Brand Development & Identity

A well-branded hotel doesn’t just look good — it feels right. It’s instantly recognizable, emotionally resonant, and perfectly aligned with the experience you provide. At Pillows & Keys, we specialize in creating brand identities that reflect the personality of your property and speak directly to your ideal guests.

Whether you're launching a new concept or refining an existing property, our process is built around listening, learning, and distilling your essence into a brand system that feels natural, luxurious, and unforgettable. We don't just give you a logo — we give you the language, visuals, and strategy to carry your hotel confidently into every interaction, platform, and season.

A group of people in a meeting room with laptops, participating in a presentation or brainstorming session. One person is standing and pointing at sticky notes on the wall.
Gold feather illustration on black background

Brand Strategy

We begin with research: your market, your audience, your competitors, and your vision. These insights form the basis of a clear, confident brand strategy — a strategic blueprint that ensures every creative decision is grounded in purpose. Whether you're launching a new concept or repositioning an established property, this foundational work shapes how your hotel is perceived, understood, and remembered.

Through a combination of strategic workshops, stakeholder interviews, and market analysis, we articulate your hotel's core identity. The result is a clear and differentiated position that resonates both emotionally and commercially — one that can guide not just branding, but your broader business decisions.

  • Audience & positioning analysis

  • Competitive audits

  • Brand purpose & personality

  • Naming & narrative development

  • Differentiation strategy

Person selecting color swatches from a fan deck spread across a table.

Visual Identity

We craft timeless, elevated visual systems that are as strategic as they are striking. For boutique hotels, visual identity is more than aesthetics — it’s a critical tool for conveying atmosphere, positioning, and value.

Our process begins by translating your brand strategy into visual expression — drawing on your architecture, location, heritage, and guest philosophy to create a cohesive system that reflects who you are and who you’re speaking to.

We consider every element of your brand’s look and feel, then ensure it can flex seamlessly across print, digital, signage, interiors, and more. Every identity is delivered with clear documentation and toolkits for consistent use by your internal teams and external partners.

  • Logo design

  • Color palette & typography

  • Iconography & image direction

  • Brand guidelines & toolkits

Gold ampersand symbol on white background
A magazine titled "maison" on a hotel bed with white sheets and a dark green headboard.
Illustration of an antique skeleton key
Person in a suit holding a hotel room key card at a reception desk.

Collateral & Creative

A brand is only as strong as its execution. Once your identity is established, we help you bring it to life across every guest-facing detail — from first impressions to in-room touchpoints. This is where your brand becomes tangible, tactile, and truly experiential.

We design and deliver a wide range of branded materials, including:

  • Guest welcome kits (booklets, cards, amenity packaging)

  • Menus (restaurant, bar, in-room dining, spa, wine lists)

  • Signage (directional, room plaques, entry signage, digital screens)

  • Branded stationery (notepads, envelopes, letterhead, business cards)

  • Key cards and holders

  • Print advertising and launch announcements

  • Postcards and promotional mailers

  • In-room materials (room guides, TV interfaces, sustainability cards)

  • Pre-arrival emails and PDFs

  • Branded guest communications (check-in forms, invoices, follow-ups)

  • Event or seasonal collateral (holiday menus, invitation cards, programs)

  • Social media and digital templates

  • QR code signage and mobile-friendly guides

  • Internal team materials (staff handbooks, training collateral)

Your brand should tell a clear, compelling story. We’d love to help you shape it.