For years, The Highland Dallas, the first-ever Curio Collection hotel, carried a darker, masculine aesthetic—heavy woods, Western accents and an intimate, quiet atmosphere. Now, after a full-scale renovation, the hotel has emerged with a lighter, art-driven design.
“It was time to inject in energy, new look, new feel,” said Virginia Acosta, GM of the hotel, which is managed by Davidson Hospitality Group. “It was a little tired and quite dark before. After a while, you get tired of that, and you want to bring some fresh air to the building. And that’s what we were able to accomplish.”
The redesign, led by BAMO Inc., introduced brighter palettes, airy layouts and a subtle nod to Texas culture. “It was exactly what we wanted—more like clean lines, airy, fresh and lighter,” she said. “It even felt uplifting, a younger type of feel, without making it very sterile. That’s what the warm colors and beautiful art throughout the hotel bring.”
Nowhere is that shift more visible than in the lobby, where dark wood has given way to lighter tones, hand-blown chandeliers and a terracotta mural created by a Mexican artist. Inspired by the Texas Hill Country and bluebonnets, the mural spans a large wall and serves as what Acosta hopes will become “very iconic of this building.”
A water feature nearby adds a calming effect. “When people walk in, it sort of gives them a sense of place,” she said.
Throughout the property, artwork takes center stage. Ownership, Acosta noted, “have a passion for art, and they wanted to translate it to this hotel.”
Pieces curated by Sweeney Art Advisory include works from artists such as Jim Zhou, Alicia LaChance and Kimberly George, reflecting both color and abstraction while anchoring the interiors in Dallas’ creative culture.
The guestrooms follow the same philosophy of lightness and warmth. Bathrooms were fully renovated with bright tile and mirrors that guests frequently ask about.
“Everybody loves their good lighting for makeup, and they’ve been fantastic,” Acosta said. Double-queen rooms now include a loveseat and table between beds, creating what she described as “a very homey” setting, rather than two beds side by side.
Beyond design, new amenities aim to surprise guests. The GM highlighted the hotel’s curated minibar as an unexpected success. Stocked with full-size bottles of wine and spirits, as well as specialty products sourced through partnerships with suppliers that support survivors of violence and trafficking, the minibar has become “an amazing amenity for us,” she said. “It’s been a beautiful surprise.”
Community was also central to the redesign. Located across from Southern Methodist University, The Highland has long been a neighborhood landmark, and Acosta said the renovation was meant to make it more welcoming to locals as well as travelers. “This hotel, for a while, was a little too quiet,” she said. “With this renovation, we wanted to come back a little bit more bold, a little bit finding our place.”
As the very first property in Hilton’s Curio Collection, the renovation reflects both that legacy and a step forward. “We just wanted to bring it back almost to a fresh start,” she said. “We’re here, we’re part of the community, and we are evolving with them.”
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Source: hotelbusiness.com
