The verdict in three sentences
A hotel group choosing a studio for a USD 1M renovation does not pick the prettiest website: it picks the one that proves business impact, with case studies showing RevPAR, occupancy and average daily rate before and after renovation. A redesign costs from USD 3,500 with a freelancer to USD 10,000 to 30,000 at a New York agency, and EUR 1,220 to 5,340 (about USD 1,300 to 5,800) at Kolonell for Starter, Growth or Premium. With fees of 8 to 12%, a single project won pays for the redesign several times over.
What makes a hotel group sign
Development and renovation teams at US groups (independents, boutique collections, franchisees of major brands) receive dozens of RFP responses a year. Their filter is fast: comparable references (segment, key count, ADA and code constraints), ability to run a schedule in an open hotel, and operating results after reopening.
| Website content (2026 estimate) | Impact on decision | Present at most studios | Redesign priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Case studies with before/after RevPAR | Very strong | Rarely | 1 |
| High-definition gallery per project | Strong | Yes | 2 |
| Project sheet: keys, area, budget, timeline | Strong | Partly | 1 |
| Occupied-hotel renovation method | Medium to strong | Rarely | 3 |
| Named team and roles | Medium | Yes | 4 |
| Press and awards (Gold Key, AHEAD Americas) | Medium | Yes | 5 |
| Qualified project brief form | Strong | Rarely | 2 |
An effective case study fits on one page: context (4-star hotel, 62 keys, Midtown Manhattan), construction budget (USD 1.5M), duration (7 months, partially open), 12-month results (ADR +22%, RevPAR +18%, guest score from 8.4 to 9.1), with the client's written approval to publish the figures.
Redesign price comparison in New York
| Provider | Price | Timeline | Included | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freelance web designer | USD 3,500 | 4 to 6 weeks | Theme, gallery, contact | No strategy, case studies left to you |
| Independent web studio | USD 10,000 to 15,000 | 8 to 10 weeks | Custom design, CMS | Image performance often neglected |
| Premium New York agency | USD 20,000 to 30,000 | 12 to 16 weeks | Strategy, copy, design, development | High budget, long timelines |
| Kolonell Starter | EUR 1,220 (800,000 FCFA) | 3 to 4 weeks | 5 pages, portfolio, form | No advanced animations |
| Kolonell Growth | EUR 1,830 to 3,050 (1.2 to 2M FCFA) | 5 to 6 weeks | Blog, analytics, case studies | Standard SEO |
| Kolonell Premium | EUR 3,050 to 5,340 (2 to 3.5M FCFA) | 6 to 8 weeks | Animations, AVIF gallery, advanced SEO, EN/FR | Case study copy supplied by client |
| Professional photo shoot (extra) | USD 2,000 to 5,000 per project | 1 to 2 days | Retouched architectural photos | Outside web scope |
The hidden cost is often photography: without quality architectural images, no website convinces. Budget it separately, ideally shared with the hotel client, which also needs the images for its booking channels.
Technology serving the image
An interior design portfolio is heavy: 40 to 80 photos per project. Served as raw JPEGs, they slow the site and drive mobile visitors away. AVIF cuts file weight by 3 to 5 times at equal quality; combined with responsive sizes and lazy loading, it keeps LCP under 2 seconds even with full-screen galleries. A French version can also pay off: European groups and investment funds active in US hospitality appreciate it, and it signals international reach.
Mini case study
Camille, co-founder of an 11-person hospitality interior design studio in New York, hesitates between a USD 24,000 agency quote and a Premium offer at EUR 5,340 (about USD 5,800), plus USD 6,500 for shoots of 3 flagship projects. Her studio wins an average of 4 projects a year. If the new site adds just one project with a USD 950,000 construction budget at 10% fees, that brings USD 95,000 in revenue. The total cost of about USD 12,300 is covered 7.7 times. Even with the agency route (USD 30,500 in total), one extra project pays for the redesign, but the USD 18,200 difference would fund almost three more shoots.
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FAQ
How much does a website redesign cost for an interior design studio in New York?
From USD 3,500 with a freelancer to USD 30,000 at a premium agency. Kolonell offers EUR 1,220 to 5,340 depending on Starter, Growth or Premium.
Can we publish a client hotel's operating results?
Only with written consent, often as percentages (RevPAR +18%) rather than absolute values. A publicity clause in the engagement letter makes this easier.
How many projects should the portfolio show?
Six to ten well-documented projects beat thirty thumbnails. Each project deserves 12 to 25 images and a fact sheet with figures.
Do we need a second language?
Only if you target European groups or funds. Translation of a 10 to 15 page site costs USD 900 to 2,200.
What timeline should we expect?
6 to 8 weeks for a Premium site, versus 12 to 16 weeks at an agency. The schedule depends mostly on photo availability and case study copy.
Let's scope your project. Send us your 6 to 10 flagship projects and target markets: we will price the portfolio, case studies and bilingual version for a launch in 6 to 8 weeks. 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.
