Achievements at a Glance
- Data-Driven Design: Uses real-time analytics and guest sentiment data to inform property enhancements and optimize guest experiences.
- Tech-Forward Initiatives: Spearheaded Mint House’s “Shop Your Stay” program, integrating digital engagement with physical guest experiences.
- Operational Efficiency: Implemented concierge smart lockers, allowing for seamless, staff-free service interactions.
- Historic Property Innovation: Led the redesign of 1010 Vermont, utilizing modular, customizable furniture solutions and smart technology.
- Digital Guest Experience: Enhanced Mint House’s digital-first impressions through AI-powered photography selection and visual storytelling strategies.
With a strategic mindset that blends technology, design, and guest engagement, September Banks is proving that the future of hospitality is not just about where you stay—it’s about how that stay is designed, optimized, and personalized through the power of data.
When it comes to hotel technology, innovation often comes in the form of software platforms, AI-driven analytics, or back-end operational systems. But for September Banks, the Director of Design at Mint House and the recipient of Hospitality Technology’s 2024 Rising Star Award, technology is a key driver behind a more fundamental shift: the redefinition of the guest experience through data-driven design.
With experience spanning boutique hotel design and residential hospitality startups, Banks has mastered the art of blending aesthetics with function. However, it’s her ability to integrate real-time analytics, market trend forecasting, and guest sentiment analysis into her design decisions that truly sets her apart. In just over a year at Mint House, Banks has revolutionized the way the brand approaches space optimization, digital engagement, and guest personalization—leveraging technology to create seamless, hyper-functional, and uniquely localized hospitality experiences.
Bringing Data Into the Design Equation
At the heart of Banks’ approach is a deep commitment to data. Rather than relying solely on traditional design intuition, she employs a blend of real-time property data, guest feedback, and broader market analytics to shape every aspect of Mint House’s spaces.
“September continues to enhance how we approach guest experience,” says Christian Lee, CEO of Mint House. “By using data to predict guest preferences and optimize property layouts, she’s making every stay not only more comfortable but more intuitive.”
Her work includes analyzing guest sentiment data from surveys, reviews, and social engagement to identify pain points and opportunities for improvement. These insights allow us to iterate quickly, implementing short-term design adjustments while also shaping long-term strategic initiatives.
Tech-Powered Hospitality: From Shoppable Stays to Smart Lockers
Banks doesn’t just design guest spaces. She’s found a way to turn them into an additional revenue stream for Mint House. One of Banks’ most impactful projects has been the improvement upon existing implementation of Mint House’s “Shop Your Stay” program, which bridges digital and physical hospitality by allowing guests to purchase curated in-room products they encounter during their stay. From locally sourced furniture to custom-designed décor, Banks ensures that every element serves both an aesthetic and functional purpose while also providing a revenue-generating opportunity for the brand.
Banks has also championed operational efficiencies that drive both guest satisfaction and cost savings. A prime example is the ideation and implementation of smart lockers, which allow guests to retrieve amenities and services without needing staff intervention. By integrating these lockers with Mint House’s digital ecosystem, she has helped streamline operations while enhancing guest autonomy—a move that aligns with the evolving expectations of modern travelers.
Adaptive Reuse Meets Smart Design
Banks’ technological foresight extends beyond interiors and into the broader real estate landscape. Her work on 1010 Vermont, a historic office building undergoing a transformation into a high-tech, hospitality-forward space, showcases her ability to merge past and future. The challenge: Converting a structure that was never meant to support modern hotel amenities like kitchens, laundry facilities, and digital concierge services. The solution: A modular, tech-driven approach.
By leveraging data to analyze guest behavior patterns and space utilization, Banks designed a system of customizable, modular furniture that adapts to the unique dimensions of each unit. This ensures a seamless guest experience while maintaining operational efficiency—a necessity in an adaptive reuse project with significant spatial limitations. In addition, the property is being outfitted with smart thermostats and energy-efficient appliances, a move that aligns with Mint House’s broader ESG initiatives.
Driving the Future of Tech-Enabled Hospitality
Banks’ influence at Mint House extends beyond property design and into brand strategy, digital marketing, and guest engagement. She has played a pivotal role in refining the company’s visual storytelling by optimizing photographic content and digital-first impressions—a critical factor in driving direct bookings and guest retention. By using AI-enhanced image selection and data-backed composition strategies, Banks ensures that Mint House properties not only look inviting but also communicate their functional advantages effectively to potential guests.
Moreover, her human-centric approach to technology ensures that innovations are always in service of the guest. As Mint House continues to expand, Banks’ ability to merge design thinking with data intelligence will remain a cornerstone of the brand’s evolution. With her visionary approach, she is not only reshaping Mint House’s portfolio but also setting a new standard for how technology and design can intersect in the hospitality industry.
“Throughout my career, I’ve had the privilege of working on both sides of the hospitality industry – from running room service to driving creative and design solutions across our industry. At Mint House, we’re not just designing beautiful spaces; we’re rethinking how people travel and live to truly get as close as possible to the comfort of home and the consistency of a hotel,” said September Banks, Director of Design at Mint House. “Winning the Rising Star award is an incredible honor and a reflection of this intersection of design and innovation that inspires me every day.”
