Chiara Calufetti-Lim (Ass. Vice President & Senior Project Designer, WATG Singapore): Hotels' needs to be an element of awe, surprise and the sought after ‘Instagram moment’

TravelDailyNews: Why did Marriott International decide to bring the Courtyard brand into Singapore? Which are the latest trends in hotel architecture and design?

Chiara Calufetti-Lim: Hotels will draw more and more on their surroundings for design inspiration, to capture the guest’s attention and imagination so they return. There needs to be an element of awe, surprise and the sought after ‘Instagram moment’.

Lobby design is evolving, lobbies and public spaces in general are now transitional areas that need to be approached and designed in a flexible way. We are seeing less formal front desks and more laid-back tablet check-in options. Lobbies, especially in the urban sector are having to get creative with space, with many becoming an extension of the f&b offering, aiming to move guests out of their rooms and into vibrant, welcoming communal spaces. Spaces to grab a coffee, meet with clients / friends and connect with the local environment.

TDN: What differences do you see in these trends between various continents or countries, for example, Southeast Asia, China, Europe Latin America, or others?

C.C-L.: In the luxury resort sector, especially in Asia, space is premium, and guests still require a full-service five-star experience. Whereas in America and Europe, in the urban sector the focus is on location, with smaller room sizes and emphasis on communal areas.

Each project is unique, and the way people travel is different in every global region. Ie. Family/multi-generational travel, but in general, consumers are craving a sense of place and an authentic local experience and hotel design has evolved to emphasise the local setting and culture.

TDN: One of the reasons the consumers went to Airbnb type of accommodation, apart from the cost, was also the need for a local experience. How should the hotel industry respond to this need of the contemporary travellers?

C.C-L.: Most operators are already adapting their philosophy in acknowledgement of shifting consumer preferences. The great thing about our industry is the rate of innovation. With disrupters such as Airbnb - and dynamic independent entrants to the market - If you’re standing still, you’re moving backwards.

The hotel industry needs to work to improve the ease of instant bookings via mobile devices. Platforms such as booking.com thrive from their perceived ease of use and the transparency of pricing and consumer reviews. Furthermore, ‘mash-ups’ with local operators of lifestyle concepts in the fitness, wellness, f&b realm are likely to become more prevalent.

TDN: What kind of new technologies can be implemented in the architecture and design of a newly build hotel in order to save energy, be more environmental friendly and reduce a hotel's carbon footprint?

Read more...