Why the Boldest Brands In Hospitality Are Partnering With Design Studios In 2025
- hannahoheine
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Strategic Design Solutions For Forward-Thinking Brands
You can’t charm your way to market share with mints on the pillow anymore. Guests in 2025 want more than a nice room and a strong Wi-Fi signal—they want storytelling, surprise, and seamless tech that feels like magic. Hospitality brands that understand this are skipping the cookie-cutter agency model and teaming up with design studios that bring agility, innovation, and a little irreverence to the table.
These aren’t just vendors, they’re the secret ingredient behind the guest experiences people can’t stop posting about. Here’s how forward-thinking properties are making the most of creative studio partnerships and why it’s time to consider one yourself.
Speed To Market, With Style
Hospitality thrives on seasonality, trends, and headline-grabbing launches. The right studio isn’t just fast, they’re fast and brand-savvy. They know how to turn around a new concept without turning your story into fast food.
Example: We Are Ona, the Paris-based pop-up restaurant group, collaborates with designers such as Willo Perron to deliver highly immersive, short-term dining experiences (e.g., their Paris Fashion Week pop-up in Jardin des Tuileries) with zero lag and full creative coherence.
Tech-Driven Touchpoints (That Don’t Feel Like Gimmicks)
In 2025, guests expect tech to be frictionless, not flashy. The best studios know how to integrate AR, AI, motion, and mobile design into moments that actually improve the stay or spark joy.
Example: The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas introduced Rose, an SMS-based chatbot with a witty, brand-centric personality, in early 2017. Developed alongside R/GA, Rose responded to 80% of guest inquiries and provided a range of services—from restaurant reservations to in-room requests. Guests who engaged with Rose reported 33% higher satisfaction and spent approximately 30% more during their stay.
Differentiation That Hits Every Touchpoint
A great brand isn’t just a logo on the wall. It’s the voice on your app, the menu typography, the scent in the lobby, and the tone of your in-room snacks. Creative studios are masters of cohesion—translating vibe into visuals, systems, and guest-facing touchpoints that feel seamless and intentional.
Example: Roman and Williams led the redesign of NoMad Hotel London in a Grade II–listed former magistrate’s court. Their custom furnishings, cinematic lighting, and richly layered interiors created an extraordinary, almost film‑set quality that won global design acclaim.
Flexibility That Keeps Up With The Hustle
Need to launch a pop-up dining experience in three weeks? Rebrand your spa in six? Creative studios move at lightning speed and can plug in wherever you need them most.
Example: Gurney’s Resorts partnered with New York–based agency The Charles to debut eight thematic, heated igloos across their Newport and Montauk locations. The “Winter Igloos” campaign was installed in weeks, sold out opening weekend with over 500 reservation requests, and generated buzz from Travel + Leisure, Forbes, Town & Country, and Departures.
Creative That Converts
Design isn’t decoration—it’s persuasion, positioning, and conversion. When done right, it leads to higher bookings, longer stays, stronger engagement, and that elusive "I need to tell everyone I know about this place" energy.
Example: Moxy Hotels, Marriott’s millennial-focused brand, has become known for its playful, tech-savvy design and strong local identity. Agencies such as Sideways and Cummins & Partners have helped shape location-specific visual storytelling—from bold lobby branding to social-first content strategies.
Hospitality brands that win in 2025 will be the ones who know that "good enough" isn’t good enough anymore. The future of guest experience lives at the intersection of bold creativity, thoughtful tech, and fast, flexible strategy. Want to stand out? Partner with a design studio that’s fluent in experience—and fearless about what comes next… like Hart House Creative!
We’re a boutique studio built for 2025: nimble, strategic, and creatively fearless. We tell your story in design, craft surprise in experience, and build tech that feels like magic. Let’s make your brand buzz-worthy in the year ahead.
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Author: Hannah Heine
Editor: Jenn Hart
Art: Sharon Bakas
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