Luxury Hotels Break Mold with Regionally Inspired Designs

Sep 04, 12 | 12:01 am

Tweet

By Alyssandra Barnes

 

If it seems like the usually staid Four Seasons is suddenly taking design cues from Las Vegas bling, it's just part of a larger trend in hotel design.

Like its classically inspired competitor Ritz-Carlton, Toronto-based Four Seasons is looking to build business beyond loyalists by diversifying its traditionally homogeneous look and integrating regional elements to hotel decor.

Most notably, Four Seasons Las Vegas, the 424-room luxury hotel located on top of the Mandalay Bay tower, announced in July that it is undergoing a $30 million guestroom renovation, set to be completed in December.

The inspiration behind the new designs not only came from Las Vegas' iconic glitz and glam but from other Nevada landmarks notable for their distinctive architectural style.

"While the design scheme was inspired by the Art Deco era, there are two local structures specifically, one historic and one new, that provided great inspiration for the designers: the Hoover Dam and the Smith Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Las Vegas," said Erica Johnson-McElroy, director of public relations at Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas.

The Four Seasons will include polished ribbon mahogany, cream lacquer finishes and nail-head accents. Bold-palette modern art will also be included in the renovation to reflect the city's bright lights.

Much of the new art will be commissioned to suggest a private residence collection, giving guests an even deeper immersion into Nevada.

Meanwhile, Ritz-Carlton began breaking away from its "cookie-cutter" approach in 2004, according to Allison Sitch, vice president of global public relations for the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Co. Since then, no two Ritz-Carltons have been designed the same way.

That's not to say Ritz-Carlton is avoiding the classical altogether. In fact, the Ritz-Carlton Vienna, which recently opened at what used to be four conjoined 19th century palaces, integrates touches such as ceiling paintings, original staircases and wall paneling into its public area.

Source to full article: Travel Weekly