Interior design, branding and procurement firm Interior Image Group (IIG) will lead the design and procurement for the new Delta Hotels by Marriott Gatlinburg in Gatlinburg, TN. Located on a steep grade alongside the Cliff Branch River and overlooking Mt. Leconte, Delta Hotels Gatlinburg will offer stunning views of the Great Smoky Mountains as a year-round destination for guests. IIG’s interior design concept will pay homage to Gatlinburg’s beautiful scenery for the hotel’s lobby, public gathering areas, indoor and outdoor pools, F&B spaces and the 293 guestrooms and 10 suites. Delta Hotel by Marriott Gatlinburg will break ground later this year and is expected to be completed in Q2 of 2023.
As natural storytellers, IIG drew inspiration from the surrounding environment, specifically the White Oak and its ever-changing beauty through the seasons.
“The location,” said Leslie Schultz, SVP, design, IIG, when asked about what inspired the hotel’s design. “The hotel is situated overlooking Mt. Leconte and has a great sunset view to the west. This being a year-round destination for travelers, our concept was inspired by the transition of seasons through time. The springtime wildflower pilgrimage, the early summer Synchronous Firefly Festival, the changing of leaves across the mountain ranges in fall and the transition to winter.”
IIG incorporated the essence of Gatlinburg’s changing seasons, which will be subtly infused into each space through incorporating a natural color palette and greenery and into the space, leading guests from one area to the next. The picturesque landscape and local charm will influence specialty moments, reveal stories similar to that of the oak tree, and activate the hotel with a sense of warmth and welcome.
“The journey through the hotel has different concepts and stories to be told, but all with a similar tie that binds the overarching concept of transition through the seasons together,” Schultz said.
The design thoughtfully places contemporary furnishings and a modern, architectural style with contrasting organic silhouettes and natural elements that allow the boundary between indoor and outdoor to fade into one. IIG’s design will invite guests to relax and recharge with a stunning view of Mount Le Conte and its surrounding nature.
“Gatlinburg is a huge tourist draw and has many great destinations and attractions to visit no matter the time of year,” Schultz said. “The bar and restaurant—Smoky Mountain Bounty—is a nod to the springtime wildflower pilgrimage seen through the lens of a nature journalist. The skybar—Moonshine Lookout—is situated to take in the breathtaking sunset views over Mt. Leconte and give a nod to the summertime fireflies that sprinkle the landscape at dusk in summertime. Utilizing local materials and a color palette that allows the inside to meld with the exterior make this hotel feel perfectly incorporated into the landscape of Gatlinburg, while also bringing a fresh and modern take on a mountain lodge.”