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HOSPITALITY EXPERIENCE & DESIGN

ORIENT EXPRESS – VENICE • RAUL LEAL – STARWOOD HOTELS • CONRAD – ATHENS THE ILISIAN

Coastal collection Lighting designed to stand the test of time

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CONTENTS ISSUE 129 076

HOTEL REVIEWS

086

Orient Express

066

Hotel Lucile

076

Puro Grand Hotel

083

Anantara Tented Camp

086

St Regis

096

Kitirua Plains Lodge

104

Conrad

110

Coco Hotel

120

Fairmont The Mere

122

Wine & Books By The Sea

133

Venice

Los Angeles © Richard Waite

Palma

Kafue River 138

Budapest Kenya

Athens The Ilisian Copenhagen Cheshire

122

Algarve

FEATURES Sync Your Senses

138

Addressing a long-overlooked gap in hospitality, HKS presents a research-led blueprint for neuroinclusivity, rethinking how design can accommodate a broader spectrum of sensory needs.

CONTENTS ISSUE 129 042

FEATURES Meeting... Raul Leal

042

Meeting... Dino Michael

048

40 Years of Stonehill Taylor

053

As Starwood Hotels reclaims its name, CEO Raul Leal reflects on the company’s legacy and outlines how a more curated approach to growth is shaping its next chapter. As Hilton continues to expand its luxury portfolio, the group’s Senior Vice President of Luxury Brands explores the balance between established frameworks, individual expression and commercial ambition. Upon celebrating a milestone anniversary, the President of Stonehill Taylor discusses the past, present and future of hospitality design.

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104

006

053

096

REGULARS Check-In

028

Drawing Board

030

The Lobby

059

Business Centre

148

Events

159

Fabrics, Surfaces & Wallcoverings

175

Spa & Wellness

185

Specifier

191

Check-Out

210

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ON THE COVER Orient Express, Venice © Guilio Ghirardi

The Art of Reinvention

here’s a certain responsibility that comes with

year after year. The details that turn a hotel into something

reinventing an icon. Unlike newbuilds conceived entirely

more than just a place to stay. And that’s where the real art

from scratch, legacy hotels have a history – one that is

of reinvention comes in. It’s not simply about deciding what

woven into the memories of generations of guests. For some, it’s a recognisable façade or pioneering design that gives a hotel its lasting presence. For others, it’s a

needs to change, but recognising what’s worth holding on to; preserving the elements that matter, while finding new ways to bring them to life for a different generation of guests.

place associated with personal milestones, family traditions

Conrad Athens The Ilisian is just one of the projects under

or shared experiences. Either way, its significance extends

the spotlight in Icons Reinvented – a presentation and panel

beyond the building itself, becoming part of the story of a

discussion at HIX Europe. Taking place from 25-26 November,

city and its people. So what happens when that story needs

the hotel design event is undergoing a reinvention of its own,

to be rewritten?

with a complete reimagining and a move across London to

It’s a question the hospitality industry faces with increasing

Excel. Much like the iconic hotels explored within the pages

frequency, and one with no simple answer. As new players

of Sleeper, the challenge was knowing what to keep and what

enter the market, established hotels must evolve to remain

to change. With that in mind, the 200+ exhibitors remain at

relevant; after all, even the most celebrated icons need a

the heart of the show, while new activations, installations

reinvention from time to time.

and a new-format talks programme represent evolution. The

Over the past 12 months, Sleeper has covered a number

ambition to establish HIX Europe as a truly pan-European

of iconic hotels that have temporarily closed their doors to

hub for hospitality design – bringing owners, operators,

undergo a major transformation. This issue, we feature the

developers, designers and suppliers together in a curated,

former Hilton Athens, the first internationally branded hotel

created campus – reflects a broader evolution. So, too, does

in Greece, which recently reemerged as Conrad The Ilisian

its proximity to AHEAD, taking place just across the river at

some 60 years after first opening.

Magazine London.

The decision to rebrand can’t have been an easy one. Ask any

Details of the HIX Europe programme can be found in the

Athenian and they’ll likely recall a lunch with grandparents or

centrefold, and the final tickets to AHEAD are available online

cocktails on the rooftop. It’s a hotel that has long been close

at the Sleeper Media Store. Join us in London to explore the art

to the hearts of the city’s people. Such was Hilton’s impact

of reinvention, exchange ideas and discover the next chapter

that the surrounding area was even named after the hotel –

for hospitality design.

up until recently, the moniker still appeared on bus stops and property listings. Those behind the redevelopment knew they had a legacy to contend with. The first step was to understand what makes the hotel special in the first place. The architecture, a defining design or even a familiar ritual that keeps guests coming back

Catherine Martin • Managing Editor

023

GUEST BOOK

076

086

104

066

076 Lucia Bartholomew

086 Meg Ralph

104 Guy McGregor

066 Aline Asmar d’Amman

Since co-founding multidisciplinary practice Electric Bowery in 2013, Lucia Bartholomew has built a portfolio of residential and hospitality projects that balance historic character with contemporary flair. This approach is evident at Hotel Lucile, where the firm transformed a 1930s Californian church, preserving its original architectural features before introducing layered interiors and curated artwork. As Bartholomew explains: “It was very much a project of restoration, then layering with colour and pattern.”

Meg Ralph is well-versed in designing camps and lodges, yet her latest project is a clear departure from the conventional safari aesthetic. For Anantara Tented Camp Kafue River in Zambia, the Cape Town-based designer has created a scheme she describes as Afro-Modernist – “a contemporary African design language, grounded in the clarity of Mid-Century form and the expressive character of the handmade,” – where geometric forms and bold colour sit in harmony with traditional craft.

“Every material carries the memory of where it came from and who made it,” says Guy McGregor, Managing Director of Luxury Frontiers, on the guiding principle behind Kitirua Plains Lodge, a new A&K Sanctuary in Kenya’s Amboseli National Park. The result, according to McGregor, is a safari retreat “that feels inseparable from Kenya itself, shaped by its landscapes, enriched by its craftspeople and grounded in the belief that the strongest hospitality experiences begin with an authentic connection to place”.

“Born in Beirut, I feel a very personal connection to the dual culture that Venice carries,” says Paris-based Lebanese architect and interior designer Aline Asmar d’Amman, whose own heritage informed the reimagining of Palazzo Donà Giovanelli as Orient Express Venice. She reveals: “I imagined the transformation as a theatrical sequence of wonders, a tribute to both the whimsical mysteries of Venice and the spectacular architectural marvels of the 15th-century jewel, preserved and unearthed.”

025

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FRONT DESK EDITORIAL

COMMERCIAL

EVENTS

DESIGN

Editor-in-Chief Matt Turner m.turner@mondiale.co.uk

Business Development Rob Hart r.hart@mondiale.co.uk

Commercial Lead Kieran Dean k.dean@mondiale.co.uk

Design Manager David Bell

Managing Editor Catherine Martin c.martin@mondiale.co.uk

Business Development Charlotte Gowing c.gowing@mondiale.co.uk

Events Manager Ellie Brown e.brown@mondiale.co.uk

Deputy Editor Eleanor Howard e.howard@mondiale.co.uk

Account Manager James Lloyd j.lloyd@mondiale.co.uk

Marketing & Events Olivia Mavers o.mavers@mondiale.co.uk

Editorial Assistant Hannah Wintle h.wintle@mondiale.co.uk

SUBSCRIPTIONS

Data & Marketing Adam Cymbaluk a.cymbaluk@mondiale.co.uk

Editor-at-Large Guy Dittrich

enquiry@sleeper.media

Production Jez Reid

CORPORATE Chairman Damian Walsh Chief Operating Officer Amanda Giles Accounts ar@mondiale.co.uk

SUBSCRIPTIONS

SUSTAINABILITY

Visit the online store to subscribe and save across all Sleeper Media magazines.

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Subscription records are maintained at Sleeper Media. For address changes, email enquiry@sleeper.media Sleeper (ISSN: 1476-4075 / USPS: 21550) is published bi-monthly by Sleeper Media Ltd and is distributed in the USA by RRD/Spatial Global. Pending periodicals postage paid at South Hackensack, NJ. Send USA address changes to Sleeper, c/o RRD, 18 Central Boulevard, South Hackensack, NJ 07606, USA.

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xxx

CHECK-IN

Lauren Rottet The Founding Principal of Rottet Studio takes a fantasy break on the Costa Rican coast, where a secluded sanctuary unfolds between the rainforest and sea.

Where are you?

Describe the hotel, your room and the view...

where we dine by candlelight. At 2,000 metres

I am on the southeast coast of Costa Rica, on

This is the first hotel of a new brand created

elevation, the air is pure, the breeze cool and

the edge of the rainforest. The site is pure and

by former Six Senses CEO Neil Jacobs, Aman

the sound of wildlife palpable. The cutlery,

undisturbed, and I do not see another guest as

founder Adrian Zecha and Leonardo Ferragamo,

plating and napkins are exquisitely detailed –

I check in beneath a canopy of artfully woven

President of Salvatore Ferragamo. The main

not overdone, but a simple reminder of time

guanacaste branches, almost indistinguishable

building is minimal in design, made from

and place.

from the coconut trees above.

natural materials native to Costa Rica, with a large expanse of glass rendering distinction

Who are you dining with this evening?

How did you get there?

between inside and outside imperceivable. I

I am joined by my family and friends. Mid-

I flew private on a friend’s new Gulfstream

spend the first two nights in the Of The Land

way through our appetisers, to my joy, Shigeru

G700. Upon landing, I was offered a choice of

villas, which perch in the rainforest and are built

Ban and Renzo Piano arrive, followed by artist

transportation, but chose the vintage Porsche

by hand using intertwined branches from the

Theaster Gates and art dealer David Zwirner.

once owned by James Dean.

guanacaste tree. There are no windowcoverings, as each is completely private. Candlelit paths

Who’s manning the stoves?

Who is there to greet you on arrival?

lead down to the lap pool and through to the

Chef Carlos Alpízar is stranded in Miami, so my

Brad Wilson, President of Ace Hotels and one of

coastline. The next four nights are spent over

children, Kyle and Evan, take to the kitchen,

the world’s best hoteliers, is here to greet me.

water in the Of The Sea villas, only accessible

delighted by the world-class cooking equipment

His team bring Loro Piana linens scented with

by boat, paddle-board or a short swim. Interiors

and local organic ingredients. Alpízar arrives

Clive Christian No 1, along with a tray of fresh

are natural and contemporary, yet I can’t help

soon after, accompanied by The French

cocktails made using small-batch vodka, island

but think Ernest Hemingway must have come

Laundry’s Don and Sally Schmitt, to add the

mint and guaro.

here to write, as it’s layered with lanterns and

final flourishes.

vintage books about the sea. And what’s on the menu?

And who’s at the concierge desk? Michael from The Surrey in New York awaits,

Who designed it?

Traditional Costa Rican cuisine with a blend

dressed in a white shirt, neckerchief, red belt

Shigeru Ban envisioned the overall concept,

of Californian Mediterranean. We start with a

and handwoven chonete hat, all styled by Chloé

with Renzo Piano leading the architecture of

ceviche of red snapper, dorado and avocado with

Creative Director Chemena Kamali, of course.

the main buildings and French designer Andrée

tostones, followed by a family-style meal of olla

Putman overseeing interiors.

de carne, grilled spiny lobster and a salad of

Who are you sharing your room with?

local fruits, topped with a citrus vinaigrette. We

I have my own villa for privacy and pure R&R.

What’s the restaurant and bar like?

finish with a flurry of desserts – coconut flan,

My family and friends stay in nearby suites –

There are several places to dine, either alone or

atol de naranja and granizados.

far enough away for complete quiet, yet close

with friends. The oceanfront restaurant nestles

enough to see their lights glow warmly as dusk

into a shoreside boulder and is designed as a

What’s in the mini-bar for a night cap?

approaches. My kitty, Sirree, joins me as he

native shelter, simply furnished with stone

It’s a mix of international brands and local

loves watching toucans, macaws, puma and

tables, wooden chairs and linen cushions. But

must-tries. I love a good mini-bar and the team

spider monkeys from the safety of the room.

my favourite is the remote rainforest restaurant,

know my preferences; it doesn’t disappoint!

029

DRAWING BOARD

Mett KSAMIL

Sunset Hospitality Group (SHG) and Aica Properties have

brand is a key driver of SHG’s global expansion, with the wider

announced the signing of Mett Ksamil, marking the lifestyle

portfolio now spanning 112 destinations across 27 countries.

brand’s debut in Albania.

“Mett Ksamil is an exciting step in our European growth

Slated to open in 2029, the year-round leisure destination has

story,” comments Jaime Buxó Clos, CEO of Sunset Hotels &

been designed by Studio Fuksas, whose vision will introduce a

Resorts. “With this signing, Mett reaches 112 hotels globally,

distinctive architectural landmark to the Riviera.

proof of just how central this brand has become to Sunset’s

The 201-key hotel is built around light-filled public spaces

momentum. Albania’s Ionian coast is fast becoming one of

and a central green atrium, with destination dining, resort-style

the Mediterranean’s most compelling destinations, and this

pools and a rooftop lifestyle deck framing panoramic views of

project lets us bring Mett’s signature mix of design, dining and

the coastline. The F&B line-up comprises a beach club, poolside

experiential living to a coastline with extraordinary potential.”

lounge and speciality restaurant, complemented by additional

Antonio Gonzalez, Chairman and Group CEO of Sunset

branded concepts. Further amenities include a 10,000ft2 wellness

Hospitality Group, adds: “This signing is also a reminder that

centre, a 9,650ft2 events space and two retail outlets.

Sunset’s ambitions go well beyond hotels. As we grow Mett

The announcement follows recent signings in Milan and

across new markets, we’re equally focused on bringing the full

Sitges, as Mett Hotels & Resorts continues to expand its

breadth of our lifestyle offering – dining, daylife, nightlife and

international footprint. With further growth planned across

beyond – into the destinations where we see the greatest long-

Europe and Southeast Asia, as well as a Middle East debut, the

term potential, and Ksamil is very much one of them.”

DRAWING BOARD

Vestige Xaudum

Vestige Collection is entering a new phase of

respond to the landscape, framing views across

growth, with the Spanish hospitality group set

the ancient riverbed, while natural materials and

NAMIBIA

to make its international debut in Namibia.

a palette reflecting the colours of the Kalahari

Opening in March 2027, Vestige Xaudum is

Local sourcing and craftsmanship are also

Khaudum National Park, one of Africa’s least-

integral to the design. Thatch has been sourced

visited wilderness areas.

from the villages surrounding Khaudum, and

With just six lodges, each affording generous indoor and outdoor living, space and privacy are

032

much of the construction is being undertaken by skilled local craftspeople.

central to the guest experience. Shared facilities

In line with Vestige Collection’s sustainability

meanwhile, include a spa, an open-air fitness

goals, the project has been developed with a

deck and a 78m2 swimming pool, complemented

strong focus on conservation and community,

by spaces for relaxation and dining. The culinary

prioritising the protection of the natural

approach will be rooted in the Namibian setting,

environment and support of local communities

with much of the fresh produce sourced within

through training and mentoring.

the country and prepared over the spit-braai.

EXPRESS CHECK-OUT Operator: Vestige Collection Architecture and Interior Design: Vestige Estudio www.vestigecollection.com

ground the interiors in the setting.

set among the Kalahari sand dunes deep within

Vestige Xaudum is the first of four lodges

Vestige Estudio, the group’s in-house design

forming a new circuit through the contrasting

division, has shaped the architecture and

landscapes of northern Namibia. It will be

interiors of the resort, substantially redesigning

followed by Vestige Sorris Sorris, Vestige

and enlarging the suites, and conceiving an

Omatendeka and Vestige Sheya Shuushona, each

entirely new main lodge. Bold, sculptural forms

designed in response to its setting.

DRAWING BOARD

Delano

Following the successful relaunch of Delano

setting. Rather than applying a standardised

Miami Beach, Ennismore is expanding the

approach, we’re creating a bespoke experience

PUGLIA

brand’s footprint with plans for its Italian debut.

that draws on the existing architecture,

Set along the Adriatic coast in the historic port

landscape and the cultural character of Puglia.”

EXPRESS CHECK-OUT Operator: Ennismore Main Contractor: LIMM Project Manager: Societa Rinascimento Valori www.ennismore.com

034

city of Monopoli, Delano Puglia will extend the

He continues: “Light-filled interiors, fluid

brand’s distinctive spirit across 76 guestrooms

transitions between inside and out, and a

and a considered mix of leisure, wellness and

natural palette will create a contemporary

social experiences. The F&B line-up includes a

Mediterranean feel, while unexpected, carefully

speciality restaurant, two poolside bars and a

considered moments bring the spirit of Delano

lobby lounge, alongside a reimagined version

to life. The aim is to create a destination that

of Rose Bar. Indoor and outdoor events spaces

reflects the essence of the brand while having a

offer further opportunities for connection, while

clear identity of its own.”

restorative wellness facilities span movement

Phil Zrihen, Deputy Group CEO of Ennismore,

spaces, pools and programming, curated to

concludes: “Delano has always been about a

capture the essence of the destination.

feeling - a sense of ease, elegance and cultural

The Mediterranean also serves as a key

relevance that transcends place. Bringing the

reference for the resort’s aesthetic, as Mark

brand to Puglia is a natural evolution of that

Eacott, Global Head of Design at Ennismore,

philosophy. This extraordinary destination

explains: “The design direction for Delano

offers a rare balance of beauty, authenticity,

Puglia is about preserving the brand’s distinctive

and understated sophistication, making it an

identity while allowing it to respond to its

ideal setting for Delano’s refined resort spirit.”

DRAWING BOARD

Six Senses

Six Senses has unveiled the first physical

traditional Mexican craftsmanship. Integrated

expression of its Mexico debut, which will

wood headboards and sculptural stone vanities

XALA

open as part of Xala, a regenerative hospitality

introduce subtle irregularities that become part

development on the Costalegre coast of Jalisco.

of the architecture, softening the experience

Designed

Combeau

Murtagh

Combeau Murtagh describes the model room

Juan Bremer, the model room offers an early

as a quiet extension of the landscape, noting

glimpse at the project’s interiors. Set to open in

that Six Senses Xala will enjoy an atmosphere

2028, Six Senses Xala comprises 51 suites and 36

curated through a sense of restraint: “The

branded residences, planned as a village within

palette, textures and handmade elements are

the 3,000-acre destination.

intentionally subtle, allowing the experience of

The reveal reflects a philosophy of openness shaped by airflow, filtered light and the

EXPRESS CHECK-OUT Developer: ACTUR Operator: Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas Architecture and Interior Design: Combeau Murtagh, Juan Bremer www.sixsenses.com

036

with a sense of informality.

collaboration with Xala co-founding partner

the room to unfold through light, touch, air and the constant presence of the landscape.”

surrounding landscape. Finishes are matte and

Bremer agrees, concluding: “At Xala,

understated, while a palette of sand tones, earth

architecture is not approached as an isolated

hues and subtle ochres is complemented by

exercise. It is shaped by the land, the climate

materials drawn from the landscape, including

and how people will inhabit the space over time.

locally sourced stone, wood and natural fibres.

With Six Senses Xala, the intention is not to

Through collaborations with regional and

compete with the surroundings, but to create

Latin American artisans, the design reinforces

spaces where light, material and landscape

a connection to local culture and honours

define the experience.”

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DRAWING BOARD

The Nell

Aspen Hospitality has unveiled the design vision

For the guestrooms and suites, Pierre & Co

for The Nell New York. Set to open in Autumn

filter the building’s Art Deco style through

NEW YORK

2027 as the only hotel within Rockefeller

a restrained, contemporary lens. Warm

Centre, the interiors draw from the building’s

neutral colours, natural materials and subtle

architecture and materiality, as well as its

architectural details lend a sense of calm and

extensive collection of public art.

elegance, while persimmon accents – inspired

For The Nell’s public spaces, Rockwell Group has envisioned a grand New York townhouse,

EXPRESS CHECK-OUT Owner: Aspen Hospitality Developer: Aspen Hospitality, Tishman Speyer, The Georgetown Company Operator: Nell Hotels Architect of Record: SLCE Architects Interior Design: Rockwell Group, Pierre & Co www.nellhotels.com

038

by the curtains of Radio City Music Hall – bring depth and theatricality.

offering a counterpoint to the city’s energy with

“We wanted every element to feel considered

a sequence of relaxed, residential spaces. Subtle

and purposeful, but never over-designed,”

references to Rockefeller Centre’s architectural

comments Pierre Josselin, founder of Pierre

language are realised in geometric stone inlays,

& Co. “The goal was to create rooms that feel

metalwork, custom furnishings and lighting.

unique, yet natural and comfortable from the

“We drew on the craftsmanship and the

moment you walk in – spaces where everything

geometric, Art Deco language of Rockefeller

has its place, and where the details gradually

Centre and translated those references through

reveal themselves throughout your stay.”

warm woods, stone, bronze, plaster and an

As Julie Frank, Vice President of Design at

incredible art collection,” says Shawn Sullivan,

Aspen Hospitality, summarises: “The goal was

Partner at Rockwell Group. “The result feels

not to recreate history, but to interpret the era

layered and collected over time, like the

in a way that would feel current, residential and

quintessential New York residence.”

distinctly Nell.”

DRAWING BOARD

The Hoxton

Ennismore has signed an agreement with Select

The venture will also introduce The Hoxton’s

Group to bring The Hoxton to Dubai, marking

first-ever wellness club, developed to support

DUBAI MEDIA CITY

the brand’s first venture in the Middle East.

both a healthy lifestyle and a healthy social

EXPRESS CHECK-OUT Developer: Select Group Operator: Ennismore Interior Design: AIME Studios www.thehoxton.com

040

Located in Media City, the project repositions

life. Facilities include a large gym, movement

an existing building through a landmark multi-

studios, contrast therapy facilities and spa

million-dirham transformation. Interiors are

treatment rooms, all designed in the brand’s

being extensively reimagined by AIME Studios,

signature residential style. The experience is

Ennismore’s in-house design firm, to capture

further enhanced by a members’ lounge and

the brand’s distinctive DNA while reflecting the

a healthy café concept, creating a natural

evolving character of the surroundings.

extension of the wellness journey.

In all, the hotel features 230 guestrooms

“Dubai has long been on our wish list as

alongside a vibrant mix of social spaces. A

one of the world’s most dynamic hospitality

welcoming lobby will host experience-led

destinations, and we’ve always felt The Hoxton,

cultural programming, while Paris Society is

with its strong sense of purpose and community,

overseeing the food and beverage offering. New

would bring something fresh to a neighbourhood

concepts include Onaka, a Japanese handroll

already brimming with creativity,” comments

bar by French restaurateur Moïse Sfez, and

Louis Abboud, Group Chief Growth Officer and

Bleachers, a social sports bar offering a playful

COO of IMEAT & APAC at Ennismore. “I’m

take on classic gameday culture. These will

incredibly proud that Dubai will be home to the

join the lively trattoria Il Bambini Club and The

brand’s first hotel in the UAE, creating a new

Hoxton’s signature rooftop concept, Tope.

flagship property for Ennismore in the region.”

Meeting… Raul Leal As Starwood Hotels reclaims its name, CEO Raul Leal reflects on the company’s legacy and outlines how a more curated approach to growth is shaping its next chapter. Words: Eleanor Howard

ew names in hospitality carry the weight that

he took the helm. Born in Cuba and raised in Miami, he

Starwood does. Created by Barry Sternlicht in

caught the hospitality bug at 16 whilst working at a hotel

1995, Starwood Hotels revolutionised the industry,

part-time alongside his father. Later, he became President

building a global portfolio through a series of

and Partner at Tecton Hospitality, where he noticed an

strategic acquisitions, as well as pioneering new

early shift in consumer preferences towards boutique and

brands such as the game-changing W Hotels.

lifestyle-driven hospitality in response to increasing brand

At its height, Starwood was the largest hotel company in

proliferation. “The industry was approaching a level of

the world by EBITDA, with more than 1,000 properties in

cookie-cutter that I didn’t like,” he explains, revealing that

some 100 countries. In 2016, the company was acquired by

Sternlicht’s W Hotels inspired him to launch Desires Hotels,

Marriott International for US$13billion, bringing the likes

one of the first management companies focused exclusively

of Sheraton, St Regis and Westin into the group’s portfolio.

on the luxury lifestyle segment. “I loved that W Hotels was

In the years that followed, Sternlicht built a new trifecta of

different – choreographed and energetic – people were

brands – 1 Hotels, Treehouse Hotels and Baccarat Hotels

behaving differently inside those hotels.”

– under the banner of SH Hotels & Resorts. That was until

Though Sternlicht inspired him, it was a chance encounter

last year, when the company reclaimed the Starwood name,

in 2010 at The Betsy that would alter the trajectory of his

marking a new chapter.

career. “Sir Richard Branson was staying at the hotel and I

But this is not a return to the Starwood of old. Under

got to meet him briefly,” he recalls. “20 minutes later, he

the leadership of CEO Raul Leal, the company is adopting a

offered me a job.” The role in question – to lead Virgin’s

more curated approach to growth, uniting its three distinct

entry into the hotel market – taught Leal a valuable lesson in

brands by a shared philosophy built on design, individuality

brand building. “The beauty of Virgin is that they believe in

and purposeful hospitality that prioritises the planet and its

purpose-driven concepts; they engage guests and ultimately

people. “We’re very conscious of Starwood’s history,” says

perform better,” explains Leal. “We spent a year establishing

Leal, speaking to Sleeper in The Hideout atop Treehouse

what our purpose was before we did anything else. The

Manchester, ahead of its grand opening later that evening.

lesson I took away was that you need a clear point of view

“It means a lot to Barry, and there are plenty of learnings

on what the business stands for, and then you execute it.”

that we still think about today.” Yet Leal looked to Starwood for inspiration long before

That philosophy is evident in how Starwood positions its three brands – each occupying a distinct space within

043

MEETING…

Recent openings for Starwood include Treehouse Manchester (top) and 1 Hotel Austin (bottom)

the market. Guided by the belief that ‘those who travel the world should also care about it’, 1 Hotels blends luxury hospitality with environmental responsibility and biophilic design. Treehouse meanwhile, is the more relaxed and accessible younger sibling, echoing when Sternlicht launched Aloft as a W Hotels spin-off. Described by Leal as “a cheeky, playful brand where you can be yourself”, Treehouse pairs distinctive interiors with socially-oriented F&B and a relaxed approach to service. And the ultra-luxury Baccarat serves as a living,

“We’re curating these properties one at a time, one detail at a time. That’s why this can’t be the old Starwood – it would take us 100 years to reach 1,000 hotels. ”

wood salvaged from historic American structures. Looking ahead, Leal is confident in growth potential across both Europe and the US, as evidenced by forthcoming properties in Paris, Crete and New York’s Hudson Valley. Treehouse is looking to regional hubs, as demonstrated by its recent opening in Manchester. Following the brand’s London launch in 2019, Starwood was drawn to the Cottonopolis by its vibrant culture and alignment with Treehouse’s playful, locallyfocused ethos. “There is a tremendous creative

three-dimensional extension of the historic,

class here in Manchester, which is a big part

260-year-old French crystal house.

of the brand,” says Leal as he looks out across

One of the threads tying the portfolio

the city skyline. “That creative class is going to

together is a hands-on approach to evolutionary

not only stay at the hotel and use the facilities,

design. Starwood’s in-house team develops the

but also bring activations to life throughout the

concept for each property before presenting it

public areas.”

to Sternlicht, who remains closely involved in

Situated on Deansgate, the 224-key hotel

the process as Chairman and CEO of Starwood

occupies a concrete former office block,

Capital Group. External design partners are

reimagined as an urban retreat with an array

then selected to interpret the brand while

of dining and drinking destinations, and a

retaining their own creativity. “We usually

collection of premium suites that transform the

opt for designers based in proximity to a new

property’s upper levels into a playful yet private

project, who know the locations better than we

escape high above the city. The next phase of growth for Treehouse is

do, particularly when it comes to supply chain, local materiality and sources,” explains Leal.

Estate Partners were very forward-thinking in

already underway in Miami, with hotels taking

The balance between brand consistency and

adding suites to that particular property – they

root in South Beach and Brickell Avenue.

individuality is carefully managed, with Leal

do so well,” says Leal, also praising GA Group’s

Together, they form part of a broader push

estimating that approximately 20-35% of each

suggestion to implement more contemporary

in the US, where Leal believes the brand is

brand’s design language remains fixed. “The

interiors for the suites in order to differentiate

well-placed to grow through conversion

materials may change depending on whether

from the guestrooms. “We learned that suite-

opportunities: “It’s an interesting point in time

we’re in Tokyo or Manchester, but they have to

mix in today’s world is critical, and we’ve now

for the industry. There are a lot of legacy brands

remain in line with our materiality standards to

changed our suite-mix standard for all our

that have been around for while and may have

ensure that the brand is of a consistent quality,”

hotels as a result.”

too much inventory in the market, and have

That balance between consistency and

perhaps reached a point of obsolescence.” As

adaptability underpins the brand’s continued

the needs of the guest evolve, he anticipates that

That flexibility leaves room for the brands

expansion from major US destinations to

some owners may look to more relevant brands,

to evolve alongside their guests. For example,

international markets such as Copenhagen,

such as Treehouse, to reinvigorate their offer.

while features such as the living wall and a focus

Melbourne, Hanalei Bay and Tokyo. Its newest

By contrast, Baccarat Hotels’ journey is only

on materiality remain core elements for 1 Hotels,

outpost takes up residence in Texas within the

just beginning. With the New York flagship

the brand has become more open to different

74-storey Waterline – the tallest tower in the

firmly established, the brand is now preparing

layouts for public areas and F&B spaces. In

state – envisioned by KPF with HKS as architect

to expand globally with hotels on the way

particular, 1 Hotel Mayfair demonstrates a

of record. The 252-key hotel brings the brand’s

in Rome, Florence, Dubai and the Maldives.

response to the growing demand for privacy and

nature-led philosophy into another dense urban

So, what can be expected from these long-

larger accommodation types for high-net-worth

setting, with interiors by Studio Mai layering

anticipated sequels? “Baccarat is one of the

families travelling together. “Crosstree Real

locally quarried limestone, oak and reclaimed

only luxury hotel brands that is an extension

he says. “Yet our designers have a lot of freedom to make recommendations.”

045

MEETING…

“The Baccarat consumer is very clear that they want a place where they can enjoy themselves, not just a scripted luxury hotel.”

of consumer goods,” he notes. “So it’s critical

defines Starwood’s considered growth strategy

for us to preserve that heritage of the brand,

and sets it apart from an increasingly crowded

yet interpret it for different parts of the world.”

market. “I hope the industry becomes more

In Downtown Dubai, this heritage will manifest

thoughtful instead of continually rolling out

as statement crystalline towers envisioned by

new brands,” he comments. “The large hotel

Studio Libeskind, housing a 145-key hotel

groups are in an interesting position where

and residences with interiors by 1508 London

they feel like they have to add products in

incorporating Baccarat crystal chandeliers and

order to continue to grow, but this level of

pops of the brand’s signature red hue.

commoditisation confuses the customer. I’m

This new wave of hotels will also adopt a more playful approach to luxury hospitality,

At Baccarat Hotel & Residences Dubai, 1508 London will incorporate crystal chandeliers alongside the brand’s signature red hue

046

in the hotel business and even I can’t keep up with all the brands!”

reflecting both the brand’s ‘joy of life’ ethos

With a moderate pipeline and more signings

and evolving guest expectations. “The Baccarat

to come over the next three years, Starwood is

consumer is very clear that they want a place

on track to nearly double in size, though Leal is

where they can enjoy themselves, not just a

clear that the ambition is not simply to recreate

scripted luxury hotel,” Leal explains. “The

the scale of the old Starwood, but to focus on

hotels will be activated environments, with

considered growth, measured against the

what I call ‘curious choreography’. Places

quality and individuality of each new project.

where people are entertained, while still having

“We’re curating these properties one at a time,

the premium level of service that such a hotel

one detail at a time. That’s why this can’t be

deserves. I think Baccarat will put the luxury

the old Starwood – it would take us 100 years

sector on its heels,” he teases.

to get 1,000 hotels again,” concludes Leal. “This

It is this principle of careful curation that

is quality over quantity.”

Room 13 is a non-directive visual story exploring Decor Walther‘s presence in the world of hotels. Go to decor-walther.com to discover more.

Meeting… Dino Michael As Hilton continues to expand its luxury portfolio, the group’s Senior Vice President of Luxury Brands explores the balance between established frameworks, individual expression and commercial ambition. Words: Eleanor Howard • Photography: Courtesy of Hilton

PROFILE Dino Michael Senior Vice President and Category Head of Luxury Brands – Hilton As Senior Vice President and Category Head of Luxury Brands at Hilton, Dino Michael oversees the strategic growth and brand positioning of Hilton’s luxury category and branded residential portfolio, which include more than 600 hotels and a further 131 in the pipeline. In 2024, the category was enhanced to comprise five brands: Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, LXR Hotels & Resorts, NoMad Hotels and Signia by Hilton, alongside a partnership with Small Luxury Hotels of the World.

rom the storied grandeur of Waldorf Astoria

Conrad’s

F&B experience continues to inform his approach

curation, Hilton offers a luxury portfolio

to brand-building. “Working in F&B, you tend

shaped by architecture, place and purpose.

to touch on design, concept, positioning, service

With 668 hotels open and a further 131 in the

– all of which naturally transfers to hotels,” he

pipeline, Dino Michael, Senior Vice President

explains. “Ultimately, luxury is about how the

and Category Head of Luxury Brands, outlines

experience comes together for the guest.”

the strategy behind this growth, emphasising

Today, as Senior Vice President and Category

the importance of distinct brand identities and

Head of Luxury Brands, Michael oversees the

tailored guest experiences.

growth and positioning of brands within Hilton’s

A TASTE FOR HOSPITALITY

luxury portfolio. His team is involved throughout the development process, from site selection,

Like many in the industry, Michael’s route into

owner partnerships and brand appointment, to

hospitality was something of a happy accident.

design, construction and pre-opening, acting as

After studying law in London, he took a part-time

a constant point of reference as each project takes

job as a waiter at Planet Hollywood, where he fell

shape. “We act as the North Star for our brands,”

in love with hospitality. He never looked back. “It

he confirms.

was much more fun. I realised this is my tribe,” recalls Michael. “I’m a Cypriot immigrant so it

THE BRANDSCAPE

took my parents a while to get used to the idea

Across Hilton’s luxury portfolio, each brand

of me not becoming a lawyer, but I don’t regret a

serves a distinct purpose, and Michael’s task is

thing. Hospitality is an amazing industry.”

to safeguard its identity while allowing every

Michael went on to run restaurant groups and independent venues, ranging from casual

048

The transition was a natural one, and his early

contemporary

property to respond to its location, architecture and audience.

eateries to fine-dining establishments, before

At one end of the spectrum, Waldorf Astoria

joining Hilton in 2009 as Regional Director of

embodies classic luxury through grand

Food & Beverage. From there, he moved into

architecture, elegant service and strong culinary

global brand development, helping to launch and

credentials. Conrad meanwhile offers a more

develop LXR Hotels & Resorts, before overseeing

contemporary counterpoint, interpreting local

Waldorf Astoria and Conrad.

character through art, sculpture and objets d’art.

MEETING…

NoMad Singapore

LXR Hotels & Resorts takes a more individualised approach, uniting a collection of independent properties with unique identities, rather than imposing a uniform aesthetic. On a larger scale, Signia by Hilton focuses on the premium MICE market in gateway cities and resort destinations, with an emphasis on what Michael describes as

“The brands that will succeed are those that execute service, comfort, quality and attention to detail consistently, coupled with experiences guests can’t find anywhere else.”

“approachable luxury”. And the most recent addition, NoMad, brings a theatrical, lifestyle-led sensibility to the portfolio, offering a refined yet eclectic vision of luxury hospitality, with a focus on sophisticated

meeting to opening can take four to eight years,

existing independent hotels, as well as owners

design, world-class dining and immersive

so we look at market maturity to assess whether

with a specific vision. “If an existing hotel has

cultural programming. “NoMad is grounded

the destination can sustain the rate premium

legacy, reputation and emotional significance,

in the idea of a hotel as a great home, layered

associated with a luxury brand by the time

it makes no sense to remove what makes it

with stories and the collective spirit of previous

the hotel opens. There may be more than one

special by overlaying another brand. Instead,

inhabitants,” says Michael. This philosophy will

possible answer at first, but the right choice

we can amplify its identity while developing its

come to life for the first time under Hilton in

emerges when we work through the ambition and

commercial appeal,” he explains. “Alternatively,

Singapore in late 2026. Envisioned by WOHA,

aspirations. It’s never a straight path.”

an owner might have a highly personal vision

with interiors by Kevin Klein Design, the hotel

The criteria vary by brand, as Michael outlines:

and want a partner who can help to bring it to

will reinterpret the brand’s New York roots

“Not every Waldorf Astoria has a historical

life without the constraints of a more established

and European sensibility through Art Deco and

backstory, but we look for iconic architecture

brand framework.”

Peranakan influences.

that will stand the test of time. Admiralty Arch in London – a Grade I-listed landmark – is

FREEDOM WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK

very different from the sculptural forms of our

Having selected the appropriate brand, Michael

Matching the right brand to an asset requires

forthcoming Miami property, but each is iconic

and his team then work with architecture,

a balance of both commercial and creative

in its own right. We think of the distinction as

design and construction partners to translate

considerations. “In every case, we consider

classic rather than traditional.”

the brand’s philosophy, history and DNA into

FINDING THE RIGHT FIT

the owner’s vision and what the location

LXR occupies a different position within the

the property. “We want to give them freedom

can support,” Michael explains. “The initial

portfolio, as a collection brand that works with

within the framework,” he emphasises. “We’re

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MEETING…

Waldorf Astoria London Admiralty Arch

here to help identify when something is on- or

conventional hotel format, as the group prepares

indulgence, independence with planning and

off-brand and make the necessary adjustments.”

to make its first foray onto water. Currently

adventures with familiarity.”

For Waldorf Astoria, materiality, pattern,

in development, Waldorf Astoria River Nile

Hilton has translated this appetite for flexibility

colour and craftsmanship create a sense of

Experience will feature 29 suites with elevated

into programming that brings guests closer to

place, while signatures are adapted for each

amenities alongside brand signatures such as

their destination. For example, Conrad’s 1/3/5

location. The brand’s recently refurbished New

Peacock Alley. “We’re excited; it’s another way

initiative offers time-tailored local experiences

York flagship provides a reference point for the

to bring the brand to life beyond the bedroom,”

lasting one, three or five hours, from a quick

next generation of properties, though the aim is

says Michael. “We’re working on a vessel that

Agave tasting session at Conrad Punta de Mita to

not to replicate it elsewhere. “We don’t want a

is somewhere between a boat and a ship. It’s

an in-depth arborist-led edible garden walk and

facsimile of New York, but rather subtle tributes

a learning curve because we haven’t created a

afternoon tea at Conrad Singapore Orchard. LXR’s

that reference the founding story, brought to

floating hotel before.”

Pursuit of Adventure takes a similar approach

life in a way that is unique to the destination,”

THE RISE OF ‘ISH’

example, has been reinvented around the world,

As the luxury landscape continues to evolve,

over the Sonoran Desert at Arizona Biltmore, and

from a handcrafted sundial in the Maldives to a

Hilton sees greater demand for experiences that

Kintsugi pottery restoration at Roku Kyoto. “The

prayer clock in the Middle East.

feel personal, purposeful and rooted in their

brands that will succeed are those that execute

At the brand’s long-awaited London debut, the

surroundings. “The luxury landscape has moved

service, comfort, quality and attention to detail

challenge is interpreting the wider brand DNA

beyond traditional markers of status and excess,”

consistently, coupled with experiences guests

within a quintessentially British setting. “With

notes Michael. “Travellers increasingly value

can’t find anywhere else,” he states.

Admiralty Arch, much of the beauty was on the

time, privacy, ease and emotional connection. ”

For Michael, the true measure of luxury going

exterior, while the interior was more utilitarian,”

This shift is reflected in the group’s 2027

forward will lie in understanding what matters to

he reveals. “The designers had to pull together

trends report, The Great Rebalance, which

each guest, and ensuring the brand, design and

the threads of the exterior with the building’s

identifies ‘The Rise of Ish’ as a shift in favour of

service work together to deliver it. “The future

history and then interpret what might have been

experiences that feel more personal, flexible and

is not about giving the guest more for the sake

done had the interior been more ornate. There’s

authentic. “Guests are moving away from all-

of more,” he concludes. “It’s about the guest

interpretation involved, but the goal is to remain

or-nothing,” he observes. “Neither a completely

understanding what time they have, what they

true to the original intent.”

scheduled trip or total abandonment. They

want to do with it, and trusting our expertise and

want something in the middle – wellness with

experience to guide them properly.”

Hilton is also testing the framework beyond the

050

to discovery and personal enrichment through

he affirms. The flagship’s signature clock, for

experiences such as a hot-air-balloon journey

Luna Beach Club, Bali

Comfort you don’t see. Atmosphere you feel. magnovent.eu

hospitality@magnovent.eu

magnovent.living

40 Years of Stonehill Taylor Upon celebrating a milestone anniversary, the President of Stonehill Taylor discusses the past, present and future of hospitality design.

F Paul Taylor President, Stonehill Taylor

rom the reimagining of a Mid-Century Modern

It’s almost become second nature. Our process has

airport terminal to the renovation of an Art Deco

evolved, too. We recognise that every project brings

landmark, Stonehill Taylor has spent four decades

a different set of goals and challenges, and that not

refining an approach to hospitality design grounded

having a predetermined style or solution is actually a

in narrative and context. As the multidisciplinary firm

strength for us. I’ve also become much more conscious

marks a milestone anniversary, President Paul Taylor

of recognising what different colleagues on our team do

reflects on the firm’s evolution and the people who

well and giving them the room to do it. Early on, you

have shaped its culture.

feel like you need to have every answer yourself. Over

ON THE INITIAL VISION

Established in 1986, Stonehill Taylor is a New York-based design firm specialising in hospitality. Combining architecture and interior design, the firm’s portfolio spans newbuild, adaptive re-use, historic preservation and renovation, with projects across the US ranging from boutique hotels through to large-scale resorts.

I joined Lundquist & Stonehill when I was 24, and

Key Hotel Projects: The Ned NoMad, New York; The Carlyle, New York; Ace Hotel, Brooklyn; TWA Hotel, New York JFK Airport; Raffles Boston

time, I’ve realised it’s more about knowing how to bring the right people and ideas together.

Stonehill Taylor grew out of that practice in 1986. At the

ON MILESTONE HOTEL PROJECTS

time, we were a varied architecture firm, working across

Taking on Eero Saarinen’s TWA Flight Center came

residential, commercial and hospitality projects. There

with an enormous responsibility because it is such an

wasn’t a grand plan to specialise in hotels, and I think

important piece of architecture and one that people

we gradually gravitated toward hospitality because we

already had a strong connection to. The challenge was

liked the alignment of the designer’s and owner’s goals.

figuring out how to give it an entirely new life as a

We found that in hospitality, pushing the envelope with

hotel without losing what made the original building

more thoughtful design also meant a more profitable

extraordinary. It was also a project where some of

endeavour for our clients. A perfect marriage! This

the smallest decisions were very specific to the guest.

gave us the opportunity to bring our architecture and

Most people staying at TWA are there for a short

interiors work together to create a unique niche within

period, sometimes only part of a day between flights.

the industry. Hospitality gradually became a larger part

In the guestrooms, we didn’t waste valuable space on

of the practice and ultimately helped shape the firm

a traditional closet. Instead, we added hooks and used

we are today.

the extra space for an amazing mini-bar. That’s a small

ON EVOLUTION

example, but it encapsulates how we think about hotels. The design has to respond to how people are actually

After 25 years of hospitality design at all different

going to use them, and as a designer, you have to be

segments and brand tiers, we are able to bring a

sensitive to each project’s uniqueness.

certain depth of experience to our clients and their design vision. We’ve become better at looking beyond

ON CHANGES IN HOSPITALITY DESIGN

the brief to understand not just what clients are asking

The bar on hotel design has been raised across all price

for, but why they’re asking and responding to that.

points and demographics. Hotels are now expected to

053

MEETING…

“We’ve gotten better at looking beyond the brief to understand not just what clients are asking for, but why they’re asking, and responding to that. It’s almost become second nature.”

offer so much more than just a place to sleep. Our clients are thinking differently about lobbies, F&B, lounges and wellness, creating social spaces that appeal to the neighbourhood as much as the overnight guest. An empty three-meal restaurant is a thing of the past. We’ve seen that first-hand on projects like The Ned NoMad, our five Moxy projects in New York City, as well as the two Ace Hotels in New York. Beyond guestrooms, the social and F&B spaces define the stay and impact how people experience and remember a property. We’re also seeing the lobby changing, almost adopting a ‘third-space’ role. As check-in becomes more virtual, we’re seeing less emphasis on the traditional front desk and more on creating active public spaces, where people can have coffee, work, meet friends or have a drink. For example, we designed Raffles Boston with a lobby ‘in the sky’ on the 17th floor and extending to the 19th floor. It acts almost as an amenity village grounded by a massive spiral staircase, and features a check-in lounge, restaurant, several bars including a speakeasy, the signature Raffles Writer’s Bar and more. With striking views over Back Bay, the lobby becomes the heart and soul of the hotel. At the same time, guestrooms are getting smaller, particularly in cities like New York, where real estate is limited and operational costs are high. This has pushed us to become more intentional about the programme mix within them. We sometimes think about those rooms like the interior of a yacht or luxury car, where every inch has a purpose yet still feels luxurious. We call it capsule luxury.

ON PROUD MOMENTS I am most proud of the people who have built their careers here. Many of those leading the studio today have been with us for over 20 years, and some for over 30. I’ve watched them develop from young architects and designers into leaders in their own right. I was given a tremendous amount of responsibility very early in my own career, when I joined our predecessor firm. I don’t take for granted the faith my mentors placed in me, and I’m particularly proud that after 40 years,

054

Milestone projects for the firm include (top to bottom) The Ned NoMad in New York; TWA Hotel at New York JFK Airport and Raffles in Boston

Showcased at HIX Visit us on stand E70

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MEETING…

we continue to give people opportunities to step up and grow. We value that working at Stonehill Taylor has come to mean something within the hospitality industry. The fact that clients such as Firmdale Hotels and Soho House have continued to work with us over the years speaks to the strength of our team.

ON NEW OPENINGS In Upstate New York, Grasmere House continues our longstanding relationship with Soho House, transforming an historic manor with a stonebarn restaurant, carriage house pub, wellness facilities and guest cabins. Meanwhile, The Rhyland in Queens will comprise nearly 200 rooms organised around a central courtyard inspired by the traditional Chinese siheyuan, with references to Chinese art, architecture and craft woven throughout the public spaces and guestrooms. And further south, we are working on The Factory at Franklin, a 120-key Tribute Portfolio hotel in Tennessee.

ON THE NEXT 40 YEARS I hope the studio continues to evolve, just as it has over the last 40 years. We have a generation of leadership that has grown up with us and has a deep understanding of the firm – they will bring their own perspectives and ambitions to its evolution. I’d also like to see our work become more international, particularly as longstanding clients bring us into new markets and give us opportunities to take on increasingly complex projects at different scales. Ultimately, I hope the studio continues to grow in a way that feels natural, while maintaining the culture, strong client relationships and investment in people that have allowed us to get this far.

ON HOTEL DESIGN IN 2100 Technology will undoubtedly change how we travel and interact with hotels, just as it already has throughout my career, but I think the fundamentals of great hospitality will remain. People will still travel to experience a place, connect with other cultures and find a home away from home. The way we design for those experiences may look entirely different but thankfully, designers will continue to innovate, and time will allow creativity to take root. No matter how much the industry

Forthcoming projects include The Rhyland in Queens, New York (top) and The Factory at Franklin in Tennessee (bottom)

056

evolves with technology, our fundamental human needs will continue to be the guide. Hopefully, no robot waiters!

VARIETY, UNITED BY DESIGN. 60 YEARS OF THE LS RANGE. You are welcome to visit us at: JUNG UK Showroom · 6 / 7 Albemarle Way · Clerkenwell · London Visit by prior arrangement: jung.group/london

JUNG.GROUP/60YEARSLS

PICCHIO Alessandro Munge

contardi-italia.com

THE LOBBY

Bots That Build The hospitality industry is increasingly embracing robotics,

The inverted system works from the top down, with each

with autonomous assistants already handling luggage, mixing

floor assembled at ground level before being lifted upward.

drinks and delivering meals. And as technology continues to

As the structure rises layer by layer, drones fly overhead to

advance, robots could one day take on a far more fundamental

monitor progress and flag any issues in real time, allowing the

role in hotel development, helping to build the very properties

ground-based machines to adapt and operate safely without

they will eventually serve.

the need for human intervention.

The idea is being brought closer to reality through a

The project culminates in a full-scale demonstration, in

£4 million research grant from the European Innovation

which the robots will construct a freestanding, multi-storey

Council’s Pathfinder programme, which has been awarded

timber pavilion. Beyond this, the possibilities are seemingly

to Foster + Partners – working with a UK-EU consortium of

endless. “Combining state-of-the-art robotics and integrated

academic institutions – to develop a fleet of robotic agents.

AI tools, SWIFT-BUILD’s inverted construction method can

Aptly named SWIFT-BUILD, meaning Swarm-based

adapt to various scales and uses, with the potential for wide-

Inverted Fabrication for Timber Buildings, the three-year

reaching applications,” says Irene Gallou, Senior Partner at

project uses swarms of robotic assemblers and lifting units

Foster + Partners. “The focus on timber modular construction

to efficiently build modular timber structures that can be

highlights the project’s sustainable agenda, with circularity

adapted over time and disassembled on demand.

and flexibility at its core.”

THE LOBBY

The Space Between Etereo launches a new cultural platform that transforms the liminal space between completion and occupation into an immersive showcase of art, architecture and collectible design.

In the renovation of any building, there is a brief window during transformation when traces of its history remain visible, yet a new identity begins to take shape. It is this liminal space between past and present that has inspired Dubai-based design studio Etereo to launch Orbita, a new international cultural platform that treats this transient state as a canvas for architecture, art and design through installations, collaborations and programming. “Orbita exists in this unique moment between the completion of the project and the beginning of its private life, allowing the residence to briefly become a place for art, exchange and new experiences before becoming a home once again,” explains Mirko Sala Tenna, co-founder of Etereo. Co-curated by Nina Yashar, founder of Milanese gallery Nilufar, the inaugural edition takes place at Palazzo Ca’ Donà, a historic Venetian residence currently being restored by Etereo. Inspired by Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice and the city’s long history as a crossroads of trade and cultures, the exhibition unfolds as a journey through distant worlds, with each room evoking a different destination along the merchant’s imagined travels, from Africa to India and China. Within the palazzo’s carefully restored interiors, Nilufar presents historical and contemporary works by the likes of Gio Ponti, Gabriella Crespi and Vikram Goyal, while Brun Fine Art showcases paintings, ceramics and collectible pieces exploring the relationship between tradition and modernity. Meanwhile, sculptures by Massimiliano Pelletti reinterpret the legacy of classical marble through a contemporary lens, accompanied by immersive video installations by Anotherview. © Umberto Santoro

060

With future editions set to take place within different architectural landmarks in cities around the world, Orbita presents the renovation process as a unique opportunity for cultural exchange, before its next chapter begins.

THE LOBBY

A Designer’s Vision

Star Quality As experiential hospitality offerings continue to

lighting approach that puts the star-studded sky

diversify, a new certification scheme is catering

at the forefront of the experience. There’s even

to the growing number of travellers seeking a

an Astronomy Centre on site, where experts can

glimpse into the night.

guide guests through a deeper exploration of the

Developed by DarkSky International in

062

constellations and planets above.

collaboration with Red Sea Global, the DarkSky

“Through our collaboration with DarkSky,

Approved Lodging & Resort programme

Red Sea Global is setting a new benchmark

recognises resorts that protect natural night skies

for regenerative tourism, demonstrating that

through considered lighting schemes.

preserving natural darkness not only safeguards

For astrotourists, this means it will be easier

biodiversity and ecological processes but also

to identify destinations that offer exceptional

enriches the guest experience through world-

stargazing conditions, but perhaps even more

class and authentic connections with nature,”

significantly, the programme establishes the

says Raed Albasseet, Group Chief Environment

environmental standard for responsible outdoor

and Sustainability Officer of Red Sea Global.

lighting. By minimising artificial light, DarkSky

DarkSky International CEO and Executive

principles reduce energy consumption, preserve

Director Ruskin Hartley concludes: “Red Sea

natural night skies and protect biodiversity,

Global’s commitment to sustainable, DarkSky-

maintaining the natural cycles on which

friendly design created an opportunity to evolve

nocturnal and light-sensitive wildlife depend.

our Lodging programme. Together, we developed

Among the first to be certified is Desert Rock

resort-specific lighting best practices that

Resort in Saudi Arabia’s Hejaz Mountains.

recognise the unique needs of larger hospitality

Built in reverence to its celestial canopy, the

destinations while upholding DarkSky’s rigorous

destination adopts a meticulously considered

standards for protecting the night.”

To mark the 25th anniversary of his eponymous studio, André Fu has released his third monograph, A Designer’s Vision. Published by Assouline, the 280page hardback – written by longtime collaborator Daven Wu – takes a deep dive into the designer’s creative process, pairing first-hand commentary with photography and sketches. Rather than a chronological portfolio, Wu organises the book around three distinct themes that have emerged through Fu’s work: Heritage Reimagined explores contemporary narratives that are shaped by memory and tradition; Escape considers the role of interiors as sanctuaries in unexpected places; and Cultural Dialogue examines how East and West find expression through space. Each section opens with a conversation with a creative figure who has inspired Fu, from designer Thomas Heatherwick and filmmaker Audrey Diwan to restaurateur Joyce Ma and chef Daniel Calvert. “In this book, I want to explore how life experiences continue to influence my approach to design,” writes Fu. “How cultural identity shapes spatial decisions, and even how my understanding of luxury has evolved through years of creating spaces for people seeking genuine connection.”

From Greece to the Red Sea COCO-MAT partners with Jayasom Wellness Resort AMAALA to bring its handcrafted metal-free sleep systems to Saudi Arabia, placing natural materials at the heart of the guest sleep experience.

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hen the industry descended on

Offering a different perspective, Ina Plunien,

Manchester for the Annual Hospitality

Senior Vice President of Hospitality at Cain,

Conference in September 2026, the

championed a guest-first approach: “From the

outlook was one of optimism in the face of

outset, we ask who our client is. Who are we

uncertainty. Over the course of two days, the

selling these spaces to? How will they use them?

hospitality investment event explored a wide

How will they feel? That’s our starting point.”

range of topics under the theme All In: Mastering

During Cain’s involvement in Delano Miami

Risk For Reward, and ultimately identified the

Beach, this approach manifested in the removal

challenges and opportunities facing owners,

of 20 guestrooms on the fourth floor, with the

operators and investors.

footprint reconfigured as a members-only space.

To answer the question of how to boost revenue

“The vision and aspiration was to make this

in the current financial climate, professionals

asset not just about transient travel, but about

from across the industry were called upon to

creating a space that people feel connected to.

offer their insights. At a panel discussion entitled

It’s truly become an anchor for this asset, and has

Experiential Hospitality: Unlocking Underutilised

performed well in terms of membership sales and

Space Through Creative Concepts, the idea of

usage. We’re happy with that decision in terms

Spaces That Sell Industry experts gather at AHC to explore how creative concepts can transform underused spaces and enhance the guest experience. Words: Hannah Wintle

reinvesting in underused spaces was explored

of how the floor is producing revenue now versus

through the lens of unlocking additional revenue

how it would have had we kept the 20 keys in.”

and enhancing the guest experience.

Hospitality, drew attention to the evolving

Harper, CEO of Another Place, highlighted the

nature of hospitality spaces throughout the day,

importance of authenticity and ensuring each

highlighting the potential to be unlocked. “We

experience is of its setting. Situated on the shores

look at time,” he remarked. “If a space performs

of Ullswater in the Lake District, Another Place

well during breakfast but sits empty afterwards,

has an ethos rooted in the great outdoors. “After

how can we activate it through the rest of the

opening in 2017, we operated through the Covid

day? You can turn the same space into three

years, before reaching a point of stabilisation,”

different things if you’re doing it carefully, but

Harper explained. “We then delivered shepherd’s

instead of committing to something that you’re

huts and treehouses in the grounds, which

unsure about, why not test it first with a pop-up?

completely turbocharged the business.”

That way, you can understand the business plan

According to Harper, the character of each revitalised space should reflect the wider

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Finally, Patrick Chiappetta, CEO of Altus

Advocating for a brand-first perspective, Ben

and see if it’s a good idea first, then go all-in after you’ve figured it out.”

experience – this synergy is what drives revenue.

For Chiappetta, this experimentation process

“It’s about blending economics with brand

can change the perception of entire projects,

identity, and as a lifestyle-focused, experiential

helping to draw in guests by simply offering

hospitality concept, we have to find unique,

something different. He concludes: “Sometimes

extraordinary experiences to deliver our guests

it’s not just about total revenue coming in, but

and create destinations rather than hotels.”

about separating yourself from the competition.”

Orient Express VENICE In an eight-year restoration, Aline Asmar d’Amman reawakens a long-dormant Venetian palazzo, weaving together history, craftsmanship and the art of travel. Words: Eleanor Howard • Photography: © Giulio Ghirardi

liding along Venice’s Grand Canal is a

to Orient Express Venezia, the brand’s second

procession of architectural masterpieces,

outpost following its debut in Rome with Orient

from the Baroque grandeur of Chiesa di

Express La Minerva. Owned by Arsenale Group,

Santa Maria di Nazareth to the Renaissance-

the property was entrusted to Paris-based

style Ca’ Vendramin Calergi, each revealing

Lebanese architect and interior designer Aline

another layer to La Serenissima’s history. As

Asmar d’Amman, who is best known for working

the handsome Riva boat navigates from the

on the historic renovation of Rosewood’s Hôtel

hustle and bustle of the main waterway onto

de Crillon in Paris and collaborating with Karl

the quieter Cannaregio canals, a perfectly pink

Lagerfeld. Under the strict eye of Venice’s

palazzo comes into view, its façade punctuated

Soprintendenza, the regional arm of Italy’s

by slender Neo-Gothic windows that recall the

Ministry of Culture, Asmar d’Amman spent

Palazzo Ducale.

eight years reawakening the palace. The result

Its resemblance is no coincidence. Built in

is a magnificent hotel that encapsulates both the

1436 by architect Filippo Calendario, who also

spirit of Venice and the art of travel synonymous

worked on Doge’s Palace, the palazzo was once

with Orient Express.

the noble residence of the Donà and Giovannelli

For Asmar d’Amman, the project offered a

families, and later gifted to the Duke of Urbino,

natural synergy with her own heritage. “Born

before becoming one of Venice’s leading

in Beirut, I feel a very personal connection to

cultural salons. In the mid-19th century, the

the dual culture that Venice carries. I recognise

property underwent its first major renovation

many correspondences between Venetian

by architect Giovanni Battista Meduna, who

architecture and my own cultural heritage,” she

introduced Neo-Gothic and Baroque flourishes,

explains. “This dialogue between East and West

alongside the now iconic octagonal staircase.

is not only historical or aesthetic, but something

Today, Palazzo Donà Giovannelli is home

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that profoundly informs my architectural

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Original architectural features sit alongside contemporary interventions, from Meduna’s 19th-century octagonal staircase to majestic Murano chandeliers

philosophy; a continuous exchange, a tension and a

silky moiré fabrics, velvets and every material detail

harmony that shapes the way I approach architecture

throughout the project.”

and interiors.”

This pastel palette is first introduced in the

Said approach strikes a careful balance between

grand lobby, where plush velvet sofas in pale pink

the restoration of historic details with contemporary

and powder blue are accompanied by drapery and

interventions, allowing the past and present to coexist

golden Murano chandeliers. The softened tones

in perfect harmony. “I imagined the transformation

lend a feminine warmth to what was once an open

as a theatrical sequence of wonders, a tribute to both

courtyard, now enclosed by floor-to-ceiling windows

the whimsical mysteries of Venice and the spectacular

with towering columns preserving the cortile’s vast

architectural marvels of the 15th-century heritage

proportions. “I introduced an architectural box

jewel, preserved and unearthed,” reveals Asmar

imagined like a majestic library in a grand mansion:

d’Amman. “In this creative transformative journey,

an interior architecture within the architecture itself,

the walls speak, revealing layers of enchantment,

that transforms the space by encompassing the

magnified by the dialogue with contemporary interiors

necessary technical functionalities, seamlessly, in

and timeless elegance.”

hidden compartments of the library,” she explains.

The restoration process saw Asmar d’Amman work

Soaring bookcases rise above the seating, displaying a

with historians and heritage conservation specialists,

17th-century tapestry depicting the myth of Jason and

as well as 300 master artisans and craftspeople to

the Argonauts, alongside contemporary photographs

restore frescoes, gilding, sculpture and woodwork.

of Venice by Philip Andelman, accompanied by his

“Standing before this historic architecture, I couldn’t

handwritten notes.

help but feel inspired to embrace the past and give it

Ascending Meduna’s octagonal staircase leads to

a future life. The space remained alive with voices and

the Piano Nobile, framed by stained glass and four

memories of the past waiting to be heard. I moved

sculpted female figures representing the Palazzo’s

through epochs and eras, revealing and unearthing

noble families. The adjoining salons reinterpret the

every story, from the worn surfaces beneath our hands

traditions of aristocratic Venetian gatherings: Sala

to the frescoes on the ceilings, each layer carrying its

della Musica is anchored by a grand piano and oversized

own memory. Surprises awaited along the corner and

glass chess sets, while the adjacent Sala della Cultura

beneath every surface.”

makes a statement through colour and material. A

One such surprise was the unearthing of Venice’s

true feast for the senses, azure marmorino walls are

‘color persi’ or lost colours – rich and vibrant tones

adorned with carefully restored trompe-l’œil floral

that once defined the floating city’s architecture and

frescoes by Venetian painter Francesco Hayez. Gold

art before centuries of sunlight, salt air and weather

and lapis lazuli accents embellish the Gothic Revival

softened them to pale, powdery hues. “Inspired by

ceiling, from which three majestic Murano chandeliers

16th-century pigment names and poetic lore, these

are suspended, while oversized velvet conversation

are not colours that have disappeared, but colours

sofas take centre stage atop restored mosaic floors

rediscovered – faded fragments of myth and memory

inlaid with gemstones. “I love to hear guests say they

brought forward with a contemporary intention,”

feel like they’re walking into a painting, touched by

reveals Asmar d’Amman. “These patinas and living

the grace of the palazzo’s undying youth, a constant

colours, washed by time, became my treasure and

source of wonder present in every surface and space,”

my guide, from the choice of stones and marbles to

says Asmar d’Amman of guests’ response so far.

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Italian manufacturer Nalesso created plush upholstered furnishings and dramatic drapery for the Signature Suites and public spaces

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The same attention to detail is evident in the

to Asmar d’Amman. “Fuelled with stories

neighbouring Salone Vittoria, where Vittoria

unearthed, filled with moments of celebratory

Farnese, Princess of Parma, famously married

creativity connecting the hand of the artisan

the Duke of Urbino’s son in 1548. Reborn as

with centuries-old legacy, awakening my

a versatile events space, the ballroom’s grand

architect’s curiosity and sense of purpose as I

proportions and intricate mouldings provide an

looked to respond with grace and precision, with

opulent backdrop for weddings, galas and even

the ultimate motto of sharing the building’s

breakfast in the quieter season.

knowledge and heritage with every guest.”

The first-floor Piano Nobile is also home

Meanwhile, the Colori Persi, Teatro and Orient

to six sprawling Signature Suites, each with

Express Suites feature a couture canopy bed,

its own identity, shaped by decorative details

lending a sense of ceremony, accompanied by

that were uncovered during the restoration

bespoke furnishings and contemporary comforts

process. The lavender-drenched Cherubini

that temper their historic grandeur.

Signature Suite, for example, is named after

While the Signature Suites draw their

a Sebastiano Santi frieze that runs along the

character from their restored features, the

walls depicting dancing cherubs and women

hotel’s 41 guestrooms and junior suites bring

playing ancient instruments. The La Minerva

the Orient Express narrative to the fore,

Suite takes its name from an original 1790

translating the art of travel into an understated

fresco by Costantino Cedini, portraying the

design language. Embossed leather envelops the

Triumph of Minerva, Roman goddess of wisdom

headboard and drawers, as well as the bespoke

and the arts. Discovered behind a seemingly

mini-bar cabinet, which echoes the form of

flat ceiling, the fresco is “a fine example of

iconic Orient Express travel trunk. Set against

the palazzo’s restoration journey,” according

a neutral palette, sculptural timber joinery

nalesso.it

Materiality takes centre stage throughout, from embossed leather headboards to marble-wrapped en suites

extends across wall panelling and bedside tables into the walk-in wardrobe, complemented by hand-finished brass lighting and rich textiles that evoke the craftsmanship of the brand’s railcars. In the bathrooms, materiality takes centre stage as veined stone wraps walls and floors, while monolithic carved basins are softened by rounded edges. “Venice is a city of marble. Its palazzi, from Ca’ d’Oro to the Doge’s Palace, are defined by the way stone is layered, carved and assembled,” explains Asmar d’Amman. “Here, marble is treated not as a surface but as a form, layered, sculpted and shaped into elements that feel almost like living canvases made into folds and curves, bringing them closer to sculpture than architecture.” The golden age of travel takes on a more theatrical expression in the Wagon Bar, an Art Deco-inspired homage to the original Orient Express lounge cars. Concealed behind an historic wooden door off the grand lobby, the bar’s carved, patinated wood is topped with a Baroque-like veined marble, referencing the wooden piles upon which Venice is built, while a patterned floor nods to the palatial geometry of the nearby Ca’ d’Oro. Walls adorned with polished veneer, brushed brass and antique mirrors serve as a backdrop for contemporary artworks such as Adeline Halot’s sculptural compositions of metallic wire and flax linen, and Lebanese artist Shaha Raphael’s shell-adorned mirrors. The space particularly comes into its own as evening falls, when the back-lit bar casts a golden glow across octagonal tables, setting the scene for cicchetti and masterful mixologist Francesco Adragna’s cocktails.

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Next door, all-day dining eatery La Casati

fine-dining concept in the orangerie, and a spa

channels the theatrical, avant-garde spirit of

offering a wellness journey through different

its namesake, Venetian muse Marchesa Luisa

cultures, taking in Roman thermal traditions

Casati, who famously walked her pet cheetah

and Ottoman-inspired Rasul ceremonies,

around Piazza San Marco. Her flair for spectacle

alongside contemporary treatments by Sicilian

is brought to life through a collection of

organic skincare brand Furtuna Skin.

jewellery-like chandeliers in muted shades of

Ultimately, Palazzo Donà Giovanelli’s

celadon, amber and pink, casting a warm glow

transformation is a balancing act between

across crackled lacquer and mirrored surfaces.

preservation and reinvention, allowing its

The restaurant spills out onto the palazzo’s

architectural history to inform a new hospitality

walled garden – a rarity in Venice – furnished

experience. It is a vision that reflects Orient

with vine-wrapped pergolas, pink-and-

Express’s wider ambitions, as CEO Gilda Perez-

white striped parasols and outdoor furniture

Alvarado concludes: “With Orient Express

upholstered in fabrics by Loro Piana.

Venezia, we open a new chapter in the legacy of

In the kitchen, three-Michelin-starred

our brand, one that celebrates Venice as a global

German chef Heinz Beck puts a Venetian spin

capital of culture, beauty and imagination. This

on his innovative approach to Italian cuisine.

hotel embodies the essence of Orient Express:

Menu highlights include spaghetti cacio e pepe

a constellation of rare experiences, each rooted

topped with lime-marinated white prawns and

in heritage yet reimagined for a new generation

Venetian beef braised in Amarone wine served

of discerning travellers. Venice now stands as

with grilled pak choi.

a luminous cornerstone of our vision, bridging

Further additions are planned for 2027, including Heinz Beck Venezia, an intimate

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past and future, and inviting guests into a world of timeless elegance and discovery.”

EXPRESS CHECK-OUT Owner: Arsenale Group Operator: Accor Architecture and Interior Design: Aline Asmar d’Amman www.orient-express.com

VISIT US AT HIX EUROPE G10 · EXCEL LONDON 25–26 NOVEMBER 2026

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Hotel Lucile LOS ANGELES Continuing the tradition of bringing people together, Electric Bowery transforms a Californian church into an art-filled retreat. Words: Ayesha Khan Photography: © Chase Daniels (unless otherwise stated)

daptive re-use projects are always fascinating to witness, particularly when their new avatars are as far as can be from their original use. Such is the case

at Hotel Lucile, a 1930s church-turned-hotel in Silver Lake, a creative enclave in central Los Angeles. Originally designed by architect Scott Quintin, the hotel is named after the avenue it calls home, as well as its namesake poem Lucile by Owen Meredith. Its themes of transformation and becoming reflect the continual evolution of both the historic building and the neighbourhood itself. The project was undertaken by Casetta, an independent portfolio of six hotels housed in unique buildings across California. Casetta President Jennifer Armbruster asserts that, although she is used to facing the challenges of renovations, there’s never been one quite as complex as Hotel Lucile: “Unlike other properties Casetta has restored – which had already operated as motels or hotels – this building had a very different scale and purpose. We were working with a grand communal chapel and former sanctuary while also

creating guestrooms from scratch, incorporating the comfort and privacy guests expect from an intimate stay.” Armbruster continues: “One of the central design challenges was making

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Original features such as stained-glass windows and arches are accompanied by contemporary artwork and collected antiques

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the monumental chapel feel welcoming for

back-bar serves coffee by day and cocktails by

everyday use, while preserving the original

night, when a 20ft teal velvet curtain parts to

architecture as a defining feature.”

reveal the impressive chapel in its entirety,

Casetta charged Electric Bowery, a Venice

stained-glass windows, arches, wood beamed

Beach-based architecture and interior design

ceiling and all. “We took into account how the

firm adept at working with historical buildings,

space functions programmatically throughout

with the task of narrating this Silver Lake

the day, so as guests are getting their breakfast

monument’s next chapter. “It was very much a

in the morning, we didn’t want to reveal the

project of restoration, then layering with colour

whole space,” reveals Stephanie Luk, Creative

and pattern,” reflects Lucia Bartholomew, co-

Director at Electric Bowery.

founder of Electric Bowery. Beyond a set of

Given the history of the building, the

solid wood doors, the original receiving foyer

transformation wasn’t without limitations.

of the church has been deftly transformed into a

“We worked so hard to preserve the original

check-in area, immediately introducing guests

ceiling that we had all the HVAC routed below,

to the building’s original arches and stained-

with some of it running through the bottom of

glass windows.

the banquettes,” reveals Bartholomew. Further

From the reception, guests can slip through

challenges came with the recreation of the

a hallway into the sanctuary of their rooms or

church’s original lanterns after they were stolen

enter through ebonised double doors into the

during construction.

church’s dramatic nave. The space is home

Up a few steps, the church’s original altar

to Sous Sous, a vibrant New American French

has been reimagined to dramatic effect. Set

restaurant, which changes function throughout

in striking rust-toned panelling, it features

the day. A double-headed counter with a glazed

elevated seating, a rolling martini cart and

KOHLER® COLLECTIONS. Curated to be seen. Claude™ Bathroom Collection

a custom curio cabinet showcasing curated ceramic art, alongside a handpainted textured mural by Erin Lynn Welsh, depicting nearby Eaton Canyon, which was devastated by wildfire in January 2025. The space can function as a mezzanine lounge, private dining room or even a stage, providing a versatile setting for the hotel’s diverse programming. The 25 guestrooms are set around a quaint courtyard in the church’s original schoolhouse. Here, Luk and her team envisioned the home of a Peggy Guggenheim-inspired character who has left Europe to settle among Silver Lake’s contemporary artist community. Bespoke furnishings created with local makers, custom carpets, textiles and original art all sit against the building’s original blackened steel windows and wood flooring. Spacious bathrooms feature clawfoot Kohler bathtubs and brass fittings by The Watermark Collection, alongside Parachute linens and Aesop bath amenities. The most expansive accommodation is the Lucile Suite, a 536ft2 ground-level room complete with its

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Ringo A dialogue between light and matter.

marset.com

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own private outdoor courtyard, a babbling water

art gallery curated with Rhett Baruch and Patty

feature and an intimate reading nook with

Sanchez of Rhett Baruch Gallery. Nearly every

curated art available for purchase.

piece across the public spaces to the guestrooms

The hotel’s outdoor spaces reinforce the

is for sale, and the very artists who created the

notion of the church as a sanctuary within the

them are often on-site to speak with guests

city. Here, Electric Bowery has transformed a

about their creative process.

concrete pit into a lush pool terrace defined

A deep sense of personal connection

by cool teals and terracottas. A previously

emanates from all who worked on this unique

unutilised rooftop has also been lushly planted

project, but perhaps the most from Armbruster.

to offer guests sweeping views across the city

“I have always been drawn to Silver Lake’s

and hills beyond.

independent spirit, historic architecture

Enhancing the hotel’s story is its guest

and creative community,” she says. “The

experience, carefully curated by Laney

neighbourhood feels deeply aligned with how

Langenstein, Head of Marketing & Strategy at

we approach hospitality and select the spaces

Casetta. This starts with an original fragrance,

we transform into our Casetta properties. We

inspired by the woody tones of church incense,

look for buildings with an existing personality,

a meaningful history and a strong connection

Casetta also teamed up with Usal Project to

to their surroundings, and this building offered

create a handbook of the best hikes, galleries

an extraordinary foundation,” Armbruster

and shops to visit in the neighbourhood, with

concludes. Today, the hotel teems with

guided runs and on-site breathwork classes as

activity and local engagement, making a once

an added plus. Yet the richest part of the guest

abandoned but adored church come to life again

experience is the property’s role as a revolving

as a cornerstone of its community.

EXPRESS CHECK-OUT Operator: Casetta Architecture and Interior Design: Electric Bowery Art Consultant: Rhett Baruch Gallery, Uprise Art www.hotellucile.com

25-26 November 2026 Excel London

HIX TALKS 2026 - Meet The Speakers X marks the spot for this year’s HIX Talks, taking centre stage at HIX Europe 2026, with a new home at Excel London.

Simon Abela Associate GA Design

Richy Almond Co-Founder Lind + Almond

Justin Meath Baker Director of Interior Design EMEA, Hyatt Hotels

Linda Boronkay Founder Boronkay Studio

Paul Brackley Founder Kinsfolk & Co

Martin Goddard Co-Founder Goddard Littlefair

Ariel Harroush CEO Outform

Noelle Homsy Co-Founder Envi Lodges

Tom Hupe Senior Director Design & Architecture EMEA Hilton

Chris King Founder Stay Crafted

Inge Moore Co-Founder Muza Lab

Chris Nader Co-Founder Envi Lodges

Hakan Ozkasikci Founder 3 Square Meters

Seyhan Özdemir Sarper Co-Founder Autoban

Irek Pasek Director Reardon Smith Architects

Bryony Spottiswoode

Simon Thompson Executive Director Interior Architecture Red Sea Global

Katie Tobin Co-Founder Festival of Hospitality

Tatjana von Stein Founder Tatjana von Stein

Jamie Slagel Owner Olson Kundig

Director of Architecture, Design Services – Europe Four Seasons Hotels

The beating heart of the show, HIX Talks brings together the developers, operators, architects and designers behind some of the world’s most exciting new hotel projects – exploring the ideas, influences and shifts shaping hospitality right now.

Taking place on a central stage and screen set customdesigned by Outform, the programme celebrates the creativity, innovation and artistry that makes hotels incredible. See www.hixevent.com for more speakers being added. Turn overleaf for the full programme

Mark Eacott

Keith Evans Founder Dean Group

Andreas Christodoulou Founder House of Dré

Aaron Clarke Founder ADC & Tuneu

Guy Dittrich Editor-at-Large Sleeper

Florian Kollenz Co-Founder Companion Hospitality Group

Pernille Lind Co-Founder Lind + Almond

Clare Mabon Principal and Artistic Director Pierre-Yves Rochon

Sanjit Manku Co-Founder Jouin Manku

Roderick Micallef Chief Projects and Corporate Services Officer Corinthia Hotels

Heleri Rande Senior Partner Think Hospitality

Alex Reed Design Director EMEA Hilton

Daniele Sbaraglia Partner Foster + Partners

Aurélie Schwend Director Interior Design EMEA Marriott International

Melita Skamnaki Co-Founder Double Decker

Karen Willey Co-Founder Festival of Hospitality

Piotr Wiśniewski Creative Director WeStudio

Rob Wood Founder Music Concierge

Ria Xenou Founder Elastic

Philippa Wagner Founder PeoplePlacesSpaces

Global EVP of Design Ennismore

HIX TALKS 2026 – The Programme DAY 1

25 NOVEMBER 2026

11:00 – 11:25

Scene Setting

Panel

Philippa Wagner PeoplePlacesSpaces

Hakan Ozkasikci Founder & CEO, 3 Square Metres

TALK: ‘Icons Reinvented’

Chris Nader Co-Founder & CEO, Envi Lodges

11:30 – 12:30

How do you reinvent a legendary hotel without losing what made it legendary? Designers and operators behind three of the world’s best known properties, all recently relaunched, discuss how to win new guests while keeping loyal regulars on side. They also cover the cost and complexity of renovating heritage buildings. Presentations

Chris King Founder, Stay Crafted Moderator: Philippa Wagner PeoplePlacesSpaces 14:15 – 14:30

Comfort Break

14:30 – 15:30

TALK: ‘A Sense of Place’

Delano Miami: Ria Ria Xenou Founder & CEO, Elastic Architects

Some hotels could be anywhere; others could only be where they are. Drawing on presentations of The Newman London, The Dean Munich, and The Companion Vienna, the panel asks what genuinely roots a hotel in its neighbourhood. They look at how to do it without tipping into pastiche, tokenism or box-ticking community partnerships.

Panel

Presentations

Mark Eacott Global EVP of Design & Branded Residences, Ennismore

The Newman London: Pernille Lind / Richy Almond Co-Founders, Lind Almond

Alex Reed Design Director EMEA, Hilton

The Companion Vienna: Piotr Wisniewski Founder & Creative Director – Westudio

Aurélie Schwend Director Interior Design EMEA - Marriott International

The Dean – Munich: Tatjana von Stein Founder, Tatjana von Stein

Park Hyatt Tokyo: Sanjit Manku Co-Founder, Jouin Manku Conrad Athens: Alex Reed Design Director EMEA, Hilton

Terreno Barrio Palma: Jaime Oliver & Paloma Hernaiz Directors, OHLAB

Moderator: Catherine Martin Sleeper Magazine 12:30 – 13:15

Comfort Break

13:15 – 14:15

TALK: ‘Distributed & Deconstructed’

Panel Paul Brackley Founder & CEO, Kinsfolk & Co Keith Evans Founder & CEO, Dean Group

Not every great hotel sits under one roof. This panel looks at properties made up of scattered cabins, lodges and pavilions, where the landscape becomes part of the architecture. Speakers weigh privacy against community, and nature against comfort, as well as the practical challenges of running a dispersed site.

Florian Kollenz Co-Founder, Companion Hospitality Group Moderator: Karen Willey Co-Founder - Festival of Hospitality Moderator: Katie Tobin Co-Founder - Festival of Hospitality

Presentations One & Only Moonlight Basin: Jamie Slagel Principal & Owner, Olson Kundig

15:30 – 15:50

Philippa Wagner PeoplePlacesSpaces

Here. Maldives: Inge Moore Co-Founder, Muza Lab ENVI Paje: Noelle Homsy Co-Founder, Envi Lodges Crafted at Powdermills: Dre Christodoulou Founder & Creative Director, House of Dre

Closing Comments

15:50 - 16:30

TALK: ‘Changes’ – HIX Originals Deconstructed The minds behind the HIX 26 art, music and digital experiences provide their perspective on these three cultural touch-points. Leading voices from Double Decker, Music Concierge and Outform will explore art, culture and innovation in hospitality through the lens of change.

DAY 2

26 NOVEMBER 2026

11:00 – 11:15

Scene Setting

Presentations

Heleri Rande Hospitality Strategist / Partner, Think Hospitality

Sheraton Stockholm: Aaron Clarke Co-Founder & Managing Director – ADC & Tuneu

11:15-12:15

Hilton Bosphorus Istanbul: Seyhan Özdemir Sarper Co-Founder and Head of Design - Autoban

TALK: ‘Red Sea Rising: Mega-Projects & Masterplans’

Chancery Rosewood London: Irek Pasek Director & Project Architect, ReardonSmith Architects

Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast is being remade at a pace and scale few places have seen, from AMAALA to Shura Island, Triple Bay and the Southern Dunes. This talk explores the challenges and opportunities of building whole destinations over decades rather than single hotels, how to phase them and how to deliver them.

Panel Justin Meath Baker Director of Interior Design - Hyatt Hotels Corporation Tom Hupe Senior Director Design & Architecture EMEA - Hilton

Presentations

Moderator: Eleanor Howard Deputy Editor - Sleeper Magazine

AMAALA Red Sea: Daniele Sbaraglia Partner/Architect - Foster + Partners Four Seasons Triple Bay: Jo Littlefair Director & Co-Founder, Goddard Littlefair Red Sea Edition: Eva Longoria Partner, Rockwell Group Madrid

14:00 – 14:30

Comfort Break

14:00 - 15:00

TALK: ‘Grandes Dames & Grand Designs’ This panel covers two routes to grandeur: restoring Europe’s classic grande dame hotels, and turning historic palaces and mansions into hotels for the first time. Speakers discuss what to preserve and what to update, how to keep a building authentic, and how to make the numbers work despite heritage consents and specialist restoration costs.

InterContinental Red Sea: Kristina Zanic CEO, Kristina Zanic Consultants Panel Simon Thompson Executive Director of Interior Architecture, Red Sea Global

Presentations

Daniele Sbaraglia Partner/Architect, Foster + Partners

Corinthia Rome: Simon Abela Associate – GA Design

Kristina Zanic CEO, Kristina Zanic Consultants

Mandarin Oriental Vienna: Martin Goddard Director & Co-Founder – Goddard Littlefair

Moderator: Guy Dittrich Editor at Large, Sleeper 12:15 - 12:45

Comfort Break

12:45 – 13:45

TALK: ‘Mid-Century Modernised, Concrete Converted’ Mid-century and concrete-era hotels are some of hospitality’s boldest buildings, but they were designed for very different guests. Using The Chancery Rosewood, Hilton Istanbul Bosphorus, Sheraton Stockholm and The Standard Brussels, the panel compares faithful restoration with new buildings that borrow the era’s look. It also asks how to modernise these buildings without alienating the guests who love them.

Danieli, Venezia, A Four Seasons Hotel: Claire Mabon Principal & Artistic Director - Pierre-Yves Rochon Hotel Palais de la Mediterranee Nice: Linda Boronkay Founder & Creative Director - Boronkay Studio Panel Bryony Spottiswood – Director of Architecture, Europe Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts Roderick Micallef – Chief Projects and Corporate Services Officer Corinthia Hotels Moderator : Heleri Rande Hospitality Strategist / Partner, Think Hospitality 15:00 – 15:15

Closing Comments Heleri Rande – Hospitality Strategist / Partner, Think Hospitality

Four regions. One global conversation. Curated by Sleeper Magazine and hosted by leading industry strategists Philippa Wagner and Heleri Rande, HIX Talks explores the themes and trends emerging from this year’s AHEAD Awards judging across four regions: Asia, the Americas, the Middle East & Africa, and Europe.

Together, they’ll unpack not just what these hotels look like, but the thinking behind them – from changing approaches to place, programming and architecture to the evolving relationship between guests, destinations and the spaces they inhabit.

Each HIX Talk combines quick-fire, Pecha Kucha-style presentations from the architects and designers behind the best new hotels to have opened across the globe over the past 12 months, followed by on-stage conversations with the developers, owners and operators bringing these projects to life.

Programme correct at time of going to print – please visit www.hixevent.com/visit/hix-talks for the most up-to-date schedule.

HIX Talks sponsored by:

HIX EUROPE 2026 – All Change HIX Europe 2026 isn’t just another event. It’s a complete reimagining within an all-new curated, creative campus. This year, we’re celebrating how change shapes hospitality design – through installations, talks and activations that explore three fundamental pillars: • Shifting directions. Brands pivoting. Interiors evolving. Guest experiences reimagined. • Altered spaces. Refurbishments. Design modifications. The invisible progress powered by technology. • Transformative experiences. From design proposition to guest potential – because great hospitality doesn’t just respond to change. It creates it.

HIX ORIGINALS Bespoke Design Made For HIX Great hotel experiences are built around unique, considered details. So, for 2026, we’re applying the same thinking to HIX itself. Introducing HIX Originals – a curated collection of bespoke pieces, collaborations and experiences created exclusively for HIX Europe 2026. Working with a group of creative partners, we’ve taken our theme of Changes as a starting point to create a sensory journey through the show. From scent and sound to art, furniture and florals, each Original has been designed to shape how HIX Europe feels, looks and is remembered. Five collaborations. Five ways to experience HIX.

At our new home at Excel London, we are keeping the HIX touchpoints that resonate with Europe’s hospitality design community while pushing everything forward. We’re inviting our audience, with words that still echo across decades, to “turn and face the strange”. This mantra will set the tone for the grand finale of HIX, AHEAD Europe, also moving to a new venue Magazine London and it’s theme of ‘Rebels Reinvented’ similarly embracing the spirit of ‘ch-ch-changes.’

See www.hixevent.com for full details

ORIGINAL 01 Scent – Ecoscent: Room Number Created exclusively for HIX Europe 2026, Room Number explores the transformative power of scent and the different moods of the hotel experience. The moment the guest enters they feel enriched: more present, confident, optimistic and relaxed. Room Number opens with the guest room and sense of arrival. Fresh white linen and soft iris combine as daylight pours through sheer curtains.

ORIGINAL 02 Art – Double Decker x Peter Judson What changes from hotel to hotel around the world, takes on many forms, and yet instantly represents hospitality? Tables. That was the starting point for Double Decker and artist Peter Judson, who have collaborated to create a bold new artwork for HIX Europe 2026. Inspired by Postmodernism, ceramics and the visual language of the video game Wipeout, Tables sits somewhere between artwork, design and pattern. Created as an infinitely adaptable visual system, it will make its way through the HIX experience – from the Lobby and Boulevard to HIX Talks and the Bar.

ORIGINAL 04 Sound – Music Concierge From Rosewood to Belmond, Upper House to Dishoom, the most distinctive names in hospitality treat music as part of the design. Music Concierge is the global creative music agency behind them, defining and delivering music identities that shape how a space feels from the moment a guest arrives. This year, the agency brings that approach to HIX. Music Concierge will design the soundtrack to our Lobby, setting the tone for every visitor as they enter. Curated around this year’s theme, the music will evolve across both days, carrying through into the evening and on to AHEAD Europe.

ORIGINAL 03 Furniture – Parla We’ve worked with Parla before, so we already knew their mix of heritage craftsmanship, forward-thinking design and collaborative spirit. For HIX Originals, we wanted to take that relationship further. As our furniture partner for the Lobby and Bar – the beginning and end of the HIX visitor journey – Parla has embraced the spirit of Changes through the bold forms and playful energy of 1980s Milanese design and Memphis.

ORIGINAL 05 Floral – Long Lunch Studio Why hire some flowers when you can make your own? For HIX Originals, we’re partnering with Long Lunch Studio, a London atelier creating sculptural paper flowers for hospitality and interiors, to develop a completely bespoke floral installation.

25-26 November 2026 Excel London

Puro Grand Hotel PALMA Puro Group unites two boutique hotels to create a new destination in the Mallorcan capital. Words: Matt Turner Photography: © Xisco Monserrat

hen Puro Hotel opened in Palma

brand, providing guests at a city centre hotel

in 2004, it was among the Balearic

with a coastal escape. The signature mix of

island’s

hotels.

Mediterranean dining, DJ sets and a swimming

Swedish entrepreneur Mats Wahlström blended

pool surrounded by Balinese daybeds and

contemporary Scandinavian design with wide-

hammocks has since been widely imitated.

first

boutique

ranging ethnic influences to create an innovative

In subsequent years, Wahlström focused his

lifestyle-focused concept that quickly attracted

attention on the global rollout of Purobeach,

a younger, cosmopolitan clientele to the

with openings in Marbella, Vilamoura, Tuscany

revitalised city centre.

and Dubai. He exited the business in 2014, with

Another Swedish hotelier Mikael Landstrom,

an investor consortium led by Beltrán Álvarez

together with his wife Johanna, had disrupted

de Estrada acquiring the existing Palma hotel

Palma’s hotel scene some five years earlier with

and beach club portfolio.

Hotel Portixol, whilst subsequent openings such

Since then, the new owners have embarked on

as Convent de la Missió and Can Cera, set in

an ambitious expansion plan for the brand, with

motion a boutique hotel boom in the old town

new beach clubs opening in Barcelona, Illetas

that has continued over the last two decades.

in Mallorca and Portopiccolo in Trieste, as well

Puro Hotel wasn’t the only game-changing

as further afield in Mexico’s Playa del Carmen.

concept that Wahlström introduced to the

Earlier this year, the group launched its own

island. The 2005 launch of Purobeach Palma,

Purobeach Resort comprising a hotel and beach

combining a similar blend of contemporary

club in Santa Ponsa Mallorca, as well as a beach

and ethnic design, was one of the earliest

club attached to Valamar Collection’s new Pical

examples of a boutique hotel expanding to

Resort in Poreč, Croatia.

open a standalone beach club under the same

In the meantime, back in La Lonja, the historic

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Interiors are defined by a soothing palette of sandy hues with marble and woven cane accents

heart of Palma’s old town, the original Puro Hotel

The 66 guestrooms and suites are decorated in

was rebranded as Puro Oasis Urbano, with the Lázaro

a soothing palette of sandy hues with punches of

Rosa-Violán-designed Puro Grand Hotel launching in

blue evoking the Mediterranean. Arabian-inspired

an adjacent historic palace building in 2022.

headboards are accompanied by furniture pieces

Now, following an extensive renovation, the two

from the likes of PolsPotten, Bonoso, Eichholtz, Ferm

hotels have been combined and relaunched under

Living and Gervasoni, while bespoke bedside control

the Puro Grand Hotel banner. “This is more than a

plates come courtesy of Font Barcelona. Fabrics and

merger – it’s a reinvention,” says Beltrán Álvarez de

soft furnishings are supplied by Pierre Frey, Élitis

Estrada, CEO of Puro Group. “We’ve taken the best of

and Alfombras Peña, with rugs by Kilombo Home.

both worlds and created a destination that sets a new

Bathrooms feature white marble walls, contrasting

benchmark for boutique luxury. Imagine a stay where

dark, diagonal-laid floor tiles and freestanding

guests can enjoy all the services of a five-star hotel

bathtubs, with fixtures by Bongio.

in a genuine, relaxed and homely ambience within

Original wooden beam ceilings are left exposed

the most beautiful private palaces, now gathered into

in some of the suites, juxtaposed with woven cane

one single hotel.”

wardrobes, bouclé upholstered seating and layered

The resulting property is a stunning reinvention

linen bedding for a natural, organic feel. At the top

of three historic palaces dating back to the 15th and

of the hotel, a small rooftop terrace features outdoor

17th centuries, incorporating original architectural

furniture by Sika Design and Miv Interiors.

elements from both the Moorish and Baroque periods.

Puro Group’s influence reaches further than the

Working closely with the new owners, Nuur Studio has

three palace buildings that make up Puro Grand Hotel.

developed those earlier designs by Lázaro Rosa-Violán

An adjacent building houses three meeting rooms with

and Palma-based architects SCT Arquitectos to unite

capacity for up to 40 delegates, and across the street,

the previously distinct hotels.

Puro Spa offers an extensive range of treatments in

From the entrance on narrow cobblestoned Carrer de

association with wellness brand SeaSkin Life. Just a

Montenegro, guests enter a small reception area with

two-minute walk around the corner on Carrer dels

an industrial abstract painting featuring a weathered

Apuntadors lies Palacio Can Marqués offering all-suite

rust finish, beneath which sits a pair of vintage Mid-

accommodation on an even grander scale, organised

Century Modern sofas upholstered in brown leather.

around a secret garden and topped off with The Riad –

Beyond this lies a hidden gem of a courtyard with

a luxurious 380m2 presidential suite with an expansive

towering, whitewashed walls adorned with a geometric

private terrace.

sun-face ceramic relief by French artist Julien Capron.

Meanwhile a shuttle is available to whisk guests to

A convex fish-eye mirror further down the wall

Purobeach Palma or Purobeach Illetas – the perfect

enhances the sense of space, and potted banana plants

way to combine evenings exploring the charm of

add to the tranquil, Mediterranean vibe.

Palma’s old town with days on the beach.

EXPRESS CHECK-OUT Owner / Operator: Puro Group Architecture: SCT Arquitectos Interior Design: Nuur Studio, Lázaro Rosa-Violán Studio Lighting Design: Nuur Studio www.purogroup.com

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Anantara Tented Camp KAFUE RIVER Anantara unveils its first African safari camp, where Meg Ralph Spaces blends geometric forms and bold colour with traditional Zambian craft for a distinct Afro-Modernist aesthetic. Words: Catherine Martin • Photography: © Richard Waite

n the banks of Kafue River, a majestic bush elephant roams through the woodland, pausing to feast on tender shoots plucked from the leafy canopy. Nearby,

a pod of hippos wallow in the muddy waters, grunting and groaning as they mark their territory. And somewhere in the distance, the piercing scream of a monkey rings out, warning that a leopard is on the prowl. This is Kafue National Park in Zambia, where daily game drives offer the chance to encounter a diverse array of wildlife in its natural habitat. Yet unlike many better-known safari destinations, there’s a notable absence: the convoys of jeeps jostling for position around a sighting – an increasingly familiar image in Africa’s overtourism story – are nowhere to be seen. It is in this remote wilderness that Anantara has established its first African safari camp. The venture marks the brand’s entry into a rapidly growing market segment, while opening up new possibilities for multi-stop itineraries. “Following the success of The Royal Livingstone and Anantara Stanley & Livingstone at Victoria Falls, we saw an opportunity to offer guests a more complete safari journey through Zambia,” explains William Heinecke, founder and Chairman of Minor International, parent company of Minor

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The camp is a celebration of African design and features furniture, screens and woven pieces that take cues from traditional Zambian craft

Hotels. “Kafue National Park is compelling because it is still

trees, vegetation and riverbanks to determine the position of

relatively undiscovered. It offers the scale and wildlife of a

each villa. We also chose to elevate the structures on stilts,

great African wilderness, without the mass tourism found in

allowing animals to move freely beneath them while guests

some of the continent’s more established parks.”

observe from the comfort and safety of their own space.”

Having lagged behind neighbouring countries, Zambia

Interiors are designed by Meg Ralph Spaces, a Cape Town-

is at a pivotal stage in its tourism development, with a

based studio with a growing portfolio of camp and lodge

roadmap for sustainable growth helping to shape its next

projects. Yet Anantara marks a clear departure from the

phase. In Kafue, the ongoing work of African Parks has

conventional safari aesthetic. “We didn’t want to create

been instrumental. Through a 20-year programme, the

another version of the traditional safari camp,” Heinecke

non-profit organisation is committed to the park’s long-

points out. “We want guests to feel they are in Zambia

term restoration, prioritising infrastructure development,

from the moment they arrive, so local art, craftsmanship,

conservation measures and socio-economic opportunities

materials and cultural references became an important part

for local communities.

of the design. Meg and her team were a natural choice as

The framework aligns with Minor Hotels’ own

they have a very strong understanding of how to create an

Sustainability Strategy, a group-wide initiative built around

identity through space, which was fundamental to what we

the core pillars of responsible business, natural capital and

wanted to achieve.”

people potential. “Thoughtful tourism can be a powerful

The brief was to create a highly refined tented camp that

tool for conservation, and working alongside African Parks

translates the unique character of Kafue into a tangible

gives us an opportunity to contribute to the long-term value

guest experience. For studio founder Meg Ralph, this meant

of Kafue National Park,” Heinecke notes. “We have seen

fostering a deep connection to place: “We want the villas to

through our own conservation work, including the Golden

feel as though they belong to this river and this landscape;

Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation in Thailand, how

the planning therefore began with the view.”

responsible tourism and conservation can work alongside

At 115m2, the villas are generously proportioned, with

one another. Kafue is a very different environment, but the

a separate lounge, bedroom and dressing area, as well as

principle is the same: the destination has to benefit from

a dedicated room for spa treatments. Beds and principal

people coming to experience it.”

seating face the water, while outside, the deck features a

This thinking is reflected in everything from design

dining area and heated plunge pool, both oriented towards

and construction to operations. Anantara Tented Camp

the sweeping river views. The three Horizon Terrace Suites

is deliberately intimate in scale, comprising a communal

take in an even wider panorama from their lofty perch,

lodge and just 13 accommodation units – ten villas and three

some 14 metres above ground. Accessed via a glass elevator,

Horizon Terrace Suites. “The objective is not to bring large

these unique accommodations feature an entire upper deck

numbers of people into Kafue,” Heinecke emphasises. “It is

dedicated to open-air living.

to create a high-quality experience that gives people a reason to value and protect this extraordinary place.”

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Across the resort, Kafue River formed the foundation for the design scheme. “Its slow movement through the

As such, the site has been carefully planned to safeguard the

landscape, the way it bends, widens and catches light,

fragile ecosystem, with the entire camp elevated 3.5 metres

became the emotional starting point for the project,” Ralph

above ground to preserve essential wildlife corridors. “The

reveals. “I wanted the interiors to hold that same sense of

landscape really dictated the design,” explains Bruno Pessoa,

movement and stillness. It is there in the softened forms, the

Vice President of Design & Technical Services at Minor Hotels

curved edges, the long horizontal lines and the way the eye is

Middle East & Africa. “Rather than clear the land and decide

continually released back towards the water. The palette grew

where we wanted to build, we worked around the existing

from the same place. Silt, reed, bark, weathered timber and

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The Modernist influence appears in low profiles, strong silhouettes and slender proportions, with further character coming from handcrafted furnishings

coppery earth form the quieter ground, while

that a hand-carved surface, a woven fibre or

Zambia’s natural resources introduce richer

a handmade ceramic could carry real weight,”

moments of copper, emerald and cobalt. These

Ralph continues. “We also resisted polishing the

colours were never conceived as decorative

crafts into uniformity. A chisel mark, a small

accents; they are concentrated fragments of the

shift in a weave or a slight variation in clay gives

landscape and of Zambia itself.”

a refined interior human presence.”

Ralph describes the camp’s aesthetic as Afro-

It’s this handcrafted feel that is a real

Modernist – “a contemporary African design

highlight, helping shape identity and foster a

language, grounded in the clarity of Mid-

connection to place. “The camp is a celebration

Century form and the expressive character of the

of African design, informed by the river, the land

handmade”. This is evident in the main lodge,

and above all, traditional Zambian craft,” Ralph

where a restaurant, bar and lounge masterfully

confirms. “Kaonde and Lozi carving, along

combine colour, texture and pattern. “The

with Tonga and Makenge weaving, informed

Modernist influence appears in low profiles,

our approach to rhythm, geometry, texture and

strong silhouettes and slender proportions.

form. We did not reproduce those traditions

Against this sit carved timber, woven fibre,

literally however; we used them as a source of

ceramics and natural textiles, each retaining

intelligence, abstracting their principles into

something of the hand that made it,” she states,

contemporary furniture, screens, woven pieces

adding that further character comes from the

and surfaces. From there, the process became

tension between precision and irregularity.

collaborative: makers across Africa interpreted

Villas take a calmer, lighter approach, allowing the details to take centre stage. “We kept the contemporary framework deliberately quiet so

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those ideas through their own knowledge of timber, fibre, clay, leather and metal.” The designer worked closely with artisans in

The Horizon Terrace Suites perch 14 metres above ground, while tented villas occupy the banks of Kafue River

Swaziland, Malawi, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Zambia, resulting in a variety of one-of-a-kind furnishings. “Handwoven scatter cushions, rugs and wall-hangings, carved timber, handmade ceramics, leather details and bespoke furniture were all created specifically for Anantara,” says Ralph. “Each collaboration brought a distinct skill to a shared design intention.” While the interiors are firmly rooted in Africa, the programming, facilities and personalised touches stem from Anantara’s brand DNA. Like the group’s Maldives properties, every villa comes with its own dedicated host, who is on hand for the duration of a guest’s stay to cater to their every whim. Typical requests might include arranging an in-room massage or setting up a dining experience on the deck, but it’s the finer details that set the service apart – remembering food and beverage preferences, offering a blanket at the first sign of a chill, or having a fresh coffee ready to take on an earlymorning cruise along the river. And rather than being an afterthought, the provision was clearly factored in from the outset, with host amenities – including a kitchen, pantry and housekeeping supplies – located directly below the villa for efficient, easy access. The camp’s F&B offering is equally considered, with its modest key-count giving

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Chef Malik Mosia the opportunity to develop

from how we generate energy and manage water,

a more distinctive and personal approach to

to waste and grey-water treatment,” Pessoa

dining. Breakfast is typically served on return

explains. “But sustainability here is not only

from the morning safari, and is a hearty affair

about the technology behind the operations. It is

of healthy cereals, local fruits and fresh pastries,

about how we behave within the environment:

while lunch and dinner are based around

we have to respect the wildlife, the landscape

contemporary interpretations of traditional

and the natural rhythms of the park. In many

African recipes, with locally caught fish and

ways, the camp is designed as though we are

game forming each plate. The slow-braised

simply passing through the landscape, rather

oxtail is a particular highlight, made all the more

than occupying it.”

memorable by Mosia’s animated storytelling.

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This philosophy is shared by Minor’s

The camp also offers Designer Dining, an

founder, who sees the camp’s success as being

Anantara signature tailored to each destination.

measured not only by the guest experience,

In Kafue, experiences include private bush

but by its lasting impact – or lack thereof – on

dinners, sundowners with the hippos and wine

surroundings. “What I am most proud of is that

tastings on a floating pontoon. And evenings

we have created a hotel that feels substantial

often conclude with toasting marshmallows at

for the guest while remaining very light on the

the boma-style firepit beneath the stars.

landscape,” Heinecke concludes. “Ultimately,

Beyond the guest experience, Anantara’s

if one day we were to remove the camp, I

ethos shapes how the camp operates within its

would want there to be very little evidence that

natural surroundings too. “From the outset, our

we were ever there. That, for me, is the real

ambition was to minimise the environmental

measure of success: leaving the destination with

footprint. That meant looking at everything

memories, not scars.”

EXPRESS CHECK-OUT Owner: Agro Safari Operator: Minor Hotels Interior Design: Meg Ralph Spaces www.anantara.com

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096

St Regis BUDAPEST Moinard Bétaille reimagines a historic palace for the Hungarian debut of St Regis, taking inspiration from the capital’s rich cultural heritage. Words: Naomi Chadderton • Photography: Courtesy of Marriott International

he Hungarian capital is hardly short of

Budapest takes pride of place directly opposite

storied Belle Époque landmarks, but even

its counterpart, Matild Palace, which was

by Budapest standards, Klotild Palace

converted into a Luxury Collection Hotel in 2021.

has quite the past. Commissioned by Princess

This time around, however, Marriott’s in-house

Clotilde of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha at the turn

design team worked alongside Parisian firm

of the 20th century, the Neo-Baroque palace was

Moinard Bétaille to reimagine interiors with a

one of a pair flanking the approach to Elisabeth

scheme that brings Budapest’s history, culture

Bridge, forming a grand gateway to Pest. More

and creative traditions firmly into the present.

than a century later, its new chapter comes

“The ambition was to create a destination where

courtesy of St Regis, which has chosen the

historic grandeur, contemporary refinement

building for its long-awaited Hungarian debut.

and the St Regis philosophy to ‘Live Exquisite’

“Klotild Palace was the ideal home for this

come together in a way that feels authentic

project,” General Manager Ausra Lucinskaite

to Budapest,” explains Matthew Seal, Vice

tells Sleeper. “As one of Budapest’s most

President, Luxury Brands, Global Design for

iconic landmarks, its remarkable heritage,

Marriott International across EMEA. “Rather

architectural grandeur and connection to the

than creating something entirely new, we

city’s history align with the timeless elegance

wanted the design to feel like a continuation of

and sense of place that define the St Regis

the palace’s story, allowing guests to experience

brand. Restoring this historic palace has

a living piece of Budapest’s history through a

allowed us to honour its legacy while creating

contemporary St Regis lens.”

a contemporary expression of luxury for today’s global traveller.” Just steps from the Danube River, St Regis

For Moinard Bétaille, the starting point was the building itself. “Klotild Palace has a very strong architectural identity and history, but

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The palace’s historic apothecary has been reimagined as a patisserie that celebrates Budapest’s café culture

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it also needed to evolve in keeping with the

flowing across each step, while the original

distinctive St Regis spirit, with a more timeless

ceramic balustrades form the riverbanks.”

approach and one more closely connected

Here, the team worked with ceramics,

to Budapest,” says Associate Director Claire

intricate leaf ironwork and a monumental

Bétaille. “We therefore began by looking at what

chandelier recalling both the Saxe-Coburg

could form a vocabulary specific to the place:

crown and the opera lights that once graced

the Danube, of course, but also the thermal

the rooftop. “It is a rather theatrical entrance,

baths, ceramics, café culture, opera and, more

though it does not seek spectacle for its own

broadly, Budapest’s unique position between

sake,” continues Bétaille. “Above all, it should

East and West. The idea was not to turn these

give guests the feeling that they are entering a

into decorative themes, but rather to use them

very particular place, passing from one world

as elements capable of informing the project

into another and ascending towards a unique

as a whole.”

discovery and experience.”

This approach is immediately apparent on

The hotel is home to 63 guestrooms and 39

entry, where a grand staircase takes its cues

suites, each designed “to frame Budapest’s

from the river, with light filtering through

architectural beauty, while creating a sense

a glass ceiling and bouncing off reflective

of intimacy, comfort and retreat, much like

surfaces to evoke the movement of water. “The

a private theatre box at the opera,” Seal says

grand staircase is one of the major elements

of the reference to the Hungarian State Opera

of the project,” explains Bétaille. “We wanted

House, which opened in 1884. Highlights include

the arrival experience to immediately convey

decorative tiles, patterned fabrics and finely

the scale of the palace and its verticality. The

worked brass details at the bedside, offering

staircase becomes the Danube with the carpet

subtle nods to the Art Nouveau craftsmanship

In guestrooms, artwork and upholstery draw on the movement of the Danube, an approach also taken by Baal to craft bespoke accessories

found across Budapest. The mini-bars have

central European outpost, the restaurant serves

been reimagined as cserépkályha, the striking

premium ingredients prepared using traditional

tiled stoves that have long provided heating in

Japanese culinary techniques, while a private

many homes throughout the city. The crème

dining room hosts an omakase experience

de la crème of accommodations, however, are

curated by Chef Thinus van der Westhuizen,

the cupola-topped Klotild Tower Suite and the

Group Culinary Director of 99 International.

two-bedroom Presidential Suite, which offers a private balcony overlooking the Danube.

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“Each venue has its own distinct identity, yet all are connected by a shared sense of

Elsewhere Budapest’s theatrical heritage

refinement, craftsmanship and occasion that

comes into play at St Regis Bar, where nods to

runs throughout the hotel. These individual

the city’s opera scene provide the backdrop to

identities are brought together through the

the brand’s evening rituals and signature Bloody

architecture and heritage of Klotild Palace, as

Mary. Crowning the bar is a mural – one of

well as the rituals that unfold throughout the

many artworks throughout the hotel curated by

hotel,” explains Seal. “Champagne Sabrage

ArtLink – inspired by the opera house’s gilded

transforms the central atrium into a moment

interiors and ceiling frescoes.

of celebration and connects the different

Offering a different expression of the city,

experiences through the traditions of St Regis.

Klotild Patisserie celebrates Budapest’s café

Rather than feeling like separate destinations,

culture within the palace’s beautifully restored

each space becomes a different chapter of

historic apothecary. And 99 Sushi Bar and

the same story, rooted in Budapest while

Restaurant introduces a more cosmopolitan

unmistakably St Regis.”

energy, maintaining the same attention to

Another distinctly Budapest reference comes

detail and sense of theatre. Marking its first

into play in the basement, where a subterranean

baal.com.lb

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spa is informed by the city’s historic thermal

the history of Klotild Palace because our

baths. “Rather than recreating a traditional

intention from the beginning was to showcase

Hungarian bathhouse, we built a sanctuary

and celebrate its architectural character,

centred around personalised wellbeing,

craftsmanship and sense of grandeur,” reflects

indulgence and ceremony,” explains Seal. Home

Seal. “We wanted the building to speak for

to an indoor pool, a traditional hammam, a

itself, while introducing contemporary comfort

Finnish sauna, experience showers and three

and modern hospitality experiences that meet

dedicated treatment rooms, it reworks familiar

the expectations of the modern luxury traveller.

bathhouse materials and motifs for a modern-

Every change was designed to complement the

day luxury setting. “There was no question of

palace rather than compete with it, allowing

reproducing the city’s historic baths,” adds

guests to understand its heritage in a way that

Bétaille. “We selected certain elements from

feels elegant, relevant and alive.” He concludes:

their vocabulary - ceramics, tiles, mineral

“The result is a dialogue between preservation

materials and the relationship between

and modern St Regis glamour, where the

water and light - and used them in a more

building’s legacy becomes central to the guest

contemporary way. The idea was to capture the

experience. That balance is what we aim for with

atmosphere and sensory dimension of the baths

every St Regis, to honour legacy while making

rather than reproduce their architecture.”

every moment feel exquisitely presented.”

Ultimately, it is this balance between old

More than a century after Klotild Palace

and new that defines the project, with the

first welcomed travellers arriving in Pest, the

palace’s heritage treated not as something

landmark is once again playing host – this time

to work around, but as the foundation for its

with its history firmly intact, but a distinctly

new identity. “It was not difficult to preserve

new purpose.

EXPRESS CHECK-OUT Owner: Ali Bin Ali Group Developer: Ali Bin Ali Hospitality Operator: Marriott International Interior Design: Moinard Bétaille Art Consultant: ArtLink www.marriott.com

Kitirua Plains Lodge KENYA A&K Sanctuary enlists long-term collaborator Luxury Frontiers to envision a new flagship rooted in craft and conservation. Words: Ianthe Butt • Photography: Courtesy of A&K Sanctuary

he sheer sense of space struck me most: vast plains, extraordinary wildlife and, above it all, Kilimanjaro,” says Geoffrey Kent, founder and Chairman Emeritus

of A&K Travel Group, describing his first impressions of southern Kenya’s Amboseli National Park. “Watching elephants move across the open landscapes with the mountain as a backdrop remains one of Africa’s greatest sights. It feels wild in the truest sense; a place that makes you slow down, pay attention and simply appreciate the privilege of being there.” It was here, in 1962, that a young Kent brought his first clients on safari to marvel at herds of elephants roaming across the plains, returning to a nomadic tented camp for champagne and caviar, chilled in portable ice boxes. The experience sowed the seeds for Abercrombie & Kent’s ‘adventure by day, luxury by night’ ethos, which forms the blueprint for the brand’s bespoke safari experiences of today. And it is here that Kitirua Plains Lodge, an A&K Sanctuary, has opened, situated on a 128-acre private concession bordering Amboseli National Park. “Amboseli still has that same magic,” notes Kent. “The exceptional wildlife, the timeless landscapes, and the connection between the people, conservation and the land is something guests feel the moment they arrive. It has always represented the essence

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Pared-back interiors feature woven-rush detailing, natural textures and a considered palette attuned to the colours of the savannah

of safari for me, which is why it feels like the natural

in a blend of cement and soil that is hand-raked for

home for A&K Sanctuary’s new flagship lodge.”

a linear effect, while cypress wraparound screens and

Designed in partnership with frequent collaborator

slatted roofs provide shade and ventilation. Inside,

Luxury Frontiers, whose multidisciplinary team

cosseting interiors are rich in natural sisal and

delivered planning, architecture, interior design,

raffia, seen across wallhangings, light installations

project management, sourcing and supply, the project

and furniture. In fact, 90% of the furniture across

crystallises the brand’s grounding principles of

the property is bespoke, manufactured by Nairobi-

nature-centric design, sustainability and community.

based Tira Studio and Sunny Daze using local mango

blends

wood or African teak. Lounges are decorated with

harmoniously into the landscape. An architectural

1.4m-diameter woven grass ceiling installations by

language of organic, fluid lines and sweeping roofs

Afrika Yetu, from which stamen-like chandeliers

takes cues from local enkaji, the Maasai’s low-lying,

wrapped in handmade ceramic beads hang. Double

curved-wall dwellings. Buildings are connected by

vanities, topped with emerald Verde Magnifico stone,

meandering walkways of locally-sourced cypress, and

add grounded glamour to the generous bathrooms,

the colour palette is a carefully considered blend of ash

as does a Monroe freestanding bathtub and indoor-

greys, muted greens and weathered ochres, reflecting

outdoor shower set-up.

Every

element

ensures

the

lodge

the hues of Amboseli’s grasslands, savannah and saline plains.

In-suite elements recall game drive highlights, from metalwork with an aged bronze finish that directly

On arrival, two cylindrical towers rise gently from

references the plumage of grey-crowned cranes, to

the main lodge, bookending a connecting roof that

a textured grass element crafted by Lucidity, which

echoes the topography of the site’s two hills. Inside, a

conjures the nonchalant shake of a lion’s mane, and

woven grass artwork further roots the space in Kenya,

locally quarried ash-grey Mazeras stone flooring that

knitting together three examples of the nation’s

feels reminiscent of wrinkled elephant skin.

craftsmanship. A steel frame is fabricated by Rusty

Spaces are richly imbued with Kenyan craft traditions,

Fundi, clay elements are handcrafted by pottery studio

and before specifications were even written, much

Ceramiqa and weaving is by social enterprise Afrika

time was spent visiting Kenya’s artisan workshops

Yetu’s artisan network.

and manufacturers, identifying opportunities to

Eleven 116m2 hillside suites have been positioned

collaborate. As well as reducing transportation, and

to absorb views of Mount Kilimanjaro and the far-

supporting traditional skills, “every material carries

reaching savannah, where giraffe, zebra and elephant

the memory of where it came from and who made

amble. At the opposite end of the site, two two-

it,” explains McGregor. “The result is an interior

bedroom family suites afford prime wetland vistas. All

that feels inseparable from Kenya itself, shaped by its

are generously spaced, “so guests feel they have their

landscapes, enriched by its craftspeople and grounded

own sanctuary,” explains Guy McGregor, Managing

in the belief that the strongest hospitality experiences

Director of Luxury Frontiers.

begin with an authentic connection to place.”

Suites feature curving, sandy-toned walls, finished

The use of local materials and colours is intrinsically

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linked to the property’s sustainability initiatives.

by Kitengela Glass from a bar that combines

Passive design strategies such as Maasai-style

curved-edge oak joinery and Verde Magnifico.

screens and clever roll-down Visiontex blinds

Up above, a viewing tower rises beneath an

by Cool Living allow natural cross-ventilation

open-air oculus, into a private dining space

and the soothing savannah soundscape to

with voids that afford wraparound 230-degree

cascade through the space – though there is

views of the landscape below.

adaptive air-conditioning if desired. The lodge

Elsewhere, the spa offers a range of

is 100% solar powered, whilst water is supplied

treatments informed by Maasai wellness

from an on-site borehole and greywater is

traditions using Healing Earth products rich in

recycled for irrigation. The strategy extends to

African botanicals. Completing the offering is

the F&B programme, with waste recycling and

an open-air yoga deck, gym and 25m arc-edged

composting integrated into operations.

infinity pool, which doubles as a grey-headed

In the dining area, Leica APO-Televid 65 telescopes are positioned along cypress wood

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kingfisher viewing point. Beyond

the

lodge

itself,

immersive

decking with views out to the wildlife wetland,

experiences – be it watching lion cubs pounce on

while woven sisal ceiling panels enhance the

their mother’s tail, pinpointed by expert guides

sense of place. Food and drink also spotlight

who know the terrain inside-out, champagne

local produce and flavour. Menu highlights

sundowners over the savannah, or traditional

include platters of coffee-spiced lamb ribs,

dancing with Kitirua’s Maasai community –

barbecued king oyster mushrooms and goat

are all made possible by A&K’s longstanding

tacos, followed by wood-fired meat or vegetable

connection to the area. As a result, guests leave

dishes and zingy salads. Herb-infused cocktails

much like Kent did some 60 years ago, with a

are served in handblown recycled vessels

deep understanding of Amboseli’s wonder.

EXPRESS CHECK-OUT Owner: A&K Travel Group Operator: A&K Sanctuary Architecture and Interior Design: Luxury Frontiers Landscaping: Luxury Frontiers, Northscape Main Contractor: Northscape www.abercrombiekent.com

Obi. Dining armchair. Ludovica + Roberto Palomba —— Leku. Dining table. Javier Pastor

www.expormim.com

Conrad ATHENS THE ILISIAN The landmark transformation of a former Hilton unites contemporary luxury and Athenian culture with an expanded mix of dining, wellness and retail to usher in a new era for a mid-century icon. Words: Catherine Martin • Photography: © Anima Vision (unless otherwise stated)

hen Hilton opened its first hotel in Athens in

Athens Olympic Games, ensured the hotel remained relevant

1963, it divided a city. At 65m tall and running

for a new generation of guests. And now, more than six

perpendicular to Vasilissis Sofias Avenue, the

decades on from its debut, the landmark is in the spotlight

monumental structure cut through the neighbourhood,

The project has been spearheaded by Ensofi, formerly

established views towards the Acropolis. Critics believed the

known as Temes, which increased its stake to acquire a

imposing scale would desecrate the skyline, fearing that the

controlling interest in the asset in 2019. Under the leadership

arrival of corporate America threatened the Attica’s distinctive

of Achilles Constantakopoulos and Costantza Sbokou-

character. For supporters however, the hotel represented

Constantakopoulou, the Greek developer opted to take a

progress – a sign that the city was gaining international

holistic approach to the transformation, building on the

recognition and emerging as a modern metropolis.

place-making expertise demonstrated at Costa Navarino.

Amid the controversy, the collaborating architects –

This resonated with Hilton’s leadership, who recognised

Prokopis Vassiliadis, Emmanuel Vourekas, Spyros Staikos

that the city’s growing vibrancy and evolving profile

and Antonis Georgiadis – were tasked with weaving classical

called for fresh thinking. “The reinvention was born from

Greek elements into their design. And in a further nod to the

a shared ambition to create a multi-faceted, experiential

nation’s heritage, celebrated artist Yiannis Moralis created a

destination,” explains Chris Webb, the group’s Vice President

marble relief for the façade – a sculptural tribute to Athenian

of Architecture, Design & Construction EMEA. “Athens

civilisation carved across 620m2 of Pentelic marble. As a

lacked the facilities, quality and point of view to appeal to a

result, the hotel quickly gained status as a cultural landmark,

younger, more affluent demographic, so by bringing these

while its globally recognised name opened Athens to a new

carefully considered elements together in one destination,

wave of tourism. Hilton’s arrival brought employment,

we could offer something truly distinctive.”

economic growth and regeneration, and, in time, the hotel

Attention then turned to finding the right brand fit. “There

became a favoured setting for locals celebrating over dinner

was a clear belief that a luxury brand was needed to elevate

or gathering for family brunches. So great was its impact that

both the experience and the opportunity,” Webb continues,

the surrounding neighbourhood even took its name, with

pointing to the DNA of Conrad Hotels & Resorts. “Conrad

‘Hilton Area’ appearing on bus stops and property listings.

Hilton and his son Barron embraced a modern, forward-

As Athens evolved into a thriving business and leisure

thinking approach; one that is rooted in its location, with

destination, an influx of new hotels followed, leaving Hilton

art, design and the theatre of hospitality at its core. With the

to become a familiar part of the city’s hospitality landscape.

vision from Ensofi, we could not have a better fit.”

A refurbishment in the early 2000s, completed in time for the

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once again, having emerged from a major repositioning.

dwarfing surrounding buildings and obstructing long-

The wealth of amenities grew from this philosophy: in all,

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Byzantino has been reborn as an elegant brasserie, comprising a Mediterranean café and a central bar beneath the original dome

the newly established Conrad Athens comprises

while also allowing the spaces to breathe with a

material language. The furniture has also

278 guestrooms, a vibrant line-up of restaurants

fresh sense of life.”

been selected to create a dialogue between

and bars, various retail outlets and a resort-

This is evident from the outset, beginning

past and present. “The Saridis furniture was

style wellness offering anchored by the city’s

with the emblematic façade. Moralis’ marble

a particularly meaningful thread to follow,”

largest outdoor pool. There are also 55 branded

relief – which features symbols of ancient

Farmerie reveals. “The Athens atelier furnished

residences, 37 of which are Waldorf Astoria, and

Athenian civilisation, interpreted through

the original hotel, so we worked with them

the House of Nynn private members’ club. “The

the abstract language of Greek modernism –

again to restore originals and commission new

vision was thoughtfully defined to make this a

has been retained and restored as a piece of

pieces, creating a genuine continuity rather

destination where locals and visitors converge,”

public art. New, however, is its illumination,

than a nostalgic gesture.”

Webb notes. “House of Nynn is a dynamic

with Emmy Award-winning lighting designer

There is, however, a dose of nostalgia in

environment for Athenians, each F&B venue is

Eleftheria Deko bringing emphasis to the relief’s

the curated memorabilia gallery, where a

a destination in its own right, and Conrad brings

sculptural details after dark.

rotating collection of treasured artefacts from

Inside, AvroKO took the lead on the design

the hotel’s history are on display, beautifully

of the public spaces and guestrooms, as well

framed by walls of green Tinos marble. The

Webb took a leading role in guiding the project

as the spa and private members’ club. The

art programme also contributes to the sense of

from concept to completion, having formed a

New York-based studio was first approached

place. Curated by Mare Studio, the building-

strong rapport with the owners and admired

about the project in 2017 and, intrigued by the

wide collection offers a multifaceted snapshot of

their ambition. “It’s rare to find such drive,

building and its legacy, immediately booked

Athens, spanning its architectural heritage to a

passion and desire to deliver a truly unique

flights to Athens to meet with the owner.

continuing creative energy. Sculptures by Bouba

vision,” he explains. “Achilles has incredible

“The brief asked us to honour one of Athens’

Lyberaki and Costas Coulentianos sit alongside

attention to detail and brought ideas on layout

most beloved landmarks while making it feel

Vasiliki Damkou’s textiles and sketches by

and space planning, and Costantza was hands

genuinely alive for a new era,” explains Adam

Dimitris Pikionis, while Nelly’s black-and-

on in every aspect of the interior design.”

Farmerie, co-founder and Principal of AvroKO.

white photographs bring classical monuments

The transformation has been a lengthy

“Our approach began by understanding the

into the guestrooms. Mare Studio played a role

process involving heritage authorities, artisans

building’s DNA, then distilling it into design

in shaping the overall aesthetic of the lobby

and specialist consultants, together with four

principles we could build on. We found that

too, as Farmerie explains: “Their involvement

design studios selected in collaboration with the

the spirit of this incredible place had always

was genuinely formative rather than additive.

owners. “AvroKO brought the foundation with an

embodied three things: a rigorous Modernist

They really took the lead in driving the design

understanding of the Mid-Century philosophy,

vision of what Athens could become, a

to better set the tone for the artful moments.”

then we layered pioneering design from Tristan

bohemian creative energy rooted in the artists

Across the 278 guestrooms and suites –

Auer, Yabu Pushelberg and Mare Studio,” Webb

and intellectuals who made it their gathering

reduced from the former hotel’s 506 keys to

reveals. “It was very much a collaboration of

place, and a genuine sense of sanctuary from

make way for the residences – interiors are

ideas, with individual personalities also playing

the city outside. Those three qualities became

calm and contemporary, with a sense of place

an important role.”

the framework of our design.”

conveyed through artwork, considered design

a stylish point of view for travellers, seamlessly connecting the wider offering.”

Their approach was rooted in a respect for

With a mandate to listen and respond to the

details and, above all, the view. The orientation

the building’s legacy, with each intervention

architecture, AvroKO began with the lobby,

of the building means that many of the rooms

intended to build upon rather than overwrite

where a central water feature recalls the

directly face the Acropolis, so a conscious

what came before, as Costantza Sbokou-

ancient Ilisos River that once ran through this

decision was made to adopt a restrained palette

Constantakopoulou, Executive Architect at

part of the city. The linear channel guides the

and let Athens be the focal point. “The base

Ensofi, summarises: “The Ilisian was a coherent

eye towards Athens by Night, the 1963 ceramic

palette of slate grey and cream is deliberately

and deliberate effort to celebrate the original

mural designed by Moralis and executed by

serene, but it’s punctuated with bursts of

architecture and aesthetic, while instilling

Eleni Vernadaki, which was originally created

mustard, deep green and burnt orange that

the new design with our contemporary design

for Hilton’s rooftop bar. A sculptural check-in

connect back to the light, the landscape and the

perspective. We immersed ourselves in the spirit

desk by Studio Niko Koronis draws from the

terracotta of the city’s rooftops,” says Farmerie,

of the building, studied the design language of

building’s geometric form, while the palette

adding that the furniture draws on Mid-Century

the 1960s and worked consistently to honour it,

of marble, timber and brass echoes its original

design language, filtered through a softer lens.

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Guestrooms interpret Mid-Century design through a softer lens, with rugs by Alarwool and curtains and soft furnishings by Vagenas

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Guestrooms are airy and spacious, with special

restaurant served as a gathering place for generations

attention paid to the practicalities of a stay. Sliding

of Athenians, making its redesign a particularly

doors disappear into walls for open-plan living,

sensitive undertaking. For Tristan Auer, the task

dressing table stools are mounted on castors for easy

called for a careful balance between past and present.

repositioning, and an intuitive four-mode lighting

“I wanted to create a dialogue between two eras,” the

scheme is controlled by the simple flick of a switch.

designer explains. “The building’s Modernist bones

AvroKO was also responsible for the design of Ancora

are answered with a contemporary reinterpretation of

Un Po’ – a poolside Italian serving sunset aperitivos

Byzantine motifs, with mosaic-inspired details and

and casual fare – as well as Athenian Lounge, a

tactile, crafted finishes sitting in gentle tension with

social hub tucked behind the lobby. The challenge

the existing architecture. That tension is deliberate:

here was to temper the scale of the double-height

it keeps the space alive rather than nostalgic, and lets

volume, achieved through clever use of proportion

people feel the memory of Byzantino without walking

and layering. Raised planting beds are integrated

into a museum piece.”

into curved banquettes to create the sense of sitting

With 306 covers spanning indoor and outdoor

beneath a canopy of foliage, while a dropped ceiling

spaces, the restaurant is expansive, unfolding across

feature frames a historic chandelier salvaged from the

a series of distinct settings suited to everything from

ballroom. Tactile upholstery and warm metal accents

leisurely breakfasts and lively luncheons to intimate

are complemented by lighting that evolves over the

dinners for two. Despite its size, clever zoning breaks

course of the day, creating an intimate lounge that

down the volume, achieving what Auer describes as

belies its scale.

“warmth at scale”. “It’s harder than it sounds,” the

At the heart of the hotel, Byzantino has been

designer admits. “A room of that size can easily feel

reborn as an elegant grande brasserie. A defining

institutional, so every decision, from the rhythm of the

feature of the original Hilton, the all-day dining

arches to the palette of terracotta, cream and honey

Onuki is designed by Yabu Pushelberg as a dialogue between Japanese craft and Athenian identity, balancing architectural structure with moments of play

tones, was made to soften the volume and create intimacy within it.” Byzantino’s original concrete dome has been retained as a focal point above the central bar, where a monumental chandelier echoes its sweeping curves. Around the perimeter, a new sequence of arches takes its cue from the building, introducing a contemporary interpretation of Byzantine form. “I wasn’t interested in replicating Byzantine ornament, but in extracting its underlying logic, the way light and structure work together, and translating that into something entirely contemporary,” Auer explains. “The two influences don’t compete in the space; they’re in constant conversation.” The Byzantine influence can also be seen in the custom mosaic flooring, marble tabletops and carved walnut furniture, while terracotta tones and riviera-style striped upholstery bring a warmer expression of Mediterranean Modernism to the café. To one side, an internal courtyard sits beneath an ancient olive tree, and to the other, an outdoor terrace is lushly planted to create an urban oasis, complete with atmospheric lanterns designed by Auer for Contardi. The F&B offering will continue to expand later this year, when the hotel’s legendary rooftop bar returns as The Galaxy Dispensary with an adjacent Supper Club, while the wider development also includes the second outpost of Onuki following its debut at Costa Navarino. Led by chef patron Stamatis Skriapas, the Japanese eatery occupies a threestorey newbuild by Aeter Architects, with entrances from both the poolside and street to establish a connection to the wider neighbourhood. Inside, a dark indigo host desk beneath a sculptural lighting installation sets the tone, with a darkened stairway to the upper-level creating a sense of drama. The interior design scheme has been conceived by Yabu Pushelberg as a dialogue between Japanese craft and © Giorgos Sfakianakis

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Athenian identity, balancing architectural structure with moments of play. “We wanted to move away from predictable fusion clichés and instead create a subtle collision of cultures through texture, materiality and colour,” say George Yabu and Glenn Pushelberg. “We utilised a warm glow of Japanese persimmon, balanced by accents of deep indigo, or Aizome,

DESIGN

PROCUREMENT www.occa-design.com

BRANDING

which seamlessly transition into Aegean blue,

cycling studios, a pickleball court and a 700m

drawing guests out toward the terrace.”

rooftop running track.

Traditional elements interpreted through

The outcome is a destination that welcomes

a contemporary lens further bridge the two

a new generation of visitors while retaining its

cultures: the bar area is anchored by a terracotta

appeal among returning locals. As AvroKO’s

counter wrapped in Mediterranean ceramics, for

Adam Farmerie explains: “For Athenians, I hope

example, while the dining room features shoji-

there’s a sense of recognition alongside genuine

inspired screens decorated in custom artwork

surprise. This building belongs to them, and our

by Athens-based artist Katerina Charou. Come

aim was to return it in a form that honours its

nightfall, it’s the interplay between light and

legacy. For first-time visitors, I would like the

shadow that takes centre stage, as the duo

hotel to serve as an introduction to Athens. It

describe: “Floor-to-ceiling wood screens

has always acted as a bridge between the Greek

carved with Japanese motifs filter the light

capital and the wider world, and that is the role

to create a beautiful patterned rhythm, and a

we wanted it to play for the next half-century.”

mirrored ceiling effectively doubles the visual

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For

Webb,

the

significance

the

volume, catching the kinetic energy of the room

transformation lies in both its timing and

and transforming it into a vibrant crossroads of

its ambition, with the potential to set a new

light and movement.”

standard for luxury hospitality in Athens.

As part of the ambition to create a multifaceted

“There could not be a more poignant and

destination, The Ilisian brings together an

inspiring moment for The Ilisian to evolve

extensive wellness offer. In addition to indoor

from its Mid-Century past and be reborn,” he

and outdoor pools, facilities include hot and

concludes. “There is simply nothing like this

cold therapies, a gym, dedicated yoga and

in the market.”

EXPRESS CHECK-OUT Owner: Ionian Hotel Enterprises Developer: Ensofi Operator: Hilton Worldwide Architecture: Aeter Architects Interior Design: AvroKO, Tristan Auer, Yabu Pushelberg Art Consultant: Maré Studio Lighting Design: Delta-Theta, Edeko Lighting Studio www.hilton.com

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Coco Hotel COPENHAGEN Six years since its debut, CoFoCo’s inaugural hotel elevates its offer with refreshed guestrooms and a new French bistro. Words: Matt Turner • Photography: Courtesy of Copenhagen Food Collective

openhagen Food Collective – or CoFoCo as it is

and low-slung lounge chairs are clad in striking geometric

known locally – is one of the Danish capital’s most

or velvet prints. Vintage-inspired chrome fixtures, pleated

successful hospitality groups. Since 2004, it has built

lampshades and classic panelled millwork complete the look.

a 20-strong collection of restaurants that stand out for both

“We wanted to create rooms that feel calm and welcoming

their consistent quality and diverse culinary direction – no

- spaces that allow guests to exhale. The ambition was to

mean feat in such a competitive gastronomic market.

create a stronger sense of coherence and comfort throughout

From the classic French cuisine of perennial favourite

the hotel,” says Sille Dallmann of Copenhagen Food

Les Trois Cochons to the Latin American flavours of Llama

Collective. “The result is a more considered hospitality

and the distinctly New Nordic offering at Høst, each CoFoCo

experience that feels consistent and timeless, while still

restaurant has its own character and culinary identity. What

preserving the intimacy and character of a boutique stay.”

unites them is a commitment to high-quality, affordable

The hotel’s Parisian-style lobby, Coco Café & Bar and lush

food served in relaxed yet beautifully designed surroundings.

green courtyard remain much as they were, providing guests

In recent years, the group has expanded into hotels, first

and locals with an all-day gathering place that serves coffee,

with the launch of Coco Hotel in Vesterbro in 2020, then

breakfast, small plates and an extensive wine selection.

Hotel Bella Grande on the site of the former Kong Frederik

Yet now, the F&B offer has been augmented with the

Hotel in 2024. Now, some six years after the first foray into

launch of modern French bistro, Olise. Extending the casual

the sector, Coco Hotel has unveiled a fresh look across its

flow of the existing public areas, the new dining destination

89 guestrooms, along with a new restaurant in the adjacent

caters to 65 guests around an open kitchen and into the

building on Vesterbrogade.

courtyard, which it shares with the hotel and lobby café-bar

The refurbished accommodation is characterised by warmer

next door. The menu is tightly edited to allow the kitchen to

materials, softer tones and a more cohesive design language.

focus on exceptional delivery, whilst the interiors combine

Centred on comfort, light and consistency, the experience is

a Mid-Century Modern aesthetic with more contemporary

elevated through upgraded beds, luxurious bedding and more

European bistro elements. Textured materials and a palette

generous seating areas. The design narrative blends retro

of ochre, terracotta and soft beige tones are illuminated in

Scandinavian warmth with a touch of classic Parisian flair,

warm candlelight and the soft glow from metal wall sconces.

evoking a residential feel defined by soft cream and bold

The result is a sophisticated atmosphere that oozes hygge

ochre drapery. Crisp white linens are set against caramel-

– that hard-to-define yet unmistakeably Danish sense of

toned headboards, while mid-century woven cane benches

warmth and conviviality.

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Fairmont The Mere CHESHIRE A historic country resort takes on a new identity, combining Cheshire charm with contemporary luxury and considered wellness. Words: Eleanor Howard • Photography: © Vigo Jansons (unless otherwise stated)

122

n the heart of Cheshire is the ‘Golden Triangle’,

standard for luxury hospitality in the region.

a cluster of villages that have become

“The ambition was to create one of the premier

synonymous with country living, their leafy

resort destinations in the North West – a best-

streets and mega-mansions attracting the likes

in-class facility attracting spa days, golf days,

of Premier League footballers, TV stars and the

conferencing and general leisure,” reveals

region’s growing population of millionaires. Just

Rahail Aslam, Chairman at Select Group.

beyond, the historic market town of Knutsford

Finding the right partner was central to

has a similar appeal, combining cosmopolitan

realising this vision. Following an operator

comforts with period architecture and rural

search, Select Group ultimately settled on

charm. It is here, on the outskirts of town, that

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, whose proven track

Fairmont has made its North West England

record in golf and wellness aligned with both

debut, transforming a long-established golf

the resort’s existing strengths and Aslam’s

and leisure resort into a new luxury destination.

ambitions. “There aren’t many brands that

Set within 157 acres of verdant Cheshire

operate both golf and wellness on a par with

countryside overlooking The Mere Lake,

Fairmont,” Aslam reflects, referencing the

the estate’s history stretches back almost a

success of properties in St Andrews and Kildare.

millennium, having appeared in the Domesday

Beyond the brand’s credentials, the commercial

Book of 1086. A private residence for much of

proposition was of equal importance, with

its life, the site later took on a new role as a

Select Group seeking a partner capable of

country club with an 18-hole golf course, before

managing the property’s varied operations,

evolving into a hotel and spa.

while establishing a sustainable business

In 2022, Dubai-based real estate developer

model. “Ultimately, it was really driven by the

Select Group acquired the property, with a

fundamentals – finding a brand that could bring

vision to reposition the asset and set a new

this multi-faceted operation to life and put a

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Courtesy of Fairmont Cheshire, The Mere

In The Club Lounge, Art Decoinspired brass chandeliers are suspended from the vaulted ceiling

good commercial deal together. Fairmont ticked a lot

but to let the setting lead. When a building has this

of boxes,” he explains.

much natural character already, restraint is the harder

To bring the transformation to life, Manchesterbased Leach Rhodes Walker Architects led the

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skill – knowing what to leave alone matters as much as what to add.”

redevelopment of the masterplan, working alongside

This is most evident in The Orangery, where exposed

main contractor Russell WBHO. The scope involved

brick walls and stone-filled windows offer a glimpse

upgrading the 81 existing guestrooms and adding a

into the property’s past. Overhead, a glass lantern roof

further 35 rooms across the site, including a three-

bathes the atrium in natural light, casting dancing

story, 24-key extension. Elsewhere, a two-storey

shadows across flora and fauna inset within the mosaic

addition onto the conference centre provides event

floor. At the heart of the space, a mid-century-style

space for up to 1,000 people, as well as a pre-function

oval bar is accompanied by an array of seating options

bar area and a large commercial kitchen. The wider

curated by Style Matters, ranging from sage bar stools

scheme also incorporated a new golf club lounge,

to canary yellow banquettes and teal dining chairs.

outdoor terraces and first-floor meeting rooms.

“The public spaces are where we allowed ourselves

For the interiors, Select Group appointed London-

to have more fun,” reveals Soliman. “I enjoyed using

based Bergman Design House, which worked closely

playful patterns and distinctive, clashing colours that

with Accor’s Luxury Design & Technical Services

somehow complement one another and the space.”

team. “The brief was wonderfully clear: bring back

At the rear of The Orangery, mirrored double doors

the glamour of mid-century hospitality, reinterpreted

lead into the hotel’s flagship restaurant, Gordon

through the lens of the English countryside,” recalls

Ramsay at The Mere. The entrance is marked by timber

Marie Soliman, co-founder of Bergman Design House.

screens adorned with palm patterns and antique

“The Mere is a property with real history, and our

mirrors reflecting a series of alabaster light columns,

responsibility here was never to impose a style on it,

setting the tone for the dining experience ahead. “We

www. rvast le y. c o. uk

In the Speakeasy Bar, plush velvet bucket chairs and veined marbletopped tables are bathed in a warm glow

knew the cuisine would have a strong identity, so the

move in silhouette against the warm glow emanating

interior needed confidence without competing with

from the back bar, making it an inviting spot for a pre-

what was happening on the plate,” explains Soliman.

dinner cocktail or an after-dinner nightcap. A palm

“The restaurant needed drama and energy, but also

tree mural also offers a visual link to the restaurant

intimacy. We approached it almost cinematically.

next door. “The restaurant and bar speak the same

Dramatic, exactly like Gordon’s fiery persona!”

language through materiality, lighting and detailing,”

Inside, textured walls and warm amber lighting are paired with marble-topped tables and cocooning

chapters of the same evening.”

booths upholstered in shades of red velvet and leather.

Upstairs, the 116 guestrooms and suites adopt a more

“I’m obsessed with layering materials because that is

understated aesthetic, balancing tailored detailing

where interiors start to develop character,” reveals

with elevated comfort. “We softened the palette,

Soliman. “Smooth against rough, matte against

introducing bespoke furniture, beautiful linens and

reflective, the beautifully crafted beside the slightly

very warm, layered lighting,” explains Soliman. “They

imperfect – that tension makes a space feel alive.”

are personal sanctuaries.” Cream wall panelling and

The menu pairs seasonal British cooking with

walnut furniture establish a subtle backdrop, offset

Ramsay’s signature flair. Highlights include Somerset

by geometric-patterned carpets, brass accents and

beef bresaola and whole seabass grilled on a Josper and

soft furnishings in varying shades of burnt orange or

served on a bed of steamed samphire, though the star

forest green. An Art-Deco-inspired mini-bar adds a

of the show is the chef’s signature beef Wellington

touch of glamour, while golf-inspired artwork offers

accompanied by a perfectly piped pomme purée topped

a subtle nod to the resort’s setting. Bathrooms are

with a glazed shallot.

equally considered, featuring walk-in rainshowers

Tucked away from the main restaurant is the seductive Speakeasy Bar, where skilled bartenders

126

notes Soliman. “They are not separate stories, but two

lined with glazed tiles, marble basins with Villeroy & Boch fittings and Le Labo amenities.

BESPOKE

ARTISTIC

RUGS

H O S P I TA L I T Y

RESIDENTIAL

YAC H T I N G

•

D I S C OV E R M OT T E AT

SALONE DEL MOBILE 2027

Across the estate in the carefully restored Victorian stable block, the spa has been completely reimagined by Bergman Design House with Rebecca Doyle of Wellness House Collective, in line with Fairmont’s Wellness Without Walls philosophy. “What I love about Wellness Without Walls is that it immediately removes the idea that wellness begins and ends with the treatment room. We wanted the experience to feel much more instinctive,” says Soliman. “Working with Wellness House Collective allowed us to think about the spa as an emotional journey rather than simply a sequence of treatment spaces.” In a departure from the light-filled interiors of the main hotel, the spa adopts a more grounded and restorative material language through the use of rustic timbers and tactile natural finishes. The 20-metre swimming pool and hydropool are complemented by thermal facilities including a sauna, steam room, hammam, tepidarium, salt room and experience shower. A Rasul offers an ancient Arabian cleansing ritual

128

130

with mineral-rich mud and aromatic steam.

of intimacy within the linear space. “The Club

And six treatment rooms, each equipped with

Lounge required flexibility because it serves

massage beds by Lemi Group, offer a choice of

different people, moods and rituals throughout

20 personalised treatments using products from

the day,” explains Soliman. “The furniture,

British botanical brand Wildsmith Skin, Kama

lighting and zoning help create different

Ayurveda and 111Skin. Outside, there’s a Finnish

rhythms without feeling fragmented.”

barrel sauna, heated vitality pool and ice baths.

That the property was bustling with hotel

Completing the experience is a fully-equipped

guests, diners, golfers, spa members and event

Technogym with a sheltered outdoor studio,

attendees during Sleeper’s mid-week stay speaks

relaxation room and a spa café offering healthy

not only to The Mere’s enduring appeal, but

bites and post-treatment smoothies.

the shared vision between the involved parties.

Beyond the spa, the resort’s leisure facilities

“The interesting challenge with a project like

include the 18-hole Championship golf course,

The Mere is balancing many different worlds

pro shop and Club Lounge. With a sweeping

at once: the history of the property, Fairmont’s

balcony terrace overlooking the 18th green, the

brand standards, the existing golf community,

all-day dining restaurant caters to golfers, hotel

destination guests, wellness, dining, events and

guests and locals alike, with a menu combining

the operational realities of a luxury hotel, while

globally-inspired dishes and a selection of

also working towards a budget. The answer is

Indian-influenced cuisine. Reinterpreting the

collaboration,” concludes Soliman. “Everyone

traditional clubhouse, the interior draws the eye

brought different expertise to the table, but

upwards to the vaulted ceiling, exposed beams

we were united by the same ambition: to make

and brass Art Deco-inspired chandeliers. Oak

the property feel authentic, memorable and

screens with reeded-glass panels create pockets

unmistakably Fairmont.”

EXPRESS CHECK-OUT Owner: Select Mere Resort Investor: Select Group Operator: Accor Architecture: Leach Rhodes Walker Architects Interior Design: Bergman Design House Lighting Design: Visual Energy Landscaping: Exterior Architecture Main Contractor: Russell WBHO www.fairmont.com

costanovaprofessional.com

Forest collection

CEFALÙ

The Art of Rest, Beautifully Woven

Wine & Books By The Sea ALGARVE PBH Group unveils a coastal retreat that celebrates Portugal’s viticultural and literary heritage. Words: Matt Turner Photography: Courtesy of PBH Group

f the story of Wine & Books Hotels were a

launching with flagship properties in Salgados

novel, it might be a comeback sequel. The

and Madeira in 2013.

narrative arc of its protagonist – Portuguese

Wine & Books Hotels represents a change

entrepreneur Carlos Saraiva – is one of success,

in direction and philosophy, emerging from

failure and reinvention in the face of adversity.

“a desire to bring authenticity back to the

Saraiva was a driving force behind the

Portuguese hotel industry”. The brand launched

development of high-end real estate and

in 2019 with urban boutique hotels in Lisbon and

hospitality projects on the Algarve in the 2000s.

Porto, both created through the transformation

His company, CS Group, built a substantial

of historic buildings. Now, Saraiva has returned

portfolio of luxury hotels, residences and

to Salgados and the resort market where he

golf courses, particularly in the Herdade dos

made – and lost – his previous company.

Salgados region to the west of Vilamoura, whilst

The opening of Wine & Books By The Sea

also expanding into urban markets with the

Algarve, within the protected landscape of the

acquisition of other properties.

Reserva Natural dos Salgados, is the result

Yet the 2008 financial crisis took a heavy toll,

of a €12m rebranding and repositioning of

with CS Group eventually collapsing under the

the former VidaMar. Set back from the beach

weight of its debts. Most of its assets, including

within landscaped grounds, the property’s low-

10 hotels and three golf courses, were acquired

rise structure is largely hidden by a towering

by private equity firm ECS Hotels as the debt

screen of palm trees. Guests can walk, jog or

was restructured.

cycle along a winding boardwalk through the

In something of a second act, Saraiva re-

marshes, dunes and shrubs of the surrounding

emerged with a new company – PBH Group

natural park, which connects the property to

– and new luxury resort brand VidaMar,

the nearby fishing town of Armação de Pêra –

133

a popular holiday destination for Portuguese families. The expansive resort offers 250 guestrooms and suites across six categories, alongside four outdoor pools, two indoor pools, a gym and spa, five restaurants and dedicated events spaces. Architecture and interior design was led by Saraiva’s daughter Joana – a trained architect and board member of PBH Group. The narrative draws inspiration from nature and the surrounding landscape. “Soft tones inspired by the sand dunes, combined with muted greens reminiscent of the palm trees, lagoon and golf course, create a serene and welcoming atmosphere where comfort is our priority,” Joana explains. “The iconic bookshelves, a symbol of the Wine & Books brand, stand out, complemented by warm woods and traditionally crafted furniture that reinforce the authenticity and artisanal character of the project.” Upon arrival in the towering lobby, the pillars of the brand are writ large: vertiginous bookshelves are arrayed with decorative

134

displays of historical tomes, while a large-scale

Lusophone

the walls, and giant cylindrical pendant lamps

translations, alongside the finest Portuguese

occupy the ceiling void.

wines. A book club curated by writer Maria

literature

and

its

English

At the far end of the lobby, a series of conical

Francisca Gama and wine expert Bento Amaral

lampshades create a focal point, each acting

offers Pairing Boxes, bringing together novels

as a canvas for stylised tigers, leopards and

selected by Gama with vintage bottles chosen

large felines, resembling vintage animal hides

by Amaral, artfully presented in a branded

or classic safari illustrations. Floor-to-ceiling

display case. Guests can purchase direct from

mirrors behind them, flanked by textured

the hotel or online to enjoy at home, and the

metallic walls, multiply the effect.

plan in future is for these to be supported by live

Dining sits at the centre of the guest

136

Resort programming aims to promote

textile artwork with yarn fringe is displayed on

readings and hosted tastings within the hotels.

experience, with five distinctive restaurant

“The Wine & Books Hotels signature aims to

concepts: Moby Dick is an all-day dining buffet

convey what Portugal is and what it means to

with live cooking stations; Primadonna is an

be Portuguese, through literature, gastronomy

Italian trattoria serving fresh homemade pasta;

and national wines,” reflects Saraiva. “The

Coco is a casual Mediterranean with a relaxed

essence of this project is to act as ambassadors

beachside vibe; and Aji is a contemporary

of Portuguese culture through a rich, disruptive

Asian with a sushi counter and omakase

and complementary hospitality experience. This

experience. The most authentic is Balcão da

new investment in the Algarve reaffirms that

Tasca da Memória, a brand signature inspired

strategy, elevating the destination through

by the traditional Portuguese taverna, offering

quality, excellence, exclusivity and highly

contemporary interpretations of local classics.

personalised service.”

EXPRESS CHECK-OUT Owner / Operator: PBH Group Architecture and Interior Design: In-house www.winebookshotels.com

Sync Your Senses Addressing a long-overlooked gap in hospitality, HKS presents a research-led blueprint for neuroinclusivity, rethinking how design can accommodate a broader spectrum of sensory needs. Words: Eleanor Howard • Renderings: © HKS

istorically, the built environment

environments often assume everyone finds

emotionally; Spatial Breakdown uses seamless

has

around

comfort in the same conditions,” reveals Nicole

boundaries such as colour, lighting and material

assumptions regarding how

Hawkins, Designer at HKS. “So, we envisioned

texture to segment open-plan interiors;

people think, feel and move

a sensory-forward hotel, where comfort

Transition Zones are intentional in-between

through space. As a result,

isn’t contingent on being neurotypical but is

spaces that help guests adjust from high- to

neurodivergent

accessible to all.”

low-sensory environments; and Escape provides

been

shaped

individuals

are often left to navigate spaces that fail to recognise their needs.

140

Inspired by the infinity loop, Sensa proposes

respite for guests to self-regulate in privacy.

a carefully choreographed hotel experience

Although Sensa remains in the development

This is particularly evident in hospitality

that moves between high- and low-sensory

phase, HKS is now preparing to make it a

settings, where unfamiliar surroundings,

environments, balancing activity with rest

reality, working with select hotel brands to

changes in routine, competing sounds, intense

and connection with solitude, to accommodate

develop a series of tailored approaches. “HKS is

lighting and busy communal spaces can

a broad spectrum of sensory thresholds and

committed to finding these equitable solutions

trigger overstimulation, social misreading and

emotional needs.

that can be produced at scale for hotel brands

constant self-regulation. The statistics point

“Neuroinclusivity is not about designing a

at a range of service levels,” concludes Hilari

to a significant gap: one-in-five people are

separate experience for a particular group,”

Jones, Miami Studio Design Leader. “Phase two

neurodivergent, yet less than 1% of hotels have

explains Hollis Kerr, Designer at HKS. “It’s

will focus on guestrooms and public spaces,

earned sensory-inclusive certification.

about creating a more equitable experience for

creating standards and spatial guides that

So, what happens when hospitality reflects

everyone, where differences are anticipated and

can address sensory needs practically while

the full spectrum of human minds? This is

supported from the outset. When we design for

enhancing beauty and comfort.”

the question global design firm HKS has set

a broader spectrum of needs, we expand what

out to answer with Sensa, a new blueprint for

hospitality can offer to all guests.”

neuroinclusive hospitality. “The concept grew

Sensa is guided by four core principles:

from recognising that people experience and

Predictability and Routine encompasses clear

process the world differently, yet hospitality

circulation to guide guests physically and

From guestrooms to dining to wellness, the five core sensory-aware spaces that make up Sensa are explored overleaf.

Balcoon DESIGN BY PATRICIA URQUIOLA

Every layer tells a story Natural colour shades and the layering of materials and textures create a long-lasting, warm aesthetic. duravit.co.uk

1. STIM PARK

Surrounding buildings across a site, Stim Park is an immersive multi-sensory landscape that blurs the line between therapy and wonder. Designed to support emotional regulation and personal exploration through nature, the garden invites guests to swing beneath canopy structures, walk barefoot along looping paths of sand and stone, or pause beside reflection ponds as the gentle movement of water provides a grounding focal point. Nestled amongst fragrant flower beds, cocooning seating encourages restful pauses. 2.

2. TRANSITION ZONE

Connecting the facilities, Transition Zones act as sensory buffers, helping neurodivergent guests to navigate shifts between environments, from stimulation to stillness or public to private. Taking the form of interior and exterior rest pockets, these liminal spaces serve as adaptors, preparing guests for a change in sensory intensity or helping to maintain emotional equilibrium. For example, quiet, cushioned alcoves inside elevators reduce sensory shock and social pressure, while discreet nooks along corridors create opportunities to step away from activity to regulate emotions. 3.

3. SPATIAL PALATE

Recognising that restaurants can overwhelm the senses, the Spatial Palate reimagines the traditional dining experience through individual dining pods, cultivating a more intimate environment while minimising sensory triggers such as competing sounds and smells. Curving architecture, flowing geometry and integrated water elements reinforce intuitive movement, while AI-powered projections and personal controls allow the dining environment to be tailored to individual preferences, giving guests autonomy over their experience. This approach extends to the menu, with dishes listed according to temperature, texture and aroma.

142

MEET U S AT H I X O U R B OOT H IS B 2 7

CURTAIN SYSTEMS FOR HOTELS OF THE FUTURE

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Architectural elegance with a recessed track.

THE WORLD BEHIND YOUR CURTAINS

4. SYNC STUDIO

Sync Studio is a responsive wellness space designed to support emotion regulation. At the heart of a central atrium, a cascading spiral staircase guides guests through a waterfall mist, culminating in a shallow water pool that grounds the body. Individual soundproofed Sync Suites offer a more private retreat, with cushioned walls and seating creating a cocooning environment for relaxation. The interiors monitor heart rate and movement, adjusting lighting, sound and temperature in response to emotional state.

5. GUESTROOM

Envisioned as a personal sanctuary, the guestroom responds to the sensory and emotional needs of each occupant. A screen entrance softens the transition from the hustle and bustle of communal areas into the solace of the guestroom. Adaptable walls frame the bed, while integrated greenery is accompanied by the sounds of nature, blurring the boundary between indoors and outdoors. AI technology is subtly incorporated throughout, using voice, movement and biometrics to control lighting, colour temperature, sound and visual displays. By creating a customisable environment, guests have autonomy over their space, encouraging rest and relaxation.

144

Fairmont Cheshire, The Mere

PERSPECTIVE

The Cost of Underestimating Design or years, interior design has been viewed as a cost

This requires a sequencing shift that is still uncommon

to control rather than a strategic investment. That

in the industry: instead of defining the operating

logic no longer holds. As capital flows back into

concept before calling in creatives, design needs to be

hospitality, design is proving to be one of the most

part of the process before the investment closes. Every

efficient tools for maximising an asset’s return.

square-metre carries both a construction cost and a

THE MOST EXPENSIVE BUDGET CUT When hotel developments face pressure from

Javier Muñoz Posse, co-founder of Furtivo, reveals why treating design as an investment rather than a cost is key to maximising hotel performance and longterm asset value.

the financial model can optimise that relationship.

construction costs, timelines or financing, interior

DESIGN AS A VALUE DRIVER

design and FF&E are typically among the first budgets

Design directly influences a hotel’s most important

to be cut. This decision may satisfy a spreadsheet, but

value levers. A distinctive identity, aligned with both

it often diminishes the very asset it is meant to protect.

brand positioning and guest expectations, enables a

Design is not the decorative layer applied after an

property to command higher ADR, while the careful

investment decision has been made. Along with location

selection of FF&E determines replacement cycles,

and brand, it is one of the key factors that determines

maintenance costs and even energy consumption

room rate, occupancy and operational cost. Treating

throughout a building’s lifespan.

design as an aesthetic cost is to misunderstand where a hotel’s value is created and where it is lost.

WHERE CAPITAL FLOWS Market data confirms this shift. According to CBRE’s

Design also has a direct impact on an asset’s value at the point of sale. A well-designed, well-maintained hotel reduces the future CapEx a buyer factors into the purchase price, ultimately supporting stronger exit multiples for the owner.

2026 European Hotel Investor Intentions Survey, more

None of these outcomes happen by chance. They

than 90% of investors plan to maintain or increase their

require design to be approached with the same analytical

capital allocation to the sector, with 67% favouring

rigour as the financial model itself - evaluated square-

value-add strategies, up from 53% the previous year.

metre by square-metre and across the lifecycle of

Acquisition in vacant possession, which gives buyers

every element. Good hotel design is not the product of

operational control of an asset so it can be repositioned,

aesthetic instinct, it is the result of considered planning.

has increased from 36% to 44% of purchase intentions. That pattern is no accident: when an investor enters

DESIGN IN THE REARVIEW

an asset precisely to transform it, design stops being a

The industry’s greatest risk is not overspending on

finish and becomes the investment thesis itself.

design. It is continuing to evaluate design using the

WHEN DESIGN MEETS FINANCE

146

revenue opportunity. Only a design developed alongside

wrong metrics: as a CapEx line to benchmark against competitors, rather than as an investment measured

At Furtivo, we have spent more than five years

by the revenue it generates. Now, the design industry

bringing design and finance together from day one

has both the opportunity and the responsibility to

of every project. The conclusion is always the same:

stop presenting itself as a supplier of aesthetics and

the best-performing hotels are not the ones with the

start speaking the language that determines where

largest budget, but the ones that build design into the

capital flows: profitability. Owners and operators who

financial model from the outset, on equal footing with

understand this shift will do more than build beautiful

the management contract and business plan.

hotels; they will build stronger businesses.

Construction Pipeline Global Hotel Groups Marriott International remains the largest hotel group in the world, with 1,031 projects in the pipeline according to the latest report from THP. In the Americas, the group is set to double its footprint across the Caribbean and Latin America, while in Asia Pacific, an agreement with Thailand’s FICO Corporation will add 1,262 keys across Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket. For Hilton, the Middle East & Africa represents a key region for growth, particularly Sub-Saharan Africa. The group is continuing to build its presence in strategic markets, with recent signings marking entry into Benin, Togo and Tanzania – the latter with Canopy by Hilton at Zanzibar The Burj. Elsewhere on the continent, Morocco is a key focus for Accor, as evidenced by its expanded partnership with local operator Risma. The venture includes newbuild developments such as the 175-key Sofitel in Tangier, as well as a renovation and repositioning scheme for existing hotels. And finally, Radisson has identified Saudi Arabia as one of its top five markets, with plans to double its presence in the Kingdom by 2030. IHG is prioritising South East Asia, with Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam central to its growth strategy. And Hyatt’s luxury portfolio is building momentum across the Americas, led by the expansion of Park Hyatt in Mexico and additions to The Unbound Collection.

THP is a data service that supports the development of new hotel projects worldwide. The figures in this report are extracted from the THP construction database: updated daily by an international research team, it includes four- and five-star hotel projects across all phases, from vision to pre-opening. www.tophotelprojects.com

148

AMERICAS

Projects Rooms

MARRIOTT 394 73,426

HILTON 334 50,847

HYATT 111 26,580

IHG 68 10,873

ACCOR 45 9,329

ACCOR 140 19,930

HILTON 126 20,518

MARRIOTT 116 19,836

IHG 109 17,702

RADISSON 44 7,106

HILTON 133 25,257

MARRIOTT 116 35,000

ACCOR 108 28,810

IHG 84 18,988

RADISSON 63 12,606

MARRIOTT 405 92,476

IHG 343 67,494

HILTON 245 49,703

ACCOR 214 47,176

HYATT 174 35,831

EUROPE

Projects Rooms

MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA

Projects Rooms

ASIA PACIFIC

Projects Rooms

BUSINESS CENTRE

THE GLOBAL PICTURE On the global stage, Marriott International continues to dominate with the largest development pipeline, counting 220,738 rooms across 1,031 projects. Hilton meanwhile maintains its majority hold amongst the top ten most active brands, though Marriott has strengthened its representation with three flags in the list.

1,031 Projects 838 604 Projects 507 Projects 344 Projects

Projects

BRAND

PROJECTS

ROOMS

Hilton Garden Inn

117

20,183

Hilton Hotels & Resorts

114

28,487

Hampton by Hilton

13,044

Home2 Suites by Hilton

10,381

InterContinental

21,918

Marriott Hotels & Resorts

22,850

Courtyard by Marriott

18,380

Autograph Collection

15,590

DoubleTree by Hilton

15,739

Holiday Inn

13,019

Data in this report is extracted from the THP database and includes only four- and five-star hotel projects. 149

FEURING Hotel Development Europa GmbH is a Project Management and Development Company based in Germany and specialised in 4 and 5 star projects for the Hospitality Industry throughout Europe. Our mission is to ensure the completion of the highest standard on time and within the budget.

SELECTION OF OUR PROJECTS: Ameron Hotel, Davos, Switzerland / Andaz Hotel, Amsterdam, Netherlands / Munich, Germany / Concorde La Fayette, Paris, France / Concorde St. Lazare, Paris, France / Dolce Hotel, Munich, Germany / Dolce La Hulpe, Brussels, Belgium / Doubletree by Hilton, Košice, Slovakia / Grand Hotel Kempinski, High Tatras, Slovakia / Hilton Garden Inn, Davos, Switzerland / Hyatt Place, Frankfurt, Germany / Zurich Airport, Switzerland / Hyatt Regency, Düsseldorf, Germany / Mainz, Germany / Zurich Airport, Switzerland / InterContinental, Davos, Switzerland / Geneva, Switzerland / Jaz, Stuttgart, Germany / Jumeirah Hotel, Frankfurt, Germany / Mallorca, Spain / Kameha Hotel, Zurich, Switzerland / Kempinski Hotel River Park, Bratislava, Slovakia / Le Méridien, Barcelona, Spain / Munich, Germany / Split, Croatia / Stuttgart, Germany / Vienna, Austria / Le Méridien Domhotel, Cologne, Germany / Le Méridien Etoile, Paris, France / Le Royal Méridien, Hamburg, Germany / Mandarin Oriental, Barcelona, Spain / Bodrum, Turkey / Geneva, Switzerland / Munich, Germany / Paris, France / Prague, Czech Republic / Mövenpick Hotel & Casino, Geneva, Switzerland / Mövenpick Hotel, Basel, Switzerland / Stuttgart Airport, Germany / Zurich Airport, Switzerland / Radisson SAS, Rostock, Germany / Rosewood Hotel, Amsterdam, Netherlands / SOHO, Amsterdam, Netherlands / Swissôtel Bremen, Germany / Dresden, Germany / Geneva, Switzerland / Sochi, Russia / The Ritz Carlton, Berlin, Germany / Budapest, Hungary ...

FEURING Hotel Development Europa GmbH / Heinkelstr. 19-21 / DE-73230 Kirchheim u. Teck / +49 (0) 7021 73 60-0 / www.feuring.info Contact us at info@feuring.info The Forentin, Frankfurt / Photography: ©Daniel Schäfer Studio

BUSINESS CENTRE

The intelligence source for the hotel investment community

Soneva faces a bare valuation challenge

formality and polished surfaces of conventional

presenting the changes as a development of

luxury hotels.

Soneva’s identity rather than its abandonment.

Institutional capital arrived in 2019, when

The rebranding nevertheless gives prospective

Soneva has shed the ‘foot’ from barefoot luxury

Steele invested USD106m through convertible

buyers a business whose presentation and

and parted company with the founder who made

securities. Further funding followed, but by 2024

leadership have both changed since its founder’s

the brand his life’s work. Now, a Singapore

the relationship was deteriorating. Shivdasani’s

departure.

court has ordered its controlling shareholder to

vehicle, SH BVI, attributed the breakdown to

Behind that repositioning, the financial

begin a sale process, setting up a test of what

his refusal to sell the business, frustrating

pressures were substantial. The group had

the business is worth without Sonu Shivdasani,

Steele’s plans to exit. Steele’s account centred

defaulted on its Aareal Bank loan, owed

and who will receive the proceeds.

on concerns about management and financial

approximately USD120m to major third-party

controls.

lenders and faced annual debt service of around

The Singapore International Commercial Court’s 17 September judgment found that

The judgment records Steele’s contention

USD20m. Overdue trade payments exceeded

Steele SVA Holdings, the investment vehicle

that Soneva Secret had exceeded its original

USD12m. The court accepted that additional

jointly owned by KSL Capital Partners and GIC,

USD47m budget by more than USD15m. The

capital was needed.

had unfairly prejudiced Shivdasani’s minority

circumstances of Shivdasani’s departure were

The dispute concerned the price and approval

interest through the terms of rescue funding.

also disputed. He resigned from executive

of that capital. An agreed emergency funding

It reduced the financing’s return and ordered a

and board positions in late 2024, citing ill

mechanism carried a 15% coupon and had

marketed sale process to begin by 15 November,

health; Steele alleged that an undisclosed

already been used to provide USD20m. In August

subject to a possible extension.

Thai bankruptcy had disqualified him from

2025, Steele instead introduced a facility of up

For a business associated with escape from

those roles. These were the parties’ competing

to USD37m carrying an 18% annual compound

everyday pressures, the ownership dispute has

accounts of the earlier breakdown, rather than

coupon and an exit payment of twice the

brought an unusually public airing of financial

the conduct on which the subsequent oppression

outstanding principal and accumulated interest.

distress and broken relationships. Soneva Fushi

finding rested.

Steele

defended

the

arrangement

opened in the Maldives in 1995, with Sonu and

Steele converted its debt into a controlling

compensation for funding an underperforming

Eva Shivdasani building its identity around

shareholding on 5 May 2025. A mediated

business. The court rejected that justification,

informality, environmental responsibility and

settlement later that month ended Shivdasani’s

finding that the agreed mechanism had been

the invitation to leave news and shoes behind.

involvement in the business while preserving

bypassed and the minority excluded from

The couple also created Six Senses, selling

his minority investment. The compromise

meaningful deliberations.

that business to Pegasus Capital in 2012. Its

separated management control from the

The ruling reduces the coupon to 15% and

subsequent acquisition by IHG for USD300m in

founder’s continuing financial interest, without

removes the doubling provision. It substantially

2019 demonstrated the appetite of larger hotel

ending the conflict.

cuts the reward on the rescue funding while

groups for a distinctive luxury brand. Soneva

KSL’s public announcement presented the

leaving the capital exposed to the fortunes of

remained a more concentrated collection of

change as an expression of confidence in

the business. For Shivdasani, it reduces the

resorts, closely associated with its founders.

Soneva’s future. Neil Gallagher, previously chief

claim standing ahead of his ordinary shares,

Shivdasani’s account of the original ambition

executive and chief financial officer of Clermont

improving his potential recovery from a sale.

remains characteristically personal. Recalling

Hotel Group, was appointed chief executive. He

SH BVI sought USD70.8m for its approximately

the scepticism that greeted his plans in the

inherited a portfolio comprising Soneva Fushi,

24.8% stake, implying an ordinary equity

Maldives, he told the Khaleej Times: “I said no, I

Soneva Jani and Soneva Secret, alongside the

value of roughly USD285m. Steele disputed

wanted to create something entirely different.”

Soneva in Aqua yacht.

the underlying March 2025 valuations, arguing

The attractions he describes are similarly

In June 2026, Gallagher’s management

that they preceded a full understanding of the

specific: bare feet, food from the garden and

launched ‘Bare Luxury’, with a new logo and

group’s finances and were likely inflated. The

arriving at dinner by zipline. The product

the positioning ‘Just What Matters’. He told

court declined to impose the buyout.

offered wealthy travellers an alternative to the

Skift that the founders’ DNA was “off-limits”,

The eventual price must therefore support the

151

Banyan pays for Newmark’s growth

annual earnings growth of approximately 30%

time to begin marketing if it demonstrates that

An African collection stretching from Cape

17.8% Newmark achieved over the preceding

the date is impracticable.

Town’s waterfront to gorilla country in Uganda

three financial years. Banyan points to signed

Shivdasani, meanwhile, is developing another

has joined Banyan Group, as the Singapore-

term sheets for potential hotel management

brand. Sosei, meaning rebirth in Japanese,

listed hotel company buys Newmark Hotels &

engagements, further opportunities under

places greater emphasis on wellness and draws

Reserves. The acquisition adds 26 hotels, lodges

discussion and the benefits of combining the

on his own experience of cancer. Announcing

and reserves and gives Banyan an established

businesses. However, the filing does not divide

the venture in January, he wrote of Six Senses

local operator to accelerate its expansion across

the projected earnings growth between new

and Soneva: “They were not extensions of my

the continent.

contracts, existing hotels and synergies, or

debt and other prior claims before delivering value to ordinary shareholders. Nor is November a completion deadline: Steele can seek more

identity. They were gifts I had offered to the world.” The

Banyan acquired an initial 70% of the Cape Town-based management company on 17

commercial

ambitions

over three years, an acceleration from the

establish how much of the pipeline is secured by binding management agreements.

remain

September for ZAR533m (USD33m), with the

The staged purchase gives Banyan some

considerable. In February, he outlined plans

remaining 30% to be purchased later. Founder

protection if that growth fails to materialise. The

spanning 12 countries and at least three

and chief executive Neil Markovitz will continue

price for the remaining 30% will be calculated

openings within two years, encompassing beach

to lead Newmark, which will retain its brand,

using actual FY2030 EBITDA and adjusted for

and ski resorts, residences and urban retreats.

management team and local operating approach.

cash, debt and working capital. A separate

Those remain ambitions rather than a verified

Founded in 2007, Newmark manages

mechanism allows a deduction if Newmark

more than 1,300 rooms across South Africa,

misses its targeted earnings, equivalent to

Soneva’s sale will consequently test the

Mauritius, Namibia, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda

70% of the shortfall multiplied by the agreed

durability of a brand closely associated with a

and Zimbabwe. Markovitz’s hospitality career

earnings multiple.

founder who is already working on its potential

includes running the Victoria & Alfred Hotel,

That deduction is capped at the amount

successor. Buyers will need to establish how

the converted warehouse that became the first

payable for the remaining stake. It can reduce

much guest loyalty, pricing power and creative

hotel on Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront and one

the sellers’ final proceeds but does not give

direction remain within the business, alongside

of Newmark’s earliest properties.

Banyan an unlimited right to recover its

operating portfolio.

the expenditure required to sustain them.

The collection now extends to Qwabi Private Game Reserve in South Africa’s Waterberg,

initial payment. The group intends to fund the acquisition from internal resources.

HA PERSPECTIVE

Motswari in the Greater Kruger area and

Banyan’s international reach also benefits

A founder’s departure can remove both a source

Gorilla Heights Lodge beside Uganda’s Bwindi

from its longstanding relationship with

of value and an obstacle to change. Soneva’s

Impenetrable National Park. City hotels sit

Accor. The strategic partnership announced

buyers will have to judge whether its appeal is

alongside safari lodges, wellness retreats and

in 2016 combined a minority investment with

sufficiently established in the resorts, staff and

Indian Ocean resorts, giving Banyan a broader

collaboration on development and access to

guest relationships to prosper without Shivdasani,

African business than its existing regional

Accor’s reservations, sales and loyalty network.

and whether stronger financial discipline can

portfolio of four hotels.

The original investment was structured through

“Joining Banyan Group gives us greater

an instrument convertible into approximately

international reach and access to a wider

5% of Banyan, with an option to acquire a

The rescue funding presents a separate valuation

network of expertise while retaining what has

further 5%.

of risk. Steele committed additional money when

made Newmark successful,” said Markovitz.

improve the returns. Neither a founder discount nor a management premium should be assumed.

152

Reaching the target requires compound

Banyan remains an independent listed

the business needed it, and the court has materially

The purchase price anticipates a substantial

company, while the relationship extends beyond

reduced its potential reward. But the parties had

increase in earnings. The agreed enterprise

distribution at selected properties. Banyan Tree

already negotiated a mechanism for that funding,

value of ZAR756m (USD47m) is based on

Dubai, for example, was announced as a joint

and majority control did not give Steele unrestricted

targeted EBITDA of ZAR63m (USD3.9m) for the

operation with Accor-controlled Ennismore,

freedom to replace it with more favourable terms.

year ending February 2029. That represents

following similar arrangements in Doha and

Shivdasani has won a better position in the

12 times target earnings, compared with

AlUla.

distribution of proceeds. What that victory is worth

approximately 26 times FY2026 EBITDA of

will be decided by buyers.

ZAR28.8m (USD1.8m).

For Newmark, the announced integration is into Banyan’s own commercial network.

BUSINESS CENTRE

Its hotels will progressively become available through Banyan’s booking platforms and participate in the Banyan guest recognition

Institutional capital backs the hostel model

in Greece. YellowSquare extends that activity beyond the luxury properties prominent in its hospitality portfolio.

programme, while retaining their existing direct

Three Italian property acquisitions representing

Invel’s growth was anchored by its

channels. No extension to Accor’s distribution

investment above EUR75m, alongside a lease in

investment in Greek property company Prodea,

or ALL loyalty programme has been announced.

Naples, will more than double YellowSquare’s

formerly NBG Pangaea. It acquired 66% from

The addition takes Banyan’s portfolio to

capacity once its development pipeline

National Bank of Greece in 2013 and the bank’s

nearly 130 hotels, resorts and reserves across

opens. Backed by real estate private equity

remaining 32% in 2019.

28 countries. Existing Newmark owner

firm Invel, the hostel operator is adding

The YellowSquare partnership, announced in

relationships, property branding and commercial

properties in Bologna, Milan and Venice to a

January 2025, envisaged EUR200m of investment

arrangements are to remain unchanged.

business combining accommodation with bars,

and more than 5,000 beds across southern

coworking and events.

Europe. Its structure combined a wholly Invel-

HA PERSPECTIVE

YellowSquare operates approximately 1,200

owned vehicle to acquire and develop properties

Banyan knows something about the difficulty of

beds in Rome, Milan, Florence and Athens. The

with an investment in YellowSquare through a

persuading investors to pay for potential. In April,

four developments announced on 24 September

capital increase, giving Invel exposure to both

shareholder questions highlighted a discount of

will take operational and pipeline capacity to

the real estate and the operator.

close to 40% to its net asset value. The company’s

around 3,300 beds.

Bank financing followed in April this year,

own response disclosed annualised total shareholder

The brand builds its offer around social

when Invel agreed a EUR65m facility with

returns of just 2.9% over ten years and minus 1.4%

activity, with communal facilities intended to

UniCredit for Fondo Yellow, the alternative

since its June 2006 listing, measured to 13 April

attract local residents as well as overnight guests.

investment fund fully subscribed by Invel

2026. A much stronger five-year return of 13.1% had

Alongside accommodation, the developments

and managed by Castello SGR. The facility

still left the longest-serving investors under water.

will include combinations of food and beverage,

was intended to fund the acquisition and

Management attributed the valuation discount

workspaces and event venues. Naples will have

development of more than 2,000 beds across

partly to the combination of hotel ownership,

a communal kitchen, courtyard and rooftop

major Italian cities.

hospitality management and residences within one

terrace. Fabio Coppola, YellowSquare’s founder

Gabriele Magotti, Invel’s chief investment

company, businesses with markedly different capital

and chief visionary officer, said: “People often

officer, said the financing reflected the partners’

requirements and returns. Limited trading liquidity

describe YellowSquare as a hostel brand, but it’s

conviction in “the long-term potential of hybrid

was another explanation. Its response included a

not a simple hostel.”

hospitality as an institutional asset class”.

commitment to improve disclosure and explore

Work has begun in Bologna and Naples. Bologna is scheduled for delivery by the end of

HA PERSPECTIVE

Newmark fits Banyan’s stated ambition to

2027, with Milan expected to open in 2028. The

A hostel’s communal space can be part of what sells

expand through management agreements rather

Venice property occupies the former Officine

the bed. Bars, events and shared workspaces give

than capital-intensive hotel ownership. Buying an

Galileo complex in mainland Marghera. In

guests reasons to choose a property, spend more while

established team and owner relationships should

Naples, YellowSquare has signed a long-term

there and return. Local customers can add income

accelerate that shift, while adding fee income

lease for Palazzo della Zecca.

without occupying accommodation, extending the

structures that could release value.

across a wider geographical base. But management

The

expansion

brings

different

business beyond its overnight population.

businesses can also absorb substantial capital

accommodation model into Invel’s established

A busy events programme can look impressive

when acquired at prices that anticipate years of

southern European hospitality business. Founded

while contributing little after staffing, security,

growth. Banyan is paying approximately 26 times

in 2013 by Christophoros Papachristophorou,

cleaning and maintenance. Investors need to assess

Newmark’s latest annual EBITDA for a business

previously global head of Deutsche Bank’s

the profit generated across the whole building

whose earnings must grow faster than their recent

RREEF Opportunistic Investments, Invel invests

against its acquisition and conversion cost.

historical rate to reach the valuation target.

institutional capital through funds and co-

The staged payment is therefore a useful

investment structures.

Buying gives the investor control over the property and exposure to its eventual value, alongside the cost

discipline. Sellers retain an interest in delivering the

Its hotel investments include Bellevue Cortina

and risk of redevelopment. Leasing avoids funding

growth, and Banyan has some protection if they fall

in Italy, White Coast Pool Suites on the Greek

the purchase but introduces a rental commitment,

short. Nevertheless, most of the money is committed

island of Milos, the Landmark Nicosia and

whose burden depends on the terms and who pays

upfront.

Parklane in Cyprus, and Nikki Beach Porto Heli

for the conversion.

153

BUSINESS CENTRE

Invel’s investment in both the buildings and

The Cumberland has changed brands twice

Clermont and the expenditure required to deliver

the operator gives it a broader interest in those

during the vendors’ ownership. Clermont

the buyer’s plans must also fit within the eventual

decisions. The strongest case for YellowSquare would

converted it to a Hard Rock hotel in 2019 before

return.

be evidence that its communal facilities improve

restoring the Cumberland name in 2023 as part

accommodation profits, as well as earning money

of a move to concentrate on its core brands.

in their own right.

Cumberland sale puts a price on control

Strong trading can make the rent more secure while making the operator less willing to surrender

The full extent of the tenant’s renewal

its lease. A purchaser may therefore find that the

rights will be important to buyers considering

recovery, which strengthens the property investment,

a further change of direction. A February 2021

also raises the cost of taking over the business.

Savills report recorded the initial lease expiry

The scope for improvement needs equally careful

as 10 July 2031, with tenant options extending

pricing. A building survey, a costed investment

to 21 March 2089.

programme and clear responsibility for repairs will

The Cumberland hotel and neighbouring Thistle

The ten-year extension described in the

reveal more than a headline yield. Buyers should

London Park Lane have been put up for sale,

current sale report may represent the next

establish those costs before paying a premium for

with market estimates above GBP350m. The

renewal period. The available reports do not

the Cumberland’s potential.

disposal by L+R and Starwood Capital brings

establish whether the longer-term rights have

a substantial West End investment to market

subsequently changed.

after a 16-year hold, offering rental income

Savills also recorded GLH’s advice that rent

and the prospect of a separate deal to secure

during any agreed renewal would continue

operating control. JLL is marketing the 900-

upwards with CPI, rather than reset to open-

room Cumberland, the 119-room Thistle and

market rent. Its report relied on lease summaries

retail units let to Foot Locker, Itsu and Pret A

supplied by GLH rather than an examination of

Manger, according to Green Street News. No

the original documents.

official asking price has been set by the vendors.

Those provisions could give Clermont

L+R and Starwood acquired the Cumberland

considerable influence over the timing and

from Royal Bank of Scotland for GBP215m

cost of any move to owner-operation. The 2031

in 2010, when the bank was selling assets

expiry cannot, on the available information,

following the global financial crisis. The current

be treated as a firm date for obtaining vacant

offering is owned through Guernsey-based Pike

possession.

Investment Trust.

Alongside the lease terms, buyers will need

The properties are held under a Portman

to assess the properties’ condition, future

Estate headlease with approximately 76 years

capital expenditure and the allocation of

remaining. Green Street reports a cash yield

repair obligations. Any strategy involving

above 7%, with the scale and location expected

refurbishment or repositioning will depend on

to attract investors seeking to improve the

both the cost of the works and the ability to

assets’ value.

agree and carry them out while the occupational

Clermont Hotel Group, formerly GLH,

lease remains in place.

operates the hotels and is owned by Hong

The retail units add another source of income,

Kong-based Guoco Group. The Cumberland’s

while the Portman Estate’s freehold ownership

occupational lease runs to 2031, with CPI-linked

places a finite term on the investment being

rent increases and a tenant option to extend for

sold. Both complicate comparisons with hotel

ten years, according to the sale report.

transactions based simply on price per room.

Prospective owner-operators could seek an

154

agreement with Clermont. Such a transaction

HA PERSPECTIVE

would allow a buyer to combine the property

A cash yield above 7% will attract attention for an

investment with the hotel business, although

investment of this scale in the West End. For a buyer

the price and terms would need to be negotiated

seeking operating control, however, the acquisition

separately.

price is only part of the bill. An agreement with

Hotel Analyst is the news analysis service for those involved with financing hotel property or hotel operating companies. For more information and to subscribe visit: www.hotelanalyst.co.uk

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BUSINESS CENTRE

Performance benchmarking for the global hospitality industry 1. RIO DE JANEIRO

Jeddah’s hotel industry recorded significant growth in September, as the city hosted the Arabian Gulf Cup for the first time. The football tournament’s opening day drove monthly highs across all three key metrics, contributing to year-over-year increases of 35.6% in occupancy, 13.0% in ADR and 53.3% in RevPAR.

August 2026 (year-over-year % change) Occupancy 72.7% (-0.1%) ADR BRL841.91 (+16.4%) RevPAR BRL612.29 (+16.3%)

September 2026 (year-over-year % change) Occupancy 65.5% (+35.6%) ADR SAR601.49 (+13.0%) RevPAR SAR393.87 (+53.3%)

2. MILAN

4. MELBOURNE

September 2026 (year-over-year % change) Occupancy 84.2% (+1.6%) ADR EUR310.04 (+7.2%) RevPAR EUR261.17 (+8.9%)

September 2026 (year-over-year % change) Occupancy 75.6% (+9.7%) ADR AUD242.11 (+16.2%) RevPAR AUD182.99 (+27.5%)

Boosted by September events – including Fashion Week and two international trade fairs – Milan’s hotel industry posted its second highest ADR and RevPAR on record. All three performance indicators peaked on Saturday 5 September, the second night of the Italian Grand Prix: occupancy (95.3%), ADR (EUR444.75) and RevPAR (EUR424.07).

156

3. JEDDAH

Rio de Janeiro posted its highest August RevPAR since the 2016 Olympics, according to preliminary data from CoStar. The metric peaked at BRL756.51 on Saturday 15 August during Festival Medio y Medio, while occupancy topped out at 88.2% on Wednesday 19 August, thanks to a Conmebol Libertadores match at Maracanã Stadium.

Despite sustained growth in new supply, Melbourne’s hotel industry recorded its highest September ADR and RevPAR on record. Alongside the annual AFL Grand Final, demand was bolstered by the NFL’s first-ever regularseason game in Australia, held at Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday 11 September.

CoStar with STR benchmarking is a global provider of hotel performance data, collated from 90,000 hotels and 11.8 million rooms. For more information and to subscribe visit: www.costar.com

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Celebrating a decade of AHEAD, the awards season commences with a line up of properties celebrating Asia’s diverse cityscapes and natural landscapes, as well as a Hotel of the Year steeped in cultural heritage.

Marking the beginning its 10th anniversary celebrations, AHEAD Asia kicked off the awards season in style with a sparkling ceremony at Pan Pacific Orchard, Singapore. A decade on from the programme’s inception, the evening offered an opportunity to reflect on the evolution of the region’s hospitality landscape, while celebrating the projects and people shaping its future. Amid the merriment, it was time to turn attention to the worthy winners of 2026. After receiving a record-breaking 220 entries, the judging panel met in person to review their shortlist and ultimately determine the winners. Each received a one-of-a-kind trophy, newly designed by Preciosa Lighting to represent the idea of ‘An Original For Every Original’. With several shortlisted projects backdropped by some of the world’s most impressive cities, many of the victors were commended for how they complement their urban surroundings. In the Hotel Renovation category, the judges celebrated Park Hyatt Tokyo for its sensitive restoration by Jouin Manku, which preserves the spirit of John Morford’s original interiors. The panel described the project as a “respectfully elegant uplift of an icon”, with one declaring that the hotel remains “the most iconic hotel in Tokyo, even after so many years”. By contrast, the award for Hotel Conversion went to a property that juxtaposes the intensity of its city setting with a more serene approach. Delivered by SCDA Architects, Soori Penang – once a collection of heritage shophouses – offers a calming escape that puts characteristic air-wells, five-foot ways and

layered thresholds at the heart of the guest experience. The project impressed judges with its infusion of new and old, while integrating the culture and energy of the area into a “beautiful sanctuary”. Other properties shone for how they leverage the restorative powers of nature to create considered spaces that feel at home within their environment. Intimate island retreat .Here Baa Atoll scooped two wins in the Landscaping & Outdoor Spaces and Suite categories, with Kulor Group and Topo Design Studio garnering praise for the resort’s “carefully balanced moments of shade, sea and courtyards”, as well as suites that embody a “textural playground of the colours of the sea”. Also taking home two trophies was South Palms Resort & Spa, MGallery Collection in Panglao. Redesigned by SCSY Architects and Rchitects Inc, with interiors by Enter Projects Asia, White Jacket and Atelier Pond, the Philippine resort was first lauded for its spa, which judges described as “inherently relaxing” and “immersed in culture”. The project then went on to triumph in the Sustainability category for its implementation of passive design principals, solar technologies and a circular approach to waste. New Concept was awarded to Fari Campus, a dedicated staff island spearheaded by 2026 Outstanding Contribution recipient Evan Kwee. Developed by Pontiac Land Group and designed by Urbn Arc, the campus has been crafted in service of employee wellbeing and work-life balance, accommodating those who work across the three neighbouring resorts. Ultimately, Shangri-La Kunming emerged as

the evening’s most decorated winner, taking home an impressive five trophies. Brought to life by East China Architectural Design & Research Institute and AvroKO, the hotel showcases the colours, crafts and tea culture of its home province Yunnan. It’s success was apparent from the outset, when Suma won the first award of the evening in the Bar, Club or Lounge category. Heralded as “distinctive and romantic”, judges praised the venue’s integration of local elements to balance tradition with contemporary design. Such early recognition set the scene for Shangri-La’s next win, this time for its Guestrooms, which were commended for their “functional yet innovative design” that offers a fresh take on traditional operational touch points, from mini-bars and tea stations to dining nooks. The hotel later won in the Hotel Newbuild category, courtesy of its “exquisite detailing” which “flows and finds balance between boldness and restraint”, before also collecting a fourth trophy for its lobby. Here, Shangri-La was praised once again for its commitment to Yunnan’s heritage, reinventing the checkin experience with a tea shop that ties the concept to its context – a welcome innovation, according to one judge. All this acclaim culminated in the final and most coveted win of the night, when ShangriLa Kunming lifted the trophy for Hotel of the Year. “It is a beautifully layered hotel that takes a disciplined approach – the best overall hotel by far,” summarised one judge, while another proclaimed: “The most beautiful hotel of the decade.”

AHEAD

B A R , C LU B O R LO U N G E

RESORT

Suma at Shangri-La Kunming – Yunnan, China Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts / East China Architectural Design & Research Institute Co / AvroKO

Zoland Emei – Sichuan, China Unique Boutique Hotels / Studio J Bridgland

E V E N T S PA C E S

R E S TA U R A N T

The Lands by Capella at Capella – Sydney, Australia Pontiac Land Group / Capella Hotel Group / Hassell / Purcell Architects

Spago Shanghai at St Regis on The Bund – Shanghai, China Pacific Eagle Real Estate / Marriott International / Foster & Partners / AB Concept

GUESTROOMS

S PA & W E L L N E S S

Shangri-La Kunming – Yunnan, China Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts / East China Architectural Design & Research Institute Co / AvroKO

South Palms Resort & Spa, MGallery Collection – Panglao, Philippines Panglao Shores / Alturas Group of Companies / C9 Hotelworks / Accor / SCSY Studio / White Jacket / Topo Design Studio

HOTEL CONVERSION

SUITE

Soori – Penang, Malaysia KKS Hospitality / Soori Hotel & Resorts / SCDA

.Here – Baa Atoll, Maldives Seaside Hotels & Resorts / Kulör Group / Muza Lab / Topo Design Studio

HOTEL NEWBUILD Shangri-La Kunming – Yunnan, China Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts / East China Architectural Design & Research Institute Co / AvroKO

S U S TA I N A B I L I T Y South Palms Resort & Spa, MGallery Collection – Panglao, Philippines Panglao Shores / Alturas Group of Companies / C9 Hotelworks / Accor / SCSY Studio / Rchitects Inc / Enter Projects Asia / White Jacket / Atelier Pond / Topo Design Studio / XCO2

H O T E L R E N O VAT I O N Park Hyatt – Tokyo, Japan TGRE / Hyatt Hotels Corporation / Kajima Ilya Corporation / Jouin Manku

NEW CONCEPT Fari Campus – North Malé Atoll, Maldives Pontiac Land Group / Capella Hotel Group / URBNarc

L A N D S C A P I N G & O U T D O O R S PA C E S .Here – Baa Atoll, Maldives Seaside Hotels & Resorts / Kulör Group / Muza Lab / Topo Design Studio

O U T S TA N D I N G C O N T R I B U T I O N AWA R D Evan Kwee Capella Hotel Group

LO B BY Shangri-La Kunming – Yunnan, China Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts / East China Architectural Design & Research Institute Co / AvroKO

LO D G E S , C A B I N S & T E N T E D C A M P S The Oberoi Vindhyavilas Wildlife Resort – Bandhavgarh, India Anil Palta / The Oberoi Group / Studio Lotus / IPDM

HOTEL OF THE YEAR Shangri-La Kunming – Yunnan, China Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts / East China Architectural Design & Research Institute Co / AvroKO

AHEAD

Winners include (clockwise from top left): Zoland Emei, Sichuan; St Regis on The Bund, Shangai; Shangri-La Kunming, Yunnan; .Here, Baa Atoll; Park Hyatt, Tokyo; and The Oberoi Vindhyavilas Wildlife Resort, Bandhavgarh

AHEAD returns to New York to celebrate the properties preserving American heritage, including two reimagined icons and a Hotel of the Year that venerates traditional Mexican craftsmanship.

For one night in September, Manhattan became the nexus of the Americas’ hospitality industry, when AHEAD ventured to Gotham Hall for an evening of celebration. Attracting the sector’s most prominent figures from across the region, the packed venue reflected on a decade of distinctive, ambitious and visionary properties, before turning to the ventures shaping 2026, as a new cohort of winners was revealed. After receiving more than 160 entries from Canada to Chile, the judging panel cast their votes and finalised the winners. Among them, two iconic properties emerged victorious for the careful restoration of their legacy. Lifting the trophy for Event Spaces, Waldorf Astoria New York was lauded for how its eight-year transformation has revitalised the Gilded Age landmark, with one judge declaring it “a grand dame deftly brought into the 21st century”. With architecture restored by Skidmore Owings & Merrill and interiors by Pierre-Yves Rochon, the legendary Park Avenue hotel was praised for its “thoughtfully considered and restored” Grand Ballroom and the 18thcentury-inspired Basildon Room, featuring decorative panelling, ornate cornices and ceiling frescoes imported from English manor Basildon Park. Similarly revered for its icon status on the USA’s hotel scene, Delano Miami Beach ended the night with three awards to its name. Reimagined by Elastic, the Art Deco property’s rich heritage was brought into the present with a masterful touch, securing a win in the Hotel Renovation category. Delano Miami Beach also saw success for its interpretation of the brand’s signature Rose Bar, which reveals a striking contrast of deep

red marble, mirrored ceilings and rose-shaped seating. Taking to the stage a final time, the property was celebrated for how it reconnects to its architectural heritage through original hexagonal columns and restored lobby bridge, while sculptural furnishings, signature white Delano drapery and curated artworks introduce a fresh sense of whimsy. As one judge summarised: “It is a masterful reinvigoration of a storied brand, respecting Delano’s past and bridging to its future.” As the ceremony continued, honouring heritage emerged as a prevalent theme. Populus Seattle came out on top in the Hotel Conversion category, with The Miller Hull Partnership and Curioso impressing the panel with their transformation of a 1907 steam-supply warehouse into a 120-key contemporary hotel. Described as “a great example of an adaptive re-use approach”, the project is forging a new purpose in the industrial fabric of one of Washington State’s oldest neighbourhoods. Meanwhile, in Montana, One & Only Moonlight Basin was lauded for its own take on heritage in the Hotel Newbuild and Landscaping & Outdoor Spaces categories. Drawing on the state’s agrarian heritage, the resort presents a contemporary expression of the American mountain lodge, with Olson Kundig delivering low-slung buildings clad in dark timber and locally quarried stone. Ben Young Landscape Architects approached the project with restraint, preserving 60% of the existing forest and encouraging immersion in nature through winding pathways and native planting. Described as “stunning experiential architecture that facilitates an immersive sense of place”, the resulting resort captivated

judges with its harmonious relationship between indoor and outdoor. A change of pace arrived with the New Concept award, presented to Moon World Resorts for its futuristic proposal for spaceinspired destinations conceived to transport guests to the moon without ever leaving Earth. Helping to shape this ambitious vision is the project’s Exclusive Strategic Design Advisor, Larry Traxler, who was later honoured with the Outstanding Contribution award. Recognising more than 30 years at the forefront of global design, half of which were spent shaping Hilton’s global portfolio, the accolade celebrates Traxler’s contribution to crafting hospitality experiences around the world. Yet, it was Rosewood Mandarina that stole the show with a total of four trophies. Bringing Mexican identity to the forefront, the resort – conceived by Bando x Seidel Meersseman with MCEstudio and Idea Associados – impressed the panel with its “incredibly sophisticated and intentional” design. Set between lush mountain jungle and the Pacific coastline on Mexico’s Riviera Nayarit, the resort draws upon the ancestral traditions of the Huichol and Cora peoples. Triumphing in the Resort, Guestrooms and Suite categories, Rosewood Mandarina was lauded for its attention to detail, celebrating a distinctive sense of place through the use of sculptural furniture inspired by ceremonial objects, as well as intricate ceramics, beadwork and custom textiles. Rosewood Mandarina also took home the ultimate prize – the AHEAD Americas Hotel of the Year. As one judge summarised: “The property delivers the perfect balance of design and local craft – bravo!”

AHEAD

B A R , C LU B O R LO U N G E

RESORT

Rose Bar at Delano Miami Beach – Florida, USA Cain International / Ennismore / Elastic

Rosewood Mandarina – Riviera Nayarit, Mexico RLH Properties / Rosewood Hotels & Resorts / MCEstudio / Idea Associados / Bando x Seidel Meersseman

E V E N T S PA C E S Waldorf Astoria – New York, USA Strategic Hotels / Hilton Worldwide / Skidmore, Owings & Merrill / Pierre-Yves Rochon

R E S TA U R A N T The Penrose Room at The Broadmoor Hotel – Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA The Anschutz Corporation / The Broadmoor-Sea Island Company / James W Nakai & Associates / Tihany Design

GUESTROOMS Rosewood Mandarina – Riviera Nayarit, Mexico RLH Properties / Rosewood Hotels & Resorts / MCEstudio / Idea Associados / Bando x Seidel Meersseman

HOTEL CONVERSION Populus – Seattle, Washington, USA Urban Villages / Aparium Hotel Group / The Miller Hull Partnership / Curioso

HOTEL NEWBUILD One&Only Moonlight Basin – Big Sky, Montana, USA Lone Mountain Land Company / Kerzner International / Olson Kundig / Ben Young Landscape Architects

S PA & W E L L N E S S Spa Nalai at Park Hyatt Hotel – New York, USA Hyatt Hotels Corporation / Studio Whynought

SUITE Rosewood Mandarina – Riviera Nayarit, Mexico RLH Properties / Rosewood Hotels & Resorts / MCEstudio / Idea Associados / Bando x Seidel Meersseman

S U S TA I N A B I L I T Y Mira Earth Studios – Valle de Guadalupe, Baja California, Mexico Kendall Family / Juniette Bermudez / Nacion Verde / Felipe Ricalde Saucedo / Angel David Olguin / Fernando Moreno / Andres Gomez

H O T E L R E N O VAT I O N Delano Miami Beach – Florida, USA Cain International / Ennismore / Elastic

L A N D S C A P I N G & O U T D O O R S PA C E S One&Only Moonlight Basin, Big Sky, Montana, USA Lone Mountain Land Company / Kerzner International / Olson Kundig / Ben Young Landscape Architects

LO B BY Delano Miami Beach – Florida, USA Cain International / Ennismore / Elastic

LO D G E S , C A B I N S & T E N T E D C A M P S Casa Gallareta – Villa La Angostura, Patagonia, Argentina Casa Gallareta / Organic & Joyful Architecture

ACC E S S I B I L I T Y Faraway Jackson Hole – Wyoming, USA Blue Flag Capital / Collared Martin Hospitality / Workshop/APD / Jenny Bucovek Studio

NEW CONCEPT Moon World Resorts BDP Quadrangle / TraxWorks Hospitality Collaborative / Entuitive / Gillespies

O U T S TA N D I N G C O N T R I B U T I O N AWA R D Larry Traxler Traxworks Hospitality Collaborative

HOTEL OF THE YEAR Rosewood Mandarina – Riviera Nayarit, Mexico RLH Properties / Rosewood Hotels & Resorts / MCEstudio / Idea Associados / Bando x Seidel Meersseman

AHEAD

Winners include (clockwise from top left): Delano Miami Beach; Mira Earth Studios, Baja California; Rosewood Mandarina, Riviera Nayarit; Park Hyatt Hotel, New York; The Broadmoor Hotel, Colorado; and Populus, Seattle

11 SEPTEMBER 2026

15 OCTOBER 2026

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26 NOVEMBER 2026

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EVENTS

Heimtextil

12-15 January 2027 FRANKFURT

Returning to Heimtextil for a third year, Patricia Urquiola expands her Bambi sculpture series with two new pieces.

Ahead of the 2027 edition, Heimtextil has

showcasing the designer’s playful approach to

revealed further details on its exhibition and

materials. Though Bambi’s metallised Ohoskin

supporting programme, spanning textile

surface lends the piece a technical appearance,

innovation, interior design and hospitality.

the textile is in fact made from by-products

Within Heimtextil Trends 27/28 – curated

of Sicilian oranges, highlighting the contrast

by Alcova under the theme Home-Maxxing:

between organic origins and futuristic design.

The Performance of Everyday Living – Patricia

The creature and its two new companions

Urquiola is set to return to the Trend Space for a

– crafted exclusively for Heimtextil – embody

third year, expanding upon her Bambi sculpture

themes identified by Alcova, such as Hyper

series with two new pieces.

Presence, which focuses on physical presence,

“For Heimtextil 2027, I return with a family

Also featured under the Home-Maxxing

of a research project that evolves with each

umbrella are trends such as Staged Competence,

edition,” says Urquiola. “Together, the works

which sees technical sophistication become part

trace a journey – from digital images to physical

of the aesthetic, and Inside Out, a response to

presence. They open a new chapter of material

complex technologies through deliberately

experimentation. Textiles become a living,

exposed screws, seams and zips.

constantly evolving form.”

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material character and human connection.

of three hybrid creatures: the third chapter

For Alcova, Urquiola’s contribution offers a

Having appeared digitally on a monitor

counterpoint to these trends, demonstrating

in 2025, before adopting a physical form in

that design’s impact lies not only in how

2026, the silver cervine creature will further

it optimises performance, but in how it is

evolve for 2027, bringing together material

perceived and experienced.

experimentation and textile design, while

www.heimtextil.messefrankfurt.com

EVENTS

Ambiente

29 January - 02 February 2027 FRANKFURT

The consumer goods trade fair expands its offering for 2027, with new features for the international contract market.

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Consumer goods trade fair Ambiente is set to

Within Ambiente Projects, Hall 3.1 will

return for 2027, advancing its existing Dining,

reinforce the fair’s relevance for design-oriented

Living and Giving offer with a renewed focus on

industries. Interior Looks showcases furniture,

the international contract business.

lighting and textiles, while the Interior Design &

Under the motto ‘the next move in Lifestyle’,

Architecture Hub returns with a scheme curated

the show floor will adopt a new structure that

by Ambiente Designer 2027 Raw Color. The

reflects the requirements of the market, with

installation, entitled Shades, emphasises how

a host of features catering to both hospitality

colour, light and shadow can enrich hospitality

and retail. “Dining is a global market with

spaces. “Colours are never alone,” say Daniera

a wide variety of distribution channels and

ter Haar and Christoph Brach of Raw Color.

target groups,” says Thomas Kastl, Director of

“They need company and, like a recipe, it is all

Ambiente Dining. “For us, the key is to bring

about finding the right balance.”

this diversity together in a way that creates new

Looking ahead to the show, Julia Uherek,

contacts and new business – from international

Vice President Consumer Goods Fairs, Messe

sourcing to specialist retail and hospitality

Frankfurt, concludes: “With Ambiente Projects,

under the umbrella of Ambiente Projects.”

we are strategically developing Ambiente further

Yvonne Engelmann, Director of Ambiente

for the international contract business. To

Living and Giving, adds: “Interiors and living

achieve this, we identify relevant developments

have always been part of Ambiente’s DNA.

in interior design at an early stage, connect

Now we are creating an international business

them with products and solutions from our

hub for the interior design and furnishing

exhibitors and, thus, create space for inspiration,

industry, while fostering new connections for

knowledge transfer and personal exchange.”

international projects.”

www.ambiente.messefrankfurt.com

Materials that turn atmosphere into emotion.

www.mah.de

SPOTLIGHT FABRICS, SURFACES & WALLCOVERINGS Whether subtle or statement-making, material specialists are leaving their mark on hotel interiors.

Arte Ombré Arte has unveiled Ombré, a wallcovering collection that explores the beauty of subtle colour gradations and nuanced tonal effects. As one shade gradually transitions into another, layers of depth and atmosphere emerge. The resulting ombré effect forms the unifying thread throughout the range, expressed through seven designs, each interpreting the pattern in a unique way. Among them, Rise is inspired by the soft hues of a sunrise, with tones that gently merge across its textured linen surface. Rise is available in 14 colourways including Cognac, Azure and Burgundy (pictured). www.arte-international.com

SPOTLIGHT

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1. Perennials Ken Fulk

2. StoneCircle Onyx Spa

3. Richloom Contract Revival

4. Skopos Fabrics Caldera

Perennials’ Autumn 2026 collection, created in collaboration with designer Ken Fulk, draws inspiration from Hollywood’s Golden Age and tailored mensware. Combining Fulk’s distinctive theatricality with Perennials’ expertise in luxury performance textiles, the range features expressive animal motifs, handsome plaids, graphic stripes and playful decorative illusions. Each fabric balances timeless sophistication with bold, expressive design. Encompassing performance fabrics, wallcoverings, handknotted rugs and Sutherland furniture, the collaboration translates Fulk’s distinctive design vision into a cohesive story across every layer of an interior. www.perennialsfabrics.com

For nearly 60 years, StoneCircle has worked alongside contractors, architects and designers to produce bespoke stone pieces, ensuring projects are completed on time and to specification. The team guides clients through suitable choices of stone, and can assist in the selection of slabs. At The Method Club on Westbourne Grove, London, the stonemasonry company was commissioned to fabricate and install a rose onyx spa, which involved the production of curved pieces for the walls and ice-bath surrounds, with veining that flows around the organic shapes. Elsewhere, the floors and stairs were tiled with White Rosal limestone, lending a sense of continuity. www.stone-circle.com

Richloom Contract is a third-generation family business that specialises in high-quality, sustainable textiles and finished products. As it approaches its 70th anniversary, the company presents Revival, a collection of upholstery solids, jacquards, leathers and multipurpose prints for the hospitality market. Rooted in textile traditions and artisanal crafts, the series pairs smart plaids, plush textures, antique florals and aniline leathers, all engineered to industry performance standards. Revival is built for the modern designer who mixes historical references to create spaces that are simultaneously contemporary and timeless. www.richloomcontract.com

For Winter 2026, Skopos will launch Caldera, its new textured impervious upholstery collection under the Protect Plus banner. The range comprises Ostro, a woven design that draws from volcanic landscapes with a feline-inspired twist, and Marin, which uses bouclé yarn to form a textured, organic and nature-inspired check. Developed for the contract market, Caldera is flameretardant with antimicrobial protection and a stain- and soil-resistant finish. Both designs are 100% polyester with a Crib 5 halogen-free backing, and are offered in 40 colourways, ranging from classic neutrals to Mediterraneaninspired hues. www.skoposfabrics.com

Revival Collection

@richloomcontract

SPOTLIGHT

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1. Janus et Cie 2026 Collection

2. LX Hausys Himacs

3. Egger PerfectSense Ambiance

4. Atlas Concorde Nyra Utopia

New for 2026, Janus et Cie introduces more than 150 textiles inspired by the views, architecture and natural elements found across Italy. Woven textures in curated, complementary palettes evoke the country’s historic towns, modern cities and coastal, lakefront and Mediterranean Riviera locales. As well as offering unlimited coordination possibilities, each fabric is UV-resistant and exceptionally durable, with double rubs ranging from 15,000 to 160,000, making them suitable for high-traffic hospitality settings. The collection adds to the company’s catalogue of more than 6,000 pieces, spanning furniture, decorative accessories and performance textiles. www.janusetcie.com

For Maison Philippe Le Bon, an historic Dijon townhouse reimagined by EK Décoration, Himacs solid surface in translucent Aurora Frost was an ideal fit. Throughout the property, Himacs introduced a synergy between heritage and modernity, including in the public washrooms where the surface forms distinctive illuminated basin-vanities. In addition to enabling the integration of bespoke elements, Himacs offers longevity, safety and sustainability, and is free from silica, nanoparticles and VOC emissions. Non-porous, hygienic and easy to maintain, it meets practical needs while celebrating light as a defining element of the design. www.lxhausys.com

Expanding its PerfectSense portfolio of lacquered boards and surfaces, Egger introduces PerfectSense Ambiance, a collection that emulates the look and feel of authentic surfaces with remarkable realism. The effect is achieved through matte and gloss elements, emphasised via synchronised technology to align tactile features with intricate print. As well as boasting anti-fingerprint qualities and a velvety feel across its matte elements, PerfectSense Ambiance is available in two innovative granite finishes for furniture surfaces and wallcoverings, and a bold marble reproduction that offers a sleek work surface solution for restaurants, bars and bathrooms. www.egger.com

Launched at Cersaie 2026, Atlas Concorde has introduced a series of new surfaces for the hospitality sector through collaborations with architecture firms and interior design studios. Among them, stone-effect series Nyra Utopia was unveiled through spaces designed by NOA, such as a spa-inspired bathroom with 3D surfaces, large format slabs and herringbone effect inserts. The collection expands Nyra World, Atlas Concorde’s dedicated stone-effect universe, and is available in a palette of neutral tones as well as three different finishes – natural, ribbed and hammered – for varying textural depths. www.atlasconcorde.com

All decors shown and mentioned are reproductions.

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SPOTLIGHT

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1. Zimmer + Rohde Serenissima

2. Mah-ATN Creative Cover Materials

3. Vagenas Casamance – Les Tisserands

Forming part of the textile house’s AW26 collection, Zimmer + Rohde has launched eight new fabrics within the Ardecora range. Named after La Serenissima – the historic Republic of Venice – the collection draws on the city’s legacy of craftsmanship and artistic exchange, in particular its late-19th-century encounter with East Asian-inspired art. Among the new designs, Kimon (pictured) utilises different embroidery techniques to bring together numerous small elements, resulting in a subtle motif reminiscent of a mosaic. Furthermore, the use of selectively applied metallic yarns creates delicate highlights, lending the textile a shimmering effect. www.zimmer-rohde.com

Drawing on more than two centuries of material expertise, Mah-ATN connects refined aesthetics with practical application requirements. Guided by the belief that materials have the power to shape emotions and transform spaces, the company’s curated portfolio of upholstery fabrics, faux leather and surface materials offers architects and interior designers creative freedom to develop hospitality environments with character and individuality. From elegant hotel lobbies to intimate guestrooms, thoughtful material choices help to define the identity of a space, while balancing tactile comfort, enduring quality and functional suitability for everyday use. www.mah.de

Since its inception in the 1960s, Vagenas has curated a diverse portfolio of brands, including Casamance. New for Fall 2026, the fabric and wallpaper company introduces Les Tisserands, a contemporary reinterpretation of tapestry that pays homage to the work of Flemish artisans with centuries-old experience. The collection celebrates the nobility of materials, the craftsmanship of natural fibres and the blending of textures, combining the silkiness of cotton velvet with the raw look of textured jacquards. Offered in a palette of warm brown, green and terracotta shades, Les Tisserands is designed for seating, evoking a timeless feel for a matte collection. www.vagenas.eu

SPOTLIGHT

Tile Of Spain Designing The Arrival Experience

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As the first opportunity for a hotel to showcase its identity and offering, the lobby sets the tone for the guest experience ahead. While memorable design and immersive settings are important, incorporating the right material has become one of the most powerful tools in creating an impactful environment. Combining advanced manufacturing techniques and exceptional craftsmanship, Spanish tile manufacturers continue to support designers in creating interiors that feel beautiful, effortless and durable. With an extensive collection of textures, colours, patterns, formats and finishes, porcelain and ceramic tiles offer total flexibility to create interiors that are bespoke to the character of each hotel. Tactile design can be introduced in a variety of ways, such as using ceramic tiles on hotel entrance walls. Stone-inspired surfaces with tonal veining, fluted detailing and threedimensional reliefs are just a few ways to add richness and dimension to spaces. This fluid movement adds a sense of warmth to walls, interacting subtly with natural light

without overwhelming a lobby. Each material complements one another, resulting in spaces where guests feel relaxed and at home. Hotel entrances also require flooring solutions that maintain their appearance while withstanding heavy footfall. Resistant to stains, scratches, moisture and sun damage, Spanish porcelain tiles are well suited to these demands. Popular for their ability to create a feeling of light and spaciousness, large format porcelain tiles offer a seamless aesthetic due to minimal grout lines. Spanish tile manufacturers present a wealth of designs from natural limestone and marble-effect to concrete and wood-inspired surfaces, giving the appearance of premium natural materials, yet with the durability demanded for high-foot-traffic hospitality areas. Memorable guest experiences are ultimately built around considered design, and by incorporating tactile porcelain and ceramic tiles, designers can create hotel entrances that leave a long-lasting impression on guests. www.tileofspain.com

Elevate Your Guest Experiences with Bespoke Art Collections Learn more at

curated art collections with rich design narratives to amplify your creative vision—from paintings & photographs to sculptures, tapestries, bas reliefs & more. Saatchi Art was honored to be the art consultant for The REMI,

saatchiart.com/trade-hospitality

A RT A DV I SO RY FO R TR A D E

Work with our seasoned team of advisors on thoughtfully

Scottsdale, Autograph Collection, working closely with Rockwell Group on bespoke art for the public spaces.

H O S P I TA L I T Y · C O M M E R C I A L · R E S I D E N T I A L & M U LT I - FA M I LY · H E A LT H C A R E

SPOTLIGHT

SPOTLIGHT SPA & WELLNESS With self-care climbing higher on the guest agenda, wellness brands are rejuvenating holistic hospitality experiences.

Barr + Wray Intense Sauna – Fairmont Hanoi Supplied and installed by Barr + Wray at Fairmont Hanoi in Vietnam, the Intense Sauna is a contemporary wellness environment that combines architectural design, specialist craftsmanship and technical precision to deliver an immersive heat experience. Natural timber extends across the walls, ceiling and floor, while sculpted benches enhance comfort and circulation, as well as encouraging social interaction. A dark monolithic heater serves as the functional heart of the sauna, while a circular timber feature creates a striking focal point. The sauna’s curved profiles and vertical slats are accentuated by discreet lighting beneath the seating, enhancing the warmth and ambience. The sauna integrates specialist wellness equipment, high-quality timber construction and bespoke detailing. Meticulous coordination of materials, lighting and technical components ensures performance, durability and a refined user experience. The result is a distinctive sauna where design excellence, technical expertise and precision installation create a restorative wellness destination. www.barrandwray.com

Lemi Group Venice Head Spa Merging aesthetics with ergonomics, the Venice Head Spa by Lemi Group is a multifunctional massage station that redefines the treatment experience. At its heart is the Japanese Head Spa, which pairs a retractable washbasin with a water arch to gently caress the head with a steady flow that stimulates circulation and relaxes the muscles. Complemented by sustainable Vita upholstery and FSC-certified wood finishes with refined metallic inserts, the antibacterial and fire-resistant memory foam mattress is fully customisable, with a removable horseshoe headrest and electronic adjustments that allow therapists to adapt the position to the millimetre. Smart functions, such as the memory setting for the ideal hair-wash position and the End function that automatically returns the table to its resting position, further simplify the operator’s work. The massage table is also equipped for nail care, with a pipeless pedicure tub ensuring hygiene and comfort. With multiple functions coexisting in a single station, Venice Head Spa allows wellness facilities to optimise space, without compromising on excellence. www.lemispa.com

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SPOTLIGHT

MAMIBA Saskia Spa Founded in 2014 by Mariam Georges and her mother Dr Heba Fekry, Saskia Spa is a French skincare brand conceived for the guestroom and spa. The offer includes five amenities collections, from Black Tea & Patchouli to Basil & Lime, each fragranced with pure essential oils and chosen to suit the hotel’s concept, location and mood. Guests first encounter Saskia Spa in the bathroom, where a wall-mounted amenity holder keeps the space uncluttered. Then, a turndown gift from the spa, presented with a handwritten note, introduces the treatment menu. In the spa, the brand draws from the atmosphere of the property to create bespoke rituals that revitalise the skin and rebalance the mind. Following their treatment, guests receive a personalised beauty prescription based on skin, hair, body and lifestyle, with a simple routine to continue at home. Additional spa products can be ordered to the guestroom, arriving in a Saskia shopping bag. The brand also provides training for spa teams, covering product and protocol knowledge, sales skills and guest experience. Reinforcing the Saskia Spa philosophy that wellness is a continuous journey, the brand maintains a presence across the entire hotel stay, from scenting the guestroom to shaping the home routine. www.mamibacosmetics.com

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SPOTLIGHT

Paragon Studio In-Suite Founded by Edward Thomas, Paragon Studio designs and manufactures bespoke fitness equipment for private homes, hotels and superyacht gyms across the globe. With years of experience in the luxury fitness sector, the company meets the growing demand for customisation and bespoke gym design with its extensive collection designed in London and crafted in a small artisan workshop in the UK. At HIX Europe 2026, Paragon Studio will launch In-Suite, a range of exercise equipment kits for the guestroom, catering to the modern traveller who doesn’t want to use the gym but still values exercise, movement and routine. In-Suite debuts with three core options: the Movement Kit, which includes hand-weights, a kettlebell, resistance bands and a cork yoga mat and block; the Recovery Kit, comprising a massage gun, massage ball, red LED light therapy panel

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and a roller; and the Lite Kit, featuring a paredback selection of equipment and select content library. The equipment is sleek in design, featuring stainless steel and high-quality wood, handcrafted to highlight the natural grain. Each kit is packaged in a foam insert, which can be designed to fit perfectly inside pre-existing drawers, or stored in portable wooden trays. Laser-etched QR plaques are also included, linking guests to a video library of strength, Pilates and recovery sessions, which can be filmed in the hotel’s rooms. The kit, content and service are designed to work together, so the room adapts to the guest and the hotel doesn’t sacrifice square footage elsewhere. Paragon Studio’s full range is on display at the Battersea showroom in London, as well as in Harrods and Vuori stores on Regent Street and King’s Road. www.paragonstudio.co.uk

In-Suite wellness solutions for the hotel industry

Visit us at HIX Europe 2026 25th - 26th November www.paragonstudio.co.uk

D E S I G N I N G

W E L L N E S S

R E . D E F I N I N G U N I F O R M . B E A U T I F U L LY C R A F T E D . D E S I G N T O D E L I V E R Y. B U I LT T O M O V E W I T H T H E M O M E N T.

W W W. R E L I N E L O N D O N . C O M @RE .LINELONDON

SPECIFIER

Chelsom Thimble A Chelsom x Studio Moren Collaboration At HIX Europe 2026, Chelsom is set to launch Thimble, a new lighitng collection designed in collaboration with Studio Moren. Over several months, Managing Director Will Chelsom and Chief Design Officer James Bartlett worked with David Harte, Partner and Head of Interior Design, Elena Verdera Pastor, Interior Design Associate, and the Studio Moren team to bring the unique series to life. The Thimble collection comprises table lamps, wall lights and a fixed pendant, suitable for bedside use. The handblown glass shade features a matte opal marble finish that softly diffuses light to create a sophisticated ambience. The glass is paired with metalwork in the brand’s signature finishes: Aged Brass and Brushed Nickel. The collaboration brings together Studio Moren’s award-winning interior design acumen and Chelsom’s extensive product design and manufacturing expertise. www.chelsom.co.uk

SPECIFIER

Ege Carpets Bar Leone Designed by Andy Days, Bar Leone is a two-level martini lounge in the heart of New York City’s Soho. Blending nostalgic design with contemporary nightlife, the upper level takes inspiration from the 1960s and 70s, while the downstairs Italian disco lounge captures the vibrant spirit of the 1970s and 80s. Together, the two spaces celebrate defining decades of nightlife and interior design, cultivating an atmosphere that feels both nostalgic and distinctly modern. Ege Carpets helped to shape the interiors, supplying Highline 1100 with acoustic backing and Mono colours throughout the venue. The flooring adds depth, texture and visual interest, complementing the two different design expressions while creating a sense of connection between the levels. With Highline, Ege Carpets gives architects and designers the creative freedom to explore colours, patterns and textures, developing individual flooring solutions that complement the unique character of a space. From subtle tonal expressions to bold, graphic statements, the possibilities allow flooring to become an integral part of the interior, adding atmosphere, personality and a distinctive design identity. www.egecarpets.com

Nanimarquina 10 Years of Tres Launched in 2016, Tres has become one of Nanimarquina’s most recognisable collections, defined by its exploration of the very essence of weaving: warp and weft. To celebrate the range’s 10th anniversary, Nanimarquina has introduced five new colourways: Anthracite, Camel, Brick, Olive and Stone. Each shade has been carefully studied in relation to the textures and weaving structures of Tres, bringing a renewed perspective while preserving the essence of the original design. The anniversary also introduces Tres Vegetal Black, a special edition born from founder Nani Marquina’s personal exploration of colour, nature and material. Tres Vegetal Black combines natural, bleached and black-dyed jute, creating contrast and depth through exclusively plant-based fibres. “This design connects me not only to the act of weaving, but also to my roots: nature and the Mediterranean,” says Nani Marquina. “I wasn’t looking to create a trend, but something timeless: a rug with a purpose that endures over time.” www.nanimarquina.com

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SPECIFIER

Costa Nova Poldina

RV Astley Makart IP65 Wall Lamp

The Poldina lamp by Zafferano has been reimagined through a collaboration with Costa Nova, combining lighting technology with a ceramic shade developed exclusively for the collection. A reactive glaze creates subtle colour variations and distinctive rims during firing, making each shade one-of-a-kind. The cordless design allows the lamp to be positioned flexibly across a diverse range of settings, from intimate restaurant tables to inviting hotel lounges and open-air terraces. Available in various colours and two sizes, Poldina brings a new dimension of texture and character to the classic table lamp, casting a warm, atmospheric glow. www.costanovaprofessional.com

The Makart IP65 Wall Lamp combines a frosted glass body with a brushed, muted bronze wall plate, creating a refined balance of material and form. The smooth glass gently diffuses the light, producing a warm, even glow suited to bathrooms, spa areas and guest accommodation. With an IP65 rating, Makart is designed for both indoor and outdoor use, offering flexibility across hospitality projects. Its durable construction makes it a practical choice for entrances, corridors, terraces and outdoor areas, allowing the same design to be used across different spaces while maintaining a consistent appearance. www.rvastley.co.uk

Sandalyeci Zalkind Hotel Housed in a carefully renovated historic building in Minsk, Zalkind Hotel pairs heritage character with a calm, contemporary sensibility. For the 26 guestrooms, designed by Indigo Design Studio, Sandalyeci supplied all loose furniture, from lounge seating and desks to benches and occasional tables. Anchoring each room is Crystal K, an in-house chair model, with an open, sculptural frame made from plywood and finished in a deep espresso tone. The seat and back are upholstered green nubuck, diamond-quilted to echo the room’s muted palette and add a soft, tactile counterpoint to the herringbone floors. Slender side tables with metal bases and ceramic tops complete the composition. The project reflects Sandalyeci’s approach as a bespoke contract supplier. Each model can be customised through frame finishes, upholstery and detailing, so designers can shape every piece around a specific concept. At Zalkind Hotel, that flexibility resulted in furniture tuned precisely to the scheme, sitting comfortably within the historic architecture while meeting the daily demands of hospitality use. www.sandalyeci.com

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12. – 15. 1. 2027 FRANKFURT / MAIN

I am you are they are she is we. Everything gets woven together. info@uk.messefrankfurt.com Tel. +44 (0) 14 83 48 39 84

SPECIFIER

FEURING Hotel Development Europa GmbH The Florentin Situated in the leafy Sachsenhausen neighbourhood of Frankfurt is The Florentin, a newly opened hotel and part of the Althoff Collection. Following the early engagement of FEURING Hotel Development Europa GmbH, the property’s initial repositioning evolved into a more comprehensive transformation. The existing spaces were rethought, the room mix strategically adjusted and the property reimagined as an urban retreat. The heritage villa, which dates to 1901, now sees two distinct treatments. Atelier Zürich breathed new life into the historic building, while Unscripted Design of Singapore envisioned the guestrooms and public areas in a contemporary style. The use of high-quality materials and craftsmanship, alongside the alignment of spaces, volumes, lighting and acoustics have resulted in a memorable guest experience. At The Florentin, FEURING’s wide-ranging consultancy services saw them act on behalf of the hotel’s new owner with regard to the selection of both an operator and interior designer, the organisation of contracts and budgets, as well as mock-up room construction and fit-out. Total project management and coordination began with initiating the dismantling process through to complete implementation including FF&E and OS&E procurement from a vast network of trusted suppliers. www.feuring.info/en/

Re.Line London Redefining Uniform Founded by a team whose roots lie in fashion, Re.Line London brings a designer’s eye to hospitality in order to create pieces that have purpose; collections that feel like a natural extension of the people and the places they represent. For Re.Line London, dressing a team isn’t a finishing touch; it’s an investment in the human connection that makes hospitality unforgettable. Re.Line London works flexibly, shaping its approach around each client’s needs. Re.Line Bespoke is the fully tailored route, taking projects from first sketch to final delivery, which is suitable for operators seeking something that is entirely unique. Re.Line Essentials distils that same expertise into a high-end, ready-designed collection, considered across every role – fundamental and foundational pieces that clients can individualise through fabric, detailing and branding. Across both, the same philosophy holds: timeless uniform, beautifully crafted, built to evolve and move with the moment – practicality and function at its core. www.relinelondon.com

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29. 1. – 2. 2. 2027 FRANKFURT / MAIN

Your host for planning, furnishing and equipping From innovative solutions for hospitality and catering to in-demand restaurant concepts: discover the latest products and trends with Ambiente Projects. The exhibitors here include both newcomers and global players. Special presentations and expert talks will be available on questions such as guest experience and sustainability. The global networking event for HoReCa. ambiente.messefrankfurt.com/ambienteprojects

SPECIFIER

Tuuci Horizon Swivel Lounge Chair Backed by 25 years’ experience, Tuuci has designed and delivered outdoor lifestyle solutions for commercial, hospitality, residential, marine and yachting environments. The Horizon Swivel Lounge Chair brings a new sense of movement to Tuuci’s Horizon Collection, with a full 360-degree swivel designed to support conversation, connection and comfort. The chair combines clean architectural lines with tailored cushioning and refined trim details. A wide selection of finishes and fabrics allows each piece to be tailored to its surroundings, indoors or out. www.tuuci.com

Forest Group EasyTouch Pro Forest Group brings refined design and simple curtain control to guestrooms and suites with EasyTouch Pro. The premium 15-channel remote combines an ergonomic shape with a reassuringly solid feel. Its clear OLED display and custom channel names make it easy for guests to select individual curtains or groups of windowcoverings, adjusting light and privacy throughout their stay. An integrated motion sensor activates the screen, and four display languages accommodate international guests. A dedicated lock function protects critical motor settings, offering added reassurance for hotel teams, whilst allowing guests to operate their curtains freely. EasyTouch Pro joins Forest’s established range of remote controls and wireless wall switches, giving designers a choice of control options to complement their guestroom interiors. www.forestgroup.com

Ruark R1S Smart Radio Ruark’s R1S Smart Radio combines a refreshing Mid-Century Modern design with excellent room-filling sound within a compact system. The R1S also enhances guestroom interiors with its tactile curves and handcrafted wooden grille. The easy-to-use system is equipped with dual alarms and sleep functions, as well as DAB+, FM, Internet radio tuners and support for all major streaming services. Completing its hospitality credentials, the R1S is durable and reliable, with dedicated hotel software that can be fully customised to meet the needs of each property. www.ruarkaudio.com

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SPECIFIER

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Elstead Lighting HIX Europe 2026 – Stand P16

Design Pergola Amoh, a Luxury Collection Resort

Elstead Lighting has been manufacturing and distributing decorative lighting since 1969, expanding its UK portfolio with North American designs from brands including Hinkley, Quoizel, Kichler and Alora Mood. With an unwavering focus on quality, backed by large stock holding, Elstead supplies 220-240v fixtures to interior designers and decorative specifiers in more than 50 countries. Designed by Alora Mood, the mid-century-inspired Perth 3 Light Chandelier (pictured) features an opal glass diffuser with a rattan shade that casts a soft and ambient light. Available in Brushed Gold or Matte Black, the collection also includes a single pendant. For guestrooms, the Dax 8W integrated LED spotlight, designed by Hinkley Lighting, provides powerful bedside lighting in its petite size with a contemporary silhouette available in Heritage Brass or Black finishes. Mounting hardware is hidden on the back plate to ensure a clean silhouette and it features an on/off switch. Inspired by 1960s pottery forms, the Issa Table lamp has simple curves and sloping details with a brushed gold finish and ivory linen shade. A floor lamp is also available, along with single and above-mirror IP44-rated wall lights, which are suitable for both living or bathroom spaces. The new models will be on display at the Elstead Lighting booth at HIX Europe 2026, Stand P16. www.elsteadlighting.com

In collaboration with Studio Lost, Design Pergola has created a bespoke furniture collection for Amoh, a Luxury Collection Resort in Rhodes. Inspired by the elegance of ancient Greek artistry, the interiors embody a carefully curated gallery, where every piece has a purpose and the details contribute to the overall composition. The furniture was conceived to reflect the resort’s distinctive identity through craftsmanship, materiality and timeless design, from the welcoming lobby and intimate lounge settings to the dining spaces and private suites. A restrained material palette, sculptural forms and refined detailing establish a seamless design language across the resort, creating spaces that feel both sophisticated and effortlessly inviting. One of the resort’s defining features is the pool area, for which Design Pergola developed a unique outdoor furniture concept with custom fabrics for the sun loungers and private daybeds. Inspired by the movement of water and geometry of the bespoke tiles, the blue pattern creates a subtle dialogue between textiles, architecture and landscape, giving the pool its own distinctive identity. The result is a collection that goes beyond functionality, becoming an integral element of the resort’s architectural expression and offering a hospitality experience defined by understated luxury and authenticity. www.design-pergola.com

Amoh, A Luxury Collection Resort, Rhodes IMAGE: CHRISTOS DRAZOS

Exterior Design Bespoke Outdoor Furniture

design-pergola.com

SPECIFIER

Nalesso Italian Bespoke Furniture

Mascioni Hotel Collection Cefalù

Established in 1980, Nalesso is a well-known name in the highend bespoke furniture business, having worked with prestigious international luxury brands since day one. The company combines its tailoring tradition, design expertise and technical research to transform ideas into bespoke creations, from the earliest sketches through to final installation. While heritage is core to the brand, Nalesso endeavours to explore innovative solutions that allow it to keep evolving. Working globally with public and private clients across the hospitality, yachting, retail, contract and residential sectors, Nalesso partners with architects, interior designers, specifiers and endclients on projects of every scale. Its services range from developing individual prototypes from scratch to refurbishing and maintaining existing pieces. www.nalesso.it

Mascioni Hotel Collection designs textiles exclusively for hotels and resorts. Every construction decision, from fibre selection to weave construction, is engineered to perform in high-occupancy hospitality environments while maintaining the tactile elegance luxury guests expect. Combining thoughtful craftsmanship, enduring comfort and timeless design, Cefalù is the latest addition to the brand’s bedding portfolio, inspired by the timeless elegance of Italy. Woven from 100% extra-long staple cotton, Cefalù features a 400-thread-count sateen construction that balances smooth texture with tailored weight and structure. Every detail reflects Mascioni’s belief that exceptional hospitality is shaped not simply by what guests see, but what they feel. www.mascionihotelcollection.com

Decor Walther Room 13 Commissioned by Decor Walther, Room 13 is a photographic book by artists Viviane Hausstein and Marc Krause. Set in an imaginary boutique hotel, the volume explores the relationship between people, objects and spaces through a series of seemingly everyday encounters, from a hand reaching for a soap dispenser to a mirror reflection. The book presents these interactions as hospitality touchpoints, highlighting the role of materials, textures and tactility in shaping how a space is experienced. For over 50 years, Decor Walther has embraced this understanding of design, creating bathroom accessories, mirrors and lighting that combine aesthetic refinement with lasting quality. Objects conceived not merely to occupy a space, but to become an integral part of how it is experienced. This philosophy is captured in Room 13, examining how the character of a place is shaped not only by its architecture, but by the objects guests encounter along the way. www.decor-walther.com

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FR Fabrics for Standout Hospitality Spaces

Coming Soon...

Image created with the use of AI technology

CALDERA: Crib 5, Antimicrobial, Flame Retardant, Soil and Stain Resistant Request free samples of our fabrics using our next - day delivery service. 01924 436666

sales@skopos.co.uk

| skoposfabrics.com

SPECIFIER

Motte Carpet Bespoke Artistic Rugs Founded in Dubai by Inna and Hikmetcan Aydogan, the family behind PROQ Hospitality, Motte combines over a decade of hospitality procurement expertise with artistic craftsmanship. Championing UAE-based artists alongside international designers, Motte collaborates with creatives including Wissam Shawkat, Ammar Kalo, Marco Maximus and Amr Abdelaziz. Their collections translate personal stories and cultural influences into handmade rugs with distinctive forms, rich textures and individual character. Motte’s portfolio includes Desert Rock Resort, Bab Al Shams Villas and Fairmont Cape Grace, alongside private residences at Atlantis The Royal, Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab and Bulgari Island. The brand also works with LVMH on bespoke rugs for international luxury retail environments. From luxury hotels and private residences to superyachts, Motte offers creative freedom in colour, shape, material and scale, with each rug bringing the individuality of collectible art into interiors. www.mottecarpet.com

Tubes Terre Taking its name from the Italian word for earth, Terre is an electric radiator made from terracotta. Designed by Sebastian Herkner for the Elements collection, the heating body is made from fine clay sourced exclusively from Impruneta in Tuscany. The clay is mixed with water, extruded through a compact, vertical mould, then dried, fired, glazed and fired again. The resulting structure houses a 220240V, 500W electric heating element, developed and assembled in-house by Tubes. An 85oC safety thermostat maintains a consistent internal body temperature. Measuring 140cm high, Terre is available in five finishes: Vitreous White, Bark Brown, Mineral Grey, Ocean Blue and Transparent. Subtle variations and microporosities in the glazed surface reflect the natural characteristics of the terracotta. Optional accessories include a marble or lacquered MDF shelf, available in four RAL shades. There’s also a metal towel rail with hooks on both sides, which comes in all 140 RAL colours in the Tubes palette and eight galvanic finishes from satin to matte or polished. The shelf and towel rail can be fitted together, adapting the radiator for bathroom use or other interior settings. www.tubesradiatori.com

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LONDON | HIGH POINT | SALONE DEL MOBILE, MILAN info@indian-ocean.co.uk

+44 (0)20 8675 4808

www.indian-ocean.co.uk

SPECIFIER

COMPANY PROFILE

BERMANFALK Custom Hospitality Furniture

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Building on a legacy dating to the 1980s, Gary Berman and Paul Falk launched BERMANFALK in 2002. Driven to redefine hospitality manufacturing, the two entrepreneurs transitioned to a global manufacturing model in 2007, scaling production while maintaining strict Canadian quality standards. Underpinned by design excellence and strong relationships, the company quickly became a trusted partner to global hospitality brands. Now, led by second-generation owners Aaron and Daniel Berman, BERMANFALK continues to thrive alongside a talented global team. While its reach has expanded across international offices, the core focus remains on delivering exceptional quality through a collaborative, client-first approach. Transforming hotel spaces into extraordinary guest experiences requires a highly collaborative process. Every piece produced by BERMANFALK is entirely custom-made and engineered to balance intricate design with commercial durability. The company’s manufacturing capabilities extend beyond casegoods and seating to include custom hardware, specialised finishes, millwork integrations and a range of techniques developed to address unique design challenges. To streamline specification, BERMANFALK offers an extensive standard finish library, with every option fully customisable to suit a project’s

moodboard. Recent hospitality projects include creating casegoods for the guestrooms and suites at Delano Miami Beach and Kimpton Era Midtown (pictured) in New York. Recognising that every project is unique, the company works with a broad selection of materials and leverages MindClick’s rating system to deliver sustainably responsible solutions. Every piece is supported by strict quality control checkpoints and proactive timeline tracking, ensuring projects are delivered as envisioned and built to last. “Our bespoke capabilities and full-service manufacturing are designed to put our clients’ minds at ease: delivering on ambitious design visions, protecting timelines, providing proactive solutions with deep accountability and building furniture with exceptional quality,” says Daniel Berman, Executive Vice President. “We view every project as a long-term partnership and take the trust our clients place in us seriously. That commitment drives everything we do. Hospitality is about serving people at every stage – from the partners crafting the space, to the hotel staff keeping operations running smoothly, to all the guests who choose to live in it. It’s an honour to show up for people, see these spaces come to life and know our work is contributing to an ongoing legacy.” www.bermanfalk.com

SEE US ON STAND

P16

LUXURY CORDLESS LIGHTING Designed by Currey & Co, available from: enquiries@quintiesse.com | quintiesse.com Quintiesse is part of the Elstead Lighting Group

Scan for PDF Catalogue

ADVERTISING INDEX ISSUE 129 ABI Ambiente Artiq Astro Lighting Atlas Concorde Baal Barr & Wray Beck London Bermanfalk Bernhardt Hospitality Chelsom Coco-Mat Contardi Costa Nova Curtis Furniture Décor Walther Design Centre Chelsea Harbour Design Pergola Duravit Ege Egger Elstead EPR Expormim Feuring Forest Group Frette Grohe Hector Finch Lighting Heimtexil Hotel & Shop Plus Shanghai Hypnos Indian Ocean James Latham JC Hospitality Jung Kevin Barry Fine Art Kohler Laufen Lemi Group

014-015 197 199 Gatefold 061 101 137 135 119 065 039, 103 063 058 131 145 047 212 201 141 012-013 179 207 007 109 150 143 004 055 035 195 193 155 205 183 169 057 033 079 010-011 129

Luteca Luxury Carpet LX Hausy Magnovent Mah-ATN Mamiba Cosmetics Marset Mascioni Hotel Collection Motte Nalesso Nanimarquina Naturalmat Northern Lights Occa Oliver Hemming Palecek Paragon Perennials Sutherland Pooky Re.Line RH Richloom Roca Ruark RV Astley Saatchi Art Sandalyeci Saniflo Sanipex Group Sessions Silveroc Skopos Skyfold Tece THP Tribu Tubes Tuuci Vagenas

027 018-019 181 052 174 187 081 132 127 071 099 051 016-017 117 211 173 189 024 093 190 008-009 177 073 171 125 184 075 157 091 020-021 147 203 095 158 208 022 041 037 115

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CHECK-OUT

Sleep Like A Snorlax

Since Pokémon first exploded onto screens three

day, guests can relax on the circular, custom-

decades ago, children young and old have been

made Nell mattress, observing the surrounding

captivated by the fantastical world of pocket

woodland through a curved acrylic window. When

monsters. Now, a lucky few will be able to sleep

night falls, the Poké Ball is illuminated with the

like one too.

colours of the guest’s favourite Pokémon, which

In commemoration of Pokémon’s 30 th

To mark 30 years of Pokémon, Not A Hotel has brought a fictional universe to life in the form of a lakeside lodging experience in Japan.

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can be chosen upon arrival on the in-room iPad.

anniversary, Not A Hotel has opened a lakeside

Playful touches are also woven throughout

lodging experience that invites guests to spend the

the site: cobalt tiles inspired by the colour of

night in a real Poké Ball. Located in Tomakomai

Snorlax – the Pokémon known for its sleeping

City in the Japanese prefecture of Hokkaido, the

habits – line the bathroom, while statues of fan

spherical structure spans 3m in diameter and is

favourites such as Pikachu and Jigglypuff can be

painted in the signature scheme of red, white

found snoozing beneath the trees.

and black. Sitting in striking contrast to the

Created as a campaign to promote Pokémon

surrounding trees, it looks to have been prised

Sleep – a tracking app that rewards users based

open, as though a monster has just escaped.

on the quality of their slumber – the hotel offers

Inside, every detail from the bed to the lighting

the chance to step inside the world of Pokémon.

has been considered to create an environment

For the winning fans, it turns a childhood fantasy

conducive to a good night’s sleep. During the

into a dream-filled reality.

Oliver Hemming

THE CADBURY KETTLE

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