Is Good Design No Longer Enough? What Actually Makes Guests Come Back

On this episode of Suite Success, host Katie Cline is joined by architect and hospitality design expert David Shove-Brown, co-founder of the award-winning firm //3877. With a portfolio spanning hotels, restaurants, and mixed-use spaces across the country, David brings a rare perspective on how design, operations, and human behavior intersect to shape the guest experience. In this conversation, David shares what he notices within seconds of walking into a hotel and why those first moments matter more than most operators realize. From the layout of a front desk to the lighting in a bathroom, he explains how seemingly small design decisions can influence how a guest feels about their entire stay—often without them even realizing it. Katie and David also explore the tension between designing spaces that look impressive versus those that actually function well, and where hotels often misallocate budget as a result. They discuss the psychology behind guest satisfaction, the importance of designing for both employees and guests, and why great design is often invisible when done right (but immediately noticeable when it’s not). Finally, David reflects on how guest expectations have evolved in the age of social media, why design is becoming table stakes, and what today’s travelers are really looking for—from ease and intuitiveness to values like sustainability and authenticity. 00:00 Welcome to Suite Success 00:37 Meet David Shove-Brown 02:51 First Impressions 04:52 Design Details That Fail 06:35 Designing for Operations 08:43 What Feels High End 13:08 Bathroom Lighting Psychology 15:28 Common Hotel Design Mistakes 19:19 Guest Room Details 23:40 How to Balance Your Budget 24:47 Rising Guest Expectations 26:17 Designing Beyond Instagram 27:46 Favorite Projects 30:44 Next Gen Values Shift 33:26 Brands vs. Independents 34:40 Future of Hospitality Design 42:15 Suite Summary This episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lodgify!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Connect with David:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠David's LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dsb3877/ David's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dsb3877/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠//3877's Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: https://www.3877.design/ Links: Apple Podcasts - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Spotify - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Suite Success Website - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect with Katie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠