Stylt Wins Gold for The Reef at the Muse Awards in New York

Swedish concept and design agency Stylt has won Gold at the 2025 Muse Design Awards in New York, in the category Best Interior Design – Hotels & Resorts, for its work on Quality Hotel The Reef in Frederikshavn, Denmark.

The Muse Design Awards, organized by the International Awards Associate (IAA), celebrate outstanding and innovative design in international architecture, interior design, product design, and visual communication. This year, one of the competition’s most prestigious awards went to a Caribbean dream on the Danish coast.

The Reef first opened in 2010, with Stylt responsible for the concept, storytelling, identity, and interior design. With its colorful Caribbean theme, Stylt laid the foundation for a unique experience that quickly made The Reef Scandinavia’s leading waterpark.

Fifteen years later, Stylt returned to reimagine and elevate the entire experience together with property owner Stena Line and new operator Strawberry. The result is Quality Hotel The Reef Resort.

“The mission was to evolve the waterpark into a fully fledged Caribbean resort – a destination with that little extra,” says Erik Nissen Johansen, founder and creative director at Stylt. “It’s been about staying true to the original concept while developing the guest experience for a broader and more mature audience.”

Building on The Reef’s DNA, where tropical warmth meets Danish hospitality, the Caribbean theme now flows seamlessly through the entire property – from lobby and guest rooms to restaurants, meeting spaces, and the upgraded waterpark. The guiding concept “Danish heart, Caribbean soul” ties the whole resort together.

“We’re incredibly proud to have developed The Reef into a vibrant destination that caters to an even wider range of guests and needs,” says Christina Bromander, Trade Director at Stena Line. “Winning gold in competition with hotels and resorts from around the world is proof that we’ve created a truly world-class experience.”

“The vision for The Reef was highly ambitious, and it’s wonderful to see our guests’ reactions every day – from families enjoying Caribbean adventures to conference guests finding new energy,” says Marianne Bredevang, General Manager at Quality Hotel The Reef Resort. “Watching people of all ages fully immerse themselves in the experience is the greatest reward we could ask for.”

For more information, please contact:
Erik Nissen Johansen
Tel: +46 708 21 88 88
Email: erik@stylt.se