November FOCUS Hotel Design: Home Away From Home
With the rise of the sharing economy and the peer-to-peer marketplace for lodging options, hoteliers are re-thinking the look, feel and appeal of their locations. There is an emphasis on re-creating a feeling of homeyness - a comfortable, cozy and inviting space that feels like home. 'This is accomplished through the careful selection of furniture design, paint colors, lighting design, artwork, bathroom fixtures and textile accessories. In addition, some hotels are providing their guests with upscale amenities, such as a book and movie library, home-style kitchenettes, a coffee machine with locally-sourced beans and tea, or even a batch of fresh-baked cookies. Similarly, there is a growing design trend based on the concept of place-making. Travelers are searching for experiences that are unique and authentic to the locale in which they find themselves, and so hotel designers are integrating a sense of place into their work. This is partially achieved by incorporating traditional artisanal crafts and other local artwork into hotel rooms and communal spaces. Another design trend includes the creation of full-service, co-working environments within the hotel. Guests don't like to stay alone in their room when they need to work, so now they can go downstairs to the lobby-or up to the roof-to work among others. These areas encourage guests - and non-guests alike - to stay as long as they like and to partake of hotel amenities. Finally, recognizing the importance of the Wellness Movement, some designers are exploring how room design can increase the likelihood of deep and restorative sleep. Creating dark and quiet spaces, blocking excessive light, providing guests with a selection of different kinds of pillows, and the ability to control room temperature, are a few of the best practices in this area. These are some of the architecture and design topics that will be covered in the November issue of the Hotel Business Review.
Last month's feature articles...
COVID-19 has changed the way the travelers view hotel stays. With evolving requirements from jurisdictions, protocols from hoteliers, and enhanced expectations of guests and staff alike, Adrienne Scribner from Baskervill's award-winning hospitality studio offers three cost-effective strategies hotel owners can implement to help their guests feel comfortable and safe in our pandemic and post-pandemic world, while also saving on costs in the long run. READ MORE
Since Cleopatra's reign, copper's antimicrobial talents have been protecting populations killing 99.9% of all bacteria it touches. What other piece of furniture or material can scientifically support such a claim? By incorporating copper products into the design of your spaces and sharing its story in your marketing, you will offer an extra level of confidence for today's safety conscious guests. READ MORE
As states grapple with decisions and mandates around in-person gatherings, hotels across the nation have seen a major loss of revenue generated from conferences, trade shows, weddings, and other social events. Event planners have had to rethink their production strategies, while some have tried to pivot to virtual platforms. As restrictions ease the question remains on how to adapt to today's new world and move forward thoughtfully and carefully. READ MORE
The days of hotel lobbies full of mask-less people, overflowing restaurants, and packed fitness rooms are probably a thing of the past. How hotel Brands, owners, and operators adapt and the strategies they utilize to address the new norms for key elements such as lobbies, F&B, and building systems will determine if they survive and how to plan for the future. READ MORE
Tim Schroeder, President and CEO of Duravit North America, explores how technology and design help shape the hotel guest experience. Focusing on his area of expertise, the bathroom, Schroeder shares insights on leveraging innovations in product development and materiality to offer guests an experience that evokes emotion and affords enhanced levels of trust and safety in the current and post-pandemic world. READ MORE
Many older hotels in large cities are forced to invest in upgrades when new venues go up nearby at competitive price points. Now that COVID has impacted the sector as a major disruptor, those plans will almost certainly have to change. This article offers guidance for working with designers and architects to manage safety concerns, stay competitive, and finding appealing ways to re-imagine the hotel experience in the COVID era. READ MORE
With hotels unlikely to see a return to pre-pandemic occupancy rates before 2023, savvy executives turn to consultants and designers for innovative approaches to reconfiguring and reimagining amenities and service offerings. Targeted approaches can reinforce brand loyalty and capture new revenue by appealing to the new traveler mindset, which revolves around the question of safety and the desire for a positive guest experience. READ MORE
Remote work is only increasing. It's estimated that at least 16 percent of workers will be remote workers after the pandemic, according to Harvard Business School. When done right, a hotel can provide a lobby set up for the remote worker, including excellent customer service, delicious coffee, a place to spend the night, and an escape into leisure activities. READ MORE
The pandemic has accelerated a broader conversation about the importance of designing hospitality spaces that support visitor health and wellness. To stimulate the travel economy, hotel properties must step up to the plate with effective design solutions that make people feel comfortable and excited to book their stay. Here are six areas of hotel interiors that will see the biggest changes. READ MORE
Monika Moser, Regional Managing Director for Wilson Associates' New York, Paris, and London studios, offers her insight into the key role of architectural interior designers in a post COVID-19 world. She oversees three of the international firm's three offices and shares potential solutions for the evolving hospitality and food and beverage industry. READ MORE
The events of the past 8 months have forced the hotel industry to reevaluate the notion of cost containment and efficiency vs. preparedness and prevention. When considering the future of travel and the hotel industry, the implications for hotel design and remodeling creates new opportunities for resiliency and survival in the months and years to come. Welcome UV light technology… READ MORE
When it comes to hotel design, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, brands need to embrace the new environment and to reimagine their futures. This article explores some of the biggest trends ahead, from conversions of meeting and banquet spaces to food and beverage options, also communal pantries and keyless entry, smaller studio spaces in lobbies and the transformation of hotel rooms into service apartments. READ MORE
With an empathetic design approach, hotels become conduits of experience, not architectural statements. An accelerating trend in 2020, slow travel encourages travelers to put aside agendas, and at a leisurely pace, immerse in nature, local experiences, and the unadorned, quotidian beauty of a place. Can we make guests feel like living expressions of a place instead of temporary visitors? READ MORE
A few weeks ago, one of my friends asked me why Revenue Management (RM) mattered anymore since there was no revenue to manage. Then, I started noticing that many hotel companies were laying off many of their RM team members. That got me thinking and as an RM person, of course it sort of rankled me. Does RM still have relevance in the post-Covid world? READ MORE
There are myriad of uncertainties for revenue managers at hotels worldwide. From managing an internal team, managing ever changing expectations, all while maintaining a sustained level of profitability, there's a lot to consider. Cassie Bond, CHRM, CRME, Vice President of Revenue Strategy at Chesapeake Hospitality discusses what revenue managers should keep top of mind while strategizing a way forward. READ MORE
Every business is obligated to protect their customers from identity theft but unfortunately, data breaches have become all too common. In an effort to protect a guest's right to privacy and to safeguard their personal data, the European Union passed a General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) that could hold hotels legally liable for any breaches that expose a customer's sensitive personal information. Though the GDPR only pertains to EU citizens' data, any international business that mishandles their data can be legally responsible. Another legal issue of concern is the fight involving hotel "resort fees." Several states attorney generals have recently filed suit against two major hotel chains in an effort to litigate this practice. Their suit alleges that these companies are "engaged in deceptive and misleading pricing practices and their failure to disclose fees is in violation of consumer protection laws." The suit seeks to force the hotel chains to advertise the true price of their hotel rooms. There are several other legal issues that the industry is being forced to address. Sexual harassment prevention in the workplace is still top of mind for hotel employers-particularly in New York and California, which now statutorily require harassment training. Hotels and motels in California will also soon be required to train all their employees on human trafficking awareness. Immigration issues are also of major concern to hotel employers, especially in the midst of a severe labor shortage. The government is issuing fewer H2B visas for low-skilled workers, as well as J-1 visas for temporary workers. Though there is little hope for any comprehensive immigration reform, hotel lobbying groups are actively seeking legal remedies to alleviate this problem. These are just a few of the critical issues that the December issue of the Hotel Business Review will examine in the area of hotel law.
