Watts & Dray is a hospitality design studio focused on one outcome: creating spaces that drive demand.
Our work is grounded in the belief that design is not decoration, it is a commercial tool. The right environment can transform a property into a destination, increase dwell time, and generate outsized revenue. We bring a design perspective, paired with a disciplined approach to execution, ensuring projects move from concept to completion without losing their edge.
Founded in 2021 by Vanessa Watts and Erika Dray, the studio began with a one-of-a-kind supper club in San Diego’s Gaslamp District, a project that set their north star: to craft spaces that are exceptional in concept and commercially viable in practice. Each project reflects this philosophy; balancing bold, innovative design with buildability, operational intelligence, and a clear path to revenue.
Specializing in full-service hospitality design, Watts & Dray offers interior design, custom furniture, art curation, uniforms, branding, and design styling. From luxurious resorts to cutting-edge nightclubs, the studio’s portfolio demonstrates a commitment to excellence and the ability to execute ambitious visions flawlessly.
Watts & Dray is a certified Woman-Owned Business in New York, dedicated to shaping the future of luxury hospitality design—where bold ideas meet reliable delivery.
Hit us up: hello@watts-dray.com
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VANESSA WATTS: CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Vanessa Watts is the co-founder of Watts & Dray, a hospitality design studio known for creating bold, commercially successful environments for hotels, restaurants, and nightlife venues. Her work is shaped by a background in visual arts and interior design and a deep understanding of how design drives revenue and guest experience.
After studying interior design at Pratt Institute, Vanessa built her career at several of New York’s leading hospitality design studios, contributing to more than 50 hotel, restaurant, and nightlife projects across the United States. Through this work she developed a reputation for translating ambitious ideas into clear, buildable design strategies that align owners, operators, and development teams.
Today, at Watts & Dray, Vanessa focuses on creating distinctive hospitality destinations that generate demand, elevate brand identity, and become impossible reservations in their markets.
Licenses:
NCIDQ Certified
State of Nevada, Registered Interior Designer
State of Florida, Registered Interior Designer
State of Texas, Registered Interior Designer
State of Louisiana, Registered Interior Designer
Education:
Bachelor of Liberal Arts - Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
Master of Interior Design - Pratt Institute, New York, NY
Selected Projects:
Radical Hotel, Asheville, NC
Pelham Hotel, New Orleans
Hyatt Lost Pines, Lost Pines, TX
Westin Times Square, NYC, NY
Dolphin Hotel, Orlando, FL
Stayton Room, Lexington Hotel, NYC
Komodo Restaurant & Lounge, Miami, FL
Liv Nightclub, Miami, FL
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ERIKA DRAY: MANAGING DIRECTOR
Erika Dray is the co-founder of Watts & Dray, where she brings a distinctive perspective shaped by a background in fashion, jewelry design, and visual arts. Her work is informed by a deep understanding of materiality, craftsmanship, and the technical rigor required to translate creative ideas into realized objects.
Over the course of a two-decade career in New York, Erika worked as a Technical Designer and Project Manager for several leading fashion houses, developing complex collections from concept through production. In 2007, she launched her the Erika Dray jewelry line, recognized for its sculptural forms and refined artistry.
At Watts & Dray, Erika leads the studio’s FF&E direction, shaping the material palettes, furnishings, and custom elements that define the character and atmosphere of each project.
Education:
Bachelor of Science - State University of New York at Oneonta
American Intercontinental University, London, England
Selected Clients:
Calvin Klein
Simon Miller
Champion
Kendall and Kylie
Nautica
Betsey Johnson