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HOTEL BUSINESS REVIEW

MAY FOCUS: Eco-Friendly Practices

 

Designing Health and Wellness Into Hotel Interiors

By Wout Van De Broek Director of Business Operations, Polyvision Corporation | May 2022

In the aftermath of the pandemic, designing public spaces to protect health and wellness is a priority. Likely, it will continue to be a priority in the years to come. Rather than seeing this shift as a burden, it may be helpful to put things in some historical perspective. Pandemics have fundamentally altered architecture and entire cities in the past, and did so in ways that aren't always obvious to modern observers.

It's impossible to imagine Paris without its wide boulevards. However, the original function of those wide boulevards was to control cholera. Le Corbusier and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe refined Modernism and created masterful buildings that still capture the imagination.

Yet, Modernist Architecture traces its roots to sanitarium design of the late 19th and early 20th Centuries, for facilities that housed those ill from tuberculosis and influenza.

The discipline of urban planning owes its existence to various attempts to control polio, typhus and tuberculosis. In addition, many land use and zoning laws were adopted originally as public health measures. Public sanitation, municipal water systems, urban parks – so many aspects of contemporary urban and suburban life can be tied directly to earlier public health campaigns.

Thinking about public spaces with COVID mitigation in mind isn't new thinking at all. In fact, thoughtfully considering health and wellness in commercial interiors places designers, architects, developers and other stakeholders well within the broad sweep of history.

Though it's true that all public spaces have to incorporate more vigorous health and safety measures as the world moves forward, the hospitality industry is among the segments most affected. All hotel and lodging facilities will need to adopt specific approaches to promote the health and well-being of guests, staff and visitors. There are ways to factor these considerations into design choices, that aren't obtrusive and inconvenient. In fact, with thoughtful planning, these additional measures can actually enhance the guest experience.

Specifying bacteria-resistant, easy-to-sanitize surfaces in spaces such as lobbies and on elevator bay walls can help to preserve health and wellness in hospitality settings.

Using the Right Materials

Some materials and designs intrinsically lend themselves to enhanced cleanliness. Surfaces covered in impenetrable materials keep maintenance simple. Hard flooring, seamless cladding and the use of limited furnishings can be at once elegant and promote ease of cleaning. 

Bacteria-resistant, easy to sanitize interior cladding made from large format porcelain, quartz composites, back-painted glass and vitreous enamel are all well-suited for high-traffic surfaces in communal areas that involve multiple touchpoints. These areas, such as walls in lobbies, elevator bay walls and interiors, and transitional walkways, are challenging environments for controlling the spread of illness and can be a breeding ground for germs.

Specifying non-porous surfaces for these applications inhibits bacterial growth before it has a chance to start. Some of these materials, such as vitreous enamel – also known as ceramic steel – are available with finishes charged with silver microparticles, making them highly resistant to microorganisms and able to self-sanitize.

Unlike paint, these non-porous and resilient surfaces also resist the fading that can occur in open air- and sun-filled lobbies. The utilization of these durable materials that are resistant to scratching, denting or staining, and can withstand strong cleaning products and repeated scrubbing – is an important consideration for hotel properties.

Using dividers and partitions that also provide opportunities for collaboration results in more flexible, multi-purpose spaces.

Building Flexibility Into Lobbies and Interior Walkways

New thinking about lobby designs emphasizes flexibility and the ability to create adaptable, multipurpose spaces. Certainly, no one longs for a return to the cobbled-together plexiglass dividers of the early pandemic. So finding inventive and unobtrusive ways to limit person-to-person exposure is key.

Built, Inc. is a Los Angeles-based design group that's working currently with three Marriott properties – AC Marriott Bridgewater, New Jersey; Element Hotel Marriott Wood Ridge, New Jersey; and AC Marriott San Diego – to implement COVID-responsive design. The firm is setting up flexible lobby configurations in ways that don't make guests feel confined.

Built is using bookshelves filled with books and other items of interest as well as themed, printed screens as separation mechanisms. These subtle dividers come across as intentional design elements rather than public health measures.

Low-touch experiences with physical distancing built into a design are now in-demand elements in the layouts of hotel public spaces. Two-way, touchless entrances are being introduced, and lobbies are being redesigned to be multi-functional. Similar to the properties designed by Built, Inc., other hotels have introduced architectural screens with art and biophilic design elements, along with smaller movable, yet durable, dividers to create more adaptable and customizable spaces. Modularity is a key element in today's common areas.

Panelized cladding made of matte finish coated ceramic steel is ideally-suited for projection of high definition visual images to create an immersive, exhibit-like experience in hotel lobbies or in walkways connected to other areas of the hotel such as entertainment venues. In addition, hotels can create curated interactive visual experiences for special events and to showcase seasonal themes, and also project wayfinding and directional signage onto the panels.

The use of easily sanitizable surfaces is especially important in these high traffic areas, where patrons are more likely to touch and feel the surfaces.

Writable wall surfaces in meeting spaces and training rooms can be paired with monitors and projection to enhance collaboration.

Creating Versatile Meeting Spaces

Conference and meeting rooms are also being revamped to incorporate technology options that blend physical and virtual participation in meetings and other gatherings. These spaces come equipped with high-quality cameras, sound equipment and a robust network to support advanced technologies such as live streaming, AR and VR to better accommodate hybrid conferences and events.

Ceramic steel walls are an option worth considering to encourage collaboration in meeting and training rooms. The full wall panels can be combined with TV screens and projection – and also written on – to create more engaging and interactive learning experiences.

As always, flexibility is the driving motivation in designing these spaces. Meeting rooms and other public areas should be created so that they can be repurposed for alternative uses as needed. By keeping design flexible, choosing bacteria-resistant and easy to clean surfaces, and utilizing modular planning, future disruption can be avoided while helping to protect the health of hotel occupants.

Guest Rooms With Visible Cleanliness

Guest rooms might be the single most important element to consider in hotel design as the world moves past COVID. Most hotel brands have already done away with extraneous items such as throw pillows, brochures and room-service menus in guest rooms, and touchless technology has replaced many of the printed materials once common.

Minimizing furnishings can allow rooms to become more spacious and flexible as guests seek areas that can accommodate multiple functions – resting, working, dining and even exercising – within the confines of their rooms.

Increasingly, guest room designs include visible indications of cleanliness without introducing a clinical look and feel. That might mean more hard surfaces and fewer porous surfaces.

Resilient, non-porous materials such as large-format porcelain and ceramic-coated steel that work well in public areas are also well-suited for use as wall cladding and counter surfaces in guest rooms. These materials are simpler to clean, and some of them have the ability to self-sanitize.

Panelized ceramic steel cladding is well-suited for showcasing art and other design elements in hotel lobbies, walkways and corridors, and is also easy to keep clean.

Hands-Free Operation and the Perception of Cleanliness

Hotels are integrating more hands-free designs that minimize contact points in doorways and when activating plumbing. Touchless bath fixtures are becoming more common. Once ubiquitous carpet is being rethought as well, as more commercial designers consider resilient, easier-to-clean flooring options such as ceramic or vinyl. Just as important, these surfaces appear to be cleaner to guests.

Beyond interior design, guests want to see visual evidence that their health is being protected. Designers are working on attractive solutions that are on clear display, as opposed to tucking items such as UV lights away and out of sight. In addition, signs that describe the steps taken to ensure cleanliness go a long way to inspire guest confidence.

Integrating wellness and health into the design of spaces is important and it's vital to do so in ways that both look good and advance the perception of cleanliness.

High-Caliber Air Filtration Systems as a New Luxury

The pandemic will likely affect the considerations that go into airflow systems in hotel construction and renovation for years to come. New HVAC systems designed to limit the amount of shared air in a room are now available and in increasing demand.

Mechanical engineers are designing new ways to deliver heating and cooling. Radiant heat, natural ventilation and fresh air exchanges are departures from the "energy efficiency at all costs" thinking that guided the development of those systems until recently. New systems that take into account efficiency and health at the same time are the wave of the future.

High-caliber air filtration systems are not inexpensive, and smart travelers know to look for them. Marketing the presence of these systems in a property is a valuable way to differentiate a brand. In addition to pillow menus and a selection of gourmet coffee, high quality air filters may well be the new byword for luxury hotels.

Mobile Workouts and Exercise Suites Instead of a Common Gym

Hotel gyms are being reconsidered, and it looks like the days of rows of treadmills and dumbbells are over. Instead, weights and fitness equipment might be ordered for delivery to guest rooms just like room service food. Fitness spaces are shrinking and, increasingly, the concept of exercise is moving into the privacy of guest rooms. Whether it takes the form of yoga mats and lightweight dumbbells or something more substantial, the era of in-room fitness has dawned.

Virtual video instruction and training is the new turn down service, and suites with private gym equipment included are becoming more popular as hotels seek to find new ways to keep their fitness-minded guests in shape.

Moving Into a Post-COVID World

Even after COVID-19 fades, concerns about cleanliness and health will persist. New ways of approaching hygiene through interior design will allow hotels and public spaces to provide peace of mind to employees, guests and visitors. The pre-pandemic world of two years ago was an anomaly, historically speaking, and making pandemic-related changes to interiors could very well blunt the effects of a future outbreak.

During the past two plus years, many of the personal space accommodations and cleanliness standards established for COVID are now embedded in the public's thinking. Hotel brands must accept this reality and proactively shift their thinking when it comes to cleanliness and the ways guests will expect to use public spaces in the future. Fortunately, a variety of materials and solutions are available to meet this growing demand.

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If you feel that this site is not following its stated information policy, you may contact us.

Lisa Karvellas This Award-Winning Upstate Hotel is Revolutionizing The Event Experience
  • By Lisa Karvellas, Co-Owner, Cedar Lakes Estate

    • My sister Stephanie and I grew up on the grounds of Cedar Lakes, surrounded by towering trees, 2 sparkling lakes, and winding trails that led us on the greatest adventures. As kids, we didn’t yet see the grand vision of what it could be, but we witnessed it come alive through Team USA sports camp, the gymnastics and soccer camp run by our family. We saw how the property brought people together—reconnecting, recharging, and enjoying the serene beauty of the surroundings. And so, we began the long and loving process of turning that sense of community into the Cedar Lakes...

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Rich Lee Protecting Hospitality Brands Through Smart Dispute Resolution
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    • In the hospitality industry, a company’s reputation is its most valuable asset. It’s built on guest experiences, consistent service, and trust earned over time. But reputation is also fragile, vulnerable to missteps, miscommunication, and mishandled conflicts that can spiral into public relations nightmares. In today’s environment, the way a business manages disputes isn’t just a legal concern; it’s a strategic imperative. Disputes are inevitable in businesses that thrive on human interaction. Guests will have complaints. Vendors will miss deliveries or disagree over contract terms. Misunderstandings or challenging dynamics may arise between the company and its employees and contractors. The...

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James Downey A New and Trusted Method to Analyzing a Lodging Operation Using An Old and Proven Approach
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    • Analyzing a lodging operations ideal position and potential for success has been written about and postulated by some of the best marketing minds in the business over the last 75 years. What has not changed is the way a lodging operation has to position itself vis-a-vis its product, market and competition and the way in which it can stay in business during a buyers or sellers market. This article will delineate the three most revealing approaches a general manager can examine and how he or she remains a vital force in the market for the short and long haul....

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Cara Silletto Why Can't Staff "Figure it Out" on Their Own?
  • By Cara Silletto, President & Chief Retention Officer, Magnet Culture

    • Have you noticed more employees (and managers) lacking the skills it takes to solve their own problems? Do they go up the chain of command saying, "boss, I have a problem," without bringing potential solutions to the conversation? You're not alone, so let me explain what happened and how to bridge the skill gap for your team moving forward. In the 1960s and 1970s, many Baby Boomer moms joined the workforce once their young kids were old enough for school. Their "latchkey kids" were then expected to ride the bus home, remember their key, do their own homework (without...

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Sergio Bocci Revamping Hospitality: the Future of Hotel Renovations for Modern Travelers
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    • According to Holistique Training’s Evolution of Hospitality Industry Trends, the hospitality industry is undergoing a profound transformation driven by shifting consumer expectations, technological advancements, and a growing focus on sustainability and well-being. In response, hotels worldwide are investing in renovations to meet the demands of the modern traveler. These renovations not only address aesthetic updates but involve rethinking how hotels function and cater to evolving guest needs. Modern travelers prioritize convenience, connectivity, and unique, personalized experiences, leading hotels to re-imagine their spaces and services to offer guests more than just a place to sleep. As the General Manager of...

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Adam Ortman 2025 Hospitality Marketing Trends You Need to Keep Your Eye on
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    • The hospitality industry never sits still, and neither should you. With 2025 in full swing, the marketing game is shifting yet again, and it’s time for us to adapt. With a new year comes new expectations from your guests. We’ve moved beyond flashy hotel brochures and free lobby happy hours. Your clientele expects more than just a good night’s sleep, and as technology continues to evolve, you need to find new ways to deliver the most exceptional customer experience possible. So, how exactly do you do that? From leveraging AI for increased efficiency to taking advantage of social...

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  • By Cara Silletto, President & Chief Retention Officer, Magnet Culture

    • It’s obvious that hotels need to keep their customers happy, and loads of time and money are spent researching the needs of their target clientele. While this focus on external customers is important, it is equally important for organizations to care about the needs of their internal customers – the employees! Employees who feel valued and supported are more likely to deliver exceptional hospitality. On the other hand, employees who feel undervalued or neglected may experience decreased motivation and job satisfaction, which can compromise the quality of service they provide. How you treat your employees makes all the difference....

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