Lobbies with benefits

Today, we’re diving into the surprising ways hotels are pulling double duty. Think: your lobby as a coworking hub that doubles as the best ad that money can’t buy. Meanwhile, take a peek at a quintessentially Southern boutique hotel where design simultaneously carries history forward and curates memories. And revenue managers? They’re officially side-eyeing 2019 as the gold standard. Consider this your cue to think beyond the obvious and play where your guests—and your revenue—are already headed.

Later this week: Diamond PR founder and CEO Jody Diamond shares what PR looks like in the age of AI.

Where bleisure lives. Forget Starbucks as the “third place;” we’d much rather work in a swoon-worthy hotel lobby that’s as functional to work in as it is beautiful. Here are four reasons hotels make great coworking spaces.

Financial literacy 101, hotel version. Hotel financing is a tool for community impact, says Sundip Patel, founder and CEO of AVANA Companies, a financial services firm managing more than $1 billion in assets. He also thinks every loan should come with a social impact score.

On a lark. Lark Hospitality’s lifestyle brand is heading to Boston and will debut Cambridge Common House, featuring 16 Elder & Ash-designed rooms, outside Harvard Square. The lodging house is slated to open in late 2025. 

No more cold shoulders. Cold weather's coming, and it doesn’t have to put your hotel’s outdoor charm on ice. Maximize your patios and lounges all year long. 

Changes in latitudes, changes in attitudes. Not ready to say goodbye to summer? Dig into “Don’t Stop the Carnival,” the lighthearted story of a Broadway press agent who trades city life for running a small Caribbean hotel. How hard could it be? (The novel also served as the basis for the celebrated Jimmy Buffett album and stage musical.)

Sultry Southern charm

It may be Bluffton, South Carolina’s newest hotel (and its only boutique jewel), but you’d swear the Old Town Bluffton Inn has been watching over Calhoun Street for a century. The property wraps new construction in a historic overlay that feels both familiar and fresh. That’s the power of architecture designed to honor its place. 

Why it matters:  By borrowing cues from classic Southern architecture—elegant proportions, inviting porches, heirloom-style detailing—the property feels like it’s original to the pre-Civil War city. Guests may not be able to name the architectural choices, but they feel the comfort and instant resonance of a building that celebrates its rooted context. TL;DR: Timeless design is the ultimate amenity. (Forbes) 

Above: One of the 14 guestrooms at the Old Town Bluffton Inn. (Courtesy)

More craft, less checklist

When you tune into how people move, pause, rest, socialize or retreat in your hotel, you design better for those moments that matter: arrival, quietness, connection. Adamo Gumowski, founder and director of design consultancy Stuttio, is a proponent of heritage, soul and design merging to create guest experiences that linger.

"Every place has its own truth, its own soul.”
—ADAMO GUMOWSKI, FOUNDER/DIRECTOR, STUTTIO

Why it matters: Guests notice when something feels just right: the way a corridor echoes, the alignment of furniture with windows catching daylight, the intuitive flow from entrance to room. Gumowski stresses that design is for visuals, of course, but also for feelings: how safety, surprise, calm and delight all coexist in the same space. For independent hoteliers, leaning into those layers is crucial. By aligning operational efficiency with thoughtful design, so staff aren’t fighting the layout and guests aren’t bumping into awkward corners, you craft stays that feel effortless. (Longitude° Design)

We're gonna need a better benchmark

As an independent hotelier, you live in the trenches where every percentage point, every guest review, every “wow” counts—and your cost base isn’t what it was six years ago. Based on conversations from this year’s Hotel Data Conference, CoStar says what worked in 2019—pre-Covid—can’t simply be replayed: costs are higher and guest expectations are sharper. 

Why it matters: Ignoring that shift can lead to misaligned pricing, guest disappointment or margin erosion, especially if you’re underpricing out of fear or chasing occupancy over value. Embracing a post-2019 mindset gives you room to innovate in service, personalize guest journeys and lean into “why choose you” instead of “how low can the price go.” (CoStar)

Pixel-perfect

Booking travel used to be its own full-time job; now, AmEx is telling travelers ‘we got you’ with a new app to fuse hotels, flights and inspiration under one roof. Indie hotel owners: this shift might just change who shows up at your front door.

Why it matters: With AmEx curating recommendations inside its new Amex Travel App, the pressure’s on to stand out. Clean visuals, thoughtful descriptions, on-point amenities—all the stuff that guests don’t always list, but absolutely notice—become your competitive edge. Also, faster, clearer booking paths mean people are less forgiving of clunky reservation flows or vague promises. If you sharpen your presence now, you can attract guests who want both convenience and resonance, showing them a stay that feels curated especially for them. (CX Dive)

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Mint Pillow is curated and written by Jennifer Glatt and edited by Lesley McKenzie.