234 | Model Room Mayhem

234 | Model Room Mayhem

From Top Floor by Susan Barry

March 10, 2026 · 26 min · Episode 234

About this episode

Lori Mukoyama discusses the intricacies of hotel design and guest experience with Susan Barry.

Lori Mukoyama is a Design Principal and Global Hospitality Leader at Gensler, shaping hotel experiences across cities from Chicago to Tokyo. With a background in boutique retail and large-scale hospitality design, she focuses on the tactile and emotional details that shape guests' experience of a space. Susan and Lori talk about design details, destination differences, and the future of guest experience. What You'll Learn • What designers actually control in a hotel, from doorknobs to pillows • Why "15 feet and down" shapes the entire guest experience • When hotel design should feel nothing like your own home • How hospitality design differs across the U.S., Latin America, and Japan • Why historic hotel renovations are booming right now • Smart ways brands balance global standards with local culture • How remote work is changing the layout of hotel rooms • Why giving designers time to create a concept story matters • How designing for a "guest muse" transforms spaces and furniture choices • The coming shift toward multi-generational hotel room design • Why sustainability innovation is the hospitality industry's next big challenge *** Our Top Three Takeaways Great hotel design…

People in this episode

Host: Susan Barry

Guest: Lori Mukoyama

Topics covered

  • hotel design
  • guest experience
  • hospitality
  • sustainability
  • multi-generational design

Keywords

  • hospitality design
  • guest experience
  • hotel renovations
  • sustainability
  • design details

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Gensler

Places: Chicago, Tokyo, U.S., Latin America, Japan

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