Few designers have redefined the concept of experiential travel quite like Bill Bensley. Equal parts architect, storyteller and collector, Bensley has rewritten the rules of the hospitality industry. Born in California but based in Bangkok, he has put his stamp on more than 200 projects in 50 countries. Ranging from a tented camp in Cambodia’s Cardamom Mountains to an art deco palace in Hanoi, they are infused with a sense of whimsy that delights travelers and connects them to the local culture. Here, the hotel designer shares his inspiration — and travel secrets — with Andrew Harper.  

Andrew Harper: How would you describe your work?

Bill Bensley: Storytelling through design. Each project is a narrative — rooted in its place, inspired by its people and respectful of its history. I believe that good design must serve a greater purpose, and mine has always been guided by a deep respect for nature, a celebration of culture and a touch of theatricality. My goal is to create experiences that are transportive, authentic and wildly unexpected. Above all, I design with intent — to surprise, delight and awaken a deeper connection between guests and the world around them. And, wherever possible, to use hospitality as a vehicle for conservation and community. That, to me, is what makes design meaningful.

AH: What was your first job, and how did the experience influence you?

BB: When I graduated from university in the United States, I felt a strong pull toward Southeast Asia. I made my way, in part by hitchhiking, and eventually landed in Singapore. Within two days, I secured a position at an American architectural firm. While I gained a great deal of experience, it became increasingly clear to me that their priorities were largely driven by profit rather than by design integrity. That realization became a turning point in my life. I knew I needed to chart my own course — one that placed creativity, sustainability and storytelling at the very center of the design process.

AH: How do you want guests to feel when they walk into a hotel you’ve designed?

BB: I want them to feel curious. Surprised. Like they’ve just stepped into a place that doesn’t play by the usual rules. It’s not just about comfort or elegance — those are a given. What I’m after is a reaction. A raised eyebrow. A smile. A pause to take it all in. I want people to feel like they’re somewhere with personality, with soul. Somewhere that makes them forget where they came from and start wondering what’s around the next corner. Because travel should do more than relax you — it should wake you up.

AH: The giant terrazzo baths at Four Seasons Koh Samui are a bath lover’s dream. What was the inspiration?

BB: A Thai chariot for the gods — that just so happens to hold water too, with a bit of theatrical excess. I wanted the bathrooms to be the centerpiece. After all, if you’re lucky enough to be perched on a jungle-cloaked hillside overlooking the Gulf of Thailand, you should be able to soak it all in — quite literally. So I designed those tubs to be outrageously oversized. I wanted guests to feel like emperors of their own private paradise — gin and tonic in hand, limbs afloat, gazing out to sea.

AH: What project are you most proud of?

BB: Shinta Mani Wild, my luxury tented camp in the last great wilderness of Southeast Asia, the Cardamom Mountains. There is nothing like waking up to the chorus of the jungle, and walking out to the deck to overlook it all, knowing you play a part in protecting it. Our handful of luxurious tents in the jungle fund the protection of the forest and animals by the Wildlife Alliance NGO. Guests learn all about wildlife protection, helping to remove snares and save animals. Then they can boulder-hop our river, kayak the coastal rivers or swim under a waterfall with breakfast waiting at the riverside. It is the culmination of my life’s work, taking everything I have learned about hotel design in 35 years to create a series of great experiences.

AH: You’ve said you travel often for work, but how often do you travel for fun?

BB: My long trips to Mongolia, where I go completely off-grid — no phone, no Wi-Fi, just rivers, tents and trout — those are what I’d call proper holidays. The rest? Well, when your work takes you to some of the world’s most beautiful corners, even business feels a bit like play.

AH: How much of your travel is spent sourcing the one-of-a-kind design elements for your hotels?

BB: I’m a self-confessed shopaholic, guided by the philosophy of “Buy now, think later.” There is a distinct pleasure in exploring antique and flea markets in cities such as London, Paris and Bangkok, where one can uncover treasures ripe for repurposing in future projects. For example, the entire design concept of Hotel de la Coupole in Sapa, Vietnam, was inspired by a vintage red-and-white polka dot hat I discovered at a Paris flea market.

AH: What’s your earliest travel memory?

BB: When I was about 10, my family took off on a monthlong road trip in a little trailer my father built himself — with his own two hands. We left Southern California and made this great looping journey up through Arizona, Nevada, Utah and Idaho, before circling back down through Washington State, Oregon and, of course, Yosemite. It was the 1960s, so the national parks were still quiet, untouched — you could camp beneath the stars and not hear another soul for miles. That trip was, in many ways, my first real introduction to the majesty of wild places. I think that’s where the seed was planted — this lifelong love affair with nature, with travel, and creating spaces that honor the land rather than bulldoze it. And maybe that humble little trailer my dad built gave me my first lesson in design that’s both personal and purposeful.

AH: What’s the most thrilling adventure you’ve had while traveling?

BB: I’ve quite a few to choose from: swimming with pink porpoises and piranha in the Amazon, singing traditional songs with the yak herders of Shangri-la, stalking polar bears in Svalbard, drinking vodka in Moscow. Probably my best trip ever was an expedition of Burma by hot air balloon (the first time it had ever been done by anyone). We sailed across the gorgeous countryside into areas that rarely see Westerners, let alone a 60-meter-high balloon towing a tiny basket filled with them.  

AH: What’s your best piece of travel advice?

BB: Take a sketchbook and draw something — when you draw, it becomes part of you.

AH: What does a perfect day on vacation look like to you?

BB: Stringing together a number of interesting places we have never been, like the “Stans” by way of train. This year, we will visit the ancient cities and missions of Belize, Chiapas and Guatemala. Having now visited 105 countries, research is critical and enjoyable to finding next year’s adventure. And by the way — I have for many years used Andrew Harper as a great resource, so thank you for that!

AH: We love to hear that! Which hotels have been your favorite?

BB: Awasi in the Atacama Desert, Huka Lodge in New Zealand, Hoshinoya in Kyoto, the Ballyfin in Ireland and Jack’s Camp in Botswana. These are hands-down heart-stopping.

AH: What’s the most underrated city you’ve been to?

BB: Definitely Tbilisi, Georgia. The city has a unique charm, full of art, fantastic architecture, great food and scenic countryside. Tbilisi surprised me in the best way possible.

AH: What’s at the top of your bucket list?

BB: Madagascar.

AH: What would be your dream project (without having to worry about budget or logistics)?

BB: I’d love to do a hotel made completely out of recycled materials and just need a client with the shared vision and a budget.

AH: We love that idea. If you could pick any location to set the next hotel you design, where would it be?

BB: Central Asia — places like Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, where the cultural richness of the Silk Road meets landscapes that are still wonderfully untouched by mass tourism. There’s such a wealth of story and soul there, and I think it offers an exciting canvas for hospitality that’s both deeply rooted and wildly imaginative. Africa also holds great potential, particularly Gabon or Angola — places where conservation is in its infancy and design can play a meaningful role in protecting biodiversity while uplifting local communities. Stay tuned!