Crafting Connection and Luxury at Savannah’s Hotel Bardo
Beneath the canopy of moss-draped oaks in Savannah’s historic district, Hotel Bardo opened its doors in 2024 – a graceful revival of Southern heritage, reimagined through the lens of contemporary luxury. Developed by LEFT LANE Hospitality, Bardo is the flagship in a growing collection of high-design lifestyle hotels defined by intention, artistry, and soul.
Once a stately 19th-century mansion, the building that now houses Hotel Bardo has long been a place of connection. Reimagined as an urban resort, it’s distinct blend of history and high design has captured the attention of Architectural Digest, Condé Nast Traveler, and Vogue and is quickly becoming a lively gathering place within Savannah’s social scene.
We spoke with Huxley Hogeboom, EVP Design & Development at LEFT LANE, to explore how Vivreau’s refined water systems align with their ethos of thoughtful hospitality, and why they’ve become a new standard across the brand’s expanding hotel portfolio.
Every Detail Matters, Especially the Subtle Ones
Luxury today is not just about grand gestures, it’s about deep empathy and the ability to anticipate what a guest needs before they ask. It’s the art of smoothing the edges of an experience until nothing remains but a sense of luxurious ease and delight.
That requires more than visual beauty; it demands functional refinement. Even something as simple as water – how it’s presented, how easily it’s accessed, how it tastes – becomes a subtle yet powerful touchpoint that can define a stay. At Hotel Bardo, Vivreau is not simply a water system. It’s a quiet signal that every detail has been considered, and that guest comfort is at the heart of the design.
Elevated Hydration On Every Hotel Floor
At home, the simple act of grabbing a glass of water requires no thought. It’s a comfort so fundamental, that anything less feels like an inconvenience. Yet in many hotels, water access remains an afterthought.
A beautiful room, a meticulously styled bathroom, and yet… to hydrate, you’re expected to drink from the bathroom tap or call front desk to request more plastic bottles. It’s a mismatch in experience, and in hospitality, these subtleties matter. Hotel Bardo recognized the disconnect and addressed it with clarity.
At Hotel Bardo, single-use plastic water bottles in every room gave way to Vivreau water filling stations on every guest floor, seamlessly integrated into marble countertops. Now, just steps from their door, guests have instant access to chilled still, or sparkling water. Microfiltered, crisp, and endlessly available. A small change, thoughtfully made, that elevates the guest experience in a lasting way.Paired with refillable glass Vivreau Twist bottles in every room, the experience feels effortless. Guests hydrate when they wish, as they would at home – only better.
Savings That Flow
At Hotel Bardo, every design choice works as hard as it looks good. Vivreau’s systems not only elevate the property’s aesthetic, they also deliver measurable cost savings and long-term operational efficiency.
Replacing in-room plastic water bottles and table-service bottled water with Vivreau’s dispensers and glass bottles has delivered more than a sustainability win, it’s a bottom-line boost.
Across guest floors, self-serve refill stations cut purchasing costs for single-use bottles and ease the workload for housekeeping. In the glamorous Saint Bibiana restaurant, a back-of-house Vivreau V3-201 provides an endless supply of chilled still and sparkling water for table service, eliminating the recurring expense and storage of imported prepackage bottled service without sacrificing presentation or guest experience.
What Hoteliers Can Take Away
Hotel Bardo is a love letter to high design, but also to operational efficiency, to sustainability, and to hospitality as an artform.
For boutique hoteliers looking to elevate their properties, it offers inspiration rooted in real-world application and a reminder that luxury is not just seen, it’s felt. Vivreau thanks Huxley Hogeboom for sharing the story of Hotel Bardo and the design philosophy behind it. To explore how Vivreau can help you create unforgettable guest experiences, contact our team today.
