The Silicon Review ^Asia

CKP Hospitality Consultants – formerly Creative Kitchen Planners – is a global hospitality design and concept firm that assists clients to plan, develop and implement successful F&B venues. It has been at it for over 30 years and today, with over 1800 completed projects worldwide, it has set the benchmark and redefined global standards in the hospitality design industry.

The firm is headquartered in Kuala Lumpur with branch offices in Shanghai, Dubai and Bangalore and have become market leaders in each region. CKP is known for its work in world-class restaurants, high-end hotels, casinos, theme parks, resorts, industrial canteens, and convention centers with projects in Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East and the Americas.

In 2012, the firm redefined itself as “hospitality consultants” to reflect its expansion into the entire F&B process, from planning back-of-house facilities to the design of fresh new dining concepts from scratch. CKP has revolutionized and brought new perspectives to F&B, breaking the barrier between chefs and diners. And it shows in the results.

CKP’s projects have won multiple awards including a combined 13 Michelin Stars and it was rated among the top 5 foodservice design firms globally by the acclaimed Food Arts Magazine for its work at the Bellagio Las Vegas.

The company’s diverse team of engineers, former hoteliers, chefs and mixologists ensure that each project is looked at through multiple viewpoints which translates into designs that create workplaces which are functional, ergonomic, intuitive and efficient.

CKP’s expertise has over the decades expanded beyond the kitchen. It provides a 360-approach to design and solutions to meet the needs of hotels, restaurants, conference & exhibition centres, galleries and public and recreational spaces. Several of its projects involved collaborations with world-class architects and designers.

Service portfolio

F&B Concept Development

The key to creating a successful F&B venue isn’t just about having good food and drinks. Today’s discerning diners are connected, world-travelled and expect creative design and experiences in addition to a great meal. The firm understands that restaurants and bars are a fickle business and it’s crucial that entrepreneurs understand their market and before setting up their venue.

This is why CKP’s process begins with market research to understand the trends in the market and help you identify the expectations, whims and quirks of potential guests and how to reach and appease them.Once it identifies the possible food and beverage directions that are suitable for the market, CKP develops comprehensive concept briefs for the venue that provide clients, operators and design partners with a visual guidebook for how the venue should look and feel.

This includes detailed floors plans, interior and kitchen design mood boards, menu direction and design, logos and branding, tabletop guidelines, music programs and uniform design.

Kitchen & Bar Design

Good design and planning are essential to consistency in the quality of food and beverages.

You require suitable equipment, but equally important, design which suits back- and front-end staff.

A poorly-designed kitchen compromises quality and the bottom-line. An over-designed one will require more capital investment and staff than is necessary.Poor planning increases a project’s capex due to over-specified equipment, or low-quality equipment which do not last and drive energy costs up.

CKP has a track record of delivering future-proof kitchens that are ergonomic and cost-efficient, robust and durable, yet flexible enough to evolve menus as tastes and market trends Change.

Laundry Facilities Design       

A well-designed laundry is the unsung hero of any hotel. Shortage of clean linen, towels, uniforms, and slow delivery of guest laundry are the result of poor planning and affect a hotel’s reputation. A properly designed laundry facility ensures guests’ garments are cleaned and returned on time, and staff are always dressed their best.

Boh Facilities Planning

The backbone of any successful establishment is hidden behind-the-scenes but should never be overlooked in design. As the hospitality industry demands long working hours, the need for a comfortable working environment is vital to attract and retain good talent. CKP provides creative and ergonomically-designed work, office and dining spaces that are key to staff morale and retention, keeping operations smooth and costs, low.

Solid Waste Management

The best establishments view solid waste management not just as an environmental responsibility, but positive public relations, and in the long-term, beneficial to the brand and bottom-line. In addition to correct waste disposal, a proper plan should also include recycling programs and effectively reduce the volume of waste. CKP provides full analysis and strategies on waste separation and the specification of eco-friendly equipment in kitchens, bars and laundry which comply with green standards and municipal authorities.

Meet the chieftain

Joseph R. Albert, Managing director, CKP Bangalore: Joseph R Albert is an accomplished professional with 13 years of experience in F&B consulting, kitchen equipment development and design. His background in Engineering and Management informs his mindful but competitive approach. He joined CKP Hospitality Consultants in 2005 and currently leads the CKP office in India.

He is fuelled by his passion and understanding of the nuances of cuisines from different parts of the world. He considers himself a ‘forever student,’ constantly building on his foundation in Mechanical and Marine Engineering while keeping abreast of F&B trends.

Joseph believes mindfulness in the workplace is the key to success, which is why he places importance on work-life balance while refining strategies to raise productivity and quality.

His drive and leadership has contributed to the successful completion of many high-end projects, notably Wynn Palace Cotai, Wynn Macau, Nagaworld Phase 2, Phnom Penh, Cambodia Resorts World, Genting Malaysia, Westin Hyderabad and Westin Gurgaon, JW Pune, Leela Delhi, Leela Goa, Leela Chennai, JW Delhi, Prince Court Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Grand Hyatt Goa and the Hilton Da Nang , Vietnam.

“Our projects are vastly diverse in terms of budget and style with each gaining recognition worldwide for the quality of our work and our ability to respond to different environments.”