How to Become a Hotel Designer: Education and Career Tips

Key Takeaways

• Hotel design is essential for the hospitality industry as it impacts the guest experience, brand identity, and functionality of the hotel.
• While general interior design encompasses residential, commercial, and institutional spaces, hotel design is dedicated specifically to the needs of the hospitality industry.
• Emerging hotel design trends include sustainability, innovative technology, flexible spaces, and wellness-focused elements.

From the first step into the lobby, guests notice every design element in a hotel, including ambiance and sustainability. Beyond appearances, hotel design shapes the guest experience, ensures functionality, and strengthens the brand identity. A successfully designed hotel leaves a lasting impression and enhances the comfort, convenience, and efficiency of both guests and staff.

At Swiss Hotel Management School (SHMS), students learn about the influence and importance of hospitality and design, including aesthetics, ambiance, operational flow, and sustainability. This knowledge prepares students to design spaces that look innovative and improve daily operations, which are essential for a successful hospitality environment.

How to Become a Hotel Designer

Becoming a hotel designer often involves developing a strong eye for detail, design, creativity, and a passion for hospitality spaces. Understanding the role, obtaining education, gaining hands-on experience in the hotel industry, building a strong portfolio, networking with industry events, and staying updated on design trends can help pave the way into this field.

Understand the role

From mood to movement, every design choice shapes the guest experience—and that's exactly what a hotel designer is responsible for. They create spaces that are not only visually appealing but also practical and comfortable, all with the goal of enhancing the guest experience. Their work includes designing interiors, selecting materials, planning layouts, and integrating technology to develop functional and aesthetic spaces.

Designers must align the hotel with its brand identity through color schemes, furniture, lighting, and ambiance that mirror the hotel's target audience. For example, luxury hotels like Four Seasons and The Ritz-Carlton often emphasize elegance and exclusivity. On the other hand, boutique hotels such as The Hoxton or Mama Shelter focus on personalized touches and distinctive aesthetics, like eclectic interiors, locally inspired artwork, or playful color palettes.

Key aspects of hotel design include:

• Guest experience: Creating a welcoming, comfortable environment that offers accessibility and emotional warmth through thoughtful design choices.
• Spatial planning: Designing layouts that maximize comfort and efficiency for both guests and staff, balancing open areas and private spaces in rooms, lobbies, and dining areas.
• Sustainability: Incorporating eco-friendly materials, energy-saving features, and smart technology to reduce the hotel's environmental impact without compromising comfort or style.

Get the right education

Education helps build a foundation in hotel design. A degree in hospitality management, interior design, or architecture provides students with core knowledge and skills in aesthetics, spatial design, functionality, business, and management.

At SHMS, students learn to merge design with branding, hospitality, business, and service. As part of the Bachelor of Arts in Hospitality Management, students can specialize in Design Management, which offers focused training in creative leadership within the hospitality space. The program combines industry-relevant coursework in hospitality, events, and design with two professional internships, offering students both theory and practical experience.

For those looking to advance their careers, the MA in International Hospitality Business Management is an intensive, one-year program that covers hotel operations, branding, digital innovation, hospitality marketing, leadership, and guest experience. This blend of theory and practical application helps students develop the skills needed to design hotel spaces that are both functional and visually engaging.

Choosing the right institution is one of the most important steps in launching a successful career. Accreditation ensures the quality of your education and adds credibility to your qualifications. SHMS degrees are accredited and recognized by leading industry partners, such as the University of Derby in the UK. Over 100 top industry leaders like Accor, Swiss International Air Lines, and Kempinski Hotels offer career opportunities to SHMS students.

Gain hands-on experience

In hotel design, practical experience allows students to understand how spaces function in real hospitality environments. Internships and on-site training allow aspiring designers to engage with real-world challenges, like optimizing room layouts for both aesthetics and cleaning efficiency, designing lobbies that manage guest flow, or selecting materials that balance luxury with durability.

These experiences not only bring classroom concepts to life, but also deepen understanding of how design choices affect guest satisfaction, staff operations, and overall brand perception.

Architecture firms, interior design studios, and hospitality-focused design companies provide valuable exposure to professional workflows. But what sets SHMS students apart is their exclusive access to the International Recruitment Forum (IRF). The IRF is an event hosted by Swiss Education Group (SEG) that brings together top hospitality employers and recruiters from around the world.

The forum, held twice a year in Montreux, Switzerland, connects SHMS students with over 100 industry leaders through interviews, networking, and career development opportunities.

The IRF is essential in preparing graduates to succeed and secure roles with leading companies across various industries worldwide. Miklós Kálnoky, an SHMS student, is a prime example of this. He will soon begin a 12-month operations management internship at a Marriott hotel in Richmond, Virginia, alongside his SHMS classmate and partner, Sana.

This kind of environment is extremely rare and provides a significant advantage in starting your career. If you present yourself well and showcase your talents and strengths, you can build connections and network with people and businesses that can assist you throughout your career.

Build a strong portfolio

A well-crafted portfolio is a visual résumé; it highlights your ability to create functional and visually appealing spaces.

At SHMS, students in the BA in Hospitality Management program have the opportunity to build a digital portfolio that reflects their creativity and design capabilities. This portfolio becomes one of their most powerful tools for expressing their personal design vision and industry readiness.

A strong hotel design portfolio includes: 

• Design projects: Concept sketches, 3D renderings, and final designs of hotel interiors.
• Before-and-after visuals: Clear examples of spatial transformations and layout improvements.
• Material and color selections: Demonstrating an understanding of textures, lighting, and ambiance.
• Sustainability elements: Incorporating eco-friendly materials and energy-efficient design solutions.
• Real-world experience: Internships, collaborations, or freelance work.

Network with industry expert

A strong professional network can advance your hotel design career and expose you to new ideas and innovations. Hospitality design events like Sleep & Eat, Hotel & Resort Innovation Expo, and EquipHotel bring together the best designers, hoteliers, and suppliers—offering students valuable opportunities to connect, explore new products, and stay current with industry trends. Attending job fairs and career events can also open doors to mentorships and future employment.

Joining professional associations enhances your credibility and helps expand your network. Such organizations include:

• NEWH (The Hospitality Industry Network) 
• The European Hotel Managers Association (EHMA)
• Society of British and International Interior Design (SBID)

Online platforms make it easier than ever to build connections. LinkedIn, HospitalityNet, and Archinect are ideal for professional discussions, career advice, and job openings. Platforms like Behance and Dezeen Jobs allow students to showcase their portfolios, while interior design-focused communities on social media encourage engagement with other professionals in the field.

For SHMS students, the IRF is often where their careers begin. Apart from internships and job interviews, it offers direct access to global industry professionals, meaningful networking opportunities, and real-time information about industry trends.

What makes studying at SHMS a great choice is the opportunity to build a strong professional network through SHMS mentors, faculty, and its global alumni community. Faculty members go beyond academic support, acting as industry connectors who provide access to a broad network of professionals and alumni worldwide. Through their guidance, mock interviews, and career information, students gain confidence for the IRF and form lasting connections for their careers.

This sense of professional growth is something that Antoine, a SHMS graduate, understands well.

The greatest advantage of studying at SHMS lies in the unique combination of its excellent international reputation and cultural diversity. As a student, being immersed in an environment where students come from all over the world offers an incomparable perspective on the hospitality industry.

Stay updated

Staying up-to-date with industry news, hotel design trends, sustainability practices, and technological advancements is essential for long-term career success. Designers must remain informed about eco-friendly resources, smart hotel technologies, and innovative planning strategies as guest expectations continue to evolve.

To keep up with the latest developments, students are encouraged to:

• Read leading design publications:
  • Hospitality Design
  • Dezeen
  • Architectural Digest
  • Interior Design Magazine
• Follow industry blogs and websites:
  • Hotel Designs
  • Designboom
  • Sleeper Magazine
• Attend workshops and webinars offered by organizations like:
  • International Interior Design Association (IIDA)
  • American Society of Interior Designers (ASID)
• Engage with online communities: 
  • Linkedin
  • Behance

Hotel Design vs. General Interior Design

Both hotel and general interior design focus on creating functional and aesthetic spaces, but they have different goals and challenges.

Emerging Trends in Hotel Design

Hotel design is constantly evolving to meet guest expectations, technological advances, and sustainability objectives. One of the most prominent trends is sustainable hospitality, where hotels are increasingly incorporating eco-friendly materials, energy-efficient lighting, and water-saving features. Green certifications like LEED, along with the use of recyclable and low-impact materials, are helping to reduce the industry's environmental footprint.

Smart technology is also transforming the guest experience through automated check-ins, voice-controlled room settings, and automated guest services. Most hotels are using app-controlled lighting and climate systems as well as digital room access to make things more convenient for guests.

Another rising trend is experiential design, which aims to create memorable stays by reflecting the local culture and surroundings. Hotels integrate art installations, themed interiors, and multi-dimensional features to offer comfortable stays.

To keep pace with remote work and evolving social habits, hotels are designing flexible spaces that can serve multiple purposes—functioning as work hubs, event venues, or areas for relaxation. Modular furniture and adaptable layouts make it easy to transform these spaces as needed.

Designs focused on wellness are becoming more popular, as hotels prioritize guest health through features like circadian lighting, in-room fitness options, spa-inspired bathrooms, and biophilic design elements such as natural light and greenery. Outdoor lounges, meditation rooms, and air purification systems further enhance relaxation and encourage healthier experiences.

Opportunities Await in Hotel Design

Becoming a hotel designer starts with a strong foundation in interior design, architecture, or hospitality-focused design. Earning a relevant degree, gaining hands-on experience through internships, and building a portfolio of hospitality projects are essential first steps. Aspiring designers can stand out by developing advanced skills in space planning, branding, and creating exceptional guest experiences.

For those who want a successful career in hotel design, SHMS offers an outstanding starting point. It blends design education with hospitality expertise, provides practical learning opportunities, connects students with industry leaders, and delivers a globally recognized qualification.

Explore our programs today and start building your dream career in hotel design.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do hotels create a unique guest experience through design?

Hotels create memorable experiences through unique architectural designs, stylish interior design, comfortable spaces, and details like lighting or fragrances to help them feel welcome.

What are some of the best hotel designs in the world?

Some of the best hotel designs in the world include Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, Jumeirah Burj Al Arab in Dubai, and The Icehotel in Sweden. All of these are famous for their exceptional and luxurious designs.

What are the biggest challenges in hotel design?

The biggest challenges in hotel design include making the hotel look beautiful and practical by using the space wisely, becoming eco-friendly, and keeping up with the expectations of guests.