The Delano at 20 still leads boutique hotel design trend

Billowing down from cathedral ceilings, they flit in the breeze flowing through the long, narrow corridor, revealing glimpses of avant-garde furniture and cozy nooks for discreet people-watching.

Twenty years later, though, the design ideals and social experience offered by the Delano have almost become industry standards, with major hotel chains like Marriott and Hilton launching new "boutique" brands aimed at millennials and design-savvy travelers.

The Delano's look and vibe attracted attention partly "because we really had saturated the market with plain vanilla, four-wall, same-old, same-old," said Michael "Doc" Terry, a lodging expert at the University of Central Florida's Rosen College of Hospitality Management.

Schrager, who also co-founded the legendary New York disco Studio 54, has now left the Delano, but continues to champion boutique hotel ideals with his own brand, Public, and by collaborating with Marriott on Edition hotels.

While design features may differ across brands, boutique amenities such as keyless entry (using cellphones instead of keycards to get into a room) and local foods are being implemented company-wide because guests now expect them, said Tina Edmundson, Marriott's global officer for luxury and lifestyle brands.

Hilton's Curio brand showcases independent hotels in cities such as Grand Rapids, Michigan, or Providence, Rhode Island, and its upcoming Canopy brand will similarly incorporate local neighborhoods at a lower price point, said Jim Holthouser, executive vice president of global brands for Hilton Worldwide.