Staybridge Unviels Two Interior Designs Created by Nation's Top Design Students

Innovative approach brings fresh perspective to standard hotel room decor

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. November 17, 2009

November 16, 2009 - IHG's upscale extended-stay hotel brand, Staybridge Suites, is unveiling two new interior design schemes at IHG's 2009 Americas Investors & Leadership Conference. The new looks are the results of an innovative approach undertaken by Staybridge Suites, which partnered with the Savannah College of Art and Design's (SCAD) interior design program, one of the top five interior design programs in the nation, to completely refresh the brand's standardized room decor packages.

This is the first time SCAD's interior design students provided full design services to a corporate entity as part of their coursework. The graduate students stayed at various Staybridge Suites properties and spoke to guests and employees, in order to gain a deep understanding of the Staybridge Suites brand identity and the features and amenities that are most important to extended-stay guests. Once the final concepts were chosen, two of the students assisted IHG in transforming them into fully-developed schemes that are ahead of the competition, yet practical and cost-efficient for Staybridge Suites owners.

'In order to stand out from the pack, we knew we had to take a different path,' said Robert Radomski, vice president, Global Brand Management, Extended-Stay Brands, IHG. 'We gave the students the opportunity to start with a blank canvas. The end result is two designs that bring a completely new look to our suites but allow us to remain true to the brand's identity and position us well as we prepare for the next generation of extended-stay travelers.'

The new design packages will be available for implementation in early 2010. The 'Spice' scheme takes inspiration from classic textile designs and clean geometry, bringing warm color, bold patterns and rich texture to guest suites. The 'Vista' scheme focuses on fresh color, organic patterns and subtle textures, with abstract references to landscape, blending blue, green and terra-cotta shades.

Sustainability is a key element in both new designs, with several features dedicated to reducing environmental impact.
• Kitchen counter tops and bathroom vanities are made of quartz, an abundant natural mineral that is virtually maintenance-free and requires no chemical sealing.
• Modular carpet tiles are 100% recyclable and produce less waste upon installation and replacement.
• Low-VOC paint throughout the suites helps eliminate toxic airborne chemicals.
• Tile selections incorporate pre- and/or post-consumer recycled material.
• Many fabrics will be dyed and printed in a revolutionary process that does not require water, meaning left-over chemicals won't be flushed out into the environment.

The new designs also take into account the unique needs of the extended-stay traveler, including flexibility and storage. Ottoman cubes provide extra seating and storage space, with upholstered tops that can be flipped over to support a laptop or food and drinks. A desk hutch has been added to the existing work surface, providing guests with the ability to store items and customize their workspace, and a built-in closet unit provides customizable shelving for clothing and luggage. Additional flexibility has been incorporated into the studio suites, where the extended night stand functions as an added work surface and vanity area, and a bench stored underneath can serve as seating or double as a dressing bench.

'We're extremely pleased with how these new designs turned out, and early feedback from guests has been positive,' said Radomski. 'We've successfully created a warm and comfortable environment with a contemporary edge that still maintains the upscale residential feel that's integral to Staybridge Suites.'