One challenge of hotels that we have touched on before is the diversity of guests. You are welcoming guests of various ages and backgrounds. Your hotel guests are coming to stay with you for a variety of reasons, from business travel to a relaxing vacation.
It can be difficult to appeal to such a broad range. In this article, we will outline some types of guests that will come and stay with you. We will also talk about what their design needs might be and how you can address them.
Millennials
Millennials, those born between 1980 and the early 2000’s, now account for more than 1/3 of the worlds hotel guests. This is not a demographic that hoteliers should ignore!
What does that mean for your design? Two things…
First, millennials have a strong draw towards for contemporary design and multi-use spaces. We talked about how lobbies are becoming multi-use spaces.
Secondly, staying connected is so important to millennials. Social media can be so important to your marketing, why not let your guests be part of it? Make sure that you have “social-media moment elements!
Families
Family vacations are the set for great family memories. How can your hotel design contribute?
Larger rooms can fit not only families, but all the stuff that you end up packing! As well, you must think about safety. Babyproofing to keep your smallest guests safe means a happy vacation. Even for bigger kids, making sure that they can reach the things they need to (like sinks) can potentially prevent an accident. A safe holiday is a memorable holiday.
Business Travelers
In the wake of COVID-19, business travel has taken a hit. However, almost half of business travelers surveyed said they are considering resuming travel. How can your hotel contribute to a successful business trip?
Consider how your shared spaces can be designed to allow your guests to be “alone together”. Additionally, given the ability of professionals to work outside of a traditional business centre, your lobby and other shared spaces may become an ideal work space.
When professionals need to travel, how can you create a “home away from home”? Make the stay customizable and allow them to set their preferences. With your design, you want the room to feel comfortable and cozy. Your guest should not feel like they are intruding on someone else’s space, but that it is theirs to enjoy.
Baby Boomers
Finally, we have the baby boomers, generally defined as those born from 1946 to 1964. A recent study found that 44% are prioritizing travel, now that their children are grown and they have retired. What is important to this age group?
Namely, there is a preference for luxury. You may consider adding spa-like touches to areas like the bathrooms or high-end bedding to appeal to this group.
At Lesley Wong Interiors, we believe that with a little bit of forethought and planning, we can create a design that has wide appeal. Get in touch so we can talk about how your design can meet the challenges of designing a hotel that impresses your guests, no matter who they are.
