Slohh by Roach, a new hotel within the Hilton's Curio Collection, has opened in the Whitefield area of Bangalore, India. This two hundred and twenty-room hotel was created in collaboration with Roach Lifescapes.
Design is playing an increasingly significant role for both startups and large corporations, as products and functions are easily copied in saturated markets. Beyond external appeal, thoughtful design helps shape a company's unique identity, convey its values, and influence customer perception of the brand.
For large companies like Hilton, this means expanding the concept of design beyond visual branding and aesthetics to a strategic level. For instance, in the hospitality sector, the Curio Collection is built on individually designed properties that retain their distinctiveness while remaining part of Hilton's broader ecosystem.
Unlike standard chain hotels that look and feel the same, Curio Collection properties are designed to reflect their local character, history, and location. This can manifest in menus, architecture, and experiences that connect guests with the surrounding community.
Christina Roach, Director of Roach Lifescapes, told YourStory that she created the hotel as if it were her own home. Since most of her clients work in the technology sector and frequently travel between hotels, she wanted her property to be memorable for something special.
The Curio Collection currently comprises over 150 properties worldwide. Examples include Hinode Hills Niseko Village (Japan), Kahavadi Chiang Rai (Thailand), Al Rayyan Hotel (Doha), Aulus Lindos Rhodes Resort (Greece), Casa de Sada Algarve (Portugal), De Bonart Naples (Italy), Hoodoo Moab (USA), and York Medellin (Colombia).
These hotels are supported by the entire Hilton infrastructure, including the global booking system and standards. They are part of the Hilton Honors loyalty program, which covers 27 different hotel brands in the network.
The Slohh by Roach hotel itself evokes associations with the words 'slow' and 'subtle.' Roach emphasizes that 'simplicity and style precede sophistication.' She also added that she aims to make the stay less focused on social media and more focused on personal experience, planning, for example, 'Slow Sundays' free from phone use.
The photo essay showcases the design of the Banyan ballroom, the music lounge, and the hotel's open spaces. The fitness center, lounge, and some rooms offer views of Varthur Lake and the city skyline.
The use of natural materials, intricate carved details, and exceptional hospitality contribute to a feeling of comfort, nostalgia, and home warmth. The Arthur’s Lounge on the sixth floor is spacious and perfectly captures the transition from dusk to night.
The breakfast restaurant, Nana’s, features regional flavors from the Malnad belt in the Western Ghats region, and the menu also includes Italian and Mediterranean dishes. Roach notes that they do not want the cuisine to seem intimidating, as in many five-star hotels, but rather to share the spirit of food and warmth characteristic of places like Mangaluru, which has great diversity.
Since the Roach family is from Malnad, elements reflecting the coffee journey were incorporated into the design, instead of the ubiquitous marble found in other hotels. The landscape design was done by Studio NDT, and the interiors were developed by the Thai firm PIA.
Attention to detail is visible even in the staff uniforms. The lobby also features a mailbox with a vintage writing desk for sending letters. The retro music atmosphere is inspired by R&B, jazz, and classic ballads.
Roach explains that music is an important part of the Mangalore Catholic community and Anglo-Indian Goans, and they wanted to bring this atmosphere into the hotel instead of standard background music. She recalls always being involved in creative fields, studying dance and music, before the family entered the hotel business later.
Roach Lifescapes was founded in 1994 by Christina's father, Austin Roach. The company develops residential, commercial, and hospitality projects, including Radisson Blu, Clover Greens Golfscapes, Roach Sarovar Portico, and RBD Stillwaters.
It is mentioned that the Radisson Blu hotel on Outer Ring Road, Bangalore, was the first in India to receive the LEED v4.1 Platinum certification for operation and maintenance. Roach emphasizes the importance of sustainable development, noting that Slohh has its own solar panels installed, and a water bottling plant is also under construction.
The new hotel team hopes that activity related to business and social events will begin to grow. Other areas for development include live acoustic music, exhibitions, and art and craft workshops, as well as making the open areas pet-friendly.
Roach concludes that their property will reflect the spirit of Bangalore in an authentic and contemporary way, offering guests a retreat defined by individuality, creativity, and a meaningful local connection.