Hospitality
Performance-led interiors for boutique hotels & apart-hotels.
Boutique hotels and aparthotels of 5 to 30 keys, designed around the numbers that matter: ADR, occupancy and the reviews that drive both.
Concept before colour
A clear, ownable concept rooted in the location and the target guest, so the hotel has a reason to exist that guests can feel and reviewers can name.
Designed to the rate
Every room is designed backwards from the nightly rate you need to achieve, so the guest experience justifies the price and the photography sells it.
Operational sense
Housekeeping, maintenance and durability are designed in, not discovered later. Beautiful rooms that are hard to run are a cost, not an asset.
Services
Concept and positioning
We define who the hotel is for, where it sits against the competitive set, and the concept and story that let it command its target ADR. Settling the guest, the proposition and the price position before design begins means every decision after that earns its keep.
Boutique hotel design
The full property, from guest rooms and suites to lobbies, food and beverage and front-of-house, layout and flow through to finishes and FF&E. We design around the guest journey, the arrival, the room ritual, the spaces they linger in, so the hotel reviews well, rebooks and holds its rate.
Aparthotel and serviced accommodation design
Longer-stay units designed for both the guest experience and the investor’s margins. Homes to stay in that feel considered and run efficiently, so you protect occupancy and NOI without spending on the things guests never notice.
Repositioning and refurbishment
Tired or underperforming assets, reworked to compete again. We find where the property is losing rate, reviews or occupancy, and redesign the spaces that move them, so the refurbishment pays for itself in ADR and NOI, not just a fresh look.
Marketing collateral and CGIs
Photoreal CGIs and marketing visuals that sell the experience before it is built, for pre-opening bookings, investor decks and launch campaigns. Your scheme should sell on screen the way it will in person.
Projects
Results, not awards.
Nuno Leal
Galaxy Macau
“Raquel has a talent for managing & delivering various interior design projects simultaneously. As a Project Manager, I always knew that working with Raquel all aspects of design and the refurb were fully covered and delivered on time, even for the tightest timeframe possible! The interiors end result was always of superb quality and I would highly recommend working with Raquel if you are looking into uplift your property performance through interior design”
Common questions
When should we bring in an interior architect?
As early as possible, ideally while the concept and room mix are still being set. Key count, layout and guest flow decide your ADR and running costs, and they are the most expensive things to change later.
What size hotels do you design?
Boutique hotels, aparthotels and serviced apartments of 5 to 30 keys, from new concepts to repositioning existing properties, across the UK, Portugal and internationally.
Can you work with an existing brand or investor?
Yes. Whether the hotel is independent, under a soft brand or backed by investors, we design to the concept, the brand standards and the returns your investors need to see.
How does design affect ADR?
Guests pay for a concept they can feel and photography that sells it. We design backwards from the nightly rate, so the room justifies the price before a word of marketing is written.
How do you design for occupancy and reviews?
Every decision is measured against the guest: how they arrive, sleep, work and share their stay. Spaces that photograph well, work hard and feel memorable earn better reviews and return visits, which keeps occupancy up.
Do you consider operations, not just the look?
Yes. Finishes, FF&E and back-of-house are chosen for durability, easy cleaning and maintenance, so the design protects your operating margin as well as your rate.
What hospitality experience do you have?
Raquel has worked in hospitality design for over 20 years, including Four Seasons, and Mar Design is currently delivering Palm Place, a boutique aparthotel in Barbados.
How are fees structured?
Every engagement is tailored to the property. After the discovery call, we review your project and come back with a clear, accurate proposal tailored to its scope and what it needs to achieve.