HOTEL REBOOT: “From hotel to service hub for the city”

The current crisis has created a new reality. Hotels have to adapt in the short term so they can reopen and find other ways to generate income. Look at the way hotels give space to ‘working from home’. 

Next to that, hotels in bigger cities such as Amsterdam have been under pressure for some time as a result of the hotel stop. They therefore need to make sure that they diversify their income so that they remain resilient in the future. Given the strategic location of many hotels, it is for example possible to become more relevant on the neighbourhood and city level. From hotel to city service point.

 In short, the current developments provide the opportunity to improve the functioning of hotels in the long and short term.

APTO architects and H-Hospitality took the opportunity to collect ideas to support these changes and to inspire. Not only from a spatial, but also from a strategic point of view. In that way we can realise a fast and lasting reboot of the hotel business. 

tips for the interior design of your lobby

• Take a critical look at your food and market services. Wundermart is an example of an unmanned shop, fully integrated in your hotel operations. No personnel needed and the investment can be earned back in months. The Wundermart shops can be upgraded with diverse modules and healthy food and beverages.
• 1,5 meter check in desks. Avoid plastic panels by a smart design of your front desk areas.
• Lighting indicating a 1,5 meter circle. Smart floors responding to walking people, or smart lighting integrated in the ceiling, designating your personal space.

Tips to lead guests through your hotel safely

• Use voice-activated locks and phones, already available!
• Disinfecting hands before the doors unlock.
• Niches in front of the rooms can serves as break out space to let other guests pass in smaller corridors. Also handing for cleaning carts.
• Robots for cleaning and hotel service. Even though it seems futuristic, there are already successful tests integrating automated services or robotics in hotel operations.
• Clear circulation signage for routing.
• Lighting indicating a 1,5 meter circle. Smart floors responding to walking people, or smart lighting integrated in the ceiling, designating your personal space.

tips for the interior design of hotel rooms

• Make sure the rooms are adaptable to multiple purposes. Think about sleeping, working, dining, spa or gym. This is not only useful during a pandemic!
• The nightstand is the perfect spot to add sanitation possibilities.
• Minimize the bed linen. Additional linen only lead to unnecessary health risks.
• Voice control can enable your guests to control the room without touching any surfaces.
• Select antibacterial materials for your interiors, for example antibacterial flooring types.
• Can we make air ventilation more healthy by adding minerals?

Bonus: Collaborating with a local food app supporting local entrepreneurs for guests to order, adds extra value!

Tips for the interior design of your restaurant

• As 2-3 people seem to be the max group of people bu the Dutch government, 2-3 person seats will be the dominant demand.
• Biophilic design: As your 1,5m circle is rounded, more natural design flows van be integrated in spaces.
• The 'sushi belt' seems more relevant than ever.
• Should we change the way we look at people video calling in public spaces and integrate them in our daily mindset? Being able to have dinner with your clients or family that you cannot meet face to face.
• Robots for cleaning and service. Operational long-term investments mean you can keep your hotel open.

After a few minutes the first local dish comes in. Through a screen you have dinner with your family on the other side of the world. After dinner, while walking outside, you see electric vans driving in and out the back of the hotel; the hotel is next to a place for guest, also the place from where the city is served for last mile delivery of products. Hotels do not only provide service on location, but also to the rest of the city.