Design and architecture firms that specialize in hospitality spaces are reexamining traveler preferences in order to weave trends into their project designs.
Linh Tran, director of architectural design at Dallas-based firm Premier, said the design trends he is most looking forward to in 2023 include an increase in public spaces, "especially for mixed-use hospitality developments."
"Travelers and locals want an authentic connection to the natural environment, and we've seen an increased demand for community-style public spaces that help cultivate health and well-being in the built environment," he said via email. "Architects and designers are reexamining public spaces as a result of the global pandemic and how people interact with outdoor environments. I'm excited for the opportunity to design master-planned communities that combine hospitality with outdoor spaces in urban spaces."
Beatrice Girelli, co-founder and design director at Los Angeles-based firm Indidesign, said via email that one trend designers are focused on is the desire for genuine sustainability, "with genuine being the keyword."
"It is a complex and variegated issue that involves every single aspect of the planning, design and construction process. Ending the use of single-use plastic beyond shower/bath amenities could definitely be identified as one of the trends," she added.
Libby Patrick, founder and CEO of Atlanta-based firm Sims Patrick Studio, said hospitality owners and proprietors in 2023 will continue to implement exciting food-and-beverage concept designs in their spaces.
"These provide a two-fold benefit: the first being that they provide an exciting amenity for guests to enjoy during their stay, but also that they activate the space itself for the surrounding community," she said via email. "Stand-alone hotel restaurants function similarly, albeit without the guidance or direction of the broader organization. We think we'll see an increasing number of hoteliers forego handling food and beverage internally, passing along the responsibility to third parties."
Patrick said it's important to keep in mind that travelers are becoming more deliberate about where they choose to spend their money as they come out of a pandemic-induced hiatus on vacations. To that extent, she expects luxury hospitality destinations to have great success in 2023.
"Another trend that we anticipate is more personalized guestroom experiences, where designers are utilizing space and storage in creative ways to provide more thoughtful places for items like suitcases," she said.
The designers shared more insights into trends and their strategies for 2023.
How is hospitality design influenced by the blending of business and leisure trips?
Tran: More travelers, who now work remotely, are extending their leisure trips and benefiting from their companies' work-from-anywhere policies. The blending of business and leisure travel continues to trend for the lodging industry, and architects and designers have new opportunities to meet this surging demand. "Bleisure" travelers are looking for an emphasis on health and wellness to help balance their personal and professional lifestyles. We’re designing more spaces that provide guests with health and fitness areas as well as outdoor spaces that allow them to unwind or catch up on their emails in a relaxing atmosphere.
Girelli: Our design has always focused on striking a good balance between leisure and business, so in that sense we are able to provide finished design products ... that are ready to fulfill the needs of leisure guests seamlessly. We have always invested a lot of thoughts and effort into creating spaces with a residential feel where anyone could also work efficiently and be productive.
Patrick: Hotels are undoubtedly working harder than ever to cater to today’s "bleisure" crowd. The [hospitality industry] is saturated with new brands attempting to cater to this market directly, and a good amount are finding success in light of the stay-at-home reality of the past few years. While many people are itching to travel and refuse to remain cooped up at home, the primary draw of the spaces that accommodate a "bleisure" lifestyle is experience. Leisure-oriented organizations and guests are searching for the best experiences, while the business sector is searching for clean, updated spaces that offer points and rewards. These two are not mutually exclusive, and savvy owners and operators will continue to balance these two moving forward. Because of the easing of in-office policies, this trend is sure to carry on as hotels move to accommodate this type of guest searching for a mix of fun, experience and sufficient accommodations for remote work. This lifestyle movement will remain important as brands lean into providing more unique offerings, modeling themselves after boutique properties.
How do sustainability and supplier diversity trends factor into design and procurement?
Tran: Sustainable design and sustainable procurement practices should address the costs associated with buildings or goods over its lifespan throughout the planning process, such as potential increases in energy prices. Supplier diversity programs should include proactive partners that use certified mixed batches of suppliers, who can provide quality materials and expedient services to meet and exceed the needs of our clients. I believe that success can be obtained by diverse groups working together to achieve common goals. Through the Supplier Diversity Program, we continue to creatively seek new suppliers to fulfill these business opportunities. ... We should encourage minority-owned, women-owned, veteran-owned and small business enterprises to earn a full and fair opportunity to compete for these opportunities.
Girelli: The key to sustainability in volume procurement is proximity to the site. Unfortunately, the balance of cost versus “good intentions” is a delicate one and so far we have seen ultimately budget and lead times take precedence. Sadly, we have not been able to find companies in the U.S. that can manufacture casegoods and lighting on a large scale and be cost-competitive although the demand is there. I am hopeful that the demand — which is real — will promote a shift. U.S. manufacturers have been beaten up severely by overseas competition and it takes someone with a lot of courage to go against the grain and take the risk to reestablish domestic manufacturing. I believe that there could be huge rewards for those who try.
Patrick: Repeatability and reproducibility as a green incentive is something we’re seeing many brands adopt to bolster their efforts in this area. Manufacturers have continued to keep sustainability and supplier diversity top of mind following the pandemic, which makes it increasingly easier for firms to choose sustainable or eco-friendly materials for use in projects. Ultimately, creating facilities with reduced carbon footprints and recycling capabilities offers a more reasonable path towards sustainability for many organizations, and it will become increasingly important to design spaces with these tenets in mind. As a whole, design firms are working to create more sustainable spaces, while vendors are attempting to provide sustainable options for firms for the procurement of products.
Are requests for proposals from hotel owners picking up?
Girelli: We have seen a huge spike in the number of RFPs, which has led us to be more selective with our choices. We invest a lot of time and attention to detail in every project and give precedence to existing relationships and to those projects that seem to offer the greatest creative opportunities.
Patrick: The design and architecture industry is definitely overwhelmed. There has definitely been a surplus of RFPs, most likely because ownership groups are making up for lost time for renovations and [property improvement plans] from COVID, and now everyone is wanting to travel for business and leisure. But if the project is well-managed and organized with a budget and schedule, and the interior designer and architect are hired at the appropriate times, it makes a challenging schedule more manageable.
Once the budget for a project is established, structure and branding is set, and the program itself is completely defined, then the owner should reach out to the interior designer. This provides adequate time for each of our phases, and allows us to price the project accordingly to prevent adjustments that would otherwise slow the process down. The approval process is also made easier when working with an experienced project manager with a history of work in hospitality.
How can designers stay on top of what the new generation of travelers value most?
Tran: With the rise in "bleisure" travel, guests are looking for hospitality experiences that offer a flexibility of options to work and play. Hotels can appeal to [these] travelers with spaces that satisfy their digital standards. For example, travelers can order lunch directly from their smartphones and enjoy it from the comfort of their guestroom or a public space such as a cafe or an outdoor space near a pool or other exterior amenity. We understand that lobbies are no longer becoming frequented for social gatherings as much. We’re finding creative solutions to bridge the gap between social spaces and outdoor well-being spaces.
Girelli: The key to success is creating spaces with a unique DNA where technology, comfort and design are layered seamlessly. All our spaces are designed to transform and mutate during different hours of the day, shifting effortlessly from an engaging space where it is fun to be and work into an evening cocktail bar.
Patrick: The new generation of traveler values a variety of zones divided between work and play. When it comes to social spaces, choice is and will remain the primary draw for contemporary guests. A mix of robust amenities and adequately equipped respite spaces can be tailored to each individual's preferences. Firms like ours need to continue to create spaces with the ability to cater to any guests who occupy them.
How will technology further influence hospitality design?
Tran: In 2023, emerging technologies will reshape how we design urban hospitality projects. Thanks to 3-D modular printing, the hotel industry will be able to cut costs and speed up construction. This technology ensures consistent quality in a controlled environment with a reduced opportunity for human error, opening up the entire design industry to new ideas and strategies.