Cookie Cutter. Run of the Mill. Basic.
In the world of hotel design, those are expressions you never want to read in a review. For visitors to your city, your hotel is the front door and the home base. It may be the first and last place they see. Your hotel’s design should reflect the flavour and culture of the location. You want your guests to be saying “Wow!” not “Where am I again?”
In this article we will see 3 ways to incorporate local flavour in your hotel design.
Use Local Artists
Art can take many forms. Likely your location has several artists who work with a variety of mediums. Incorporate works by these artists into your hotel design.
Commission a mural by a local painter for an otherwise drab wall. Select sculptures to add interest to your exterior entranceway, lobby, or courtyard. Choose paintings and photographs by local artists for guestrooms and common areas. Provide locally sourced snacks and beverages in your mini bars, breakfast, and lounge areas. Your hotel should be a reflection and an extension of the city. Using local artists will help your guests feel immersed in the culture of their temporary home.
Reflect Local Landscaping
Is your city known for gorgeous, manicured gardens? Are you in a well-known natural outdoor recreation area? Reflect the local landscaping in your hotel design both inside and outside. Elegant, manicured gardens and fancy indoor floral arrangements will look out of place in an area known for rustic, natural beauty. Use native plants and mimic naturally occurring landscaping.
Create seasonal floral arrangements for common areas to reflect the changing colours of the area. In addition to your landscaping, you can reflect the local landscape in other areas of hotel design. Choose colours and textures that are present in the surrounding landscape. Display photographs of the local landscape in the lobby and hallways. Bring the outside in to create a cohesive experience for your guests.
owcase Local Attractions
Whether your guests are simply passing through or visiting for a few days, you want them to want to come back. Showcasing local attractions may give them a reason to visit again. Displaying photographs and artwork of well-known landmarks and tourist destinations is an easy way to show what your city has to offer. There are other, more subtle ways to feature local attractions in your hotel design. If possible, feature products from local farms in your snack and breakfast areas. Have books on the local attractions and history of the area attractively displayed on tables or bookshelves in the lounge or lobby areas. Capture the imagination of your guests and open their minds to the endless possibilities available in your location.
Your Best Local Asset- Us!
The team here at Lesley Wong Interiors is eager to help fellow Ontario area businesses. We want to help you represent our beautiful home in a way that encourages return visitors. We truly believe that a guest focused hotel design leads to higher guest satisfaction and higher revenue. Download a copy of the Guest First Design Strategy E-Book to learn more!
