Independent Hotel Show roundup: the themes, trends, and takeaways

Held at London Olympia, this years Independent Hotel Show provided a serene escape from the busy streets outside, welcoming attendees into a space filled with light and greenery, holding true to the rising trend of biophilic design within hospitality spaces and the encouraging theme of nature’s positive effect on wellness.

Stand décors were drenched in this season’s trending green hues; vibrant green carpets and staircase coverings set the tone for the venue, while Newmor Wallcoverings‘ Japanese botanical paper graced the backdrop of the Innovation Stage. Exhibitors contributed aplenty too with nature-embracing floor to ceiling designs on their stands — rooted in a desire for both relaxation and vibrancy — presented in muted tones combined with bright, leafy patterns, featuring tropical scenes and vintage botanical prints. This design language encouraged an immersive experience, enveloping guests in nature while soft-touch materials such as velvet, in deep, earthy tones, brought a centred calm to the vibrant surroundings.

Hypnos Beds married biophilic design with sustainably sourced British creations on its stand, incorporating a live moss wall into their installation alongside a number of UK-based studios. A standout product, however, was Hypnos’s Harmony mattress, the brand’s first contract specified mattress that is crafted from recyclable materials including banana, pineapple, and orange fibres.

Launched at IHS and proving that luxury can thrive alongside sustainability, this recyclable innovation is part of Hypnos’ ongoing partnership with the eco-educational Eden Project, and it took centre stage on the stand, with a headboard covered in a biophilic Harlequin fabric from the Sanderson Design Group, mood lighting by Chelsom and wallcoverings from Newmor helping to set the scene and bring the hotel room experience to IHS attendees.

Image caption: Hypnos Beds’ Harmony mattress and banana fibres sample (right)

Continuing to exhibit the concurrent theme of luxury, wellness and sustainability, pioneering Devon-based organic bed and mattress makers Naturalmat unveiled its Halstock bed. Designed with curves reminiscent of the 1970s, the Halstock emphasises both aesthetic appeal and environmental responsibility through the use of the brand’s signature natural materials, including organic wool sourced directly from farmers on their doorstep in the Southwest, while an extra layer of recycled denim adds an additional level of cushioning to the fully customisable headboard.

“At Naturalmat, we are dedicated to creating innovative, sustainable, and stylish beds,” said Mark Tremlett, company Founder and Director, “we believe this new design will resonate with those looking to make a bold, yet elegant statement in their bedrooms.”

Image caption: Naturalmat’s Halstock bed | Image credit: Jon Day

In the tech quarter, innovations were presented to reduce the ‘hustle and bustle’ within hospitality settings, with a focus on streamlining operations to improve both staff and guest wellness. Companies like Zennio presented their Guest Room Management System (GRMS), which integrates various hotel operations—from lighting to HVAC—into a streamlined management tool that seamlessly fits within any design and clear and simple to use. This technology aims to create a more efficient environment, benefiting both staff and guests.

“Zennio’s guestroom management solutions are to a large extent automated, requiring minimal guest input, thus fulfilling the comfort and end user friendliness aspect whilst reducing energy consumption and CO2 footprint,” said Vidar Thomassen, Zennio’s Director.

With the increasing integration of technology into hospitality settings, comes the increasing availability of data analysis. This was underscored by seminar speakers such as Profitroom’s Patryk Luszcz, who predicted that by 2025 advancements in technology will lead to a significant shift in marketing automation. He added that hoteliers will increasingly rely on detailed guest data to craft personalised experiences, enhancing brand loyalty and improving overall satisfaction; an insight that could undoubtedly influence designers and their choices for hospitality projects also.

Image caption: The Innovation Stage | Image credit: Independent Hotel Show

The show featured a diverse seminar program, designed to provide hoteliers with actionable insights. The Power House series provided a platform for addressing pressing issues like internet fraud and social media best practices, while the Innovation Stage focused on emerging trends and strategies for navigating the evolving landscape of hospitality. Notable sessions included discussions on generational travel preferences, intelligent design solutions and how to bring a hotel up to speed in the ever-evolving sustainability sector.

Image credit: Independent Hotel Show

At the ESG Hub, hospitality professionals could voice their concerns and queries about environmental practices in the industry – pinning their ‘pain-points’ to the ESG Hub wall via sticky notes. These pain-points are currently being synthesised into a comprehensive report which will be shared in the coming weeks, however, curator of the ESG Hub and author of The Sustainable Business Book, Sarah Duncan, revealed that a trend has emerged already, in that many professionals are eager to act on sustainability but are facing barriers.

Image caption: The Sustainability in Action wall at the ESG Hub | Image credit: Sarah Duncan

“Many people responded as we had expected,” said Sarah Duncan, “with specific issues like plastics, energy efficiency and supply chain management. But the majority surprised us, with their answers being far more focused on all the barriers holding people back from action, such as lack of time, resources and general understanding or knowledge. Another key message that came through was people struggling to keep sustainability a priority in the face of day-to-day business as usual.

“We will be producing a full report soon, but we can already see a huge opportunity to provide simple resources to help people break down these genuine (and/or perceived) barriers, and properly move to action,” Duncan concluded. 

Overall, the Independent Hotel Show London 2024 successfully highlighted the intersection of wellness, sustainability, and technology within the hospitality industry, approaching the question of what the hustle and bustle is we are trying to escape from, and providing visitors with practical solutions of how hotels can offer guests and staff a respite from it.

As hoteliers seek to create tranquil sanctuaries for their guests, the themes presented at the show will undoubtedly influence the future of hotel design and operations. The blend of natural aesthetics with advanced technology presents a promising pathway for enhancing the guest experience while addressing the pressing challenges of sustainability in hospitality. Visitors are sure to have taken something away with them (and not just freebies), that they can strive towards or implement within their projects today.

Main image credit: Independent Hotel Show