Scott Mitchem

Scott Mitchem is a hospitality strategist, designer, and real estate development executive with more than 20 years of global experience spanning luxury hotels, branded residential, consumer brands, food and beverage concepts, and, more recently, sports-anchored mixed-use districts.

Bio and Featured Works

As Vice President and Los Angeles Market Leader for Nelson Worldwide, he leads the firm’s Los Angeles office, with a particular focus on the planning and development of sports, entertainment, hospitality, and mixed-use destinations across the Americas.

Scott began his career as a copywriter and brand strategist. While working with Starwood Hotels & Resorts, he became increasingly involved in the physical development of hospitality brands and transitioned into real estate development. He subsequently joined Keen Partners, a specialist in developing hotel components within large mixed-use projects, where he worked on projects involving St. Regis, W Hotels, and Aloft. He later served as Director of Development for North America at Fasano Hotels & Restaurants, supporting the Brazilian luxury hospitality brand’s expansion across the region.

His career also includes executive design, concept, and development roles at Starbucks, where he served as Design Director for Latin America and Concepts Director for the Americas, as well as leadership positions with Panera Bread and Sweetgreen. He has also advised major consumer brands, including Coach, on design and development strategy. His experience spans the full development lifecycle—from market strategy, feasibility, and brand positioning through design, delivery, operations, and asset strategy.

A Portuguese-speaking writer and journalist, Scott has served as a Contributing Editor for Wallpaper* magazine for more than two decades and has written for The Wall Street Journal and other major publications in the United States and Brazil. His work covers architecture, design, travel, hospitality, and real estate, with a particular focus on Brazil and Latin America. His editorial background brings research, storytelling, and cultural perspective to his development and strategic work.

Scott holds a Master of Professional Studies in Real Estate from Georgetown University, where he also serves as an Adjunct Professor teaching real estate development courses focused on Latin American markets.

About Scott Mitchem

Languages

English
Portuguese