In recent years, there has been a shift in the use of hotels that now cater to a growing variety of functions. Suffice it to say, hotels have become destinations by themselves. Every space in hospitality interiors is now designed with a different strategy to accommodate the needs of every guest- from those who decide to stay in their rooms up to those who view hotels as a new place for business, networking, socializing and relaxation.
The Lobby
In the past, hotel lobbies mainly served the function of catering to stay-in guests who were checking-in at the hotel reception counter. Thus lobbies only featured a few seating areas within a large space designed to strike that very first impression on guests staying in the hotel.
Today, the lobby has become the epicenter of social and business activities. The surge in business travel has created a growing trend for hoteliers to provide multifunctional spaces that offer both comfort and functionality for guests who are there to conduct transactions, create networks or engage in casual conversations. The newest trends in hotel lobbies feature creative spatial segmentations that divide intimate conversations, spaces for socialization and business negotiations.
Tables for laptops, charging stations and a sufficient number of outlets are now making their way into hotel lobby design. Aside from guests, hotels are now seeing an increase in revenue from non-guests who are using hotel lobbies as multifunctional spaces. While some hotels will charge around $50 per hour of stay, other hotels such as the Marriott chain are offering their spaces free-of-charge. Even with no fees of this sort, hotels can expect to receive a return as chances are their non-guests will eventually end up ordering food and drinks from the lobby bar while staying for long periods of time.
Another growing trend in hotel lobbies include showcasing landscapes or incredible design features
The Rooms
Personalization is probably the biggest growing trend in hospitality right now. According to Andrew Hartley, Sofitel’s regional director for sales and marketing, guests are looking forward to a personalized stay in their hotels. Sofitel approach this task by collecting information from their guests to ensure that they cater to each guest according to their preferences and address their wishes before they even check-in.
Regular guests already have their information stored in the hotel’s database which the hotels update from time to time, while new guests are asked to fill-out a detailed guest information sheet.
When it translates to design, concept hotel themes are now making their way in the hospitality scene. One perfect example of this would be the Hotel Le Seven in Paris which offer seven different themes to cater to the tastes of every guest.
Sustainability
With the rise of environmentally-conscious consumers, hoteliers are also creating strategies to provide a sustainable hospitality environment to their clientele. A survey conducted by Travel Advisor showed that 62 percent of travelers in the United States are looking forward to more green practices in hotels they stay in. 84 percent of the said study group believe that ecological practices will not be a hindrance to their hotel experience while 52 percent of the said study group are hoping that moves towards sustainability will not impact the cost of their hotel stay.
With the establishment of the Hospitality Sustainable Purchasing Index by the Hospitality Sustainable Purchasing Consortium, hoteliers can expect a better guidance in creating a sustainable design for their hotels.
One of the best case studies when it comes to sustainable hospitality design would be Starhotels E.c.h.o Milano situated in Milan, Italy. Starhotels E.c.h.o. received recognition for their sustainable efforts during the 2012 European Hotel Design Awards. The hotel was considered the best in this category not only because of the design but also in providing a sustainable, energy-efficient experience to their hotel guests.
