Mr. Prince hired Mr. Dale and Patricia Keller (Dale Keller & Associates) on several of the InterContinental Hotel Middle Eastern and Asian Properties, as being the worlds Leading International Hotel Designers in Projects that InterContinental Hotel were the First International Hotel Chain to build or to Established with those new Markets. Dale and Patricia creatively worked so very well directly with Mr. Prince or as Independent Consultants and Designer in allowing InterContinental Hotel Properties to be known for their great detail and designs. By which allowing the Properties to become known by their own personalities for the International Business or Tourist Traveler. Dale and Patricia remain active within the industry as consultants. Listed below are their Bio's:

PATRICIA & DALE KELLER

INTERIOR DESIGNERS

Dale Keller is the Pioneer of Hotel Interior Design in Asia, having arrived in Japan in 1953 to attend the Tokyo University Graduate School of Architecture, where he studied the history of Japanese and Chinese Architecture.

In 1955, Dale Keller established his own design firm designing the interiors of factories, offices and clubs.  In 1957 he met his wife-to-be, Patricia, who had stopped in Tokyo on a design study tour of the world.  Patricia and Dale Keller are both graduates of Interior Design from the University of Washington and following her graduation; Patricia worked on the interior design for hotels in the United States of America, British Columbia, Denmark and France.

The first job together for Patricia and Dale Keller was the Marunouchi Hotel - Tokyo, followed soon after by the Okura Hotel and the Tokyo Hilton.  In 1961 they were invited to create the interior design of the Hong Kong Hilton.  This move triggered the start of an odyssey taking them worldwide with offices in Hong Kong, London and New York.

The Keller's' interior design practice soon grew into the largest interior design firm in the world specializing in the hospitality industry, annually being listed as number one in the Interior Design magazine list of "Giants in Hotel Design", with hotel designs underway in Manila, Bangkok, Singapore, Bombay, Delhi, Madras, Colombo, etc. In 1965, they were appointed interior designers for the first luxury resort to be built in Asia - the Bali Hyatt at Sanur Beach, Indonesia.  This became a land mark project involving the Keller's deeply into the arts and crafts of Indonesia, spending much time studying the craft techniques of Bali and Java.  The results were breathtaking and a resort of great charm was created with a strong national identity; a resort that could only have been created in Bali.  The entire interior - every piece of furniture, lamps, cushions - were actually fabricated in sheds on-site as there were no furniture factories as such in those days in Bali.

The Bali Hyatt won many Design Awards and operates as a very successful resort hotel to this day.

India became a cultural bridge for the Keller’s westward odyssey with work in Bombay, New Delhi and Madras.  India’s rich Mogul architectural heritage inspired many of the interiors in these projects.

The Keller's work expanded rapidly taking them into the Middle East, Europe and North America.

The 1970’s Middle East economic boom brought new challenges also new and ancient cultures to be studied and adapted to their work – Greek, Roman and Islamic.

Projects in Greece and Cyprus were inspired by Greco-Roman design elements where as the work in Syria, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Bahrain and Doha was themed on Islamic design motifs.

In 1976 the fully restored and expanded Manila Hotel opened to great response.  This hotel was built in the early years of the 20^th Century, survived the Second World War and fell into disrepair.  It was saved from demolition because of its landmark reputation.  The Keller’s gained great satisfaction in restoring this early Twentieth Century landmark which has won many awards worldwide.

The simple and serene Interior Design of the Regent at Hong Kong (now the InterContinental Hotel) set a new standard creating the bench mark for all future 5-Star Hotels, the impact of which has continued into the 21^st Century.

Dale Keller was responsible for encouraging PATA to establish a Pacific Asia Heritage Society to actively pursue the protection and preservation of Asian landmarks, culture and living national treasures.  This has now become the PATA Foundation which actively sponsors seminars in various Asian countries and gives scholarships to worthy individuals.

The Keller’s were invited by the Sultan of Brunei to design the interior of his new Palace, the "New Istana", and the largest palace in the world according to the Guinness Book of Records.  A "chance of a life time" project.

China has always held a deep fascination for Dale Keller since his days at Tokyo University.  In 1972 the Keller’s were officially invited to China to study Chinese rug production in Beijing and Tianjin.  In 1979 they started working on the first "modern" hotel to be built in China, the Fragrant Hill Hotel, in the foothills outside of Beijing.  They worked for three years with I.M. PEI Architects to create a low rise "Chinese Style" hotel built around the remains of a 200 year-old Garden; a garden built for the Emperor K'ang Shi.  The Keller’s subsequently have created hotel interiors in major cities throughout China.

The Aman and the Four Seasons Resort in Bali are indeed high points of their career.  Here they were able to put to work their long experience in Indonesia and indeed their love for the Balinese culture.  They feel the design teams that created these resorts were ideal - architecture, landscape design, engineering and dedicated workmen.  The results give the Keller’s great satisfaction and they know that in time, thousands of guests will experience the serenity, the solitude and the grace of these unique environments.

Working as design consultants the Keller’s helped create the Prince Maurice resort, Mauritius and the Lemura Resort and Golf Hotel in the Seychelles.

Patricia and Dale Keller won the 1999 Lifetime Achievement Award for their International Careers as Hotel Designers.  The award was presented to them at a Gala dinner at the Dorchester Hotel in London on the 6th December, 1999.

Patricia and Dale Keller continue to offer design consultancy services from their new home/studio in Bellevue, WA, United States.

Email Contact:        dalekellerdesign@btinternet.com

HOTEL INTERIOR DESIGN PROJECTS

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