Designing a bar along the cliffside, who needs a wall when you have a whole rock face…

Hotels are a big part of my work. They play a crucial role in the world of travel, providing a safe haven, a place to rest, reconnect and relax each day after venturing outside and exploring. I never agreed with statements that hotels were simply a place to sleep and over the years, hotel management companies and owners have put more and more emphasis on design, art, experiences and food. At Longitude 80, we inspect and stay in dozens of high end properties every year while guiding our travellers. It’s not only a 20 minute “site inspection” with a bored sales assistant but an in-depth look at what is, what works and who’s this hotel for, what type of travellers would enjoy this place, how’s the staff, the welcome, the lobby, which are the best room views etc… I sometimes recognise the architectural style and design of some of Asia’s top names like Kerry Hill, Jean Michel Gathy or Tony Chi while staying at some of the stunning Aman properties, Capellas and Rosewoods across Asia. Simple lines, landscaping, spectacular lobbies, how a building blends with it’s environment.Every architect and designer have a “style” or “feel”. There is one designer in particular that I would no doubt call my all-time favourite. Bill Bensley, an American landscape architect and interior designer whose work has helped redefine luxury hospitality across Asia. Based in Bangkok and Bali, his studios have been creating hotels, resorts, spas, private residences since 1989. His company employs over 70 staff and has worked on more than 200 hospitality projects in around 50 countries.

What makes Bensley different is that he does not regard a hotel simply as a collection of beautiful rooms. His philosophy is to create a complete story and sense of place. Architecture, landscape, interiors, gardens, furniture, artwork, uniforms, signage and even the smallest details are conceived as part of one imaginative narrative. The InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort in Vietnam is a great example of his work. Bensley designed virtually everything, from the architecture and interiors to signage and uniforms. The resort is arranged vertically through four conceptual levels – Heaven, Sky, Earth and Sea – and draws heavily on Vietnamese architectural traditions and the rare species of monkeys that inhabit the peninsula.

I had the chance to meet him briefly in Siem Reap where he was attending the end of year graduation for another of his projects, the Shinta Mani Foundation where one of his hotels, the Shinta Mani Angkor is also a hospitality school. The school provides disadvantaged Cambodian students with free training, accommodation, meals, uniforms and stipends. Today, around 30 young people are selected each year, and the programme has produced hundreds of graduates, with the Foundation reporting a 100% employment rate.

Ultimately, Bensley’s greatest achievement may be that he has demonstrated that luxury and imagination do not have to come at the expense of authenticity, community or conservation.