The verdict in three sentences
For a Miami interior design studio that wants to win work from international hotel brands and owners, a premium portfolio site costs about $25,000 to $45,000 as a 2026 ballpark, delivered in 10 weeks. Content is what wins: 25 case studies shot in photo and video, each with key count, square footage, timeline and a cost per square foot range. Done well, the site becomes a permanent shortlist dossier for the 3 hotel RFPs you target each year.
What a hotel development director looks for
Brands such as Marriott, Hilton or Hyatt, and the owners and management companies operating under their flags, select designers in two steps: a shortlist built from websites and references, then an RFP with concept boards and fees. At the shortlist stage, the decision maker spends under 3 minutes on a site. They want proof you can deliver to brand standards, hold an FF&E budget and coordinate a phased renovation in an operating hotel.
| Site element | What it proves | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Case studies with numbers | Keys, sq ft, timeline, cost per sq ft | Essential |
| Professional photos and short video | Real execution quality | Essential |
| Spanish version | Ability to serve Latin American owners | Strong |
| Process page and typical schedule | Concept, schematic, CDs, installation | Strong |
| Team and partners | Size, procurement agents, contractors | Strong |
| Brand references | Compliance with brand standards | Strong |
| Press and awards | Visibility, credibility | Medium |
| Journal or blog | Long-term search visibility | Optional |
Detailed budget for a premium site in Miami
Price is driven mostly by content production. A good Miami agency charges for design and build, but the photo and video shoot often represents a third of the total.
| Item | 2026 range | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Art direction and design | $5,000 to $9,000 | Editorial, magazine-style layouts |
| Development and CMS | $7,000 to $12,000 | Project sheets filterable by type |
| Photography of 25 projects | $6,000 to $12,000 | $250 to $500 per project depending on access |
| Short videos (8 projects) | $3,000 to $6,000 | 45 to 90 seconds each |
| Copywriting and Spanish version | $2,500 to $4,500 | Native review |
| Image optimisation and performance | About $1,500 | WebP and AVIF, lazy loading |
| Total | $25,000 to $45,000 | 10 weeks if photo access is ready |
A typical project sheet shows the client or property type (when confidentiality requires it), location, keys or covers, area, installation time, a cost per square foot range and 3 problems solved. The cost range reassures the decision maker because it places your positioning instantly. As a ballpark, upscale guestroom interiors in South Florida often run $250 to $500 per square foot including FF&E, depending on the brand tier.
Performance, confidentiality and search
An image-heavy portfolio can turn slow, which hurts visitors browsing from New York, São Paulo or Dubai on mobile. Require a homepage under 2 MB, images in modern formats and largest contentful paint under 2.5 seconds. On confidentiality, some owners refuse to be named: add a confidential client option and written approval before publishing. For search, queries like "boutique hotel interior designer Miami" have low volume but very high value: one qualified enquiry can be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars in fees. Structure the site so each case study has its own URL, a descriptive title such as "120-key resort renovation, Key Biscayne" and schema markup for the project images. Those pages tend to rank for long-tail searches within 4 to 6 months and give business developers a precise link to send after a first meeting.
Mini case study
Sofia, founder of a 12-person studio in Miami, invests $38,000 in her site and 25 case studies. Her goal is to be shortlisted on 3 hotel RFPs a year instead of one. She wins about one RFP in three. A 120-key renovation brings roughly $380,000 in fees at a 25% margin, $95,000 of margin. With 2 extra shortlists a year, the expected additional margin is 2 × 1/3 × $95,000 = $63,300 per year. The site pays back in about 7 months, before counting direct enquiries from independent owners.
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FAQ
Should we show cost per square foot for every project?
A range is enough, for example $300 to $400 per sq ft. It qualifies leads and filters out prospects whose budget is a third of yours.
How many case studies at launch?
Aim for 12 to 15 complete projects at launch, then grow to 25 within 6 months. Fifteen well documented sheets beat 40 thumbnails without context.
Is a Spanish version worth it?
For Miami studios courting Latin American owners, usually yes. Professional translation costs roughly $0.12 to $0.20 per word.
How long does the shoot take?
Allow 3 to 5 weeks for 25 projects, because operating hotels only release rooms in specific windows. Request access as soon as the contract is signed.
Can the site replace the RFP submission?
No, but it shortens it. A link to 5 targeted project sheets supports the submission and avoids sending a 40 MB PDF.
See also our comparison of agency, freelancer or Webflow studio and our showcase websites service.
Let's scope your project. We structure your case studies, shoot schedule and language versions with you before pricing the site. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
