It's by Design

Inside five hotels that immerse guests in local culture throughout their stay.

By Isabel B. Slone

From design inspired by regional architecture to spa treatments that draw on indigenous ingredients, top hotels around the world are offering immersive interiors and experiences that allow guests to feel a sense of place . Here are five hotels that are like an extension of the destination.

The resort was designed by prominent Thai architect Boolert Hemvijitraphan.

PHOTO COURTESY OF RAYA HERITAGE.

1. Chiang Mai, Thailand

Raya Heritage

Nestled on the verdant banks of Thailand’s Ping River, Raya Heritage is a peaceful resort that pays homage to the local Lanna culture. Hotel interiors feature locally crafted ceramic tiles, mulberry-paper screens and textiles dyed with the leaves of the indigofera tinctoria plant, all evoking the tranquillity of northern Thai design.

Natural fabrics made using traditional methods are source from village weaving cooperatives.

PHOTO COURTESY OF RAYA HERITAGE.

Experience a true taste of Thailand by sipping cocktails punched up with herbaceous Mekhong and Phraya rum or savoring steaming cups of tea brewed with flowers of the Payom tree. At the hotel spa, a herbal steam room is infused with lemongrass, acacia, ginger and kaffir lime leaves, while heated bamboo stems provide relaxation in a signature massage.

Guests stay in huts built in the traditional Namibian style with hand-finished thatched roofs.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ZANNIER HOTELS OMAANDA.

2. Zannier Reserve, Namibia

Zannier Hotels Omaanda

Stand on the deck of the infinity pool outside the Zannier Hotels Omaanda and a stunning safari vista of rolling hills stretches out before your eyes. This property’s design, which spotlights Namibia’s natural beauty, is complemented by details that celebrate the region’s distinctive art and culture.

Rare objects and African antiques are located throughout the property.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ZANNIER HOTELS OMAANDA.

Guests stay in huts made from natural clay and covered with thatched roofs, which are modeled after the architectural style of the Owambo people. African antiques, including chairs and stools made by the Welayta and Oromo peoples of Ethiopia and pottery jars from Niger, are found throughout the property.

Relax on a poolside lounger overlooking the wild Namibian landscape.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ZANNIER HOTELS OMAANDA.

After a day of spotting wildlife, such as rhinos and big cats, join the evening ritual of relaxing around the boma, a traditional outdoor fireplace.

A shallow pool for kids is designed with natural rock outcroppings, while the infinity pool is just for adults.

PHOTO COURTESY OF AVABLU/1 HOTEL HANALEI BAY.

3.Kaua‘i, Hawai‘i

1 Hotel Hanalei Bay

You’ll find some of Kaua‘i’s most beautiful, untouched landscapes right outside the lobby of 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay. Located on 2.2 acres of natural habitat, the hotel’s rooms offer picturesque views of the oceans or mountains, allowing you to admire the majesty of Hawaiian scenery from the moment you set down your bags.

Rooms feature natural materials that bring the outside in.

PHOTO COURTESY OF AVABLU/1 HOTEL HANALEI BAY.

Organic materials like reclaimed wood, eucalyptus poles and puka lava stone are blended into the design of the rooms and common areas, ensuring you never feel far from the great outdoors. Connect with the island’s native flora at the resort spa, where facials using noni, an ancient Hawaiian medicinal plant, leave skin with a dewy glow.

Wooden stilts provide stability on uneven terrain for buildings across the island.

PHOTOS: COURTESY OF FOGO ISLAND INN.

4.Newfoundland, Canada

Fogo Island Inn

Depending on the time of year, a visit to Fogo Island Inn — located on a remote island off the coast of Newfoundland — might involve time-honored activities like foraging for marshberries, learning the craft of boatbuilding or participating in a beachfront seafood boil-up. The hotel building, which was designed by Newfoundland-born architect Todd Saunders, partially rests on wooden stilts — a practical feature seen on buildings throughout the island that provides stability on the rocky terrain.

Almost all of the decor and furnishings at Fogo Island Inn were custom custom-made on the island.

PHOTOS: COURTESY OF FOGO ISLAND INN.

This rugged topography also inspires the inn’s angular structure, which mirrors the island’s craggy appearance. Inside, each room is filled with folksy interior touches that summon the heritage of the region, such as locally made quilts and juniper-wood chairs that nod to the structure of punt boats.

The history of the hotel and its striking features are best distilled by a Franciscan friar, who offers tours of the former monastery.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ANANTARA CONVENTO DI AMALFI GRAND HOTEL.

5. Amalfi, Italy

Anantara Convento di Amalfi Grand Hotel

Set in a former monastery dating back to the 13th century, Anantara Convento di Amalfi Grand Hotel offers an intimate perspective on Italy’s religious history through evocative architecture that includes curved loggia and rooms with vaulted ceilings. Serene gardens and lemon groves enhance the resort’s transportive atmosphere while also helping to shape its culinary program. Guest rooms are stocked with jars of candied lemon peel and marmalade made from the property’s abundance of lemon trees, while fresh herbs and tomatoes grown on site add local flavor to dishes served at Dei Cappuccini restaurant — including cannelloni, which was invented at the hotel in 1924. Dei Cappuccini’s artisanal ceramic plates are as Italian as the fare served on them, being produced by nearby family-run business, Piccadilly Ceramics.