The Guest Experience Begins on Paper: Hotel Design with Anne Becker Olins

Episode SummaryIn this episode of The Room Key, Chase Keller sits down with Anne Becker Olins, a Paris-based architect and designer whose work with Accor spans the globe’s most luxurious hotels—including Raffles, Fairmont, and Orient Express.Anne shares what makes luxury design truly timeless, why she insists on staying involved after hotels open, and how even midscale owners can learn to blend guest experience with long-term ROI. With stories from across Europe, Asia, and the U.S., she brings a rare perspective on design that’s as strategic as it is beautiful.Whether you're building a boutique hotel or operating a legacy brand, this conversation will make you rethink what design really means—and how it can make or break the guest experience.What We Cover:The journey from standard to ultra-luxury hotel designWhy great design doesn’t end at the ribbon-cuttingWhat owners often forget after opening dayWhy “luxury” is more about time and space than moneyHow lifestyle hotels are misunderstood—and often overpricedTrends that excite her (and the ones she thinks are overhyped)The role of sustainability and wellness in the next decade of hospitalityGuest Bio:Anne Becker Olins is a Paris-based architect and designer for ultra-luxury hotels, working with Accor brands like Raffles, Fairmont, and Orient Express. With a career spanning Europe, Asia, and the Americas, she is known for staying involved well beyond the design phase to ensure long-term performance and guest impact.