HOTEL BUSINESS REVIEW

December FOCUS: Hotel Law

 
December, 2022

Hotel Law: Legal Consequences

The pandemic provoked more than a global health crisis. It also disrupted world economies, financial markets and social systems on a massive scale. Naturally, there are legal consequences associated with this kind of severe business disruption and the issues will be litigated for years to come. In the hotel industry, there are several issues that are currently germane. One issue pertains to the legal obligations hotels have to re-hire employees who were laid off due to the pandemic. Lawsuits have been filed by former employees who claim that certain promises were made to them when they were furloughed, and they are suing hotels for breach of implied contract. Another major issue involves hotels suing their insurance companies for failing to cover their business losses due to the pandemic. Still other hotels have brought lawsuits against local governments for the strict restrictions that were placed on their businesses, chiefly restaurants and bars. These are just a few of the legal issues that will be addressed in the December issue of the Hotel Business Review.

This month's feature articles...

Peter Wright

In a post-pandemic world, people are ready to come back together. Design can play a key role in this desire for community. By creating a space where visitors and locals alike can intermix and act as a social hub, rather than just a form of lodging, design can elevate guest experience. Hotel Haya, located in Tampa, has used this inspiration in an open-concept design. READ MORE

Hannah Markham

In a world where your doorbell screens visitors, your device plays your 'relax' playlist when you arrive home from work, and your living room is decorated with hand-selected art, we have all come to expect a level of customized comfort in our surroundings whether we realize it or not. But how are hotels keeping up with this expectation for personalization? READ MORE

Lara Rimes

Although many of us are ready to see the pandemic fade in the rearview mirror, ongoing concerns about safety remain. Thoughtful design strategies can help put travelers' minds at ease while elevating the guest experience. A hotel executive and senior designer write about design trends for the near and long-term that keep guests safe without sacrificing warmth or luxury. READ MORE

Robert O'Halloran

Hotels have traditionally been designed for guest enjoyment and efficiency and now include new standards for safety and sanitation. Hotel designers are reconfiguring hotel spaces focusing on touchless interactions and high-quality environments for check-in, food and beverage ordering and more. Guest rooms, lobbies, restaurants, meeting rooms, and outdoor spaces are all being examined with consideration of guest service, safety, and sustainability. This article will review current and new trends in hotel design that embrace operations, guest service atmosphere, and marketing. READ MORE

Lizzie Raudenbush

The Curtis Hotel, located in downtown Denver, is known for intentional guest relations stemming from a creative and happy company culture. The lifestyle hotel seamlessly integrates an air of whimsical fun into all corners of the property through unique art installations, hyper-themed rooms and team members who are determined to give guests a memorable experience. READ MORE

Bruce Greenfield

The hospitality industry is defined by its ability to reinvent to fit the requirements of travelers the world over. As the industry evolves, many design trends that were in motion prior to the shutdown quickly accelerated with health and flexibility at the forefront. What types of design solutions and strategies can hotel developers and operators implement to elevate a sense of wellness, and provide options that cater to guest preferences? READ MORE

Andy Inman

Travel is back with guests hankering for more than ever. No longer is your mission simply to put heads in beds. Today's guest requires hotels they want to stay in and stay in again. Public spaces should feel designed with their delight in mind, with eye-catching elements that create a real sense of place and welcome for locals and visitors alike. READ MORE

Shannon Foster

Holston House, a luxury boutique hotel in Nashville, recently transformed into an up-tempo destination hotel with Art Deco roots in the heart of Music City. After opening in 2017, the property sought to weave its storied past into its design without undergoing a complete rebrand, focusing on its history through the past century and amplifying the voices from then and now. READ MORE

Gary Johnson

Through adaptive reuse, obsolete landmark buildings can be transformed into luxury urban hotels, breathing new life into existing structures while extending their usefulness for another generation. From outdated office towers, to warehouses, and even industrial buildings, rehabilitating a historic property through sensitive and thoughtful design can be a rational approach from a financial, civic, and environmentally sustainable point of view. READ MORE

Troy Dixon

Central Station Hotel, a Curio Collection by Hilton property, is Memphis' boutique hotel located in the iconic South Main district, one of the fastest growing neighborhoods known for new restaurants, local shops and music festivals. With picturesque views of the Mississippi River and downtown Memphis, Central Station Hotel offers a one-of-a-kind experience for leisure and business travelers alike. READ MORE

Tim Baker

Colleges are now investing in hotels tied to their campus missions: environments that embrace storytelling, promote culture and create an unforgettable experience. With greater flexibility than a typical flag-based model, these multi-functional venues highlight a school's unique identity and attributes, as well as providing a variety of uses. READ MORE

Harris Christiaansen

To attract guests and inspire repeat visits, hotels must deliver a unique sense of place that draws from cultural and historical precedents, the climate, and landscape conditions specific to the region. Leveraging regional design practices, we aim to create meaningful and emotionally resonant experiences for guests while positively impacting the environment and local communities. READ MORE

Edita Lobaciute

The workspace environment has undergone significant changes from its glory days in the Mad Men era of the 1960s to today, when one's workspace can be any place in the world that provides a stable WIFI connection. What does this shift in the concept of a productive physical office and the needs and desires of those who use them mean for the hotel industry? How can hotels efficiently address the growing demands of increasingly sophisticated remote workers? READ MORE

Lisa Chervinsky

While covid has fundamentally altered our attitudes toward travel, the hospitality industry has continued to adapt and evolve. As the industry repositions itself to meet the needs of today's guests, architect and designers can seize the opportunity to develop hospitality spaces which enable patrons to forge more meaningful connections with others, earning a more significant role in their communities. Forward thinking hospitality design reimagines public spaces to become the community town center where local patrons and overnight guests find wellness focused flexible spaces for meeting, working, creating, and socializing. READ MORE

Martha  Weidmann

When curated with intention, hotel art can transcend traditional ideas of beauty and instead become a powerful catalyst for well-being, especially when the art can leverage natural materials and biophilic design while expressing local flair and culture. The interactions and memories generated by art can create unique experiences that meet guests' desires for something new while encouraging relaxation and enjoyment. READ MORE

Blima Ehrentreu

In this piece Founder & CEO of The Designers Group, Blima Ehrentreu, discusses the importance of engaging each of the five senses through hospitality design. Every element of the environment matters, from the layout and materials to the smells and sound absorbency. Blima will discuss design components that cater directly to the guest experience through a comfortable, beautiful, and serene environment. READ MORE

Scott Rosenberg

Each hotel possesses unique opportunities to increase revenue and keep the guests coming back. Utilizing an innovative and experienced design team can help uncover these hidden gems. This article will explore areas to consider like programming and visibility to help owners know where to put their money to increase revenue and guest retention. READ MORE

Paige Harris

This article recaps the new reasons people are traveling in this post-pandemic world and highlights the hotel design trends that we will be seeing in 2023 because of these changes. Paige Harris, director of design and development for Valor Hospitality Partners, highlights how technology, sustainability, outdoor space, local connections, and being pet and family-friendly are top of mind for the upcoming year. READ MORE

Kiko Singh

To be successful today, hotels must advance the personal health and wellness of guests while addressing environmental concerns, as more hotel guests are interested in taking care of themselves and being stewards of the earth. Designers can work with hotel owners and operators to explore how sustainable practices and wellness for hotel occupants might intersect. READ MORE

Daphene Stout

Hotel lobbies are evolving in a world changed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The hospitality industry is reimagining properties to suit travelers who expect fresh design and flexible spaces that blur lines between living areas and workplaces. They must be comfortable and technologically accommodating. Versatility is key to engaging guests who need safe places to collaborate and inviting spaces to unwind. READ MORE

Coming up in March 1970...