The relationship between Bill Bensley's Resorts and Disneyland

Abstract

This thesis explores the relationship between the creation of escapism in Disneyland’s theme parks and Bill Bensley’s Capella Ubud and JW Marriot Phu Quoc hotels. Hotels are frequently the first place experienced upon arrival in an unfamiliar setting, and due to the transportive, experiential quality of their architecture, they can greatly influence how visitors perceive the traditions and atmosphere of these locations. To generate a sense of place and avoid bland interiors, Bensley creates rich backstories for these hotels which informs their design and enriches the guest experience. In this way, this thesis sees parallels between his hotels and Disneyland. Using analysis of hotel imagery and descriptive texts, this thesis outlines how Bensley has used similar techniques to create this sense of escapism throughout his career.
Disneyland’s visitors are able to substitute real-world experiences with those in the park (e.g. a riverboat safari), as they are perceived to embody the essence of reality, so form hyperreality However, ultimately visitors are always aware that the park is fabricated fantasy. This is where Bensley’s hotels differ from Disneyland. By grounding the hotels in site-specificity and authenticity, many visitors believe his hotels to embody the local vernacular, and to be truthful depictions of history, and thus they are more influential on visitor perceptions. Thus, this thesis uses analysis of guest reviews, travel articles and hotel photographs to demonstrate how his designs can lead to misunderstandings about local culture. Working within the framework of heritage, orientalism, and colonialism discussions, the thesis utilises critical discourse analysis to examine whether the image resulting from Bensley’s design choices perpetuates stereotypes whilst achieving escapism. Bensley’s work is particularly pertinent in this discussion as his maximalist, theatrical approach makes the celebration of surrounding heritage explicit. His work exaggerates the placemaking strategies commonplace throughout South-East Asian hotels, and so it can be used to exemplify more widespread trends in hotel design.