Interior Design, Innisfree Hotels


Innisfree Hotels is gaining momentum, expanding and growing into new markets and opening additional properties in destinations where we’ve made a home.


These are exciting times, as we look forward to the opening of the Best Western Premier Tides Hotel in Summer 2016 and break ground on the Hilton Garden Inn in Fort Walton Beach, Fla. as well as the Springhill Suites and Hampton Inn & Suites in Panama City Beach, Fla.


As we develop and build new hotels, we’re staying ahead of design trends – to determine what makes our hotels special and how we differentiate properties in the same market.


We sat in on a design meeting led by Debbie Adrian of Adrian Caradine Contract Design, who lends her talents to enhance the guest experience in our hotels.


As the second phase of the Emerald Breeze Resorts project that brought a successful Holiday Inn Resort to Fort Walton Beach, the Hilton Garden Inn is a major design coup for Innisfree Hotels and ACC Design.


Due to strict brand standards that incorporate elements of the outdoors into the interior of Hilton Garden Inns, Adrian and her team worked ardently with brand managers to reach a design that reflects our beachfront destination.


Natural textures, sandy driftwood and pops of color are cornerstones of the new hotel’s design. There will be more accent walls and a very open feel – without the columns of a traditional floorplan. A dramatic ceiling at the entrance and cascading lanterns are two replacement features Adrian negotiated to meet brand requirements.


She met with the brand architect before Innisfree applied for the Hilton Garden Inn franchise to ensure front-end approval for an atypical design. After all, the Fort Walton Beach property will be one of very few beachfront HGIs worldwide.


“It’s almost like creating a painting on the interior of a hotel – layer upon layer of color and texture,” Adrian says.


Because of the beach location, even the center fireplace is in talks to be replaced by an aquarium, and the traditional garden leaf theme potentially could be vetoed in favor of sea oats.


Hotel lobbies are becoming increasingly social, no longer just a place to check-in, but a rather a place to check out all the destination has to offer. New features include outlet pop-ups for wireless devices and lots of varied options for seating, to create a natural gathering point.


Guest rooms, Adrian says, are ever evolving. Carpet is on its way out, replaced with wood-look porcelain tile flooring. It’s always a challenge in beachside communities with sand and wet bathing suits, so we opt for tile and faux leather seat coverings to avoid compromising fabrics.


“Fun, quirky elements evoke conversation and make it playful,” Adrian notes.


She’s quick to point out the new look is very minimalist and clean – that’s where design is heading today.


See for yourself when you book your next stay at an Innisfree property.


– Ashley Kahn Salley

Lead Storyteller, Innisfree Hotels