Floor-to-floor heights and mechanical-room size may need to be increased to accommodate high-performance air-handling systems. Increasing ventilation through operable windows may require changes to the traditional building envelope.
Hotels with this focus could be made more porous and spacious through the use of open and indoor/outdoor spaces, more fresh air flowing through and increased access to naturally decontaminating sunlight. The result may be an architecture that is more engaged with its urban context, turning outward rather than retreating inward.
Food and Beverage
The pandemic has made a big impact on F&B outlets. Outdoor dining spaces have seen a renaissance, and this trend is expected to continue. Indoor dining spaces need to be more thought out to avoid crowding. With the death of shared food-service amenities, like buffets and salad bars, there is an opportunity for restaurants to raise the service level, focusing on individualized service and fine dining and capturing additional revenue.
Beyond the restaurant and bar, there will be an increased focus on how hotels handle coffee service and pre-packaged fresh meals in the grab-and-go. Retail spaces will become more boutique, with less merchandise directly on display, and a more service-oriented, one-on-one sales experience. This can be viewed as another element in slowing the guest experience to a more leisurely pace.
Guestroom of the Future
The guestroom is a sanctuary from the outside world and must offer a complete retreat from anxiety while remaining accommodating and user-friendly.
Surfaces in the guestroom should use the latest technology to provide the perfect balance of antimicrobial properties, cleanability, durability and luxury. Air filtration, operable windows and UV-C decontamination fixtures should all be considered, in addition to smart technologies and owner/operator cleanliness protocols. Voice-activation and/or smart-phone integration can be used for any item the guest would need to control, from lighting to window treatments, air filtration and thermostat, wet area fixtures, and TV entertainment or AV systems.
Because gyms, spas and yoga studios are now viewed with scrutiny by guests, hotels should consider accentuating in- room fitness and wellness options. Guests could choose between a variety of fitness- enabled room types, including those with Peloton bikes, Tonal smart fitness systems, yoga and Pilates equipment, all equipped with on-demand training programs via a smart mirror or TV. A higher level of luxury in wet areas should be considered, as well as furniture to allow in-room treatments.
Front-of-House/Back-of-House
With added demands on hotel operations, it’s important to consider the behind-the-scenes and back-of-house needs. An increase in IoT devices, such as virtual touch systems, proximity/motion sensors, smart speakers, digital artwork, automatic shades and smart temperature controls will require hotels to closely consider their low-voltage needs.
Looking further behind the scenes into the seldom-seen choreography of running a hotel, there are impacts on the inspection of goods and services moving in and out. Enhanced screening, cleaning and health regimens for property, staff and equipment, along with greater scrutiny of staff health and hygiene, will likely increase the need for support space in back-of-house areas. For some, this will be a challenge to existing business models. For others, it will be an opportunity to celebrate the responsible practices and protocols that are in place.
Wellness and Wellbeing
The new hospitality journey post-COVID-19 will require designers to think differently about safety and sanitation while seeking to elevate and transform the guest experience. Although solutions vary across markets and product types, they share many themes in common for enhancing wellness and wellbeing.
As we look forward into the post- pandemic period, it’s clear that travelers are eager to re-engage; they just need to be shown how. Now is the time to rethink the guest journey; regain guests’ trust; and offer a safe, healthy experience that is still every bit as stylish and decadent as hospitality can be.