Design Hotels (Marriott Bonvoy)

Design Hotels was founded in Berlin in 1993 by Claus Sendlinger around the idea of the auteur hotel: distinct architecture, design, and storytelling. About 320 properties in 60+ countries in 2025. Marriott took a majority stake in 2015 and folded Design Hotels into the Bonvoy loyalty program in 2018, meaning you earn and redeem points across the collection. Compared to SLH and LHW, Design Hotels is more open to younger operators and emerging boutique projects of 30-80 keys. Notable members include The Olive Exclusive (Namibia), Casa Bonay (Barcelona), Habitas (Mexico, Morocco), and Vela (Joshua Tree). For travelers, this is the go-to label for ambitious contemporary design.