4 Brand Hotels That Break the Corporate Mold

It’s always refreshing when a chain hotel shows guests something radically different than what they’ve grown accustomed to. A lot of times, these locations are interesting renovations of former warehouses or factories, giving the bones of the structure some design oomph.

One such hotel I recently visited is the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Lisbon–Fontana Park. It definitely surprises, with a dramatic black and white color palette and elegant simplicity of design.

Located on the edge of the Sao Sebastiao da Pedreira neighborhood, the hotel is easily accessible, a mere 4-minute walk from the Saldanha subway stop. In fact, arriving tourists can simply get on the red line at the airport and take it 10 stops to Saldanha—a simple, fast and inexpensive start to any visit here.

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The DoubleTree was the first city center design-focused hotel in Lisbon. The design is by Francisco Aires Mateus, with the decor by Nini Andrade Silva, who gives preference to the combined geometry to three main colors: black, white and grey.

Silva, who is from the Portuguese island of Madeira (also famous as the birthplace of soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo), used the Portuguese laurel forest there as the inspiration for the property. Beautiful wooded and fernlike imagery printed on screens adorn walls in the elevators, some lobby spaces and even meeting rooms. This provides a nice respite from the clean, simple geometry of the black, gray and white spaces throughout the hotel.

Originally built as an iron factory in 1908, the main hotel has 139 rooms. Less than two years ago an additional 21 rooms were added in a new wing, which flips the color scheme and uses white as the main focus. This area has light wood flooring and also some gorgeous balcony views.

My room, a king deluxe with private terrace, provided lovely views of the city from its seventh-floor perch. The European-style room featured an open bathroom design, long bench along one whole wall, a flat screen television, work desk, in-room safe, mini fridge and a coffee station.

Breakfast is included in the room rate and the hotel restaurant seats 42 for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with large windows overlooking the streetscape. The bar area features a cool wintergarden, with water cascading down one wall.

On Thursday evenings, local jazz musicians perform and there is also live music at breakfast on Saturdays. Come during a big soccer game and you’ll find the action on the big TV by the bar. On special occasions, the DoubleTree even brings in a DJ.

Here are three other “mold-breaking” hotels worth a look:

Courtyard by Marriott, Cologne, Germany

Not many hotels can claim the distinction of being located in a former cola factory, but this Marriott property wears that badge with pride. The former home of Afri Cola, a German brand, I was delighted to see that they still serve the beverage at the bar in distinctive glasses with two indents near the top, perfectly positioned for the drinker’s thumb and pointer finger to grasp.

Colors here at this 236-room property are bright and unexpected, and the exterior even features a gray and brown color palette with pops of orange. Look for the large vats located near the elevators—these were left over from the cola manufacturing process and stored syrup as well as the completed drink. Pillars in the lobby resemble cola bottles, and you’ll find bubbles in the artwork.

Delta Hotels Indianapolis East

This Canadian chain was acquired by Marriott in 2015 and is comprised of midrange suburban and downtown properties that are known for consistency. But book a stay at the Delta Hotels Indianapolis East and you’ll be pleasantly—and continually—surprised. From the outside, the location looks eminently forgettable. But once inside, you’ll second guess exactly where you are.

The property’s (recently deceased) owner was passionate about all things Italian, and his touch can be found everywhere. The entrance foyer and lobby are adorned with several larger-than-life Roman statues, each dramatically lit by overhead rings of blue LED lighting.

This Delta location has modern rooms, an incredibly friendly staff and upscale public areas that are wholly unexpected from a hotel in its price range. You’ll find touches of marble everywhere, as well as beautiful trim and flooring. What’s more, the expansive ballroom space has a stunning, sculpted fountain area that looks as if it could have been flown in from Florence or Milan.

Hyatt Regency Cleveland at the Arcade

Built in 1890, the Old Arcade in the center of downtown Cleveland is one of the city’s downtown jewels. It was modeled after the exquisite Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan. The arcade is home to a variety of businesses, from restaurants to clothing stores to doctor’s offices. The two towers on either side of the main arcade were totally renovated and turned into a Hyatt in 2001, a $60 million project.

Now, the upper floors of office space have been turned into 293 hotel rooms. Some face out to the city while others face inward toward the stunning brass, wood and glass adorned arcade. Similarly, the hotel’s signature restaurant, 1890, overlooks the city on one side and the arcade on the other. At Christmastime, an enormous tree adorns the central crosswalk on one of the arcade’s upper floors.