Hotel guest expectations have undoubtedly risen in the last few years. The main culprit is increasing social media use and customers’ desire to share their experiences with their followers, whether good or bad.
Today, the average traveler is conditioned to expect a spectacular experience in temporary living arrangements that inspire them while also feeling like their home away from home. While these two ideals may sound somewhat mutually exclusive, designers will need to balance these opposing desires to properly accommodate hotel guest expectations.
Personalized Service
Guests desire exceptional services catered to their specific needs. Millennials especially have a reputation for placing greater value on experiences than they do physical possessions. In 2018 and beyond, hotels need to take advantage of every conceivable opportunity to engage their guests by providing ample personalized experiences in every area.
As an example, designers can strategically create visually stunning spaces that will encourage guests to snap a selfie. Not only will this leave a lasting impression on the guest, but it will provide some free publicity for your brand once the image circulates online.
Home Away From Home
Cookie-cutter hotels with rooms designed the same way are becoming a thing of the past. As we’ve said before, guests want to feel like their experience was tailored to fit their specific needs.
By designing a handful of layout variations and adding unique elements throughout the space, hotels can offer guests a fresher experience that will make them feel at home even if they’re thousands of miles away. Some unique elements could be:
- Unexpected textures from various fabrics
- Mix and match furniture
- Diverse wall treatments, tiles and flooring
Lasting First Impression
From the moment your guest walks through the front door, they should be met with a homey atmosphere. To achieve this, many hotels have chosen to replace business-like entryways with a cozy living room atmosphere. Front desks are steadily being replaced with comfortable concierge desks, allowing guests to lounge on a sofa while check-ins are handled by staff equipped with handheld technology.
Designers should also consider adding hints of luxury to lobbies by blending indoor and outdoor spaces. Elevating the guest’s experience from the beginning starts with incorporating elegant touches like:
- Indoor waterfalls
- Multilevel terraces
- Rustic wooden furnishings
- Walled gardens
Green Is Good
Guests appreciate a company that adapts its practices to help the environment. That’s why more and more hotels are reusing towels and installing automatic lights to be more eco-friendly.
By next year, hotels will no doubt adopt more sustainable practices that connect guests to the local culture and history by incorporating products like:
- Recycled wood
- Locally grown organic materials
- Locally handcrafted items
- Repurposed furniture
Update Technology
Especially in the U.S., technology is readily at guests’ fingertips. In smart hotels, personalized tablets allow each guest to control everything about their stay from room temperature to food service orders.
While most hotels aren’t manned solely by robots, like the Henn-na Hotel in Japan, they do offer significant technological amenities like Netflix and Wi-Fi networks both inside and outside the buildings. It is important to note that while guests appreciate these modern touches, many still desire personal and friendly hospitality.
Meeting Spaces
There’s no doubt meetings aren’t what they used to be. Recent technology has reshaped the way business is done worldwide and meeting spaces have had to adapt accordingly.
No matter the size, designers should consciously ensure the infrastructure of the room can be equipped with the right audio and video equipment for a variety of meetings. Versatility, flexibility and connectivity are critical in these spaces to cater to all manner of clientele.
FF&E Installation Tailored to Your Business
Once the design of your hotel is finalized and your materials have been purchased, you’ll want to ensure your business will be updated quickly, according to plan and with minimal disruption to operations.
A-Mrazek offers a variety of FF&E installation services to smoothly install all the design elements you’ve worked hard to curate for your business. Through our advanced warehousing technologies, efficient transportation systems and experienced supervisors and installers, we can handle your installation no matter how big or small.
Get your FREE quote today by contacting us online or calling (314) 325-4174 today!
