As Salt Hotels extends its footprint across the US, those at the helm reflect on their decision to leave the corporate world behind in favour of building a burgeoning boutique brand.
35 Years of KCA International
040
Upon celebrating a milestone anniversary, the founder of KCA International discusses the past, present and future of hospitality design.
Community Capital
102
Design Hotels returns with a second Further Forecast, exploring the rise of micro-communities and how a desire to form deeper connections is reshaping travel.
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Hotel Yellowstone at Jackson Hole, Wyoming
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Reflect and Rise
The start of a new year is typically a time of reflection and resolution, an opportunity to look back on the past 12 months before planning for the year ahead. For Sleeper, 2024 was something of a milestone, marking 25 years since the very first issue was published. It launched in September 1999 as a 68-page trade magazine covering the unexplored world of hotel design, with reviews of new openings in Leeds, Glasgow and Dublin.
More than 100 issues later, our magazines line the bookshelves of design studios around the world, signifying the increased scope of both readership and content. Last year, we featured in-depth reviews of no less than 60 new hotels, each visited in person by our globetrotting team. They spanned city, coast and countryside, from Cancun, South Carolina and London, to Athens, Marrakech and Tokyo. There were offers from big brands and independents, across sectors including luxury, lifestyle and long-stay. And as proof that there’s no space for homogeneity in these pages, they ranged from tented camps to towering skyscrapers, their only commonality being the focus on experience and design.
Many of the hotels featured in Sleeper last year went on to compete in AHEAD, which named its winners in all four regions towards the latter months of the year. And in a final look back, the winners from the 2024 awards season are now going head-to-head to be crowned winner of the AHEAD Global Ultimate Accolade – follow on social media to find out more.
Looking ahead to the next 12 months, there’s plenty more to come, with no shortage of newbuilds and top-to-toe refurbishments in the pipeline. The latest report from THP shows 8,000 projects listed in its database, accounting for over 1.5 million rooms globally – 500,000 of which will enter the market this year. Unsurprisingly, our inbox is bulging with news of forthcoming launches so keep an eye out for Sleeper’s pick of the top openings. These listings will go on to inform the coverage in the magazine over the next 12 months, as well as entries for AHEAD 2025, which open from 31 January.
As for this first issue of the year, future-gazing is a prevalent theme throughout, with new concepts that integrate state-ofthe-art technology or are designed with the next-generation guest in mind. What’s interesting however, is that just as many hotels featured look to the past, showcasing interiors that intentionally evoke nostalgia or honour centuries-old traditions. Such spaces elicit an emotional reaction, arguably making them more memorable – the holy grail for many a hotel. Though perhaps the best hospitality experiences are a combination of the two: those that take cues from the past whilst embracing the future.
INTRODUCING CENOTE SEPIA: A STUNNING RUG DESIGN CAPTURING NATURE’S BEAUTY WITH PAINTERLY EXPRESSION.
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WWW.CREATIVEMATTERSINC.COM LABEL STEP PARTNER – IMPROVING THE WORKING AND LIVING CONDITIONS OF CARPET WEAVERS, AS WELL AS PROMOTING ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY METHODS OF PRODUCTION.
GUEST BOOK
090 Suphajee Suthumpun
“The reimagined Dusit Thani Bangkok serves as a blueprint for the evolution of the brand globally,” says Suphajee Suthumpun, Group CEO at Dusit International, of the brand’s first – and flagship – property. In the works since 2016, when Suthumpun joined the company, the homegrown grand dame has been reinterpreted by Dragon Company and André Fu Studio as a new landmark within a THB46 billion mixed-use development that preserves the hotel’s 50-year legacy, whilst paving the way for the future.
Dubbed ‘the sticker king of London’ by none other than Banksy himself, contemporary urban artist Dean Stockton – or D*Face, as he is more commonly known – has spent the past two decades splashing his unmistakeable style across the world, creating murals, hosting exhibitions and collaborating with the likes of Penguin Books and Christina Aguilera. Now, the Pop Art practitioner has returned to East London where it all began, overseeing interiors at the newlyopened Art’otel Hoxton.
Hailing from South Tyrol, Hannes Peer is best known for designing private residences, where he expresses his creativity through eclectic layering and a passion for craftsmanship. Now, the designer has completed his first full hotel project, working with Standard International to create the residential-style interiors at The Manner in New York. As Peer explains: “The experience mirrors that of a discerning traveller, surrounded by a collection of treasured memories curated with meticulous attention to detail.”
Having established her eponymous design house (formerly known as Kingston Lafferty Design) in 2010, Róisín Lafferty has since built a robust portfolio of residential, retail and hospitality projects across Ireland, as well as further afield in the US, Portugal and Saudi Arabia. Now, the Dublinbased doyenne of interior design has lent her signature style to Cork-based boutique hotel, The Montenotte, crafting Japanesestyle, nature-inspired interiors for a cluster of woodland suites overlooking the River Lee.
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Fresh from her win at AHEAD Americas, the founder of Jenny Bukovec Studio takes a fantasy break on the sandy shores of South Africa’s Garden Route.
Where are you?
I’ve somewhat jokingly dreamed of a hotel in outer space since college, but we’ll give that a few more years for user testing. In the meantime, you’ll find me on a beach on the coast of South Africa.
How did you get there?
By plane, arriving at a quaint airport along the charming Garden Route, followed by a horse ride along the beach to the hotel.
Who is there to greet you on arrival?
My dear friend and former colleague Celso Moreira, who is one of the most gracious humans I have ever met working in this industry. He lives and breathes hospitality.
And who’s at the concierge desk?
Luigi Romaniello, another hospitality legend. We met a few years ago when I was assisting on an upgrade project for The Plaza in New York – he does everything with such excellence.
Who are you sharing your room with?
Myself, for some introverted artistic R&R time.
Is there anything you would like waiting for you in your room?
A cocktail: Naked & Famous, served up. And a warm bath drawn for immediate use, ideally in an outdoor tub facing the ocean.
Describe the hotel, your room and the view... It’s a restored 1600s Cape Dutch estate perched on the rugged coastline, with panoramic views of the mountains and sea. The main house is intimate with eight suites, each with a private outdoor terrace and saltwater plunge pool. Adjacent to the house is a 1960s structure reimagined for artist retreats, with studio spaces so I can get creative during my stay.
Who designed it?
French architect Jacques Couëlle. I spent time at his Dragon Hill retreat in Mougins recently, and the undeniably artisanal nature of his design work was so inspiring.
What’s the restaurant and bar like?
It’s an extension of the main house, with a glazed ceiling that provides magical views of the moon and stars. There’s no white tablecloths here, only handcarved African Kiaat timber tables serving as the backdrop to stunning ceramic dishware and culinary creations. And of course, candlelight.
Who are you dining with this evening?
Who’s manning the stoves?
It’s a collaboration between chef James Gaag of the locally beloved La Colombe in Cape Town, and my NYC-based pal, chef Russell Markus, who can magically transform ingredients into the most exquisite meal. The food is Michelin quality, yet the vibe is down-to-earth with the duo serving each dish themselves.
And what’s on the menu?
A surprise menu of fresh seafood and seasonal plant-based ingredients from the local farmers’ market, paired with a South African pinotage and a chenin blanc from an up-and-coming local winemaker.
What’s in the mini-bar for a night cap?
Ice-cold water, both still and sparkling.
Bath or power shower?
A bath on the outdoor terrace. I bathe at sunrise, and again under the stars.
What toiletries would you like to freshen-up?
Japanese face cream, Coqui Coqui Tabaco bath oil and a bar of Moroccan argan oil soap.
Early morning alarm call or late check-out?
Late check-out.
Full English or continental breakfast?
NOTABLE HOTEL PROJECTS
The Manchester, Kentucky; The Hotel Chalet at The Choo Choo, Chattanooga; Faraway, Nantucket www.jennybukovec.com
Famed scientist Nikola Tesla, Nelson Mandela, Michaelangelo, Salvador Dalí and Coco Chanel – we share a birthday, and I would likely need some feminine energy at the table.
Local fruits and cheeses, with fresh pressed juice and a black coffee.
Swimming pool, spa or gym?
A swim – but in the ocean.
DRAWING BOARD
The Langham
KUALA LUMPUR
Langham Hospitality Group and Artisan Hospitality –a joint venture led by a subsidiary of Singapore’s Oxley Holdings – have announced the planned opening of The Langham Kuala Lumpur, slated for 2027.
Part of Oxley Towers, a premium development in the Golden Triangle neighbourhood of the central business district, the hotel will occupy the upper half of a newbuild structure, housing 198 guestrooms and suites, as well as an array of amenities. These include a fitness centre, sky pool – one of the highest in the city – and a range of health and wellness offerings.
F&B venues are set to include an outpost of The Langham Hong Kong’s three Michelin-starred Cantonese restaurant, T’ang Court, and a new take on The Langham London’s Palm Court – the birthplace of the brand’s renowned afternoon tea.
“We are excited to collaborate with Langham Hospitality Group, a trusted name in the hospitality industry,” says Ching Chiat Kwong, Executive Chairman and CEO of Oxley Holdings. “Our partnership will not only introduce a spectacular hotel to Oxley Towers, but an elevated luxury brand in The Langham. This will strengthen the development’s position as a premier destination for business and leisure travellers.”
Bob van den Oord, CEO of Langham Hospitality Group, adds: “We look forward to bringing our flagship brand to Kuala Lumpur, a gateway city in a thriving part of the world that is also home to a notably robust travel market. The Langham Kuala Lumpur will be a telling symbol of our vision to craft iconic, worldclass hotels in Southeast Asia and beyond.”
25hours Hotel Heart of Khobar
SAUDI ARABIA
EXPRESS CHECK-OUT
Owner: Tamimi Group
Developer: Tilal Real Estate
Operator: Ennismore
Architecture: WATG London
www.25hours-hotels.com
Ennismore and Tilal Real Estate have announced the signing of 25hours Hotel Heart of Khobar in Saudi Arabia. Slated to open in 2028, the venture forms part of a mixed-use destination currently under development, where a design scheme by WATG London centres around forging synergies across residential, commercial, hospitality and retail components.
The hotel will comprise 170 guestrooms and suites, as well as 80 serviced apartments, while amenities take the form of multiple restaurants, a swimming pool and gym. The development will also house a 2,000m2 outpost of Ennismore’s co-working brand, Working From_, marking its debut in the Kingdom.
“We are proud to announce the 25hours Hotel Heart of Khobar with our partners, Tilal Real Estate Company,” comments Louis Abboud, Chief Development Officer and Deputy Head of IMEAT at Ennismore. “25hours launched in the Middle East in 2021 and has since redefined and
reinvented hospitality in the region. Innovative and full of character, we are thrilled to be entrusted with setting the tone in this new and authentic development. Alongside 25hours, we are excited to introduce Working From_ to the local market for a growing generation of entrepreneurs, start-ups and those looking for a new approach to working.”
Abdulrahman AlBassam, CEO of Tilal Real Estate, adds: “This collaboration unites major industry players: Tamimi Group as a strategic investor, Ennismore as a lifestyle hospitality company, and Tilal as an urban developer. Heart of Khobar is among the first of its kind in the Kingdom – a cohesive, integrated community supporting the concept of live, play and work in one place. Constructed on the principle of humanising cities and enhancing walkability, it aligns with Vision 2030 to position the Eastern Region among the most desirable Saudi cities to live in globally.”
ELIO modular sofa & DUNES low tables by Yabu Pushelberg
One&Only is set to make its US debut in Summer 2025, marking the brand’s first ever alpine resort. Located in Big Sky in the Rocky Mountains of southern Montana, One&Only Moonlight Basin will nestle in a landscape of peaks and forests, with easy access to Yellowstone National Park and the nearby ski slopes. Along with 72 guestrooms and suites in the main lodge, it features 19 cabins and a community of private homes across the grounds.
Envisioned by Seattle-based architectural practice Olson Kundig, the resort’s low-rise structures are designed for sensitive integration into the natural surroundings. “Big Sky is a special place; it’s about the peaks, the valley down to the river, the flowers and the meadow,” explains Principal Tom Kundig. “Our role as architects is to accentuate that experience.”
As such, the property maintains a connection to the landscape through floor-to-ceiling windows and the use of natural materials. Outdoor spaces
from which to take in the scenery include balconies, terraces and swimming pools, while meandering pathways enable guests to explore the site. Inside, atmospheric roaring fires are a key feature of every guestroom, alongside local artworks and sumptuous textiles.
The resort will operate three restaurants – where internationally-inspired menus are brought to life through local produce – and a number of bars, including a hidden moonshine whisky shack in the woods. Other amenities include a private observatory for stargazing, a lakeside beach and, for the winter months, ski-in ski-out access and a gondola connected directly to the summit.
The new addition to Kerzner International’s One&Only portfolio joins a curated collection of one-of-a-kind properties across the globe, in locations such as Greece, Mexico, Mauritius and Rwanda, as well as a forthcoming venture in Antigua.
Baccarat Hotel & Residences
EXPRESS CHECK-OUT
Owner: Shamal Holding
Developer: H&H Development
Operator: SH Hotels & Resorts
Architecture: Studio Libeskind
Interior Design: 1508 London www.baccaratresidencesdubai.com
Investment firm Shamal Holding has revealed details of the UAE’s first Baccarat Hotel, set to open in 2027. Located in Downtown Dubai, the 145-key property is the result of a collaboration with H&H Development.
Offering hotel accommodation and private residences – which range from two-bedroom apartments to duplex penthouses – the mixeduse development incorporates a range of highquality amenities and services. Multiple F&B venues span a street-level promenade, while wellness spaces include a spa and swimming pool overlooking the Burj Khalifa.
The architecture is the vision of Studio Libeskind, and reflects Baccarat’s heritage through elegant towers with a shimmering crystal-inspired glass façade.
Interiors, courtesy of 1508 London, showcase exquisite craftsmanship and meticulous attention to detail, with marble finishes and crystal chandeliers. The Grand Salon is
accentuated by the brand’s signature red hues, while a grand piano is the centrepiece of the bar, bordered by swathes of velvet.
“Our intention from the inception of the project was to create spaces that are both dramatic and playful,” reveals Anthony Taylor, Design Principal at 1508 London. “By reimagining the brand, we drew inspiration from Baccarat’s rich history, interpreting it into a distinctive and unique style that reflects its timeless elegance.”
Raul Leal, CEO of SH Hotels & Resorts, the brand’s parent company, comments: “Baccarat Hotel Dubai marks a new chapter in the brand’s legacy, bringing its unparalleled craftsmanship and artistry to a remarkable city. The meticulously crafted spaces embody the Baccarat spirit, where comfort meets sophistication, offering guests and residents access to unforgettable opulence, with every detail designed to reimagine the art of living.”
DUBAI
Nu Collection
Nu faucets represent a purity of visual expression and a synthesis of essential design elements: form, shape and colour. A collection that strips away the artifice to arrive at the essence of its timeless design.
Ennismore has unveiled plans to debut Mama Shelter in Lake Como in mid-2026. Developed through a joint venture with Zanklon Capital and Extendam, the new opening will be the brand’s second outpost in Italy.
Nestled at the foot of the Italian Alps, Mama Shelter Lake Como comprises 150 guestrooms, including 21 suites. Italian studio A+B2 Architettura is behind the striking façade, while interiors are set to showcase the brand’s signature style – a flamboyant aesthetic that doesn’t take itself too seriously.
Amenities spread across two buildings include a signature restaurant and bar at the heart of the hotel, a gelato café and a rooftop with poolside dining. Further facilities include a wellness area, intimate meeting spaces and private karaoke rooms.
“Equal parts glamorous and discreet, the holiday destination of Lake Como is everevolving and attracting people of all ages,” says
Cedric Gobilliard, Brand COO for Mama Shelter at Ennismore. “Mama Shelter Lake Como, our second destination in Italy following the opening of Rome in 2021, will bring Mama’s signature joie de vivre and sass, offering something truly unique in this enchanting city, where style and natural beauty reign. Like all Mamas, this will also be a destination for locals – inviting them in from morning to night – becoming a place for the families of Lake Como to come together.”
Angelo Maiocchi, CEO of developer Nessi & Majocchi, adds: “We are thrilled to announce our plans to transform an undeveloped piece of land that has remained vacant for many decades into a vital community asset. Our expertise in hospitality will guarantee that this project upholds the highest standards of quality and sustainability, enhancing the local environment and economy while providing modern accommodations that cater to the needs of travellers and residents alike.”
The Nora Hotel
WEST PALM BEACH
EXPRESS CHECK-OUT
Owner / Operator: BD Hotels
Developer: NDT Development, Place Projects, Wheelock Street Capital
Architecture: Stantec
Interior Design: Gachot www.norawpb.com
Gachot has shared a first look at the interiors of The Nora Hotel, a new venture from BD Hotels, set to make its debut in Q4 2026. Located in The Nora District, a mixed-use destination in Florida’s West Palm Beach, the the 201key property marks the operator’s first new construction project outside of New York. Its design is a tribute to the area’s heritage and influential figures from throughout history, blending nostalgia with forward-thinking creativity. “We were presented with a unique challenge: to create a hotel that stands out while feeling connected to the essence of West Palm Beach,” says Christine Gachot, the studio’s cofounder. “We wanted the interiors to reflect the region’s rich past, inspired by visionaries like Henry Flagler and Addison Mizner, as well as the exciting future. The design reflects the city’s growth and cultural evolution, incorporating vibrant elements that mirror West Palm Beach’s architectural and artistic significance.”
A Palm Beach aesthetic inspires both the property’s interiors and its architecture – the latter envisioned by Stantec. The Nora Hotel’s façade draws on quintessential local design traditions, while interiors offer a “warmer, more subtle intepretation of the region’s bright tones,” Gachot reveals. “Drawing inspiration from the grandeur of iconic Palm Beach hotels, we have reimagined classic elements with a modern twist to create a seamless conversation between old and new. Rather than saturated pinks and greens, we chose softer creams and organic shades. Light sage and rich olive greens paired with delicate blush pinks complement the natural surroundings. Light blue tones evoke tranquility, while the rooftop space features sun-faded coral hues. This combination of colours, along with natural materials like mahogany and stone, creates a grounded, balanced aesthetic that feels modern yet rooted in its environment.”
Meeting… David Bowd and Kevin O’Shea
As Salt Hotels extends its footprint across the US, those at the helm reflect on their decision to leave the corporate world behind in favour of building a burgeoning boutique brand.
So much of Salt Hotels derives from how we entertain at home here in Provincetown,” say David Bowd and Kevin O’Shea, co-founders of Salt Hotels, as they dial in from their 18thcentury home on Cape Cod, a popular coastal destination in Massachusetts. “We love hospitality and entertaining, and that comes through in all aspects of our life, whether it be personal or professional.” Partners in business and life, the duo have spent the past 14 years establishing a collection of boutique hotels across the US, building on the decades of experience each had acquired before their paths even crossed.
Having caught the hospitality bug as a teenager working at his mother’s village café in the North of England, Staffordshire-born Bowd ditched formal education in favour of hospitality, working in hotels. Senior positions at Hilton, Marriott and Thistle Hotels followed, before he took on management roles with industry titans Ian Schrager and André Balazs, working on iconic projects such as St Martin’s Lane, Sanderson, Chateau Marmont and Chiltern Firehouse. “Both Ian and André taught me to adopt a relentless approach to achieving perfection, and to challenge everybody, including yourself, to keep focused and see your vision through from the beginning to the very end,” he explains. And it’s this same approach that helped bring the Salt Hotels portfolio to life.
Across the pond, O’Shea graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design with a degree in interior architecture, after which he joined Starwood Hotels & Resorts, working alongside Barry Sternlicht to shape the brand identity for Le Meridién. While many of these design elements are still present in properties today, O’Shea is keen to share a valuable lesson from the experience that would go on to inform the trajectory of his career. “In large corporate environments, it’s very hard to affect change,” he reflects. “I don’t have the patience for that. I want to be able to create something, implement it to affect change quickly, and move on. I recognised early on that in a large corporate environment it’s very difficult to do that.”
In 2007, O’Shea moved to Morgans Hotel Group, and it is here that he met and fell in love with Bowd, whilst working on the opening of the now-shuttered Mondrian Scottsdale in Arizona. “It was completely unexpected, we just hit it off,” reflects O’Shea. Little did they know that their “torrid week-long romance” would mark the beginning of a whole new chapter for the pair, both personally and professionally.
The couple soon chose to leave the corporate world behind and go it alone, purchasing a rundown bed and breakfast in their beloved Provincetown with an easier life in mind. Wishful thinking, perhaps. “We felt there was a significant gap in the market,” explains Bowd. “At the time, the boutique lifestyle sector was all about design, nightlife,
being cool, and less so focused on the guest experience,” he notes. “We felt that you could have both – a beautifully designed hotel with phenomenal service.” And so they created Salt House Inn, a carefully restored cedar-shingled 19 th-century retreat – named after Bowd’s Staffordshire hometown – that has since become the collection’s flagship.
But it wasn’t without its challenges. In the absence of the resources associated with large companies, it was all hands on deck with Bowd overseeing the revenue management, O’Shea manning the stoves and managing the front desk, and housekeeper Marcia cleaning. O’Shea even shares tales of learning how to fix maintenance issues by watching YouTube videos on his phone. “To this day, we believe opening a 15-bedroom inn is just as difficult as opening an 800-key hotel in Miami, but there’s a satisfaction in doing everything yourself” reveals O’Shea. “It was the purest form of all the things we love about the industry and the incredible experiences we had both been afforded in our careers.”
Since then, Salt Hotels has grown into a flourishing hospitality enterprise, with Bowd as CEO overseeing development and O’Shea cultivating the look and feel of each hotel as Chief Creative Officer. And it’s this clear division of responsibilities that they believe to be the secret to their success. “It’s a very unique situation to be able to work with someone and also be a partner with them in life – it takes a lot of mutual respect,” he explains. So, what’s the secret to their success? “From day one, we each had our respective roles and areas of expertise. Our skillsets very much dovetail one another, and that’s always been something we’ve been mindful of. There are some areas of crossover, food and beverage in particular, where we both have strong opinions and work collaboratively, but we’re very respectful to stay in our lanes.”
Since Salt House Inn’s debut in 2011, the pair
“Our hotels are like siblings – they’re all different but share the same DNA, a common design and service ethos that puts the guest experience at the centre of everything we do.”
DAVID BOWD
have opened additional hotels including Hutton Brickyards, a riverside retreat in Upstate New York; Hotel Greystone, an Art Deco delight in Miami; and The Asbury, a Jersey Shore gem.
While each is one-of-a-kind, there is a distinct spirit that runs through the portfolio. “Our hotels are like siblings – they’re all different but share the same DNA, a common design and service ethos that puts the guest experience at the centre of everything we do.”
Also intrinsic to the company’s ethos is a desire to educate and give back, as evidenced in the launch of Salt School, a free eight-week hospitality course open to the local community, regardless of background, experience-level or age. “It’s about attitude over experience,” explains Bowd. Offering an introduction to hospitality, the classes cover everything from guest experience and F&B to sales and
marketing. Since its inception in 2016, eight Salt Schools have trained more than 1,000 people, many of whom have since been employed at Salt properties.
Most recently, the group has expanded its presence in New England with two new hotels in Nantucket and Connecticut. The former, The Brant, is a modern take on the classic bed and breakfast, spread across a trio of 17thcentury replica buildings in the cedar-shingle style synonymous with the island. While Nantucket’s hospitality offering typically tends to hone in on the area’s whaling past for its design cues, O’Shea sought to offer a different interpretation. “I find the nautical Cape Cod vibe to be quite impersonal,” he reveals. “Instead, we wanted this property to have a residential feel, like staying at a fabulous friend’s home.”
As such, the interiors instead draw on the neighbourhood’s agrarian past, which once saw working farms dot the peninsula. The postand-beam structures that make up the hotel have been given a contemporary overhaul with bleached oak floors and a warm neutral colour palette, while glazed tiles line the renovated bathrooms and suites feature custom cabinetry and bespoke light fixtures.
Fittingly, historic charm and modern luxury are also infused into every aspect of Salt Hotels’ latest East Coast haven – The Abner, which sits in the heart of Litchfield, Connecticut. Originally constructed in 1888 as the County Courthouse, the historic landmark has been transformed with Lexington Partners, into a 20-key boutique bolthole that exudes the small-town charm, design and service for which the group is renowned. Character is found in abundance, from former judges’ benches and jury boxes repurposed as a reception desk and banquette seating in the restaurant, to an ochre and black colour scheme inspired by vintage legal books discovered on-site. And to bring the property further into the 21st century, there’s
Each property has a unique identity, from the Art Deco-inspired Hotel Greystone in Miami (top) to The Abner (bottom), a former Connecticut courthouse characterised by an ochre colour scheme
“Opening a 15-bedroom inn is just as difficult as opening an 800-key hotel in Miami, but there’s a satisfaction in doing everything yourself.”
KEVIN O’SHEA
even a rooftop bar, which “allows guests to see this historic town from a different perspective,” notes O’Shea. “It’s a very unique offering for this part of Connecticut.”
Having witnessed success with Salt Hotels across North America, Bowd and O’Shea are turning their attention to growing the collection further, with additional hotels in the pipeline for Florida and Upstate New York, as well as entering new markets, such as Minneapolis.
Slated to open in early 2026, The West occupies a modern structure that thoughtfully integrates four historic buildings, with 123 guestrooms, a stone cellar cocktail bar and a rooftop bar with an outdoor terrace, as well as a vast array of flexible events spaces. Located close to the Mississippi Riverfront in the North Loop – an area that Bowd likens to New York’s Soho – The West is emblematic of the development opportunities still on their doorstep.
“Minneapolis is a big city – it has an international airport and the highest concentration of Fortune 500 company
headquarters outside of New York City. The food scene is incredible, as is the retail. But the hotel scene is not,” explains O’Shea. “It’s a great example of a larger, underserved city that we can enter and make an impact. The community there is so excited about what we’re bringing – they’re hungry for independent hospitality experiences that have thoughtful, considered design that makes sense for the market.”
It’s this same hunger that has fuelled the rapid growth of the global boutique hotel market in recent years, with large corporate operators on a mission to buy out independent brands in an effort to tap into their magic. Yet Salt Hotels remains one of the few independents still standing.
“There’s no set formula to what we do, we’re driven by our passion to connect people and make a home for our guests. It’s this approach that we will continue to take with Salt,” concludes O’Shea. “To keep doing what we love, have our boots on the ground and make an impact in the communities we enter.”
The Salt Hotels collection will continue to grow in 2025 with The West, a 123-key boutique hotel in Minneapolis
When Khuan Chew established KCA International in 1989, little did she know that the studio would go on to design interiors for one of the most iconic hotels in the world. Here, she reflects on the studio’s path to design distinction.
ON THE INITIAL VISION
KEY HOTEL PROJECTS
Burj Al Arab, Dubai (1999, 2021)
Caesars Palace Bluewaters, Dubai (2018)
Jumeirah Guangzhou, China (2019)
Address Beach Resort, Dubai (2020)
Early in my career, I had the privilege of working for two iconic designers, David Hicks and Dale Keller. But as the saying goes, ‘nothing grows in the shade of a big tree’ – I was extremely hungry to test myself so I decided to venture out and carve my own path. Looking back, I was undoubtedly naïve, perhaps even ignorant, but I was young, fearless and oozing enthusiasm. I built KCA International with a foundation rooted in the quality of David Hicks International’s work, and combined it with the style and global reach of Dale Keller & Associates. Today, I see KCA as a hybrid of these two influential design practices.
ON ITS EVOLUTION
I’ve always been something of a non-conformist, and frankly still am. In the early days, it was all about breaking boundaries and trusting my instincts. But as time went on, reality kicked in and I had to face the less glamorous, practical side of running a business: balancing the books and managing teams. Still, I never took my eye off the ball where creativity was concerned. I stuck to my guns, albeit at the detriment of losing the job at times.
Over the years, my approach to design, much like my approach to life, has remained consistent in one key aspect: always give it your best effort. That
hasn’t changed. However, what has shifted is my understanding that everything in life, and in design, is subjective. You can’t please everyone – make sure you at least please yourself.
ON MILESTONE HOTEL PROJECTS
Finding the right client is key in developing yourself and your ethos. Such clients are rare, sometimes appearing once in a lifetime, or perhaps never at all. When you do find them, it allows for a unique freedom to fully express your ideas. These clients provide the trust and encouragement to explore your creative potential without too much intervention. And sometimes, it’s a collaborative process where you inspire each other and the ideas become a shared vision.
A prime example of this is the Burj Al Arab in Dubai. Even though the final result bore little resemblance to my initial concepts, it remains one of the most meaningful projects of my career. The brief was extraordinarily challenging, showcasing an unprecedented level of luxury for a hospitality project in Dubai, with an incredibly tight timeline. We were officially appointed in August 1997, with the opening set for December 1999, just in time to welcome in the new millennium. To put it into perspective, we didn’t have CAD or the internet back then. Instead, we relied on creativity and my little black book of trusted industry contacts. From stone and marble artisans to master weavers, mosaic experts and glass specialists, we drew upon over 100 contributors from around the world.
What made this project truly exceptional was the streamlined communication and the direct engagement with the client, who had a clear vision from the start. His
“It’s not just about delivering an exceptional experience when guests visit one of our projects, but about crafting a lasting memory that stays with them long after they have left.”
bold vision and unwavering commitment were instrumental in transforming an ambitious idea into reality, literally putting Dubai on the global map.
From that experience onward, my guiding principle has been: ‘We create a dream, a memory for all visitors’. It’s not just about delivering an exceptional experience when guests visit one of our projects, but about crafting a lasting memory that stays with them long after they have left. To me, that is the true mark of design excellence.
ON CHANGES IN HOSPITALITY DESIGN
Over the years, I’ve seen the landscape of hospitality design become increasingly complex, with more stakeholders involved in the decision-making process, which can sometimes dilute the creative vision. However, I’ve found that true design excellence lies in balancing these influences while staying true to an original and authentic approach. Although trends can lead to more predictable outcomes, I’ve always been driven by a desire to break away from the ordinary. Even after 35 years, my passion remains creating designs that are timeless and memorable, not just following what’s popular. For me, the focus is on the subtlety of engineering unique experiences in our interiors.
ON PROUD MOMENTS
One of the proudest moments for us as a studio happened this year, with recognition from both the industry and our peers. Just a few months ago, my Creative Director, Rakan Al Jandali, was named Best Interior Designer of the Year and our talented architect, Sheila Baldovino, was awarded Best Technical Designer. It’s incredibly rewarding to watch them grow and succeed, and to know that we’re building a legacy together that will inspire others for years to come.
Milestone projects for the studio include (top to bottom): Address Beach Resort, Dubai, Caesars Palace Bluewaters, Dubai; Swissôtel The Bosphorus, Istanbul
ON NEW OPENINGS
Dubai and the Emirates continue to be home to many exciting developments. Our projects in Europe and China are ongoing – we think of them as our garden that we continue to nurture. Over the next few months, we anticipate to be opening a new Jumeirah property, a Ritz-Carlton and a golf club, but I’ll leave the finer details for later. Rest assured, we have some truly exciting and unique projects in the pipeline, and I can’t wait to see them come to fruition.
ON THE NEXT 35 YEARS
Our work is not confined to only hospitality projects – our portfolio is increasingly diverse – and I feel this versatility is a huge benefit. Plus our range and quality of suppliers offer a wide variety to choose from. It is quite a different mindset and palette when you design a private jet terminal, a yacht, royal palaces or high-end luxury resort residences, a football stadium’s entertainment facilities or a mosque.
We like to stay different. We also welcome designers globally. We have had over 100 nationalities work at KCA International across all of our offices – they enrich me and the studio with their ideas, culture and wealth of knowledge, thinking and solutions. I love the energy and humour they bring – there’s never a dull moment. Human-beings spend most of their waking hours at work, so it has to be a happy and exciting place, I think our studios reflect this warm inclusive culture, but we also work extremely hard.
ON HOTEL DESIGN IN 2100
AI probably has a better idea than I, but my timeless advice to my fellow creators comes from Romanian sculptor and painter Constantin Brâncuși: ‘For art to be free and universal, you must create like a god, command like a king and execute like a slave’.
Other key projects for the studio include (top to bottom): Burj Al Arab, Dubai; Kempinski Hotel Al Madinah, Saudi Arabia; JW Marriott Hotel Istanbul Marmara Sea, Turkey
collection MELAKY
In A Bubble THE LOBBY
Designing hospitality spaces means constantly looking to the future, anticipating what the guests of tomorrow will both need and desire. Embodying adaptability and forwardthinking, a new concept by HKS and Roam Interior Design – winner at the latest edition of Radical Innovation – offers a new response to evolving expectations.
Created by a team of designers from both studios –namely Mayte Idarraga, Tania Campos, Claudia Escutia, Valeria Otero, Rafaela Albán and Paola González Ordaz –BBBL3 combines a range of current and forecasted trends in hospitality design, from multi-sensory experiences to the integration of technology, resulting in an experience that engages all five senses.
Inspired by water droplets and the fluidity of bubbles, the organically-shaped structure, has been envisioned to fit into any urban environment – offering escapism right
in the heart of the city. Inside, AI and smart technology allow visitors – who are welcome to stay for a couple of hours, or even overnight – to create their desired environment in real-time through a touchscreen or app. Wall-mounted LED panels leverage projection technology to display a range of scenes, from tranquil natural vistas to abstract artistic visuals, while adjustable ambient lighting maximises personalisation potential.
Interiors have been crafted to function as a neutral canvas, with a palette of predominately white and soft pastel tones upon which users can tailor their surroundings. Tactile and sensory elements meanwhile, such as textured surfaces, fragrances and soundscapes, work together to create an immersive experience throughout.
Plastic Playbook
Single-use bottles, straws and disposable packaging have long been absent in Six Senses hotels, with a wider quest for a divorce from plastic ongoing. Tapping into a wealth of operational expertise, the brand is now sharing its wisdom with the entire hospitality industry, releasing a guidebook, written and edited by inhouse sustainability leaders, as well as a host of industry stalwarts.
The Six Senses Journey to Plastic Freedom Playbook delves into 82 tried-and-tested alternatives to using plastic in housekeeping, back-of-house, F&B and spa operations. Items being taken out of service range from bags and toothpaste tubes, to coffee capsules and brooms, with alternatives including the likes of beeswax wraps and plastic-free slippers. “There’s no way to sugarcoat it. Eliminating plastic items can be difficult, but it is rewarding,” says Jeff Smith, Six Senses Vice President of Sustainability. “We launched an education and awareness campaign comprising six training modules. It opened the company’s eyes to the plastic it hadn’t ‘seen’ before. No item was too large or small to be
nominated for eliminating. That said, it’s one thing to identify items for eliminating and research better alternatives, but quite another to get hosts to do without a material that made their life easier and more efficient. We now have 82 solutions for plastic items which we know are viable alternatives.”
The playbook also shares lessons on the environmental and social responsibility and providing standout experience for both guests and staff. Neil Jacobs, Six Senses CEO, comments: “Sustainability is a defining characteristic of what luxury means to us. We are sharing our playbook with other hotel groups because the issue needs collective action if we are to make a real impact on our environment. If that means sharing our trade secrets with the wider industry, then so be it. What we know from our years of experience is that sustainability doesn’t have to be to the detriment of the guest experience. This playbook only tells half the story. The real legacy will be how our journey is embedded further afield and who knows, potentially become part of life for all hotel operations.”
Leading The Way
“When a hotel is a great piece of design, it can make you feel textures and colours and light and space, perhaps with more intensity than you are accustomed to, and it brings these things together in a way that both energises and relaxes you,” writes Pulitzer Prize-winning architecture critic Paul Goldberger in the foreword to Design: The Leading Hotels of the World. Marking the first in a multi-volume series created in collaboration with The Leading Hotels of the World (LHW) and New Yorkbased media company The Slowdown, the 292-page hardback takes readers on a visual journey through 70 hotels from the group’s portfolio across 80 countries. Accompanying texts written by design and travel writers provide insight into how each hotel evokes a tactile, thoughtfully crafted experience, from Jean-Michel Gathy’s lush gardens and grand rooms at The Chedi in Muscat, to Axel Vervoordt’s Zen-inspired The Greenwich Hotel in New York. Alongside 300 colour photographs, the tome includes five indepth stories capturing LHW’s design philosophy and two feature-length interviews – with Eleven Madison Park chef Daniel Humm and architect Michael Rojkind – as well as expert tips from industry figures including André Fu, Stephanie Goto, Samuel Ross and Kulapat Yantrasast.
Certifying Sustainability
With criteria that includes high social and environmental performance, wideranging legal commitments and high levels of public transparency, B-Corp certification signifies a business’ commitment to reducing its social and environmental impact across the board. One Aldwych recently became the first five-star hotel in London to be awarded the title of B-Corp certified, now one of only 18 properties within the UK’s accommodation sector to achieve the recognition. The Covent Garden property employs a range of sustainability-focused initiatives, from the development of a locallygrounded supply chain and its own carbon footprint monitoring system, to a commitment to a number of charities and local causes. “Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do and has been for over 20 years,” says Janine Marshall, the hotel’s Managing Director. “Responsibility has to be taken all the way through the ecosystem, from dayto-day operations to the materials and amenities provided. We speak to our guests, our designers and suppliers to assess what’s important for them – and to them. From locally-sourced goods to low-impact lighting, water and electricity, to upcycling materials and composting waste, sustainability is our promise – it’s in our DNA, everyone in the hotel is involved and committed.”
Hello Sunshine
As the days grow shorter and natural sunlight becomes scarcer, many often fall victim to the winter blues, also known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). In fact, 12 million people in Northern Europe are thought to experience SAD symptoms such as lethargy and low mood, which can be caused by reduced serotonin levels in the sun’s absence.
Montcalm East is tackling the problem headon with an innovative lighting installation that merges cutting-edge technology with artistic design to deliver the rejuvenating effects of sunlight indoors. Created by Royal College of Art and Imperial College London graduates Nat Martin and Sean Hammett, Sunday Light provides up to 30,000 lumens and casts 10,000 lux at eye level, recreating the brightness of a sunny day without harmful UV rays. The
luminaire uses advanced LED and water-cooling systems to replicate the brightness and colour of natural daylight, delivering a comforting and health-enhancing glow. Located in the hotel’s ground-floor restaurant and bar, the installation enhances the hotel’s commitment to wellbeing, whilst also elevating the interiors further. Guests can enjoy a coffee under the clear, warm light for just 30 minutes to achieve their recommended daily light intake, improving mood and energy levels in the process.
“With shorter days and longer nights, it’s the perfect time to explore how light influences our mood,” comments Samantha van Exter, Head of Hotels at Montcalm Collection. “Sunday Light uniquely demonstrates how thoughtful engineering and design can uplift and counter those seasonal effects.”
A Piece of The Puzzle
Italian architecture firm NOA and Atelier4 envision a metropolitan vertical village.
Over the past century, Tirana has undergone swift transformation, with the city’s architecture utilised as a tool for political propaganda. Recently, the Albanian capital has entered a period of urban renewal, attracting a new wave of international architects, eager to make their mark on the cityscape.
The latest to do so are Italian firm NOA and Albanian studio Atelier4, who have teamed up to design a new mixed-use development on Rruga Medar Shtylla, comprising a hotel, residential apartments and a large commercial area.
“Walking through Tirana, I experienced a city with a rich yet turbulent past, visible in the diverse architectural fragments scattered around the urban landscape,” explains Lukas Rungger, co-founder of NOA. “It seemed like a kind of puzzle where the old and new worlds coexist in a fascinating interplay of contrasts.”
The resulting concept is a 71m vertical village comprising house-shaped modules with gabled roofs, stacked on top of one another in a puzzlelike formation. Ranging from 0.5 to 3 metres, the modules vary in colour, form and orientation, as well as the number of openings, where local plants and shrubs will grow to create hanging gardens and loggias. Providing both form and function, each module offers hybrid space for residents and businesses to incorporate amenities such as open-air cinemas, pools and saunas.
“In our design, we aim to portray the clash between rural and urban life, drawing on elements of both,” continues Rungger. “We created an extremely rational and optimised core, capable of housing diverse types of spaces, while the façade is driven by extreme dynamism – an apparent chaos in which, however, every piece is in its place.”
At the heart of the tower, a large house-shaped void cuts straight through the façade from side to side, resembling the missing piece of the puzzle to represent both Tirana’s storied past and its future that is yet to be written.
DESIGN CENTRE EAST
CHELSEA HARBOUR
LONDON
LIGHTING FOR LIFE
Asense of place has long been a cornerstone of luxury hospitality design; but in 2025, it’s about pushing boundaries, integrating local culture and crafting spaces with interwoven stories that allow guests to form a deeper emotional connection with their destination. Storytelling through design should feel intuitive – using subtle, organic elements rather than overt displays to create a holistic and authentic adventure. This shift, driven by the rise of experience-driven travel and socially-conscious guests, is reshaping luxury hospitality.
“Creating a strong sense of place that reflects the destination’s culture and identity is essential – not only in luxury but in all hospitality design,” explains Terry McGinnity, Executive Design
local artistry and craftsmanship. By collaborating with regional talents, hotels create unique aesthetics, reduce environmental impact and support local economies. “At Rosewood Schloss Fuschl, we worked with local artists, incorporating traditional handpainting techniques into the interiors, depicting the lake at various touchpoints throughout the hotel,” says McGinnity. “This delicate work is showcased in the bar through to the bespoke mini-bars in guestrooms, crafting a unique, seamless and cohesive visual narrative.”
Material selection plays a critical role in grounding hotels in their locales. Locally sourced and crafted elements help honour regional heritage while creating a distinctive narrative.
A Sense of Place: Reimagined
G.A. Group explores how hotels can capture the growing experiencedriven market with design that combines local culture, sustainability and personalisation.
Director at G.A. Group. “Today’s travellers seek experiences beyond hotel walls, immersing themselves in local culture, history and lifestyle. This enriches the guest experience, respects the destination and fosters lasting connections.”
For eco-conscious guests, this connection is even more meaningful when environmentallyconscious design practices are involved. Sustainability in luxury design now extends beyond materials and technologies; it’s about celebrating local traditions, respecting the environment and fostering community. This approach not only creates an authentic sense of place but also delivers on travellers’ demand for memorable, purpose-driven experiences. At Rosewood Schloss Fuschl, the rich cultural tapestry of Salzburg forms the hotel’s narrative. For instance, guests can watch artisans create paddleboards on-site, or take mindful walks through nearby forests that connect the flora on carpets with the surrounding landscape.
A defining feature of this trend is integrating
In London, 1 Hotel Mayfair features reclaimed Yorkshire dry-stone walls, while the forthcoming Park Hyatt Kuala Lumpur reimagines traditional Malaysian batik patterns on brass panels, casting shadows and reflections that evoke local culture.
Adaptive reuse is also becoming a hallmark of luxury hospitality design. Repurposing existing structures not only aligns with environmental goals but adds character, preserving history while embracing modern needs. For example, 1 Hotel Mayfair - formerly a lifestyle property - kept much of its original structure, adding green roofs and rainwater capture systems. This balance of honouring the past while incorporating sustainable elements creates a compelling dialogue between heritage and innovation.
As travellers increasingly seek authentic connections with their surroundings, this approach will define the future of luxury hospitality, taking the concept to the next level, offering immersive experiences deeply rooted in the culture and beauty of their destinations.
One&Only
KÉA ISLAND
Looking to the rugged landscape and traditional Greek villages for inspiration, John Heah creates a magical balance between modern architecture and the surrounding nature.
Since its inception, the One&Only brand has stayed true to its name, offering one-of-a-kind resort experiences in one-of-a-kind locations. Growth has been measured, with Kerzner International championing quality over quantity, often seeking out unexplored lands and being amongst the first to plant flags. Properties in Mexico’s Riviera Nayarit, Rwanda’s Nyungwe Valley and Montenegro’s Boka Bay sit within the modest portfolio, which has recently seen a boost thanks to two new ventures in Greece. The first – One&Only Aesthesis – occupies a quiet stretch along the Athens Riviera, while the second takes root on the Cycladic island of Kéa.
“Kerzner has mastered scouting locations that are off the beaten track – it’s a natural part of our DNA,” explains Hakan Ozkasikci, Executive Vice President of Design & Technical Services at Kerzner International. “When we decided to launch in Greece, we were looking for best-kept secrets; locations that aren’t overpopulated or well-known to holidaymakers, but also beautiful, inspiring and peaceful. Kéa Island was a natural choice due to its untouched beauty and authentic Mediterranean charm.”
Accessible by ferry from Lavrio Port near Athens, the little-known island is far removed from the tourist hotspots of Mykonos and Santorini. Sleepy villages dot the rugged
Words: Catherine Martin • Photography: Courtesy of Kerzner International
landscape, and sandy coves give way to crystalclear waters. At its summit, the town of Ioulida is the hub of daily life, where winding cobbled streets are lined with boutiques, family-run tavernas and the occasional art gallery. 10km away on the remote west coast, One&Only unfolds across 65 hectares of dramatic cliffside, its villas cascading down towards the waterfront.
A first glimpse of this spectacle comes from the resort’s private speedboat as it glides into the bay. From a distance, it’s difficult to make out the individual buildings, so well are they integrated into the landscape – an intentional move to protect the natural beauty of the site. In all, the resort is made up of a main building housing the lobby and public spaces, a standalone spa complex, 63 guest villas and a collection of private homes, all designed in harmony with the local vernacular.
The architecture and interior design is the vision of Heah & Co founder John Heah, who worked closely with Ozkasikci to combine an authentic sense of place with the core pillars
of the brand. “Our vision was to create a sanctuary that seamlessly blends iconic Aegean architecture with contemporary Greek design,” Ozkasikci reveals. “We wanted to maintain this aesthetic through all aspects of the design, channelled through a luxurious One&Only lens.”
Looking to traditional Greek villages and the Mediterranean way of life for inspiration, the team developed a masterplan that is typical of a local Chora, with the central hub located at the highest point, and meandering pathways leading down to the accommodation. “The lodgings form a woven pattern that aligns with the steep topography of the site, while the history of the island is reflected in the architectural character,” Ozkasikci explains, adding that the building materials also pay homage to Kéa.
“The island’s rocky landscape, secluded beaches and vernacular architecture certainly inspired the design,” he continues. “Guests can feel deeply connected to their surroundings through components such as slate – a material that has been used by locals to construct houses since
the prehistoric period; we naturally wanted to incorporate this into the build.”
Hand-cut local stone – typical of the island’s aged farmhouses – also features prominently, as does Greek marble. Perhaps more characteristic of the Cycladic aesthetic are the white-washed walls, pergolas and rounded archways – all of which bring a lightness to the interiors. This is further elevated by lofty atriums and floor-toceiling openings, making for plenty of natural daylight and a cooling sea breeze. Every part of the resort benefits from this approach, encouraging indoor-outdoor living and the opportunity to truly connect with the surroundings. “The resort is a true island hideaway, a place where guests can reconnect with nature,” Ozkasikci confirms. “Heah has cleverly positioned the villas to maximise privacy and views, creating a magical balance between modern architecture and the surrounding nature.”
The nature in question first relates to the olive trees, native grasses and fragrant herbs that are planted in window boxes, rooftops and
The villas are artfully arranged into zones for living, sleeping and bathing, all oriented towards the view
in stepped terraces between the villas. Beyond the landscaping, the eye is drawn to the view –a spectacular vista that takes in kilometre after kilometre of rugged coastline, followed by the Aegean waters stretching as far as the eye can see. Another stroke of genius from Heah is that this view can be seen from almost every spot within the villa – even the bathtub – with the floor-to-ceiling glazing offering a connection to nature. The best vantage point however is from the spacious terrace, where the various blues of the private swimming pool, the ocean and the sky seemingly run into one another. By nightfall, there’s a different show to be seen – the display of stars, as viewed from the comfort of bed, looking upwards through the slitted skylight.
The interior design scheme throughout also fosters a sense of place, with a neutral palette of earthy tones and a focus on local materials. The country’s national identity is further referenced in the collection of books displayed in villas and public spaces; curated by Ultimate
Library, titles explore everything from the epic adventures of Odysseus to the rich legacy of the Aegean. The series of artworks is of Greek origin too, curated by Athens-based consultants ArtSpark to promote the nation’s emerging creatives. Heah’s signature style comes in the sophisticated simplicity of the spaces, a perfect balance of form and function for a fuss-free stay. The villas are artfully arranged into zones for living, sleeping and bathing – all oriented towards the view – with sliding doors that allow for privacy or open plan, depending on personal preference. Furnishings are elegant yet comfortable, catering to every occasion, whether lounging poolside on the daybed or relaxing in the shade of the timber pergola, which filters the light to captivating effect.
There would be no reason to leave the villa at all if it weren’t for the extensive facilities on offer. The main building houses multiple venues for dining and imbibing, ranging from a Cubaninspired speakeasy to an intimate wine bar that pairs Greek vintages with artisanal cheeses. The
Bond Beach Club is set on the island’s sandy shores beneath the shade of olive trees
three-storey building has been designed by Heah to unfold around a soaring central atrium, where natural light coming directly from above plays a pivotal role. On the lower level, an interior garden is inspired by the meeting places of ancient Greece, and up top, Kosmos is an al fresco sea-view terrace, an extension of the lobby that contributes to the memorable arrival experience and also serves as the ideal spot for sundowners. There’s a poolside bar, Kaiki, and at the heart of the resort, Atria is a lively restaurant serving refined Greek cuisine and family-style dishes. At dinner, guests are seated out on the terrace to eat by candlelight, and at breakfast, the set-up is akin to a village piazza, with individual cabanas that serve freshly baked bread and regional specialities such as wild boar sausage and thyme honey.
Down by the water’s edge, Bond Beach Club ups the vibe with laidback beats from a resident DJ. Set on the sandy shores beneath the shade of the olive trees, the spirited destination has become a popular stop-off for passing yachts,
able to dock for a lunch of seafood and grilled meats. The facilities continue with infinity pools, a kids’ club, teen zone and sports courts, not to mention the vast spa. Located on the far side of the bay, the three-storey waterfront sanctuary is an experience not to be missed, featuring Watsu therapy pools, steam rooms, saunas and relaxation areas. Operated in partnership with Subtle Energies, it harnesses the elemental energy of Kéa, offering tailored journeys that are in tune with earth and sea. And it’s here, in the indoor-outdoor infinity pool, with a trio of archways that magnificently frame the view, that the concept comes together in all its glory, offering a chance to connect with the natural world. “The biggest challenge was in carving out the land in a way that minimised impact on the surroundings,” concludes Ozkasikci, noting that a team of environmental experts were onhand to oversee construction. “It has taken years of planning, development and design, but it was all worth it to see how the resort blends into the natural beauty of Kéa.”
EXPRESS CHECK-OUT
Operator: Kerzner International
Architecture and Interior Design: Heah & Co
Architect of Record:
Archiplus Architects & Associates
Lighting Design: George Sexton Associates
Art Consultant: ArtSpark www.oneandonlyresorts.com
The leading global book curation service for hospitality brands and interior designers
Bespoke book collections | Literary experiences | Book styling | Library refreshments
Discover more at www.ultimatelibrary.co.uk and @ultimatelibrary
One&Only Kéa Island. Photo: Rupert Peace
The Woodland Suite Experience The Montenotte
CORK
An Irish urban resort introduces a collection of suites that combine Scandinavian architectural influences with Japanese design principles.
Words: Eleanor Howard
Photography: Courtesy of The Montenotte
Five octagonal nests float amidst a lush forest in Cork, Ireland, while four linear suites cantilever across a hillside overlooking the River Lee. These immersive accommodations form part of the new Woodland Suite Experience at The Montenotte.
Since the boutique property – a member of Small Luxury Hotels – was acquired by Jo and Frankie Whelehan in 2017, the husbandand-wife team have been on a mission to cement its status as the leading urban resort in Ireland, enhancing the guest experience with the introduction of offerings such as an on-site cinema and salt room. “As a familyowned business, we want to continue to make bold moves and set new standards in luxury hospitality, while remaining true to our roots and values,” explains Frankie. “Our vision for The Montenotte centres around providing guests with unforgettable and inspiring stays; to continue to innovate and exceed expectations.”
Most recently, the couple embarked on a £6.3m project to transform a previously
inaccessible wild site within the hotel’s grounds into a luxury nature retreat, the first of its kind in Ireland. “Both Jo and I recognise that today’s discerning guests are seeking more experiential stays, moving beyond the anonymous large hotel stay. The Woodland Suite Experience is a direct response to this evolving demand. Our eight-acre site in Cork, with its distinctive sloping profile, has afforded us a blank canvas that few urban hotels enjoy. This has allowed us to create something truly extraordinary.”
To bring their vision to life, the couple enlisted Cork-based architectural firm Henry J Lyons, whose comprehensive understanding of the area’s topography came in handy in maintaining an authentic Irish spirit. Tasked with creating “a space that would encourage a sense of restorative relaxation, tactility and tranquillity, inspired by the beauty of the Irish landscape”, the firm worked with the local council to adopt a minimalist, low-impact approach, according to Associate Architect John Burgoyne. “Our design is tied to the site,” he
Interiors are characterised by a carefully-considered material palette featuring American oak and Roman
explains. “The architecture doesn’t compete with the existing landscape, but rather harnesses and frames the breathtaking views of the woodland, River Lee and Cork cityscape. The structures are elevated to minimise site impact and maximise the views.”
In addition to the hotel’s rich surroundings, the firm looked further afield for architectural guidance. “The existing sycamore trees served as a key inspiration, shaping our design ethos,” reveals Burgoyne. “We also drew from Scandinavian minimalism, taking steps to capture the site’s history and emphasise the beauty of the Irish landscape surrounding The Montenotte.”
The result is a cluster of elevated structures that nestle within the woodland, where the material palette has been carefully chosen to complement and enhance the natural setting. “We used timber, black cladding and steel to define the spaces,” he continues. “We also introduced indigenous Irish tree species to enrich the site, with the architecture seamlessly intertwining with the landscape, embracing the terrain’s contours.”
The River Suites feature living sedum roofs – a habitat for wildlife – which sees further harmony with the landscape of the hotel’s Victorian Sunken Gardens.
While Henry J Lyons looked to Scandinavian architecture for inspiration, Róisín Lafferty channelled Japanese design with her interiors. “I started working on the project after a trip to Japan,” explains Lafferty. “The Japanese aesthetic struck such a chord with me – it’s considered, detailed, sensitive and beautiful, yet so understated.” And it is these principles that she has mastered at The Montenotte.
Guests are first introduced to Lafferty’s considered style at The Clubhouse, which was in fact, a late addition to the project. According to General Manager Frits Potgieter, the original plan comprised 10 individual suites, before the owners opted to turn one dwelling into an exclusive residents-only communal space where guests can check-in with a glass of champagne, eat breakfast and enjoy complimentary sundowner cocktails and canapés, away from the activity of the main hotel.
Inside The Clubhouse, olive and black chequered chairs, a curved bouclé banquette and pleated table lamps work together harmoniously to create “an intimate, romantic setting that evokes a sense of calm”. The star of the show however, is a solid red
silver travertine
travertine bar that was developed as a 3D jigsaw, crafted off-site and reassembled insitu due to its complexity and weight. With its red maple-like hue and rounded edges, the statement bar sets the scene for the quality materials and attention to detail in the spainspired suites to follow. “Our goal was to design simplistic, luxurious spaces that evoke restorative relaxation, tactility and tranquillity, using a limited set of carefully-considered materials and finishes inspired by the natural surroundings, placing nature at the heart of every design decision,” explains Lafferty.
These carefully-considered choices can be seen in the suites, where bespoke Irish-made American oak beds, as well as freestanding stone bathtubs and travertine basins, have been strategically positioned to create a feeling as though guests are bathing in the woods as they look out onto the forest or river below.
Continuing to blur the boundaries between indoor and outdoor, a two-metre sculptural Red Japanese Maple tree crafted from recycled
trunks and branches, seemingly sprouts from the American oak flooring, whilst expansive windows allow natural light to pour in, and glass doors open out onto generous balconies.
“Nature is the feature here, with the space designed to centre around maximising the breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape, encouraging complete relaxation,” Lafferty states.
Elsewhere, a Japanese wet bar with a Roman silver travertine counter is crowned by timber veneer partition shutters with custom rice paper screens that gently diffuse daylight. To further soften the space, polished surfaces are offset by textured wool furnishings in timeless earthy colours for grounded warmth, creating an intimate and romantic atmosphere.
Reflecting on crafting this first-of-its-kind hospitality experience in Ireland, Lafferty notes that despite the suites’ location being the main draw for guests, it wasn’t without its challenges. “The primary challenge of The Woodland Suite Experience was the site’s
steep, sloped terrain and dense woodland, which demanded innovative construction and installation approaches,” she explains. “The location’s complexity necessitated meticulous planning and close collaboration with the contractors to ensure minimal disruption to the natural surroundings.”
Yet it seems the hard work has paid off. The Woodland Suite Experience is already making waves within the hospitality industry, having won the Lodges, Cabins & Tented Camp award at AHEAD Europe just three months after launching, as well as being fully booked at the time of Sleeper’s visit.
And the owners aren’t finished yet – plans are already underway for further enhancements. “The Woodland Suite Experience is only a taste of what is to come for us at The Montenotte,” concludes Frankie. “Expansion is already in the works with plans to introduce more suites and enhance the outdoor wellness experiences, such as installing plunge pools and walkways –watch this space.”
EXPRESS CHECK-OUT
Owner: Jo and Frankie Whelehan
Architecture: Henry J Lyons
Interior Design: Róisín Lafferty
www.themontenottehotel.com
The Manner
NEW YORK
Standard International enters the luxury sector with a new hospitality concept, designed to emulate a stylish and eclectic private residence.
Words: Catherine Martin • Photography: Courtesy of Standard International
2024 was a landmark year for Standard International: not only did the pioneering hospitality group celebrate the 25 th anniversary of its flagship brand – established on Hollywood’s Sunset Strip in 1999 – its longheld plans to expand and diversify finally came to fruition. In August it was announced that the group would be acquired by Hyatt, paving the way for future growth. September marked the launch of The StandardX, a hip new concept for the next generation of travellers. And in the latter months of the year, The Manner made its debut, offering elevated luxury to sophisticated global travellers.
The new concept has been developed by Standard International’s Executive Chairman Amar Lalvani, and takes its name from a particular ‘manner’ of hospitality. It will join other Standard properties in Hyatt’s dedicated lifestyle group, headed up by Lalvani in the new role of President and Creative Director, however its inception predates the Hyatt deal. Former owners Sansiri acquired the property –previously operating as Sixty Soho – in 2023,
and funds were allocated for a full renovation and reflag, though it wasn’t necessarily predetermined to be for The Standard brand. “We always try to figure out the right fit for each building, taking into account its scale, physical attributes and essence,” explains Lalvani. “The Standard properties are entertainment destinations, whereas this building felt like a private residence and needed something more intimate, so we turned The Standard concept on its head.”
Turning The Standard concept on its head has equated to swapping dynamic for discreet, resplendent for refined, and communal for clandestine. “The Manner is a very understated experience, it’s like staying in the home of a dear friend – a stylish, generous friend. One who takes care of you and has great taste, where you can hide away and experience the things they love – their music, their books, their favourite spirits,” describes Lalvani. “The target audience is those who have taste for fine things, but an aversion to pretension and the trappings of traditional luxury or service style. It’s also a
Guestrooms are residential in style and feature a bold colour scheme; the penthouse dials this up to the max, with a seductive glossy red enveloping the duplex space
very personal project for me: I live a few blocks away in Tribeca and wanted to offer guests an artistic representation of what it feels like to live in this neighbourhood.”
This artistic representation has been brought to life by Verena Haller, Chief Design Officer at Standard International, and though there’s a shared lineage with The Standard properties, it carves out its own distinct identity. “The design takes the approach of being a stylish friend’s apartment so there’s a clear residential quality to the interiors with beautiful attention to detail,” explains Haller. “It was important to establish early on that some spaces would be completely private, while others, such as the restaurant, would be open to the neighbourhood so needed a different feel.”
To bring a different feel, Haller enlisted Milanese designer Hannes Peer, having met at a trade fair some years earlier. By chance, the two creatives hail from adjacent valleys in South Tyrol and soon hit it off. “We stayed in touch, so when this project came along and I needed someone with a different view, I reached out,” reveals Haller. “It was a risk, as this is Hannes’ first hotel, but it was the only way to be able to disrupt the market.”
Inspiration for the design scheme came from a wide range of sources – from the oldworld glamour of Manhattan to the socialite lifestyle of 1970s fashion designer Halston, to movies such as The Wolf of Wall Street –with the varying eras and genres unified by a specific ethos. “First and foremost, it’s about handcraft,” Haller explains, pointing out rough-hewn finishes and visible brushstrokes deliberately left on show. “We’re proud of the
imperfections because it shows it’s handmade; that’s the luxury.”
The handcrafted approach touches every detail of the property, beginning with the façade – given a refresh through the addition of ceramic tile cladding, arranged in a rhythmic pattern to interact with the changing daylight. Bringing some of his Italian heritage to the fore, Peer has drawn inspiration from the likes of the Pirelli Tower by Gio Ponti and Villa Necchi by Piero Portaluppi – the latter evident in the canopy that frames the entrance.
Upon entering the lobby, there’s an air of refined luxury, where every finish has been selected to embody the rich tapestry of the Italian arts, from the inlaid tiles that reference traditional craftsmanship to the customdesigned furniture that speaks of Mid-Century Milanese sophistication. Check-in desks are intentionally discreet, with focus instead directed to a ceramic bas relief by Giovanni de Francesco over the fireplace, alongside a Jean Royère-inspired room divider and ebony sculptures by Nicholas Shurey – an eclectic mix of pieces that feel as if collected over time by a well-travelled host.
This approach steps up a gear in The Apartment, the true heart of The Manner, where the experience is akin to lounging in a homely living room. Accessed via a travertine marble staircase beneath a cascading chandelier designed by Peer himself, the guest-only space is immediately comforting – equally suited to kicking off shoes and relaxing with a coffee and newspaper as it is to a pre-dinner drink. The interiors are a visual and tactile masterpiece, beginning with an artistic wall installation
comprising over 5,000 glazed ceramic spheres – a handcrafted piece that demands to be touched. Three-dimensional ceramics crafted by Ben Medansky also adorn two monumental columns framing a statement fireplace, while mouthblown glass chandeliers provide illumination. The rich materiality continues with ribbed mahogany wall panels and cork tiling on the ceiling, layered with raw concrete, terracotta and brass. Here and throughout the hotel, furniture is largely bespoke – some pieces are designed by Peer specifically for the property, others – such as the loose furniture in the guestrooms – are by skilled artisans at JC Hospitality, a company that prides itself on traditional hand-carving techniques. Further pieces are vintage, sourced by Haller on her trips to Europe. Regardless of origin, each has its own distinct identity that contributes to a curated collection.
Peer describes this layered and eclectic approach as storytelling, in which each space unfolds to deliver a chapter of the narrative. “Every room is a thoughtful fusion of eras and styles – one seamlessly blending Mediterranean elegance with Californian Modernism, another juxtaposing avant-garde elements with the timeless refinement of French deco,” he explains. “Moving through the hotel feels like traversing distinct architectural dimensions, each defined by an intricate interplay of narratives, tactile textures and spatial compositions that evoke both intimacy and an undeniable sense of place. The experience mirrors that of a discerning traveller, surrounded by a collection of treasured memories curated with meticulous attention to detail. Rooted in research and deeply informed
by cultural and historical context, this synthesis of craftsmanship, materiality and architectural history embodies my design methodology – a concept I call nostalgic utopia.”
Up in the 97 guestrooms and suites, interiors showcase Peer’s expertise in residential design. Each is conceived as a sanctuary, a private refuge from the city’s relentless energy, and is characterised by glossy veneer surfaces and brass detailing. Drawing inspiration from the luxurious lifestyles of the target guest, there’s a yacht-like aesthetic at play, paired with elegant touches of Art Deco and a hint of nostalgia. Boldness comes by way of colour, as per Haller’s request. “I wanted a strong colour scheme because I believe it is inspirational, especially when staying in a hotel; guests should experience the richness of the palette.”
As such, Peer opted for the hues of the New York sky, with ochre, crimson and midnight blue. The penthouse dials this up to the max, with a seductive glossy red enveloping the duplex space and extending from floorcoverings,
fabrics and finishes to every piece of furniture. Ambient lighting and plush Italian fabrics bring a softness, while floor-to-ceiling mirrors enhance a sense of space. Space is also maximised through slimline furniture, and the omission of a television – guests are encouraged instead to socialise in The Apartment. “There’s no clutter – everything is integrated,” Haller confirms. “Only the essentials are visible and they’re very thoughtfully placed.” The essentials do include a selection of life’s luxuries however, such as bath amenities by Costa Brazil, slippers by Lenys World and a complimentary drink selected according to the profile of the guest. Even the bathroom accessories are a mark of quality, supplied by Decor Walther.
For the F&B offer, the team has created two distinct concepts. Sloane’s is an intimate and atmospheric bar on the first floor, and though open to non-guests, it takes someone in-theknow to find their way in. Tucked away behind a discreetly signed door, the seductive space is wrapped in emerald-green velvet for a cocooning
Furniture throughout the hotel is largely bespoke; some pieces are designed by Hannes Peer, while others – such as the woven wicker chairs in The Otter – are from JC Hospitality
CLUB COLLECTION AT THE MANNER NEW YORK
BATHROOM ACCESSORIES SERIES MIRRORS LIGHTS
ambiance, with sculptural lamps casting a warm glow. Continuing the analogy of The Manner being like a private residence, Haller explains: “Sloane’s is where the lady of the house hosts her dearest friends. It’s the most luxurious space in the hotel, showing treasured items collected on her travels around the world; we wanted it to feel expensive.” Indeed, the palette is opulent, with Murano glass and mother of pearl alongside bas reliefs and carefully selected artworks. The pièce de resistance however is the bar – a carved wood counter set against a shimmering gold leaf backdrop; the focal point of an immersive design scheme that transports guests to another world.
The restaurant, meanwhile, is the only part of the hotel billed as a neighbourhood destination. With a street presence in the heart of Soho, The Otter draws passers-by with its timeless charm and laidback Mediterranean-inspired vibe, not to mention the fresh seafood dishes cooked up by chef Alex Stupak. Interiors once again focus on craftsmanship, with woven wicker chairs and
marquetry tabletops set against a panoramic mural. Handpainted by architect-turned-artist Elvira Solana, the captivating piece tells the story of New York state, from the streets of Manhattan to the shores of the Hamptons.
Completing the F&B offer is The Rooftop – a private oasis with rustic natural materials and lush greenery. Designed as a serene haven with panoramic views across the city, the guest-only space could well have been a popular spot for locals, but Standard International has stuck firmly to its concept, retaining the intimate, residential ambiance that is the hallmark of The Manner. This clear differentiator from other brands in the portfolio opens up possibilities for expansion, though Lalvani remains tight-lipped on the future. “If people love The Manner as much as I do, maybe there will be more in other residential neighbourhoods across the globe –places you wish your friend had a beautiful apartment,” he concludes. “Now that we have the benefit of Hyatt’s extensive global reach, anywhere is possible.”
EXPRESS CHECK-OUT
Owner: SIP NY Acquisitions
Investor: Sansiri
Operator: Standard International
Architect of Record: Lubrano Ciavarra Architects
Interior Design: Standard International in-house design team, Hannes Peer
Lighting Design: Light IQ
Procurement: Purchasing Associates
Landscaping: John Mini Distinctive Landscapes
Main Contractor: Humphrey Rich Construction Group www.themanner.com
CASE GOODS | UPHOLSTERY
LIGHTING | OUTDOOR
HOTEL REFURBISHMENT
Over the course of 8 weeks, 78 bathrooms were completed, with the pace increasing to 156 bathrooms every 10 weeks, along with the refurbishment of all hotel corridors after the initial phase.
In total, 523 bathrooms and 7 floors of corridors were successfully refurbished within 8 months, all while the hotel remained fully operational.
RA new hospitality brand makes its debut in Rome, opening as a conference resort under Marriott’s Autograph Collection.
Words: Catherine Martin Photography: Courtesy of Cardo Hotels
ome wasn’t built in a day, and nor was this hotel,” commented Satya Anand, President EMEA of Marriott International, at the official launch of Cardo Roma. Six years in the making, the 324-key property opened to much fanfare last October, marking a significant milestone in the growth of Aroundtown’s hotel division. Thus far, the real estate company has operated primarily in Germany, introducing the likes of Mercure, Steigenberger and Radisson to top tier cities, as well as investing in office, residential and retail developments.
With the acquisition of a fading Sheraton on the outskirts of Rome, Aroundtown saw an opportunity to bring something new to the market, and so partnered with Everland to reposition the asset under a new brand. Named after the north-south oriented street of ancient Roman cities – a dynamic hub of daily life –Cardo Hotels combines business and leisure facilities for an experiential lifestyle concept that has been coined as a ‘conference resort’. Its debut property is located in Esposizione
Universale Roma, a business district to the south of the city, commissioned by Benito Mussolini in the 1930s as a celebration of Italian fascism. Overcoming controversy and inevitable delays in the wake of World War II, construction eventually completed in the 1960s, with tree-lined boulevards and majestic buildings set amongst grassy parklands. As the district flourished, further development came in the form of a purpose-built hotel – a Brutalist structure designed by famed architect Lucio Passarelli. The cross-shaped edifice is characterised by ribbon windows and a linear appearance, with each wing differing in length and number of floors. It most recently operated as a Sheraton – hosting business travellers at the extensive conference centre during the week, and, thanks to an outdoor swimming pool and spacious terrace, attracted locals escaping the city at weekends. And having taken over the property, it’s this combination of business and leisure that Cardo Hotels is seeking to elevate.
The venture is being led by Nicolas Romero
Cardo ROMA
Guestrooms feature timber wall panelling, shelves displaying a curated collection of books and objets d’art, and pops of colour in the artwork and upholstery
Oneto, Head of Cardo Hotels, with the inaugural property sitting within Marriott’s Autograph Collection – a group of distinctive independent hotels that are ‘exactly like nothing else’. In developing the concept, the leadership team enlisted Blacksheep to create the brand strategy and visual identity, and Saar Zafrir of SZ Design to envision the interiors. Both studios took inspiration from the architecture of Rome, with Zafrir describing his approach as a “modern interpretation”, most notable in the colonnades and archways borrowed from the Colosseum and nearby Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana. The brand is also rooted in contrasts – those of day and night, depicted by sun and moon motifs, and of geometric forms, expressed through the use of circles and curves alongside lines and angles. The concept extends from keycards, menus and signage to items sold at retail, such as tote bags, candles and teacups. It can be seen in the interior design scheme too, in subtle details such as scalloped edging and ceiling treatments, and more overtly in the curving sofas and spherical light fittings.
Across the property, interiors pay homage to Rome’s rich culture, serving as ‘a symbol of future nostalgia’ – a motto that represents a future of infinite possibilities while tapping into the spirit of times gone by. This equates to a variety of multi-functional spaces with inbuilt flexibility to cater to the differing needs of corporate and leisure guests, and a scheme that is characterised by clean lines, bold accent colours and the use of natural materials.
On arrival, the spacious lobby has a warmth not typically associated with large-scale conference hotels. The colour palette introduces shades of olive green and terracotta to a sophisticated off-white backdrop, while upholstery materials are rich and tactile. 3D wall treatments add a layer of interest, and a simple yet effective wall light mimics the warming glow of the sun. The check-in desks are intentionally lowkey, with focus instead on the clusters of seating. A circular banquette set around a central bioethanol fireplace is ideal for lounging, while low-slung armchairs and stools are arranged in pleasing vignettes. For business travellers, a high-top table tucked behind the pillars is a quiet spot to
set-up the laptop, and a series of open-plan meeting spaces nestle within a row of arched niches; each is furnished with a different style of seating, again to ensure the varying needs of all guests are met – that all four were booked out during Sleeper’s visit is a clear indication of their success.
The restaurant is also cleverly planned to suit various occasions, from family dinners to large groups. At peak times or for conferences, the dining room extends into an adjoining space that can be set up as a buffet with live cooking stations. This allows non-corporate guests to enjoy the relaxed ambience of the main restaurant. Named Vertici and developed by chefs from Trilussa Taverna – a long-established eatery in the Italian capital – the cuisine celebrates Rome’s traditional culinary heritage, elevating recipes from the past with a contemporary twist. The menu primarily centres around pasta, with hearty bowls of spaghetti, fettuccine and rigatoni in flavoursome sauces. And if there was ever any question over freshness, diners can watch the pasta being made in the open kitchen. The entire F&B concept is driven by the nation’s love affair with pasta: specialist books on the Italian staple line the shelves, tables are topped with simple stems of wheat, and the bitesized accompaniment to coffee is in fact a piece of macaroni filled with tiramisu – a signature that serves as Autograph Collection’s distinctive ‘mark’ to leave a lasting impression.
On the upper levels, guestrooms are designed as sanctuaries, balancing form and function for a stay that ticks all the boxes for corporate and leisure guests. A desk, lounge chair, rainshower and bathtub come as standard, while suites feature a separate living room, kitchenette, walk-in wardrobe and in some cases, a sauna. Interiors channel the same aesthetic as the public spaces, with pops of colour in the artwork and upholstery, and shelves displaying a curated collection of books and objets d’art. Zafrir has designed some of the FF&E bespoke, while other pieces are sourced from across Europe. Also worth a mention are the timber wall panels, initially introduced as a functional solution to the poor acoustics and badly positioned power sockets of the previous hotel, yet now a key feature of the scheme.
Central to Cardo Roma’s appeal is its events spaces, spanning an impressive 3,100m2 to be one of the largest facilities in Rome. Catering to business and social gatherings, the modular set-up ensures every room can accommodate various configurations, from board meetings and theatre-style conferences to parties and weddings. The poolside terrace can also be used for drinks receptions, while the largest venue is the 1,400-capacity ballroom – the setting for the hotel’s dazzling opening party.
Wellness is also integral to the overall concept, and so the team opted to convert the basement into a spa. Designed by Zafrir to honour ancient Roman bathing rituals, the 1,200m2 sanctuary has four pools of differing temperatures that form a therapeutic circuit. Rhythmic archways frame the perimeter and create niches for the daybeds, and up above, a laser-cut ceiling filters the light to captivating effect. There’s also a sauna, hammam and six treatment rooms, as well as a state-of-the art fitness centre equipped by Technogym.
The facilities are open to the local community through a membership scheme too, and there are further plans for padel courts, a seasonal poolside bar and more guestrooms.
“The vision is to create a chain of conference resorts and for each to be a hub for the community – a cardo,” concludes Zafrir. “We transformed a traditional conference hotel into an eclectic, contemporary resort catering to both business and leisure travellers. The design incorporates the best elements of a business environment while offering a holistic atmosphere for leisure guests.”
Though it’s early days for Cardo Hotels, the group has already opened its second property – this time in Brussels. The visual identity and interior have been designed anew to reflect the location, but the approach is the same. As Romero Oneto puts it: “We envision this blend as the future of hotel experiences – a sophisticated, eclectic combination of the public and private spheres, balancing professional needs with personal leisure.”
EXPRESS CHECK-OUT
Owner / Developer: Aroundtown
Operator: Everland
Interior Design: SZ Design
Branding: Blacksheep, King of Hearts
Lighting Design: Tzach Cohen
Procurement: Pro Cure Solutions www.cardorome.com
The Lana
DUBAI
Omniyat teams up with Dorchester Collection and Foster + Partners to make a splash on Dubai’s waterfront, creating an urban oasis that exudes understated luxury.
Words: Guy Dittrich • Photography: Courtesy of Dorchester Collection
Amidst the jumble of towers and flyovers that make up the Dubai skyline comes a new jewel; one of understated luxury.
Real estate developer Omniyat, in conjunction with Dorchester Collection, is putting down a refined marker that offers accommodation at a more human scale. One that is open for community connection and year-round living.
With architecture by Foster + Partners and interiors by Parisian firm Gilles & Boissier, The Lana brings a discreet level of outstanding comfort that flies in the face of the big-andbling culture that has thus far characterised the hospitality landscape here.
The project comprises two buildings wrapped around the bowl of the Marasi Marina between Downtown Dubai and the Dubai Design District. One is a 225-key hotel, the second is home to 39 branded residences. The new development sits at the heart of a 12km waterfront promenade featuring floating villas and an extensive yacht berth. It is the first of a number of projects in the Emirate that sees Omniyat working with Dorchester Collection and Foster + Partners. “The Lana forms part of our long-
term ambition to transform Marasi Bay into a globally recognised waterfront destination,” explains Omniyat’s founder and Executive Chairman, Mahdi Amjad. “This collaboration offers a unique synthesis of modern design and bespoke living, reflecting our unwavering commitment to elevating lifestyles in Dubai.”
And in the case of The Lana, he means elevated in the literal sense. Foster + Partners’ visionary architecture has a lightness that sees two loosely ‘hinged’ wings seemingly float on pillars above the ground. “The narrow floorplate has a hole ‘punched’ through the pivot between the two buildings,” notes Partner Will Plowman. This openness is enhanced by remarkably slim supporting columns. “The columns in the large voids are structural steel casings filled with concrete, which enhances their strength compared to concrete-only pillars,” he continues of the bridge-building technique that eliminates the need for bracing. An additional benefit is the large column-free space for the ballroom, the centrepiece of a comprehensive events offering.
The relative permeability of this
The lobby is characterised by high ceilings, imposing archways and pink mosaics
interconnection creates a breeze-way for passive cooling aided by the hotel’s seven gardens and water features. The façades of both buildings have a horizontal lamella of deep reveals and overhangs that provide shading to guestrooms, reducing the building’s reliance on air conditioning and minimising heat gain through self-shading. Furthermore, as Plowman comments: “We have optimised the orientation to minimise exposure, which sees one building partially shading the other.” Such green genius enhances outdoor spaces, which along with the walkway running between the hotel and the marina’s berths, are part of this waterside porosity. Retail and third-party F&B venues will activate this public margin.
Perhaps most striking of all about the architecture is its celebration of ‘horizontalism’, as illustrated by the façade. The two buildings are a mere 30 and 31 storeys high –diminutive amidst the surrounding skyscrapers. Simon Ford, Director of Architecture at Dorchester Collection, comments: “It was a smart move on Fosters + Partners’ part to be different and stand out in Dubai where height dominates.”
Omniyat’s ownership of the marina serves to secure the westward views across its clear span of still water. A location that delivers two spectacular daily shows for free. The sunset across the Arabian Gulf and soon after the light spectacle that races across the topmost facets of the Burj Khalifa.
Up close, the hotel glows with an understated lustre forged by Gilles & Boissier. “We want to be humble and say to Dubai that it is possible to create a five-star hotel without putting too much money on the floor,” explains Dorothée Boissier. Questioned on this, because no doubt the hotel’s interiors represent a major investment, Boissier qualifies: “We are moving from a period of show, show, show in luxury hospitality to a more discreet, more modest setting. You can create luxury with different materials and organisation of space.”
When it comes to materials, Gilles & Boissier are masters. “We are crazy about materials,” Boissier enthuses. “We love the richness coming from them.” Amongst the stone alone are a beautiful façade treatment of fluted pink onyx that flanks the entrance before guests walk onto a patchwork of Volakas, dark Grigio Carnico and grey Emperador sweeping
across the lobby floor. Travertine for guestrooms, spider green marble stairs to the ballroom, White Beauty marble in lift lobbies.
Spatially, two aspects stand out. First the lobby. “It has a very high ceiling, quite imposing, and it’s difficult to create human scale in such a proportion,” explains Boissier. “We wanted to announce the hotel in a feminine way,” she explains, referring to the pink onyx façade entrance. A similar treatment is seen in the sumptuous pink leather of the lifts.
Within the lobby, Boissier points out the influence of different cultures, noting the curved elements of intriguing quarter and half domes that soar above the pink mosaiccovered walls. Ceilings have diagonal beams. A hidden alcove, home to speakeasy Bitter Honey, is lined with darktinted matte finish oak panels – something that is, for Boissier, very British. So what of the local connection? The authenticity that all are clamouring for currently? The owner held sway here. “Mahdi loved the Baccarat Hotel we designed in New York,” he explains. “And he wanted to move away from certain Arabic-style elements, something different.”
Local is of course there, particularly in the pink and pale yellows of the colour palette. At once feminine but also of the desert, its vivid sunsets and sandy wastes. But the desert is also rocky and mountainous, and Boissier captures this in the lobby’s grotto-like asymmetric sofas with their darker tones and columnar form. “There is also a link with the sky and the stars; from this comes the round suspended infinity lamp over the reception,” she expands. More prosaically, there is a strong local connection not only in the stone –Omani beige for the pool surround, for example – but also the craftspeople used to create the furnishings, all bespoke by Gilles & Boissier.
The hotel’s artwork tells a similar tale of cross-cultural association. The appointed art consultant, Amélie du Chalard of Amelie, Maison d’Art, took this brief and researched suitable artists. The result is an eclectic array of pieces differing in scale and format, largely by non-Emirati artists but absolutely expressing Arabic content.
Second of the spatial standouts are the bright and light guestrooms. All have floor-to-ceiling windows accessing
a full-width balcony. Some corner rooms are magnificent duplex arrangements. All are beautifully appointed with walnut and oak panelling effectively enwrapping guests. Many have standalone bathtubs overlooking the marina, with brassware by THG Paris. Bedside tables are another delight – pale poplar burl wood drawers are suspended within a bright metal frame and topped with an incredible pink quartz slab.
Of the guestroom layout, Boissier notes: “This is very European. Each foyer distributes the bathroom and walk-in dressing room in a very classical organisation. This brings added luxury.” The latter is indeed a treat. “I love the dressing room. I’ve never seen such sophisticated wardrobes,” she celebrates of the Dorchester signature.
Another nod to the London flagship is the afternoon tea served in the lobby’s Gallery, with incredible panache and attention to detail. There are delicate sandwiches, cakes and pastries from award-winning pastry chef Angelo Musa, whose
produce is also available at the marina-level Bon Bon Café.
Other F&B offerings include High Society and Jara by Martín Berasategui, both with interiors by Verhaal of Sydney and Dubai. Adjacent to the rooftop pool, High Society serves light bites by Michelin-starred chef Jean Imbert. Jara meanwhile, is rich in colour and pattern – a fiery tree of orange lights rises from the island bar station, strong enough to sit alongside the open fire over which the freshly displayed fish and aged cuts of meat are prepared.
The hotel’s other significant dining option is the airy, Mediterranean feel of Riviera by Jean Imbert, which complements the French chef’s long-standing relationship with Dorchester Collection at Hôtel Plaza Athénée in Paris. Riviera is an indoor-outdoor space of extensive terraces furnished with Amalfi armchairs and Inlaid stools by Janus et Cie, while shading is provided by Tuuci umbrellas and plenty of planting. Diagonally arranged vertical screening frameworks keep things informal.
Boissier talks of the overall interior design being timeless. “If you’re not in fashion, then you’re never out of fashion,” she quips. Of being contemporary but not in vogue, more luxurious than obvious, she comments: “Timeless is about designing what is useful, what is important, what guests really need. It is about not putting detail where it’s not needed. Nor putting money when it’s not needed. We have to question whether we really need something.”
As a result, The Lana Dubai is an oasis. An oasis of statement architecture that elevates the site and seamlessly integrates sustainable initiatives. An oasis of amenities – including a Txakolina cigar lounge and the UAE’s first Dior Spa – that is matched by the impeccable service expected of Dorchester. The feminine delicacy and edited timelessness of Gilles & Boissier’s interiors are the perfect antidote to the local competition. Cool, calm and collected, The Lana is an outstanding start in the region where much is to come from Omniyat, Dorchester Collection and Foster + Partners.
Art Consultant: Amelie Maison d’Art www.dorchestercollection.com
Art’otel Hoxton
LONDON
16 years in the making, a new London landmark introduces Art’otel’s signature fusion of art, design and hospitality to one of the capital’s most creative neighbourhoods.
There were actually 24 different designs before we landed on this one,” reveals Murray Levinson, Partner at Squire & Partners, as we stand at the confluence of London’s Old Street and Great Eastern Street, craning our necks to take in the towering cylindrical structure that is Art’otel Hoxton.
As the number of design iterations would suggest, the East London project was a long time coming, but certainly worth the wait. In fact, plans were first submitted to Hackney Council 16 years ago to demolish the Foundry – an iconic gallery and pub that served as a focal point for the area’s alternative arts scene – and build a 26-storey hotel in its place, with the opening slated to coincide with the London 2012 Olympic games. However, delays through the planning and construction phases, as well as Covidrelated restrictions, meant PPHE Hotel Group was only given the green light in 2019. In the meantime, the lifestyle brand made its UK debut with Art’otel London Battersea Power Station, joining a growing collection of art-inspired hotels across Europe.
Much like its sister property, the design of which was informed by the power station’s storied past, the new Shoreditch skyscraper is a direct response to the neighbourhood and its rich cultural context. “It’s a landmark site that always warranted something eyecatching,” states Levinson. Inspired by Old Street’s regeneration and association with technology, being home to a cluster of high-tech companies in the early 2000s, the tower takes the form of an extruded cogwheel. Its façade is divided into bands by horizontal aluminium shelves, each comprising bespoke twisted black aluminium fins that span their height, positioned in a syncopated rhythm around the tower. Each of the building’s double-height floorplates is offset to create the illusion of a series of moving components. “The cylindrical architectural form and external detail makes a subtle nod to nearby Silicon Roundabout’s history in the development of the computer, referencing the cogs and other mechanical components that the very first analogue computers were built with,” he explains.
The hotel entrance comprises two mixed-use blocks featuring large-scale vintage Banksy artworks, conserved from the original site and incorporated into the newbuild. “One of the planning requirements was that we kept the two Banksys, so we essentially demolished everything apart from the murals,” he explains. “We then sandwiched them between a steel frame and stored them whilst we built the new tower, before reattaching them above the entrance and exit.” A calculated risk with such prized pieces, but certainly worthwhile given their value in both monetary terms and the heritage of the site.
Such a statement structure lends itself to the explosion of colours and creativity inside, courtesy of contemporary urban artist D*Face. Dubbed ‘the sticker king of London’ by none other than Banksy himself, Dean Stockton, or D*Face as he is more commonly known, has spent the past two decades splashing his unmistakeable style across the world, creating murals, hosting exhibitions and embarking on
collaborations, before returning to East London where it all began, to oversee the interiors at Art’otel Hoxton.
As the hotel’s official signature artist, Stockton has collaborated with interior design studio Digital Space to create everything within from large original sculptures and murals to bespoke fixtures and bold furnishings. “The collaboration with D*Face was exciting – a great creative journey,” says lead designer Eyal Shoan. “The client’s vision was to infuse the essence of Art’otel Amsterdam – the first hotel we designed for Park Plaza – whilst tailoring it to the specific location and nature of the building. Our challenge was to craft a luxurious hotel with high-end finishes that not only stands out for its excellence, but also harmonises with the artistic ambience of the neighbourhood. We worked together with D*Face and his team to incorporate street art into the building, blending the rough with the luxurious, and the serious with the fun.”
Upon entry, guests are immediately wowed by
The foyer is lined with large-scale LED screens that serve as dynamic canvases for an interactive Pop Art display by D*Face
large-scale LED walls that serve as dynamic canvases for an interactive vibrant Pop Art display by D*Face. The screens can also be used to showcase other works during gallery events hosted at the hotel. Moving into the lobby, jet black walls and floors draw attention to the glowing amber reception desk, behind which plexiglass pillars frame another vast artwork that offers a different perspective from every angle.
Following the curves of the rotunda leads to a lounge, where tan leather sofas and houndstooth stools surround a textured metal fireplace to create a cosy niche, while bucket chairs line the floor-toceiling windows facing out to bustling city streets. By day, the adjacent Soul & Cocktail Bar is a casual hangout spot, before coming alive at night with an extensive programme of curated events, DJs and live music that carries over the balcony to the groundfloor Brush Grand Café below. Across the doubleheight space, perforated metal panels adorned with bespoke street art catch the attention of both hotel guests and passers-by.
Moving up through the hotel via Pop Artinspired lift cars, Squire & Partners has designed the
architectural façade to respond to function. “As you rise up the building, the arrangement of the external twisted fins has been carefully adapted to maximise shading and create the appropriate level of privacy,” explains Levinson. “Denser spacing on guestroom levels preserves city views, while fewer fins have been used across the top floor entertainment spaces, accompanied by external terraces, to create more continuous panoramas.”
Beginning on the seventh floor, the 309 guestrooms and 48 suites are smart yet playful, with floor-toceiling windows providing impressive views. A paredback base palette of darkened timber floors, white walls and lacquered doors is offset by bold D*Face artworks and furnishings, such as Pop Art canvases and Union Jack cushions. The suites come with a lounge, while generous en suites feature spacious vanities, Kevin Murphy amenities and walk-in showers with statement screens. “Guest experience and high-end luxury finishes were key factors in the design of this hotel, as with all our projects,” states Shoan. “We aimed to elevate the artwork platforms to the next level; for example, we applied a graphic process to
Smart yet playful, guestrooms feature a pared back base palette offset by bold artworks and furnishings by D*Face
the artworks in the bathrooms, creating dotted illuminated glass – a blend of art and luxury.”
In the larger suites, separate lounge areas feature Mid-Century chairs and leather sofas, alongside a mixologist kit, handmade games and a Roberts turntable with a rotating vinyl collection that currently includes records from the likes of Amy Winehouse, Fleetwood Mac, Daft Punk and Taylor Swift. Other luxury amenities include espresso machines and Dyson Airwraps, as well as various art-inspired reading materials such as D*Face monographs. Each room also includes sketch paper and watercolour brush pens, inviting guests to create their own masterpieces that will then be displayed in the hotel, allowing them to contribute to the property’s artistic legacy.
Crowning the building on the top floors is a skyline gym with spa to follow, and a series of flexible events spaces. Accommodating up to 300 guests, the 10 interconnected Creative Rooms can be hired individually or opened out completely to span the circumference of the
tower, making them suitable for a variety of events, from presentations to fashion shows, all set against the cityscape.
A change of pace comes courtesy of the subterranean leisure facilities, which include a sauna, steam room and treatment rooms. The standout however, is the indoor swimming pool, surrounded by floor-to-ceiling mood lighting, a mirrored ceiling and loungers. Rounding out the offer is a 60-seat auditorium and a 135m2 art gallery that will play host to exclusive D*Face pieces and rolling curated exhibitions throughout the year. 5m-high curved white walls serve as the perfect blank canvas for state-of-the-art video-mapping technology to create immersive experiences.
Still to come is a destination restaurant on the 25th floor. While details are still under wraps – there are whispers of a potential star chef partnership – the venue will benefit from outdoor terraces providing 360-degree panoramic views across the capital, solidifying the hotel’s status as a new London landmark.
Five years in the making, Dusit International unveils its new flagship, reimagined by André Fu and Dragon Company.
Some hotels are synonymous with a city. In Bangkok, it’s Dusit Thani, the first – and flagship – property from Dusit Hotels & Resorts. Its golden façade and prominent spire have been a landmark since it was opened by founder Thanpuying Chanut Piyaoui in 1970. In those days, with Thailand’s economy rooted in agriculture rather than tourism, her vision – of a distinctive hotel, fusing the best of Western hospitality with authentic Thai traditions – was a game-changer. With a prime position by Lumpini Park and ahead-of-the-curve facilities - including air conditioning and a swimming pool - Dusit Thani Bangkok became the goto destination for global dignitaries, as famed for its parties as its vast collection of artworks.
In 2016, after a roaring 50 years in business, with Dusit International now established as one of Thailand’s leading property developers and the hotel’s land lease coming up for renewal, it was time to reassess and explore how best to serve a new generation of travellers. While a typical topto-toe refurbishment was considered, a new mixed-use development won out – a move that would preserve and elevate a legacy, whilst also paving the way for the future.
And so, the homegrown grande dame has been on extended hiatus since 2019, when the original building was demolished. Five years on and its new incarnation is the talk of the town once more. The enviable task of reinvigorating the landmark fell to André Fu Studio and Dragon Company –the latter established by Architects 49 International Limited and OMA Asia (Hong Kong).
Words: Ianthe Butt • Photography: Courtesy of Dusit International
Decorated in sage and gold, guestrooms feature furniture by Stellar Works alongside handstitched headboards and pakon wall panels
Its reopening marks a significant milestone for Dusit International, as Group CEO Suphajee Suthumpun explains: “It represents the culmination of our legacy, values and vision for the future. The hotel holds immense significance for the founding family, our team and our loyal guests. The reimagined Dusit Thani Bangkok serves as a blueprint for the evolution of the brand globally. The advancements introduced here – from refined hospitality concepts to elevated design standards – will ripple across Dusit Hotels & Resorts worldwide.”
Standing proud in the same spot, though now part of Dusit Central Park – a new THB46 billion mixeduse development that includes luxury residences, an office tower and a high-end retail centre – Dusit Thani Bangkok’s new gilded skyscraper is unmissable. Both familiar and novel, it retains a rectangular form, though is 17 storeys taller and more slender, giving it a grown-up, sleeker look; the steeple however, still takes pride of place. “Much like how Thai chedis (stupas) are honoured inside new layers, the new 31m spire was constructed with powder-coated extruded aluminium sections to create a see-through effect, allowing the former 11m golden aluminium spire to remain visible,” explains Somkiat Lo-Chindapong, Lead Architect at Dragon Company.
Step inside and the triple-height, pillared lobby is all Gatsby-in-Thailand glamour with oak-panelled detailing, bespoke frosted glass and bronze lamps. Welcoming concierges are ready to arrange trips to explore unseen Bangkok – Bang Krachao island by bike, say - and kaffir lime and ginger-infused Somchoon Spritzers are served at a jade green-hued marble bar. A stepped gold ceiling, which extends in from the exterior drop-off, nods to the bold,
brutalist geometries of the original lobby’s lotusinspired ceiling, though features a more contemporary diamond-cut shape.
For André Fu, who led on the interiors, interpreting heritage elements through his own personal language of “relaxed luxury” was integral to the design narrative, which he describes as “a fine juxtaposition between the familiar and unfamiliar”. Fu and the Dusit team dug into the property’s history in granular detail. “The research, how we’ve extracted, modified, tweaked and reimagined, making it relevant to the designs we’ve created, involved a more intellectual level of thought process to determine how to capture the soul of the original, yet elevate it,” he says.
This layering of past and present is evident throughout the property, rich in shape-shifted echoes of what came before, such as freestanding decorative bronze screens designed with ProjecttStudio and Dong Sculpture. Featuring cloud-like patterns that reference Dusit – the heavenly realm from which the hotel takes its name – the screens help in “carving the lobby into spatial pockets that promote intimacy”. Through the floor-to-ceiling windows, a waterfall can be glimpsed – it is higher and slimmer than its predecessor, but retains an auspicious nine-step formation, and is watched over by two reinstated frangipani trees, planted by the founder in the seventies and nurtured offsite during building works.
Two towering antique pillars – a rush of crimson, citrine and teal – retained from the hotel’s Benjarong restaurant act as “a threshold, a transitional point into the lift lobby, where the upward journey to the more contemporary parts of the hotel unfolds,” explains Fu. These pieces highlight the hotel’s continued dedication to supporting Thai artists; at the time of
commission, Tan Kudt’s artworks, featuring reimaginings of the Thai Prajam Yam decorative pattern, were regarded as ‘out-there’; he went on to become one of Thailand’s National Artists. A further commitment to emerging talent is demonstrated in new specially-commissioned artworks, including a lobby mural by Sakon Malee depicting Buddhist lore, and a delicate sculpture by Teerapon Sisung, which resembles a floating temple spire, woven from upcycled copper wire. A third-floor heritage gallery commemorates the past, with black-and-white photography and sketches salvaged from the original property.
After arrival, guests make for the 39th-floor Sky Lobby for check-in. “Here, the silhouettes soften, it’s an oasis above the horizon with a Mid-Century sensuality,” explains Fu of the space, which pairs dome-shaped floor lamps and curving dusty pink couches with dreamy park panoramas.
This aesthetic continues in the sage and gold guestrooms, which have been designed
to drink in the Lumpini Park scenery, with all 257 now looking out to the greenery below. This was made possible by the fact that the key count has nearly halved from the previous 517, boosting the lead-in room size to 50m2 For Dragon Company, the most challenging part of the project was the showstopping fivemetre cantilevered window bays. Encased in champagne gold aluminium panels, the window boxes are decked out with sprawling day beds, affording guests a panoramic view cleverly framed by a gilt edge.
The overall aesthetic – Thai artistry with a modern twist – roots the space in Bangkok through luk fak patterns, pakon wall panels, curving furniture and headboards handstitched with golden thread by local artisans. Oak panelling and green Royal Thai carpets add a sense of woodland-luxe refinement, while pistachio-hued lattice panels reveal marbleclad bathrooms with mirrored touches, oval bathtubs and Dusit’s Devarana amenities.
Restaurants take on a more flamboyant
The hotel’s F&B venues take on a flamboyant look with statement schemes of mustard and royal blue
look; at The Pavilion, Thai and Chinese food is served in a trio of contemporary timber pavilion-look spaces, with high-gloss lattice wall panels in mustard and royal blue and a bespoke lighting pendant featuring 85 glass globes, which appear to tumble, stalactitelike from the ceiling. There’s Dusit Gourmet, a more casual countertop deli, dressed with mineral blue mosaic flooring and handmade terracotta tiles, where guests can indulge in a gourmet burger, or grab a coffee and pastry. Just-opened are Cannubi – an Italian restaurant helmed by Umberto Bombana, where interiors reincarnate a golden teak, floral-carved ceiling from the original Benjarong restaurant – and two spire-side bars: the intimate 1970 Bar for retro-inspired cocktails, and open-air Spire Rooftop Bar.
Continuing through the hotel, more thrilling design moments follow. The Devarana Wellness spa features a sculptural central meditation dome with walls resembling overlapping petals washed in a gentle glow by a matrix of floor
uplights, which aims to “transport one into a world of visual infinity, a place that is enveloping and calm,” explains Fu. The high-ceilinged, 1,350m2 Napalai Grand Ballroom meanwhile, has chandeliers inspired by vintage glass pendants, custom bronze-cast bamboo-shaped door handles and a 55m park-view window. Elsewhere, the tropical pool bar, designed by Fu with “a more contemporary urban resort look that’s pure, streamlined and timeless,” features all-white furniture with sweeping curves and straw lighting.
For Fu, Dusit Thani Bangkok represents a turning point for Thai hospitality. And as for what its founder might think? “I believe, immense pride,” says Suthumpun. “The hotel continues to embody her founding vision: to create things that had never existed before, to be bold and do great things.” For guests, it’s a truly authentic experience, rooted in Thai traditions and storytelling design, that will no doubt become the go-to stay for the great and the good once more.
EXPRESS CHECK-OUT
Owner: Chanin Donavanik
Operator: Dusit International
Architecture: Dragon Company
Interior Design: André Fu Studio, P49 Deesign www.dusit.com
Ace Hotel & Swim Club
ATHENS
Ciguë transforms a Brutalist building on the Athens Riviera into a glamorous oasis inspired by Greek Modernism.
During its mid-century heyday, the Athens Riviera was an alluring holiday destination for the global glitterati, with stars such as Brigitte Bardot, Frank Sinatra and Jackie Onassis all enchanted by the azure waters, fiery sunsets and laidback lifestyle. Now, thanks to a burgeoning cultural scene and an influx of global hospitality brands, the area, which lies just south of the city itself, is having a renaissance. No surprises then, that it’s the setting for the newly opened Ace Hotel & Swim Club, whose team have enlisted the help of local artists, chefs, shopkeepers and designers to assist with its on-point offering.
“Athens is a hub for international travel into the Greek islands, but the city itself is also very active, which makes it a prime destination right now,” says Brad Wilson, CEO and co-partner of Ace Hotel Group. “The aim with the hotel is to allow guests to connect to the city on a level that makes them feel more than a tourist, and for it to become a cultural focal point for locals. There are so many interesting people making art, music and more, and we would love to become a platform for that.”
Housed in a Brutalist-style structure, formerly operating as Fenix Hotel, the 120-room property has been redesigned by French architecture and interiors studio, Ciguë, who took inspiration from the charm of 1970s coastal resorts – think glamorous Slim Aarons photography - and the elegance of Greek Modernism. It’s a detail that is clear in the lobby, flooded with Greece’s inimitable light, where a
faceted Dionysos marble counter is the result of a partnership with Athenian artist Ilias Lefas. “Collaborating with others was an intention we set from the very beginning, and as architects, we integrated their artistic creations into the design,” explains Alphonse Sarthout, founding partner at Ciguë. The counter serves as a focal point on arrival and is set against a beaded artwork that translates to ‘a joyful welcome’ –the creation of Athens-based studio Ogust and sculptural artist Alexandros Ntouras.
At the core of the hotel, original staircases remain but the ground floor has been opened up to create a continual flow. Adjacent to the lobby, a pair of living spaces are designed for relaxation. “The idea was to make it feel like someone’s home, with sofas and books so guests can spend time here and relax,” continues Sarthout. Furnished with custom seating by Ciguë, also integral to the design is a selection of vintage pieces including lounge chairs, Moroccan Beni rugs and Modernist lighting, all of which were sourced by Athenian company
Back To The Future. “Bill and Peni collect pieces from Greece and abroad; they have an exceptionally good eye,” Sarthout notes of the studio’s leaders. To the left, a large communal table - a trademark of Ace’s lobby cultureis surrounded by a clutch of Modernist chairs, while piles of books from Hyper Hypo, a concept store in the city, offer guests the opportunity to explore the nation’s design culture. Perhaps most importantly, the spaces play host to an array of works by local contemporary artists. A vibrant representation of the Athenian arts scene, the collection showcases sculptures and tapestries, photography, paintings and drawings. Outside, two large-scale murals –one facing the pool and the other the street –were masterminded by Panos Profitis and Claire Manent respectively.
On the upper levels, the guestrooms feature original cantilevered balconies, concrete slab floors and bespoke green marble vanities. Custom wall sconces, also the work of Panos Profitis, are paired with blankets by Greek-
Guestrooms feature concrete slab floors, bespoke green marble vanities and blankets GreekEgyptian designer Salma Barakat
Egyptian designer Salma Barakat and hemp rugs by textiles studio Tantuvi. “The rooms are very simple, because we wanted a minimalist homely feel, but there is real quality in the details,” says Sarthout. “Everything is done with intention, and I think that it makes guests feel good.”
Elsewhere on the ground floor, a coffee shop is open to passers-by as well as hotel guests. “It’s common for people to drive and grab coffee, and since there wasn’t a coffee shop in the area, we decided to create one,” says Sarthout. “There’s a gallery space too, which will play host to different exhibitions.”
Also accessible from the street is Sebastian, a bistro-style restaurant designed to transition seamlessly from day to night. Featuring custom furnishings and lighting by Ciguë, the space is clad in inky blue glazed tiles, while louvered window screens diffuse natural light.
When it came to reworking the pool, it was about finding the perfect balance. Sarthout explains: “There are 120 guestrooms and we also needed to allow space to welcome local
visitors, both in the daytime and in the evening, so we created a terrace, areas for sun loungers, a pool bar, cabanas and waterside beds. The pool becomes the stage that can be viewed from different locations.”
Still under construction is a roof terrace, plunge pool and destination restaurant and bar, due to open in Spring 2025. All these benefit from expansive ocean views and will be open to the public as well as hotel guests. Wilson believes that these additional amenities will encourage other tourists to venture along the Riviera. “Athens is very compact city, so there’s not often the amenities guests might expect on a vacation,” he explains, noting that a day spent along the coast could be a welcome break from the heat of Athens. “What we’re doing is reviving the glamour and creating very comfortable, very livable spaces,” he concludes. “Our goal is always to make our guests’ travels a richer, more fulfilling experience, and with everything on offer, it’s a place Athenians can feel proud of too.”
EXPRESS CHECK-OUT
Owner / Developer: Brook Lane Capital
Operator: Ace Hotel Group
Architect of Record: George Batzios Architects
Architecture and Interior Design: Ciguë
Styling: Back To The Future
Signage: Ogust
Landscaping: Romanos Plant Nursery www.acehotel.com
Community Capital
Design Hotels returns with a second Further Forecast, exploring the rise of micro-communities and how a desire to form deeper connections is reshaping travel.
“Travellers believe that hotels can create community, but few feel like they’re part of one,” states the introduction to Design Hotels’ Further Forecast 2025. “The hospitality industry is uniquely positioned to meet this need.”
It is this observation that forms the basis of the 2025 Further Forecast. Entitled Community Capital, the trend report investigates the rise of micro-communities and how a desire to form deeper connections is reshaping travel. It describes how ‘Community Capital’ is becoming a new pillar of aspiration, as people come to understand the importance of quality relationships and social ties.
“In Further Forecast 2024, we explored how to design purpose-led spaces that impact our behaviour, enhance our wellbeing, and improve society at large,” explains Sarah Doyle, Deputy Managing Director and Global Brand Leader at Design Hotels. “Now, we’re considering the next step: how to activate these spaces to bring more value to, and even lengthen, our lives.”
Produced in partnership with Soon Future Studies, the 50-page report combines in-
depth field research and strategic foresight, together with findings from the Design Hotels Community Survey and PESTE analysis to present three micro-trends that are shaping travellers’ decision-making, alongside insights and learnings from hotels at the forefront of community-driven travel initiatives.
NICHE APPEAL
As the world grows increasingly interconnected, digital platforms have facilitated meaningful and genuine connections amongst communities with niche common interests. Though these microecosystems may appear to hold small value, new research by the University of Pennsylvania found that these niches are where cultural influence and change happen. However, the Design Hotels Community Survey indicates that while hugely popular, these virtual communities are no match for real world interaction; 46% of the 1,196 respondents believe offline communities offer a greater sense of belonging.
As such, there’s an opportunity for hotels to tap into this by creating opportunities on-site
for travellers to build community around niche interests and passions. For example, Hotelito at Musa in Mexico hosts an annual adultsonly Summer Camp where guests are invited to share their own passions and create activations together in real time, from live music sessions and games to organic gardening workshops and surf sessions.
NEW KNOWLEDGE HUBS
Knowledge is increasingly valued as a form of social and cultural capital, driving the rise of communities where insights, philosophies and experiences are exchanged. As a result, travellers are seeking more than just leisure, prioritising personal growth, deep learning, knowledge exchange and professional upskilling.
According to the Design Hotels Community Survey, 79% of respondents are willing to travel specifically to learn a new skill; 43% would join a creative workshop, such as writing, ceramics or painting; and 51% would join an educational tour. This is a clear indication that hoteliers should replace the outdated conference and
events model with new community-driven dialogue and idea exchange.
Cervo Mountain Resort in Zermatt does just that, by hosting a Love Beyond retreat during which guests discover ideas and learn new skills from expert speakers and workshops. In Greece meanwhile, dex.Silo.01 at Dexamenes facilitates immersive dining experiences that seek to spark conversation and activism amongst scientists, artists and thinkers.
LONGEVITY NETWORK
Travel has become a common pathway to wellbeing, with 82% of those surveyed by Design Hotels considering hotels to be spaces where they can improve their long-term health through spa and wellness programming.
For example, pioneering resort Lanserhof in Austria blends state-of-the-art AI-supported diagnostic techniques with medical expertise and therapeutic methods to address guests’ unique ageing processes.
But longevity has evolved beyond self-care; research from Stanford University affirms that
those who embrace social connection not only experience greater happiness but extend their life expectancy by nearly double. This suggests that wellness retreats – a popular choice amongst curated travel experiences – should be expanded to offer opportunities for connection, friendship and community.
In Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula, Hotel Nantipa offers a Blue Wellness programme, which invites guests to bond with loved ones through shared activities, and gain insight into the region’s cultural heritage through interactions with local Nicoyan families.
As the report concludes, Community Capital is the real value created by quality relationships and social ties. In the short term, it fosters a sense of wellbeing and belonging; in the long term, it enables personal growth and helps build longer, more fulfilling lives. This new pillar of aspiration is altering what people seek from their experiences, subsequently changing why and how they travel.
www.designhotels.com
The three micro-trends identified by Further Forecast can be experienced at a number of Design Hotels properties including Cervo Mountain Resort in Zermatt (above), Dexamenes in Greece (top right) and Hotelito by Musa in Mexico (right)
Hotel Construction Pipeline Global
New hotel construction shows no sign of slowing according to the latest report from THP, with the database showing a total of 8,011 projects in the pipeline globally, accounting for over 1.57 million rooms.
By region, Asia Pacific (2,919 projects) remains the most active in the world, followed by Europe (2,141 projects) and North America (1,849 projects).
And by country, the USA maintains its lead ahead of China, whilst India and Spain move up the ranks. New to the line-up is Turkey, with 34,664 rooms in the pipeline following signings for several large-scale projects along the coast.
Honing in on the most-active cities, China dominates the top 10, with Shanghai, Shenzhen and Hangzhou leading the way. The city of Suzhou has also emerged as a hotspot, with a construction pipeline of 8,364 rooms across 39 projects. Elsewhere, Riyadh continues on its upward trajectory; notable developments heading for the Saudi Arabian port city include debuts for Raffles, Regent and Rixos, as well as the futuristic Earth Hotel.
Though the numbers fluctuate on a daily basis – with a dedicated THP research team regularly adding new signings and updating design leads – it is expected that over 514,000 rooms will enter the market globally by the end of 2025.
TOP CITIES
LONDON Projects 99 Rooms 18,365
DUBAI
Projects 72 Rooms 18,570
SHANGHAI Projects 65 Rooms 16,941
TOP COUNTRIES
SHENZHEN Projects 54 Rooms 11,744
RIYADH Projects 53 Rooms 19,173
HANGZHOU Projects 52 Rooms 10,722
BANGKOK Projects 50 Rooms 12,463
CHENGDU Projects 48 Rooms 10,878
SUZHOU Projects 39 Rooms 8,364
the design, build, furnishing and operation of hotels worldwide. For more information visit: www.tophotelprojects.com
Of the 8,011 projects in the pipeline globally, 30% (2,374 projects) are in planning and 43% (3,481 projects) are under construction. It is within these phases that interior design schemes and FF&E fit-outs are being planned and implemented.
GROUPS AND BRANDS
Marriott International continues to lead by number of projects in the pipeline globally, with development driven by its flagship brand. Hilton Worldwide follows closely behind thanks to the continued growth of Garden Inn, Hampton and Home2 Suites, though it’s the premium Hilton Hotels & Resorts brand that tops the chart by project count.
The intelligence source for the hotel investment community
Eyes ahead
Hoteliers can take comfort from the Q3 results season, revealing a substantial tailwind from returning business, group and events bookings, more than making up for softer leisure travel. But the important question of how long and how large that tailwind will be, has been addressed by a couple of new studies, taking account of views from across the global travel sector.
Looking ahead over the next year, the Amex Global Business Travel survey expects hotel rates to continue to climb, despite ongoing softness in leisure demand. However, those rate rises will largely match local inflation, with the exception of city markets where there is tight supply of new hotel rooms. The latest hotel monitor notes that hotels are seeing a fundamental shift in business user demand after the pandemic. “An incremental lift in weekend corporate travel and a shift to fewer but longer business trips point to a growing trend of travellers combining business trips with leisure activities.”
This is playing through into demand for longer stays, evident in hotel group developments of extended-stay offerings. The shift is also impacting holiday lettings, where bookers are asking for better wifi and more flexible checkout times.
Rising operating costs are continuing to put pressure on hotel operators. Notably, the cost and supply of staff continues to upend traditional operating regimes, meaning that in some cases, hotels are limiting room inventory to match staffing. “This means traveling off peak may no longer deliver previously available levels of savings as the link between rates and occupancy weakens.”
Softer leisure demand will also give more power to corporate travel bookers. After paying notably higher rates in recent years, they will have more pricing power in upcoming rate negotiations, the report predicts. “More than
ever, it’s about presenting travellers with relevant and personalised options,” said Simon Fishman, vice president of global hotels at Amex. “One might want the best rate, while another will prioritise amenities and experience.”
Morgan Stanley had earlier pencilled in a 5% growth in travel budgets in the second half of 2024, and a 6% uplift in 2025 - which it called “encouraging” when set against hotel group consensus on likely RevPAR growth.
A survey carried out in Q2 of 2024 found that nearly half of respondents have seen a full recovery in corporate travel; the displacement of meeting travel with virtual meeting tools is reckoned to be settling at around 12%. Working through the numbers allowed Morgan Stanley to predict “a 3%+ RevPAR tailwind this year” followed by an expectation of strong growth in hotel room rates and volumes through the year. “Our survey’s expectations for strong budget, pricing and volume growth are particularly encouraging looking ahead to 2025, where consensus expectations are for low single digit RevPAR growth, which looks conservative, should leisure demand hold.”
Looking further ahead, the Global Business Travel Association, working with travel manager CWT, has put together a report outlining the different scenarios that business travel will face over the next 15 years. It lays out three ways forward for the sector, giving those actively involved in travel some food for thought as they watch the evolving market. Its base case suggests a stabilising market, with essential travel remaining prioritised, while technology continues to be harnessed to reduce unnecessary travel. Under this scenario, business travel volumes will rise to just over 1bn passengers a year by 2040, as close to 18% of the workforce has involvement in business travel.
The report then sets out two alternative options: boom or bust. The boom pathway would take business travel numbers to more than 1.2
billion by 2040, fuelled by increased travel to emerging markets, notably in Africa and Asia. With successful deployment of sustainable aviation fuel and other green technologies, emissions could be mitigated, as close to 22% of the workforce has a part in business travel. Alternatively, a darker picture is painted in the bust scenario, taking business travel growth to around 800 million by 2040. Further impacts from flexible working and stricter sustainability regulations could bear down on business travel, pushing companies towards virtual meetings. This scenario also sees geopolitical tensions making travel more difficult, with stricter visa regulations, for example.
“The future of business travel is at a critical juncture, driven by technological advancements, sustainability mandates and evolving global dynamics,” said Nick Vournakis, EVP and chief customer officer at CWT. “Whether navigating a boom in global travel or adapting to a slowdown, businesses that proactively integrate technology, prioritise sustainability, and stay agile will be best positioned to thrive in this shifting landscape.”
HA PERSPECTIVE
By Andrew Sangster: We have been here before with the doom and gloom stories about business travel. Post pandemic lockdown, Hotel Analyst was an outlier in its confidence that business travel would return. While we are not in the forecasting business, our outlook proved to be a far better guide to the reality than most of those who are in the business of formal predictions.
The bust scenario outlined in our story requires two things to happen that are looking unlikely: a strengthening of flexible working and tighter environmental regulations. Work from home is now, on most surveys, going into reverse and in any case, it has, if anything, added a new dynamic to business travel with the need for more internal company gatherings.
The election of Donald Trump is also going to see environmental regulations eased dramatically in the US and this will have a knock-on effect in Europe. While it is likely that European environmental regulations will prove stickier, the pace of tightening will slacken. Most companies will need to continue to improve how they measure their environmental impact and the slackening of the pace of regulation should not be misread as a reversal of course. The smart move looks to be seizing this slower rate of change as an opportunity to set a sustainable course on how to reposition company practices.
Longer lasting stay
Hospitality veteran Sam Nazarian has launched a new hotel concept uniting hospitality more closely with health. Called The Estate, the move highlights the growing wellness trend in the industry. The brand will combine hotel and clinic in a luxury concept focused on helping individuals improve health and wellbeing, with the aim of also impacting their longevity. Nazarian will work with previous partners from his SBE business, but is also bringing in business mindset guru Tony Robbins.
Alongside his mindset seminars, Robbins has extensively researched the latest developments in medical treatment, using them himself to improve his own health and recovery. “Highquality preventative medicine has significantly enhanced my own life and I’m thrilled to collaborate with Sam on launching The Estate. By meeting people where they are, we blend a five-star experience with some of the world’s leading experts and offerings in preventative diagnostics and longevity on a global scale.”
Also partnering on the project is Fountain Life, a company that specialises in health diagnostics such as body scanning and blood analysis and in which Robbins is involved. That business currently operates out of four US locations.
The aim is to build both luxury resort hotels and urban health centres, with a target of having 15 resort and residence projects live by 2030, along with 10 ‘urban preventative medicine and longevity centres’. Four launch sites have already been identified in St Kitts, the UK, Italy and Switzerland.
Nazarian commented: “In 2006 I created SLS Hotels, a brand both relevant and disruptive for the emerging lifestyle industry. Then, lifestyle was ‘access’, now luxury is ‘longevity’. In 2024, we are disrupting again, by bringing together global market leaders, providing a platform for the best ideas to surface, and giving them scale. We are not building medical hotels – we are building luxury hotels, residences and urban clinics that are differentiated by a commitment to changing people’s lives.”
The Estate launches into a marketplace where the long-promised era of personalised health is starting to become more widely available. Both Abbott Labs and Zoe offer programmes that allow users to analyse their body’s blood sugar levels, monitoring their activity and response to the consumption of different foods. A small skin-based device connected to a smartphone app allows for real-time monitoring, providing users with feedback on what foods suit them and those to avoid. Advice includes guidance on not just what to eat, but when to eat.
While the demographic target for The Estate has not been made clear, the concept may have some crossover with later living developments. By offering residences co-located with health facilities, there will be opportunities to attract seniors who are well, but are focused on staying as well as possible for as long as possible.
The Estate also speaks to trends noted in RLA Global’s annual wellness real estate report. In the 2024 edition, group CEO Roger Allen picked two trends in the sector that hotels need to address - and which The Estate appears to be tackling head on. The first of these is an
increased personal focus on wellbeing and longevity, which Allen said translates into higher consumer spending on products or services that help with healthy ageing and longevity.
Allen also noted that “wellness facilities now form a core element of the value proposition of branded residences developments worldwide”. His report focused largely on gyms, pools and yoga facilities rather than the body scanners that The Estate’s properties are likely to feature.
Others are also eyeing the opportunity to link longevity treatment and hotels. Later this year, Chi Longevity will open a clinic in the Four Seasons in Singapore. Hotel GM Peter Draminsky explained the logic: “As we welcome a new generation of guests who value more integrative health practices and prioritise holistic wellbeing, this collaboration not only enhances our current wellness offerings, but also reinforces our commitment to delivering exceptional and life-enhancing experiences.” Singapore based Chi uses advanced diagnostics to give clients personalised medical and lifestyle interventions.
HA PERSPECTIVE
By Chris Bown: Never mind the expensive whiteboard, your hotel’s best meeting room will, in future, need to have a full body scanner in it.
Staying well is a great path to follow, not least for those of us in parts of the world where public health systems are creaking under the weight of demand. But knowing what to do for the best is tough. There’s too much information, and the processed food industry will fight with every marketing tool they have, for your right to eat unhealthily. What better than guidance on the right path to take for your health, while staying at a luxury resort?
Looking at this from another angle, perhaps the residences that The Estate talk of will become the new cool in senior living. Having an attached clinic that focuses on keeping you fundamentally well, could be an attractive proposition for some retirees.
Hyatt shifts gears once more
Hyatt Hotels will spend the coming months mulling over how to expand its brand portfolio, as the group digests its latest acquisitions and builds a new brand studio to work through its lifestyle offerings. Speaking as he presented third quarter results, CEO Mark Hoplamazian noted the latest net unit growth figures were softened by the loss of a greater number of hotels than normal from the Hyatt system. And he said these situations were often due to an unwillingness from owners to invest in meeting new Hyatt brand standards.
Gross openings came in at over 6%, and he noted some planned openings would slip into 2025. “Attrition of rooms came in higher than expected,” at 1.5%. “About 40% of that difference has to do with brand standard and market-specific issues,” where Hyatt will be looking for fresh representation in a destination, ultimately improving the quality of the portfolio.
Adding another brand may be on the cards: “We do not at this point have a brand into which we would encourage owners that want to downgrade their hotels to something that’s at a lower level, just to maintain those rooms in our portfolio - that’s different than our competitors.”
And in a broader reference to the current brand stable at Hyatt, he added: “We have so much white space.”
Hoplamazian said that while Hyatt had hit its most recent disposal target, “we expect to continue to reduce our hotel ownership.” He pointed to both Hyatt Central New York and Andaz Liverpool Street in London, where redevelopment plans are being advanced, off the back of which, Hyatt will aim to gain a new hotel to operate, but not to own. He reported group pace up 5%, and business transient revenues up 16%, as corporates return in number. The pipeline is up to 135,000 rooms, “which represents 41% of our existing room base”.
The results were released just after Hyatt announced a new strategic joint venture with
Spanish company Grupo Pinero, once again significantly increasing Hyatt’s representation in the all-inclusive resort marketplace, by around 30%. The deal will add over 12,000 rooms from 23 resorts, adding largely Bahia Principe branded properties across the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Jamaica and Spain. The joint venture to manage the properties will be led by senior Grupo Pinero executives.
At Europe-focused group PPHE, the third quarter saw modest growth in all the group’s markets, albeit like for like total revenues grew just 1.8%. New openings including Art’otels in Zagreb and London Hoxton helped flatter the reported revenue figures, up 5.1% to GBP148.2m. Among European markets, Germany stood out for its return to form.
CEO Greg Hegarty noted that demand continued to improve across the corporate, business and MICE segments. “During the Period, the group made good progress against our £300m+ pipeline, including the completion of Radisson Red Berlin Kudamm and the opening of more guestrooms, a gym and meetings and events spaces at Art’otel London Hoxton. Our commitment to delivering high quality assets and services is paramount and these latest openings are testament to our thoughtful approach to creating hospitality offerings in destinations with lasting appeal.”
The group has a pipeline of new projects ready to develop, including two new hotels in central London that are already fully consented. One will see the basement levels of an existing hotel, in Victoria, reworked to provide an additional, separate property.
HA PERSPECTIVE
By Andrew Sangster: Outside of the very biggest global brands, asset right is still a thing. And Hyatt is straddling moving more towards asset light while maintaining a significant asset exposure and a readiness to deploy its balance sheet in M&A. This year looks set to be mixed for Hyatt. It has landed some fantastic M&A deals but its organic net unit growth has slipped and it will pass the leader’s jersey over to some of its bigger rivals. But it is by
no means exiting the race or even settling to come in as part of the pack for next year, anticipating a better NUG performance. Provided the miss on NUG in this quarter and the falling back anticipated for the full year is more of a timing issue than a sign of long term problems, Hyatt will be in a position to regain its crown. A key driver will be the new lifestyle division, headed by Standard’s Amar Lalvani. Hyatt has outflanked many of its bigger rivals by its move into leisure, through the acquisition of Apple Leisure Group and has continued to grow, with the Bahia Principe deal the latest move.
The deal with Standard builds on the acquisition of Two Roads Hospitality and Dream Hotels Group and positions Hyatt as a dominant force in lifestyle. The deals to add Two Roads, Dream, ALG and Standard was struck at a blended multiple of 9.5 times.
Hyatt is shedding single assets on an average multiple of 15 times, grossing USD15.6bn in the process, which makes a compelling business model. The challenge will be finding more assets through portfolio deals that it can then release into the market one at a time. For the next couple of years, private equity looks more interested in credit than making equity investments. But this period will not last and Hyatt will face tougher competition. It will need to articulate a plan for how it will keep NUG outperforming beyond this. With leisure and lifestyle it certainly has potential but execution will be everything.
Whitbread’s fresh plan
Executives at Whitbread announced a dividend increase and fresh share buyback as t hey brushed aside softer UK market performance with a new five-year growth plan.
The confident display came as the UK portfolio is suffering short-term performance issues, notably a reduction in food and beverage revenue, as it slims down its non-hotel operations and plans conversions to add new rooms at many UK sites. But CEO Dominic Paul said the plan is working, and the company has a fresh set of levers to pull, to enhance earnings. In Germany, business is accelerating as its
first hotels head towards maturity and the group delivers on a promise to be cash positive by the end of 2024. With that milestone now passed, analysts were instead asking when the German hotels would start delivering the promised double-digit returns.
A new five-year plan aims to transform the business once more. In the UK, the group plans to “protect and extend” its leading position, where it currently has 12% of the market. The current pipeline, combined with conversions of restaurants, will take the company to 98,000 rooms open by 2030, as it heads towards an ultimate target of 125,000 rooms. The extensions alone will create 3,500 more rooms.
New digital tools will increase upselling of ancillaries such as early check-in and deluxe wifi. There will be more dynamic room pricing, while the group is testing its ‘room with a view’ feature. Direct customer communication will increase via app enhancements, push notifications and loyalty incentives.
Overturning a longstanding habit, UK hotel rooms are now being sold via digital partners such as Trivago. The company said one initiative, to sell more family rooms, had led to a doubling of weekly bookings. And the previously announced plan to work with GDS and corporate travel platforms is also yielding positive results.
The company continues to leverage its owned estate. In the UK, it maintains just over half of its properties as directly owned, with the figure currently at 56%. In Germany, to date, it has leased around three quarters of its hotels, but is slowly increasing its owned ratio. Two recent sale and leasebacks in the UK were sold off a 4.1% yield, returning GBP56m, while the internal team recently developed a combined Premier Inn and Hub in Paddington, on a site the company previously purchased.
In Germany, the plan is to become number one. The group currently has 10,500 rooms open with a further 7,000 rooms in the pipeline. “Germany has gone from a headwind to a tailwind,” said Paul, with management now having the data to support their confidence.
“The key thing for us in Germany is, we still have a maturing estate,” but hotels are performing ahead of the market. “The brand awareness is building, customer satisfaction scores are high. The biggest opportunity for us is to mature the estate.”
“We’ve clearly moved on,” added finance director Hemant Patel, noting questions are now about profit growth, rather than achieving profitability. He noted that Whitbread’s progress in Germany has been rapid: “We only had six hotels coming out of the pandemic.” Addressing expectations of double-digit returns by 2030, he added: “I would say we’re bang on track.”
HA PERSPECTIVE
By Chris Bown: It was a confident display from Dominic Paul, pushing forward confidently with a new set of plans and strategies that seemed to convince the market that Premier Inn can, once again, find new ways to wring more value out of its properties and become even more efficient.
Watching the news wires over the last few months, we’ve started to see the impact of the accelerated growth plan, as the 112 restaurants being converted to rooms are presented for local planning approval. Typically, the restaurant becomes a new room block, while a couple of existing rooms near the hotel core are sacrificed to make a new breakfast bar.
In Germa ny, it feels like the hard yards have already been won. The business has good scale, a growing profile among customers, and has a solid pipeline. But the ideal would be the opportunity for more M&A deals over the coming months, to really move the needle. Whitbread has the cash - but it is always very careful about buying in the right places, for the right money.
One surprise from the presentation was a distinct change of tune when it comes to OTAs and other distribution channels. Time was when Whitbread executives vetoed the idea of using OTAs to bring in business, insisting their direct channels delivered all they needed. Breaking into Germany required them to dance with the devil, and now it sounds as if they have become comfortable even using OTAs in the UK, to top up occupancy in certain places, at certain times.
Hotel Analyst is the news analysis service for those involved with financing hotel property or hotel operating companies.
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Performance benchmarking for the global hospitality industry
1. RIO DE JANEIRO
The 2024 G20 Summit pushed Rio de Janeiro’s hotel industry to its highest monthly ADR and RevPAR since August 2016, according to preliminary November data from STR. Marking a year-over-year increase of 44.5%, RevPAR averaged BRL888.64 for the month, peaking at BRL2,194.82 – a record for the market.
November 2024 (year-over-year % change)
Occupancy 76.3% ( 0.3%)
ADR BRL 1,164.76 ( 45.0%)
RevPAR BRL888.64 ( 44.5%)
2. MADRID
A series of co-located trade fairs organised by IFEMA bolstered hotel performance in Madrid in November, with 90,000 professionals from the construction industry descending on the Spanish capital. Each of the metrics peaked on the first day of the fairs (Tuesday 5 November): occupancy (92.7%), ADR (EUR214.90) and RevPAR (EUR199.14).
November 2024 (year-over-year % change)
Occupancy 80.2% ( 2.8%)
ADR EUR174.44 ( 13.7%)
RevPAR EUR139.88 ( 16.8%)
3. QATAR
Qatar’s hotels also recorded strong performance in November, helped by the nation’s hosting of the Formula 1 Grand Prix. According to preliminary data from STR, RevPAR grew yearover-year by 42.0% and occupancy was the highest for any November since 2014, peaking at 95.2% on the Friday of the race weekend.
November 2024 (year-over-year % change)
Occupancy 83.6% ( 17.5%)
ADR QAR488.31 ( 20.9%)
RevPAR QAR408.24 ( 42.0%)
4. DUBAI
Dubai attracted record visitor numbers in H1 2024, and H2 is expected to show strong growth too, thanks to the likes of the Festival of Lights in October. The Diwali celebration lifted hotel performance across all three key metrics, with the highest RevPAR (AED957.77) posted on Tuesday 29 October.
October 2024 (year-over-year % change)
Occupancy 82.2% ( 1.4%)
ADR AED819.76 ( 2.5%)
RevPAR AED673.98 ( 3.9%)
STR provides premium data benchmarking, analytics and marketplace insights for global hospitality sectors.
For more information and to subscribe visit: www.str.com
As the sultry sun sets over Dubai, hospitality leaders from the Middle East and Africa flocked to Bluewaters to celebrate another year of creative excellence across the region.
Kicking off proceedings, Kristina Zanic, chair of the judging panel, gave an opening address detailing the increased number and high standard of entries submitted. “The creativity we saw this year reached new heights, and even after all this time in the industry, it’s incredible how often we’re surprised and inspired by the work presented to us,” she commented. “From peaceful desert retreats to wellness-focused urban hotels, each property brought its own unique take on what the guest experience should be.”
The boundary-pushing theme continued with the presentation of AHEAD MEA’s inaugural Outstanding Contribution accolade, awarded to the late Peter Van Wyk. Having worked on some iconic hotel projects with Lionel Levin & Partners, Richmond International and HBA at the start of his career, Van Wyk went on to shape Emaar’s hospitality portfolio, delivering over 6,000 keys and 5,000 branded residences around the world. The award was accepted on stage by his daughter Tallulah, before a moving tribute from long-time collaborator and friend, Seth Matson. “There’s probably not a building in Downtown Dubai that Peter was not involved in shaping in some way, and many more elsewhere,” concluded Matson. “Hospitality design was his passion, and the guest experience became front and centre of every design decision.”
The ceremony continued with the individual category awards, and Kerzner International, Nikken Sekkei and LW Design had plenty of cause for celebration, with the dual-branded One Za’abeel scooping a staggering six prizes across One&Only and SIRO, including best Newbuild. SIRO also emerged triumphant in the Guestroom and Lobby categories, with the panel praising its “strongly executed concept” that “sets a benchmark for future fitnessthemed hotels”. One&Only meanwhile, was commended for its events spaces, destination bar The Sphere and street food-inspired restaurant StreetXO, where LW Design has created “sensation and stimulation in just the right balance”, according to the panel.
The Dubai-based design studio was also victorious in the Spa & Wellness category for its renovation work on the desert resort, Bab Al Shams. The panel lauded the firm’s “immaculate selections, gentle layering and attention to detail” to create a “true reflection of Arabian luxury hospitality”.
Outside of the UAE, Africa’s new hotels fared particularly well this year, taking home a total of four awards. La Mamounia in Marrakech won Hotel Renovation, with Jouin Manku commended for its “distinctly Moroccan design” that uses “creative detailing and layering to create multiple points of interest”.
In Tanzania, Wilderness’ first mobile tented eco-camp, Usawa Serengeti, reigned supreme in the Lodges, Cabins & Tented Camps category, with the judges describing the project as “truly authentic and experiential”.
And in South Africa, The Boma at Madwaleni River Lodge within Babanango Game Reserve took home the trophy for Landscaping & Outdoor Spaces. “A sustainable, simple, yet truly extraordinary space, where local culture and craftsmanship are in tune with nature,” said one judge, while another concluded: “this is the definition of regenerative tourism”.
To the north of the country in Limpopo, the not-for-profit venture Melote House was rewarded for its commitment to sustainability, where all power is generated on-site, rammed earth walls allow for natural thermal stability, and innovative cooling systems are used to reduce energy consumption.
Over in the rapidly developing Saudi Arabia, Dar Tantora The House received the prize for Hotel Conversion. Nestled in the heart of AlUla’s old town, early Islamic ruins were sensitively converted by Shahira Fahmy Architects into a boutique hotel that is “steeped in a strong sense of place”, according to one judge. The Kingdom is also home to the big winner of the night: Six Senses Southern Dunes, designed by Foster + Partners, Muza Lab and SKS Studio. Having won Resort and Suite, the property went on to scoop the highly coveted AHEAD MEA Hotel of the Year, with the panel capitvated by the “contextually relevant narrative pulsing through every detail of the design”.
To conclude the evening, attendees headed next door to the newly opened Delano Dubai, where they celebrated their achievements and networked into the night.
Six Senses Southern Dunes has cause for celebration, as AHEAD MEA names its 2024 winners.
BAR, CLUB OR LOUNGE
Sphere at One&Only One Za’abeel – Dubai, UAE
Ithra Dubai / Kerzner International / Nikken Sekkei / Social F+B By Design – a specialist studio of HBA
EVENT SPACES
One&Only One Za’abeel – Dubai, UAE
Ithra Dubai / Kerzner International / Nikken Sekkei / Denniston / LW Design Group
GUESTROOMS
SIRO One Za’abeel – Dubai, UAE
Ithra Dubai / Kerzner International / Nikken Sekkei / LW Design Group
HOTEL CONVERSION
Dar Tantora The House Hotel – AlUla, Saudi Arabia
Royal Commission for AlUla / Kerten Hospitality / Shahira Fahmy Architects / EQI / MMG
HOTEL NEWBUILD
One&Only / SIRO One Za’abeel – Dubai, UAE
Ithra Dubai / Kerzner International / Nikken Sekkei / Denniston / LW Design / Rockwell Group / Social F+B By Design – a specialist studio of HBA / Square M
HOTEL RENOVATION
La Mamounia – Marrakech, Morocco
OCP Group / Oger Maroc / Jouin Manku
LANDSCAPING & OUTDOOR SPACES
The Boma – Madwaleni River Lodge –Babanango Game Reserve, South Africa Babanango Game Reserve / Luxury Frontiers
LOBBY
SIRO One Za’abeel – Dubai, UAE
Ithra Dubai / Kerzner International / Nikken Sekkei / LW Design Group
LODGES, CABINS & TENTED CAMPS
Wilderness Usawa Serengeti – Tanzania Wilderness / Luxury Frontiers / Charlotte Berney Design
RESORT
Six Senses Southern Dunes, The Red Sea – Umluj, Saudi Arabia Red Sea Global / Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas / Foster + Partners / Muza Lab / SKS Studio / 40 North
RESTAURANT
StreetXO at One&Only One Za’abeel – Dubai, UAE
Ithra Dubai / Kerzner International / Nikken Sekkei / LW Design Group
SPA & WELLNESS
Bab Al Shams, a Rare Finds Desert Resort – Dubai, UAE Kerzner International / LW Design Group
SUITE
Six Senses Southern Dunes, The Red Sea – Umluj, Saudi Arabia Red Sea Global / Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas / Foster + Partners / Muza Lab / SKS Studio
SUSTAINABILITY
Melote House – Limpopo, South Africa Lepogo Lodges / Black Sable Designs / Yuji Yamazaki Architecture / Copperleaf Studios
ACCESSIBILITY
The Aurelia Project, Red Sea Global
OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION
Peter Van Wyk
HOTEL OF THE YEAR
Six Senses Southern Dunes, The Red Sea – Umluj, Saudi Arabia Red Sea Global / Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas / Foster + Partners / Muza Lab / SKS Studio / 40 North
Clockwise from top left: One Za’abeel, Dubai; La Mamounia, Marrakech; The Sphere at One&Only One Za’abeel, Dubai; Six Senses Southern Dunes, Saudi Arabia; The Boma – Madwaleni River Lodge, South Africa; Bab Al Shams, Dubai
A landmark restoration in London wins big at AHEAD Europe, marking a spectacular finale to the annual awards programme.
“To all the designers, dreamers and miracleworkers in the room tonight – every line you draw, every material you choose and every detail you refine contributes to a story that connects people to the places you create, in ways that they may never fully articulate, but will always feel.” These were the words of Sharan Pasricha as he collected his Outstanding Contribution award at AHEAD Europe 2024.
“Let’s continue to push boundaries,” he added. “To innovate fearlessly, embrace technology and craft spaces that don’t just exist, but leave a lasting imprint on those experiencing them.”
A spirit of boundary-pushing was the guiding principle of the evening at AHEAD’s flagship and final ceremony of the year. Uniting for a Nordic-themed night in London’s Evolution, the leading lights of the hospitality industry applauded another year of innovative projects from across the region. After receiving his award from Christoph Hoffmann, founder of 25hours Hotels, Pasricha went on to address the crowd with a celebration of the talent sat before him. “Design isn’t just a department for us, it’s the language we speak,” he continued.
“So the truth is, any recognition I receive tonight belongs to the incredible teams I work with – the designers, dreamers and occasionally miracle workers, because, frankly, you can’t achieve anything meaningful in our industry without collaboration.”
Pasricha’s words set the tone for the rest of the ceremony, where trophies were handed out for categories that ranged from Resort, Lobby and Guestrooms, to Hotel Renovation and Conversion. Introducing the category awards and giving insight into the thorough judging process, Accor’s Federico Toresi, chair
of the panel, took to the stage. “The entries we reviewed represent more than architectural brilliance or interior design prowess; they are blueprints of human experience, spaces that inspire, comfort and transform,” he revealed, adding that “each submission brought something unique to the table, and our debates were a testament to the exceptional calibre of work we reviewed. These designs remind us that great hospitality is an art form – creating environments that tell stories, evoke emotions and connect people.”
Storytelling was celebrated in abundance over the course of the evening, particularly where Raffles London at The OWO was concerned. The landmark project took home trophies in the Hotel Conversion, Suite and Accessibility categories, before going on to win AHEAD Europe Hotel of the Year. It was described as “an extraordinary conversion” by the panel, who commended the architects and designers involved for a transformation that successfully “borrows from the past, rather than trying to recreate it”.
Accor also had cause for celebration with The Hoxton, part of its lifestyle venture with Ennismore. The brand’s Vienna outpost was lauded for its memorable Event Spaces, that pair “playful use of colour with a thoughtful homage to the city’s cultural legacy”. Kerzner International meanwhile, was triumphant in the Resort and Landscaping & Outdoor Spaces categories, with One&Only Aesthesis described simply as “the very definition of a luxury resort”.
This year, winners spanned all scales and sectors, affirming Toresi’s opening remark that a “clear trend in this year’s entries is the focus
on creating unique experiences, regardless of style or budget”. For instance, it was familyowned Cork hideaway The Montenotte that took home the Lodges, Cabins & Tented Camps trophy for its Woodland Suite Experience, which the panel saw as fusing the traditional “woodland cabin with high-end interiors”.
Elsewhere, the F&B offer at London hotel At Sloane won in both the Restaurant and Bar, Club or Lounge category – “exceptional attention to detail”, the panel said of the design scheme, with particular praise given for its “bold playfulness, intertwined with a respect for both location and history”.
Other public spaces commended include the Spa & Wellness facilities at Austrian hotel Krallerhof, which the panel described as “a unique and sensational experience”. Hadi Teherani Architects was applauded for its creative vision at Atmosphere at Krallerhof, which sees a striking exterior with a grass-topped roof blend seamlessly with the landscape’s undulating hills.
Rounding out the night were the special category awards, judged by experts in the corresponding fields. In New Concept, WeWantMore was praised for its new software Monark, developed to aid the procurement process with environmental impact. And in the Sustainability category, OLM Nature Escape was commended for its approach; the South Tyrolean eco-retreat is kitted out with 1,200 rooftop solar panels and a geothermal plant taking care of heating and hot water.
Following the presentation of the evening’s awards, an inspired crowd returned to an alpine-themed bar to finish the night with cocktails, connections and conversation.
BAR, CLUB OR LOUNGE
At Sloane – London, UK
Cadogan Estate / JLC UK / ReardonSmith Architects / Graf Paris
EVENT SPACES
The Hoxton, Vienna – Austria JPI / Accor / Ennismore / BWM / AIME Studios
At Sloane – London, UK Cadogan Estate / JLC UK / ReardonSmith Architects / Graf Paris
SPA & WELLNESS
Atmosphere by Krallerhof – Leogang, Austria Altenberger / Hadi Teherani Architects
SUITE
The Granville Suite at Raffles London at The OWO – London, UK
Westminster Development Services / Whitehall Residences / Accor / EPR Architects / The Office of Thierry W Despont / DPA Lighting Consultants
SUSTAINABILITY
OLM Nature Escape – Campo Tures, Italy Carron Spa / Thomas Steiner / Andreas Gruber Architects / Plana Ladinia
ACCESSIBILITY
Raffles London at The OWO – London, UK
Westminster Development Services / Whitehall Residences / Accor / EPR Architects / The Office of Thierry W Despont / Goddard Littlefair / AB Concept / DaeWha Kang Design / DPA Lighting Consultants
NEW CONCEPT
Monark WeWantMore
OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION
Sharan Pasricha
HOTEL OF THE YEAR
Raffles London at The OWO – London, UK
Westminster Development Services / Whitehall Residences / Accor / EPR Architects / The Office of Thierry W Despont / Goddard Littlefair / AB Concept / DaeWha Kang Design / DPA Lighting Consultants
Clockwise from top left: Manna, Magouliana; The Woodland Suite Experience at The Montenotte, Cork; Raffles London at The OWO, London; At Sloane, London; Scorpios, Bodrum; OLM Nature Escape, Campo Tures
AWAKEN
11 November 2024
RH GUESTHOUSE, NEW YORK
A group of high-level hospitality industry leaders gather at The Dining Room at RH Guesthouse in New York to explore the phenomenal growth in branded residences.
Billed as ‘a series of curated conversations on hospitality, real estate and development,’ AWAKEN events are a collaboration between RH Contract, Sleeper and AHEAD. Developed in contrast to the traditional speaker-and-audience panel format, AWAKEN instead comprises a guided discussion, encouraging open, free-flowing conversation between guests. For this inaugural edition, attendees included developers, operators, architects and designers from across North America and beyond.
With the audience casually seated in the cocooning surrounds of The Dining Room at RH Guesthouse, attendees dined on signature dishes from the brunch menu, before delving into the ‘Branded Residences Landscape’.
Matt Turner, Editor-in-Chief at Sleeper Media, explained the choice of topic, highlighting some key statistics: “In the decade 2012-2022, the branded residences sector grew by over 150%, and is forecast to almost double by 2027. There are an estimated 100,000+ branded units across 640 projects worldwide with a further 1,100 schemes worldwide expected by 2027… and these are conservative estimates if anything.” One of the biggest factors driving this growth, he explained, “is the simple fact that branded residences typically command a price premium over unbranded, somewhere in the region of 30%.”
Markus Schreyer, co-founder of META Foundation, then opened the debate to the floor, outlining three further forces that he sees driving a revolution in luxury living: “Consumer sentiment has changed. Buyers today aren’t just looking for a space; they’re looking for an experience. They want
a home that is a reflection or extension of their lifestyle.” From a developer perspective, he added: “Many buyers are seeking branded residences as a second or third home, are less sensitive to interest rate fluctuations and more focused on long-term value. Branded residences offer a massive opportunity to drive capital through pre-sales of residential components in the development phase, supporting financial feasibility early in a project lifecycle.”
Finally, he argued that brands are having a significant impact: “Luxury brands offer a sense of security and pride in ownership. In hospitality, we have what it takes to deliver on this, providing high-end service and a curated luxury living experience for affluent buyers.”
The ensuing conversation explored the branded residences phenomenon from a variety of angles, with guests contributing their thoughts on what is driving this explosive growth. Key points of discussion included the question of whether non-hospitality luxury brands from sectors such as fashion, retail and the automotive industry could create as coherent a lifestyle experience in residential projects as hotel brands can. The debate ended with a look at the complexities involved in delivering branded residences, and the differences with traditional hotel schemes in terms of execution and FF&E specification.
Wrapping up the event, Turner concluded: “I hope we all learned many valuable insights from our peers in the room. We will be hosting more of these events in future to awaken more curiosity, more collaboration and more conversations within our industry.”
Larry Traxler, Hilton Worldwide
Dayssi Olarte de Kanavos, Flag Luxury Group; Ed Kuester, RH Contract; Norma Becker, Titan Group
Anwar Mekhayech, DesignAgency
Markus Schreyer, META Foundation; Greg Keffer, Rockwell Group; Gray Davis, Meyer DavisKristen Cochran, Marriott International
Cristobal Berrios, RH Contract; Malcolm Berg, EoA; Alfonso Helfon, Grupo Alhel
Ambiente
7-11 February 2025
FRANKFURT
Ambiente – the largest and most international consumer goods fair in the world – will return to Messe Frankfurt once again from 7-11 February. On a mission to connect, innovate and empower, the event will welcome 140,000 visitors from 176 nations to explore new styles and trends across four distinct product areas: Dining, Living, Giving and Working.
The 2025 edition will see Ambiente enhance its Hospitality programme too, with added emphasis on design expertise and special areas. Commercial buyers are pointed in the direction of companies with in-depth knowledge of equipping hotels and resorts, restaurants, cruise ships and other hospitality venues, with curated opportunities to browse the latest interior design ideas, as well as tableware, glassware, kitchenware, home accessories and office solutions.
As Ambiente Designer of The Year, architect and interior designer Fabian Freytag has conceived The Lounge, a dynamic installation in Galleria 1 that uses AI and selected exhibitor
products to create inviting worlds of style for the hospitality space of tomorrow.
The event will also shine a light on the hospitality industry during Hotelier’s Day on 10 February, with a tailored programme for decision-makers, project developers and professional hosts. Attendees of the fringe event can expect themed tours, a dedicated lecture programme covering sustainability, design and the emotionalisation of the guest experience, as well as curated special presentations, such as a look at the guestroom of the future.
In addition, visitors can find a comprehensive HoReCa-labelled trade fair section in Hall 11.0, while the Hospitality Academy (formerly the HoReCa Academy), offers lectures from renowned experts, with a focus on current trends, concepts and hands-on tips.
Celebrating the art of hospitality, Ambiente connects commercial buyers with interior designers, specifiers and project planners across 350,000m2 of inspiring exhibition space. www.ambiente.messefrankfurt.com
Now under the direction of the fifth generation of its founding family, Ligne Roset seeks to affirm its status as a leading lifestyle brand.
Words: Cara Rogers
Ever since Ligne Roset launched its dedicated contract division, the company has gone from strength to strength, supplying hotels the world over with its contemporary furniture. That 2023/2024 brought record turnover is an indication of just how far the group has come since its humble beginnings.
The Roset family has been making a name for itself since 1860, progressing from a smallscale furniture-maker to a household name. With cousins Antoine and Olivier – the fifth generation of the founding family – now at the helm, Ligne Roset is poised for its next phase of growth – a reinvigoration that also stays true to its homegrown DNA.
Key to this mission is Roset Group’s 155,000m2 production facility, set in the picturesque countryside of Briord, close to Lyon. As Sleeper learns on a tour of the five factories, many of the craftspeople are locals, some having been part of the company for decades.
Despite its long history, the company prides itself on moving with the times, as demonstrated by Antoine and Olivier’s ambition to evolve into a lifestyle brand. A visit to the headquarters reveals how the group is seeking to elevate its role in the design industry – moving from solely creating furniture to creating conversation too. The recently launched Studio 1860 is testament to this; the vast showroom displays new collections as well as icons from the Roset archive, yet has been envisioned as a space for connecting and sharing ideas. “With the
rehabilitation of the Montagnieu site, the Roset Group not only wants to breathe new life into a historic industrial site, but also to make it a hub for innovation and the transmission of knowhow,” says Leo Capon, UK & Ireland Contract Manager. A new advertising campaign and the decision to replace the traditional catalogue in favour of a seasonal magazine will also see creatives ever more immersed into the Ligne Roset lifestyle.
Despite this evolution, the company’s approach remains unchanged, defined by a DNA of “creation, non-conformism, innovation and timelessness,” reveals Capon. “Dedicated teams for R&D, upholstery, cabinetry, prototyping and textiles mean every area of manufacturing is meticulously taken care of. Products from the catalogue can be adapted to meet a client’s requirement, or fully bespoke to the exacting specifications of a project.”
Ligne Roset’s wide-reaching capabilities were spotlighted in its recent partnership with London’s Royal Garden Hotel. “We worked with Viewport Studio to deliver a bespoke solution, from prototype to production,” Capon explains. “We supplied over 1,500 furniture pieces, delivered in three phases, from bedside tables, desks and chests of drawers to sofabeds, ottomans and benches, as well as five types of bed frame and headboard.”
The bespoke service is particularly appealing to the hospitality market, Capon reveals, noting that hotel designers are increasingly reaching
beyond the catalogue. “Adapting to the order, or to the location is Ligne Roset Contract’s motto,” he says. “Our manufacturing processes are capable of meeting every standard set by hotel interior designers. 164 years of manufacturing know-how ensures a quality ideal for the hightraffic nature of hospitality environments, guaranteeing stability and integrity.”
The company’s collaborations with contemporary design talents also set it apart from competitors. “Recent additions to the catalogue, such as the Valmy chair by Ramy Fischler, or the Taru collection by Sebastian Herkner, are popular with interior designers. Such partnerships allow Ligne Roset to offer a complete and qualitative collection of fabric upholstery, cabinetry, decorative accessories, lighting and rugs,” Capon adds. They also ensure that the company remains at the forefront of industry trends and developments. “Ligne Roset feeds on major societal, technological, industrial and stylistic changes to guide its creations,” he asserts.
With the next generation at its helm, Ligne Roset continues to draw on its past to carve a dynamic future, which is embodied in a recent advertising campaign, Made of Icons. “The visual campaign celebrates the avant-garde, materials, colours and emotions,” he concludes. “These have been the essential ingredients for designing and manufacturing design icons in France since 1860.”
www.ligne-roset.com
A Taste of Toko
In response to increasing demand for customisation, Sanipex Group‘s flagship brand unveils a new collection that combines durability with design flexibility.
Words: Eleanor Howard
Over the past 30 years, Sanipex Group has become a one-stop-shop for designers, developers, retailers and private clients, offering bathroom, kitchen, surface, lighting and outdoor living solutions across a growing porfolio of brands.
The group’s first and flagship brand, BagnoDesign, has become synonymous with high-quality sanitaryware, from sculptural washbasins to spa-like showers. And it is this reputation – combined with excellent customer service and after care – that has enabled the group to secure major projects with key local and regional developers, such as Emaar and Nakheel, as well as those further afield.
Based in Dubai, the in-house Product Development team consults global design trends to create original and highly functional products, from bathroom brassware and accessories in a range of finishes, to spa solutions and touchfree products that prioritise health.
In addition to designing and manufacturing coordinated collections, the team also collaborates with architects and designers on hospitality and residential projects, developing custom products that harmonise with a project’s overarching design concept. “What sets us apart is our flexibility,” states Daryl Barker, Group Managing Director at Sanipex. “As both a manufacturer and supplier, we can work directly with the developer or designer to bring their exact vision to life.”
This customisation is facilitated by Sanipex’s
5,000ft2 Research & Development centre in Dubai, which includes a new state-of-theart slab fabrication facility and a modern laboratory, where brassware products are rigorously tested to ensure their durability and technical performance meet internationally recognised standards.
It is here that BagnoDesign developed its latest launch: Toko Flavours. An enhancement of the existing Toko brassware collection, the series comprises six distinctive finishes that are available across mixers, shower solutions and accessories. Created in response to an increasing demand for custom finishes, particularly in hotel projects, the new colour palette is designed to make a striking style statement, with the option to pair the handles with the standard Toko mixer finishes.
For projects characterised by an organic aesthetic, the earthy tones of Cocoa, Truffle and Sage present the opportunity to create natureinspired palettes, complementing natural materials like wood, stone and porcelain tiles for a calming atmosphere. In contrast, Blueberry, Mandarin and Lip Gloss bring a burst of fresh fruitiness to interiors, making a bold statement. These colourways can also be combined with other stimulating finishes to create a unique visual impact, and pair well with BagnoDesign’s basins, enhancing the potential for creative expression in bathroom design.
Crafted in Italy yet plated in-house at Sanipex’s Dubai facility, the Toko Flavours
collection utilises Armour finish technology as an alternative to PVD coating. “PVD is an incredibly popular finish, but it’s expensive and challenging to produce, particularly in Europe, because very few companies have their own integrated PVD plating,” explains Barker. “There are often variations from one production batch to the next due to humidity or colour remnants left in the machine.”
Traditionally used by the ammunitions industry, this new advanced finish has been rigorously tested in both lab and real-world conditions to ensure a high level of resistance to corrosion and chemicals, making it ideal for high-traffic environments. “We see this collection as an evolution, because not only are we giving a nice finish, but we’re providing longevity too,” states Barker. Backed by a 10-year guarantee, the series combines style with long-lasting durability for a range of applications across hospitality, commercial and residential spaces.
Looking ahead, BagnoDesign will unveil three new launches in 2025 – a first for the brand. “We usually release two big ranges per year,” notes Barker. “But now we have manufacturing capabilities across the Middle East and Italy, and following the huge success of our Bristol, Nara and Beach house collections, we’re confident we can create something unique, so we’re taking advantage of that by releasing three new collections this year.” Watch this space. www.sanipexgroup.com
Feel the Beauty.
Embrace beauty and strength with AquaDura+ flooring, the robust and water-resistant flooring solution for natural looking hotel interiors.
Water resistant for up to 24 hours
Resistant, dirt-repellent wear layer with ultra-matt surface for a natural look
» to.egger.link/aquadura
Made from sustainable materials with an integrated underlay mat of recycled material
100% PVC and plasticisers free for a healthy living
Significant impact and sound insulation and improved walking comfort
SPOTLIGHT FLOORCOVERINGS
From natural quartz to recycled graphite, these are the flooring innovations paving the way in hotel design.
Obeetee Handcrafted
Rugs
Obeetee, the largest rugmaker in India, collaborates with boutique hospitality brands across the globe to supply handknotted, hand-tufted and flatwoven rugs. The company offers hospitality clients an end-to-end, collaborative product development experience, customisable by price, style and construction, with a robust design team on-hand to pivot between traditional and contemporary looks. The brand’s Terra collection (pictured) was recently on display at BDNY, showcasing the blend of traditional techniques and contemporary design sensibilities that have made Obeetee the choice of operators including Soho House, JW Marriott and Oberoi Group. www.obeetee.com
1. Multipanel Chevron
Multipanel’s Chevron LVT surface is a modern take on geometric patterned flooring, available in three wood-effect finishes named Prespa, Bolsena and Como. The former offers a whitewashed appearance that replicates driftwood, while the latter two mimic the warmth of natural oak. With an R10 slip rating, Multipanel’s LVT flooring is suitable for high traffic areas including kitchens and hallways, as well as bathrooms. Featuring a 0.5mm wear layer, Chevron is coated with ceramic beads for a durable finish, enabling it to withstand the test of time. The new LVT addition is also equipped with a 30-year guarantee for added peace of mind.
www.multipanel.co.uk
2. Nanimarquina Colorado
Marking the first collaboration between Nanimarquina and Inga Sempé, Colorado is a range that harmoniously blends tradition and modernity. The collection of ethnic-style rugs transcends the boundaries of weaving by adopting ancient techniques such as chobi (handknotted) and kilim (hand-loomed). The approach stems from a desire to avoid using figurative or geometric patterns, instead opting to use small lengths of leftover thread, connecting them to create something unique. Colorado is available in four sizes and colours –ashes, clay, moss and sand – which develop nuanced shades under varying light conditions. www.nanimarquina.com
3. Creative Matters Beckford House & Tower
Creative Matters’ custom floorcoverings have been installed at New York’s Beckford House & Tower, furnishing the grand staircase, reception area, game room, party room, library and cellar lounge. Designed by Studio Sofield, the spaces are a fitting canvas for Creative Matters’ bespoke floorcoverings, crafted to echo the building’s architectural splendour. The pieces showcase hand-knotted, hand-tufted and woven Axminster techniques across the property’s interiors, which channel the grandeur of New York’s pre-war era, blending Art Deco, Neo-Georgian and Neo-Gothic influences with an added contemporary elegance www.creativemattersinc.com
The Graphic collection by Bolon comprises a series of patterns inspired by sophisticated textile traditions, envisioned to stand the test of time. Four timeless designs make up the range, including Herringbone, a classic zigzag, and Gradient, which adopts soft textile references. Rounding out the offer are String, Mache, Tan and Etch, a group with a discreet aesthetic that can be smoothly integrated into a diverse range of interiors, and Duo, a symmetrical and elegant stripe pattern. Bolon’s floorcoverings are made in Sweden from durable woven vinyl, ensuring that they last in both high-intensity hospitality and commercial environments. www.bolon.com
4. Bolon Graphic
1. Admonter Wood Craftsmanship
Admonter, an Austrian leader in natural wood craftsmanship, is shining a spotlight on its premium range of products, which bring the beauty of nature indoors through carefully considered design. Every Admonter product is crafted from responsibly sourced European timber, with an extensive selection of customisable finishes, textures and designs on offer that facilitate a harmonious fusion of tradition and modernity. Portfolio highlights include natural wood flooring that is durable, elegant and versatile, as well as wall and ceiling panels, and acoustic solutions that enhance sound quality whilst also maintaining visual appeal.
www.admonter.com
2. Devon & Devon Elite
Ideal for a variety of interiors, the artisanally crafted Elite flooring collection by Devon & Devon is a modern take on the centuries-old tradition of mosaics.
Throughout the range, a combination of fine marble in contrasting colours creates sophisticated geometries, available in a wide array of compositional and colour variants. Elite 3 has been conceived to evoke the sophisticated elegance of years gone-by, while Elite 4 and Elite 8’s marble designs punctuate interiors with geometrics that showcase refined patterning and detailing. Founded in Florence in 1989, Devon & Devon produces stylish reinterpretations of 20th century European tradition and design. www.devon-devon.com
3. Listone Giordano Circular
Listone Giordano’s portfolio puts sustainability at the forefront of the high-end wood flooring sector. Its latest launch, Circular, moves in line with the rhythms of a circular economy, creating a traceable upcycling chain capable of generating social and environmental value. Graphit (pictured) is a new range that has been developed in collaboration with Alisea as part of the project, giving graphite from industrial plants a new lease of life, and thereby reducing waste. The company’s production methods include a process of recycling that aims to contribute to the gradual decoupling of economic activity from the consumption of finite sources.
www.listonegiordano.com
4. Ege ReForm Memory
The ReForm Memory carpet collection by Ege draws on human-centric design principles, using calming colours and rich textures to create spaces that promote personal wellbeing. Developed by textile designer and Creative Director Carol Appleton, the range is inspired by biological research that emphasises the importance of the natural world and stimulation of the senses through rich textures, resulting in 18 colours intended to create various moods through serene yet surprising harmonies. “Design and colour affect the way we feel and act in a space,” says Appleton. “Reminders of the natural world, light and familiar colours can create a sense of belonging.”
www.egecarpets.com
1. Antolini Exclusive Collection
The Exclusive Collection by Antolini draws on Mother Nature’s finest offerings to bring to life a range of striking surfaces. Materials include granite, limestone, marble and natural quartz, as well as onyx, soapstone and travertine, available in a range of colours that range from more neutral tones to bold blues, purples and greens. Each carefully crafted natural design explores the earth’s most remote locations through stylistic curiosity and freedom, drawing on materials from across the globe, including exclusiveaccess quarries. Antolini seeks to offer a glimpse of the natural world, in multiple finishes, through a select network of distributors and partners.
www.antolini.com
2. Egger AquaDura
Egger has introduced AquaDura, a robust and water-resistant flooring solution with the ability to withstand high-traffic hotel interiors. The hybrid flooring features a matte, dirt-repellent layer that ensures long-lasting quality, while impact and sound insulation offer improved ambience. Created as a sustainable alternative to Luxury Vinyl Tile, AquaDura is 100% free of PVC and plasticisers, while its time-saving integrated underlay is made using recycled material. Available in 40 finishes to emulate the appearance of wood and natural stone with less cost, less labour and higher environmental credentials, the range offers both practicality and style.
www.egger.com
3. Florim SensiTerre
The partnership between Florim and Matteo Thun has been further strengthened with the unveiling of SensiTerre, a collection that reinterprets the world of clays by merging traditional craftsmanship with technological innovation. Celebrating the 10th anniversary of the limited-edition terracotta vases designed by Matteo Thun and Benedetto Fasciana in collaboration with Bitossi, the new Florim SensiTerre collection pays homage to the vases’ design, which features gauze imprints, comb marks and engravings to create unique textures that evoke the charm of Renaissance Italian workshops. A dialogue between the handmade, history and the industry’s new horizons, SensiTerre draws on the warm colours and textured surfaces of clay, with six colours faithfully reproducing its different natural shades, alongside four surface finishes. The modularity of the range, which enables multiple configurations of small and large pieces, maximises the possibility for creative expression and allows for the crafting of unique products. SensiTerre is brought to life through an environmentally conscious process carried out in facilities where 100% of raw production waste and wastewater are recovered. Florim – a Benefit Corporation and certified B Corp – has also ensured that the collection is part of the CarbonZero project, featuring carbon neutral surfaces that offset all CO2 emissions throughout their lifecycle.
www.florim.com
EE SMITH CONTRACTS, AT THE PINNACLE OF SUPER-PRIME FIT OUT ACROSS ALL LUXURY SECTORS
SPECIFIER
The Bond table lamp reflects and transmits light differently depending on the natural light that surrounds it, producing a unique ambience at different times of the day. Emitting a soft, warming glow, the lamp is suitable for creating a cosy atmosphere and adding a touch of elegance to any interior on bedside tables, desks or side tables. www.sanssoucilighting.com
Sans Souci Bond
Ultrafabrics
Pantone 2025 Colour of The Year
Ultrafabrics has announced its third collaboration with the Pantone Colour Institue to mark the 2025 Colour of The Year: Mocha Mousse. Together, the two brands are celebrating the harmonious balance of modern design and timeless simplicity that Mocha Mousse represents, encouraging designers to create interiors and exteriors that evoke comfort, connection and understated elegance. This partnership features Simple Pleasures, an exclusive colour palette by Ultrafabrics inspired by the beauty of slowing down and savouring of quiet moments, along with interactive events and bespoke colour customisation across the brand’s extensive range of vegan leathers.
www.ultrafabricsinc.com
Humble Firefly
Humble has captured the warm glow and cosy charm of candlelight for its wireless Firefly table lamp. Designed to avoid the fuss of melting wax or matches, this statement piece is safe, sustainable and portable. Firefly offers a balance of elegance and practicality. Its wireless and rechargeable features, combined with up to 100 hours of battery life, ensure seamless functionality. Commercial venues benefit from conveniences like group remote control, wireless charging and smart integration. In line with Humble’s commitment to sustainability, this product is built for life and easy to repair, ensuring it remains a valued part of any dining space for the years to come.
www.humblelights.com
Brand Van Egmond Bubbles
William Brand, founder of Brand Van Egmond, has captured the carefree bliss of a child blowing bubbles and translated it into a sculpture of light. His exploration of freedom and material has resulted in the Bubbles collection, a vision of lightness and beauty where light is captured in a dance of brilliance. Crafted from borosilicate glass, the collection combines lightness with strength, while the unique glow offers a mesmerising effect at any hour of the day. Available in various finishes and dimensions, Bubbles offers endless possibilities and, for a truly personal touch, Brand Van Egmond offers handcrafted bespoke installations.
www.brandvanegmond.com
Nalu is not only an outdoor furniture collection, rather a means understanding the link between covering and structure, between straight geometries and unpredictable curves. Comprising a sofa, armchair, sun bed and dining table, the range draws inspiration from the golden years of Italian design and was born from the idea that a single cushion folds in the middle to create a seat and back, similar to a wave. The moulded armrests emerge from a soft structure that envelops the user. In addition to being completely recyclable, the Nalu collection features a 100% aluminium structure in resistance to atmospheric agents and respect for the environment.
www.talentispa.com
Inspired by Shanghai’s iconic Bund, where history meets modern life, the Mr.B collection by Neri & Hu for Stellar Works embodies an East-meets-West fusion. Merging craftsmanship with contemporary design, the range features robust wooden structures and industrialinspired metal details. Clean-lined upholstery offers elegance and comfort, balancing tradition and modernity. The Mr.B swivel bar chair adds sophistication and comfort to residential and hospitality spaces, reflecting Shanghai’s timeless charm.
www.stellarworks.com
Ligne Roset
Royal Garden Hotel
Ligne Roset Contract has supplied the bedroom furniture to the Royal Garden Hotel in Kensington, London. Designed by Viewport Studio, meticulous detail was required to bring to life its vision for this luxury hotel overlooking Kensington Palace. Production on this scale called for a strong relationship between the Ligne Roset factories in France and the interior designers in London. Communication was vital to deliver 217 keys with over 1,500 individual furniture pieces. With 155,000m2 of production facilities and over 160 years of manufacturing know-how, Roset Group are well placed to deal with such quantities of bespoke manufacturing. The Royal Garden Hotel project included the creation of upholstery and casegoods, thus requiring the full extent of Ligne Roset Contract’s production capabilities.
www.ligne-roset.com
Stellar Works Mr.B
Talenti Outdoor Living Nalu
CASE STUDY
Hector Finch Lincoln Lantern
Hector Finch has expanded its collection with new classicalinspired designs such as the Lincoln Lantern. Marking the second design created in partnership with the Sir John Soane’s Museum in Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London, the historic lantern has been sensitively modified for Hector Finch and includes the anthemion scrolls, which are derived from casts and models in the museum collection. “With our roots in the antiques trade, we have always drawn on historical design styles and references to create the Hector Finch Collection,” says Emma Finch. “By refining and innovating each piece, our clients enjoy a contemporary take on classic design.”
www.hectorfinch.com
Ethimo has unveiled Patio, a new outdoor furniture collection designed by Studio Zanellato/Bortotto. Characterised by creative weaving and teak, the range comprises shapes that create a cocooning effect, conceived to comfortably embrace the user. The name and arched weave recall the traditional patios typical of Spanish architecture – a welcoming place that brings the indoors outside. “The Patio collection stems from our passion for the variety of weaves and patterns discovered on our travels,” says Studio Zanellato/Bortotto. “We designed a series of motifs as 3D surfaces that could be become the decoration and structure of a series of outdoor seating elements. The latter become true frames in wood and teak into which skilled craftsmen weave close patterns based on our suggestions, tests and inspirations, gathered with this new project in mind for Ethimo.” The Patio collection comprises an armchair, three-seater sofa, daybed, hammock and coffee table with an enamelled lava stone top in fog or moss green. There are also a range of Patio dining solutions including a round table, oval table and small armchairs with a padded cushion. www.ethimo.com
Ethimo Patio
Del Mar Lighting Custom Decorative Lighting
Timorous Beasties has opened a new flagship showroom in the heart of London’s Clerkenwell district. Originally constructed in 1916, the building previously operated as a lithographic and typesetting printworks, hence resonating with the company’s heritage and craft. The new 2,300ft2 showroom is arranged over two floors, both flooded with natural light. Customers are able to browse and purchase Timorous Beasties’ entire collection of wallpapers, fabrics and accessories, as well as smaller gift items. Items are displayed in lifestyle settings with comfortable zones to sit and relax, browse sample books and discuss interior schemes with the team. Timorous Beasties also offers a design consultation service within the showroom, as well as a meeting space for trade clients. www.timorousbeasties.com
Del Mar Lighting specialises in custom decorative lighting design and manufacturing for the hotel, gaming, commercial and architectural industries. Its capabilities include metal fabrication, custom finishing, laser cutting, resin moulds, wood engraving and shade making with an abundant supply chain. Del Mar Lighting currently works with lighting materials such as onyx, quartz crystal, egyptian crystal, China K9 crystal, blown glass, faux materials and lucite. Located in Orange County, California, their showroom is dedicated to in house and custom collections. www.delmarlightingco.com
Jung Cradle to Cradle
Jung is placing the spotlight on its Cradle to Cradle certification, the international standard for sustainable, circular-ready and responsible products. The process involves investigating the entire value-added chain to ensure that products have no negative influence on people and the environment in their complete lifecycle. Evidenced by the C2C Material Health certification, no environmentally damaging chemicals are used in the products. All certified Jung ranges are produced using renewable energy, and can be separated into material types for post-use recycling. From switches, push-buttons and frames to inserts and classic sockets, over 100 individual products have received the coveted distinction. A particular challenge was the certification of the KNX modules, such as the push-button or the room controller display with their small parts and complicated technology. The certification of the Jung KNX sensors and the KNX automatic switches with the Bronze status is a great success for the industry. Jung has achieved this as the worldwide sole manufacturer. www.jung.group/c2c
Timorous Beasties New Showroom
Tribù x Yabu Pushelberg Elio
Canadian design duo Yabu Pushelberg reflect on their longstanding partnership with Tribù, revealing more on the new outdoor seating range Elio.
How has your experience as interior designers influenced your approach to product design?
Glenn Pushelberg: As designers, we’re acutely aware of the gaps in the market because we often can’t find the right product for our projects – that’s why we started designing furniture in the first place over 12 years ago.
George Yabu: Glenn and I have built a team of designers trained in industrial, product and future design; their knowledge paired with our own experience designing interiors means we can take a more focused approach.
How would you describe your relationship with Tribù?
GP: We have developed such a good and evolving relationship with Tribù. Each collection we create together is different, but still falls into what the meaning of Tribù is.
What was the brief for the collection?
GP: Our duty as furniture designers is to understand the principles of a brand, and it’s their obligation to set us free within that context, which is what happened with Elio.
GY: Tribu’s only criteria was for us to create something with teak, not only because they have partnered with a responsible teak farm in Indonesia, but because it is a water-, mould- and insect-resistant material suitable for outdoor environments.
What is your favourite aspect of the range?
GY: The combination of light and medium neutral Tricord ropes creates a tonal shift in the double weave that gives subtle dimension to each piece.
What can Elio bring to hospitality environments?
GY: The core ethos of our collaboration with Tribù is for there to be no physical or conceptual division between indoor and outdoor furniture. As such, Elio could work as easily next to another chair in a lobby as on an outdoor terrace.
www.tribu.com
4 - 6 March, 2025
Pelangi Beach Resort – Langkawi, Malaysia
A Vision for the Future?
As technology becomes ever more ingrained in hospitality, a new AIpowered concept offers a glimpse at the hotel of tomorrow.
The BBC recently transported viewers back to 1995, when TV programme Tomorrow’s World predicted what daily life would look like in 2025. At the time, forecasters envisioned a future of robotics and space travel, and though technology has progressed rapidly over the past 30 years, in retrospect, were such predictions a little ambitious? In the hospitality industry, technological innovations continue to make their mark on new developments – the most interesting of late being a hotel in Las Vegas, said to be powered by artificial intelligence. The brainchild of AI-driven technology specialist Otonomus, the new concept delivers a personalised guest experience through the company’s proprietary AI systems. FIRO, an advanced management dashboard and booking engine, features smart booking that optimises
operations through dynamic room allocation and pricing, while KEE is a mobile app that serves as a digital key and personal concierge, allowing on-the-go adaptation to a guest’s individual preferences. Other benefits of the technology include the ability to customise room configurations, select amenities and track energy usage, offering guests the chance to curate a more sustainable stay. “We’re not just showcasing a hotel; we’re presenting a vision for the future of travel,” explains Philippe Ziade, founder and CEO of Otonomus. “Our AI-powered hotel concept represents a paradigm shift in how travellers experience accommodations, setting a new standard for guest satisfaction and operational efficiency in the hospitality industry.” Perhaps the future predicted by Tomorrow’s World isn’t so far off after all.
