| What is hotel design? | | | | wowed each time they walk in. The reason for a |
| A discipline that takes care of the creation of a | | | | more casual ambience in hotels can also be attributed |
| perfect ambience for the guests is widely known as | | | | to the need of frequent travelers to feel at home. A |
| hotel design. It is basically designing a place where | | | | formal setting definitely comes in the way of it. |
| clients touch base after tiring journeys, or a hard | | | | The increased periodicity of renovations |
| day’s work, for which the host is paid money. | | | | Only a decade back, renovations would be carried |
| Even though designing a hotel comprises of a mere | | | | out at a gap of five to seven years. The periodicity |
| 15% of the total budget, it accounts for a whopping | | | | has now increased to three to five years. This has |
| 70%of its income. Hotel designs have come a long | | | | increased the workload on designers, but eased their |
| way from their erstwhile days, with specialized | | | | work because of the hoteliers’ enthusiasm to |
| architects, builders, interior designers, contractors and | | | | experiment. It has been noticed that more number of |
| suppliers pitching in their share. Today, hotel design | | | | guests are looking forward to a signature restaurant, |
| includes building specialized buildings with the required | | | | with a signature chef, and a signature menu. This has |
| amenities for the purpose of attracting clients, or | | | | increased the possibilities in the design arena. |
| renovating an old hotel building, or converting other | | | | The hotel designer’s social milieu |
| structures such as palaces and forts into a hotel. But, | | | | The social milieu from which the designer hails |
| despite there being no consensus upon the ideal hotel | | | | considerably affects the way he views the world. |
| design, the fact remains that a good location and an | | | | The emerging concept of a global citizen has seen |
| efficient structure are the main ingredients of an | | | | many shun the local cultural ethnicity, while others are |
| attractive design. | | | | eager to have a taste of the same. It is therefore |
| Hotel design vis a vis its functions | | | | important to have a view of what type of guests |
| A hotel is divided into a number of segments some | | | | your hotel would want to cater to, to decide upon |
| of them being, restaurants, bedrooms, suites, | | | | the designer. If the hotel wants to remain seeped in |
| reception, entry lounge, laundry area etc. It is of | | | | the regional norms, and provide its gusts with an |
| utmost importance that the smooth functioning of | | | | cultural insight, a local designer, or at least one who is |
| one area does not interfere with that of the others. | | | | familiar with the cultural background, would be the |
| The noise or the movement of people in one area | | | | safest bet. On the other hand, if you need to |
| should not disturb both the people working, and the | | | | project your hotel as a boutique hotel, try an |
| guests in other areas. For this reason, hotels are | | | | international designer, who has experience in designing |
| designed inside out. This ensures good functionality. | | | | hotels catering to guests from the world over. |
| Decide upon the theme of the hotel | | | | The shift in focus |
| Before starting to design the interiors, give a second | | | | Unlike some years ago, the cynosure of the guest |
| thought to the prevalent theme that your hotel | | | | room is no more the bed, but the bathroom. The |
| would adhere to. There are many new trends | | | | conventional claustrophobic bathrooms are being |
| emerging in the design industry. Boil down your choice | | | | replaced by expanded ones, with showers instead of |
| to a select few, and then zero in upon the final | | | | tubs, and quality fixtures and finishes. |
| choice. The look can vary anywhere between | | | | Including the guest’s suggestions |
| grunge, international, chic, boutique, urban or classical, | | | | The suggestions of the guests need to be paid heed |
| but since a hotel offers a formal setting; a grunge | | | | to, if you want your design to be the finest blend of |
| theme would be too bold a statement. | | | | functionality and aesthetics. No other inputs hold as |
| Adventure in design | | | | much importance as this one, because of the |
| Clients worldwide have become more demanding. | | | | practicality involved. Also it is the guest who is the |
| They want aesthetically and creatively appealing | | | | end user of the design and that makes him the best |
| designs, better technology to have everything at | | | | judge. |
| their fingertips, and facilities that allow them to | | | | Conclusion |
| indulge, like a good swimming pool, an in-house gym, | | | | The demand of business and pleasure travelers is |
| or a relaxing spa massage, just a call away. Also, | | | | becoming more diverse. The hospitality industry |
| gone are the days of heavily formal designs in hotels. | | | | needs to incorporate the upcoming trends in design |
| The new breed of adventurous designers and | | | | to cater to their clients. It has been predicted by |
| travelers has made the hotels rethink their set beliefs | | | | experts and analysts that the future will belong to |
| about guest service. Business travelers have also | | | | hotels with colossal construction, bigger rooms and in |
| contributed towards the adventurous design trends in | | | | room kitchens. Keeping the design simple yet efficient |
| the hotel industry. They want to be surprised or | | | | is the key. |