What's better than going away on holiday? In my opinion, staying in an architectural marvel.
In a constant bid to be the top pick of tourists, hotel executives from the world's best hotels often throw millions of dollars towards updating the design of their accommodation.
Marble entrances, extravagant water features, lush greenhouses - nothing is out of the question, particularly when designing that critical first point of contact for guests: the lobby. Because as the saying goes, "you never get a second chance to make a first impression".
Whilst many of us would only be so lucky to stay at these top-of-the-range hotels, we are often able to peek into their entrances to appease our curiosity.
Once hotel lobbies were simply a place to check in and collect one's keys, hoteliers have well and truly cottoned on to the fact that lobbies can be commercialised to make that extra impression and generate those extra bucks.
Grand bars, chef-hat restaurants, celebrity magnet cafes - all of these are often found in the world's most renowned hotels.
As such, lobbies aren't just a waiting place or formality anymore, but a provider of a certain type of lifestyle and incredible design.
Below is a collection of some of the world's boldest lobby designs (there's even an Australian one!)...
Sheraton Centre Hotel, Toronto
Armani Hotel, Dubai
Selman Lobby, Marrakech
Four Seasons Hotel in Guangzhou, China
Hotel lobby in Chicago
Xi’an Westin Hotel, China
Le Meridien Chiang Rai Resort, Thailand
Four Seasons, Budapest
Grammercy Park Hotel, New York
Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo, Japan
Raffles, Singapore
The Roosevelt, New Orleans
The Westin Excelsior, Rome
Palazzo Versace, Australia
