Designing a New Generation of Hotel Rooms at Marriott’s Innovation Lab
What can travelers expect from the next generation of hotel rooms?To find out, Hamish heads to the top secret innovation lab at Marriott Headquarters — where more adaptable, interactive, and locally connected hotel rooms are being crafted as the ideal home base for millions of travel journeys to come.He learns why the near future of hotel rooms isn’t a dogpile of technology for technology’s sake. Instead, it’s a future where we can adjust our room to be what we need right in the moment, by pressing a single button or pulling on a single handle.In this episode, Hamish gets a glimpse of that future by going behind the scenes at a massive workshop, where (with the help of a power saw, foamcore, and VR headsets) new ideas can become new hotel rooms in a single day. Then, just across the street he explores an entire floor of prototype rooms, where travelers are invited to stay the night and help shape their final form.And along the way, Hamish meets the passionate designers who strive to help travelers get immersed in their destination — and walk away from every trip with a feeling of perpetual discovery.Featured Hotel: Marriott Bethesda Downtown at Marriott HQFeatured Designers: Jeff Voris, Senior Vice President of Global Design Strategies at Marriott; Jason Robertson, Vice President of Global Design Innovation at Marriott; Aliya Khan, Vice President of Global Design strategies at MarriottExplore more stories about hotel design at Travel by DesignFollow host Hamish Kilburn's hotel design reviews @HotelDesigns
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12:20
Tromsø, Norway: Catch the Northern Lights over mountains and fjords at Moxy Tromsø
Eleven stories above the arctic circle, a panoramic view — of Norwegian mountains, fjords, and the Northern Lights — sweeps travelers into the natural world.That’s the first thing you’ll see when you check in at Moxy Tromsø, because the hotel lobby is intentionally perched on the top floor. A welcome drink and an uninterrupted view make this a one-of-kind introduction to one of the most breathtaking landscapes on Earth.Sculpted by Copenhagen-based designer and longtime mountain backpacker Mette Fredskild, the hotel is designed to help travelers embrace mother nature, whether that means taking in the vista or putting on their boots and trekking into the mountains.In addition to being a great home base for hiking, sledding, whale watching, and other outdoor adventures, Moxy Tromsø immerses travelers in a multilayered interior design that pays homage to the Northern Lights, the midnight sun, and the community huts that Mette visits during her trips through the mountains.In this episode, Mette shows Hamish why she chose to “flip the hotel upside down,” how she used adaptive lighting to ensure that nature would always be front and center, and why it was so critical to offer travelers a space where it’s easy to let go of the modern world.01:56 — Why and how Mette “flipped the hotel upside-down”04:50 — How it feels to trek through the mountain hiking trails of Tromsø07:20 — How to design interiors for a great view of the Northern LightsFeatured Hotel: Moxy TromsøFeatured Designer: Mette Fredskild, Mette Fredskild StudioExplore more stories about hotel design at Travel by DesignFollow host Hamish Kilburn's hotel design reviews @HotelDesigns and global travels @hotel_travel_editor
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12:30
New York City: Discover the choreography of travel with David Rockwell, designer of W New York - Union Square
What do an airport terminal, the set of a Broadway show, and one of the most revered parks in New York City have in common?They’ve all been shaped by renowned designer David Rockwell — and they all reveal the hidden choices that go into designing a public space.David’s work shows a deep understanding of gathering places, in-between spaces, and transitions. He can shape a lobby, an atrium, or even a staircase to connect people with their surroundings in unseen ways. And there’s no better place to explore this masterful sculpting of public spaces than New York City, where David first designed W New York - Union Square during the late 1990s.For nearly 25 years, this hotel towered over Union Square Park, within the historic Beaux-Arts Guardian Life building. Then, David was invited back to completely reinvent the hotel — the first in a series of transformations being made to W hotels across the world.In this episode, David shares how his love of theater and his knowledge of Union Square’s history helped him to bring “one of the great living rooms of New York” into the hotels’ architecture and interior design, celebrating the many ways that Union Square Park acts as a stage for the city that never sleeps.01:37 — What do an airport and a hotel have in common, and why did David work with a choreographer to design an airport terminal?04:45 — How has Union Square, New York evolved since the year 2000, and how can that evolution be reflected in a hotel’s design?08:00 — Why focus on a single staircase when overhauling a hotel lobby?Featured Hotel: W New York - Union SquareFeatured Designer: David Rockwell, The Rockwell GroupExplore more stories about hotel design at Travel by DesignFollow host Hamish Kilburn's hotel design reviews @HotelDesigns and global travels @hotel_travel_editor
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13:19
Bucharest: Meet for drinks in a 100-year-old bank vault at The Marmorosch Bucharest, Autograph Collection
Bucharest, the capital city of Romania, is a rising destination for travelers who want to visit a vibrant European city with a fantastic local food scene, access to breathtaking countryside excursions, and centuries of historic architecture.Tapping into that history is The Marmorosch Bucharest, an Autograph Collection Hotel. This hotel was crafted inside the Marmorosch-Blank Bank Palace, a stately building in the heart of old town Bucharest that was originally constructed in 1912. Previously critical to the modernization of the Romanian economy, the bank building is now a protected national monument — with intricate woodwork, stained glass, and marble tiling throughout.To keep the heritage of the Marmorosch intact, architect Indre Sangus had to untangle a labyrinth of design challenges. From encasing carved wood panels in glass so they could function as shower walls, to preserving marble by hiding above-ground plumbing inside furniture, she came up with solution after solution to preserve over a century of history at the heart of Bucharest.In this conversation, Hamish and Indre clarify why it’s important to protect and restore this kind of heritage architecture and design, what it takes to restore over a century of craft for the public to see and touch once again… and what it was like to repurpose a two-story bank vault, deposit boxes and all, into an otherworldly speakeasy bar.02:18 — Why do old banks make for wonderful hotels?05:17 — Why is it so important to preserve the heritage features of this building?06:50 — How did Indre solve problems like turning hundred-year-old, wood-paneled rooms into fully functional hotel bathrooms?12:25 — What was it like to turn a bank vault into a speakeasy bar? Featured Hotel: The Marmorosch Bucharest, Autograph CollectionFeatured Designer: Indre Sangus, YES.design.architectureExplore more stories about hotel design at Travel by DesignFollow host Hamish Kilburn's hotel design reviews @HotelDesigns and global travels @hotel_travel_editor
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16:07
Bali: Embrace culture through design at Renaissance Bali Nusa Dua Resort in Indonesia
On the southern tip of the Indonesian island of Bali, the Nusa Dua peninsula offers travelers some of the most stunning beaches in Southeast Asia. But the area surrounding Nusa Dua is also home to majestic cliffs, lush hills, and stone temples. These settings offer a chance to connect with Bali’s local landscape, architecture, and culture — an experience that goes beyond a beach-side getaway.The Renaissance Bali Nusa Dua Resort, secluded from the hustle and bustle of beach-side hotels, makes good on that offer by paying homage to Balinese architecture. The resort is nestled into the hills like a villa, with traditional pitched roofs perched around a courtyard of peaceful walking paths and walled gardens. And the interiors showcase designer Carl Almeida’s deep appreciation for Balinese theater and dance, which he’s cultivated by visiting the island over the course of 18 years.In this episode, Carl shares a formative travel experience of his — seeing the Whirling Dervishes perform at a historic site near New Delhi — which inspired him to give travelers an experience rooted in culture. From emulating the use of traditional charcoal lava stone to designing rooms based on Balinese dances, he explains how he meticulously crafted this resort to help guests connect with Balinese culture. And at the end of their conversation, he offers Hamish a local travel tip to make his next trip to Bali unforgettable.01:52 - How a life-changing experience with dance in India shaped Carl’s mission as a designer03:50 - What does Bali have to offer beyond a wonderful time at the beach?06:09 - How did Carl draw on Balinese dance to give travelers a connection with Balinese culture?11:18 - When visiting Nusa Dua, where exactly should travelers go to have a life-changing cultural experience, like Carl did?Featured Hotel: Renaissance Bali Nusa Dua ResortFeatured Designer: Carl Almeida, P49 DeesignExplore more stories about hotel design at Travel by DesignFollow host Hamish Kilburn's hotel design reviews @HotelDesigns and global travels @hotel_travel_editor
Behind the facade of every world-class hotel, there’s a story waiting to be heard. From a secluded overwater villa in the Maldives, to a rejuvenated royal palace in Budapest, to a trendy hotspot in downtown Los Angeles — join host Hamish Kilburn as he meets the architects, designers, and visionaries who dive deep into the craft of design and connect us to the world’s most extraordinary travel experiences.
Travel by Design reimagines the hotel design podcast previously known as Behind the Design. On each episode Hamish chats with the creative mind behind a one-of-a-kind hotel — to hear what inspired their concept, how they brought it to life, and what it’s like to enjoy the space as a traveler.
Curious about the craft of hotel design? Check out more stories from across the globe at marriottbonvoy.com/TravelbyDesign. You can also find photos and additional details about each hotel design on Marriott Bonvoy Traveler (traveler.marriott.com).
Ireland