionals' experience includes projects for Ritz Carlton, Four Seasons, Capella Resorts, KSL Resorts, and other independent boutique developers.

David Shapiro, an entrepreneurial visionary, has previously developed, owned and operated a number of trend-setting businesses, including among others, The Art of Travel, Total Wellness Spa, and Tailored Music. Instinctive and innovative in his approach, David’s’ broad experience has made him a branding and envisioning expert. This talent and expertise converts directly to increased ROI, RevPar, and bottom-line profitability. His extensive experience with companies that operate 24/7/365 allows him to manage with a fresh approach to the challenges of the hospitality and service industries.

Our scalable approach to staffing allows us to engage a multi-disciplinary and carefully curated team of design professionals on an as-needed basis. This allows us to strategically control design fees while creating exceptional projects. In addition, our direct operational experience allows for first-hand knowledge of owner and operator issues regarding functionality, resulting in better design solutions, lower operational costs and a superior guest experience.