As private home rentals continue to gain ground through digital platforms such as Airbnb, hotels are facing fierce competition to capture travelers’ interest. Amid higher expectations and an ever-evolving landscape, the hospitality industry is undergoing significant change. To stand out and create unique experiences, hotels are reshaping the look, feel, and appeal of their properties through architecture and design. Environmental awareness, the pursuit of well-being, the rise of bleisure—a blend of leisure and business—and advances in technology are among the trends influencing the design of tomorrow’s hotels.
First, to respond to guests’ desire for warm and inviting environments, interior design trends in hotels are shifting toward more personalized and detailed styles, moving away from minimalism and impersonal colour palettes. Hoteliers are now seeking to create unique and memorable living spaces for their guests. Beyond serving as a place to sleep, hotel rooms are being transformed into fully realized living environments, offering areas for work, relaxation, and entertainment.
To deliver an authentic and distinctive experience, designers are increasingly integrating elements of local art and culture into their designs. Attention to detail is paramount in the design of common areas such as lobbies, restaurants, and lounge spaces. Indeed, the entire concept revolves around inviting conversation and relaxation through comfortable furnishings and subdued lighting.
Both bold, vibrant colours and natural materials, such as wood and natural stone, are featured in guest rooms and shared spaces, adding energy, warmth, and authenticity. Beyond aesthetics, five key trends stand out and continue to influence the work of architects and designers on hospitality projects.
Embracing local culture
Modern hotels seek to create an engaging atmosphere for guests, and this begins with a concept that reflects both the hotel’s identity and its local culture. This can take the form of locally crafted furnishings as well as culinary offerings inspired by regional traditions served in the hotel’s restaurant. Integrating local culture allows hoteliers to stand out from the competition and foster guest loyalty through an authentic experience that is in harmony with the surrounding environment.
Coworking
In response to the needs of nomadic professionals, coworking allows hotels to accommodate hybrid workers by optimizing underused spaces. These areas are generally already well equipped and can be overseen by on-site staff without requiring significant investment.
As a result, hotel lobbies are becoming mixed-use spaces, placing less emphasis on reception functions and more on shared use of open areas, even serving as gathering places for events.
Some hotels, for example, repurpose their breakfast rooms into workspaces once service and cleaning are completed. In doing so, hoteliers diversify their clientele and leverage coworking to attract new customers to bars and restaurants, bringing energy and life into the hotel.
Eco-responsible practices
Observed worldwide, the trend toward sustainable development, and the lifestyle shifts it brings, has a significant impact on hospitality trends. In general, people are increasingly aware of climate change and of the role human behaviour plays in the health of our planet. As a result, travellers are calling for more environmentally responsible measures, such as sustainable food options and local tourism.
Architects and designers are following suit by designing more sustainable buildings and by using their creativity to develop interiors that favour recycled materials, which also add authenticity and character to spaces.
Staying connected for an optimal experience
The term smart hotel refers to hotels that integrate internet-connected systems and devices, enabling more efficient control over a wide range of functions. For example, a smart hotel can use internet-enabled ventilation systems to adjust temperatures for maximum comfort while minimizing energy waste.
With the goal of enhancing the guest experience, technology can also allow guests through mobile applications or voice commands to control lighting and entertainment systems in their rooms. As smart home technologies continue to grow in popularity, travellers’ expectations are evolving in the same direction. This represents an intelligent approach to consumption and reflects a commitment to providing guests with all the conditions necessary to maintain their comfort.
The new trends in hospitality—focused on guest experience, personalization, and authenticity—are already essential for hoteliers. The importance of standing out through a unique, locally inspired experience and fostering guest loyalty by creating living environments centered on well-being will undoubtedly remain at the heart of considerations for designers and architects working on hotel projects.