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
HOTEL BUSINESS REVIEW
November FOCUS: Architecture & Design
Architecture & Design: Welcome Home
Hotels are still very concerned about adhering to all required sanitation protocols but as the crisis wanes, they are also being relied upon to provide a space to escape and retreat in comfort. To satisfy this need, many new design trends are emerging. One such trend seeks to cultivate an environment that is comparable to the warmth and coziness a traveler might have in their home. Lobbies are being reconfigured to resemble a family living room. For example, one leading hotel chain provides an off-lobby common area where four separate video game stations and two video games tables are furnished - all free of charge to play. Another trend is to replace traditional business centers with co-working spaces where the lines between working and social interaction are often blurred. Finally, recognizing the impact of social media, hotels are designing specific areas to facilitate picture perfect moments (think Instagram). These are just some of the architecture and design subjects that will be covered in the November issue of the Hotel Business Review.
This month's feature articles...
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
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
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
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
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
- Architecture & Design
- Meaningful Design Elements in Hybrid Hotels Capture Guest Attention and Build Local Loyalty
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
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
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
- Architecture & Design
- How This Memphis Train Station Transformed Into An Iconic Design-Forward Hotel
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
- Architecture & Design
- A and Four Stars: How Campus-Affiliated Hotels Get High Marks for Collegiate Hospitality
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
- Architecture & Design
- The Importance of Regional Design for Environment, Local Communities, and the Guest Experience
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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