Speaking
Hi, I'm Raquel Aparicio
Developers, investors and hoteliers are taught how to find deals, run the numbers, raise finance and manage a build. Very few are taught how to design a development or hotel that outperforms its market.
Yet design is one of the biggest drivers of:
- GDV and valuation confidence
- Yield and rental growth
- ADR and occupancy
- Buyer, tenant and guest demand
- Sales, letting and booking velocity
- Long-term asset performance
Most developments and hotels underperform for the same reasons:
- Layouts that waste space and value
- Designs that miss what buyers, tenants or guests actually want
- Decisions made without a clear strategy
- Specification that adds cost without adding price or rate
- No clear concept or target market
- Demand risk that nobody owns
“With more than two decades in the design and construction industry, I champion design that creates homes and spaces that people love and maximise ROI, with energy, clarity and a commercial mindset.”
Why this matters
In my talks, I help developers, investors and hoteliers make the design decisions that protect their margin, strengthen valuations and speed up sales, lettings or bookings, while creating homes, hotels and places people genuinely connect with.
One focus, every talk
I turn complex architectural and design decisions into clear commercial choices that developers, investors and hoteliers can take straight into their next scheme.
Audiences leave able to:
- Reduce development risk
- Make confident design decisions early, when they cost least to change
- Avoid specification that erodes margin or rate
- Maximise the financial performance of their assets
What is it like to attend one of my talks?
“Raquel is clear, engaging and commercially focused, with stories and questions that kept the audience genuinely involved throughout.”
“Raquel brings rare clarity to how design, decision-making, and ROI actually intersect in real developments.”
“Highly professional and engaging, Raquel was a pleasure to work with, delivering a thoughtful panel contribution grounded in real project experience and a considered perspective on women in property and construction.”
“This keynote wasn't design theory; it was real insight into how design impacts and drives value, margin, and confidence for developers.”
Signature topics
1
Design Is a Financial Decision: Creating Developments That Outperform
Most developers and hoteliers manage cost risk and planning risk well. Few manage demand risk, the factor that decides whether a scheme sells, lets or books at the top of its tier. Drawing on 20 years in prime residential and hospitality, I show how aligning design with the buyer, tenant or guest protects GDV, strengthens yield, lifts ADR and builds lasting value.
2
Designing for Profit: The Link Between Market-Aligned Design and ROI
I will show you how market-aligned design decisions can significantly boost property valuations, sales prices, rental income and ROI. Speaking from years of experience in the industry, I will share actionable insights on tailoring designs to the needs of developers' and investors' target market for maximum profitability.
Book Raquel for your event
Keynotes, panels and workshops for property investor networks, developer and hospitality events, and industry conferences.