Top 5 stories of the week: Furniture in the fast lane, VR insights and flawless flooring trends

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As Hotel Designs continues to focus on Hotel Concepts and Flooring & Carpets, Editor Hamish Kilburn breaks down this week’s top news stories…

Throughout this week, we have had a bit of everything – from flooring trends to Lamborghini sofas, from VR insights to hotels inspired by nature. This is somewhat not surprising considering the two vast topics that we’re shining the spotlight on this month. Here are this week’s top five stories.

1) Virtual Reality is changing the game in hospitality

Hotel Tech Spa & Live

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Hotel Spa Tech Live describes how Virtual Reality is changing the face of international hotel design and service…

2) 7 flooring trends that are leaving clear footprints in 2018

This month, as we focus our lens on hotel flooring, Hotel Designs is going all out to give you an accurate take on how the flooring trends are shaping up for the back end of this year. From what our editorial team can see, rules have been broken – and rightly so. Here are a few top trends to keep an eye on for the rest of the year.

3) Nature-inspired villa suites open at Son Brull, Mallorca

With a noticeable nod to nature, Son Brull in Mallorca has completed the design of two brand-new villa suites. The two-bedroom villa suites are situated in the hotel’s idyllic gardens and offer the ideal combination of space and privacy while remaining fully serviced. Located in the northern Mallorca near Pollensa, the family owned and managed hotel is housed in a former monastery that dates back to the 12th century, in a peaceful rural setting for guests looking to disconnect and spend some quality time surrounded by nature.

4) Chic bungalow-style, luxury-chic hotel to open in the City of Angels

Home-from-home cosy guestroom

Image credit: 850

A new chic 23-key boutique hotel created by Jeff Klein’s JK Hotel Group and designed by Rita Konig is slated to open Autumn 2018…

5) SPOTLIGHT ON: Bentley Hotel rooms and Lamborghini furniture in the fast lane

With this month’s focus being on weird and wonderful Hotel Concepts around the globe, Hotel Designs stitched the lining of these very quirky – and slightly ‘out there’ automotive designs and Lamborghini sofas…

Hamish Kilburn / 17.08.2018

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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.

Fun fact: I’m a keen cyclist and will happily bore people with copious amounts of cycling chat. My top cycling experience (so far) would have to be riding in the spectacular mountains of Crete.

Work highlights: Charles joined Forum Events in 2022. With a background in publishing, editorial media and events, Charles brings a wealth of experience to his role as Senior Production Manager. Having being involved with SPACE from the outset, he is excited to see the brand grow and develop.

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 at SPACE magazine, the printed bi-monthly publication focused on hotel design, architecture, and development.

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