Jennifer bonelli
As Axis Hospitality’s Director of Design, Jennifer Bonelli brings extensive experience in commercial and hospitality interior design to Axis Hospitality.
With a passion for creating engaging interiors, Jennifer attended the esteemed New York School of Interior Design’s CIDA-Accredited Master of Fine Arts Program, and also holds a Bachelor of Arts from Bucknell University in Economics.
Her first career was on Wall Street where she worked in private wealth and the real estate investment management division of asset management at a prominent Investment Bank. This unique background and mindset allows her to consider each design decision in terms of return on her client’s investments.
Jennifer began her true design career at highly imaginative New World Design Builders. Memorable projects there include her design work for celebrity hot spot restaurant CATCH L.A. as well as the revamp of Gansevoort Hotel Group Properties in New York.
She then took the opportunity to join award winning Jeffrey Beers International in their New York City office. There she honed her skills working with the industry’s very best and became a lead designer on everything from large scale entertainment complexes, cruise ships, casinos, hotels, and signature restaurants, working for clients such as Disney, Marriott, Hard Rock and a number of celebrity chefs.
When Jennifer relocated to the Southeast, she joined the Charleston, South Carolina office of McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture. Notable projects there include her work on The Cooper, Charleston’s soon to be newest luxury waterfront hotel and Wild Dunes Resort. She then led the interior design for Kempton of Charleston, a new luxury retirement community and was tapped to design several lobbies for mixed-use developments. Jennifer also touched historic preservation projects along downtown Charleston’s most iconic streets during her time designing high-end residential and condominium projects.
During her first year with Axis Hospitality, Jennifer single handedly completed designs for Hotel Iris in Boston, a luxury four star boutique hotel, and The Garden Hotel & Resort in Ft Lauderdale. Currently, her team is re-envisioning a South Beach Miami Hotel on Collins Avenue, completing the design of 550 E. Lincoln – a high end multi-family project in Phoenix, working on Arkhaus – a luxury yacht club experience – and has joined forces with a major hotel brand in the midwest for renovations of their hotel portfolio.
Jennifer draws on her vast design experience as she works hand in hand with clients, architects, contractors, property managers, brand executives, owners and investors to deliver an exceptional experience and visionary design.
jessica yu
Jessica Yu, a seasoned Project Manager and Interior Designer, holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design from Parsons the New School for Design.
With an extensive background spanning roles at HOK, DOMIO, rag & bone, Jeffrey Beers International, O’Neil Langan Architects PC, and Horowitz Architects PC, Jessica has honed her skills in project management, design development, and brand innovation across luxury commercial interior, retail, and hospitality projects.
She is committed to excellence and innovation bringing with her knowledge in best practices to enhance workflow procedures and excels at project management playing a vital role in successful delivery of on-time, on-budget project completion.
DER SEAN CHOU
Der Sean Chou is an NCIDQ certified Interior Designer and earned his Master of Science degree in Interior Design from Pratt Institute. He has also taught at three prestigious design schools in New York: Pratt, Parsons, and the School of Visual Arts and remains as faculty at Pratt Institute and School of Visual Arts teaching design and inspiring future interior designers.
Der Sean has worked on a diverse portfolio of residential, multi-family and hospitality interior design projects from around the world and has worked in senior design positions at Jeffery Beers International and Stonehill Taylor in New York City.
With an eye for precision and a background in film and IT, he has become an expert in the many digital creation programs used in the design process. He is forward-thinking and works collaboratively to create spaces the reflect each client’s identity while ensuring they reflect the value of good design.
Working for brands including One&Only, Waldorf Astoria, Equinox, Atlantis, and Omni, he has developed agility working with rigorous brand standards to ensure flawless execution of each project.
hannah sears
Hannah Sears graduated from The College of Charleston, S.C. where she majored in Commercial Real Estate Finance and is currently attending the Charleston School of Design.
Born and raised in Florida, Hannah has been immersed in the process of design and construction since her first steps watching her father, a general contractor, construct custom homes and commercial properties.
Hannah found her niche combining her background in real estate and finance with her passion for design while working for Luxury Simplified Retreats in Charleston, SC. There she started as a property operations manager and led sales initiatives to grow and expand their interior design services. She has designed and overseen the renovations on many of their portfolio’s beautiful properties across the low country of South Carolina.
Poornima Solanki, received her Bachelor in Architecture from Sunderdeep Group of Institutions in 2015.
She is co-founding member of ArchiDo Design Studio and is a key talent in the production of Axis Hospitality’s Interior Design Construction Documentation.
Her passion for construction and her excellence in interior detailing ensure each project is rigorously document to ensure project success from design development through construction administration.