A Guide to Hotel Design Pt 11: Bedroom Standards

Historically, standards were banners raised in battle as the rallying point for your side, marking your group out from the other competing parties in the confusion of war. In the commercial world of hotels, standards do the same thing, providing a known point for guests in a confusing whirl of labels such as boutique, country house, premium, deluxe, economy, or worse – star ratings.

Where the same standards run across a large number of hotels sharing the same ethos (uniform) they are called a brand. Many brands will say their brand is their standard but unfortunately then vary it wildly from hotel to hotel.
Star ratings are almost useless as a standard, in part because there is no consistent standard across Europe never mind globally, in part because their implementation is erratic, even sometimes corrupt. In general I believe that in the UK standards are behind the best elsewhere and increasingly falling further behind as design and build budgets get cut back. With top hotels in London now selling for prices in excess of a million pounds a room ($1.5 million) this is very much a false economy.

Here I am not talking about service , although theoretically this is the real differentiator between five and four star, but the standards a guest can expect in an hotel. In this, Part 11 of the Guide, I am only concerned with standards in the bedroom area in the 4/5 star level – for 3 star you cut down accordingly. Initially here, of course, the first criteria for upmarket hotels is that size counts, followed by the satisfaction delivered. The aim is to leave the guest feeling well loved.

Despite the efforts of some chains to sell as a four star experience small rooms with cupboard like shower only bathrooms, chains such as One & Only show the way. Their five star property in Cape Town has no bedroom smaller than 68 square metres and boasts his and her bathrooms. Now for hotels ‘Space is the new frontier’. It used to be that the guide for 4 or 5 star development in the UK was room size of 32 to 34 square metres This convention is now outdated by One & Only and by European chains such as Rocco Forte Hotels who look to provide rooms of some 42 square metres, boldly going where no chain has gone before.

Fun fact: I’m usually the person friends rely on to organise trips, schedules, and group plans.

Workhighlights: Successfully coordinating events from planning through to delivery and seeing everything come together on the day.

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Work highlights: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Fun fact: People tell Sienna she gives off Bridget Jones vibes, and she loves to bake, always making sure there are shortbreads floating around the office

Work highlights: Sienna joined Forum Events & Media Group while studying Communications and Media, starting in the sales team where she managed and helped launch the first the PA Life Leading Venues of London SHOWCASE, where she built relationships with luxury venues across the capital. Drawn to the stories behind these spaces, she naturally transitioned into the editorial team, creating social media and editorial content. Upon graduating in June 2026, she is excited to be joining as Assistant Editor for Hotel Designs and SPACE.

Fun fact: When not working, Jess can usually be found tending to her kitchen garden in the Sussex countryside or foraging for herbs in the nearby woods. A keen grower, she recently studied a RHS Level 2 Diploma in the Principles of Horticulture during her spare time.

Work highlights: Jess joined SPACE magazine in 2022 and has since progressed from Assistant Editor to Editor. During this time, she has worked across many aspects of the publication – from shaping editorial strategy and overseeing operations to contributing to art direction and representing the brand on stage at industry events including Surface Design Show and WOW!house.

Alongside her role at SPACE, Jess has built a creative career spanning the arts, culture, design and travel sectors. Prior to joining the magazine, she spent more than a decade in the commercial art industry, in artist liaison, gallery management, and curating collections for the hospitality sector across hotels and cruise ships. During this time, she also worked on freelance projects as a writer, photographer, and creative content producer.
 
Jess studied photojournalism at London College of Communication and the Danish School of Media and Journalism and holds a first-class BA (Hons) in Culture, Criticism and Curation from Central Saint Martins.

Fun fact: Katy has spent years perfecting all kinds of accents and loves a good impersonation!

Work highlights: Katy has been with Hotel Designs since the beginning, way back in 2015 when Forum Events & Media Group acquired the brand.

During this time, she has fostered many meaningful relationships with clients from across the hospitality spectrum, as well as playing a pivotal role in the launch of The Brit List Awards, Hotel Designs MEET UPs, client-led roundtables and panel talks, brand and website redesigns, HD Wellness Sets, DESIGN POD podcast, Hotel Designs LIVE panel talk series, Accessible Design Talks and more. Katy is always on the lookout for the next opportunity to help grow the Hotel Designs brand even further.
 
Most recently Katy has stepped in to the role of Publisher atSPACE magazine, the printed bi-monthly publication focused on hotel design, architecture, and development.
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