{"id":11464,"date":"2024-09-12T11:09:06","date_gmt":"2024-09-12T15:09:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/bhr\/?p=11464"},"modified":"2024-10-01T12:07:21","modified_gmt":"2024-10-01T16:07:21","slug":"how-destination-driven-storytelling-art-integration-and-mattress-specs-build-brand-distinction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/bhr\/2024\/09\/12\/how-destination-driven-storytelling-art-integration-and-mattress-specs-build-brand-distinction\/","title":{"rendered":"How destination-driven storytelling, art integrations, and mattress specs build brand distinction"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\"\"Interview with Laura McKoy<\/a><\/span><\/strong>
\nCreative Director and Vice President of Interior Design for Omni Hotels & Resorts<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Please describe your introduction to hospitality, and what initially drew you to the industry.<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Laura McKoy (LM): My college internship was at a hospitality design firm in Washington D.C. that did design work for Marriott. At the time, only six design firms were approved to work for Marriott. I fell in love with hotel design and figuring out how to exceed guests’ expectations.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When considering the brand experience and design for a new Omni property, what specific elements or touchpoints are most critical in your approach?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

LM: We work to achieve approachable luxury as we weave in local, unexpected stories of the location. We have two main goals: that the guests feel like they experience the city that the hotel is in (even if they never leave the hotel); and they hear and experience stories through the design that they want to retell to their family, friends, and co-workers. We love that contagious story. Once somebody tells it to you, then you want to tell somebody else that same story. Sometimes, it becomes a game of telephone, and that\u2019s okay too.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We spend a lot of time and research on each destination. In Louisville, for instance, we [looked at] the competitive set, and everybody was telling a derby story about horses.\u00a0 [Instead], we went deep on bourbon. We studied twelve different local bourbons, looking at the color, and infused it into the carpet. We partnered with Copper Vendome who makes bourbon stills on a custom chandelier for the lobby. They had never made a chandelier before. We also created a large art wall of local artists and included their contact information so guests can reach out directly to them.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n