How has COVID-19 Impacted Hotel Interior Design?
Hotel interiors are now going to have to be more flexible than ever before in the new COVID-era, utilizing easily movable FF&E or even modular seating. Breakfast Areas and Restaurants will have to either be more spacious or more multi-functional, as they might have to encompass the lobby lounge as well. The main Public Space also should be able to be opened up to the outside, as guests are now more concerned with nature and outdoors. The hotel reception experience will become techier, and guests will have to reserve their room, check-in, and even open their Guestroom door with a mobile room key. Hilton will offer branded hotels in which the guest can also control the TV and the lighting with their mobile phones.
The focus will move away from Communal or Community Tables and Public Areas, as at least half of the seating will be closed off, and the emphasis will be put back on the private guest experience. In-room amenities will also include some fitness equipment, as most public fitness rooms will be closed, and possibly converted into another space, such as a Meeting Room. Now Banquette halls should be able to be divided more to comply with social distancing. Meeting spaces should be designed to work as partitioned workspaces as well. They could also open to the outdoors, as guests are also concerned with being able to have outdoor events now. The Front Desk will have plexiglass partitions, and the staff will all most likely be in masks or wearing gloves. The floor could now also have signage to designate the six-foot distance needed between guests.
Breakfast will not be a buffet anymore, but rather to-go packaged meals with disposable silverware delivered to your room. Room service could go fully automated, and be contactless, with the use of Robots that deliver snacks to you. Mini Bars are left empty, and there are no excess throw pillows or accessories, as most brands are moving to minimalize what the housekeepers need to clean. Items like robes, extra pillows, or blankets must be requested. There also is limited housekeeping staff, and they will not enter the room as many times as they would have pre-COVID. Some brands are implementing UV light checks, so a high level of cleanliness can be maintained. Public Space is cleaned in the morning so that the guests can see that the staff is actively cleaning.
All in all, guests are still concerned with their health and wellness, so designers should implement anti-bacterial, anti-microbial, and bleach-cleanable materials. Designers should create a warm environment for the guest without making the hotel feel sterile or clinical. Hard surfaces are easier to clean and will most likely be used more, even in the Guestrooms, however, anti-microbial rugs can also be used to give it a bit more of an upscale feel. Designs will now be more minimalistic and be more built-in. All of the faucets and dryers in the hotel will go to touchless, automatic models. New hotels will also address their air filtration systems, so there is no shared air used in the building.
Overall this is an exciting time for designers, hotel owners, and brands to develop new creative ways to address the hurdles of the pandemic in the new post-COVID hospitality industry.
