Insider: The Five Best Practices in Hotel Foyer Design
By Michael Bedner, Chairman & CEO, HBA/Hirsch Bedner Associates
Mr. Michael Bedner
At the beginning of a film or a play, the audience is full of anticipation for the journey they’re about to undertake. Rather than see the story all at once, they expect it to unfold scene by scene in a traditional three act dramatic structure built on a beginning, middle and end. A great hotel or restaurant also tries to duplicate this experience, with the reception area, lobby and guestrooms serving as the scenes of the story. A foyer then becomes an integral part of creating the complete guest experience and setting the stage for what is to come. Whether it’s for an entry to a lobby or guest room, foyers serve as transitional spaces that lead guests from one area of the hotel to the next, from one event to another, from one act to the other.
Despite the foyer’s importance in hotel design, they’re often diminished or overlooked, taking a back seat to more important spaces, such as lobbies, restaurants or ballrooms. But this design approach is short-sided and undermines their value. Like the host in a great restaurant that greets guests and provides a remarkable experience prior to them being seated, foyers draw the guest in and enhance the emotional experience. That’s the essence of foyer design, to help guide the guests through the hotel, allowing them time to take in each new space in preparation for what’s coming next.
An inside look and appraisal of the design of transitional foyer spaces awaits in my article "The Five Best Practices in Hotel Foyer Design" in the Hotel Business Review, including specific examples of innovative foyer design culled from hundreds of our new and ongoing hospitality projects. I also examine a design philosophy that has stood the test of time, 44 years to be exact, and is timeless in its approach, built on several tenants that definitely apply to foyer design.
Click here to read the full article
Sincerely,
Michael Bedner
Chairman & CEO
HBA/Hirsch Bedner Associates
310-829-9087
michaelB@HBEdesign.com
