How Art Defines the Guest Experience

As hospitality embraces a new era of science-backed amenities like sleep optimization and longevity-focused wellness, one constant has always been crucial to the guest journey: Art. Long before data could measure it, carefully curated artworks have been transforming how we feel, rest, and remember.

Research in neuroaesthetics confirms that art reshapes how we feel, think, and belong. From elevating mood to sharpening memory and easing stress, artworks are never simply decoration, but the architecture of emotion, woven into the experience of place. (APA)

Art is a cultural narrative. It comforts, provokes, inspires. A lobby featuring local creators signals arrival, belonging, and a connection to place. Guestrooms filled with handcrafted pieces invite intimacy and authenticity. In giving space to artists, hotels extend care to communities, anchoring stories in each stay and sending them home.

At Wimberly Interiors, art is never background. It is attentive, caring design, rooted in research and bound to the senses, curated to feel alive, empathetic, and of somewhere.

Modern neuroaesthetics reveal that whether we are viewing or creating art, the brain’s reward centers awaken, releasing dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin, and activating the default mode network – the system linked to rest, memory, and imagination (Psychologs). In hospitality, art helps guests ease from task-driven states into reflective ones, opening space for relaxation and connection.

At the same time, studies show that perceiving beauty, whether visual, musical, moral, or even mathematical, consistently activates the medial orbito-frontal cortex (mOFC), the brain’s hub for reward and subjective value (Financial Times). This means that art in hotels could actively support restoration, create a sense of worth, and anchor experiences as positive emotional memories.

Perched at the most prestigious point of The Pearl, Four Seasons Resort and Residences balances modernity and tradition with interiors that are timeless and deeply rooted in place. At the heart of this vision is art: a curated collection that layers narrative and meaning throughout the property. Works inspired by Doha’s flora, fauna, shells, and shoreline sit in dialogue with international pieces, creating a rhythm between heritage and innovation. Collaborations with celebrated Qatari artists Shouq Al-Mana and Hanadi Al-Darwish further anchor the project in local culture.

Across the hotel, art defines the experience. In the lobby, sculpture and curated works frame sweeping views to the sea, extending a sense of belonging. Public spaces celebrate global creativity while honoring local identity, and guestrooms carry through these connections with works that quietly echo the colors and horizons of the Arabian Peninsula. The curation transforms the property into a living gallery, an elegant expression of place and a testament to Doha’s growing cultural landscape.

Set against the McDowell Mountains, the reimagined Grand Hyatt Scottsdale Resort & Spa is a refined desert oasis where art provides the connective thread between brand identity, regional heritage, and landscape. Public spaces, curated with Whitaker Art Consulting, honor the traditions of the Southwest through abstraction and raw beauty, bringing the desert’s textures and tones indoors. In guestrooms, Kevin Barry Art Advisory drew on the Sonoran Desert’s palette of ochers, greens, and endless sky, while nodding to Frank Lloyd Wright’s philosophy of harmony with nature. The result is an approachable yet sophisticated collection that reflects both small-town warmth and expansive desert spirit.

Across the hotel, curated works give cohesion and depth to the guest journey. Murals, installations, and regional references are layered to evoke the natural environment while grounding the hotel in Arizona’s design lineage. The art transforms the resort into a living gallery of the desert where global hospitality is enriched by local artistry.

At Umana Bali, spiritual beliefs are transformed into living works of art. Traditional customs and objects blend seamlessly into spatial experiences, creating a canvas that inspires new social interactions and fosters a vibrant sense of community. This artful integration invites guests to immerse themselves in the rich tapestry of Balinese culture that permeates throughout the resort.

With design direction provided by Wimberly Interiors and working with Jellyspace, the reception lobby features a grand art piece – a carving of paddy field terraces that evokes a strong sense of place. To achieve a high level of precision on the water-resistant panels, the process involved marrying modern production methods of machinery precision cut, with a more traditional hand finished of sanding and coating by skilled local artisans. Made up of three panels with one panel taking around 40 hours of machinery work, the overall process took around two months from machinery to pre assembling quality control to finishing– a testament to the collective efforts where no expense was spared to achieve perfection.

At Viceroy at Ombria Algarve Wimberly Interiors commissioned and selected works from Portuguese artisans and furniture makers, layering custom pieces with considered vintage finds. Hand-plastered finishes, handcrafted tiles, and warm woods establish an honest material language that feels rooted and welcoming.

Art and bespoke furnishings bring the village concept into focus without tipping into theme. The approach builds longevity as well as character. Commissioning and sourcing locally strengthen maker networks, keeps the narrative authentic, and ensures that each room tells a specific story of place and craft.

At Park Hyatt Aviara in Carlsbad, Wimberly Interiors deployed an art-led refresh to hard-wire a coherent coastal narrative across the guest journey. In partnership with Eaton Fine Art, the program anchors to the Batiquitos Lagoon and native birdlife with modern, abstract bronze wall art for each guestroom which depicts the stately Great Blue Heron soaring in flight. A site-specific steel sculpture in the courtyard captures the fluid motion of indigenous species. Layered with WATG’s estate-style architecture and landscape, the curation drives dwell, sightlines and wayfinding, delivering a disciplined, coastal-luxe experience that honors the resort’s legacy while enabling a scalable rotation strategy for future updates.

Science now decodes what once felt instinctive – art in hospitality is elemental. It restores and uplifts, creates belonging, and honors identity. It carries the voice of artists and the memory of culture, ensuring spaces feel personal and profound. When art is curated with care and intention, it becomes a language of empathy and connection. For hoteliers, it is both strategy and soul – a commitment to experiences that endure for guests and enrich local communities.