With its rich heritage, captivating architecture and markets brimming with exotic colors, intoxicating spices and beautiful handmade goods, New Delhi is a feast for the senses. At the heart of India’s bustling capital city stands one of the country’s first and most iconic luxury hotels, The Oberoi New Delhi. Since its opening in 1965, the Oberoi flagship has served as New Delhi’s social centerpiece, its DNA made up of the stories of its many colorful guests and visitors. Celebrating over 50 years as a treasured fixture of the community and leader in international hospitality, the hotel tapped Tihany Design to lead the complete interior redesign of the property, which reopened to the public in January.

Like the city itself, the redesign represents the bridging together of innovation and time honored tradition. Instead of flipping the design on its head, designer Adam Tihany aimed to alter the experience of the hotel by shifting the order in which guests discover each space. The result provides a fresh perspective of the beloved property, paving the way for the brand’s next 50 years of leadership.

At the hotel entrance, an enchanting metal screen was placed where there was previously an open path to reception, creating pause before guiding guests first towards the double height marble passageway along the garden-facing windows of the lobby. Simple yet significant, this redirection of movement transforms the passageway into the primary point of entry to the lobby and ground floor dining venues, and ultimately creates the sensation of walking into an entirely new hotel. The screen is designed by Kaaru and is symbolic of both the predictability and the mystery of time; a tribute to the fundamental Oberoi philosophy that celebrates the joy of welcoming a guest, no matter the time of day or for how long.

A vision of contemporary luxury, the redesign marries simplicitiy in lines and interior architecture with intricate details showcasing the incredible craftsmanship of India, a celebration of the iconic nature of the flagship property and its unique place in the world. While the foundation and character of the hotel remain unchanged, the reimagined interiors tell the Oberoi story from a new vantage point; a new perspective. The Oberoi New Delhi legacy is authentic and lasting, and one that will continue to hold a very special place in the heart of the community.  

Since the first passenger ships were introduced over 100 years ago, the cruise industry has continuously reinvented itself. From the the height of ocean liner glamour to the stereotypically entertainment-heavy, all-you-can-eat buffet style cruise ships, cruising has been both a means of transportation and the destination itself. Now with the rise of experiential travel, the cruise landscape is changing again- this time toward what is sure to be known as the Age of Design.
 
Good design has become an essential element across all areas of hospitality, but none more so than the cruise industry, where designers are creating spaces for a captive audience. More than ever, cruise guests are looking beyond traditional expectations and are yearning for interior spaces that have been carefully tailored to serve their unique aspirations, whether it be within the comfort of a suite or through a transformative dining experience.

Cruise passengers often stay onboard for days, sometimes months, at a time, so much of the ‘experiential’ aspect of their travel is influenced by the interiors with which they are continuously engaging. To meet these expectations, cruise lines are tapping hospitality designers to create interiors that are surprising and inspiring with the comfort of a residential space.
 
The demand for these ships is at an all time high. This summer, the global cruise ship orderbook reached a new record, with 113 new cruise ships set to be introduced between now and 2027. Even more revealing in the surge of ‘experience’ traveling is number of upcoming small scale expedition ships, with 30 scheduled to debut within the next 6 years. The Age of Design, driven by experience seekers around the world, is only just beginning.

Art Should Live with the People
A Look at Art and Design in Hospitality with Tal Danai

‘Art’ is a word that can instantly set off sparks in the creative and peak the interest of the intellectual, but it also has an immediate intimidation factor- do I like it? do I ‘get’ it? As a subject, art molds into countless connotations- from the study of art history, to record breaking auction sales, to prints for home decoration- and each exhibits a very unique intention.
 
One of the most engaging and harmonious uses of art is in the world of hospitality. An essential element the interior space, art works within the design vision to directly influence the guest experience. Tal Danai, founder and CEO of Artlink, describes the design of a space as a “stage setting for a drama to unfold.” The art, he says, “should work with the design to subtly introduce cultural elments, hints of off stage stories and psychological elment of the characters that were imagined by their creator.”

Tal has led the art selection on a number of Tihany designed hospitality projects, most recently entering the cruise sector with Holland America’s Pinnacle class ships ms Koningsdam and ms Nieuw Statendam and Seabourn’s ultra-luxury Encore and Ovation. On these ships- and with every hospitality project- the curated art collection brings distinct character to the design vision. It is art with intention that goes far beyond ‘art for art’s sake’ and drives a clear story that can dictate, to a certain extent, the guest experience.  

“There are so many layers of content that fold into a hotel, that the surfacing of them, incorporating them in narratives and telling them in the universal language of art is a fascinating exercise for me,” says Danai. Though he doesn’t consider himself a serious art collector, Tal is especially drawn to Korean artists’ focus on the journey over the outcome. This is something he and the Artlink team incorporated into the art selection on the recently launched Seabourn Ovation in particular, where the time onboard is savored equally to the time at each port.

Art in the hospitality space presents an open invitation to guests to interact with and be inspired by their environment. “While a gallery or museum set up can serve as interesting laboratory environments, it is in the noise of the crowds that art should function,” says Danai. “[It] is a cultural intercourse and as such should live with the people.”