Design Hotels, the community-driven collective part of Marriott International, comprised of nearly 300 independent hotels, announces 29 signed agreements and 10 percent growth of its global portfolio within the last 12 months. From the under-the-radar Black Sea coast of Batumi, Georgia, to the residential neighborhood of Tribeca, New York, each of the new and upcoming Design Hotels properties embodies the values of the brand and the singular vision of its owner.
"As we expand our global portfolio, each new property reflects the visionary spirit of its “original” owner, ensuring that Design Hotels continues to push boundaries and deepen community,” said Design Hotels Managing Director Stijn Oyen. “That sentiment translates to that intangible Design Hotels' experience—where every stay feels uniquely personal and is infused with the passion of its creator.”
Design Hotels gains momentum in the U.S. and Mexico by adding seven new destinations in the region, with 10 new hotels in the United States and surpassing 25 hotels in Mexico in total.
With new hotel signings, Design Hotels strengthens its work with Firmdale Hotels and Grupo Habita and introduces new agreements with independent hotel groups Drift Hotels and ASH.
- The Warren Street Hotel, Firmdale’s 69-key property in Tribeca, New York City, opened in February 2024 and marks Tim and Kit Kemp’s 11th opening in the Firmdale stable, with its distinctive hotels and townhouses in London and New York already members of the Design Hotels portfolio.
- ASH, the vision of hoteliers Ari Heckman and Jonathan Minkoff, creates cinematic experiences at each of its meticulously designed hotels. Properties joining the Design Hotels portfolio include Ulysses, Baltimore and The Dean, Providence.
- Due to owner Philip Bates’ vision to create soulful hotels with a sense of place, Drift Hotels boasts stunning boutique hotels in San Jose del Cabo, Santa Barbara, Palm Springs, and, most recently, Nashville—all now part of Design Hotels. Drift Nashville, which opened in March of this year, has 114 minimalist rooms and suites, and three food and beverage outlets led by Nashville hospitality talent, Alexis Soler.
- The signings of the coveted Hotel 850 SVB in West Hollywood, imagined hotelier and restaurateur Jeff Klein, and upcoming Granger Hotel Gaslamp Quarter in San Diego, anticipated to open this year, brings Design Hotels’ portfolio to 14 in California, including the new additions of Drift Santa Barbara and Palm Springs.
- With the addition of recent properties, Design Hotels now has 26 hotels across Mexico. Design Hotels signed the forthcoming Tinte Hotel, an intimate hotel expected to open in 2026 that will offer ocean views from its rooftop sitting in a UNESCO world heritage site in the south of the Yucatán peninsula. Hotel Sevilla—a restored colonial villa from the 16th century in the city center of Mérida, and Hotel Humano—a boutique hotel built into the bedrock at the southern end of the iconic stretch of beach in Puerto Escondido – have joined Design Hotels, both part of Grupo Habita and poised to open in 2025.
Design Hotels adds three hotels in Switzerland, bringing the brand’s portfolio to 15 hotels in the country; adds its fifth hotel in Georgia; and introduces properties in Istanbul, Singapore and Bali.
- The Home Hotel Zurich, which opened this August, channels the whimsical Dada avant-garde art movement of the early 20th century – reimagining a former paper mill to feature 132 rooms and suites, lobby and lounge, neo-bistro and collaborations – all with the local creative community.
- Poised to open by the end of this year, Hôtel Borsari will feature 51 rooms and suites set amid the charming town of Martigny and surrounded by gorges that rank among the top 10 in Europe, thermal springs, stunning mountain trails, and terraced vineyards. A subterranean Roman bathhouse, the property stands as a testament to the town’s rich heritage and nods to the town's ancient legacy.
- Rooms Batumi Hotel marks Design Hotels’ fifth hotel in Georgia, and its first in the resort destination on the Black Sea. With a bold design and 1970s flair, the hotel features nearly 120 rooms and suites, a rooftop pool, a cocktail bar, and a restaurant that blends Georgian and international culinary influences.
Stijn Oyen was named managing director earlier this year to helm the portfolio—now in its fourth decade of operation.
“The future of Design Hotels is brimming with opportunity, and I’m delighted to lead such a talented, passionate team, spearheading the company’s growth in new territories and realizing the brand’s vision for the future,” Oyen said.