What has been the impact of the low-touch economy on hospitality design? Can you identify what will be the short-term fads and long-term trends?
There’s definitely a huge impact caused by the global pandemic which is adversely affecting the hospitality sector and hotel design, however it is the time to take this as an opportunity to check, refine and rebalance our strategies.
The hospitality design must maintain high standards, to give guests the confidence that they are in a safe environment – comfortable, secure, and hygiene – and still maintain the quality services towards guest’s expectations. There may be long lasting changes, but these are likely to be the accelerations of current trends.
How has the use of contactless technology been accelerated into the design process and what emerging technologies is the sector working with?
The design response to pandemic has been excitedly creative, with contactless technology rapidly getting integrated into the design. The emerging trends ranging from cleaning robots, to social distancing measures (like large hats, oversize shields allowing people to maintain distance), paperless menus, touchless access, motion sensors, touch-free sensor enabled equipment, etc, are some of many interesting ideas. Our approach is to embrace these creative ideas and also keep guests safe in sophisticated and practical ways, maintaining high quality guest experience.
The aim is to integrate emerging technologies and to deliver on customer expectations, without compromising the hotel experience. Therefore, our design response should be as integrated and discreet as possible to make our guests feel comfortable and relaxed.
What would the perfect post-pandemic hotel look like? How do we incorporate new technologies, create beautiful interior landscapes and simultaneously reinforce the guest experience?
A perfect post pandemic hotel would be the one that takes care of guest comfort and wellness and meets his expectations, providing a safe environment. The hotel needs to be future ready and to cruise through such a similar crisis. Flexibility and adaptability would be the key to achieve a timeless hotel that not only has integrated technologies but also provides high quality services. We aim to provide lifestyle experiences with activities around – live, play and work, in our hotels.
The design of hotels would be complemented by use of technologies like touchless functions throughout the hotel areas, IOT based operations, use of sustainable energy, improved ventilation, personalised guest experience using technology, air uv sanitisers, maintain high HACCP standards. The approach should be in line with developing technology with guest expectations.
Does low-touch have to mean single use? Is sustainability something that designers will incorporate or will it take a backseat?
In the long term, hotels may discourage single use approach, as it has other implications. Yes, sustainability plays a large role and it has been in existence for some years, and we are taking it forward more aggressively by integrating into maximum aspects of hotel design and services.
Designers are working towards good ventilation as integral to a healthy and safe environment, and moving away from recirculating air systems, embracing sustainable architecture and natural airflow, by making most of the internal and external spaces.
As staycations rise, will we see more homegrown hotels and F&B concepts? How are hotels adapting to this?
The pandemic has forced and restricted people to travel less for some time. Since people are preferring to stay closer to home, their focus is on homegrown hotels and offerings that provide diverse experiences, and allows guests to exploit local atmospheres, local F&B.
It is important that travellers and locals’ expectations need to be married and adapted to provide something new — making connections that would enable guests to enjoy their stays.
Hotels working with local communities, with multiple initiatives involving travellers, teams, that revolve around hotels and fnb restaurants, which benefits both hotels as well as locals.
Can you see any elements in hotel design that will disappear?
Difficult to point out what element will disappear, as design is purely creative and designers have the capability to adapt. The flexibility and adaptability would be the key focus that defines the future hotels design, and becomes the guiding factor for timeless and sustainable design.