The future of hospitality is seriously cinematic.
In 2019 , Hurricane Dorian tally key Florida while I wasliving there in an RV . Not accustomed to that kind of uttermost weather , I discover sanctuary in myhappy piazza : Disney World . With my mini dachshund in towage , we used the impending violent storm as an excuse to treat ourselves to a couple night on - belongings , at one of Disney ’s “ Value ” resorts , theArt of Animation . Here , vibrant stories come to life via a giantFinding Nemo - themed puddle , a makeshift Pride Rock fromThe Lion King , and rooms that make guests feel like they ’re hold out out their Disney dreams . MyLittle Mermaid - inspired room , clad in under - the - sea timber and aliveness artwork , was a pleasant beguilement from the stormy prognosis , while my dog gnaw at on a Mickey Mouse plush .
To some , hotels are merely a place to sleep — a way station en path to the last terminus . For others , hotelsarethe name and address . Or , at least they can be , considering the caliber of design on display at hotels now . Welcome to the old age of hotels as thematic and immersive as motion picture band , where upcountry room decorator and architects get to channel their inner Imagineer and conceptualize place - get to spaces that go far beyond what most people call up of when they picture athemed hotelsuite — both at Disney and elsewhere .
The institution is most evident in and around theme Park , where touristy enclaves have the resources — and a huge canyon of rational belongings — to pull from . While Disney hotels have long gone above and beyond ( sometimes a littletoobeyond ) , recent efforts have drawn more of that Imagineering magic into its blueprints . In 2021,Disney ’s Contemporary Resortin Walt Disney World underwent a major restoration that saw its rooms and public spaces re - themed toThe Incredibles . And this being Disney , that does n’t just mean movie posters , but contingent aright down to the red - orange color schema in hall lined with original artwork , and rooms bedecked with retro bed bod , Monorail - themed bathroom mirrors , andIncrediblesdetails on everything from pillows and drapery to lamps and W.C. . Even the bedside drawers feature image of character glassful , to - do lists , and cookies .
The Roxbury, Contemporary Catskill Lodging
Next threshold , Disney ’s Polynesian Village Resortrecently belong through aMoana - theme gleam - up of its own , with guest rooms new sporting a beachy tan scheme , inculcate with tints of orange and teal , wallpaper bursting with Hawaiian flowers and movie fibre , and billowy drapes reminiscent of the ocean .
In Disneyland , the sword - newPixar Place Hoteldoubles down as the only hotel in the world dedicated to the wide world of Pixar . take the air in , guests are greet by the theme song Pixar lamp , atop a giantToy Storyball , while a sea of part — from Wall - E to Nemo — dangle overhead . Elsewhere in the lobby , Soul ’s Joe Gardner plays the piano andInsideOut ’s Bing - Bong greets Guest . Meanwhile , the room keep the cinematic vibes thriving with furnishings and artwork created by Pixar Animation Studios , bundle with coloration and fictional character . abroad , the same immersive glide path weaves its room through the newly reimaginedDisneyland Hotelat Disneyland Paris , which resemble a real princess castle with plushy raw interior decoration ( a Bohemian crystal chandelier inspired by Disneyland ’s kip Beauty Castle shimmers in the antechamber ) and regal suites themed after the likes ofCinderella , Beauty and the Beast , andFrozen . grant toDisney ’s Parks Blog , “ From Aurora ’s sorcerous color - changing clothes to a shine Sundrop efflorescence and even Queen Elsa ’s Ice castle , you will much walk into scenes right out of each pic . ”
But while the world ’s most fertile theme green brand might have plenty of expensive inspiration at its disposal , Disney hotel are n’t the only ones add cinematic luster to accommodations . From Disney - exalt property to those that draw from other cinematic iconography , theme rooms have become a blank canvass for art and design , as well as a way for steel — independent and ground likewise — to get more playful .
Walt Disney World
TheWonderland Housein Brighton featuresAlice in Wonderland - themed room , and theHilton New York Times Squarehas anAladdin - themed entourage — a overbold way to play up the hotel ’s proximity toAladdin the Musical . The one - bedroom Palace Suite , as it ’s called , is a nook way realized by Broadway dressing elbow room designerDevin Sparkles Design , boast design sketch , Maroc sconces , “ witching ” carpets , a requisite Genie lamp , and a deluxe lav pep up by the Cave of Wonders . Beyond the room , the hotel reverberate the theming with “ Genie - tini ” cocktail and wake - up calls from the Genie himself .
“ A successful themed suite is rooted in creativity and imagination , ” says Thom Caska , general manager of the Hilton New York Times Square . “ In add-on to our partnership with Disney Theatrical Group , Mr. Sparkles was capable to surrender our vision for guests , ensuring every item of the entourage evokes the whimsical spirit of the musical theater from a lago - cheer bird light to scenic design sketches and show print . ” A win - win - win for Broadway enthusiasts , Disney fans , and the hotel itself , theAladdintheming ties it all together .
On a more dress shop scale , The Curtisis a downtown Denver hotel that have “ hyper - themed ” rooms likeGhostbusters — with “ Slimer”-green floor — andTalladega Nights , full with American flags , NASCAR ephemera , and a picture of a slew lion with a cheese fountain . At The Roxbury , a themed stamping ground in the Catskills , The Wizard ’s Emeraldsis an homage toThe Wizard of Oz , complete with yellow brick route and ruby slippers , while thePacific Inn Motel , in Forks , Washington , hasTwilight - themed rooms decorated with pic posters , dark linens , and descent - red reliever .
Photo courtesy of Hilton New York Times Square
The same intensive ethos also holds true for larger properties brimming with I.P. , likeUniversal ’s Loews Royal Pacific Resortin Orlando , where aJurassic Worldsuite transports families to Isla Nublar via Gyrosphere bottom frames , custom carpeting designed to resemble the hobo camp floor , and dinosaur murals . Then there’sNickelodeon Hotels & Resorts , which is opening its third position in Orlando in 2026 . Similar to Disney and Universal , Nickelodeon is a brand with immense place - cook potential drop , a sentiment they ’ve woven into existing property in the Dominican Republic and Mexico , like theSpongebob Squarepants - themedPineapple Villain Punta Cunta and theSnick Loungein Riviera Maya , as well as into the approaching resort in the Theme Park Capital of the World .
“ One of our basal objectives when developing these experiential hotels is to present the brand in effect and bring Nickelodeon ’s iconic I.P. ’s to life , ” say Mario Mathieu , SVP of Business Development forLion Star . “ Our goal is to evolve a multi - generational product for all guests that go past being brand as a kids ' hotel , and or else an unforgettable arrest for those young and young at heart . Playfulness must be integrate into everything we do , and the hotel are intend to offer an immersive experience in the world of Nickelodeon . ”
By partnering with Paramount ’s originative team , Lion Star has been able-bodied to prepare what Mathieu identify as a “ well - labialize experiential hotel ” that go past generations and soak up guests in spaces themed after everything from theTeenage Mutant Ninja TurtlestoPAW Patrol .
Loews Hotels
“ We work on very closely with the Paramount creative squad to decide which Nickelodeon themes , characters , and esthetics to incorporate into our hotel , ” Mathieu explain . “ Some features of the Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts properties have become iconic and essential in the design of each resort , but we always aim to introduce something new and different at each location . For example , the Pineapple Villa at Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Punta Cana has become a typical factor of the resort , and the Snick Lounge , which first debuted at Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Riviera Maya , has been a massive hit . ”
What Happens After a Travel Destination Enters the Hollywood Spotlight?
Movies and TV shows made these destinations famous. What happens next?
For the Orlando property , as with the two live resorts , most way feature multi - I.P. themes and characters to supply to a broad , multi - generational audience . All rooms , design at once for kids and the vernal at heart , can accommodate two adult and three kid , and the Orlando location is poised to feature the firstPAW Patrolsuite in the portfolio .
“ We securely believe that the present and future tense of leisure time hospitality are all about experience , ” Mathieu emphasise . “ Themed hotels , like Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Orlando , captivate guests by offering immersive activeness that combine dear character and interactional environments , do them a unique destination for category and fans . Additionally , they create a sense of playful escapade , enhancing the overall vacation experience and making it memorable beyond just a place to stay . ”
For brands large and small , from Nickelodeon to a boutique motel in Washington , rooms themed after beloved movies and boob tube appearance are a way to transcend beyond a spot to slumber , to become more of a central aspect of travel .
Image courtesy of Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts
“ Themed rooms are beloved because they often evoke a sense of nostalgia , child - similar wonder , comfort , and a itchy feet - fueled stay that can only be captured in this type of experience , ” state Caska . “ Whether paying homage to rock and turn over caption or transporting guests to the Arabian desert realm of Agrabah , they put up a sense of escapism into a populace of resourcefulness . ”
