Trends in

Hospitality
The next step in
hotel design may Today’s ever-expanding global economy has made travel the
number one industry, boasting a customer base that is
take travelers wealthier and more technologically savvy than ever. How can
a hotel owner compete for the attention of this growing
crowd? A look at the latest trends in hospitality reveals
farther than they what’s hot – the convenience of technology and a more
relaxed use of space.
ever imagined.
Technology – unplugged
The latest word? Like everywhere else – wireless. Cell phones,
laptops, PalmPilots™ – most of us would be lost without
them. For business travelers in particular, access to e-mail and
corporate networks is crucial. Generally, this connection is
provided through dial-up access, but improvements in virtual
private networks (VPNs) are changing that. VPNs provide reli-
able, secure Internet access to corporate data and messaging
systems. A recent technology survey by WiredHotelier.com

Quarterly
7

Rendering by Bill Hasselman

The Caracas Airport Hotel in Caracas, Venezuela, is designed for convenience. A cov-
ered walkway leads guests from the airport terminal directly to the hotel lobby.

NEWS & VIEWS

 (January 24, 2001) predicts that secure, wireless,
high-speed access to corporate networks from
guest rooms will be the most important technology
implemented in the next five years. Also topping the
list: personalized in-room guest portal services (such
as on line newspapers and stock quotes), improved
videoconferencing services and virtual reality enter-
tainment.
For the business traveler who doesn’t mind juggling
a laptop in one hand and a plate in the other,
restaurants are serving an enticing array of side
dishes. Not only might you place your order at a
kiosk, but you can offer suggestions to the estab-
lishment, send e-mail, surf the net or even access
chat rooms – all during your meal. We’ll see more
of this type of customer service enhancement,
according to a forecast by CynterPubs (January 23,
2001), a foodservice information corporation.
All a matter of convenience
Business centers better accommodate the global
traveler as well. At both the Austin Hilton
Convention Center Hotel in Texas, and the Caracas
Airport Hotel in Venezuela, the business center is
next to the reception desk, allowing access to ser-
vices 24/7 without requiring additional staff.
Quarterly
Even getting to and from the hotel is becoming eas-
ier. At the Caracas Airport Hotel, an enclosed bridge
connects the International Airport Terminal directly
to the hotel’s lobby. A travel counter between the
reception desk and business center reduces the
8 inches (10 cm) off each individual room – an economically
stress of departing. Here, guests can check luggage
and obtain their boarding passes before actually
leaving the hotel.
Renderings by Bill Hasselman
The Caracas Airport Hotel lobby is a focal point
from which hotel amenities can easily be seen.
Space – the latest frontier
Hotel interiors are changing as well, becoming more open
and spacious. Says Pim Robberechts, RIBA, RAIA, AIA and
hospitality architect, “Doors on bars and restaurants are
passé; openness is really the trend. People want to see what’s
happening; transparency puts people at ease.” Arriving guests
easily locate strategically-placed reception counters; and new
lobby designs aid orientation by giving visitors clear sight-
lines to conference foyers, restaurants, health clubs and other
hotel amenities.
This openness extends to meeting rooms. In keeping with
more relaxed business styles, new convention resorts have
indoor/outdoor pre-function areas, or break-out rooms.
Windows let daylight into once-isolated meeting rooms and
landscaped pre-function areas create a more comfortable,
relaxed work environment.
Amenities galore
In the guest room itself, a more homelike environment tops
the list of trends. Designers are introducing features such as
adjustable lighting, water fountains, more harmonious color
schemes and aromatherapy. Tired of hearing the sound of
generic piped-in music? Soon, guests will walk into their
hotel rooms and hear music characterizing the locale, such as
jazz in a New Orleans’ hotel. Fitness-conscious guests may
even find a stretch bar or stationary bike in their rooms, a
convenient and private option to the hotel’s health club.
Entertainment also has taken a step forward. More guest
rooms have CD players, and designers are encouraging hote-
liers to replace awkward armoire-style entertainment centers
with flat-screen televisions. This can cut an average of four
savvy choice for the owner of an 800-room hotel.
New designs are creating a more open feeling in guest bath-
rooms. Doors remain open when the room is not in use and
upper-floor bathrooms may even have windows. What could
be more relaxing than a view of the ocean from a shower in
a Miami high-rise hotel? Designers also are changing the way
bathrooms and sleeping areas relate to each other visually.
For instance, a shuttered opening may replace the typical
wall. One unique idea uses a glass pane filled with magneti-
cally-oriented particles. At the touch of a button, the pane
alternates between transparent and opaque.
Where will these trends take the traveler of the future? Wired
Hotelier.com’s The Bottomline (August/September 2000)
reports that 54 percent of hotel management surveyed
believe there will be a hotel on the moon in the next 50
years. So, will a guest be able to walk into their room, say
“Earl Grey, hot,” and have a cup of tea appear out of thin
air? Don’t laugh. With a little imagination, that day might not
be so very far, far away.
www.ellerbebecket.com/ebq
Links to hospitality technology
VOLUME 3 · NUMBER 3