LONDON, England – July 22, 2022 – Social distancing, contactless technologies, new guest expectations and digitalization – how much do they influence the use of space in hospitality? In this episode of the Travel Market Life podcast, CRTKL Principal Todd Lundgren talks about hotel design, the evolution of hospitality environments and the role technology plays in it all.
“Guests at all levels, especially those of younger generations, are really demanding authentic and memorable experiences – they want unique designs and activities that are true to place and can’t be replicated elsewhere,” Todd says.
“They also want to feel that local connection and to get a sense of what life is like at a hyperlocal level. It is not enough to feel like they are in London for example, they want the Notting Hill or Camden or Soho experience. It’s a more authentic view of travel that is encouraging owners and operators to invest more in community integration and spaces where visitors can live amongst the locals – Food & Beverage (F&B) is key to this, with successful lifestyle hotels today generating 50% of their revenue from F&B.”
“We are also seeing a much bigger focus on the premium offer. Post-pandemic, attitudes toward travel have changed, with many opting to upgrade their experience. Technology will also play a part. This doesn’t mean I, Robot-style AI staff, but more invisible, seamless tech designed to enhance the guest experience by freeing up staff to provide a more personal, heightened service, informed and curated by sophisticated data capture and guest profiling.”
Listen in here as Todd paints a more complete picture and shares a few key developments worldwide that explain what we can expect from hotel buildings over the next few years, including:
- The projects being undertaken
- The trends in new developments influencing design
- Changing the use of space
- Generating greater ROI and attracting new audiences
- Role of technology in design
- Innovations occurring in the market