In need of some ways to wow your guests before they step foot inside your hotel? We’ve got you covered with this guide to beautiful hotel entrance ideas. These real-world examples of award-winning and unique architectural feats are perfect for your next memorable hotel design. Keep reading to discover how you can make your hotel stand out with a striking first impression.
1. Go with glass
The State Theatre Centre of Western Australia in Perth, designed by Kerry Hill Architects, is a modern marvel. The skyscraper height of the building is already commanding, but combined with the half-wave-half-glass exterior, it is truly memorable. Guests can see in as they approach the building, inspiring a sense of excitement and wonder before they even enter.
2. Copy luxury boutiques
The First INTERSECT by Lexus Flagship Store in Tokyo, Japan, offers the same luxury experience shoppers have when they enter one of the many high-end stores on New York’s 5th Avenue. Although this entrance leads to a social space and not a commercial one, the experience of walking through their patterned exterior sets the tone. Guests who see a hotel entrance similar to this one can already expect a luxury experience before stepping foot inside.
3. Use ornate doors
Tall, colorful, and chic. Those are the words that describe the entrance to the five-star Reethi Rah Luxury Resort in the Maldives. Their burgundy and gold painted wooden doors open as if they are a portal to another world. The long walkway behind them helps transition guests into the experience of the hotel itself.
4. Include eye-popping art
The Spa at the Four Seasons Hotel in Toronto welcomes guests with structural spheres of artwork hanging from the ceiling in the lobby and behind the welcome desk. Done in soothing neutral tones, the pieces perfectly complement the relaxing vibe of the rest of the space. Wow guests even more by commissioning local artists to infuse the flavor of the region into your hotel entrance design.
5. Use structural awnings
The Savoy Hotel in London uses a honeycomb design on the awning that draws the eye down to their front doors as the pattern moves from boxes to lines. Not only does it command attention, but it also adds a regal air to their exterior. With spotlights flanking either side, the golden metal shines like a Hollywood premiere night.
6. Add polka dots
The chrome exterior of the Dream Downtown hotel in New York looks like a multi-story Connect Four board. With rows of hollow circles, the building takes the cake for Instagram-worthy structural designs as far as hotel entrances are concerned. Adding simple geometric patterns in rows using paint will get the same effect on otherwise plain walls.
7. Include opulent filigree
The Palace Hotel doors are attached to a building in San Francisco, but one look at them and you’ll feel instantly transported to Italy. Their teal and gold filigree makes an otherwise plain entrance look stunning. Adding ornate details like these to doors, windows, or even decorative planters can elevate any look.
8. Play with topiaries
The Park Hyatt Milan uses minimal greenery to maximum effect. A set of classic snowball topiaries guard the entryway while the rest of their leafy landscaping drips down from above the closest balcony. The effect is striking against the gray concrete and black outlined windows.
9. Include striking signage
Although we’re not sure the length of this photo-worthy hotel name display, we do know this: Instanbul's The House Hotel Nisantasi’s signage is simple yet hard to forget. Their hotel name is stretched seemingly as if from the back of the lobby. The shadow effect of the design creates a fun visual trick that would be simple to replicate in other hotel entrance ideas.
10. Box up landscaping
The W Hotel & Residence Hollywood had a unique challenge. In addition to creating an on-brand courtyard, they also had to share space with the Hollywood Metro Station entrance. To balance out the area without the burden of upkeep in this otherwise public space, they chose to create landscaping boxes filled with California’s iconic skinny palm trees. Not only are they easier to maintain, but they will also survive the inevitable foot traffic at the public transportation hotspot.
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11. Strategically place lighting
The Park Hyatt Paris displays a unique and delightful ball of art that doubles as a globe lamp above their entrance. The light is adorned with swirling metal shapes that, when lit, display the pattern on the ground below. In the daylight guests enjoy the simple art piece. And at night, they are awed by this aesthetically pleasing effect, which doubles as a safe way to light the street as they exit.
12. Offer flagged overhangs
The regality of the Seelbach Hilton in downtown Louisville is the first thing guests notice as they walk up. The second thing they notice is the impressive awnings. The rectangular pieces jut out from the building and are adorned with flags around the edges that flutter in the wind. The lighting underneath them creates a glowing effect at night that welcomes guests back home.
13. Include lush driveways
Who says a driveway can’t also be an opportunity for great design? La Cadiere in Chengdu offers a simple yet elegant lettered sign that greets guests as soon as they enter the property. Behind it is a lush display of green tropical leaves and palm fronds. The effect makes it seem as if there is a firework of nature exploding as you enter.
14. Create zen gardens
The Lalu Nanjing welcomes customers to a structured bamboo forest with plenty of comfortable seating and cafe tables surrounding it. The fresh air patio gives guests a space to relax before check-in, while the garden provides a relaxing backdrop for them to transition into vacation.
15. Add koi ponds
The bowl fountains that dot the all-black koi pond at The Legian Seminyak in Bali are a great example of how high impact a water feature can be as a hotel entrance idea. The lily pads stand out against the dark background and float serenely as guests walk by. Even just the sound of the water falling or the mist in the air can completely improve a guests’ mood.
16. Pop with color
Although not a hotel, Cartier is a brand that knows how to use color effectively without going overboard. Their San Francisco storefront stands out from the rest of the street thanks in part to their matching red flags and window coverings. Bold without going overboard, this simple trick is visually appealing and easy to duplicate—simply decorate a neutral exterior with multiple elements of the same bold color.
17. Wow with canopies
Canopies aren’t always plastic pop-ups for rainy days at the valet. In fact, Canopy by Hilton Chengdu City Centre is living proof that they can truly make a hotel entryway. True to the name, their hotel exterior has a canopy made of a 3D metal grid with glowing lights at the tips of the design. The structure, material, size, and lighting included is what makes this piece so memorable.
18. Utilize vertical space
There isn’t a lot of courtyard space available for New York City hotels, so 1 Hotel Central Park got creative. In lieu of a courtyard, they chose to make use of vertical space by adding vines up their exterior walls. The leafy effect looks like a red brick and black metal facade. They even constructed their black signage around the vines with the number one cutout to further blend the elements all together.
19. Include black outlines
This clever trick comes from the pool at the Vivood Landscape Hotel in Benimantell, Spain. The property is intelligently designed to incorporate nature as much as possible, making the hotel one with its surroundings. By outlining the pool in black, the body of water becomes a mirror reflecting its surroundings. Copy this to create the same effect with fountains, ponds, and other water features.
20. Add wooden overhangs
A stunning, warm-toned wood overhanging greets guests of the Blue Ocean Robata & Sushi Bar in Carlsbad. Their slatted wood design allows a breeze to flow through while still making an upscale and artsy bohemian impression. Using wood as the primary material for an overhang is a great way to make a hotel entrance feel more natural and stand out from the crowd of fabric and metal overhangs.
Want to show off your property's best assets?
Remember to consider these must-have hotel entrance design components:
● Landscaping. This includes everything from potted plants to complete gardens and lawn care.
● Driveways. The materials, shape, and location can all make a difference in guest experience from the moment they enter the property.
● Signage. Whether it stands out or blends in, a hotel’s name is yet another branding and design opportunity.
● Canopies, awnings, and overhangs. How guests are shielded from sunlight and weather can make all the difference, as illustrated by some of the examples above.
● Doors. How the doors open, what they open to, what they look like, and how tall they are can make or break a first impression.
● Water features. Ponds, fountains, and waterfalls are all beautiful additions to a hotel entrance of any style, from industrial to regal.
Ready to make a great first impression on your hotel guests? Check out our guide to creating unique and memorable hotel digital signage.
