Partner & Lead Destination Design Strategist
destination.design / paulaoblen.com
Paula is an interior and experiential designer, strategist, and educator specializing in destination-led hospitality environments. As founder of Hotelements®, she pioneered Branded Destination Design—a proprietary approach that translates strategic intent into immersive guest experiences that drive differentiation and measurable Return on Design™.
For more than a decade, Paula has shaped design-forward hospitality through environments grounded in emotional intelligence, sensory design, and narrative. Her work includes high-profile collaborations and nationally recognized properties, including Casa Tierra (designed with Bobby Berk) and Perch, featured in The Wall Street Journal.
Paula’s work has been recognized by Architectural Digest and Travel + Leisure, and she is a frequent speaker at leading industry forums, educating designers, investors, and operators on creating destinations that outperform and endure.
