Design and aesthetics, from simply creating dynamic visual appeal to incorporating architecture or topography from local communities, has become one of the most compelling reasons to travel. In fact, a recent Preferred Hotels & Resorts report nearly 70% of affluent travelers say modern luxury hotels have become too standardized and feel generic, what they called “beige-ification”.
As travelers move away from formulaic luxury and toward experiences that feel intentional and purposeful, hotels are increasingly acting as design statements, places where landscape, and interiors don’t just support the stay, but actively shape it. The most compelling properties today aren’t trying to stand out through spectacle alone, instead, they’re using artful conception to interpret their surroundings, guide how guests move through space, and create a deeper emotional connection to place.
From nature-forward resorts to urban icons reimagined, these three design-driven escapes below reflect the growing demand for properties with a distinct sense of place and show how thoughtful planning and creative vision can turn a hotel into the destination itself.
Nekajui: a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Costa Rica
At Nekajui, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, the land was the primary source of design inspiration. EDSA, a global landscape architecture and design firm, helped create a place that reflects the hillside setting of the Gulf of Papagayo and prioritizes how guests are immersed in nature at every turn. From suspended rope bridges and winding jungle paths to tented accommodations set within cliffside overhangs, the design is intentionally woven into the natural terrain. Trails and gathering spaces follow the land rather than interrupt it, emphasizing sweeping canopies and ocean views while allowing native vegetation and explorers to coexist in a way that feels intuitive and not staged.
Drawing on regional influences, from Spanish Colonial precedents to agrarian forms, the design also integrates cultural references while maintaining a restrained footprint that supports both active exploration and restorative moments. In this way, the experience at Nekajui is defined by spatial sequencing and environmental rhythms that guide the stay from arrival to relaxation.
Mandarin Oriental Vienna, Austria
Mandarin Oriental, Vienna, the newest opening from the Group and its inaugural presence within Austria, is a timeless new staple to the city’s hospitality scene, situated in a converted Art Nouveau-style courthouse originally designed by architect Alfred Keller from the early 20th century. Located on a peaceful avenue in the Ringlassejust steps from the city’s most sought-after attractions, the hotel offers a tranquil, light-filled oasis within the bustling cityscape that elegantly welcomes guests and locals to escape to its 138 charming yet contemporary rooms and suites, designed by interior designers Goddard Littlefair.
In addition to its graceful design, the new hotel also features four unique dining concepts - including a modern take on a classic Viennese coffeehouse and an all-day seafood-forward brasserie, as well as a serene spa sanctuary featuring an the largest indoor pool the city city, a sauna, steam room, and a myriad of holistic-inspired treatments. It is the newest standard for understated luxury design in Austria.
Songtsam Lodge Cizhong – Yunnan, China
Reopened in Summer 2025 as the first winery-focused property from Songtsam Resorts, Songtsam Lodge Cizhong is set in a historic wine village in Yunnan Province, overlooking the jade-toned Lancang River within the UNESCO-listed Three Parallel Rivers region. The thoughtful renovation by Qi Shanshan of Studio Qi weaves ancestral Tibetan architecture with regionally sourced materials and refined contemporary craftsmanship, creating interiors that feel both design-forward and deeply rooted in place. Design and wine intersect seamlessly through the lodge’s on-site winery, where guests can experience the property’s own blend of Chardonnay—crafted to reflect the high-altitude terroir—enjoyed throughout the hotel or taken home as a tactile extension of the stay. This integration of architecture, material culture, and winemaking positions Songtsam Lodge Cizhong as a compelling example of how design-driven hospitality can express landscape, heritage, and modern luxury in one cohesive narrative
