DAY-0 (17 November, 2026)
Panel Discussion
Theme - From Workplace to Destination: How Hospitality Principles Are Shaping the Future of Office Design
Date: 17 November, 2026
Venue: Lutron Design Center, Downtown Toronto
Timings
Doors Open: 4:00 PM
Panel Discussion: 05:00 PM - 06:00 PM
Reception: 06:00 PM - 08:00 PM
Target Audience
- Workplace Designers
- Hospitality & Lighting Designers
Some of the questions for the panel:
- Opening question for all panelists
Q. What does it mean from your particular design perspective for a workplace to become a destination rather than simply a place to work?
For Workplace designers
Q. What changes are you seeing in what employees and employers expect from the workplace compared with five years ago?
Q. How do you bring hospitality-inspired elements into a workplace without making the office feel like a hotel, restaurant, or residential lounge?
For Hospitality and lighting designer
Q. How can workplace designers apply hospitality’s arrival-to-departure approach to enhance the employee experience?
- Comfort, Choice, and Engagement
Q. Hospitality environments give guests a sense of choice and control. How can personal control over lighting, temperature, and shading enhance the workplace experience?
Q. How can design support different personalities, working styles, cultures, ages, and sensory needs without creating a complicated environment?
- Lighting and Overall Experience
Q. How do daylight, electric light, and automated shading work together to support both comfort and the overall experience of a space?
Q. Personalization is increasingly important. How much control should occupants have over lighting and shading, and how do we provide that control without making the experience confusing?
- Wellness and Emotional Experience
Q. How can wellness be meaningfully integrated into workplace design rather than treated as a checklist?
Q. How can workplace design elements create an emotional connection and a sense of belonging?
Q. How can design and lighting adapt to different activities and moods throughout the workday?
- Practicality, Operations, and Return on Investment
Q. How can hospitality-inspired workplaces remain functional, adaptable, and relevant over time?
Q. How can clients measure the value of investing in workplace experience, comfort, lighting, and wellness, especially when budgets are tight?
- Closing Question
Q. If you could recommend one change that would make tomorrow’s workplaces more human and engaging, what would it be?
- Potential Audience Q&A
- What is the biggest challenge you face when trying to introduce hospitality principles into workplace projects?
- Are there particular workplace settings where you believe hospitality thinking does not work?
- How are your clients measuring whether their workplace design is successful?
- What role should technology play without becoming visible or overwhelming?
- How can these ideas be applied to existing workplaces with limited renovation budgets?
Panelists
Maxie Pennington
Director of Practice- Interior Design
B+H International Corp.
Maxie is the Director of Practice at CHIL Toronto, with over 20 years of international experience leading award-winning projects across hospitality, entertainment, and mixed-use environments in North America, Asia, and the Middle East. Combining strategic thinking with creative vision, she brings a deep understanding of brand, operations, storytelling, and the human experience to create memorable guest experiences. Maxie partners closely with clients to shape design strategies, translate business objectives into compelling experiences, and cultivate lasting relationships. As a collaborative leader, she guides multidisciplinary teams from vision through delivery, balancing creative ambition with commercial and operational objectives to create distinctive environments that strengthen brands and leave a lasting impression.
Tamara Rooks
Vice President
Figure3
As Vice President at Figure3, Tamara Rooks brings over 15 years of design experience across multiple sectors, combining creative vision, adaptability, and a collaborative approach to leadership. A firm believer that strong client relationships are the foundation of successful projects, Tamara prioritizes connection, trust, and a shared vision from the earliest stages of design through to project completion. Known for her natural leadership style and positive, charismatic approach, Tamara moves seamlessly between creative strategy, project collaboration, and client engagement. She believes the best work comes from bringing diverse perspectives to the table, creating an environment where every voice is heard and ideas are challenged, explored, and elevated through intentional collaboration.
At Figure3, Tamara is passionate about fostering a culture of inclusion, continuous learning, and growth, empowering teams to push creative boundaries while remaining grounded in the needs of the client and the realities of execution. Her approach balances creativity with thoughtful problem-solving, ensuring that design solutions are not only compelling but purposeful, considered, and responsive to the people who experience them every day.
Marianna NG
Senior Interior Designer
Marianna is a Senior Interior Designer with over 15 years of experience in commercial workplace design, recognized for her creativity, detail-oriented approach and collaborative leadership style. She oversees every phase of the project—from workplace strategy and visioning through design development, documentation, and construction—guiding teams toward clear, coordinated outcomes.
Marianna works closely with clients, consultants, and contractors, valuing open communication and partnership to navigate complexity and deliver exceptional results. She excels at translating ideas into buildable, high-performing environments that balance beauty and functionality while expressing a client’s brand and culture.
With a strong focus on future-fluid design, Marianna creates adaptable workplaces that respond to evolving workstyles and needs. Engaged, solutions-driven, and highly organized, she brings clarity, creativity, and momentum to every project she leads.
Canada Trade Mission 2026 - Brazilian Lighting Sector
Date: 17th November, 2026
Venue: Ontario Investment and Trade Centre – OITC
Time: 02 PM - 06 PM
ABOUT THE EVENT
Discover the Potential of the Brazilian Lighting Industry
Join the Brazilian Lighting Industry in Canada for three exclusive opportunities to connect, network and explore new business opportunities.
The Brazilian Association of the Lighting Industry - ABILUX, supported by the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency - ApexBrasil and the Trade Promotion and Investment Office of the Consulate General of Brazil in Toronto is honored to invite the Canadian Lighting Community such as specialized retailers, distributors, real estate developers, general contractors, hotel and retail store chains, supermarkets and grocery stores, warehouses, engineers, architects, lighting designers and producers in horticulture, cannabis, agriculture, poultry farming, and livestock farming to learn about the potential of the Brazilian Lighting Industry.
This event will be a unique opportunity to connect and network with Brazilian entrepreneurs, explore new business opportunities, and learn more about the Brazilian lighting market. To dive deeper into these trends, our keynote sessions will feature:
- “Diversity and Innovation in the Brazilian Lighting Industry”, presented by CELERA.
- “The Impact of Lighting on Pesticide-Free Food Production and Antibiotic-Free Livestock for Human Health and the Environment”, presented by AUDAX.
To conclude the event, guests will be invited to a cocktail reception featuring a taste of Brazilian cuisine – a perfect opportunity to continue conversations and build new connections in a relaxed and enjoyable setting.
We also invite the Lighting Community to visit the Brazilian pavilion at Canada Light Expo on November 18th & 19th at International Centre, Toronto, Canada. Brazilian companies will showcase high-quality lighting fixtures for decorative, technical, commercial, industrial and public applications, as well as components and innovative solutions for the local lighting industry and agricultural sector.
