What Interior Designers Actually Do on Hotel Projects (That No One Talks About)

Let’s set the record straight: interior design in hospitality isn’t about picking pretty pillows. 

It’s about performance, profitability, and precision. It’s about crafting guest experiences that feel effortless, while solving logistical chaos behind the scenes. It’s about understanding the brand, the building, the budget—and pushing all three to their full potential. 

At Drake Khan Design, we’ve learned this firsthand. As newcomers to the hospitality scene, we walked into our first hotel project with the same wide-eyed energy as kids in a candy store—but we quickly saw how layered and strategic this work really is. 

So here’s what we actually do on hotel projects that people rarely talk about: 

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1. 🧠 We Decode Brand Guidelines into Emotional Experiences 

A great hotel brand has a story. We turn that story into spatial emotion. Whether it’s the Tapestry Collection by Hilton, Hyatt Place, Curios Collection by Marriott or something totally independent, our job is to translate brand language into materials, moods, and moments. 

That means understanding what “luxury, upscale, select service, extended stay etc...” feels like the moment a guest walks in—not just what it looks like in a design deck. 

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2. 🧩 We Solve Space Puzzles (and Make It Look Easy) 

Guest room layouts aren’t a one-size-fits-all situation. We’re often asked to revise floor plans for better flow, furniture placement, or code compliance. In our Hyatt Place project, we revised public space and guest room layouts to enhance flow and functionality—because we see how people move through a space. 

Behind every “clean, modern room” is hours of space planning, scale juggling, and code-wrangling. 

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3. 🤝 We Bridge the Gap Between Ops and Aesthetics 

Hotel operators (we see you!) care about durability, maintenance, and guest satisfaction. Designers care about look, feel, and function. We care about both. 

From choosing FF&E that aligns with brand and wear-and-tear realities, to designing casegoods with housekeeping and ADA compliance in mind—our job is to make it beautiful and bulletproof. 

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4. 📊 We Track Budgets Like a Hawk🦅 

Procurement doesn’t start with a shopping spree.  

It starts with aligning scope and dollars—fast.  

We value engineer when we need to, collaborate with procurement pros and use our vendor network to find creative solutions without compromising the intent.  

Designing within budget isn’t a limitation. It’s a challenge—and we can love it, sometimes! Good thing we know how to stretch a dollar without ruining the vision. 

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5. 🛠️ We Stay in the Trenches During Construction 

Design isn’t done at the concept stage. We’re deep into the Construction Administration phase, answering RFIs, solving field issues, and making real-time adjustments as surprises pop up (and they always do). 

The reality? Our “CA” hours always get blown past—and for good reason. We’re not phoning it in. We’re on it, from drywall to final install. 

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6. 🎯 We Think Like Guests, Not Just Designers.

Ultimately, every decision we make is about how the guest will feel—whether they’re staying for one night or one month. 

Will the lighting make them feel welcome? Is it bright enough? Can we apply makeup without using our phones flashlight? Will the materials feel clean and current? Will the room layout make sense at midnight after a long flight? 

If it doesn’t pass the guest test, it doesn’t make the cut. 

So Why Does This Matter? 

Because if you’re a developer or hotel owner reading this, you need to know: Great design isn’t just aesthetics—it’s strategy. 

And if you’re a designer breaking into hospitality, know that you’re not just there to “make it look good.” You’re there to lead, collaborate, solve, elevate and most importantly to learn and grow from all the consultants part of the project. 

At Drake Khan Design, we’re proud to bring our fresh perspective, global backgrounds, and sharp edge to this space. Hospitality is storytelling—and we’re just getting started!