Skift Take
Funky furniture and art grab all the glory in hotel design talk on Instagram and TikTok. But lighting has under-appreciated importance. This example of a lighting refresh at this Dominican Republic resort could offer broader lessons to the sector.
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More and more designers believe lighting is critical in making hotel lobbies more inviting because of a next-gen traveler demand for more social interaction and blended travel. The Westin Puntacana Resort & Club renovation is an example worth spotlighting.
An ongoing property-wide renovation recently began in what general manager Martin Rodriguez refers to as “the living room” of the hotel, better known as the lobby. At his property, the lobby serves as the check-in desk, lounge, elevator bank, gift shop entrance, and cocktail bar.
To understand why a lighting refresh was critical here, you have to know that there are no towers at this Westin. The property's horseshoe design gives each of the resort's 200 rooms a view of the ocean and the central pool. This open architecture affords the centrally located lobby a breathtaking view — straight through to sand and sea. Supporting that panorama is