Source: ACCENT ART & FRAME INC.

It can be for self-expression, or to invoke a thought into its viewer, or to express a sentiment for the world – art has a multitude of reasons for its simple but striking presence.

That's why it's common to find art in places where you can appreciate it the most. Art galleries, museums, even in unexpected places like a wall opposite the sidewalk or the cemented ground of a park. Where art belongs isn't an issue of where it is seen, but where it can be seen by those who need to, and those who want to.

Hotels have become one of those unexpected places where you can find and appreciate art, because it is not in an environment where you need to appreciate as it belongs in an art gallery or is beside classics such as Da Vinci's Mona Lisa. It is free for everyone to see – no lines or entrance fees.

However, you might ask: "Why should I put up art in my hotel? What do they do besides fill in the bare space in the walls?"

Because it can tell your hotel's story

Art tells a story with its overall image, its theme, its colors, its composition, and how it blends with its surroundings. It isn't simply beautiful because it looks beautiful – it is beautiful because it has an essence. Art is a powerful connection to our surroundings, and its presence can tell the story of how your hotel belongs in wherever it may be.

You might choose art that portray the local culture, or something that traces itself back to the roots of the culture you have in your hotel. Your choice tells a story, and it translates to the art itself. You may have not helped breathe life into the art, but your choice on what should your customers see, where they see it, and why they need to see those pieces tell as much as the artwork itself.

Art helps your customers embrace their surroundings, whether it revolves around the world outside the doors of your hotel, or the environment your hotel portrays, art can help you make a point, and drive the idea home.

Because it becomes part of your hotel's identity

Your hotel has its own identity, based on your clientele, location, and brand – and art can be a great way to show it through. Paintings or installations that make your customers stop in their tracks and mull over its meaning and expressions makes them remember you, because your hotel had that painting that sparked their interest.

They might not choose your hotel for the art you present (or they might, depending on how you play your cards), but they will remember your hotel for it, which can be an investment value. After all, as we has found out, if a customer remembers your art, they are more likely to talk about it and give you the marketing you need through word-of-mouth.

Of course, they could choose another hotel for the same price and better accommodations, but like we said, if you played your cards right, they will come back to you. Some customers at Raffles' Le Royal Monceau in Paris come to the hotel solely for the art. They get informed about the latest exhibitions and art events. In a way, the hotel itself has become an art gallery without even being such – it is still a luxe hotel.

Because it can be an additional experience for your clientele

Travelers, especially those that belong in the "millennials" category, are all about lifestyle, and they prefer an immersive experience while on their journey. Every opportunity to learn during their travels is welcome to them, even if it means it has to come from their chosen accommodations. And they choose hotels for this reason – to fully embrace the local culture.

And with this growing clientele, investing in their experience in your hotel can be effective as a strategy. Art does not simply let them see the culture of the place they are in, it helps them feel and believe that they are welcomed. If a hotel provides them this experience without so much as the cost of going to art galleries or museums on top of everything else, they will talk about it, and consider it as an important factor for coming back.

Art is more than a measly decoration or filler for the empty spaces that cannot stand by itself – it is an integral part with a growing trend across the globe, and across the industry. It is a new horizon that is proving itself to be a worthy part of the hospitality and tourism business, and can be worth the investment – as long as you are guided though what you need to decide on for it.