Hospitality

CREATING DESTINATIONS WITH A SENSE OF PLACE

Published

3 weeks ago

July 21, 2026

Exclusive interview with Holly Hallam, Holly Hallam is Co-Owner of DLSM Studio

DLSM Studio recently completed NAC Kuwait, the sixth NAC venue you’ve delivered across the Middle East. As a brand expands across multiple markets, how do you maintain consistency while ensuring each location feels authentic to its destination?

Design is an opportunity to be curious and creative, to tell a unique story by creating an emotional and physical environment whether you are working on a standalone concept or a brand expansion.

Defining the design DNA is a vital component of designing for multi-site brands, curating a connective thread that unites each site without becoming repetitive, supporting long-term growth whilst still retaining a core identity.

As design guardians for NAC, we’ve developed a deep understanding of the brand’s defining character: its relaxed European elegance, social energy and sense of familiarity. This foundation informs every project whilst each new location interprets the brand through the lens of its surroundings.

For NAC Kuwait, our design draws inspiration from the energy of the Hessah District and its waterfront setting. Through expansive glazing, open terraces, natural materials and a muted palette, we created a seamless connection between the interior and the coastal landscape, delivering an experience that feels both locally relevant and unmistakably NAC.

Before entering design, you spent years understanding audiences and consumer behaviour. Do you think that perspective gives you an advantage when creating spaces that need to emotionally connect with guests?

Absolutely. Design has always been about people first.

Understanding consumer behaviour taught me to look beyond the aesthetics and ask why people make decisions, what influences them emotionally and what creates lasting memories. That strategic thinking still underpins every project we undertake. Before we even start our design process we’re asking questions about the guests, their journey, the brand values and the emotional response we want people to leave with.

Beautiful spaces are important, but beautiful spaces with purpose are what create commercial success. When you truly understand your audience, you’re able to design experiences that feel intuitive, meaningful and memorable.

Your recent work on The Trafalgar St. James and Radisson RED Twickenham demonstrates two very different approaches to hospitality design. How do you decide which stories are worth telling within a space?

Every project begins with curiosity.

We spend time understanding what’s behind our clients’ ambitions and brands, their commercial objectives, KPI’s, the people, personality, and intended audience, before we begin designing.

Combining this knowledge with our anthropologic research – studying the historical, architectural and cultural landscape of the site – helps us to build and ultimately reveal the narrative.

As with The Trafalgar St. James, it was rooted in the building’s heritage intertwined with a contemporary sense of luxury to create a stylish destination. Other times, it’s about creating a sense of community by capturing the energetic personality of the Alliance Twickenham Stadium combined with the bold brand of Radisson RED.

The story you choose to tell should always feel authentic to the operator and guest. Once you’ve found that truth, every design decision becomes much clearer because it all supports the same narrative.

DLSM Studio has worked across a diverse portfolio that includes luxury hotels, destination restaurants, branded residences and mixed-use developments. Have you noticed a shift in what clients are asking for compared to five years ago, and what does that tell us about where hospitality is heading?

Without question. Five years ago, conversations often centred around creating visually impressive destinations that felt rooted to the locality of the property. Today, clients are thinking much more holistically.

They’re asking how design can speak on both an emotional and physical level. Considering a more sensory and personalised experience that resonates with guests on a deeper level.

We are designing in stronger brand identifiers and looking at a greater focus on niche pillars – such as health and wellbeing. These elements are truly integrated into the property, not just positioned in the Spa or Gym, but across the food and beverage menus, in room amenities and guest touch points.

Hospitality is becoming increasingly layered. It’s no longer just about what a space looks like, it’s about how it performs and how it connects with people. That’s exactly where we believe the industry is heading, and it’s very much aligned with the way we’ve always approached design.

The brand has built a reputation for creating spaces rooted in narrative. Why do you think storytelling has become such a powerful differentiator in a competitive evolving market?

Sharing stories builds deeper connections.

Storytelling is the ancient method of unifying people. It helps to create personality and purpose and intrigue. When guests become curious to explore and discover the story of a property it builds a deeper, positive emotional connection.

For us, storytelling isn’t about adding decorative references or themed moments. It’s about creating a coherent experience where every detail, from branding, interiors, operational delivery and guest journey, enhances and speaks to the same idea. When every touchpoint works together, the experience feels effortless, authentic and ultimately much more memorable.

Many designers focus on what a space looks like. You often speak about how a space feels. Why do you think emotion has become such an important design metric?

Because people don’t remember every material specification, they remember how a place made them feel.

Hospitality is an emotional industry. Whether someone is celebrating, travelling, relaxing or connecting with others, the environment plays an enormous role in shaping that experience. As designers, we’re creating spaces that appeal to the senses, support wellbeing and encourage genuine human connection.

When emotion becomes part of the design process, the outcome is far richer than aesthetics alone. Studies show that positive emotions toward a brand have a greater influence on loyalty than trust and other judgments, with emotionally connected guests having a 306% higher lifetime value towards the brand.

It’s those emotional moments that create loyalty, advocacy and lasting memories, which are ultimately the true measure of successful hospitality design.

What lessons from working with global luxury hospitality brands do you believe can be applied to residential living today?

The boundaries between hospitality and residential design are becoming increasingly blurred.

People want their homes to offer the same sense of luxury, comfort and considered experience they enjoy when staying in a great hotel. It is the considered nature of a hospitality experience that people are bringing into their houses that enhance the way they move and live at home.

Thoughtful planning, intuitive functionality, wellbeing, craftsmanship and a strong sense of place all contribute to a richer everyday experience. Great design should improve people’s lives, support their routines and create moments of joy.

As we say in our studio, it’s about designing beyond the aesthetic and creating environments that people genuinely love spending time in.

Hospitality

JW MARRIOTT MARQUIS HOTEL DUBAI INTRODUCES A SUMMER OF WELLNESS AT SARAY SPA AND BODYBASE

Published

8 hours ago

August 10, 2026

Integrator Web-Editor

This August, JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai has three very different ways for guests to relax in Business Bay. The new City Wellness Retreat pairs a stay with breakfast and a spa treatment, and Saray Spa is offering its hammam ritual with special offers, while on the same floor, BodyBase keeps things energetic with reformer classes and offers designed to draw in newcomers. Add a dip in the Aqua Pool with Burj Khalifa in view, and August gives guests plenty of reason to stay a while longer.

City Wellness Retreat

For guests who want to properly switch off, JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai is introducing the City Wellness Retreat this August. Designed for guests seeking a restorative urban wellness escape, the package pairs a night at the hotel with a full breakfast and a 30-minute massage at Saray Spa, so a stay in Business Bay comes with breakfast at Business Bay by Kitchen6, energy one morning and a proper spa break the next, without having to leave the property.

Details:

When: Throughout August 2026
Where: JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai
Offer: Room stay with breakfast and a 30-minute massage at Saray Spa
Booking: Via WhatsApp on +971 4 414 6757

30% off Hammam Treatments at Saray Spa

Saray Spa’s Hammam Treatment is a rejuvenating ritual combining soothing steam, invigorating exfoliation and a traditional wash-down, all enhanced by the calming scents of orange and frankincense. Designed to refresh both body and mind, this has proven to be a guest favourite. Throughout August, enjoy 30% off this signature hammam experience and indulge in a moment of well-deserved self-care.

Details:

When: Daily until 31^st August 2026
Where: Saray Spa at JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai
Offer: 30% off Hammam Treatments
Booking: Via WhatsApp on +971 4 414 6757

BodyBase Trio Trial

BodyBase is giving beginners an easy way into its reformer classes, no experience needed. The Trio Trial gives newcomers three classes for AED 250, with a pair of BodyBase grip socks included, a good way to try both styles before committing to a membership.

Details:

When: Daily until 31^st August 2026
Where: BodyBase at JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai
Offer: Three classes for AED 250, exclusive to newcomers and inclusive of complimentary BodyBase grip socks
Booking: Via WhatsApp on +971 4 414 6757

BodyBase Reformer Class and Pool Access

New for summer, BodyBase is pairing its dynamic reformer fitness classes with access to the Aqua Pool for the ultimate wellness morning. After an invigorating session that challenges the entire body and leaves guests feeling energised, the experience continues with a relaxing poolside retreat. Guests can take a refreshing dip, lounge in the sun and admire sweeping Burj Khalifa views, turning a simple workout into a morning of fitness, recovery and indulgence. Open to members old and new, the combination costs AED 100 for the full morning.

Details:

When: Daily until 31^st August 2026
Where: BodyBase at JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai
Offer: Reformer class with access to the Aqua Pool
Price: AED 100
Booking: Via WhatsApp on +971 4 414 6757

Hospitality

Common Grounds and Cymbiotika introduce Inner Bloom

Published

16 hours ago

August 10, 2026

Integrator Web-Editor

Common Grounds has partnered with Cymbiotika to introduce Inner Bloom, a limited-edition smoothie designed for those looking to nourish their bodies, without compromising on flavour. Launching on 7 August and available until 30 September, the wellness-focused drink will be served at Dubai Hills Mall, Kite Beach, DIFC, JBR, and Mall of the Emirates for AED 45.

At the heart of the collaboration is the Inner Boom, a smoothie that’s as beautiful as it is beneficial. Blending sun-ripened mango, strawberry purée, Greek yoghurt, blue spirulina, and agave with Cymbiotika’s Liquid Colostrum. The Liquid Colostrum helps support gut health, immune function, healthy skin, hair and nails, making it an ideal choice for everyone seeking a more mindful approach to their daily nutrition.

Created as part of a shared mission to make everyday wellness more approachable, the collaboration brings together two brands that believe feeling good should fit seamlessly into daily life. Whether enjoyed after a workout, between meetings, or as a morning pick-me-up, this smoothie offers a simple way to add a functional boost to the day.

The partnership reflects the natural synergy between Common Grounds and Cymbiotika. Known for creating spaces where great food, specialty coffee and community come together, Common Grounds continues to evolve its wellness offering through thoughtful partnerships and guest experiences. Cymbiotika, meanwhile, has built a global following through its science-backed supplements, transparent sourcing, and commitment to empowering healthier lifestyles.

More than just a smoothie, Inner Bloom reflects a shared belief that small, intentional choices can have a positive impact on how we feel every day.

Inner Bloom | Available: 7 August – 30 September 2026
Price: AED 45 | Locations: Common Grounds Dubai Hills Mall, Kite Beach, DIFC, JBR and Mall of the Emirates

Hospitality

DUBAI’S NEWEST DINING TREND ISN’T A DISH, IT’S AN EXPERIENCE FOR BRINGING BACK THE OLD ROMANCE

Published

17 hours ago

August 10, 2026

Integrator Web-Editor

Launching on 3rd August 2026 and running every Monday from 7pm to midnight, the restaurant’s “Bringing Back the Old Romance” transforms the restaurant into a full sensory reset for the evening, with candlelight, dimmed lighting and a slower soundtrack replacing the usual buzz. Every table is dressed for the occasion, with personalised candles carrying a single rose, and a notepad for writing messages to take home, sealed in an envelope.

In a city where restaurant tables are as likely to be shared with a phone as with a partner, Rodeo Drive at Ibn Battuta Gate has introduced a weekly ritual designed to bring couples back to each other, a chance to ditch the phone, disconnect, and reconnect with their lover.

Couples can choose from four set menu packages, priced per couple ranging from 220 AED to 499 AED. You & Me offers a pared-back shared starter, a main each and a shared dessert. Romeo & Juliet builds on this with access to the full menu, including smokehouse and live-fire dishes, alongside a house beverage each. Beauty & the Beast adds a starter and dessert per person and a bottle of house wine to share, while Bonnie & Clyde Go Crazy, the most indulgent tier, offers unlimited starters and house beverages across a relaxed 2.5-hour seating.

Dishes lean into bold, comforting flavours built for sharing, from smoked brisket queso and live-fire cedar plank salmon to rib eye topped with cowboy butter, alongside a wider selection of wings, tacos, pasta and burgers, finishing with Basque cheesecake or a s’mores brownie for two.

The host can further personalise the evening while reserving the table with add-ons including a single long-stem rose, chocolate-dipped strawberries, a smokehouse sharing board, or a romantic table upgrade complete with a bouquet, chocolates and a personalised card to surprise the other.

At the centre of the evening sits an unusual proposition: put the phone away, and be rewarded for it. The 20% Challenge invites couples to lock their phones in a table box for a full hour, receiving 20% off their bill once the hour is complete. The mechanic is built around a simple idea, rewarding couples for giving each other undivided attention.

This idea taps into something couples quietly know but rarely act on: an evening feels different when nobody reaches for their phone. By tying that hour of disconnection to a genuine reward, Rodeo Drive makes it easy to actually follow through, turning a familiar intention into a habit worth keeping. Guests can look forward to it each week, a small, standing invitation to slow down together.

Tables can be booked 24 hours in advance, with a prepayment confirming the table, the romantic set-up and the finer details. Guests are asked to share both first names when booking so candle cards are ready on arrival.