Why the Future of Hospitality Is Experiential—And How We’re Building It
I never set out to create just another hospitality brand. From the start, Tomu was about something more—about rethinking how we experience space, about challenging the idea that hospitality has to fit into a rigid box (literally and figuratively).
Because let’s be honest: the old model is broken.
For too long, hospitality has been defined by square footage, cost per key, and occupancy rates—all the clinical, soulless metrics that strip away what travel is supposed to be about. But something has shifted. Travelers today aren’t booking places to stay; they’re booking places to feel.
And the data backs it up—unique stays consistently outperform standard lodging, commanding higher occupancy, better reviews, and premium pricing. But why? Because they give guests something that mass-produced hotels and uninspired Airbnbs never will: a sense of place, a sense of self, a sense of something memorable.
That’s why we built Tomu—to make it easier for anyone to create a stay that actually means something.
Designing for Emotion, Not Just Efficiency
I’ve always believed that good design has the power to shift how we experience the world. A well-placed window can change the way you wake up. The right textures under your fingertips can make a space feel warmer, more human.
But what most people miss is this: hospitality isn’t about design alone. It’s about the feeling that design creates.
So when we build, we ask different questions:
What’s the first thing a guest sees when they arrive?
How does the light move through the space at different times of day?
What textures, scents, and sounds will shape their memory of this place?
Because the most successful hospitality brands—the ones guests return to, the ones they obsess over—are the ones that design for emotion, not just aesthetics.
Space Matters More Than You Think
There’s a reason some stays feel effortless while others feel like an afterthought. It comes down to space—not just how it looks, but how it works.
What we believe is that the magic ratio is about 0.5 to 1 acre per unit. It’s enough to create privacy, to allow for a deep connection to nature, without feeling isolated or inefficient. It’s the balance between seclusion and accessibility.
And yet, in traditional hospitality, the default is to maximize density—to pack as many units onto a property as possible. But when you prioritize volume over experience, you kill the very thing that makes a stay special.
This is why we build differently.
Rethinking Construction: Smarter and More Intentional
One of the biggest barriers to bringing an experiential stay to life is the process itself. Traditional construction is slow, expensive, and full of inefficiencies that don’t serve the end result.
So we built Tomu around a different idea: modular, prefabricated hospitality.
Smarter: Units are built off-site and installed in days.
More Cost-Effective: Streamlined production means less waste, fewer delays.
Sustainable by Design: Prefab allows for higher energy efficiency, minimal site disruption, and smarter resource use.
But more than that, modular construction allows creative freedom—giving people the ability to design spaces that are both architecturally stunning and functionally seamless.
Because if we want to redefine hospitality, we have to redefine how we build.
What Makes a Stay Unforgettable?
It’s not the thread count. It’s not the mini bar. It’s not the size of the suite.
The stays that linger in memory are the ones where every touchpoint is considered.
Arrival matters → The way a guest steps into a space should feel like a reveal, not a transaction.
Sensory design → The scent of the wood. The warmth of morning light. The way sound carries through a space. These things matter.
Thoughtful details → A handwritten note, a hidden nook designed for sunrise coffee, a playlist that feels perfectly in sync with the setting.
The truth is, you don’t need a massive footprint or an unlimited budget to create an unforgettable stay. You just need intention.
Building Something That Lasts
I started Tomu because I believe hospitality is about more than just lodging. It’s about designing spaces that give people something to remember. Something to feel.
And I know I’m not the only one.
I meet people all the time—visionaries, entrepreneurs, creatives—who have a dream of building a retreat, a hideaway, a place that tells a story. And I want to help make that happen.
Because the world doesn’t need another generic rental. It needs places with soul.
So if you’re ready to build something different, something meaningful—let’s talk. Let’s build beyond boundaries.
-Chris Osaka
