I guess you know what hotels to avoid in the future!

I would just love to go to Shanghai!

In preparation for the estate sale, I was just thinking how much more money we could make if 'Mom' would have gone for mid century modern instead of Mohogany formal traditional.

I was just in Europe and 4 out of my 6 hotel rooms were decorated almost exactly the same and they weren't in the same chain. They all had dramatically long drapes (partially because of the wonderful high windows) with wide horizontal stripes in browns and red. The furniture was very similar, too. Three of them had very modern bathrooms with the same fixtures and tile. They were all lovely but I did think it was funny they were so similar in different spots around Europe. When I woke up each morning I had to ask myself "where am I again?"

I think many higher end hotels are going that route. When visiting NYC, we always stay at The Hudson. The Hudson has similar decor to that you are describing, and has for more than 10 yrs now. It isn't econo, rooms start at @ $300 off season. The $300 room is the econo of the selection, but all rooms, suites, etc. are decorated in a similar manner. More stark, lots of glass, stainless, black with that splash of vibrant color here and there.

I don't mind it at all, but I love The Hudson for so many other reasons having nothing to do with their decor. Being close to many NYC attractions, onsite dining & evening entertainment both outside & in (weather permitting). The hip vibe of the hotel is nice change from some of the other similarly priced, yet more traditionally decorated hotel offerings in the City. Also, The Hudson offers alot of upscale amenties included in the room rate, and the concierge service is second to none.

Guess it may just be a different strokes-type thing.

Here is a link that might be useful: The Hudson Hotel - NYC

The Radisson Blu (nee SAS) chain has very modern decor -- at least in the ones I've stayed. In general, the new(er) builds I've seen in Europe tend to have modern decor -- with the exception of "theme" areas (Swiss Chalets, Greek Isles)

The Intercontinentals I've stayed at in Asia have been modern. In general, the nicer hotels I've stayed at throughout Asia, where I've traveled extensively, have tended to be modern (with a few exceptions like the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Imperial in Tokyo). There is an appreciation for clean lines and I think this makes modern a natural fit -- often there will be a little overlay of the native style (Chinese, Balinese, Japanese, etc) on top of this interpretation of "international modern".

It's an inexpensive way to look dramatic.

If this is it, it looks cold and spare to me, not very welcoming at all.

Perhaps it's to keep theft down? There aren't even any pictures on the wall.

Modernist decor is much more popular in some countries than in the U.S. So far as I know, modernist kitchens are widely accepted in Germany and Russia.

Hotels reflect the styles perceived to be popular with the majority of their clients, who aren't necessarily American.

Radisson Blu in Prague was re-done in Art Deco, probably in reference to the country's strong Art Deco heritage.

Here is a link that might be useful: Radisson Blu Prague

Hotel Indigo is a reasonably priced US chain (part of IHG/Holiday Inn) that has modern decor. I think the first hotel opened about 10 years ago. It's not luxe modern, it's more Ikea/Marimeko modern.

Annie,that looks like Radisson Blu - nothing objectionable, spacious and comfortable. Just too much plain white. BTW, beyond the bed is a big window into the bathroom area with an electric shade that one can lower if one needs privacy. (My room in Beijing had that too except it had a wood blind with glass on each side.)

I would stay at the Radisson Blu in Shanghai again. It has a good location not too far from my company's office there, train station, airport but still in a reasonable area if one has some free time. It just seems too white like they forgot some of the decorating. At least it is well lit.

I was wrong about which hotel I'm staying in now in Tel Aviv - it's the Crown Plaza (Intercontinental was last trip). I'd like to avoid it - mostly those black encased lights and the kind of dismal pictures are bugging me. I'm here to visit some of my colleagues in the area between two meetings in Europe - but I have a day or so when I need to do prep for the meeting next week which I had planned to do in my hotel room so I'm in the room more than usual.

It's on our company preferred list and in a better location for business than the other one that's currently on the list, but I think next time I may stay elsewhere.

I'm not against modern though I prefer a more woody Danish modern look, but I hate the execution in this room.

Terriks, if you ever get a chance to go to China, I'd recommend Yangshuo in Guilin, Xian (which has a very nice old city with most of the wall still intact in addition to the terra cotta warriors near by) most of all. Those and Beijing are what my husband and I enjoyed most of all when on a vacation. Most of the time, I'm in China on business - Shanghai is mostly a very big, modern city, though it does have some tourist interest Yu Gardens and the old area around it are very nice. Near enough Shanghai for a day trip is Suzhou which has lovely gardens to visit.

The link below has a 360 degree "tour" of a room that is almost identical to mine except that the lime green and orange are swapped and it has a little desk lamp which mine lacks (I should as the front desk about that because it makes the desk hard to use). It even has the same grey and black tree picture.

Here is a link that might be useful: Link to Crown Plaza room photos

Well, I would never be happy with the stark look pictured; my hands down favorite place to stay is Mohonk Mountain House (New Paltz, NY), esp. the Victorian or the tower rooms! Ahhhhhh! But definitely not everyone's cup of tea.......

I was wondering about the Intercontinental Tel Aviv -- I've stayed there for work and I don't remember it being terribly stark. Now that you mention the Crowne Plaza, it makes sense. Many of the Crowne Plazas in Europe are much more modern than the ones in the US. I too don't care for the Tel Aviv version.

Just looked up Mohonk Mountain House. So beautiful! The style is true to the period of the building, and it looks great.

However, I doubt such a style would look authentic in a modern construction. Better modernist than fake vintage. Also, Mohonk Mountain House shows a pared-down version of the Victorian style. A real Victorian interior would be much more ornate and cluttered, with lots of pattern on pattern.

Mohawk Mountain House has some very nice looking rooms. Victorian, even paired down, wouldn't be a choice for my house but I can enjoy it on a trip.

I'm now in the Berlin Hotel Intercontinental. The room decor is modern and attractive. Enough warm wood tone to warm it up along with a comfortable mix of charcoal grey, lighter grey and white. It has good lighting which helps a lot.