Trends are evolving fast, and inspired changes are landing everywhere from hotel lobbies to guest rooms – and even from inside the minibar. Here’s HOTELS’ 2017 guide to what’s hot in design, F&B, wellness, technology, sales and marketing, and development.
What’s hot? New luxury that takes the fussy out of formality and imparts a casual elegance. Spaces that are steeped in local culture, art and nature. New ways to capture customers and keep them loyal and engaged.
Need a shot of inspiration? Here you go – starting with design.
Immersion in local culture
Some hotels are ensuring that guests are immersed in local culture simply by entering the property. Reflecting the island’s culture, the Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina encompasses an aesthetic with a deep connection to the community.
Interior designer Mary Philpotts draws upon her royal Hawaiian ancestry while creating materials such as custom carpets based on her ocean-inspired tapa artwork. Other touches include locally made lava stone walls, native koa wood tables, banana-bark wall coverings, coral sculptures and reconstituted teakwood decks.
General Manager Sanjiv Hulugalle says, “Our intention was to create an authentic sense of place. Ko Olina means ‘place of joy,’ and the rugged beauty of the leeward coast of Oahu invites us to share the mana of this property – the people, the stories, the geography and the history.”
In Cambodia, the Anantara Angkor resort offers an homage to Khmer culture through its handcrafted teak wood furniture, vibrant textiles, candle holders, woven light shades and wooden wall carvings. Suspended above the onsite restaurant are umbrella-shaped brass chandeliers created by local artisans, symbolizing divine protection.
—Written by Marla Cimini
The lobby gets cooler
The “together alone” concept is alive and well as lobbies take center stage. Hoteliers are creating energy, attracting locals and squeezing every dollar out of every available space.
The ICRAVE-designed Sir Adam in Amsterdam’s A’dam Tower features a “living lobby” called The Hub. The co-working space meets concept store and Music Library overlooks The Butcher Social Club, a spacious gourmet burger joint set in a casual living room environment. The spirited, music-driven spaces include a large island bar and riverside terrace, which host regular live performances and nightly DJ sets, as well as a retail experience with products made by Amsterdam locals and eclectic music gear.
In a more select-service, pre-fab capacity, Barcelona’s Mangalis Hotel Group opened the Yaas Hotel Dakar Almadies in Senegal with a space where guests can surf the web on fast-speed connected iPads at the social table.
“We are a young and vibrant new concept of hospitality for and in the African market,” says Mangalis CEO Olivier Jacquin. “We deal with the customer who wants to own every space of the property, and our focus is to amaze them throughout their stay to yield loyalty.”
—Written by Jeff Weinstein
Designed for engagement
Developed from interconnecting canal houses, the recently restored Pulitzer Amsterdam hotel features a tranquil lobby library displaying all 99 Pulitzer Prize-winning books. In its music-themed suite, guests can rediscover their favorite vinyl and strum the room’s acoustic guitar – a few examples of how hotels are inviting guests to get in touch with, and touch, what makes aproperty unique.
In California, Long Beach’s Hotel Maya encourages guests to slide the beads of the front desk’s antique abacus. At poolside are oversized chess and checkers. “We continue to identify key activities that guests will enjoy, and incorporate them into their overall experience,” says Kristi Allen, VP of hotel operations at Hotel Maya – a Doubletree by Hilton. “Guests are pleasantly surprised.”
—Written by Marla Cimini