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Travel by Design

Marriott Bonvoy Traveler, Hamish Kilburn

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).

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20 episodes
Avg 19 min
English

Episodes 20

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S4 · E6
Nov 21, 2023 · 12 min
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.
S4 · E5
Nov 2, 2023 · 12 min
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. Sculpted by Copenhagen-based designer and longtime mountain backpacker Mette Fredskild, Moxy Tromsø helps travelers let go of modern life, put on their hiking boots, and cross into one of the most breathtaking landscapes on Earth.
S4 · E4
Oct 19, 2023 · 13 min
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, one of the most revered parks in New York City have in common? They’ve all been shaped by master designer David Rockwell, and they all reveal the hidden choices that go into designing a public space. In this episode, David shares how his love of theater and his decades-long understanding of Union Square Park helped him to reinvent W New York - Union Square, a hotel that he originally designed in the late 1990s.
S4 · E3
Oct 5, 2023 · 16 min
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 centuries of architecture. Taking on a labyrinth of design puzzles to protect generations of heritage, architect Indre Sangus transformed a historic bank building into The Marmorosch Bucharest, an Autograph Collection hotel.
S4 · E2
Sep 21, 2023 · 15 min
Bali: Embrace culture through design at Renaissance Bali Nusa Dua Resort in Indonesia
On the southern tip of Bali, tucked away from the hustle and bustle of beachside hotels, the Renaissance Bali Nusa Dua Resort is meticulously crafted to help travelers connect with Balinese culture. Veteran designer Carl Almeida explains how he’s paid homage to Balinese architecture and performances — through the resort’s villa-like layout, locally influenced building materials, and interiors inspired by specific Balinese dances.
S4 · E1
Sep 7, 2023 · 18 min
Yucatan, Mexico: Connect stars, sea, and cenotes at the St. Regis Kanai Resort, Riviera Maya
The Riviera Maya, on the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico, is home to peaceful mangroves, stunning beaches, and over 4,000 years of Maya heritage. Fascinated by the Mayas’ historic mastery of astronomy and inspired by her first trip into the crystal clear waters of the Yucatan’s cenotes, Tatiana Sheveleva designed the St. Regis Kanai Resort as an indoor-and-outdoor experience that literally reflects the stars and immerses travelers in the heavenly natural settings of the Riviera Maya.
S3 · E6
Dec 16, 2022 · 21 min
Los Angeles: Explore Two Hotels Under One Roof at the Moxy and AC Downtown L.A.
In L.A.'s trendy Downtown neighborhood, two new hotels are about to open in the same building. But while they occupy a similar space, each embodies a distinct — and very different — personality, thanks to the power of design. In this episode, Hamish speaks with George Yabu and Glenn Pushelberg, the revered and award-winning designers behind the Moxy and AC Hotels in Downtown Los Angeles. George and Glenn share how the hotels inhabit the building as two siblings, very different in how they gath
S3 · E5
Dec 2, 2022 · 17 min
The Maldives: Overwater Villas with Unexpected Design at Le Méridien Maldives Resort & Spa
The Maldives is known for luxurious hotels, with dreamy overwater villas set on a jewel-tone sea. But not every villa is the same. On one island in the Maldives, a hotel is drawing from unexpected sources of inspiration: fashion and Bauhaus design. In this episode, host Hamish Kilburn chats with designer Dan Kridsada to trade Maldives travel stories and reveal all the careful decisions that go into constructing an overwater villa. From the bold guest rooms to the panoramic bar where travelers c
S3 · E4
Nov 23, 2022 · 12 min
Costa Rica: Discover Biophilic Design in a Mangrove Jungle at El Mangroove, Autograph Collection
What is biophilic design? One hotel, set deep in the mangrove jungle of Costa Rica, shows why this trend of blending design with nature is so powerful. Hamish speaks with Andres Pacheco, owner of El Mangroove Hotel and Residences, Autograph Collection, and architect Ronald Zürcher, who designed the hotel, to find out how they worked around the mangrove trees to build a luxurious forest escape.
S3 · E3
Nov 16, 2022 · 23 min
Airport Hotels: Designs That Defy Stereotype, from Amsterdam to Toronto
What can a designer do to re-invent the forgettable trappings of a hotel that’s always been treated — quite literally — as a layover? Hamish learns how airport hotels are being overhauled to deliver a travel experience that shakes up decades of design inertia, by chatting with Colin Finnegan and Lauren Holmes — who played crucial roles in overhauling the interiors at the Sheraton Amsterdam Airport Hotel and Sheraton Gateway Hotel in Toronto, respectively.
S3 · E2
Oct 19, 2022 · 19 min
Budapest: Become Royalty at Matild Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel
When designing for royalty, it's all about the details. Hamish speaks with interior designer Maria Katsarou Vafiadis to learn how she reimagined Matild Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel, to embrace its royal heritage, with modern touches for today's traveler.
S3 · E1
Oct 14, 2022 · 24 min
Nova Scotia: Experience Maritime Design at Muir Halifax, Autograph Collection
How do you capture Nova Scotia's rich maritime culture through design? Hamish speaks with Alessandro Munge and Grace Zeppilli, a husband-wife team who designed the interiors, furnishings and art collection at Muir Halifax, Autograph Collection, and who, coincidentally, just returned from a stay at the hotel.
Sep 15, 2022 · 1 min
Welcome to Travel by Design
Host Hamish Kilburn, Editor of Hotel Designs, leads us on a globetrotting journey through immersive, insightful conversations with the designers behind the world's most extraordinary hotels.
S2 · E4
Jul 12, 2021 · 20 min
JW Marriott Venice: Designed for Self-Care in "Real Italian Style"
Travel by boat across the Venetian lagoon and escape onto a private island, where every step — and every plate of locally sourced food — has been thoughtfully integrated to bring you back into touch with the healing power of earth, sea, and sun.
S2 · E3
Dec 9, 2019 · 17 min
Taking the Plunge into Aquatic Design at Gaylord Opryland's SoundWaves
What is it about sitting by the waves that makes so many people happy? And what does it take to recreate that feeling at a hotel that's nowhere near the ocean? We've spent hours talking about the design of hotels and the world of hospitality. But in this episode, we go on a deep dive into the design of SoundWaves, a one-of-a-kind water attraction that's built into the Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville, Tennessee.
S1 · E15
Mar 4, 2019 · 27 min
Launching W Records
W Hotels recently launched its very own record label, W Records. At the W Music International Summit in Austin, Texas, Marriott Bonvoy Traveler sat down with some of the top innovators in the music industry who led the launch of W Records. Learn how they ensured brand consistency, navigated the changing music industry landscape, and got some of the top emerging artists to come on board. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
S1 · E14
Dec 19, 2018 · 27 min
Sci-Fi Meets Reality in Destiny 2
Join Marriott TRAVELER as we explore the world of Destiny 2, a video game in which players assume the role of a Guardian and are tasked with reviving a character called (appropriately) The Traveler while journeying to different planets along the way. Learn how the designers grounded the sci-fi settings in reality and how travel inspired the final look of the game. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
S1 · E13
Dec 19, 2018 · 24 min
Visiting Ancient Greece in Assassin's Creed: Odyssey
Video game designers are creating landscapes so realistic, it's almost like traveling there yourself. Marriott TRAVELER sat down with the designers of Assassin's Creed: Odyssey, which is set in ancient Greece, to find out what it took to create these landscapes and why recreating Greece was so important to them for this amazing game. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
S1 · E12
Dec 11, 2018 · 30 min
To Infinity and Beyond: Bringing Toy Story to Life
Marriott TRAVELER visited the opening of Toy Story Land in Orlando and spoke with creative designers from PIXAR and Walt Disney. They discuss the process behind translating the beloved Toy Story films into a real-life interactive outdoor park, giving guests the opportunity to step into the stories and immerse themselves in a world of fun. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
S1 · E11
Dec 7, 2018 · 23 min
Designing Wakanda: An Exclusive Look Behind the Design of "Black Panther"
This episode of Behind the Design features a very special conversation with Hannah Beachler, who designed the fictional nation of Wakanda for Marvel Studios' blockbuster "Black Panther". Learn how Hannah's travels to South Africa influenced the way she envisioned Wakanda and how she brought those designs to life on the big screen. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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