In this Craster-exclusive interview, Simon Antoine, General Manager, provides useful insights into the impact of the Line Table on business space best practice at the Wharf.

In September 2018, we were in the process of launching the Line Table, a new product we created to turn the tables (quite literally) on traditional conferencing furniture. 

As a longstanding client of Craster’s, Simon was the first to work with us on a bespoke offering created using Line Table.

Simon, we’ve been working together for close to a decade now, with our first project being the Intercontinental New York launch in 2010. What makes you keep coming back to Craster?

Back in those days, Craster’s main offering was hardwood trays and buffetware. Since then, the offering has grown a lot. I like working with Craster for the quality of the product and the bespoke side of the offering.We create a product and go through a design process together to create something that works for what I need. There’s always an elegance to the product, and for us, being in the luxury market, the elements of design are important for how we get our guests to perceive the look in the hotel.

What did you like about the Line Table?

It’s very sleek. When I was looking at the pictures, I thought: “This would be perfect”. It wasn’t being imported to the US yet, but I worked with the team in the UK to see if we could make it happen. Craster have a great crew.

What makes the Line Table work for the The Wharf InterContinental, DC specifically?

The main appeal was being able to get the product in different finishes – it’s not a cookie cutter product. It was all about the look and adaptability of the product, and materials that would work with the overall design of the hotel. Once I’d seen the table, I got the Craster team in touch with my designer and they went through the moodboards together to decide on finishes.We’re using the Line Table for conferences, boardrooms, and theatre-style set-ups, so the team are constantly breaking it down and re-setting the tables non-stop for different events. 

How does the Line Table compare to other conferencing tables on the market?

It’s simple, it’s sleek, it’s lighter – much lighter than the regular commercial tables and packs away neatly.

It’s easy to move around the hotel, and every design element has been considered, from the table itself to the trolley used to store and transport it. For us, it was all about getting something that worked well with the space. 

When people walk into the room and see a sleek product, they think: “Wow, this is nice”. 

What’s been the ultimate impact of the Line Table on your guests’ experience in your hotel?

The wow factor when they walk into the room. I was looking for something that was streamlined with a nice, elegant finish rather than commercial-looking. Craster does this really well.