Melissa Haft joined Two Roads Hospitality in 2016 as senior director of design and development services to lead design efforts for the Joie de Vivre Hotels brand and its rapidly expanding portfolio. In her role, she guides the process of establishing a design vision and bringing it to life as a completed space. With over a decade of hospitality experience, Haft is attentive to the guest experience and passionate about creating dynamic, inspiring environments.
In her previous role as design director for Kimpton Hotels, Melissa was instrumental in the opening of several award-winning hotels and restaurants, including the Pittsburgh Monaco Hotel, the Cardinal Hotel, and the Commoner Restaurant. Prior to Kimpton Hotels, she spent several years designing high-end residences for the likes of Mark Wahlberg and other Los Angeles elites, which shaped her focus on creating hospitality spaces that truly feel like homes away from home. She started her hospitality career at KNA Design in LA, designing domestic and international projects for clients such as Hilton, Fairmont, the Sands Corporation, and Crystal Cruises.
An identical twin and Los Angeles native, Haft possesses an insatiable love of travel and interest in the artistic legacies of different cultures. She approaches the design conceptualization process with this same thoughtful exploration and quest for authenticity. Haft received her bachelor of arts at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and her professional certification at UCLA Extension’s Interior Architectural Design program.