Why Pantone’s “Color of the Year” Fails to Convince Hotel Designers

Despite the buzz that accompanies Pantone’s annual announcement of the “Color of the Year,” the choice for 2026 seems to leave hotel designers rather indifferent—if not skeptical. Cloud Dancer, a soft, “soothing” shade of white, may reflect a collective need for calm and inner balance, but it hardly translates into a practical and sustainable choice for the hospitality world.

Pantone described Cloud Dancer as a color that “serves as a symbol of calm in a frenetic society rediscovering the value of measured thought and quiet introspection.” The message is clear and largely aligned with travelers’ psychological needs after a prolonged period of uncertainty. However, as hotel design professionals point out, theory is quite far from application.

“Light, white colors in hotels are extremely challenging,” notes Molly Forman, an interior designer at boutique firm //3877 based in Washington. “We design spaces that need to withstand time and use. Durability and cleanliness are essential parameters.” In this context, a “pure” white, no matter how aesthetically pleasing, is considered risky for high-traffic areas.

She admits that Pantone’s announcement always sparks conversation among design circles and hospitality clients, but this year’s choice was met mostly with skepticism. Not because white has no place in hotels, but because it is difficult to serve as a central element of an overall design identity.

When White Acts as a Canvas
Of course, there are exceptions. Laura McKoy, Chief Creative Officer at Omni Hotels & Resorts, notes that in some resorts white functions as a “neutral canvas” that allows the natural environment to take center stage. In recent renovations, such as at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in California or Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Montelucia, white walls were deliberately chosen so as not to compete with the view and landscape.

“In these resorts, the nature and architecture of the surroundings are so striking that we wanted the room to serve as a refuge,” she explains. “When you look out the window, you see all the colors of the landscape, without the interior spaces ‘shouting’.”

A similar approach was taken at the historic Omni Parker House in Boston. The hotel, with 551 rooms and limited space, chose white shades for the walls during its recent renovation to create a sense of greater space and brightness.

Even so, McKoy sees Cloud Dancer more as a “background choice” than a true color. “Designers are always searching for the ideal white, one that doesn’t lean yellow, gray, or any other undertone. The question is whether Cloud Dancer is truly that perfect white.”

The Usefulness of Pantone’s Choices for Hotels
A common thread among professionals is that hotels cannot—and should not—follow annual color trends to the letter. Their design must be timeless, durable, and functional. Nevertheless, as Forman emphasizes, Pantone’s choices have value on a different level: the psychological.

“They tell us a lot about how people feel,” she notes. Indeed, the need for calm, muted tones, and visual comfort has been strong in hospitality lately. However, this does not necessarily mean white fabrics and walls. Instead, designers turn to neutral palettes with more textures, low contrast, and monochromatic or monotone approaches that convey calm without sacrificing practicality.

This trend is closely linked to the so-called “quiet luxury,” an aesthetic that began in fashion and is now spreading to hospitality spaces: discreet luxury, without excess, emphasizing quality and experience. According to Forman, the next step will be incorporating more unexpected, “playful” elements within this quiet framework.

One thing is certain: despite Pantone’s choice, guests will not see hotels “turning white” en masse in 2026. “White is essential for contrast and cleanliness, especially in bedding,” concludes Forman. “But durability and maintainability remain non-negotiable. An entirely white hotel is still very difficult to sustain in practice.”