Hotel lobbies have evolved from a simple area where you grab a room key into the building’s true social hub. They have become all-purpose spaces for business meetings, celebrations or a place to enjoy that perfect glass of vino.
Step into a hotel lobby with a striking decor, unique natural elements or classic architecture, and the design can help set the tone for the rest of your hotel experience. So first impressions matter when you walk through the front door.
In the fourth part of our hotel design series, here are a few of our many IHG lobbies that understand great first impacts needed to begin your memorable vacation.
Crowne Plaza Hefei
Hefei Shi, Anhui Sheng, Mainland China | More hotel photos
Isn’t this just … beautiful? From the opulent chandelier to the unique individual meeting areas (i.e. the four circular spaces), this modern design begs you to hang out and get work done. Sitting below 30 floors and complimented by two bars, the large lobby can also feel more like a cozy lounge with the hotel’s piano player and singer.
Hotel Indigo Rome – St. George
Rome, Italy | More hotel photos
Highlighted by stunning murals and travertine marble throughout, the lobby design of this Rome boutique hotel celebrates the neighborhood’s long history of artistic expression. Every corner of the lobby feels like an upscale hotel experience while just outside, the vibrant district of Via Giulia beckons with its cobblestone streets.
Holiday Inn Resort Aruba-Beach Resort & Casino
Noord, Aruba | More hotel photos
Sometimes lobbies are a means to an end, and at our Aruba resort, your end is the outdoors. The unique ambiance of the lobby’s open-air design pushes people to spend time outside with the resort’s unique “grass huts” for social gatherings, family fun or just reading a book.
Holiday Inn Express Phuket Patong Beach Central
Phuket, Thailand | More hotel photos
And then there are lobbies with fun, innovative designs. Sunlight radiates the open lobby in this Phuket hotel with lush greeneries, colorful fabrics and a reading library. Check out that couch swing! It’s the perfect place for bring your laptop, access the free WiFi and make it a productive work day.
EVEN Hotels – Brooklyn
Brooklyn, New York, USA | More hotel photos
Designed to help our guests maintain a healthy lifestyle while traveling, this Brooklyn hotel lobby reflects this ambition. Contemporary design, a library of books about Brooklyn, and a selection of healthy food and beverages (including Grab ‘n’ Go meals) gives you the flexibility needed to be your most productive-self.
InterContinental Paris – Le Grand
Paris, France | More hotel photos
There are many hotels that try to capture Paris’ rich history, but the InterContinental Paris – Le Grand leads the way with its museum-like lobby design. Located near the Louvre Museum, the renovated luxury Paris hotel speaks historical grandeur around every corner with classic paintings, tufted velvet and dark wood walls.
Holiday Inn Dubai – Al Barsha
Dubai, United Arab Emirates | More hotel photos
When a hotel offers a bevy of choices, the lobby design needs simplicity. But when you’re in Dubai, simplicity needs to mix a 21st-century hotel with Arab sensibility. Depending your direction, this Dubai hotel lobby acts as a map where you can explore the connected Mall of Emirates, centuries-old markets, conference events or the hotel’s eight bars and restaurants.
Kimpton Hotel Monaco
Philadelphia, PA USA | More hotel photos
This welcoming and inspired lobby has the signature design touch of Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants. Located in historic City Center, this adaptive reuse project uses a globally-inspired palette and expertly melds the old with the new in downtown Philadelphia. Those are various sized paint brushes artfully hanging on the back wall.
Hualuxe Hotels & Resorts Zhangjiakou
Zhangjiakou, Mainland China | More hotel renderings
Although a rendering, you can see the artistry of our newest brand, Hualuxe (Wah-lux) Hotels & Resorts, an upscale international hotel brand designed specifically for Chinese guests. Every aspect of the design is an acknowledgement of Chinese culture and heritage, with particular emphasis on the Chinese values of etiquette, rejuvenation in nature, recognition of status and enabling spaces. This Zhangjiakou hotel premieres March 2017.