CODAworx maintains a database of published projects, including many specific to commissioned works in hotels and resorts, as well as restaurants. A review of entries within the last 36 months provides artists, commissioners, developers and architects with insight into the total, as well as the highest and median commission value of art installations occurring in these settings.

While commission values are important, a review of select entries in the CODAworx database demonstrates how recent trends in the design of hotels, resorts and restaurants have provided guests with an inclusive, experiential art-filled stay. Generic design and cookie-cutter furnishings have thankfully, given way to unique environments where up-scale accommodations and fine dining experiences share top billing with some of the world’s most innovative interior design and finest works of art. 

Emerging Trends Put Art at the Forefront of Hospitality Interior Design

A number of emerging trends are occurring related to art installations within the hospitality industry. Hotels, resorts and restaurants are creating custom, unique experiences through commissioned artwork, rotating exhibitions, showcases for personal collections, artist-in-residence programs and partnerships with local arts organizations. 

A recent and welcomed development in the hospitality sector is “art hotels”. These hotels, resorts and the restaurants they host eschew generic interior design in favor of concept-driven decor featuring striking, experiential and memorable artistic expression. In the blog post The Art Hotel Concept Catches on as a Bridge from Bob Ross to Established Galleries, Laura Hilpipre, Senior Director of Hospitality at OZ Architecture notes that guests are no longer satisfied with a comfortable stay in a nice hotel. Instead, They want a story and a reason why they should stay there. 

According to Hilpipre, “art hotels” capitalize on the guest’s desire to have a memorable, sensory-inclusive experience, much like the open concept kitchen brought diners into the heart of the restaurant. 

“Art has become the decision maker and hotels are designing spaces around it in ways we haven’t seen before,” states Hilpipre.“The hotel has long been a place of respite for travelers as well as a community meeting space. With the addition of curated art in designed spaces, hotels are becoming attractions showcasing what makes cities and communities unique.” 

Below, we highlight those works that represent the highest commission values in both Hotels & Resorts, and in Restaurants, as well as those that reflect the average commission value of projects. Descriptions include references to how these settings have elevated artwork to be an essential element of the hospitality experience.  

Commission Value — Hotels & Resorts and Restaurants

Commission profiles are described below according to total, highest and median values for this category (264 entries with commissions totaling $77,984,296). The reader will find links to projects with the highest commission and to projects that best represent the median commission. 

Also provided is an overview of commissions within the individual categories Hotels & Resorts, and Restaurants.

The project with the largest commission value ($35 million) occurred in Bogota, Columbia. The commission value reflects the interior design budget inclusive of furniture and finishes for the W Bogota Hotel. Inspired by the El Dorado “lost city of gold” legend, the designers re-interpreted the tale to provide guests with an imaginary journey to this exotic time and locale. Designers focused on Colombia's indigenous elements such as bold colors, flowers, and vibrant patterns. Gold embellishments were incorporated throughout the 14,750 square feet of space. 

Among all study period projects in the Hotels & Resorts, Restaurants database, an artwork installation at Vail Resorts in Vail, CO best represents the median commission fee. The Edge, with a commission budget of $500,000, is a bronze monument to ski racing and is dedicated to Olympic and World Champion skiers of Vail. Created by Gail Folwell, the sculpture is the centerpiece of Vail’s new village base area, part of a billion dollar renaissance undertaken by Vail Resorts and the Town of Vail.

Commission Value — Hotels & Resorts

As described above, the W Bogota Hotel commanded the highest commission value at $35 million. The architects and designers sought to create a contemporary hotel and respectfully tell the story of El Dorado. They succeeded by drawing upon local inspiration, using local vendors and artists to evoke a sense of authenticity. Accordingly, each space creates a strong connection and lasting impression, tells the mythological story, and achieves a complete and unabridged experience for the guest.

Unity, a stainless steel structure located at Oxon Hill, MD best represents the median commission value in the Hotels & Resorts category. Three, 60' tall identical fabricated sculptures stand at the entry to the MGM Resort and Casino. Designed by artist John Safer, the artwork celebrates the diversity and spirit of the Capital Region.

Commission Value — Restaurants

Hudson Yards Grill (New York, NY) commanded the largest commission value in this category at $7 million. The art collection offers guests a museum-like experience with over a dozen paintings and sculptures by internationally acclaimed artists.The art installations serve two purposes - enhancing the overarching visual experience while also defining the space and creating a sense of place for guests. 

The restaurateur, the chef, the architects, and the art consultant collaborated to include varied artworks that would give character to similar seating areas. Sculpture creates a major focus within sections of the restaurant and is used as a wayfinding device. Specific paintings reference New York City and the historic Hudson Yards neighborhood, including a vibrant mural of the Hudson River. 

Lighting creates a sense of intimacy, illuminating individual table-tops and accenting the artwork against a dark background. Guests enjoy a feeling of privacy at each table, complemented by a strategically designed view of specific artwork within each restaurant section.

Artwork installed at Puree Juice Bar in Fairfax, VA is representative of the median value in the Restaurant category. With a budget of $160,000, the designers were challenged by a setting that did not have a distinct neighborhood image. Created in a newly established “town center”, it was critical that the interior space resonate with the customer. Transparency and art were guiding principles for the design. The view to the front kitchen is open to the public. The back kitchen and bathroom are screened by an art installation functioning both as scrim and branding. The art scrim and a large mural at a small seating area were created by a local artist on translucent, acrylic panels. The dropped translucent polycarbonate ceiling and the cladding for the customized “grab and go” area complement the art and reinforce the feeling of transparency.

Publish Your Projects

CODAworx is a leading authority on commissioned art and maintains a comprehensive database of information regarding RFPs, commissioning entities, budgets, and awards. Tapping into this database enables CODAweekly to feature regular Industry Reports by design segment (commercial, hospitality, healthcare, etc.) that highlights top artists, trends in commission fees, and more.

We encourage you to add information to the CODAworx database by publishing a project to our Project Library or populate data on projects already in the database. Anyone involved in the collaborative process can publish a project on CODAworx. This includes the artist and creative teams, design professionals and other commissioners, and industry resources such as fabricators, engineers, installers, lighting designers, videographers, and more. Potential clients, commissioners, collaborators and your peers will get to know you and your work. They can contact you directly through the CODAworx messaging system.

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