Industry Predictions: What’s the Future of Hotel Design?

Hotel design is no different from other global phenomena.

This too, in fact, depends on trends that arise from consumer attitudes and preferences.

Design is constantly evolving because people are always looking for something new. This includes what they eat, the clothes they wear, the cars they drive, the homes they live in, the electronics they use, and of course, the hotels they stay in.

The hotel industry is highly competitive and thrives on innovation on a global scale. Hotel brands are constantly looking to differentiate themselves from their rivals, but at the same time, they must balance their desire to experiment with new strategies and technologies with budget constraints. Therefore, it is important to understand which risks are worth taking.

In recent years, localized design, lifestyle hotels, and vibrant public areas have enjoyed great success. Will hotel design continue to evolve in this direction or will a new philosophy emerge in the future?

Why Hotels Need to Respond to Social Trends

Modern consumers are more complicated and harder to understand than their predecessors. The celebration of globalization and individualism has marked the death of standardized marketing approaches in every industry, including hotels.

One general trend that is clearly evident is the obsession with wellness and fitness. The battle against aging and the central role of fitness in one's life have never been more widespread. Evidence of this is the numerous wearable technologies that monitor physical activity, sleep patterns, and eating habits, and the countless other factors that contribute to our health, as well as the significant increase in the number of blogs and social media pages dedicated to this topic. But are hotels taking this trend into account? In general, fitness facilities in hotels have remained fairly traditional and have not yet been modernized. This is something that should change in the future, and it is likely that it will.

Another example of the changing mindset of society is the increased awareness of the environment and cultural diversity. With more and more information available on these topics, people's sensitivity to them has increased. As a result, they want their favorite brands to be the spokespersons of those positive values ​​that are eco-consciousness and respect for cultural diversity.

Then there are things that never change: family, friends, great food, and technology to stay in touch with the world are aspects to always take into account when choosing design strategies.

What will the hotels of the future be like?

You might think that technology will continue to dominate hotel design, until entering a hotel is like finding yourself in the Matrix… but are we sure that this is what customers want?

The development of everything reaches a peak before its innovation and experimentation are limited by practical considerations.

On the one hand, we may see hotels making extensive use of virtual technology, nanotechnology, 3D printing, and artificial intelligence to create futuristic sensations for their guests. On the other hand, we may see an increase in those who want to reconnect with nature, rekindle personal relationships, and return to a simpler, healthier life.

Here are some interesting questions that hoteliers should ask themselves:

- Can a hotel care about the community as a whole and its guests at the same time?
- How can a hotel provide guests with local flavors, experiences and expertise?
- What can a hotel do to be unique, while still reflecting its brand image?
- What aspects of the local context should influence the design of a hotel?
- Will there be a good balance between technology and the personal touch of traditional hospitality?