As part of the Goût de Luxe show hosted by Aurélie Planeix on BFM TV, I spoke on the theme: Are hotels the museums of tomorrow? With the international contemporary art fair FIAC having just closed its doors in Paris, this topic is highly relevant in the luxury hotel sector, where an artistic renewal is making itself felt.
Art is not decoration. Let us be clear: let us not confuse design and art. Art is a vector of emotions; it provokes reaction, releasing a personal and evolving response depending on one's mood and state of mind. Our senses respond on all levels, creating an experience, a moment of life.
Art therefore makes us react. There are no good or bad artists. Art allows us to express an emotion without limits or ulterior motives. A hotel is an ideal place to bring this type of experience to life for its guests. It offers numerous spaces to integrate art. Whether in a guest room, a corridor, an elevator, a meeting room, or the lobby, every space is an opportunity to place a guest in front of an artwork. Whatever the time of day, guests will appreciate this moment or not, but in all cases, they will have felt an emotion.
It is quite natural that luxury hospitality is interested in art. Each hotel must attract a new clientele ever more in search of surprise, splendor, and magnificence. It becomes a point of differentiation when art is placed at the heart of the hotel's concept and customer experience.
Of course, some hotels host temporary exhibitions and artists, which is a good start. Others get more involved and integrate art into the hotel's design. In these cases, art can be omnipresent. This is the case with the Park Hyatt brand, for instance. Park Hyatt hotels house numerous artworks from around the world, including pieces by Ed Paschke, Gerhard Richter, Sol LeWitt, Serge Poliakoff, Lynn Chadwick, and Richard Rogers. Notably, the founder of the Hyatt Group, Thomas J. Pritzker, developed a personal art collection. In other cases, hotels commission artists during construction or renovation. An example is The Peninsula Paris, which invited artists Xavier Corbero, Lasvit, and Ben Jakober to create custom artworks for the property.
Luxury hotels are increasingly welcoming contemporary art into their spaces, slowly transforming themselves into genuine art galleries displaying renowned works. They also become formidable promoters for the artists: guests touched by a piece of art will want to discover the artist and their work, and perhaps acquire a piece. This is a growing trend worldwide.
Travel Trend: Are Hotels the New... by BFM Business
Here are some key initiatives combining hospitality and contemporary art:
The Peninsula Paris - France
• Features artworks created by artists Xavier Corbero, Lasvit, and Ben Jakober.
Casa Malca - Tulum, Mexico
• Artworks by Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring, along with sculptures by contemporary artist KAWS.
Faena Hotel Buenos Aires - Argentina
• Completely redesigned by Alan Faena in collaboration with Philippe Starck, located steps from the Faena Art Center, a contemporary art landmark in Buenos Aires.
21c Museum Hotels - United States
• Hotels designed as museums, featuring artworks throughout the entire property.
The Alpina Gstaad - Switzerland
• Regularly hosts artists and boasts a private art collection (including Ann Carrington, Nathalie Decoster, and others).
Le Méridien
• Each lobby features artworks, projections, or soundscapes selected by the brand's 'LM100' creative community, which gathers figures from the design and contemporary art worlds. The 'Unlock Art' program partners hotels with local contemporary art centers.
Andaz London Liverpool Street - United Kingdom
• 'Pearly Room' by Chris Price
• 'One Day Walk' by Patrick Vale & Paul Davis
• 'East My Dust' by ILoveDust
• 'The Day The Flower Rose' by Patrick Morgan
Mondrian London - United Kingdom
• Housed in the historic Sea Containers House, its interior design was created by Tom Dixon OBE. Today, many of Dixon's works are in the collections of MoMA in New York and the Centre Pompidou in Paris.
Four Seasons Hotel Seattle - United States
• Located opposite the Seattle Art Museum, it displays numerous artworks as a continuation of the museum experience.
• Works by artists Mark Tobey, Morris Graves, Alden Mason, and Margaret Tomkins are featured throughout. Outside, guests are welcomed by 'Thunderbolt,' a bronze sculpture by Gerard Tsutakawa.
Hyatt and its Private Collection
• Hyatt has long pursued an active acquisition policy for contemporary art worldwide. Its prestigious collection includes works by Sol LeWitt, Gerhard Richter, Serge Poliakoff, Lynn Chadwick, Ed Paschke, and Richard Rogers. All Park Hyatt hotels highlight contemporary art in guest rooms and public spaces alike.
Cheval Blanc Hotels
• A signature artwork welcomes guests upon arrival. Cheval Blanc Randheli in the Maldives features a monumental copper work by artist Vincent Beaurin, while Cheval Blanc Courchevel showcases a mirrored horse by Bruno Peinado.
• Inside, guests will find a Takashi Murakami 'Kanye Bear' in the lobby, alongside works by Jean-Michel Othoniel, Xavier Veilhan, and triptychs by Walter Niedermayr.
Le Gray - Beirut, Lebanon
• The founder of the brand possesses an extensive private contemporary art collection of over 500 works, displayed across his hotels.
Le Negresco - Nice, France
• The hotel's legendary owner built an art collection of over 6,000 references. Her passion for art led her to share it with guests in every corner of the property, including the famous yellow 'Nana' by Niki de Saint Phalle.
Share this article with a colleague, a client or a partner.
That is often how an idea enters a house, and then its habits.
What you say about it matters more than what I say.
A keynote, a mission, an article in the magazine: if my work has been useful to you, a few lines on Google are worth more than any argument.
Leave a review on Google →
