Sage Hospitality names chief creative officer

Sage Hospitality Group announced Tuesday the promotion of Jessica Werner to chief creative officer (CCO). She will continue to guide Sage Studio, the in-house strategy and creative team behind some of the company’s most celebrated projects. 

Werner began at Sage in 2014 as director of feasibility, new business and transitions for Sage Restaurant Concepts. She then launched Sage Studio, where she oversaw creative strategy, including brand development, renovations, repositioning of hotels and restaurants, and ground-up development.   

“Jessica’s influence on Sage’s success cannot be overstated,” said Walter Isenberg, CEO and co-founder of Sage Hospitality Group. “She has brought her expertise to more than 50 mixed-use, hotel, restaurant and bar projects on behalf of Sage, building deeply emotional spaces and thriving businesses. Together with her team, she has established Sage Studio as synonymous with experiential placemaking, awe-inspiring interior design, and destination-worthy food and beverage experiences. Jessica’s ability to bring bold ideas to life has made Sage Studio one of our key competitive differentiators.”  

Werner’s fingerprints can be found on a number of Sage’s most high-profile properties. She assembled a world-class design team that created Catbird Hotel in Denver, overseeing award-winning guestroom prototypes, brand design and architectural design. Catbird, the first of the growing Catbird brand, was created by Sage Studio in 2021 as an extended-stay offering and has won international recognition for its apartment-style design. Most recently, she and the Sage Studio team led the redesign of Denver Union Station and The Crawford Hotel. The renovation, which was unveiled this summer and included the creation of a new dedicated lobby space, was designed by Sage Studio to elevate the guest experience including interior design, dynamic programming, brand collateral and in-room experiences. The hotel was recently awarded a One Key honor the from The Michelin Guide in its first-ever list of the most outstanding hotels in the country.