Marriott Bonvoy Explores Tales of Design and Architecture in Content Series from Stept Studios

Marriott International’s Content Studio collaborated with Stept Studios on the development and production of Travel by Design, a film series illustrating the stories of the design and architectural inspiration from some of their most iconic properties. Presented by Marriott’s award-winning loyalty program, Marriott Bonvoy, Travel by Design brings tales of design and architecture to life from world-renowned creatives such as Frank Gehry. The series of four films will launch on the first ever exclusive branded destination within Samsung’s free ad-supported streaming service, Samsung TV Plus, starting November 1st, as well as Roku, YouTube and will be featured in hotel rooms globally on Marriott Bonvoy TV.

Marriott’s Content Studio tapped Stept Studios because they are known for creating cinematic, human stories for brands that feel more like entertainment. “When we started development with the Content Studio, the team aspired to tell stories about their most iconic properties connecting with a creative audience. To develop a wide-eyed travel series, about design thinking, was a dream brief!” said Executive Creative Director of Stept Entertainment, Davey Spens. “We treated the series as a collection of films that charted the journeys of visionary designers or architects, pairing each with a different Stept director to tell the story with a unique cinematic view,” Spens continued.

Utilising Stept’s creative, production and post teams allowed for an end to end solution, but more than that, it allowed each director to create just the right visuals and tone. This approach ensured that the finished series would look cohesive in order to inspire brand loyals and new-comers alike to explore the broad range of hotels in the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio. Viewers will be able to immerse themselves in the experience through these distinguished storytellers unpacking their personal creative process behind W Punta de Mita in Mexico, where Mother Nature was the architects' chief collaborator, to the Frank Gehry designed Hotel Marqués de Riscal, a Luxury Collection Hotel in Spain.

“We are excited to launch our Travel by Design films to introduce travelers to the design visionaries behind some of the world’s most remarkable hotels,” said Kate Pfetsch, head of Marriott's Content Studio at Marriott International. “The creativity of the team at Stept Studios really brought our hotels to life, showcasing the depth of the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio and we’re proud to feature the films across a variety of platforms and channels for audiences around the world.”

Designed by Frank Gehry as an impossible structure and brought to life by executing architect, Cesar Caicoya, the stunning Hotel Marqués de Riscal stands out against the backdrop of the mountainous Rioja wine region of Northern Spain.

Nestled along Florida's coastal waterways, an enchanting design story unfolds at The Ben, an Autograph Collection hotel, conceived by architect and designer Malcolm Berg. The Ben channels the spirit of one of West Palm Beach’s original homes and interprets it for a modern traveler. The name derived from “se non è vero, è ben trovato,” an Italian phrase which, loosely translated, means “even if it isn’t true, it’s a good story” which comes to life in the imaginative design throughout the hotel. 

Perched on the ocean in the heart of one of Mexico’s most gorgeous beaches, W Punta de Mita invites you to immerse yourself in a truly remarkable hotel design experience. Inspired by the natural surroundings of Mexico and the extraordinary artistry of the indigenous Huichol peoples, designer and architect Constanze Mertens describes W Punta de Mita as a balancing act of design, architecture, and color.

We discover W Rome, designed by multi-disciplinary design boutique Meyer Davis. Embodying the quintessential Italian Eternal City mindset, W Rome calls out the past, present and future to remix tradition and defy design boundaries.