Xavier Louyot, Director, Hotels & Resorts, his vision of at Disney’s Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel

• Can you introduce yourself?

Hello! I joined Disneyland Paris two years ago and hold the positions of Director, Hotels & Resorts Product and Franchise Management & Integrated Planning. Prior to that, for more than 20 years I worked around the world for leaders in the travel industry for my two great passions – brands and experiences.

• What is your role in the Disney’s Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel project?

To transform “storytelling” into “story-living” with our teams and partners! We are inventing the Disney hotels of tomorrow, from the positioning of this new hotel to the creation of new experiences, products and services for our guests and Cast Members. We are also helping the Disneyland Paris teams to amplify the Disney stories – here, with Marvel – even further, and to develop even richer universes in which our guests can immerse themselves. Plus, we are reinforcing the relationship between our Resort and all of our counterparts around the world to ensure Disneyland Paris and our new hotel are among the highlights of The Walt Disney Company.

• Why stay at a Disney hotel? How does it contribute to the guest experience?

More than ever, Disneyland Paris hotels are more than just a place to sleep. They are the perfect place to enjoy the resort. Beyond the many benefits such as early access to Disney Parks[1], proximity to Disney Parks[2] and even encounters with Disney Characters[3], guests staying at these hotels are immersed in thematic and immersive environments beautifully designed by Walt Disney Imagineering.

• What makes this hotel unique in the world? What makes the experience unique?

This hotel is unique because of the strength and subtlety of our Disney stories – here, it’s Marvel – and of course it’s also thanks to our Cast Members. The heart of hospitality is the greeting and all the attention we give to our guests, young and young at heart alike! This ambitious project will immerse our guests in the vibrant culture and energy of New York City along with Marvel Super Heroes and their stories.

• What does providing a unique experience in the Marvel universe and New York City mean? Do you have any examples?

This is the world’s first hotel dedicated to Marvel artwork. The hotel will feature one of the largest collections of Marvel art in the world, with more than 350 pieces of artwork, including 50 exclusives, never-before-seen ones. More than 110 artists from Marvel Comics, Marvel Studios and more have been assembled for this incredible collection. Guests interested in learning more about the stories behind the artwork are invited to call upon the “Art Guardians,” a selection of specially trained Cast Members with specific knowledge on them. The hotel’s gift shop has been designed to replicate a museum gift shop where guests can purchase beautiful reproductions of some of the Marvel art and even reproductions of the Iron Man statuettes with the armour displayed in the lobby.

Guests will be able to dive right into the action at exclusive and unique locations, such as posing for a selfie with Spider-Man at Super Hero Station. Here, they can also take action shots in one of the many immersive and exclusive settings propelling them into Marvel movies such as Guardians of the Galaxy, Captain Marvel, Iron Man, Ant-Man, The Avengers, Thor, Spider-Man and Doctor Strange.

• How much attention to detail is there in the hotel?

This four-star hotel reflects Tony Stark’s sophisticated, upscale New York urban tastes. Each room features Marvel artwork and offers the utmost in comfort, high-tech services and amenities. Guests who choose an Empire State Club room or suite will enjoy additional premium services such as a separate private reception area, complimentary valet parking and access to the Empire State Lounge, an elegant and exclusive hotel-within-a-hotel space. Here, guests can enjoy breakfast, drinks and sweet and savoury snacks all day, or share in delicious experiences such as “The Art of Tea Time.” The suites are themed either to Spider-Man, the Avengers or Marvel Super-Heroes. 

• Can you tell us a little about the collaboration with the Marvel teams on this project?

This collaboration is incredible because it is built around more than 80 years of Marvel stories! The creative discussions have resulted in a number of new experiences, including “The Jack Kirby Legacy Gallery,” an art exhibit space dedicated to Jack Kirby himself, the “King of Comics.” He was responsible for creating the X-Men, Fantastic Four, Incredible Hulk, Thor and The Avengers. Also, it’s a testament to the close collaboration of the Food & Beverage teams with the Marvel teams on the restaurants and bars, whose experiences are inspired by New York City with a full range of Marvel-themed products for guests of all ages. I’m so excited to be able to go have a cocktail at Skyline Bar – the interiors are directly inspired by Tony Stark and The Avengers headquarters!

• This transformation is part of a larger plan to transform the resort’s hotel portfolio. What is the thinking behind it? What are the next steps?

With the highly anticipated opening of Disney’s Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel, Disneyland Paris is once again reinforcing its commitment to the future, continually investing in the guest experience with a focus on incorporating more Disney stories into its hotels. Along with this hotel, Cars was recently integrated at Disney’s Hotel Santa Fe and Toy Story characters at Disney’s Hotel Cheyenne. Disneyland Paris also just announced the renovation plan to transform the Disneyland Hotel which will reinforce the Hotel’s status as the resort’s flagship location and provide guests with an incredible five-star experience.  As we prepare for that transformation, Disney’s Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel has allowed us to build tomorrow, today. The hotel is a true “laboratory” for the future, and as Walt Disney himself once said: “Disneyland will never be completed. It will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world.”