Green roofs and living walls have become increasingly visible features of urban hotels, bringing plants into lobbies, restaurants, terraces and rooftops.

According to a report by the European Federation of Green Roof and Wall Associations (EFB), which drew on more than 170 international studies, greenery can contribute to cooling, stormwater management, biodiversity, acoustic insulation and wellbeing, but that may not be why hotels have invested in them.

I interviewed seven hotels to learn what drove their investment in green roofs and living walls and what they gained in return.

h2hotel In California Is Protecting The Native Ecosystem

h2hotel is a 36-room LEED Gold-certified boutique hotel in downtown Healdsburg, California, with 75% of its rooftop covered in succulents. While the roof adds greenery to the building, the idea came from what runs behind it.

Foss Creek passes directly behind the hotel and provides habitat for steelhead trout. The living roof helps manage and filter stormwater before runoff reaches the creek.

“We’ve seen a number of benefits, stormwater as mentioned above, as well as cooling, heat and noise insulation,” says Circe Sher, co-founder of Piazza Hospitality, which owns and manages the hotel, in an email interview. “People are delighted by the view of birds, bees and butterflies as they walk by on the 4th floor,” Sher adds.

The roof requires regular weeding, and parts of it have needed replanting since installation, but when I asked Sher whether they would make the same investment again today. She simply confirms, “We would do it again. Well worth the cost.”

Conrad Los Angeles Is Creating A Habitat For The Local Climate

Conrad Los Angeles is a luxury hotel in downtown Los Angeles, and much of its landscaping uses drought-resistant, California-native plants.

Rather than simply adding greenery, the hotel selected plants with water conservation, longevity and minimal replacement in mind. It not only provides shade but also helps soften the hotel’s outdoor spaces, particularly on the 10th floor.

“The landscaping was designed to strengthen the connection between the hotel and Southern California’s natural environment while bringing a sense of nature into an urban setting,” says Deepak Mehra, general manager of Conrad Los Angeles, in an email interview.

“The investment was made thoughtfully with water preservation and long-term sustainability in mind. While the landscaping still requires regular irrigation management, pruning and ongoing care, we have seen very little plant replacement over the past four years,” Mehra adds.

The greenery has also brought an unexpected benefit, as it has also become a natural backdrop for photos, social content, events and special occasions.

The Westin London City Is Making A Calmer Guest Experience

The Westin London City opened in 2021 along the River Thames in central London, and inside its main lobby, known as The Haven, a vertical garden is one of the first things the guests see when they enter the hotel.

“The decision was driven by the Westin brand’s identity and focus on wellness and sustainability,” says Lela Cole, commercial director of The Westin London City, in an email interview.

“Our goal was to enhance the guest experience and create tranquility amidst a busy city environment, using biophilic design as a differentiator from day one,” Cole adds, noting that the living wall and other biophilic elements throughout the hotel help improve air quality.

The wall is part of a wider nature-inspired design, since above it, paper sculptures by Dutch artist Peter Gentenaar reference the movement of the nearby River Thames.

The hotel employs in-house greenery specialists to maintain the wall and replace plants as needed. “But beyond that, the wall is largely self-sustaining and requires minimal maintenance,” confirms Cole.

Radisson Collection Hotel, Berlin Is Creating A New Identity

Radisson Collection Hotel, Berlin completed a renovation of its public spaces in 2025 that included a new 79-foot-high, 66-foot-wide vertical garden, also known as the ‘Living Tree,’ in its nearly 10,764-square-foot lobby. It contains nearly 2,000 plants and was built partly around the base of the former aquarium.

“Our primary objective was to create a new, permanent centerpiece for the hotel and give guests a distinctive sense of arrival,” says Marco Eichhorn, general manager at Radisson Collection Hotel, Berlin, in an email interview. “We wanted to introduce something living, contemporary, and forward-looking that could become part of the hotel’s new identity.”

Rather than demolishing the aquarium, the hotel could retain about 150 metric tons of concrete and reuse existing technical spaces and infrastructure.

“Air quality and acoustic comfort were important considerations, but they formed part of this broader objective,” says Eichhorn.

The installation also requires specialist care. Trained horticultural teams maintain the plants using rope-access techniques, while moisture sensors, drip irrigation and water reuse help manage the system.

Despite the maintenance involved, the hotel says it would make the same investment again. “The Living Tree has fulfilled the expectations set for it, has been positively received, and has become an integral part of the hotel,” says Eichhorn.

Signia By Hilton Atlanta, Georgia Is Standing Out From Other Hotels

At Signia by Hilton Atlanta , the living wall serves a more commercial purpose. The hotel positioned the wall prominently outside its entrance to make an immediate impression and distinguish the property from other luxury hotels.

“The primary reason we invested in the living wall was to enhance the guest arrival experience and create a memorable first impression,” says Max Schroeder, director of property operations at Signia by Hilton Atlanta, in an email interview.

“As guests enter the hotel, the living wall serves as a unique design feature that supports the luxury positioning of the property and helps differentiate us from other hotels,” Schroeder adds.

That differentiation comes with additional costs. Atlanta’s climate has caused higher-than-expected plant loss, increased maintenance and replacement expenses.

Despite all this, Schroeder says, “The investment has been well worth it, and we would absolutely make the same decision again given the positive guest response.”

UNFRAMED Miami Beach Is Softening The Architecture

UNFRAMED, Miami Beach, Autograph Collection opened in April 2026, and the greenery was part of the hotel’s original design to soften the architecture and create a retreat-like space within busy Miami Beach.

“Incorporating living greenery into UNFRAMED was never simply a sustainability feature or a decorative gesture, it was about bringing nature into the emotional experience of the hotel,” says interior designer Gulla Jonsdottir of Atelier Gulla in an email interview.

“In a dense urban environment like Miami Beach, we wanted guests to feel an immediate connection to the tropical landscape and to create moments of calm, softness and discovery within the architecture,” Jonsdottir adds.

That approach is most visible in the hotel’s open-air atrium, where plants help blur the boundary between indoors and outdoors.

“The intent behind the atrium was to enhance the guest experience by making the space feel truly connected to nature, while adding a layer of beauty to the hotel,” says Alexina Beauperthuy, general manager of UNFRAMED, in an email interview.

The greenery has also required less upkeep than expected. “The installation is flourishing with minimal upkeep, and it’s an investment we’d make again without hesitation,” Beauperthuy says.

Hôtel de Sers In Paris Is Creating A Hideaway In The Heart Of A Busy City

Hôtel de Sers occupies a former 19th-century private mansion near the Champs-Élysées. Its restaurant patio, once used for horses and carriages, now features a living wall.

“We wanted to restore a sense of life and soul to this historic space while creating a peaceful retreat from the energy of the Champs-Élysées,” says Agathe Jousse, daughter of Anne Jousse, owner, and deputy general manager of B. Signature Hotels, in an email interview.

“The living wall felt like a natural choice. It enhances the architecture while surrounding guests with greenery, calm and a sense of escape,” Jousse adds.

The hotel even added a window in the living wall so guests can watch Chef Stefano Stafie and his team preparing their meals.

Local guests, particularly from the 8th arrondissement and Champs-Élysées area, have become regulars, choosing the patio for its sense of peace and seclusion.

The investment has also proved relatively manageable, supported by an automatic irrigation system and regular professional care. “When comparing the cost with that of a high-quality wood treatment, wall covering or decorative installation, the difference is ultimately quite limited,” explains Jousse.