Hotel brand Wyndham Garden has launched a new global design prototype that it believes can help hospitality operators save money, improve efficiency and forge a closer connection to nature.

Nine prototypical hotels, designed for business travellers, are already under development in Texas, Indiana and West Virginia.

The design – developed with hospitality design firm Krause+Sawyer – is inspired by gardens, using natural materials, abundant daylight and flora and fauna to inspire a sense of wellbeing in guests. The ‘living walls’ of the hotel are covered in moss and weathered wood, which partly extends into the interiors.

Each hotel will have seven storeys and 139 guest rooms, including wellness suites with fitness equipment. The designers have planned for every room to feature bright windows, natural colours, soft lighting and wood-like vinyl flooring. The prototype also includes a bar, fitness centre, outdoor pool, function room and outdoor patio.

The blueprint has been tailored to achieve LEED certification for the use of low-flow water fixtures, electric car charging stations, filtered water stations, generous natural light and guest-controlled temperature gauges.

“We’ve developed a serene environment with purposeful design choices, a lens on the details and meaningful offerings to make our guests’ travels as easy and stress-free as possible,” said Kate Ashton, brand senior vice president for Wyndham Garden.

“Travellers deserve respites along with amenities that provide added convenience and comfort. With nearly half of our hotels located near airports and in city centres, we understand the need to escape the hustle and bustle that comes along with flying into Newark or doing business in downtown Shanghai.

“The prototype offers valuable returns on investments to hotel owners at a time when demand for upper-midscale construction is on the rise.”

Hotel operators can apply to use the Wyndham Garden name and recreate the prototype, which costs an estimated US$115,000 (€99,165; £84,760) per key.

With 15 brands and nearly 8,000 hotels – including Wyndham Garden – the Wyndham Hotel Group is the world’s largest hotel company and brand franchisor.