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(Above: Atari Hotel courtesy of GSD Group)
No shocker here: The hotel industry is struggling in the wake of the pandemic. Continued COVID-19 lockdowns have kept people at home—and left those hitting the road deeply concerned about health risks. To pull in more customers, designers are responding with high-tech innovations aimed at keeping visitors safe, and buzz-worthy features meant to entice even the most wary of travelers.
With the hotel industry not expected to rebound from pandemic-related losses until 2023, according to S&P Global Ratings, the power of design cannot be overlooked.
“The role of interior design has become fundamental to the recovery of guest confidence in hotels, from altered wayfinding and space planning to material selection and tech-enabled guest interactions,” says Kate Mooney, founder and principal, Occa Design Studio, Glasgow, Scotland. The focus for hotel design post-pandemic is all about guest well-being and confidence, she says.
Swiss manufacturer Geberit, for example, is helping designers reimagine hotel bathrooms with touch-free flush plates and toilets tricked out with user recognition.
The current landscape leaves designers solving problems across a multitude of areas. One prime focus: ensuring flexibility, says Cristina Villalón, co-founder, lead interior designer, and managing principal of Álvarez-Díaz & Villalón, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Among the changes she and her team have been making: amping up internet capabilities and providing more outlets and USB ports in common areas, and offering flexible arrangements and multiple table options. At the same time, her firm is also incorporating plenty of natural light, biophilic elements, and natural plants to improve air quality and overall feeling of well-being.
