Stories, spaces, and the life of hotels.
We look at hotels not as businesses, but as living forms; shaped by people, rituals, and stories.
Every hotel carries a pulse: the rhythm of arrivals and departures, the intimacy of spaces, the small gestures that linger long after a guest has gone.
Our work is to slow down and uncover these layers. To understand the design, the atmosphere, the culture – and the daily rhythms that hold them together – and to bring them into harmony.
In an industry crowded with repetition, Anatomy of a Hotel exists to remind us that no two hotels are ever the same. Each one has a story waiting to be told
Identity | Culture | Strategy | Experience | Community
We begin by observing. The flow of guests, the quiet corners, the rituals that make a hotel feel alive. Every detail, from how the staff move, to how the spaces are felt, tells us something essential.
We listen, experiment, and gently guide, weaving together design, culture, and experience into a cohesive whole. Our work is not only what a hotel looks like, but how it lives: the stories it tells, the moments it creates, and the memories it leaves behind.
Our Work / Services
Brand & Story
We uncover the soul of a hotel and translate it into identity, voice, and narrative. From positioning to messaging, we craft brands that feel alive and authentic.
Culture & Place
Hotels exist in dialogue with their surroundings. We embed local culture, stories, and rituals into every layer of the guest journey, giving each place its own character.
Pre-Opening & Operational Guidance
We work behind the scenes to align every detail, from the rhythm of service to the flow of spaces. Our role is to ensure that the hotel doesn’t just look good, it feels seamless and alive.
Experience Design
Every touchpoint matters: from the ritual of arrival to the smallest gestures in a room. We shape experiences that linger in memory and create connection.
Commercial & Marketing Strategy
We help hotels find their place in the world who they speak to, how they are seen, and the stories they share. By blending insight, strategy, and storytelling, we ensure the brand thrives not just in spirit, but in the market too.
Workshops & Thought Leadership
We share insights, lead discussions, and inspire teams through workshops and keynotes, cultivating understanding, curiosity, and a shared vision for hospitality.
WHO WE ARE
Anatomy of a Hotel was founded by Busra Gillow, a brand and marketing strategist with a decade inside the world of luxury hospitality. Her work has shaped the identities and growth strategies of global and independent brands.
With a background spanning brand strategy, marketing, partnerships, and commercial growth, she brings a rare balance: creative intuition with a clear understanding of how hotels thrive in the market. From positioning and storytelling to pricing and distribution, her approach ensures that a hotel’s identity is not only inspiring, but profitable.
This dual perspective – the soul of a brand and the structure of a business – is her difference. Rooted in a love of storytelling and hospitality’s human side, she helps hotels craft experiences and strategies that endure.
Anatomy of a Hotel 