Talking all things luxury hospitality with Jean-Luc Naret
Inside The Set Collection’s iconic London hotel, Hotel Café Royal, Editor Hamish Kilburn meets legendary hotelier and Executive Director Jean-Luc Naret to discuss hotel development, the definition of luxury and how (and why) the collection is expanding…
In the heart of London – straddled between the well-to-do neighbourhood of Mayfair and the exuberant quarters of Soho – sits the iconic Hotel Café Royal, which for many is the epitome of luxury hospitality with its bold, voguish design that meets the height of quality service.
“If only walls could talk,” I say to myself when walking through the paired-back, minimalist corridors being told tales of the building’s former existence, when it was, as the name suggests, a café. But not just any café in London. It was a place where the rich and famous were seen rubbing shoulders. Patrons include the likes of Mohamed Ali, Virginia Woolf, George Bernard Shaw, Mick Jagger, Elizabeth Taylor and Diana, Princess of Wales.
Image caption: The magnificent lobby inside Hotel Café Royal. | Image credit: Hotel Café Royal/The Set Collection
In 2008, the hotel closed for an extensive renovation, which was led by David Chipperfield Architects and Donald Insall Associates. The task was to transform the building into a thriving luxury hotel, while also being sensitive to the building’s long and storied heritage.
Hotel Café Royal emerged in 2012 from its building site to reveal a modern five-star hotel. The second hotel of what was then The Set, its sister hotels include the Conservatorium in Amsterdam and Hotel Lutetia in Paris.
A decade on from that spectacular opening party, I am back here, inside the Regent Suite that casts an unparalleled view over Piccadilly Circus, to meet Jean-Luc Naret, the Executive Director of The Set Collection, which is made up of a cluster of iconic hotels in spectacular locations.
The living room inside the Regent Suite at Hotel Cafe Royal, where our interview took place. | Image credit: The Set Collection
Image caption: The contemporary bathroom inside the Regent Suite at Hotel Cafe Royal. | Image credit: The Set Collection
Prior to starting his journey with The Set Collection, Naret took the global hospitality industry by storm. He was the Director General of the Michelin Guide and also managed luxury hotels worldwide, in destinations such a Mauritius, the Maldives, Barbados and also become CEO of La Réserve Hoetls & Spas, where he was at the helm of a collection of six hotels and five private residences.
His latest mission is to sensitively expand The Set Collection’s small cluster of award-winning luxury hotels, to welcome new members that speak the same design and hospitality language. “The Set Collection launched a few years ago during the pandemic,” he tells me. “We started with four properties in Europe (the original members, if you like). From there, we wanted to expand and that’s where our search for unique design-led hotels began.”
Image caption: A bedroom inside a suite at the iconic Hotel Lutetia in Paris. | Image credit: The Set Collection
When it comes to selection process of which hotels will be sheltered under The Set Collection umbrella, Naret and his team are looking for properties that sit in a class all on their own and have a strong and meaningful sense-of-place, both in the design as well as hospitality. “We are not looking for more than one hotel per destination,” Naret explains. “We want to avoid our hotels feeling like they are competing against each other. Therefore, we are looking for a properties that are leading luxury hotels within their neighbourhoods. Each of the hotels that are already in the collection – Lutetia in Paris, the Conservatorium in Amsterdam, the Mamilla in Jerusalem and Hotel Café Royal in London – are based locally. Take this hotel, for example, you have one foot in Soho and one foot in Mayfair.”
Image credit: The House Collective, the new members of The Set Collection
Image credit: The House Collective, the new members of The Set Collection
The latest news is that The House Collective will be joining The Set Collection, which will add a further four properties to the mix. “Like our founding members in Europe and Israel, The House Collective’s properties have made an impact on their market and the luxury traveller’s collective consciousness that is far greater than their relatively small footprint would suggest,” Naret said in a press release that was issued a day before our meeting. “It is a privilege to work with these expert hoteliers, not only to offer them the myriad benefits that being a part of The Set Collection offers but also to learn and grow together in new and exciting markets during these unique times.”
QUICK-FIRE ROUND
Hamish Kilburn: So, you currently have properties in London, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Paris, Beijing, Chengdu, Jerusalem and Amsterdam… If you had to chose one destination answer where you choose to party, live and work? Jean-Luc Naret: Party in Paris, live in Amsterdam and work in London
HK: Is there such thing as an unachievable guest demand? What’s the most outrageous one you have heard of? JLN: No. A guest once requested 1,000 rose petals to be floating in an Olympic-size swimming pool
HK: What’s the last item that shows up on your credit card transactions? JLN: Last night’s dinner with my team.
HK: Number one item you cannot travel without? JLN: My phone. What would we do without them?
HK: Incredible food with a sleepless night or an incredible sleep with a standard F&B experience? JLN: Food every time.
HK: Define luxury for you in 2022? JLN: Luxury is defined by quality service, in my opinion.
Given Naret’s experience working on the operational and management corner of luxury hospitality, I am keen to understand where design, in his opinion, sits when it comes to the new era of luxury travel. “The hospitality businesses that set themselves aside from others, such as Club Med, One&Only, Rosewood and others, will create their own style that will be replicated by other brands,” he says. “Design plays a vital role. Ian Schräger is a fantastic example of someone who challenged what was then the conventional way of designing hospitality spaces. He poured his energy into the public spaces so that the guestrooms and suites were almost secondary, and that completely transformed the hotel market in the luxury sector. In the luxury business, we used to be – dare I say it – boring. Today, people like to do things differently, and have bold ideas for the future of luxury travellers.”
Image caption: A contemporary guestroom inside Mamilla Jerusalem. | Image credit: The Set Collection
A modern F&B space inside Mamilla Jerusalem. | Image credit: The Set Collection
As we wrap up our morning meeting, and Naret prepares to leave for the airport to travel to The States for more meetings, and no-doubt interviews about The Set Collection, I am keen to understand where he sees the next big movement in luxury hotels and hospitality. “For me, I have been keeping an eye on the fashion industry’s launch into hospitality,” he says, “and that’s an interesting concept that I think will further change the landscape.”
Image caption: Fashion meets design. The dramatic courtyard at The Temple House. | Image credit: The Set Collection/The House Collective
Off the record, I am told that The Set Collection, currently with eight properties as members, is not planning on procrastinating, with Naret and his time moving towards the ambitious goal of having 25 – 30 hotels under its umbrella by 2023. Following the destruction the pandemic caused on the independent hospitality sector in particular, it is refreshing to see a brand that is working to celebrate the essence of luxury hospitality by collaborating with hotels that channel deep senses of place and purpose.
In pictures: Pigeon Post Bar & Eatery, Hilton Cologne
Interior design studio THDP have taken inspiration from the history of the building housing Hilton Cologne to create The Pigeon Post Bar & Eatery, a new restaurant and bar that combines vintage style with modern hospitality…
The Hilton Cologne is nestled in an amazing location in Cologne’s city heart, being a stone’s throw from the most visited attraction in the city, the Cologne Cathedral. The city is also known for its vibrant cultural scene, including numerous festivals such as Cologne Carnival, Cologne Lights, Cologne Pride, Art Cologne, IMM Cologne, Heinzels Winter Fairy-tale: Handbrotzeit and several food festivals, amongst many others. The hotel itself was once home to Cologne’s postal savings bank, a landmark building on the famous Marzellenstrasse. The building’s heritage is the inspiration behind the interior design of The Pigeon Post Bar & Eatery by the THDP design studio, which expresses this vintage vibe, while being considered and contemporary with some fun quirky details.
Image credit: Hilton / THDP
The Hilton Cologne lobby, bar and social spaces were redesigned and re-furbished to accommodate a modern, innovative gastronomy concept, and the centrepiece of this, is the Pigeon Post, a combination of restaurant, bar and lounge and social working area. Its unusual name and amusing details are a clear reference to the buildings history as a post office in the early 1950s through to the late 1990s. Later, after a long vacancy, in 2002 it was finally gutted and converted into the Hilton Hotel.
Image credit: Hilton / THDP
The Pigeon Post Bar & Eatery invites you to enjoy curated coffee specialties in the morning, after which it becomes the ‘Eatery’, with a separate entrance for external guests. At lunchtime and in the evening, there are à la carte dishes on the menu, while the bar shifts into cocktails and drinks mode from early evening . The optically chic restaurant and bar was built with a total of 110 seats, with a variety of furnishings and seating options which include intimately lit dining areas. A feature central bar dominates the space with a prominent overhead gantry in wood and copper colours. The table tops are in a faux marble, expressing the previous functionality of the building while updating the effect to offer a more intimate but contemporary vibe. Seating options are either at the bar on new Stellar Works bar stools, or in the custom made half moon cozy booths fabricated by Hagenauer, providing private dining in a more intimate space.
Image credit: Hilton / THDP
Image credit: Hilton / THDP
Curating the artwork and accessory package sprang from the narrative of the F&B concept, and part of this reference was the choice to reuse obsolete German 70’s office equipment and furnishings and to re-appropriate them in a relevant contemporary way. The overall effect was to convey a sense of heritage with a real 1970’s vibe. Vintage mechanical typewriters, light fittings and objet d’art were curated to give an aesthetic appeal and to be a curio or an ornamental talking point for Pigeon Post guests. With a lovely attention to detail, the typewriters, mounted in glass display cases, each have a love letter being typed. Post boxes and writing counters are positioned to invite guests to pick up a free postcard and write to a loved one or friend, and the hotel then posts them for free.
Image credit: Hilton / THDP
Artworks were inspired by the buildings history as a post office and represented using various mediums, including mixed media painting, stamp collages , ceramics, wood and digital prints created by local and international artists. Fun, colourful decorative objects, books and curiosities were incorporated for the dressing of the social working area Library. Artworks inspired by collages, typography recalling the graphics of old German post offices, with perching wooden pigeons, screening inspired by typewriter keys were all incorporated to layer the interior.
Image credit: Hilton / THDP
The interior uses a simple earthy colour palette of blue greens, greys drizzled with mustard, and has a unique balance between industrial, vintage and modern styling.
As interior designers on this project, THDP were able to harness its trademark narrative based approach incorporating an inherent creative curiosity, while working closely with local manufacturers, artisans, and talented artists. This interior reflects an experiential guests focused approach which is evident in so many of the details running thought this design.
When it comes to boutique style hospitality at this luxury hotel and wedding venue, this discreet, high performance audio installation by Sonance was really the only option…
With a blend of high style, distinctive interior design and personal service, the privately owned Manor House Hotel aims to offer its guests the experience of luxury through the quality of its accommodation, communal areas and purpose designed wedding and events spaces. Located at Lindley near Huddersfield, the boutique hotel comprises eleven bedrooms, four individually themed bars and restaurants, a roof terrace and a gym. There is also a discreet wedding and events venue called the Coach House, a versatile space designed to accommodate up to 200 guests and complete with a private musical garden. Making time spent at the Manor House truly memorable, a service-first mentality conveys a strong sense of bespoke hospitality within a range of meticulously curated environments, all of which include the necessity for discreet high-performance audio in sympathy with their design. Installer Smart Synergy was challenged to create a discreet AV installation that made a beautifully boutique experience even more distinctive, and opting for Sonance would fulfil the brief at every level.
“Perfecting the sound at the Manor House was complicated somewhat by the fact that it’s a listed building,” explained Shaun Hawkins of installers Smart Synergy. “So we had to be super sensitive with the design, and not just with the way it looked; we also had to eliminate the transfer of sound from social to private spaces within older architecture. The brief demanded a level of sound quality and design you just can’t buy off the shelf.”
As a result of the detailed specifications, Sonance Pro Series speakers were perfect for the project. The Sonance Pro Series is a range of 70V/100V/8 ohm selectable In-Ceiling, Pendant and Surface Mount Speakers, designed to deliver high fidelity with extremely low distortion, wide dispersion and smooth power response. The range shares consistent voicing, ensuring seamless sonic integration when used together throughout a space. The Pro Series speakers are powered entirely by Sonance Sonamp digital amplifiers.
The outdoor space was as important as indoors, and these areas feature a mix of Sonance Mariner on-wall speakers and Son Array in-ground satellites and subs. AV distribution is through Wyrestorm’s Network HD 400 architecture and hotel security is supported by Dahua, involving five 4MP IP eyeball dome cameras and an eight channel NVR.
“There’s a growing desire for discreet high sound quality within the UK’s luxury hospitality sector,” said Hawkins.” This may come from the US where discriminating customers associate the quality of the venue with its ability to get the audio just right. The advantage for resi CI integrators is that their skill sets have developed to achieve this level of fine tuning.’’ He added: “The Manor House was Smart Synergy’s first boutique hotel install and something of a dream job. We knew the product and the support we’d get from Habitech, and we applied our skills and competences to relatively simple tech for a customer who understood the value of quality and wanted the very best.”
This meeting of the period interiors of The Manor House, with cutting edge technology facilitated by Habitech, along with the creativity of Sonance products which are designed to disappear rather than dominate a space, has created a bespoke sound solution that goes beyond the ordinary to transform a space and the events it is designed to accommodate through attention to detail at every level.
Since you’re here, why not read about how Sonance fitted out the audio inside The Hendrick’s Gin Palace?
Habitech is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.
Curio collection by Hilton to debut in the heart of Florence
Hilton has announced plans to open Anglo American Hotel Florence, Curio Collection by Hilton in autumn 2022, following a full renovation. Here’s what we know…
Anglo American Hotel Florence, Curio Collection by Hilton is less than 15 minutes by foot to renowned palaces, churches, and museums — all replete with Renaissance art, including the works of the great masters such as Giotto, Brunelleschi, Botticelli, and Michelangelo, and the beautiful architecture that Florence is famed for. Top nearby attractions include the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Piazza Duomo, the Uffizi Palace and Gallery, the Accademia Gallery, and the Ponte Vecchio, the beautiful bridge spanning the Arno river.
“Anglo American Hotel Florence is a stunning addition to Curio Collection by Hilton, joining almost 50 Curio Collection hotels trading or under development in Europe,” said Patrick Fitzgibbon, senior vice president, development, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Hilton. “Across the continent, we’re seeing growing owner interest in our Collection brands, which allow hotels to maintain an independent look and feel, while benefiting from Hilton’s commercial systems and global customer base. We look forward to welcoming guests in the historic centre of Florence.”
Following an agreement with Westmont Hospitality Group and funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management, L.P., the 115 guestroom hotel, located in the centre of Florence, a renowned UNESCO World Heritage Site, will undergo a full renovation prior to opening. The hotel will feature distinctly local offerings in a stunning setting, exemplifying the Curio Collection flair for authentic, curated experiences. A mere two blocks from the famous Arno River in a tranquil neighbourhood, the elegant hotel reflects the history and the charm of the city, complete with romantic Tuscan shutters and a sun-drenched interior courtyard typical of classic Italian villas.
“We are excited to strengthen further our relationship with Hilton following our highly successful collaborations both in Italy and around the world,” said Westmont Hospitality Group. “Originally built in 1792 as one of the first hotels in Florence that has also hosted Leo Tolstoy and Maria Callas among its former guests, the fully renovated Anglo American Hotel Florence will retain its historic and elegant grandeur while enjoying the added consistency and global recognition of the Curio Collection brand.”
The renovation will follow the parties’ commitment to ESG investment, with a particular focus on sustainability. The main emphasis will be on the restoration of the property in keeping with its architecture and history, and the restoration of original finishes and utilisation of existing materials will make up a key part of the sustainability strategy.
As part of the EDITION 27 range, Phono presents table, floor and wall lighting options in an effortless balance of flawless product design with function…
Since its launch in 2020, the Chelsom EDITION 27 range has been throwing a light onto an extensive and varied range of spaces, places and projects. The range was conceived as a diverse collection that covered an extensive array of lighting options and solutions.
When EDITION 27 first came under the spotlight, we identified some of the stand out designs in the range, and drew attention to the lighting spectrum and solutions included in it, from focussed bedside reading solutions to dramatic statement pieces. Since then, the range has become a firm fixture in designers lighting vocabulary.
More recently we saw the range take centre stage at HIX 2021 when Chelsom were finally able to present the range in person, displaying a selection of the EDITION 27 range on their stand, while showcasing the design trends, materials and finishes incorporated into the collection. Drawing on their vast experience in the industry, designers Will and Robert Chelsom have been able to create products that are wholly suited to the global hospitality and marine marketplaces, expertly fusing function and aesthetics throughout.
“In all my years working within the industry never has there been a more challenging yet exciting time to be designing lighting products,” said Robert Chelsom, Chairman at Chelsom. “Triggered by fashion cycles, interior trends are moving increasingly faster and in doing so constantly stimulate new design directions when it comes to finishes and materials, which is something we have given careful consideration to. Edition 27 has been a fantastic collection to produce and it’s our most ground-breaking to date. Will and I are proud to be able to say that all product has been designed in- house to create this diverse lighting collection that truly caters for all levels of the hospitality and marine sectors.”
Image credit: Chelsom
Image credit: Chelsom
The Phono collection presents designers with a range of design and functionality options. The conical fabric shades fit seamlessly in to spun brushed brass cone holders and emit a beautiful warm light designed to enhance the ambience of any room. Table and floor lamps stand on heavy satin black cylindrical bases. The combination of fabric with the brushed brass provides a warm multi textured fitting with focussed ambient lighting.
Chelsom is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.
Kimpton Kitalay Samui, the first resort in South East Asia for IHG Hotels & Resorts’ luxury boutique brand, has officially opened its doors. We take a look at its distinctive design showcasing its take on the Samui way of life…
Located on Choengmon Beach in the northeast of Koh Samui, Kimpton Kitalay Samui will be the island’s newest luxury beachfront resort. Tranquillity and privacy will be easy to find as the resort occupies a quiet cove along the pristine beach, far from the hustle and bustle of Chaweng. The resort’s name is derived from two Thai words: ‘kita’, which means ‘song’ or ‘singing’, and ‘lay’, which translates to ‘sea’ and encapsulates the spirit of the local community. ‘Kitalay’ is thus a joyous ode celebrating the song of the sea.
Image credit: IHG/Kimpton Hotels & Resorts
“Koh Samui is renowned for its breath-taking beauty and village living, and this inspires the immersive guest experiences – our take on the return of Samui’s way of life, at the resort,” said Michael Janssen, General Manager, Kimpton Kitalay Samui. “We are also offering Kimpton’s signature perks including a nightly-hosted Social Hour, the brand’s industry-leading Kimpton Pets Programme, and an approachable luxury experience fuelled by a team who champions heartfelt, human connections.”
Image credit: IHG/Kimpton Hotels & Resorts
Standing on double-tiered, stilt-suspended platforms, the resort is an enchanting fusion of contemporary design and traditional accents. Local Thai design agency, P49 Deesign integrated rustic wooden elements from repurposed driftwood, nostalgic veranda-style features and timeless accents such as local artwork by Thai artisans. Earthy palettes and wave-inspired terrace furnishings lend a rustic character to the 138 guestrooms and pool villas, complemented by interwoven Thai basketry motifs on the bathroom floors and local artwork upon the walls.
Image credit: IHG/Kimpton Hotels & Resorts
Within the rooms, handwoven ocean blue cotton robes are custom designed by local Samui tailors. An elevated bath experience in the oversized-bathtub awaits with the resort’s signature sea salt and patchouli-scented bath amenities by HARNN including bath bombs, bath salts and milk baths.
With connection and wellness top of mind, Pimãanda by HARNN is the perfect treatment for those seeking to restore balance, with its 14-step spa ritual, or its signature treatment, ‘Paradise of Wondrous Sea’. Apart from a 24-hour gym, guests can also enjoy a refreshing dip in the resort’s outdoor pool, or their own private pools located within the villas, or try Rue Sri Dad Ton, a Thai Hermit’s programme which teaches self-stretching and body manipulation poses that boosts energy and harmonises minds.
Image credit: IHG/Kimpton Hotels & Resorts
First-class food and beverage programmes play a big part in Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants across the world. Kimpton Kitalay Samui is no exception and boasts five distinct and immersive dining venues. The Lanai offers guests a journey of discovery through finely curated coffees including Thai single origin coffee, artisanal teas and locally-produced spirits. Fish House is an elevated all-day beach house dining with its range of classic seafood flavours as well as innovative seafood bao buns or local-inspired spicy nam jim sauce. Guests can also look forward to lounging at SHADES Ocean Lounge and Pool Bar for refreshing poolside cocktails and beach events, dine at the Thai lifestyle café, Boho, or partake in freshly baked fun at HOM Baking Company with its extensive range of creative baked goods, confectionery, specialty teas and cold press juices.
The resort’s lifestyle programming which continues to be part of Kimpton’s DNA, delivers memorable experiences, starting with a morning kickstart experience to Kimpton’s Social Hour, where the brand’s vision to enable human connection comes to life as guests mingle with locals. Not forgetting the furry guests, Kimpton Kitalay Samui’s Pets Programme will delight with special amenities and treats, and even a pet spa experience.
Image credit: IHG/Kimpton Hotels & Resorts
Inspired by the buzzing seaside port, Junio is the 500 square-metre, split-level Kids Club at Kimpton Kitalay Samui designed for interaction, creative play and active exploration, Little guests can learn new skills like tie-dye, coconut leave weaving or roll up their sleeves for a day tending to plants and growing their own sprouts at the resort’s Herbs Garden.
The brands debut in this tropical paradise is all about the warmth of human connection and sense of community which are woven into the fabric of an idyllic escape and intertwine into every aspect of the resort through references to the stories and culture of the island’s fishing village.
GROHE identifies sustainability and wellness trends
Patrick Speck, Leader LIXIL Global Design (parent of the GROHE brand) shares insights straight from the design studio into the trends that will emerge in 2022 and inform the designs that shape our homes…
As many of us continue to incorporate hybrid ways of working with spending more time at home, and perhaps, sharing more of it on our social media channels, new trends are emerging for 2022. The kitchen and bathroom are leading the way when it comes to creating spaces which are both functional and well designed. Considerations such as sustainability, self-care, wellness, and multi-functionality are all high on the agenda for the year ahead, while style features and design nuances continue to play an important factor in renovation decisions.
Patrick Speck, Leader LIXIL Global Design discusses the trends forecasted for the year ahead while identifying the key factors and influences informing these trends. As more consumers continue to live and work from home, technology and luxury will go hand in hand to create a seamless design experience. At the same time, individualisation continues to reign supreme with different choices of finishes, colours and remaining popular. Impacting on all of this, is the forecast that a sustainable home has become an important priority for consumers and therefore one that all leading brands and designers need to take note of and prioritise.
Image credit: GROHE
Taking these trends straight into the bathroom, it seems some spa-inspired luxury right at home is on all of our wish and search lists. Living through a pandemic, coupled with seeing more of each other’s homes on Instagram Reels and TikTok hacks, means we’re all looking to invite more moments of indulgence and wellbeing into our homes. With searches for ‘freestanding bath’ and ‘slipper bath’ increasing by 228 per cent and 237 per cent respectively in the last year according to Houzz, it’s clear that creating a spa-like bathroom is an ideal first step to inviting luxury into our homes. Think calming scents, greenery and thoughtful design, to Japanese style toilets and step in spa showers at the top end of the scale. Wall-hung units and sanitaryware make for a more streamlined bathroom, ideal for smaller spaces, while metallic-finished brassware and soothing rainfall shower heads add a premium touch.
While relaxing showers, minimalist wet room designs and slim-line taps are growing in popularity, easily sustainable homes have also become a top consideration for us, with our impact on the planet being highlighted more than ever. GROHE continues to enable homeowners to live more sustainably without compromising on design or features, with product innovations which include cold-start taps to help save energy, and technology to reduce water flow across taps and showers without disrupting usage.
GROHE’s flagship Cradle-to-Cradle Certified and Level Gold product ranges have been designed to work towards a circular economy, meaning each component can be broken down and re-used endlessly in future products – helping homeowners’ shop with a conscious.
Image credit: GROHE
While we might be saving hundreds of pounds a year forgoing a shop-bought coffee on our morning commute, filtered water to keep refreshed and hydrated throughout the day is a luxury we can keep, without the guilt of buying bottled water. GROHE has also used innovate design to ensure that we don’t miss out on that office cooler convenience as the shift from office to home is clearly here to stay. Swapping the office water cooler for your local tap water may not initially scream sophistication, but with GROHE’s Blue Home water system, the brand is encouraging the reduced use of plastic water bottles while enjoying the most convenient of refreshments. The system, which acts as a filter for tap water, refines the taste as well as offering chilled still, semi-sparkling or sparkling water in an instance. Staying hydrated throughout the day, without compromising on quality, has never been easier.
While both the kitchen and bathroom have always been of utmost importance when it comes to cleanliness, living through a pandemic has perpetuated the need for easy cleaning, and with that the demand for premium, hygiene-focused products. With GROHE’s infra-red taps, people can wash their hands without the need to touch any surfaces; offering efficient cleaning for the hygiene-conscious as it reduces the chance of spreading germs, with added water saving capabilities too. Complete with an adjustable temperature limiter to help save energy and cut the risk of scalding and low-energy electronics, the infra-red solutions are the go-to for those opting for more sustainable choices in the home. Plus, their slim profiles and sleek profiles make them the perfect design feature for smaller bathrooms and cloakrooms.
With the number of people regularly working from home and spending more time indoors continues to increase, coupled with taking inspiration from the home renovation industry’s micro-influencers, individual tastes are expected to be seen aplenty this year, especially in the realm of colour trends. Greens and neutral colours are expected take centre stage in the kitchen to help create the perfect hybrid space, while searches for coloured bathrooms are on the rise too – expect to see black finishes, darker tones and textures being incorporated into the bathroom as it continues to transition from functional room to a space of self-care and wellbeing. Metallic finishes, industrial design features and innovative technology are also on track to be in high demand, with hygiene playing a major part in home decisions for the coming years.
With all these options on the rise, along with the use of technology coupled with a concern for our environment, 2022 looks like it is set to be an interesting one on the design front, full of wellness and sustainability, not to mention some interesting colours and surfaces shifting the traditional kitchen and bathroom palettes into more interesting design territory.
GROHE is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.
Opening this summer, Ace Hotel Toronto will be housed in a new building in Toronto’s Garment District designed by award-winning Toronto firm Shim-Sutcliffe Architects, in collaboration with Atelier Ace’s interior design team. Editor Hamish Kilburn shares what he knows about Ace’s first foray on the Canadian hospitality scene…
The opening of the 124-key Ace Hotel Toronto this June will mark the brand’s debut property in Canada. The modern hotel, which has been developed in partnership with Zinc Developments and Alterra Group and designed by Toronto-based design firm Shim-Sutcliffe Architects in collaboration with Atelier Ace’s interior design team, will be housed in a new building in Toronto’s Garment District designed. “Our intention with Ace Hotel Toronto was to make a positive contribution to our city, a welcoming civic space where life happens and memories are made, and where both locals and their guests feel equally at home, Brigitte Shim from Shim-Sutcliffe Architects told Hotel Designs.
Image credit: Ace Hotel Group
The new hotel also features dining from critically acclaimed chef Patrick Kriss, who helms the signature restaurant, Alder, and a yet-to-be-named rooftop bar and lounge debuting later this summer.
Ace Hotel Toronto is adjacent to Queen West, Chinatown, and the Downtown business core, blocks from famed music venues Horseshoe Tavern and Velvet Underground, from the Art Gallery of Ontario and TIFF Bell Lightbox — Toronto International Film Festival’s HQ, and from the Bentway, the city’s artistic, cultural, and recreational public space. The hotel reflects the city’s past through a prismatic and future-facing vantage — preserving its layered legacies and adding texture with considered design and feeling. Intentionally crafted as a civic space, the hotel stands both in homage to and in dialogue with the neighbourhood it inhabits.
“We’ve long admired Toronto, a free-thinking city and international cultural capital, and we are thrilled to open our first Canadian home here,” Brad Wilson, CEO, Ace Hotel Group said. “Ace Toronto is housed in a brand-new building inspired, both in design and ethos, by the electricity and independence of this remarkable place. Along with our brilliant collaborators, including Shim-Sutcliffe and Chef Patrick Kriss, we have created a site that reflects the city’s legacy as a global meeting ground and aims to actively share in its future. We look forward to opening our doors and welcoming everyone — locals and visitors alike.”
Image credit: Ace Hotel Group
Image credit: Ace Hotel Group
Entering Ace Hotel Toronto, guests will be greeted by a suspended lobby overlooking St. Andrew’s Playground Park — site of the city’s first patch of green devoted to children’s play. The hotel’s public spaces are defined by an honest and refined material palette of concrete, clay, copper and wood that is echoed throughout the hotel’s public spaces as well as the guest rooms. Site-specific furnishings and lighting were custom-designed by Atelier Ace and Shim-Sutcliffe Architects to bring tangible comfort to the building’s design, and playfully intermix with vintage furniture sourced locally in Toronto. Original artworks by primarily Torontonian artists will offer reflection and joy across the hotel.
The guestrooms, conceived as urban cabins to offer respite from the city, feature deep-set window benches that invite conversation and closeness, and grant sitters bird’s-eye views of the park below.
Widely regarded as one of the world’s top culinary talents, Chef Patrick Kriss holds the distinction of being awarded the title of “Outstanding Chef” by Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants consecutively from 2017-2020. Relaxed and inviting, Alder aims to be an all-day hangout for Toronto. “For Alder’s menu, we’ve been inspired by the use of earthen and tactile materials in the design of Ace Hotel Toronto,” explained Kriss. “In the same way, our offerings will be direct and elemental. Drawing on elements from the wood-fired grill, we envision a little more olive oil than butter; lightly-treated seasonal vegetables; a selection of crudos, handmade pastas, and charcoal- grilled seafood and meats.”
The restaurant’s keystone is its wood-fired hearth and grill, which offer the simple yet effective preparation methods of open flame and smoke to gently transform seasonal ingredients selected at their peak.
Ace Hotel Toronto will take the Ace into a new territory. The lifestyle hospitality brand also has properties in Seattle, Portland, New York, Palm Springs, Los Angeles, Pittsburgh, New Orleans, Chicago, Kyoto and Brooklyn. Following high anticipation, Ace Hotel Sydney is due to open next.
Marriott provides insight on 2022 hotel development
Marriott International, which added 86,000 gross rooms last year and 517 properties, provides Hotel Designs with the latest on its hotel development progress, while also indicating a few emerging travel trends that are currently shaping hospitality development. Editor Hamish Kilburn writes…
At the end of 2021, the hotel group’s worldwide system consisted of nearly 8,000 properties and roughly 1.48 million rooms in 139 countries and territories. At year-end, the company had the largest global development pipeline, with roughly 485,000 rooms. The company signed 599 agreements during 2021 representing approximately 92,000 rooms of which slightly more than half are located outside of U.S. and Canada. Rooms falling out of the pipeline remain at historically low levels, despite challenges brought on by the pandemic. During 2021, Marriott added more than 86,000 rooms on a gross basis, growing the system 3.9 percent, including deletions of 2.1 per cent. The deletion rate was 1.2 per cent excluding the exit of 88 Service Properties Trust select service hotels.
“Marriott has the benefit of sitting at the intersection of information and insights from a global community of developers, properties, owners and franchisees, as well as the more than 160 million members of our Marriott Bonvoy travel program,” said Stephanie Linnartz, President, Marriott International. “Our analysis of the prevalent trends in global development is particularly instructive as we continue to recover from this global pandemic. We have been focused on working closely with our valued community of owners and franchisees throughout these unprecedented times. We are pleased with our strong 2021 development results and look forward to continuing to drive value for our owners and franchisees throughout the recovery and beyond with our quality brands, our comprehensive business support systems and industry leading loyalty platform.”
Image credit: Aloft Hotels/Marriott International
Image credit: Aloft Hotels/Marriott International
Luxury maintains momentum
Travellers crave leisure luxury travel experiences seeking iconic destinations and undiscovered locations. Marriott is poised to meet this demand with its unmatched portfolio of seven dynamic luxury brands across 476 hotels spanning 69 countries and territories.
In 2021, Marriott International signed 40 luxury hotel deals, representing more than 6,000 rooms, and grew its portfolio of luxury hotel rooms by 4.8 per cent net, with notable additions in prime locations around the globe including Philadelphia (W Hotels), Nashville (W Hotels), Charlotte (JW Marriott), Bermuda (St. Regis), Paris (Bulgari), Rome (W Hotels), Maldives (The Ritz-Carlton), Budapest (The Luxury Collection) and Reykjavik (EDITION).
Image caption: Lobby/lounge inside W Rome. | Image credit: W Hotels
The company continues to expand its luxury footprint and has by far the largest global pipeline of hotels in this important, high fee earning segment, with nearly 50,000 rooms. Marriott anticipates debuting more than 30 luxury hotels in 2022 in destinations from Mexico (The St. Regis Kanai Resort) and Portugal (W Algarve) to Australia (The Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne) and South Korea (JW Marriott Jeju Resort & Spa). Marriott’s industry leading luxury portfolio adds to the power of Marriott Bonvoy, giving members a tremendous choice of experiences around the globe.
The leisure boom continues booming
Leisure demand has led the travel recovery, a trend that is expected to continue into 2022, as travellers continue to embrace multi-purpose trips, mixing remote work and vacation time. Leisure transient global room nights were the first to recover to 2019 pre-pandemic levels in the second quarter of 2021. For some time prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, leisure travel had been growing at a faster pace than business travel, and according to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), all signs point to a continuation of the trend. Marriott’s industry leading resort network includes more than 600 properties in beach, mountain and desert locations around the world that have seen incredibly high demand and have demonstrated impressive average daily rates.
Image credit: Marriott International
Consumer interest in the very high growth all-inclusive resort segment continues to increase. Marriott intends to therefore capitalise on its strong recent momentum in this area, leveraging its proven brands to drive additional growth in this important segment. Currently, Marriott International’s all-inclusive portfolio spans 28 properties, representing more than 8,000 rooms in locations across the Caribbean, Mexico and Central America. In 2021, Marriott International signed 22 agreements for all-inclusive resorts, marking a company record, including 20 all-inclusive resorts under its Autograph Collection Hotels brand and the first Marriott branded all-inclusive resort agreement in North Africa.
“Marriott’s all-inclusive platform is energising the segment and providing Marriott Bonvoy members, owners and franchisees access to our strong brands,” said Carlton Ervin, Global Development Officer, International, Marriott International. “While our initial all-inclusive growth has been focused in the Caribbean and Latin America, we see tremendous opportunity to expand our all-inclusive platform into additional markets, including the Mediterranean and the Middle East.”
Image caption: The Marmorosch Bucharest, Autograph Collection. | Image credit: Marriott International
The extended stay segment has always been attractive to leisure travellers and has become even more popular with the increase in remote work and the blending of business and leisure travel. Marriott International is the leader in the extended stay segment, setting the bar with the introduction of its Residence Inn brand almost 40 years ago. In 2021, extended stay accounted for 37 per cent of the company’s rooms signings in U.S. and Canada. Marriott Bonvoy’s extended stay brands – Element Hotels, Residence Inn by Marriott and TownePlace Suites by Marriott – include more than 1,400 hotels, offering stays from a few nights to a few weeks. Notable expected openings in 2022 include Element City Center Doha, Residence Inn by Marriott The Hague City Center and TownePlace Suites Cape Canaveral Cocoa Beach.
With growing consumer demand, Marriott’s extended stay portfolio offers modern design, signature programming, new food and beverage offerings, a flexible room mix for leisure and business travel and a proven operating model. At ALIS, Marriott will be showcasing Element Hotels, Residence Inn by Marriott and TownePlace Suites by Marriott through its ‘Longer Stay Lounge’, a space where investors, owners and operators can experience the latest in brand programming and designs while networking. The Longer Stay Lounge will present immersive brand vignettes that will allow visitors to learn about and experience each of the company’s longer stay brands.
Image credit: JW Marriott
“The extended stay segment has been extremely resilient over the past few years and guest and owner demand continues to grow, driven in some measure by the rise in multi-purpose travel,” said Noah Silverman, Global Development Officer, U.S. & Canada, Marriott International. “We are excited for continued momentum around extended stay and to use our presence at ALIS to communicate the strength and possibilities of Marriott’s longer stay category and the impressive value it brings to owners.”
Conversions transform across the portfolio
Conversions are an important driver of rooms growth in any year, but they have been particularly meaningful during more disruptive times. Marriott provides a rich and flexible conversion platform with significant revenue synergies, cost saving opportunities and turnkey access to many of the programs and services that the company provides, including the company’s powerful Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program.
Image credit: Marriott International/W Ibiza
Image credit: Marriott International/W Ibiza
Marriott added more than 18,000 conversion rooms in 2021, accounting for 21 per cent of overall openings. In addition, conversions accounted for 27 per cent of rooms signings in 2021. Interest in conversions into Marriott brands remains high, led by the company’s robust portfolio of collection brands, including Autograph Collection Hotels, The Luxury Collection, and in particular the Tribute Portfolio, which has grown its footprint of open and pipeline hotels by nearly four times in the past five years. In addition, Delta Hotels by Marriott, the company’s flexible full-service conversion brand represented nine percent of signed conversion deals in 2021. Notable expected conversion additions in 2022 include the JW Marriott Hotel São Paulo in Brazil, The Brix, Autograph Collection in Trinidad and Tobago, The Serangoon House, Singapore, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel and a Delta Hotels by Marriott City Center Doha in Qatar.
Strong international growth poised to continue
In 2021, the company signed 256 agreements representing nearly 51,000 rooms in international locations outside the U.S. and Canada. With the company rapidly growing its international footprint, Marriott continues to enter new markets, offering travellers more exciting destinations. In 2021, the company expanded into Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Bermuda, Grenada, St. Lucia and Turks & Caicos. In 2022, the company expects to plant its flag in Albania and Honduras.
Image credit: Ritz Carlton/Marriott Hotels
Development activity for well-established brands within the select service space remains another key driver of growth, especially internationally. Comprised of brands including Courtyard by Marriott, Fairfield by Marriott, Four Points by Sheraton, Aloft Hotels and Moxy Hotels, Marriott International’s select brands are increasingly resonating internationally. In 2021, the company opened 107 select service hotels representing nearly 19,000 rooms in 29 countries across its international regions. In China, select brands further expand consumer travel experiences and choices, bringing guests diversified experiences in emerging Chinese destinations. Notable expected openings in 2022 include Element Yangjiang Hailing Island and Moxy Suzhou City Center. In 2021, Fairfield by Marriott continued to make its mark in Japan with the “Michi-no-eki” project, bringing six more hotels to key locations across four prefectures in Japan. The company also launched its new Fairfield prototype in Europe and the Middle East.
Branded residential soars
Marriott’s branded residential business soared in 2021 as evolving lifestyle changes have sparked growing interest in on-demand amenities and services from brands people admire and trust. Marriott continues to lead the branded residential segment with nearly 190 projects open or in development worldwide across 14 of the company’s brands.
Marriott’s branded residential offerings include a standalone residence model with similar elevated services offered at the company’s hotel properties, but without a co-located hotel, which speaks to the power of Marriott’s brands to attract residential buyers in markets around the globe. In 2021, Marriott signed its first standalone residences for the EDITION brand in Miami and for the Autograph Collection Hotels brand in London. The company currently operates 14 standalone residences with 16 in the pipeline. Overall, the branded residential sector continues to grow rapidly internationally, with nearly 80 percent of Marriott’s upcoming projects located outside of the U.S. and Canada. The company expects to debut 14 residential projects in 2022 in destinations from New York City (The Ritz-Carlton Residences, New York, NoMad) and Algarve (W Residences Algarve) to Belgrade (The Residences at The St. Regis Belgrade).
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Case study: Leaflike takes flower power to a whole new level
With Leaflike’s comprehensive and inspiring collection of colourful flora from full blown blooms to a subtle statement moss, no stone is left unturned, and no surface is left unadorned…
Adding colour and greenery can transform a space and Leaflike can provide a creative solution for almost any space or surface with its statement floral designs. In today’s hospitality design marketplace, restaurants in particular need to stand out visually and provide clients with an experience that is not just about the food but involves all the senses, and of course, all the social media platforms. With clients frequently requesting an instagrammable installation, Leaflike was able to create three spectacular flower walls for three very different restaurants. Despite their differences all three customer requirements were similar; to provide a flower wall in the restaurant that is both photogenic and a statement that will encourage guests to click and like and share! With this in mind, Leaflike took on the brief and created these unique floral and lighting displays.
Image credit: Leaflike
Image credit: Leaflike
In Rozu Restaurant, the brief took shape in the form of a floral green wall in the entrance along with dramatic pink floral hangings across the ceiling of the restaurant. Unique in design and well placed for guests to see, the results are all focused on achieving the same desired outcome. Ensuring a floral feature creates a stunning finish inside the venue, showcasing vibrant and colourful wall art, adding atmosphere and ambiance that enhances the guests arrival experience.
Image credit: Leaflike
The restaurant Salam also features a floral green wall that greets the clients, and makes the perfect backdrop for a post dinner selfie with its lush tropical ferns and foliage and pops of bright colour that certainly don’t require a filter!
Image credit: Leaflike
The display at Esabella’s becomes a creative backdrop to the branding and signage and its more muted palette adds a note of floral sophistication.
“The transformation is wonderful to see when working with these venues,” said Brandon Abernethie, Head of Design at Leaflike. “To see each display unique to the customer with their colour and style and know we have achieved what the customer wanted, it’s great PR for them via Instagram!”
From moss walls and flower ceilings, to biophilic design and sustainable planting, Leaflike continue to enhance the client experience in hospitality design through the use of creative and design-lead planting and floral displays, .
Leaflike is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our recommended suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.
Product watch: New shower collections from Ideal Standard
Ideal Standard, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of bathroom solutions, has expanded and redefined its showering range to help customers easily choose the perfect shower system and guarantee a premium showering experience day after day…
Following the launch of Intellimix, Ideal Standard has expanded its shower collection to enables designers and users to find their ideal combination of comfort, style and performance to complete their space – whether it’s an original design or a renovation of a family bathroom, wet room or en suite. Selected models are also available in a silk black finish, allowing customers to elevate any bathroom with a contemporary alternative to traditional chrome.
All of IdealStandard’s thermostatic shower systems are fitted with the brand’s pioneering Firmaflow Therm cartridge, allowing for precise temperature control while providing unrivalled durability and efficiency. Each model also comes with Cool Body technology, keeping surfaces cool to the touch to protect people from scalding. Meanwhile, integrated eco flow regulators help users to save water and energy without sacrificing the showering experience, and all components are smooth and easy to clean.
The entire collection benefits from IdealStandard’s selection of Idealrain shower heads, offering a personalised showering experience with a choice of spray modes – from invigorating to relaxing.
Image credit: Ideal Standard
Image credit: Ideal Standard
The showering portfolio comprises three offers – Design, Comfort and Fresh – helping users to find their perfect solution, all of which are equipped with IdealStandard’s innovative, German-engineered technologies that ensure optimum functionality, safety and durability.
The deluxe showers of Design are characterised by flat surfaces, extra-large shower heads and quality metal handles, making them a statement piece for style-conscious customers. Included in the collection is the new Ceratherm S200, which features a forward-facing controls unit for easy access whenadjusting temperature and flow, as well as an integrated shelf of safety glass, adding valuable extra storage space without compromising on aesthetics.
Shower systems within Comfort have been designed with safety, durability and comfort in mind. Users have a choice of hard-wearing shower heads, and can easily flick between three different spray modes at the push of a button.
Fresh blends modern design and must-have technology, with small but important design touches adding extra flexibility and control, such as the raised button on the Ceratherm T25 to enable better grip.With both Comfort and Fresh, a shelf can be ordered separately to create extra storage in the bathroom.
When it comes to installation, all products come pre-calibrated, with streamlined designs and common connections making set-up hassle-free. EasyMount height adjustable wall bracket fittings also ensure simple installation in almost any location, while Swivel Arm functionality lets installers easily adjust the angle of the shower arm.
Ashley Smith, UK Product Manager for Brassware at IdealStandard, said: “Everyone has their own distinct idea of the perfect shower – from temperature and pressure to position and spray mode, not to mention how it looks. We understand how personal it is, which is why we’re offering a different choice for every need with Design, Comfort and Fresh.With a range of styles and features, all backed up by faultless engineering, we’re confident our customers will be able to find the shower with the look and technology they’ll love – day in, day out.”
Ideal Standard is one of Hotel Designs’ recommended suppliers. To keep up to date with their news, click here. And, if you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips by clicking here.
Raffles Hotels & Resorts is continuing its global expansion with new openings in Boston, Macau and Jeddah slated for later this year. Here’s what we know…
Known for transforming landmark properties in storied destinations around the world, Raffles is adding a host of distinguished locations that will continue to set the standard in the luxury hospitality industry. Later this year, Raffles has announced that it will debut flagship locations in Boston, Jeddah and Macau, among others.
Raffles Boston will be the brand’s first mixed-use North American venture, featuring both a hotel and private residences. Located in Boston’s prestigious Back Bay neighbourhood, just a block away from Copley Square, the 35-storey building will be a new landmark in Boston’s skyline, with 146 residences, 147 guestrooms, and six restaurant and bar venues, including a sky bar and speakeasy. The property will feature state-of-the-art facilities and amenities. The striking three-story sky lobby, the first of its kind in Boston, will be the centrepiece of the property, complete with a grand staircase spanning the 17th, 18th and 19th floors.
Raffles at Galaxy Macau will be situated within a stunning architectural landmark featuring a glass airbridge that connects the two towers on every floor. Each of the 450 suites draws inspiration from a modern palazzo, with curated artworks and some featuring private pools and gardens. Raffles at Galaxy Macau will be a spectacular addition to the Galaxy Macau, a world-class luxury integrated resort that offers an array of bespoke leisure activities, on-site entertainment and a specialty restaurant helmed by a multi-Michelin-starred Japanese chef.
Image credit: Raffles Hotels & Resorts
Inspired by the rich history of Saudi Arabia and Jeddah’s old town architecture, Raffles Jeddah will have 181 guestrooms – including a spectacular wedding suite and penthouse suite with in-room entertainment – and 188 branded residences. Alongside six restaurants and lounges, there will be an extensive library, a 1,200 square metre spa with eight treatment rooms and a state-of-the-art fitness club. The hotel’s meeting facilities include a 1,500 square metre ballroom overlooking the corniche and 1,000 square metres of conference rooms.
Raffles Hotels & Resorts has an illustrious history with some of the most prestigious hotel addresses worldwide, starting as far back as 1887 with the original Raffles Singapore. With these properties set to open in 2022 the brand will continue its tradition of luxury in leading cities across the world.
Accor steps into boldly into 2022 with 25 new hotel signings
Accor ended 2021 on a high note with the signing of 25 hotels in northern Europe in December, bringing its total signings in the region to an impressive 89. We take a closer look at its plans and pipeline for the year ahead…
Last year saw a strong development across Accor’s Northern European region, which today consists of more than 1,100 hotels across a portfolio of more than 20 brands spanning 31 countries, from Ireland through to Russia.
“2021 was a phenomenal year for signings culminating in a strong year end across the region,” said Camil Yazbeck, Senior Vice President Development, Accor Northern Europe .”Accor has maintained its stronghold on the region with a 39 per cent branded hotel market share in signings. In 2020 development was resilient, in 2021 our signings returned to pre-pandemic levels. Development is future looking and our strong pipeline reflects our and our partners’ strong belief in market recovery.”
Image credit: Accor
Within the UK, 2021 ended with 13 signings across all of Accor’s portfolio, and added more than 500 guestrooms to the group’s already strong London portfolio. The year closed with the signing of Hyde Paradox Hotel London City, which will be coming soon to the historic location by the Old Bailey in the heart of London. The 110 guestroom property will occupy the 15 Old Bailey, originally known as the Spiers & Pond Hotel. Built in 1874 by architect Evans Cronk and converted to office use in the early 1900’s, the latest re-conversion by Hyde London City owners OB Capital, seeks to return the asset back to the iconic hotel that it once was. This stylish property is expected to open in 2023. Hyde Hotels, Resorts & Residences is part of Ennismore, a joint venture with Accor, formed in 2021.
Image credit: Accor
Signings span Accor’s strong spectrum of brands, from economy to luxury, with notable growth in key brands such as the ibis brand family, with 27 signings across ibis, ibis budget and ibis Styles. Mercure saw an additional 15 signings across the leading midscale brand, including one Mercure Living longer-stay brand. Novotel signed a further 7 properties, including two Novotel Living brands, and the new economy and midscale conversion brands, greet and By Mercure, gathered momentum, with 10 signings across the two brands.
Germany, Poland, Russia and the Benelux continued to dominate the brand acquisitions, with strong signings in each region. Eastern Europe remains a strong pipeline for the group with multiple signings in countries including Albania, Croatia, Georgia, Hungary, Moldova, Montenegro and Romania.
Image credit: Accor
Accor boasts an unrivalled portfolio of distinctive brands and has one of the industry’s most diverse hospitality ecosystems from luxury through to economy brands. Its growth moving into 2022 ensures it is set to retain its position on the lifestyle hospitality platform.
How The Londoner created a new dialogue between design & wellness
Sitting majestically above Leicester Square, in its very own island site, The Londoner took the design and architecture community’s breath away when it opened in 2021. One year on, Editor Hamish Kilburn meets Rob Steul, the Creative Director of Edwardian Hotels to learn more about the unparalleled design and wellness narrative…
It was one of the most ambitious architecture and hotel development projects that Leicester Square had ever seen. The plans for the world’s first ‘super boutique’ hotel,The Londoner, designed by Yabu Pushelberg, engineer experts at Arup Associates and artist Ian Monroe, reportedly cost £5 million and included 15-storeys of innovative design and architecture.
Rob Steul, the Creative Director of Edwardian Hotels, was the puppet master – AKA architect – behind the magnificent and innovative performance. Due to urban planning height restrictions, Steul and his team proposed a 30-metre subterranean series of spaces on six levels, which created the deepest habitable basement in London and among the deepest in the world – a factor that presented a plethora of architectural, structural and engineering challenges for all involved.
As the hotel moves close to its one year anniversary – a milestone in itself considering the unpredictable landscape along with travel restrictions that the hotel opened within – Hotel Designs, in association with AXOR and Hansgrohe, caught up with Steul to understand how, as well as architecture, the hotel has reached new heights (or depths is perhaps more apt) in wellness and wellbeing.
Hansgrohe is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.
With evolution of technology in the bathroom arguably out-running any other area of the hotel, Hotel Designs, in association with Plumb It, has identified six savvy and smart bathroom ideas that should be on the radar of all interior designers and architects…
“Technology and water do not mix.” Never has a saying been more inaccurate than it is today when taking a glance at how smart hotel bathroom design is transforming. In fact, following the innovations that we launched at CES 2022, it’s safe to say that the bathroom is currently the epicentre of innovation, with tech influencing an evolution in function as well as form (and sustainable initiatives) in products such as toilets, showers, bathrooms, taps and even smart mirrors.
With new tech, though, comes confusion. This is why we, in partnership with Plumb It, have taken the time to identify six smart bathroom technologies that we believe have the power to challenge the conventional approach to bathroom design.
1) The shower toilet
Image credit: Geberit
Although not an obvious nor new piece of technology, it’s remarkable to see how popular the shower toilet has become worldwide. Brands such as Geberit, Toto and Euro Bathrooms are providing a no-hassle, gentle and natural way to clean, which is far more sustainable. Geberit AquaClean products, for example, allow users to save more energy by individually adjusting the product settings, thus giving them the option to reduce their environmental impact even further. In standby mode (economy mode), all AquaClean models, which fulfil the European eco-design requirements (ErP directives), consume less than 0.5 watts of energy in total.
2) The spa bath
Image credit: Kohler
Image credit: Phoenix Bathrooms
There was a lot of hype in Las Vegas earlier this month at CES 2022, where bathroom brand Kohler displayed its Infinity Experience Freestanding Bath, which comes complete with LED lighting effects, and relaxing fog that has been inspired by Japanese hot springs. Well, it seems Kohler is not alone in its predictions that the bathrooms of tomorrow will have an even stronger emphasis on experience. Two years ago, Toto launched its weightless bathing experience. More recently, the whirlpool and airpool system baths by Phoenix Bathrooms takes wellness to new levels by also using sensory design. The Ancona + System 3 luxury bath features underwater, fully rotating colour-kinetic LED lighting, variable three-speed airpool blowers that allow finite and customisable adjustment and an inline heater that maintains a consistent water temperature during bathing.
3) Smart eco showers
Image credit: hansgrohe
A smart shower does not have to read you the news or play your favourite playlist while you are washing. For the sake of this editorial, smart means intuitive. The technology inside the hansgrohe EcoSmart happens behind the scenes. The showers and taps equipped with EcoSmart technology consume up to 60 per cent less water than conventional products. This not only means that you use less water, but also need less energy to heat the water – good news for the planet, and good news for your client’s pocket.
4) Mirrored art
The hotel design industry has seen the rise (and arguably the fall) of smart mirrors in the bathroom. When creating a tranquil space that encourages users to ‘switch off’, the idea of a smart TV becomes somewhat outdated. However, with the bathroom being predominantly a practical space, good lighting is an essential element. The Edison mirror by Origins Living, which comes in a variety of sizes, is more like atmospheric wall art than simply a reflective surface. Users can create their individual ambience with colour temperature control from warm to cool white lighting, adding texture and practicality to the bathroom experience.
5) Touchless demands
Even before 2020, prior to when the world become transfixed on hygienic solutions, touchless technology was a common element in public restrooms (in and outside the hotel arena). Since the pandemic, though, consumers’ demands for contactless has sky-rocketed – and brands such as Roca were prepared with resolutions. The Roca EM1 Flush Valve, for example, has been developed as a touchless option for either public or private bathrooms.
Thanks to an integrated infrared sensor, the flush button detects the movement of a hand and activates the flush automatically without contact, avoiding the spreading of viruses and the growth of bacteria. Roca’s EM1 mechanism allows you to choose between full and half flush volumes which can be easily adjusted to flush at 6/4, 4.5/3 or 4/2 litres, helping you to save your annual water usage with no electrical installation needed. It simply works on four AA batteries that provides more than 40,000 flushes.
6) Sustainable & durable baths
Image credit: Ashton & Bentley
Image credit: Ashton & Bentley
Crafted from Biolux, Ashton & Bentley has launched a freestanding bath that has been made from 100 per cent from an eco-friendly alternative to natural stone. The Biome Range is created for the eco-conscious and curated for harmony; a selection of modern classic freestanding baths and complementing countertop basins and freestanding washbasins. Roca’s designs are where engineering meets art – high impact visual statements of sculpted beauty created with Ashton & Bentley’s signature quality and craftsmanship. The gentle silhouettes and organic curves of the Biome Range connect contemporary ergonomic design with nature while nurturing sanctuary and wellbeing.
Plumb It is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.
Pharrell Williams and David Grutman to open hotel in The Bahamas
The 13-time Grammy rapper, songwriter and producer Pharrell Williams and nightclub entrepreneur David Grutman have announced that they will open a new lifestyle hotel in 2024. Set the be the creative duo’s largest hospitality project, Somewhere Else, will be located on a small island just off Nassau in The Bahamas. Editor Hamish Kilburn writes…
It’s not the first time celebrities have dipped their toe in the hospitality waters, with the likes of Hugh Jackman, Donatella Versace, Elizabeth Hurley and of course Robert De Niro among A-listers owning hotels. The recent addition to the list includes Pharrell Williams and David Grutman who in 2021 opened The Goodtime Hotel to rave reviews.
Less than a year later, the pair have tasked design and architecture studio Rockwell Group to bring to life their next hotel vision of a design-forward lifestyle hotel in The Bahamas.
“Throughout the resort, there will be a strong emphasis on indoor-outdoor flows with flush, freeform landscaping.”
The new hotel will be situated on Atlantis Paradise Island, in a building that has been, until now, referred to as The Beach – and was the island’s first hotel, originally designed by the late Morris Lapidus who was a leader of the vivacious ‘Miami-modern’ style.
The 400-key hotel, named Somewhere Else, is slated to open its doors in 2024 and will shelter multiple F&B outlets and bungalows featuring recording studios. Throughout the resort, there will be a strong emphasis on indoor-outdoor flows with flush, freeform landscaping. Williams referred to the project as “tropical modernism” in a recent interview.
The design of the property will be led by Shawn Sullivan, Partner at Rockwell Group. The overall aesthetic will take inspiration from topography of the landscape. The latest renders show a water-coloured depiction of a flamingo pink-trimmed building. On the site, the hotel will feature cascading pools that draw the eye towards the sea and polychrome room concepts with flashes of colour, CNN reports.
Despite this project being Williams and Gutman’s largest and most complex development undertaking to date, the 13-time Grammy winner and the nightclub entrepreneur have previously completed two other hospitality ventures; Miami-based restaurant The Swan and The Goodtime Hotel.
Weekly digest: Eco hotel openings, tech updates & Vegas developments
Roll up, roll up! Editor Hamish Kilburn here with your weekly digest. If you’re drowning in work, hurtling towards deadlines or are unable to scour the net for design and hospitality news, then this is the only article you need to read about the latest hotel openings and news to be stay in the loop…
In this week’s digest, there’s a lot to cover – from technology hit and misses at CES 2022 to Regent Hotels’ debut property Vietnam, and even our feature that follows our cheeky trip to the Harrison Spinks farm. Having looked at the analytics, this month’s news is largely dominated by hotel openings, which come in all shapes, sizes and styles – and this week has been no exception with a number of sneak peeks garnering a lot of attention.
From all the headlines that we have published, here are the most significant.
With Net Zero fast becoming the buzzword of 2022, along with conversations around sustainability and the importance of working towards a circular economy, and brands such as GROHE, Harrison Spinks and Room2 pledging to become Net Zero, design studio Perkins&Will has published a report which identifies the steps it is taking – and what other design studios could be doing – to create Net Zero projects by 2030.
Image caption: Each interior design scheme has been themed to celebrate the locality of the farm, such as Fenton, my hut, which is a nod to RAF Church Fenton. | Image credit: Harrison Spinks
In the heart of the Yorkshire countryside – slap-bang between Leeds and York – editor Hamish Kilburn arrived on the 300-acre farm where the Harrison Spinks journey evolved into one that was centred around sustainable and innovative initiatives. From understanding the benefits of hemp to seeing how the bed manufacturer is keeping British manufacturing alive, Hotel Designs was given full access for 48 hours to understand why the bed and mattress manufacturer is commonly referred to as ‘the true bedmakers’.
Hospitality and entertainment company Hard Rock International, has announced its agreement to acquire The Mirage Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas from MGM Resorts International. Having made history in 2019 with designing the first ever guitar-shaped hotel for its Florida expansion, Hard Rock is planning to add to its guitar collection by building its second guitar-shaped hotel, this time on the famous Las Vegas Strip.
Quiet floors, a lack of international travellers and it all coming to close a day early due to the organisers facing pressures from travel restrictions and the Covid-19 crisis: is this really the same CES that dominated the world’s attention every January with the biggest tech show on earth? Well, the answer is ‘no’ but for good and healthy reasons for the hotel technology sector.
IHG Hotels & Resorts will launch the first resort from its recently acquired, leading luxury brand, Regent Hotels & Resorts this Spring in South East Asia. Situated off the southwest coast of Vietnam, alongside a UNESCO-designated World Biosphere Reserve, Regent Phu Quoc will usher in a new era for this heritage brand, offering guests 176 spectacular suites and 126 spacious villas, set against the serene waterfront backdrop of Long Beach.
Nordic Hotels & Resorts has announced that it is bringing one of Oslo’s most iconic buildings back to life as Sommerro – a new luxury hotel set to open its doors in September 2022.
In an exciting marriage of East and West, this the first chapter in an organisation that looks set to disrupt the traditional models of what went before, while doing justice to the reputation and success of the iconic properties present at its start.
“I cannot think of a better group of hotels to be our first new members than The House Collective,” said Jean-Luc Naret, Executive Director of The Set Collection.
With coming out of lockdown and the latest omicron fears easing up, it’s time to look forward to some fresh outlooks. Frances Bildner of Frances Bildner Expressive Arts produces and sells dynamic artwork to hotels, other businesses and residences and is no stranger on Hotel Designs‘ radar. Her paintings often tell stories, albeit abstract ones, and enhance interior design schemes by injecting vitality to the environment. Her paintings, described by New York’s Village Voice as being “vital enough to convert even the most jaded of people”, bring life and colour to empty walls.
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Regent Phu Quoc, with design inspired by the tropical and tranquil surroundings in which it is set, is on track to combine the brand’s trademark luxury with Vietnamese heritage to create a unique and immersive destination resort…
IHG Hotels & Resorts will launch the first resort from its recently acquired, leading luxury brand, Regent Hotels & Resorts this Spring in South East Asia. Situated off the southwest coast of Vietnam, alongside a UNESCO-designated World Biosphere Reserve, Regent Phu Quoc will usher in a new era for this heritage brand, offering guests 176 spectacular suites and 126 spacious villas, set against the serene waterfront backdrop of Long Beach.
Image credit: Regent Hotels & Resorts
Designed by BLINK Design Group who were inspired by the island’s tropical abundance and tranquil surrounding, the villas at Regent Phu Quoc showcase panoramic views of the translucent ocean and sky from their private infinity pools. The resort offers multiple accommodation options perfect for both couples and families, from one-bedroom havens to expansive seven-bedroom ultra-villas, including beach pool villas with direct access to the pristine white beach, sky pool villas situated high in the Sky Wing with breathtaking ocean views and lagoon pool villas which overlook the striking vista of the resort’s lagoons.
“Founded more than 50 years ago, Regent Hotels & Resorts changed the face of modern luxury with bold firsts, such as pioneering the private villa with pool concept which have since become luxury hotel standards,” said Juan Losada, General Manager, Regent Phu Quoc. “With the opening of Regent Phu Quoc, a truly visionary resort has been conceived which marries the calming, the imaginative and the extravagant. We look forward to setting new luxury benchmarks through exceptional Vietnamese hospitality and guest experiences which feel simultaneously luxurious and effortless.”
Image credit: Regent Hotels & Resorts
With a design brief of Vietnamese heritage meets minimalist modernity, the resort’s architecture echoes and reflects the traditional Vietnamese vernacular, while its design maximises access to the environment with floor-to-ceiling glass windows framing enchanting ocean views, and inside spaces featuring decadent touches that hint at the tropical surroundings. Guests will be greeted by a modern interpretation of Vietnamese roofs, and a variation of the local traditional wooden truss structural system, known as the Bovi, has been developed into subtle patterns found on screens, carpets and accessories. Another local style, known as Gian Nha, comprising small courtyards within a traditional Vietnamese house, is the inspiration for the layouts in the villa designs. The boundaries of indoor and outdoor areas blur through intelligent zoning across the resort as a homage to Gian Nha, providing privacy within a luxurious setting in this evolution of a traditional way of living.
Image credit: Regent Hotels & Resorts
The Spa at Regent Phu Quoc will offer an innovative approach to wellness, with a curated schedule of contemporary and traditional treatments that go beyond the ordinary. Guests can experience a highly personalised wellness itinerary guided by the resident Holistic Wellness Coach. The resort’s holistic wellness programmes include Acoustic/Vibrational Therapy complemented by the Welnamis System, as well as Psammo Hot Sand Therapy on an exclusive quartz bed designed by Gharieni, one of the world’s leading spa manufacturers. In addition, guests can experience Biologique Recherche treatments, and the Pedi:Mani:Cure concept salon by renowned podiatrist Bastien Gonzalez. alongside all these treatments, the Health Club features a fitness centre, reset meditation studio and rooftop yoga pavilions to recharge and rejuvenate.
Adding to the sense of natural rejuvenation on offer, is the fact that nearly half of Phu Quoc island is a National Park. The northern part of the island is home to kilometres of lush tropical forest which has been declared as a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, while the southern part of the island is popular for its pristine white sand beaches. With this impressive natural backdrop the resort has kept this as its focus, and maintained a sensitive approach to the design while introducing visitors to a range of immersive destination experiences that showcases all the rustic charm of an idyllic island life.
Before one of Oslo’s most iconic art-deco buildings is restored back to life as new luxury hotel Sommerro, Hotel Designs get a sneak peak into the design that plans to ‘revolutionise’ the city’s hospitality landscape. Pauline Brettell writes…
Nordic Hotels & Resorts has announced that it is bringing one of Oslo’s most iconic buildings back to life as Sommerro – a new luxury hotel set to open its doors in September 2022.
With panoramic views of the Norwegian capital, Sommerro is housed in the former headquarters of Oslo Lysverker, the city’s original electrical company, and will be a modern tribute to Norwegian cultural heritage, with a strong focus on eco-conscious experiences. A community in its own right, the 231-key, art-deco hotel, complete with 56 branded residences, will shelter four restaurants and three bars, meeting and event spaces with capacity for up to 150 people, a 100-seat gilded theatre, a gym and wellness space, and the city’s first year-round rooftop pool, sauna, and terrace.
“Sommerro will be an open house for all where visitors and locals can work, sleep, eat, play and recharge.” – Jarle Moen, Managing Director of Sommerro.
Image credit: Sommerro hotel / Lars Petter-Pettersen
Image credit: Sommerro Hotel / Lars Petter-Pettersen
“Our vision is to redefine Oslo’s hospitality landscape by creating a new kind of hotel built on Frogner’s classic and creative neighbourhood spirit,” said Jarle Moen, Managing Director of Sommerro. “Made by the local community, Sommerro will be an open house for all where visitors and locals can work, sleep, eat, play and recharge. Together, we are creating an inspiring space where kindred souls and culture-makers can gather in cosy corners or pop by for a range of experiences from intimate gatherings and work meetings to late-night movie screenings and wine tastings in our library.”
Drawing heavily from the building’s magnificent architectural details, Sommerro will pay homage to a fusion of neoclassical contemporary aesthetics with original elements that have been meticulously restored and developed by local firm LPO Architects in collaboration with New York and London based studio GrecoDeco. Notable art deco details include oak parquet flooring, bespoke furnishings upholstered with 1930s Norwegian motifs, and slick bathrooms with custom tiles. Original artwork by celebrated Norwegian artist Per Krohg is featured throughout the hotel, with unique pieces including a giant wall fresco and a ceiling mural that nods to the building’s heritage, highlighting life after the wonders of electricity.
The crown jewel of Sommerro’s social spaces is its year-round rooftop terrace, home to the contemporary restaurant Tak Oslo. The hotel will also offer Lysverker Scene, an alluring 100-seat gilded theatre that will host intimate events open to the public. Vestkantbadet, one of the few public baths left in all of Norway, has been brought back to its former glory and expanded into an 740-square-metre underground wellness paradise – the largest of any city hotel across the Nordic countries. Open to hotel guests and the public, the wellness space will include a series of treatment rooms, restored Roman baths, a gym with an infrared sauna, and cold plunge pool offering a traditional Nordic thermotherapy experience, all with soothing, eco-friendly spa products.
Image credit: Sommerro Hotel
Expected to become one of Oslo’s most coveted culinary destinations, the hotel will feature four restaurants, including outposts from local favourites Barramon, a Spanish tapas and wine bar, and Plah, one of the city’s most popular restaurants that features elevated cuisine by Norway’s ‘Best Thai Chef’ Terje Ommundsen. Ekspedisjonshallen, an all-day dining spot located in the former hall where the public once paid their electricity bills, will come to life with regular DJ performances accompanied with brasserie-style cuisine, and the hotel’s central sunken floor will be converted into a lively bar overlooked by the vast Per Krohg wall mural.
Adjacent to Ekspedisjonshallen will be To Søstre, an elegant home for mimosa-fuelled afternoon teas served on decadent cake trolleys and accompanied by regular classical concerts. The sky is the limit on the hotel’s seventh floor at Tak Oslo, a Nordic-Japanese restaurant by award-winning Swedish chef Frida Ronge, where guests can experience hyper-local, seasonal dishes using sustainable Norwegian produce and seafood.
The hotel will invite groups of 12 to 150 people to gather within its dynamic range of meeting and event spaces, which include Sommerrostuene, a collection of four laidback and playful rooms; Salongen, a relaxed interchangeable room; Storstua, a break-out area serving grab and go lunches; Biblioteket, a snug book-filled library layered with whimsical Nordic touches; and Kinoen, an intimate screening room. On the Heritage floor, eight historical rooms outfitted with top technology and again adorned with original ceiling murals from Per Krohg, will also be available to rent.
As the most recent independent venture by Nordic Hotels & Resorts, Sommerro will uphold and enhance the group’s commitment to eco-sustainability through a variety of meaningful on-property practices and amenities, from what dishes are served at each restaurant to the materials used to design and construct the guestrooms and property as a whole. A year-round destination with sweeping views over the Norwegian capital, visitors of Sommerro can explore the local neighbourhood of Frogner while enjoying the curated guest experiences brought to life in this historic building full of inspiring design, and great storytelling.
Case study: How Roca elevated wellness for Roomzzz
Global bathroom manufacturer Roca has been selected to provide contemporary bathroom solutions for Roomzzz Aparthotels in a number of premium locations across the country…
The stylish aparthotel group, Roomzzz, a pioneer in the flexible accommodation trend, offers guests flexible serviced apartments with all the comforts of home within a city living apartment. Situated in ten city locations across the UK, Roomzzz has a service lead approach and a home away from home experience with spacious apartments kitted out with all the mod-cons of everyday living. All of which provide city escapes with more comfort and space than the average hotel room, and more safety and service than usually found in serviced apartments.
In keeping with the brand’s sleek contemporary and sophisticated design, a stylish yet functional bathroom solution from Roca was chosen for the bathroom solutions in Manchester Corn Exchange, York City and Newcastle City.
“We are delighted to have been selected for a number of locations for the bathrooms at Roomzzz Aparthotels,” said Robert Longstaff, Residential Specification Manager for Roca. “We are very pleased with the end result which offers a stylish and functional bathroom solution for these fantastic apartments which seamlessly integrate with the surroundings of each individual aparthotel city location.”
Image credit: Roca
Image credit: Roca
Roomzzz specified the popular The Gap range to provide a clean and contemporary bathroom space. The Gap range is a versatile collection that enables users to optimise the design and look of any bathroom space. Created by renowned industrial designer Antonio Bullo, the designs showcase modern and stylish lines whilst delivering both a compact and functional bathroom collection. It is also ideal for large scale commercial projects such as this, as it is made from Vitreous china, a material that is easy to clean and extremely hygienic. The Gap’s wide range enables optimisation of any bathroom space and design, making it a long-term and intelligent choice.
Roca Group’s extensive range of bathroom products and iconic collections made the global manufacturer the ideal choice to provide sanitaryware that not only provides functionally, but also a high-quality finish to compliment the sophisticated and contemporary style of the Roomzzz Aparthotels across the country.
Roca is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.
Sweden’s Scandic Hotels puts sustainability high on the agenda as it is set to go climate neutral in its latest development. Here’s what we know about the plans for Scandic Sundsvall Central…
Scandic Hotels has signed a long-term lease agreement with Skanska for a new 210-key hotel in downtown Sundsvall. The new hotel, located in the city’s harbour area and slated to open in 2024, will be built of wood giving it a very high environmental standard. The hotel will be called Scandic Sundsvall Central and will be ideally located next to Sundsvall’s harbour and railway station.
Image credit: Scandic Hotels
“We’ve been developing the hotel together with Skanska for the past two years and naturally, it feels extremely positive to be further strengthening our hotel offering in the city,” said Peter Jangbratt, Head of Scandic Hotels Sweden.
Along with the proposed guestrooms, it will have a restaurant and bar area on the ground floor. One floor up, guests will be able to enjoy the hotel’s spa and wellness facilities, gym and meeting rooms while taking in the spectacular view of the Bothnian Sea. The building’s frame, facade and interior will all be made of wood, meeting the requirements for the high-ranking environmental certification, LEED Gold. With its choice of energy-efficient materials and solar panels on the roof, the new hotel will maintain a very high energy standard and be 100 per cent climate-neutral during its lifetime.
“It is gratifying to now have Scandic as a tenant – a company that shares our values in terms of sustainability and with which we have worked closely in other projects,” added Joakim Åkesson, Regional Manager at Skanska Sverige.
Adding to its existing portfolio of two hotels in Sundsvall, this new addition to the Scandic family will be a modern and attractive meeting place ideally located in an exciting area where the brand has identified a growing demand for hotel accommodations.
The Set Collection adds four new properties to portfolio
The House Collective, one of Asia’s most lauded luxury hospitality brands, is joining forces with London based curated hotel portfolio, The Set Collection. Its four distinctive properties will be joining forces with the four founding member hotels of The Set Collection to double the numbers…
In an exciting marriage of East and West, this the first chapter in an organisation that looks set to disrupt the traditional models of what went before, while doing justice to the reputation and success of the iconic properties present at its start.
“I cannot think of a better group of hotels to be our first new members than The House Collective,” said Jean-Luc Naret, Executive Director of The Set Collection. “Like our founding members in Europe and Israel, The House Collective’s properties have made an impact on their market and the luxury traveller’s collective consciousness that is far greater than their relatively small footprint would suggest. It is a privilege to work with these expert hoteliers, not only to offer them the myriad benefits that being a part of The Set Collection offers but also to learn and grow together in new and exciting markets during these unique times.”
Image credit: The House Collective
One of the tenets of The Set Collection is to work only with exceptional and like-minded organisations that truly embody the spirit of their locations, a determination that is exemplified in its properties in four of the world’s great cities; Amsterdam, London, Paris and Jerusalem. Those hotels harness the artistry, combined talent, skills, expertise and flair of their teams to create inspiring environments and individual experiences that feel beautifully composed and the four hotels of The House Collective are similarly uniquely imagined to reflect the soul and aesthetics of their locales. Whether in the neon cityscape of Hong Kong and London’s vibrant thoroughfares, the fashionable streets in Shanghai and Paris’ majestic boulevards, Beijing’s thriving art scene and Amsterdam’s museums or Chengdu’s monumental past and Jerusalem’s unparalleled history – the hotels of The House Collective and The Set Collection’s could not be better matched.
Image credit: The House Collective
The Set Collection has positioned itself as a new luxury brand representation company of like-minded independent hotels, run by hoteliers for hoteliers. It has been designed for owners, investors and management teams seeking an alternative to the traditional representation and distribution service. With an agile and flexible business model, The Set Collection provides a tailored solution to supply only the services that hoteliers need, designed to adapt quickly to continually evolving markets conditions and business needs of its member hotels whilst providing a competitive fee structure. Under The Set Collection, owners and management teams retain their hotel brand and identity alongside the day-to-day running of their property, whilst taking advantage of tailored services to support their operation and existing teams.
Image credit: The House Collective
The House Collective by Swire Hotels is a group of highly individual properties that defy comparison. Each uniquely imagined, The Opposite House in Beijing, The Upper House in Hong Kong, The Temple House in Chengdu and The Middle House in Shanghai were designed to create a different, intimate and personalised experience in luxury travel. Each House is a sophisticated, singular piece of design, created by talented architects and designers, that reflect the unique qualities of their surroundings.
“We believe this exciting partnership will further elevate The House Collective reputation in the ultra-luxury hospitality space and help our brands stand out and appeal to the growing number of luxury consumers outside of Asia,” said Dean Winter, Managing Director for Swire Hotels.
The Set Collection is building a portfolio of non-competing hotels whilst providing a platform that will encourage them to work together to achieve their business objectives, and the addition of The House Collective can be seen as an important milestone in this development.
Gessi believes there is more charm in the bathroom in perfect simplicity than in fussy, overdone design. A touch of elegance can make life easier and much more beautiful, enriching daily life and contributing to enhanced wellness. Eleganza speaks this language…
Bathroom brand Gessi has long been respected for its ability to embrace the essential need for beauty and style in everyday living. It’s collections, such as Venti20, Inciso and even the Hi-Fi all reflect this ethos. The latest range to add to this mix is Eleganza, a totally new bathroom collection with refined architectural lines and cleverly conceived function.
A balanced blend of good taste and distinct design, care for substance and meticulous attention to every detail, Eleganza speaks a classy yet contemporary language, which makes the collection fresh and urban rather than retro.
Image credit: Gessi
Image credit: Gessi
Its classical harmony, reinterpreted in the signature minimalism of Gessi, creates a ‘modern-traditional’ design with insightful aesthetics, and a timeless elegance that transcends styles. Eleganza can be set gracefully in traditional or contemporary interiors.
As with all the Gessi Collections, Eleganza encompasses a large matching set of bathroom fittings, from faucets to accessories, from sinks and tubs to fixtures, all of which preserve the sculptural shapes of Eleganza for a complete Gessi Signature Bathroom.
Image credit: Gessi
Image credit: Gessi
Refined details characterise each element of the collection, with sophisticated and fresh finishes that stretch far beyond chrome, brushed chrome and gold to add to the personalisation of everyone’s private spaces.
Gessi is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our recommended suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.
Nobu Hospitality, the global lifestyle brand founded by Nobu Matsuhisa, Robert De Niro, and Meir Teper, has just announced that its first hotel and restaurant in Greece, the Nobu Hotel and Restaurant Santorini, is scheduled to open in spring 2022. Here’s what we know…
Situated on the island’s captivating northeast coast, the boutique hotel houses a signature Nobu Restaurant, full-service spa, fitness facility, dual-level infinity pool, and five luxurious pool villas, and offers panoramic views of both the Caldera and Aegean Sea from its unique clifftop location in Imerovigli. Just a short drive to the charming coastal town of Oia and within striking distance of Santorini International Airport, the hotel is well-positioned along the famed Oia-Fira hiking trail that runs between Oia and Fira, Santorini’s cosmopolitan capital.
Image credit: Nobu Hospitality
Nobu Hospitality has entered a long-term management agreement with MonteRock International (MRI), a group with over 25 years of experience in a variety of core industries including hospitality, media, food & beverage, real estate, banking, and industrial technology.
“We are really proud of the rock-solid collaboration we are having with Nobu brand throughout the years, and we are now more than delighted to expand together in the hospitality industry,” said Alfredo Longo, Chief Executive Officer MonteRock International. “In this incredible canvas such as the Island of Santorini, the finest of what Nobu lifestyle and cuisine have to offer would be served in a picture-perfect setting, catering to every need at the highest standards.”
Image credit: Nobu Hospitality
“We are very excited to be coming to Santorini and to work with the local community on this exciting project,” said Trevor Horwell, Chief Executive Officer Nobu Hospitality. “Santorini is one of the most highly regarded destinations in the world with its rare beauty, famed for its distinctive cuisine, whitewashed architecture set with a backdrop of steep cliffs, and dramatic sunsets lighting the sea and sky. We look forward to inviting locals and international travellers alike to experience the Nobu lifestyle in this special destination.”
Adding to Nobu Hospitality’s European portfolio, the launch of Nobu Hotel and Restaurant Santorini marks the 26th hotel around the world and tenth in Europe. Nobu Hotels are also in development for Marrakech, Rome, Riyadh, Atlanta, Toronto, Atlantic City, New Orleans, San Sebastián, São Paulo, Tel Aviv, Thailand, Hamburg, and Al Khobar, as the brand is strategically focused on further expanding its global portfolio of hotels through a solid pipeline.
Urbancrete by Parkside: An exploration of colour & form
Urbancrete is the latest tile collection from Parkside Architectural Tiles, with concrete and stone effects in multiple formats and geometric shapes to create a unique look…
Featuring comfort, a brand-new finish that combines the luxurious feel of a matt surface with R10 anti-slip performance, Urbancrete by Parkside Architectural tiles is a porcelain tile collection designed to excel in commercial environments demanding high-quality aesthetics with the durability and easy maintenance of tiles.
The collection is centred on two basic surfaces that can be used to create multiple combinations – a concrete effect with an urban aesthetic and an original marble design – in standard formats, mosaics and geometric shapes to give specifiers the opportunity to explore combinations in effect, colour and shape. With options for floor and wall, internal and external use and a range of special pieces, Urbancrete can be used to deliver a unique look across a wide range of project types.
Urbancrete is available in comfort, grip (R11) and glossy finishes, and meets all the performance requirements for tiles in indoor environments in 6mm and 10mm specifications, making it suitable in everywhere from hotels to retail, commercial offices and public spaces. In its frost-resistant 20mm outdoor variant, Urbancrete achieves 36+ wet performance under BS 7976 (pendulum slider test).
Made by Florim, a Certified B Corporation, Urbancrete features a minimum 20 per cent recycled content in accordance with the Parkside and Strata Tiles commitment to sustainability. For all new tile collections, Parkside and Strata Tiles have pledged to include ranges with a minimum 20 per cent recycled content. This pledge comes alongside the 40 for 40 partnership with the World Land Trust and a goal set to be Carbon Balanced by the end of the year.
Parkside is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.
January blues: Vibrant, story-telling hotel art for optimistic times
Artist Frances Bildner of Frances Bildner Expressive Arts believes she has the answer to all hotels wanting to add personality into their spaces in the form of vibrant hotel art…
With coming out of lockdown and the latest omicron fears easing up, it’s time to look forward to some fresh outlooks. Frances Bildner of Frances Bildner Expressive Arts produces and sells dynamic artwork to hotels, other businesses and residences and is no stranger on Hotel Designs‘ radar. Her paintings often tell stories, albeit abstract ones, and enhance interior design schemes by injecting vitality to the environment. Her paintings, described by New York’s Village Voice as being “vital enough to convert even the most jaded of people”, bring life and colour to empty walls.
Bildner’s paintings entitled ‘Let’s Slow Down the World’ and ‘Breaking Boundaries’ are examples of the thoughts that have inspired her. The various cities she has lived in, such as Buenos aires, New York and London have also influenced her in their vibrancy, pace and colour. From her own imagination coupled with her environments, we see emerging bursts of colour, gesture and movement that cover the canvases.
“Environments need fresh and original art, not watered down prints that blend into walls.” – Frances Bildner, artist.
Image caption: Prisms of Light. | Image credit: Frances Bildner Expressive Arts
She has recently sold a group original paintings to a large, multinational construction firm in the United States and another group of work to Law Offices in the United States. As well as America, she has sold some work to private clients in London and is contacting hotels and offices continually.
“Hotels that value art make for beautiful surroundings.” – Frances Bildner, artist.
“Environments need fresh and original art, not watered down prints that blend into walls,” she tells Hotel Designs. “Hospitals, for example, should increase the hallways with bold art instead of grey morbid walls that cannot have a good effect on the patients. And it’s the same with hotels, guests want to feel uplifted, especially in public spaces. Ikea prints and cheap anonymous photographs do nothing to encourage a viable workspace or lobby. It can be truly soul destroying to look at the same anodyne images on the wall. Surely this is not good for anyone.”
Image caption: Playing With Squares. | Image credit: Frances Bildner Expressive Arts
Image caption: Verdant. | Image credit: Frances Bildner Expressive Arts
Art hotels are the most original, fun and exciting places to visit. Their walls and stands are teeming with originality. Sculptures, paintings and ceramics are in full focus. A long way away from some of the large dismal lobbies and hotel bedrooms seen in the past. Hotels that value art make for beautiful surroundings. An atmosphere where guests feel looked after and pampered.
Colour is such an important part of our world, and hotels in particular can completely transform their image through the power of meaningful colour. Cities like Buenos Aires are awash with high-spirited tones. Doors, exterior of buildings are all colourful and bursting with flavour. “It makes for happy times,” adds Bildner. “The Artist Keith Haring, another great inspiration to me, played with colourful images of his graffiti art on New York’s subways and some people used his images for spicing up their kitchens.”
Tension from the pandemic has no-doubt rippled into, and is still felt in, 2022. Covid-19 is becoming part of our lives, and there has been a culture-shift becasue of that affecting how people live as well as experience new spaces. With this in mind, artists such as Bilder are working hard to make art an even more central part of everyones habits – and where better place to start than in the hotel lobby, where first impressions count for everything!
Frances Bildner Expressive Arts, which is the result of many years in the business of providing fine art for public and private spaces, is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our recommended suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.
Main image caption: Breaking Boundaries. | Image credit: Frances Bildner Expressive Arts
How the design scene is embracing Net Zero initiatives
With Net Zero fast becoming the buzzword of 2022, along with conversations around sustainability and the importance of working towards a circular economy, and brands such as GROHE, Harrison Spinks and Room2 pledging to become Net Zero, design studio Perkins&Will has published a report which identifies the steps it is taking – and what other design studios could be doing – to create Net Zero projects by 2030…
Before we start, all buzzwords in the design sphere need content if they are going to impact meaningfully. So, what exactly is Net Zero and how do we design in a net-zero era? It is a nuanced and, like most things, often subjective topic but, simply put, everything we do generates carbon. For a design brand to achieve Net Zero, it must reach a point of balance between what it uses and what it puts back. To do this we need to first measure how much carbon a company/project is putting into the atmosphere. We then need to reduce these emissions where possible. And finally, the crucial part of process is to then offset the reduced emissions by doing things, such as planting trees, that absorb carbon. If done accurately a net zero balance is achieved and the design is therefore more ethical – but clearly the starting point of measuring a carbon footprint is not only the key, but also the area most open to interpretation – there is no such thing as a perfect science!
Image credit: Perkins&Will
Image credit: Perkins&Will
To challenge both itself and the industry, interior design firm Perkins&Will has produced a report Net Zero Now. Hospitality. This document is a zero-carbon interiors pledge for its growing portfolio of hospitality projects and is spearheaded by the studio’s director of hospitality and regular Hotel Designs contributor Neil Andrew, who has designed projects for top international hotel brands like Marriott, Hilton, and IHG, he has also created pop-up bars for brands like Heineken and designed a pavilion for New York University.
“We have an obligation to ingrain sustainability into our design process, not only for the betterment of the planet, but also to educate others,” said Andrew. “This does not mean we have to compromise aesthetics. In fact, through applying this rationale to creativity we can produce our best work.”
Image credit: Perkins&Will
The document is a detailed discussion that not only looks at the principles of zero-carbon design, but also outlines practical ways for these goals to be put in place across the board in the hospitality design sector. It is about collaboration and concern, imagination and implementation, and in many ways, is a call to arms for designers in the hospitality industry as the company invites designers to ‘join us on our journey to Net Zero, now’.
Laying its ambition bare, the company boldly pledges that: “By 2030 all of our projects will be net-zero embodied carbon as demonstrated through a Whole Life Carbon Assessment”. The report goes on to say: “The desire to experience new places is deeply ingrained within human nature, but with the alarming acceleration in climate change we must question the impact that travel has on the environment. The hospitality sector needs to urgently adopt a Net Zero, or net-positive approach. Environmentally conscious tourists already seek out eco-friendly holidays, but, as we collectively become more aware of the critical importance of sustainability, all future travellers are going to possess a greater knowledge of their carbon footprint and expect carbon neutral hotels as standard.”
Although there is no hard and fast rule, hotels currently experience soft refurbishments around every five to seven years. This regular cycle of change means that we as an industry must look at how items can be reused, or recycled, and avoid throwing them into a landfill. When refurbishing a hospitality space that has not been designed with the whole life cycle of materials and FF&E in mind, it becomes more of a challenge to repurpose items. At the same time, as designers we must consider the constitution of man-made materials, if natural whether they are sourced sustainably, and the ultimate distance that they are transported over in order to reduce the project’s carbon footprint.
Image credit: Perkins&Will
Having launched the Net Zero Now pledge for interiors in October 2020, Perkins&Will has now set targets for hospitality projects which align with the interiors pledge. In practical terms the commitments are as follows. The studio will pledge that:
In Q3 2021, it will launch a consultation process with our key contractors, sub-contractors and supplier partners to ensure that its supply chain will meet our net-zero targets.
By September 2022, half of its projects will be designed to be 100 per cent circular. By 2025 all of its projects will be designed to be 100 per cent circular.
By 2030, all of its projects will be Net Zero embodied carbon as demonstrated through a Whole Life Carbon Assessment.”
These bold statements are inspiring, but we need to look at what practical steps can be taken to set the hospitality industry on this path. The report goes on to list some of the ideas and approaches designers can use to start this journey. “[Perkins&Will] will advise clients to adopt our net-zero approach and inform them about the benefits to the environment. We will reduce the occurrence of required refurbishments. We will design in adaptability of buildings and repurpose existing buildings when possible, rather than building brand new ones. In addition, we will request that clients appoint consultants who also adhere to net-zero practices. Imperative to this initiative, we will work with suppliers for materials on our ‘Now Database’ who meet our sustainability requirements and follow circular design principles and consider dismantling and modularity in our design so that buildings can act as material banks. And finally, we will minimise finishes and source locally when possible.”
Image credit: Perkins&Will
“Perkins&Will make it clear throughout this report that this is – or should be – an industry commitment rather than an individual pledge.”
The lifecycle or durability of a product is an area that is often overlooked – it is not only the material and design process that needs to be considered, but what happens after that – can the materials be re-used or re-purposed once the initial service life is over? Not only which materials are used, but how they are used and fixed in place. Operational carbon (the reduction of energy and water used in the running of a building, sourcing of food and beverage produce and OS&E items) is also key. “It is our responsibility to challenge our clients, hotel brands and partner consultants to do better in this area,” states the report. “We will consult with hotel brands to review their brand standards with respect to base build performance.”
Perkins&Will make it clear throughout this report that this is – or should be – an industry commitment rather than an individual pledge, and have added to their list of commitments the promise of a Now Database of approved suppliers to share with other designers. This database will list suppliers that have provided environmental credentials that meet with the goals and ambitions of Net Zero. The Now Database will be an open-source platform for environmentally conscious products.
Image credit: Perkins&Will
“For real change to happen we need an institutional focus on making improvements throughout the construction industry,” Andrew states in the report. “We need small changes and big changes, from those making large new development plans through to those installing the carpet tiles.”
The report goes on to discuss the ‘four R’s’ – Resell, Repurpose, Recycle and Recover – and how to implement them in a practical way. “With the average renovation of a hospitality property currently being between three to five years, it is clear that designers need to find ways to increase that number, with the obvious solution being the use of high quality and durable finishes,” adds Andrew. “Sweeping into a new project with shiny new ideas and equally shiny new furniture might be a designer’s dream, but renovation and refurbishment are now becoming key to the design process.”
Having read through the report, it is clear that there is no simple design roadmap for a Net Zero journey, interior designers, architecture firms and brands need to consider and cover all eventualities in order to prepare for surprises along the way. Fundamentally, Perkins&Will is not being prescriptive, nor is it setting out definitive answers, in this new document. Instead, it has laid out a clear starting point with some practical solutions from design to operational choices that can be implemented on all stages of the hospitality design journey, in all corners of the industry’s arena.
GROHE re-invents an all-time classic with 4th gen of Eurosmart
The fourth generation of GROHE Eurosmart offers new and improved bathroom and kitchen product range, launching as the brand’s first two-in-one hybrid bathroom tap that combines a one-handed mixer with hygienic touchless control…
With the relaunch of its best-selling Eurosmart, GROHE reinvents the classic bathroom tap, meeting changing consumer requirements with a range of innovations. The new Eurosmart promises optimal comfort, contemporary design, and easy installation, making it the perfect choice for any bathroom, cloakroom, or en-suite upgrade.
Image credit: GROHE
“Eurosmart evolves with every generation, which is crucial if you want to bring meaningful products to the market. Our environment is constantly transforming, and we need to react to changing needs with new product solutions,” said Jonas Brennwald, Leader LIXIL EMENA and Co-CEO, GROHE AG. “Right now, a global health crisis is forcing the world to rethink hygiene standards. Therefore, we have developed a hybrid version of Eurosmart, which combines hygiene-enhancing touchless and manual operation.
“Another example are the lever variants, which reflect the complexity of different living situations and the fact that every consumer has different requirements. Long levers simplify the daily work of doctors, while loop levers are perfect for children, the elderly and those with reduced or limited mobility. Eurosmart is the perfect proof that innovation is not limited to new lines. Innovating in a relevant way also means reinventing core products. Only these human-centric solutions enable us to create better homes.”
The Eurosmart hybrid offers additional advantages around hygiene, combining the advantages of a manual and touchless tap. Users can decide whether they want to use the manual lever or touchless technology by activating water flow via the integrated sensor. When there is no need to touch the tap when washing hands, the risk of spreading germs and cross-contamination is minimised.
To make things even more convenient, the Eurosmart line is now also equipped with a new safe stop technology. Thanks to an integrated thermostat, the temperature can be limited to help reduce the risk of scalding.
The Eurosmart range has even more to offer: For extra comfort, a pull-out spout offers full flexibility, perfect for washing hair or cleaning the basin. Meanwhile, water and energy-saving technologies integrated in the Eurosmart range support growing efforts to achieve a more sustainable lifestyle. GROHE EcoJoy, for example, reduces water flow while enriching the water with air, ensuring a voluminous flow while saving valuable resources at the same time – a great choice for eco-conscious consumers. Also available are low pressure basin taps and deck mounted bath fillers and bath shower mixers.
Meanwhile, the Eurosmart range has also been updated in the kitchen with a refreshed contemporary look; from models with pull-out hoses to unique wall-mounted taps for the ultimate space saving around the sink area. The Eurosmart kitchen range will comprise of two tap height variants, either low or high to suit a range of kitchen designs, along with a brand-new design, the GROHE Eurosmart kitchen two-handle mixer.
Image credit: GROHE
Image credit: GROHE
As well a refreshing new design, the Eurosmart kitchen range has been updated with new technologies to suit consumer lifestyles and everyday functionality. The Eurosmart kitchen range comes with easy installation thanks to the GROHE FastFixation Plus system integrated into the tap, offering swift, tool-free installation. The range will also support homeowners looking to make sustainable changes, with the Eurosmart kitchen low-spout models available with GROHE EcoJoy technology for a reduced water flow and energy saving GROHE SilkMove ES cold-start technology.
GROHE is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.
Following in the footsteps of the worlds first guitar shaped hotel in Florida, Hard Rock Hotels plans to bring the iconic shape to the Las Vegas skyline with its new development in the city…
Hospitality and entertainment company Hard Rock International, has announced its agreement to acquire The Mirage Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas from MGM Resorts International. Having made history in 2019 with designing the first ever guitar-shaped hotel for its Florida expansion, Hard Rock is planning to add to its guitar collection by building its second guitar-shaped hotel, this time on the famous Las Vegas Strip. The guitar shape is synonymous with the brand, as, beginning with an Eric Clapton guitar, Hard Rock now owns the world’s largest and most valuable collection of authentic music memorabilia at more than 86,000 pieces, which are displayed at its locations around the globe.
“We are honoured to welcome The Mirage’s 3,500 team members to the Hard Rock family,” said Jim Allen, Chairman of Hard Rock International. “When complete, Hard Rock Las Vegas will be a fully integrated resort welcoming meetings, groups, tourists and casino guests from around the world to its nearly 80 acre centre-Strip location.”
Prior to 2020, Hard Rock International had no previous involvement with the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. HRI purchased the licensing and naming rights for Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas in May 2020 and vowed to bring the iconic brand to the Las Vegas Strip when the right opportunity presented itself.
In the heart of the Yorkshire countryside – slap-bang between Leeds and York – editor Hamish Kilburn arrived on the 300-acre farm where the Harrison Spinks journey evolved into one that was centred around sustainable and innovative initiatives. From understanding the benefits of hemp to seeing how the bed manufacturer is keeping British manufacturing alive, Hotel Designs was given full access for 48 hours to understand why the bed and mattress manufacturer is commonly referred to as ‘the true bedmakers’…
If Christmas movies have taught me anything, it’s to never underestimate – or turn down – the opportunity to swap city life for a quieter pace in the winter months. The Harrison Spinks farm, for me this year, was that secret escape; a peaceful staycation in the tranquil setting of the Yorkshire countryside – as far removed from metropolis madness as it gets.
But I was not there to kick back and relax. Instead, I was on a mission to explore how the Harrison Spinks brand developed from a family-owned, small-scale business to one of the leading bed manufacturers in the world, sheltering gamechanging technology, fuelled by innovative methods designed with a conscious mindset towards the local community as well as the environment – there’s no greenwashing here. And, luckily for me, to really understand the brand’s unique ethos, you first have to stay one or two nights on the farm, which the bed manufacturer acquired on its mission to become Net Zero.
After arriving late at night, I was kindly shown to my digs – a newly renovated hut in the middle of, well, nowhere – and, once locked away safely in the cosy confines of my quirky cabin, it didn’t take long for my head to hit the pillow.
Image caption: The farm recently launched the Shepherd Huts, a micro-staycation experience that is full of colour and character. | Image credit: Harrison Spinks
Image caption: Each interior design scheme has been themed to celebrate the locality of the farm, such as Fenton, my hut, which is a nod to RAF Church Fenton. | Image credit: Harrison Spinks
Following a much-needed comfortable night’s sleep, I awoke to the soothing harmony of birds chirping and sheep bleating (I’ve had worse wake-up calls). Peeking my head through the curtains, I meet the locals – flocks of them – and, while doing so, captured the most spectacular site of the Yorkshire countryside. As far as the eyes would focus, there was nothing but untouched meadows, which, I am told, is where the story of Harrison Spinks began.
Image caption: The huts frame spectacular views of the Yorkshire countryside. | Image credit: Harrison Spinks
As well as providing a five-star home for the sheep and goats, the venue itself is utilised throughout the year for weddings and events with a total of 42 rooms (from shepherd huts to suites inside the main house). 182 years ago, though, the farm was the bed and mattress brand’s base, where it first operated from.
“The brand’s farmer Liam and Processing Supervisor John are growing 382 acres of hemp this year.”
Despite consumer demand requiring the brand to modernise and expand– its headquarters moved into a large-scale factory in 1979, just a few miles down the road in Leeds where its premises has been swelling ever since. The farm, meanwhile, is used to house the sheep, goats, lamas (for wool), and hemp plants scattered around the 300-acre plot on the farm that are used for the inner fillings that are used in the manufacturing process.
From farm to factory
The brand’s 360-degree approach and sustainable purchasing process can be seen throughout the manufacturing process, but it is arguably most evident on the farm, where pioneering innovations, such as the harvesting of hemp – a material that the design industry is only scratching the surface of its groundbreaking properties. The brand’s farmer Liam and Processing Supervisor John are growing 382 acres of hemp this year, which ties up approximately 1,390 tonnes of Co2. The hemp and flax grown is pesticide-free, creating a clean, natural and chemical-treatment-free product. And this, along with many other eco-conscious initiatives, is helping the brand hit a major milestone in 2023, when it will go Net Carbon Zero.
The manufacturing process
When the natural fillings from the farm arrive at the factory in Leeds, they are cleaned in a process that resembles a candyfloss machine and are pressed together and made into sumptuous layers. Bringing weaving back to Yorkshire, the top, bottom and side panels of the beds are cut into size and sewn.
What sets Harrison Spinks aside from other bed manufacturers – as well as being one of the first to grow natural fibres for fillings – is that the brand creates its own springs by taking steel rod to the wire drawing line. The steel is drawn through a series of dies to form an ultra-fine wire which can then be bent and manipulated, by in-house engineers, into robust springs.
Pocket springs form the mattress core. Once these pockets have been cut, a metal frame is then attached to the core before sliding down (literally down a chute) into a different production line, where the mattress continues its manufacturing journey to meet the trained eyes of those who stitch the product together (by hand). Mini springs and natural fillings are then added for comfort and support and tufts are pushed through to keep everything in one place. Tape edging – a process that requires skill and finesse by operating the machine with a knee and guiding it by hand – joins the fabric to the board of the mattress, and this process is the finishing touch.
Image caption: The weaving process inside the Harrison Spinks factory. | Image credit: Harrison Spinks
Image caption: The stitching process is one of the many handmade processes that requires trained eyes. | Image credit: Harrison Spinks
Following this, each mattress is sent to the brand’s in-house lab where tests on the fillings and mattresses are carried out before being sent out to the customer.
From one night on the farm and a day exploring the factory, stepping inside the world of Harrison Spinks has been an eye-opening experience. Seeing how far brand will go to keep manufacturing local, while also understanding how it plans to go Net Carbon Zero by 2023, has been insightful and inspirational. With unrivalled sustainability credentials, more than 180 years of manufacturing excellence and multiple Queens Awards, Harrison Spinks is living up to its name as ‘the true bedmakers’ by helping the world sleep more comfortably.
Harrison Spinks is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.
The technology products that hit and missed at CES 2022
From lifelike ‘humanoid’ robots to the latest TV and projector technology – and all the software to convince even the most stubborn technophobes out there that the metaverse era is imminently approaching – the hotel technology unveiled at CES 2022 was a reflection of today’s hospitality scene. Editor Hamish Kilburn reviews the ‘hit’ and ‘miss’ products from the largest technology show on earth…
Quiet floors, a lack of international travellers and it all coming to close a day early due to the organisers facing pressures from travel restrictions and the Covid-19 crisis: is this really the same CES that dominated the world’s attention every January with the biggest tech show on earth? Well, the answer is ‘no’ but for good and healthy reasons for the hotel technology sector.
Regardless of physical numbers – many visitors and exhibitors opted to host or attend virtually – the hardcore travel-sanction-avoiding ‘tech ninjas’ among our community who were able to make the trip to Las Vegas last week were promised great things. And, we would argue strongly that the event delivered a true, somewhat stark, reflection of where hotel technology is heading.
Before we go into the physical robotics and telecommunication devices that hit and missed this year, to paint a clean picture, let’s start by looking at some of the key movements that emerged to the surface throughout the show.
The most obvious trend was the lack of hotel tech. Don’t be alarmed, though, as this was to be expected. For years, modern travellers have demanded for hidden tech within luxury and lifestyle hospitality. More recently, that demand has mutated into insistence for tech-free spaces, amplified somewhat by a rise in wellness trends. Given what was on display at CES 2022, I think it’s safe to say that tomorrow’s hotel will be judged less on the technology it offers and instead more on whether the hotel can support consumer software and hardware.
When it comes to buzzwords, there was one that roared loudest in Las Vegas in early January. The metaverse, which in its currently state is swinging somewhere between impossible and inescapable, is fast transforming from Mark Zuckerburg’s dream into reality. For an industry like hotel design and hospitality that has long strived towards authentic, one-off travel experience, the thought of a 3D, interconnected virtual space that allows users to ‘feel’ the real world is terrifying and seems equally unrealistic. However, so did Facebook once upon a time. If the metaverse does take off, which it looks like it will sooner rather than later, then it will undoubtedly impact the behaviours of modern travellers.
What hit and what missed at CES 2022?
The new era of hotel TV and projector technology – HIT
Image credit: Samsung
Image credit: Samsung
Every year at CES, the latest TVs are unveiled, which is always met with a gasp from tech enthusiasts. 2022 lived up to the same expectation, with the likes of LG, Sony, TLC and Panasonic unveiling QD-LED, OLED Evo, micoLED and even miniLED. But, aside from impressive render displays, it was in fact a projector that stole the show. With its compact design that looks more like a spotlight than a portable screen, the Samsung Freestyle is a powerful and compact projector, smart speaker and ambient lighting device all rolled into one lightweight package that weighs just 830 grams. The product would be ideal for hotel guestrooms and suites, transforming F&B spaces into sensory experiences or for last-minute outdoor cinemas.
The space hotel – HIT
With the increased awareness around sustainability and materiality, the days of pop-up hotel have somewhat been erased in hospitality history. However, when it comes to forward-thinking technology at CES, exhibitors have their vision fixed on the future. Looking the farthest forward by a long way this year was Sierra Space, which displayed a series of giant inflatable houses on the moon. It sounds far-fetched (and it is) but the launch of LIFE Habitat got us thinking about folded up hotels that could, if consciously designed, offer an extraordinary travel experience that can continuously evolve.
The smart door – MISS
Image credit: M-Pwr Smart Door
We are all for hotel concepts that challenge conventional approaches to hospitality here at Hotel Designs. And by our judgement of the smart door, we are not saying that we don’t rate the contactless hotel – we do! However, the idea of a smart door, for us, is one gimmick too far in an era when hoteliers and designers are striving for paired-back approach to technology. Having said that, we can’t argue that the M-Pwr Smart Door is not a clever evolution from the smart doorbell.
Sci-fi baths – HIT
Image credit: Kohler
Kohler is never a brand to disappoint at CES. Following the Amazon Echo shower that was unveiled a few years ago, the bathroom brand that is always ahead of the curve when it comes to hotel and bathroom technology, arrived at CES 2022 with its answer to the future of wellness in residential and hotel design. Available in a variety of sizes, the Infinity Experience Freestanding Bath comes complete with LED lighting effects, and relaxing fog that has been inspired by Japanese hot springs. The bath is surrounded by a hinoki wood base and uses PerfectFill technology that maintains the ideal temperature and water level.
Humanoid robots – HIT and MISS
Image credit: Engineered Arts/Ameca
Robots have long been a contentious topic among hoteliers globally – Aloft robot butler called ‘Botlr’ that showed up in 2014 threatened taking away the human interaction in hospitality and therefore never really landed. Since then, other robots have tried and failed to takeover hotel technology. Challenging the opinion that robots will never replace face-to-face service is Engineered Arts. The company have launched a new robot called Ameca, which first made contact with the public at CES 2022 with its surprisingly vivid and emotive facial expressions using no less than 17 motors inside its head.
Ameca, with a grey non-human metal and plastic body that is deliberately genderless, has been designed with eerily lifelike mannerisms, but goes down as a ‘miss’ from us as it can’t yet walk or move around, making it null and void for today’s hospitality landscape (phew).
In-room robot vacuums – HIT
Notwithstanding our tasteful dissing of the hotel robot, one android we do believe has a place in at least the boutique hotel environment is the robot vacuum, which has developed extensively since becoming popular domestically in recent years. The S7 MaxV Ultra moves a step close to being sufficient. And with 30 per cent faster charging, reliable coverage, compact docking and detailed 3D mapping, the technology is becoming more and more relevant for hotel commercial use during a time when housekeeping is at a minimum due to social distancing.
The Amigami Ham Ham – MISS
Image credit: Yukai Engineering
We seem to be the only media platform that is not giving its thumbs-up to Amigami Ham Ham, the cuddly animal robot that ‘melted hearts’ at CES 2022 with its ability to nibble fingers (we are not making this up). The unusual product uses ‘play biting’ as a method of providing comfort. If we are really pushed to offer some credit, we are impressed by the soft toy’s ability to automatically engage its motor and algorithm (or hamgorithm) so that no bite feels the same. We’ll leave how this would possibly be utilised in a hotel setting down to you.
Since you’re here…
More than 60,000 readers per month enjoy the content we publish on Hotel Designs. Our mission is to define the point on international hotel design, and we are doing that by serving relevant news stories and engaging features. To keep up to date on the hottest stories that are emerging, you can sign up to the newsletter, which is completely free of charge. As well as receiving a weekly round-up of the top stories, you will also access our bi-monthly HD Edit –staying ahead of the curve has never been so easy!
Weekly digest: Hotel openings, wellness trends & colour in 2022
Hello, sunshine! Editor Hamish Kilburn here to brighten up your day with the weekly digest, which this week contains a Rosewood opening that will blow your mind, wellness and colour trend forecasts for 2022 and beyond, and COMO’s new island-within-an-island resort. Follow me, this way…
This week, Hotel Designs recorded its highest pageviews in a day on record (with 3,901 pageviews on Wednesday and more than 10,000 views this week), and we’re not really surprised given the juicy news that’s landed on our desk. From hotel openings to trends of all different sizes and colours, the stories that have dominated the headlines this week include a colour moodboard, case studies and bold moves in hotel development, including one very special exclusive from Kerzner International and interior design studio Atellior.
Here are just some of the stories that we’ve picked out for you:
Image caption: Render of the rooftop that will open in SIRO Boka Place, designed by Atellior. | Image credit: SIRO
Kerzner International has launched SIRO (Strength, Inclusive, Reflection and Original), a new hospitality brand that’s purpose will be to offer a balanced wellbeing experience for guests aspiring to become a healthier, more energised and rejuvenated version of themselves. The forward-thinking aim will be nurtured by SIRO’s engaging environment, supported by experts in a suite of health-related specialisms and made especially memorable by opportunities to experience destinations urban – from urban jungles to serene countryside – through the lens of fitness.
Centrally located in the heart of the vibrant city near the lively Avenida Paulista, Rosewood São Paulo, which featured in our top 7 hotels on the boards in 2020, is a metropolitan oasis set within the historical enclave of Cidade Matarazzo, a complex of elegantly preserved buildings from the early 20th century that have been carefully transformed into private residences, high-end stores and entertainment venues.
Anchoring the 30,000 square-meter mixed-used lifestyle hub, the hotel occupies the historic former hospital, Matarazzo Maternity, as well as a striking new vertical garden tower. The transformation of the heritage buildings is rooted in sustainability and makes Cidade Matarazzo Brazil’s largest upcycling project, with a focus on celebrating and protecting the country’s cultural heritage and natural environment. Sustainable features executed in the property’s design include a biodiversity program that repopulates the indigenous flora and fauna from the Mata Atlantica rainforest, including 250 trees up to 14 metres in height placed vertically on the Mata Atlantica Tower.
Image credit: COMO Hotels and Resorts / Trey Ratcliff
COMO Laucala Island offers guests the perfect island escape in a unique and carefully protected ecosystem, and is as much about the signature COMO design as it is about the location and lifestyle on offer. This is a resort where space is luxury: 25 residences, each with their own COMO butler, spread out on private beaches, above lagoons, atop hills and mountains. With a private airstrip, this exclusive sanctuary has been designed to unparalleled levels of luxury living on the northern shore of the island.
With the arrival of a new year and the ‘colour of the year’ being a hotly debated topic, this is also the time when we would all normally be heading to events and exhibitions such as Heimtextil to share product and trend predictions. Heimtextil 2022, however, has fallen victim to the virus, but the conversation about trends and colours continues undeterred. So, to keep the noise echoing around the industry’s arena, Pauline Brettell caught up with Rose Campbell from Newmor to chat about the predictions for 2022, and to take us through the process in developing these design and colour trends.
On March 24, the team at Hotel Designs – along with a few industry friends – will unveil their interpretation of the theme ‘inspiring creativity’ at the Minotti London showroom in the heart of the Fitzrovia neighbourhood. Long regarding as London’s premium networking event for interior designers, architects, hoteliers, suppliers and developers alike, MEET UP London will pull out all the stops in order to ensure that the ambiguous theme is well and truly captured with meaning.
Following our insightful look at the design trends that are shaping hotels and hospitality, we spoke to TLEE Spas + Wellness President and Founder Tracy Lee to dig a little deeper into the trends that are specific to spa design and development, while looking more broadly into how we define and create a sense of wellness in hospitality moving forward into 2022.
Marriott International has signed an agreement with Melco Resorts & Entertainment to bring the W Hotels Worldwide brand to Macau by the end of the year. W Macau – Studio City is expected in 2022 to become an iconic addition to the world-class leisure destination through its detail-driven, unexpected design, and signature whatever/whenever service.
More than 60,000 readers per month enjoy the content we publish on Hotel Designs. Our mission is to define the point on international hotel design, and we are doing that by serving relevant news stories and engaging features. To keep up to date on the hottest stories that are emerging, you can sign up to the newsletter, which is completely free of charge. As well as receiving a weekly round-up of the top stories, you will also access our bi-monthly HD Edit –staying ahead of the curve has never been so easy!
HOMM, one of five new brands within the Banyan Tree Group, aims to combine the concept of globally diverse experiences while maintaining a feeling of home. HOMM Bliss Southbeach Patong in Phuket is the first location for the new addition to the groups growing ecosystem…
Blending the essence of Phuket’s tropical beach with the signature Banyan Tree Group’s standards of service, HOMM Bliss Southbeach Patong sits on the quiet southern end of Patong Bay, with unrivalled views of the Andaman Sea along miles of white sand beaches. The newly refurbished guestrooms all have a contemporary beach-inspired feel and are bathed in natural light. The hotel shelters 71 contemporary guestrooms, with 39 of them featuring sea-facing private balconies and terraces or ground-floor plunge pools. Indulgent bathrooms encourage relaxing mornings, while the property’s two outdoor pools, beachfront access and proximity to top tourist attractions provide for exciting afternoons in Phuket.
Image credit: Banyan Tree Group
“With the introduction of our HOMM brand, we strive to provide guests with true ‘sense of home’ comforts that act as a base camp for new experiences and adventures, while simultaneously supporting the local community,” said Chatchaya Jearranai, Hotel Manager of HOMM Bliss Southbeach Patong. “HOMM Bliss Southbeach Patong’s close proximity to Phuket’s culturally rich attractions and coastal region provides global travellers with the ability to fully engage with locals and foster sustainability and stewardship practices through Banyan Tree Group’s world-renowned ‘Stay for Good’ program, a blueprint for future HOMM locations to come.”
Image credit: Banyan Tree Group
As part of the group’s larger Stay For Good program, each HOMM property will advocate for a unique endangered species, centrally displayed in the lobby areas via origami art. For example, at HOMM Bliss Southbeach Patong, an origami creation of the Black Billed Gull can be found upon entering the lobby to raise awareness of the native bird generally found in nearby rivers and coastal areas. Waste-reduction initiatives and educational programs for locals will also be implemented, ensuring the holistic wellbeing of each HOMM community.
With its focus on creating a sense of home for its guests, the brand debut of HOMM Bliss Southbeach Patong maintains the groups signature service, along with purpose led sustainable standards of tourism the Banyan Tree is known for. Through destination-specific, immersive travel experiences and locations in key second-tier cities, travellers can engage in the local culture before heading back to their HOMM-away-from-home.
Case study: LEDS C4 lights up design studio in Barcelona
Under the guidance of the interior designer Isern Serra, LEDS C4 is providing the lighting for the new offices of the 3D design studio Six N. Five in Barcelona, founded by Ezequiel Pini. We take a closer look at this creative lighting project…
The project involved refurbishing the street-level premises of the design studio Six N five. Made up of a multi-purpose space, mainly used as an office, but also as a showroom, with an area for presentations, a small workshop for creating small prototypes, a leisure and virtual reality zone, and a café area. All in all, a multidisciplinary space open to the city with small cultural activities, and one which required lighting up to the all of the tasks.
“The diverse spaces to be allocated and the imposing heights made it possible to create a space in the top section to house the workshop and a storage area,” said Iserm Serra, the interior designer on the project. “This mezzanine also enables us to separate the public area from the more private ones.”
The mezzanine can be closed off with curtains at both the top and the bottom, thus making it possible to not only offer different levels of privacy, but also provide an element for dividing the different areas. The space was devised to be a large architectural sanctuary with a strong artisanal feel. Earth colours were chosen to reinforce the idea of materiality, opting for a smooth finish cement floor with building elements, along with walls in the same tone with uneven plasterwork. The lighting brief was to reinforce these elements while providing different levels of lighting appropriate to the defined areas.
Image credit: LEDS C4
Image credit: LEDS C4
With the aim of designing a multidisciplinary space that encourages creativity, the decision was made to show off the reality of construction, leaving all the original structure uncovered while providing warmth and serenity by means of the materials, earthy tones and light. LEDS C4’s lighting, with Atom Track 52 spotlights and Play High Visual Comfort Adjustable downlights, blends into the architecture of the space and helps to create a cosy, relaxed environment. In addition, Cocktail, Simply, Big and Nude light fixtures from the Decorative Collection help to create sources of light in the creative space, while relating to the monochromatic design scheme of the space.
Image credit: LEDS C4
Image credit: LEDS C4
The end result is a serene, harmonious space defined by subtlety and simplicity. The project is functional, yet also draws attention to the materials of the scheme and relates back to the work of Six N Five with an emphasis on technology and space. In this project the lighting is integral to drawing all these strands together to complete the story.
LEDS C4 is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.
COMO expands private island portfolio with ‘island within an island’
COMO Laucala Island, an exclusive retreat in the South Pacific, is the brands newest addition to its private island collection, and shelters an exclusive 25 standalone residences, all surrounded by turquoise-blue sea, white sandy beaches, and the ultimate luxury of space…
COMO Laucala Island offers guests the perfect island escape in a unique and carefully protected ecosystem, and is as much about the signature COMO design as it is about the location and lifestyle on offer. This is a resort where space is luxury: 25 residences, each with their own COMO butler, spread out on private beaches, above lagoons, atop hills and mountains. With a private airstrip, this exclusive sanctuary has been designed to unparalleled levels of luxury living on the northern shore of the island.
Image credit: COMO Hotels and Resorts / Trey Ratcliff
The sympathetically designed spaces have kept the location central to design, both with the emphasis on views as well as the use of materials, and the construction has been carefully considered using local materials where possible. The Residences, all featuring private pools and ranging in size from 3,000 to 4,000 square metres, are built in a South Pacific style, which is blended seamlessly with COMO’s unmistakable contemporary flair. Interiors are softly curved and full of free-flowing shapes, allowing the space to flow freely between indoors and outdoors. Thatched roofs are made from the leaves of sago palms, floors are laid with local timber, and the spaces also feature ‘balabala’ fern stems and a traditional coconut husk weave known as ‘magimagi’.
Image credit: COMO Hotels and Resorts
A first for COMO, the island features a tropical 18-hole David McLay Kidd designed golf-course, along with a wide range of land and water activities, from a fleet of jet-skis, sailing and game fishing boats to horse-riding, mountain biking, nature hikes and tennis. The emphasis throughout is about the heart of the island, its tropical rainforests, volcanic mountains, blue lagoons, mangroves and coconut groves, all fostering a unique habitat that is waiting to be explored by the guests.
COMO Shambhala Retreat, the island’s wellness centre, is the embodiment of COMO’s philosophy for holistic, healthy living. At this nurturing retreat, guests can expect physical fitness classes, yoga, and a fitness centre. Treatments make use of COMO Shambhala’s signature products, as well as the island’s herbs, spices, flowers, and fruits. COMO Shambhala’s signature Asian-inspired massages and body treatments using the island’s river stones, mineral crystals and rich volcanic soils are also provided.
Image credit: COMO Hotels and Resorts
To minimise its impact on the environment and in line with COMO’s farm-to-table philosophy, the island’s five dining options receive fresh produce from the resort’s 240-acre farm, cultivating a wide range of organic crops and livestock. Fresh seafood supplies are sourced exclusively from local fishermen, contributing to the island’s commitment to sustainability.
COMO Laucala Island joins resorts like COMO Parrot Cay and COMO Maalifushi as the brand continues to expand its signature design and luxury ethos that keeps, at its core, a focus on sustainability and wellness.
Miniview: Rosewood São Paulo, magnificent on every level
Encapsulating the city’s storied past and innovative future, the opening of Rosewood São Paulo marks the entrance of this luxury brand into South America. We took a peek at the transformation from what was a maternity hospital to what it stands as today; a modern hotel that is challenging conventional design at every angle…
Centrally located in the heart of the vibrant city near the lively Avenida Paulista, Rosewood São Paulo, which featured in our top 7 hotels on the boards in 2020, is a metropolitan oasis set within the historical enclave of Cidade Matarazzo, a complex of elegantly preserved buildings from the early 20th century that have been carefully transformed into private residences, high-end stores and entertainment venues.
“Sustainable features executed in the property’s design, including 250 trees up to 14 metres in height placed vertically on the Mata Atlantica Tower.”
Anchoring the 30,000 square-meter mixed-used lifestyle hub, the hotel occupies the historic former hospital, Matarazzo Maternity, as well as a striking new vertical garden tower. The transformation of the heritage buildings is rooted in sustainability and makes Cidade Matarazzo Brazil’s largest upcycling project, with a focus on celebrating and protecting the country’s cultural heritage and natural environment. Sustainable features executed in the property’s design include a biodiversity program that repopulates the indigenous flora and fauna from the Mata Atlantica rainforest, including 250 trees up to 14 metres in height placed vertically on the Mata Atlantica Tower.
Image credit: Rosewood Hotels & Resorts
Spearheaded by entrepreneur Alexandre Allard, recognised for his involvement in the renaissance of the House of Balmain, and designed by leading international figures including the Pritzker Prize-winning architect Jean Nouvel and artistic director Philippe Starck, Rosewood São Paulo has been described as a love letter to Brazil, with a majority of the design materials both locally sourced and inspired by the country’s diverse culture. The new hotel is also home to a groundbreaking collection of 450 site-specific artworks, all created in partnership with local artists whose work draws from the multiplicity of the Brazilian experience.
Image credit: Rosewood Hotels & Resorts
Featuring 160 guestrooms and suites along with 100 Private Rosewood Suites available for purchase, the hotel’s luxurious accommodations are spread across the restored Matarazzo Maternity and the vertical garden tower. Rosewood São Paulo has instilled new life into Matarazzo Maternity, which holds great symbolic significance and sentimental meaning to the city as more than 500,000 Brazilians were born there. As both an emblem of the city’s rich history and a beacon guiding its future, Cidade Matarazzo holds a central place in the hearts of many generations of Paulistanos.
Image credit: Rosewood Hotels & Resorts
Image credit: Rosewood Hotels & Resorts
“It has been a true honour to help bring such a unique hotel project to life in one of the world’s most dynamic cities,” said Managing Director, Edouard Grosmangin, of Rosewood São Paulo. “The team behind Rosewood São Paulo has spent a decade on this project to ensure it honours and celebrates the heritage of the city while breathing new life into the destination. In doing so we’ve created a hotel that is a true love letter to the city, the nation, and its people. We look forward to welcoming the world to experience São Paulo’s dynamic offerings first hand and provide the place from which a cultural journey can begin and end.”
In line with Rosewood’s guiding ‘A Sense of Place’ philosophy, wherein the distinctive ethos of the destination is woven into the identity of the hotel, Rosewood São Paulo’s design was inspired by its deep Brazilian roots. Under the artistic direction of Starck, 57 Brazilian artists and artisans came together to produce a permanent collection of art featuring over 450 works. Treating the property like a once-in-a-lifetime art project, the team commissioned artists representing Brazil’s wide range of artist expression, from street art to indigenous art, to create site-specific works for virtually every space in the property. The artists were given just one guideline: creativity that respects the past yet points to the future. The result is that the hotel is in effect Brazil’s next great contemporary art museum, one that celebrates the natural beauty, rich history, and diverse culture of its homeland.
Image credit: Rosewood Hotels & Resorts
“Artist Rodrigo de Azevedo Saad spent a total of 68 hours hand drawling on the ceiling of Rabo di Galo.”
Throughout the property, art tells different stories of life in Brazil across various mediums including sculpture, paintings, tile work, drawings, textiles and rugs. A striking example can be found in the Rabo di Galo, a jazz bar featuring bespoke libations and classic Brazilian bar snacks alongside live music. The overall design of the bar was inspired by the classic jazz clubs of the 1930s, featuring leather furniture, dark woods and indirect lighting to create an intimate atmosphere. Artist Rodrigo de Azevedo Saad, locally known as Cabelo, spent a total of 68 hours hand drawling on the ceiling of Rabo di Galo, which portrays a certain schizophrenic art resulting in the magical and primitive universe of patterns that repeat themselves.
Image credit: Rosewood Hotels & Resorts
Part of a larger culinary renaissance happening in the city, Rosewood São Paulo brings six new dining venues to one of São Paulo’s most vibrant neighbourhoods. Designed for a variety of different occasions, the hotel’s food and beverage offerings present a resounding and memorable combination of world-class gastronomic experiences served in immersive and unique spaces.
Rosewood São Paulo is committed to preserving Brazil’s natural environment with sustainability as one of the development’s guiding principles he property has committed to use 100 per cent renewable energy within a year, including on-site solar panels and renewable-sourced energy. Creating a positive impact on the local community and environment is key to Rosewood São Paulo’s values and goals, and the building has been carefully planned to lessen the footprint wherever possible.
The hotel plans to roll out further facilities and amenities over the course of its first year. Slated to open in 2022, Asaya at Rosewood São Paulo will bring the destination a unique wellness concept that delivers innovative and integrative solutions for personal transformation while encouraging positive growth and self-discovery for a fulfilling life. The opening of Asaya at Rosewood São Paulo will mark the first outpost of Rosewood’s forward-thinking wellbeing concept in the western hemisphere. We look forward to following the story of Rosewood São Paulo as it unfolds.
While the name might not roll off the tongue, Hyatt Place Zurich Airport The Circle is all about ease and convenience. Providing guests with access to the surrounding natural vistas of the Swiss Alps while offering the practicality and convenience of an airport hub, this Hyatt Place is a name worth remembering…
Hyatt Place Zurich Airport The Circle is the first Hyatt Place branded hotel in Switzerland, expanding the Hyatt Place brand’s footprint globally in markets the brand has identified as being key to the Hyatt Place philosophy which is all about providing seamless comfort and an easy-to-navigate experience for today’s multi-taking traveller. Having brought this opening to your attention in a recent post, we thought we would take a closer look at and step inside this hub hotel.
Image credit: Hyatt
Situated in the Circle destination and directly linked to Zurich Airport, the 300-key hotel is central to one of the most central locations in Switzerland. Guests can conveniently enjoy the business and lifestyle offerings of the Circle, which includes shops, restaurants, a park, airport facilities and The Circle Convention Centre. After a productive day, guests can unwind in the park or take advantage of the great outdoors, as the Swiss Alps and Lake Zurich are nearby.
Image credit: Hyatt
Image credit: Hyatt
“As the Zurich Airport and the Circle district continue to be a dynamic destination, we are excited to add to the momentum by welcoming the first Hyatt Place hotel to Switzerland,” said Ines Bruenn, hotel manager at Hyatt Place Zurich Airport The Circle. “With our smartly designed social spaces and guestrooms with separate work and sleep areas, our multitasking, international and local guests can easily accomplish what they need to do while on the road, while both working and relaxing with nature right at their doorstep.”
Image credit: Hyatt
Image credit: Hyatt
The hotel shelters 300 spacious guestrooms which cater for all the needs of the guests, from work to play. The guestrooms provide separate spaces to sleep, to work and to play, as well as a ‘Cozy Corner’ sofa where you can relax with a good book or catch up on your emails in comfort. There is a fitness centre on site which is open 24/7, allowing guests to keep on track, irrespective of jetlag or time zone.
Image credit: Hyatt
The hotel offers convenient work and event spaces including a communal table in the lobby and more than 2,800 square metres’ function space at The Circle Convention Centre. The communal working space makes a perfect office on the go, and all the food and beverage facilities are available around the clock in case guests need to fuel their creativity while burning the midnight oil in between flights.
Hyatt Place Zurich Airport The Circle is all about connections. On a literal level it is a short walk from international terminals at Zurich Airport, and on a more esoteric level, it connects guests with all aspects of the surrounding area, encouraging you to connect while on the move and hoping to provide guests with the facilities that will make travel as seamless as possible to routines and lifestyles.
Desforma: Redefining form and function in furniture
Putting seating under the spotlight since its establishment in 1994, Desforma continues to transform conventional sofa and armchair design with its architectural and sculptural creations…
The Desforma brand is led by creative family duo, furniture designer Brigita Marija Spokaite-Norvaise and her father Kestutis Spokas. They work as a team to create the art-like furniture, which not only makes a strong statement, but is also trusted for the quality of its manufacturing, materials and its unique architectural design. The distinctive furniture forms are fuelled by the innovative technology that allows the creation of extraordinary pieces. A spheric construction technology, which was certified in Geneva, provides an opportunity to expand visionary limits of traditional furniture design and to create uniquely carved forms, which are reminiscent of sculptural shapes.
Image credit: Desforma
Desforma’s creations continue to showcase the original aspiration of the brand, which is to transform seating design into sculptural statements, giving everyday furniture edge and elegance. Seating shifts from the functional to centre stage, while becoming the defining point of an interior space. The collection is created from a combination of art and interior design, blending round and soft shapes that allow for optimal comfort while making a strong and sophisticated visual impression.
Its use of technology to support design, allows Desforma free range when creating pieces that, like a sculpture, look good from every angle, no matter where you are in a room. Known for being the only company in the world that is applying the high-end spheric technology, Desforma is able to remain at the forefront of design by focusing on durability, timeless style, lasting elegance, and elevated functionality.
Grounded while always maintaining a sense of luxury, what makes a Desforma design stand out, is the fact that they shape and shift the space they are in, and create a strong visual statement while still maintaining a commitment to functionality. This is seating which can be configured to a range of interiors and is equally at home in a modern private home, smart co-working spaces, to the lobby of a fashionable hotel – whatever the space, a Desforma couch is so much more than a place to sit.
Desforma is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.
Case study: Simply the best for the beds of Billesley Manor Hotel & Spa
Steeped in history, but with a very contemporary take on luxury, it made perfect sense for Billesly Manor Hotel & Spa to plump for a Hypnos bed when looking for the perfect nights sleep…
Billesley Manor really is the perfect peaceful sanctuary from the outside world. Each guestroom and suite has been designed with luxury, style, and comfort in mind. So, when it came to selecting the beds, only the best would do, and specifying a Hypnos Bed fulfilled all the criteria.
Recently refurbished, the 16th-Century, four-star Billesley Manor Hotel and Spa boasts 71 beautifully designed guestrooms and sits in 11 acres of magnificent countryside just outside the medieval town of Stratford-Upon-Avon. Combining heritage charm with modern luxury is not the only thing this alluring Elizabethan Manor is famous for. Legend has it that in 1599, Shakespeare penned his comedy ‘As You Like It’ at Billesley Manor, having married Anne Hathaway at All Saints church which sits in the grounds, some years earlier.
Image credit: Hypnos / Billesley Manor
“As a hotel, sleep is one of the most important components of our guests’ stay, and so it was important that we got it right,” said Stephen Fearnley, General Manager FIH, Billesley Manor Hotel and Spa. “Hypnos Contract Beds were selected and asked to supply their most luxurious mattress, the Lansdowne Cashmere with Classic Divan Bases and Flexi Bases. This specification provides ultimate comfort and luxury for our guests and supports our mission to provide the very best in sleep in the UK.”
Image credit: Hypnos / Billesley Manor
“We believe it is incredibly important to opt for natural fibres where possible, said Carolyn Mitchell, Sales and Marketing Director, Hypnos Contract Beds. “Our Lansdowne Cashmere mattress combines wool and cashmere for the highest degree of comfort and luxury. Our mattress design allows independent movement of each pocket spring, meaning the mattress adjusts to the sleeper’s body shape. At the same time the natural fibres help regulate body temperature to create the perfect climate for quality sleep. We are delighted that Billesley Manor chose to provide their guests with the ultimate sleep experience.”
As the go-to name in sleep comfort, Hypnos Contract Beds is trusted to deliver the all-important component for a perfect nights’ sleep at hotels around the world. Hypnos believe in creating comfort with integrity and were the first UK bed manufacturer to become carbon neutral, an accolade achieved over a decade ago. In 2020 Hypnos received the prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise for Sustainable Development.
So whether it’s the season for a midsummer night’s dream, or the winters tale, you can rest assured that this partnership will give you a perfect nights sleep along with everything else on offer at Billesley Manor.
Hypnos is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.
Moodboard: Design & colour trends emerging in 2022
We spoke to Rose Campbell, Head of Product and Creative Development, at Newmor about the design and colour trend predictions for 2022 and how these inform the design process when creating new wallcovering concepts. Pauline Brettell writes…
With the arrival of a new year and the ‘colour of the year’ being a hotly debated topic, this is also the time when we would all normally be heading to events and exhibitions such as Heimtextil to share product and trend predictions. Heimtextil 2022, however, has fallen victim to the virus, but the conversation about trends and colours continues undeterred. So, to keep the noise echoing around the industry’s arena, I caught up with Rose Campbell from Newmor to chat about the predictions for 2022, and to take us through the process in developing these design and colour trends.
Newmor specialises in commercial quality wide-width fabric-backed vinyl wallcoverings, which are manufactured in its own facility in Wales. Its products can be found all over the world in hotels, bars and restaurants, healthcare, education, cruise, and leisure installations. It is an integral part of the process that the Newmor design team always needs to be ahead of the trends and aware of what people are looking for in interior spaces. We started off by asking Campbell to take us through the thought process in developing design and colour trends.
“There isn’t one particular thing I can pinpoint, as I take inspiration from everything around me,” she told Hotel Designs. We have all gone through so much change in our personal and working lives over the last couple of years. There is a definite nostalgic vein running through our 2022 trends, as we’ve all had time to reflect and adapt. I’m pleased that as a society we are placing greater value on craftsmanship and quality. Rediscovering the sanctuary in our homes and having the confidence to surround ourselves with design and colour has also fed into my trend predication.”
Having identified six very individual trends at Newmor, Campbell talks us through the palettes and points of inspiration.
New Romantics
Image credit: Newmor
“This demonstrates our appreciation of vintage design and our value for enduring quality,” Campbell explained. “Detailed embellishments and mixed textures lift classic designs to dramatic heights. This trend is elegant and moody as off whites, greys, red and ebony play their part in creating this modern vintage vibe.”
Moody Blues
Image credit: Newmor
“There is no sign of January blues in this trend,” she said. “Our moody blue trend captures the freshness of the sky on a winter’s morning by the sea. Hues range from retro denims to teals and navy which are enhanced by highlights of pale weathered woods, tan and brass.”
Cocoon
Image credit: Newmor
“It is no surprise that our desire to create a sanctuary in this crazy busy world continues to play a vital role in 2022,” added Campbell. “Natural materials, simple organic textures and layers of soft colours resulted in developing this palette of nudes, clay tones, off whites and sage.”
Into the Mix
Image credit: Newmor
“This trend is all about celebrating pattern and not being afraid to mix things up,” said Campbell. “Individuality and personality are things to be encouraged, as is our greater awareness of sustainability and a renewed empathy for make do and mend. So, we’ve mixed designs and colours from each end of the spectrum.”
Night Fever
Image credit: Newmor
“I am a 70’s child, so could not be happier to include this trend in our 2022 outlook,” beamed Campbell. “Curved geometric designs make their return in sumptuous shades of orange, avocado, brown and mustards. This trend is bold and nostalgic, and I for one love it.”
Protopia
Image credit: Newmor
“Our 2022 trends would not be complete if we did not acknowledge how the digital metaverse impacts our lives,” concluded Campbell. “Although this trend is bold and futuristic, it is also grounded in sustainability and the importance of recyclability. The new pantone very peri makes an appearance, alongside metallics, ombres, pinks, turquoise and silver.”
With this roundup of moodboards and trends it is impossible not be inspired, and it is going to be interesting seeing these colours and textures materialise on the design stage, and of course its walls, as the year progresses.
> Since you’re here, why not check out these designs from Newmor?
Newmor Wallcoverings is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.
Returning this year by popular demand, the leading London networking event for interior designers, architects, hoteliers, suppliers and developers, MEET UP London will welcome two visionaries who will transform Minotti London into a sensory experience. Editor Hamish Kilburn writes how he and the team are interpreting the theme ‘inspiring creativity’…
On March 24, the team at Hotel Designs – along with a few industry friends – will unveil their interpretation of the theme ‘inspiring creativity’ at the Minotti London showroom in the heart of the Fitzrovia neighbourhood. Long regarding as London’s premium networking event for interior designers, architects, hoteliers, suppliers and developers alike, MEET UP London will pull out all the stops in order to ensure that the ambiguous theme is well and truly captured with meaning.
And to whet the industry’s appetite even further, Hotel Designs has secured sound and wellness experts, Tom Middleton and Ari Peralta, who will help to transform the Minotti London showroom into an immersive, sensory experience.
Early bird tickets for MEET UP London are now on sale. Click here if you are a supplier to secure your ticket for just £99 + VAT (prices rise to £150 plus vat per person from January 29, 2022*. Click here if you are a designer, architect, hotelier or developer to secure your early bird ticket for just £10 + VAT (prices will rise to £20 + VAT per person from January 29, 2022).*
Image caption: MEET UP London 2019 took place at Minotti London’s showroom, welcoming more than 200 interior designers, architects, hoteliers, developers and suppliers. | Image credit: MEET UP London
Tom Middleton, an award-winning composer, wellness architect and sensory design technologist, will discuss and demonstrate the mood-enhancing and wellbeing properties of spatial sound, combined with scientifically designed imprinting scents to elevate interior design, and deliver more memorable and meaningful experiences.
Meanwhile, wellness expert and neuroscientist, Ari Peralta, Founder of Arigami, will showcase the power of colour on our emotions using cutting-edge, deep learning technologies and generative graphics. Peralta will unveil an experience at MEET UP London that will reset the senses, with the power of colour and meditation, to ground, relax and replenish the mind.
*Early bird tickets will only be available until the end of the day on January 28, 2022. Please note, there are limited tickets available for MEET UP London. Due to the demand for this event, we anticipate that tickets will sell out and tickets will be issued out on a first-come, first-served basis.
Slated to open in December 2022, Marriott International has announced its plans to bring the W Hotels brand to Macau, which will take the W brand footprint for Greater China to 10 properties. Here’s what we know…
Marriott International has signed an agreement with Melco Resorts & Entertainment to bring the W Hotels Worldwide brand to Macau by the end of the year. W Macau – Studio City is expected to become an iconic addition to the world-class leisure destination through its detail-driven, unexpected design, and signature whatever/whenever service.
Image credit: Marriott International
“Macau’s super-charged energy and unique identity as an entertainment hub, together with its mix of Eastern and Western culture, makes it a natural fit for W Hotels,” said Henry Lee, President, Greater China, Marriott International. “In line with Marriott International’s ‘Brand + Destination’ development strategy, we are excited to work together with Melco Resorts & Entertainment to introduce W Macau – Studio City and bring the brand’s luxury lifestyle to Macau.”
Situated in the heart of Cotai, W Macau – Studio City will serve as the buzzing centrepiece for Studio City Phase 2, a multi-complex development that includes indoor and outdoor water parks, cineplexes and state-of-the-art MICE facilities. W Macau – Studio City expects to shelter 557 guestrooms, including 127 suites and wellness facilities, a spa, fitness centre, and an indoor swimming pool. The hotel is also set to include two destination dining venues – one featuring international cuisine with an Asian twist and another with the finest Chinese and Portuguese dishes. Set to be a first in the Greater China region, W Macau – Studio City is slated to feature a W Sound Suite, the brand’s signature, on-site recording studio as well as a WOOBAR where guests can connect. Additionally, the new hotel will offer 1,100 square metres of event and meeting space.
“Melco is thrilled to welcome W Hotels to Studio City and Macau,” said Mr David Sisk, Chief Operating Officer, Macau Resorts of Melco Resorts & Entertainment. “W Hotels is without a doubt one of the world’s most iconic luxury lifestyle brands and we expect the hotel to elevate Studio City’s hospitality offerings to a new level. Together we look forward to bringing new experiences to our guests and further strengthen Macau’s proposition as a world-class leisure destination.”
Marriott International currently operates nine properties and residences under the W Hotels brand across Greater China. W Macau – Studio City is anticipated to mark the brand’s 10th property in Greater China.
Wellness trends: The shifting shape of spas and wellbeing
TLEE Spas + Wellness, a spa development firm with a design led and hospitality-driven approach, shares its insights into the key influences that are shaping its approach to spa development and menu design going forward into 2022…
Following our insightful look at the design trends that are shaping hotels and hospitality, we spoke to TLEE Spas + Wellness President and Founder Tracy Lee to dig a little deeper into the trends that are specific to spa design and development, while looking more broadly into how we define and create a sense of wellness in hospitality moving forward into 2022.
“As a year like no other winds down, 2022 brings much hope in the air for a brighter future as we work our way through the pandemic and maintain focus on the end-user experience,” said Lee. “With a heightened desire to feel nurtured, we feel it’s especially important to double down on what really matters: creating optimal spaces where guests can fully let go and staff can fulfil their mission to fix and heal, delivering service offerings that cut through the clutter, and deliver what really matters while establishing a gracious service culture that supports guests and staff alike through a prism of kindness, empathy, and sensitivity.”
Image credit: TLEE Spas+Wellness
Image credit: TLEE Spas+Wellness
The spa industry has seen a shortage of qualified therapists for many years, which has only been exacerbated by the pandemic. After prolonged closures, false starts and stops, many have left the industry or are focusing on building their private clientele. Other factors, such as compensation and working on their own terms, also weigh heavily. This dynamic has forced both consultants and operators to rethink spa experiences that have been historically driven by therapist-driven services, hence the rise of self-directed rituals and touchless therapies. While TLEE Spas + Wellness is a major proponent of both, the firm sees them as vital accompaniments to the main event: personalised, hands-on treatments that transform our status quo while simultaneously satisfying our innate need for human touch and connection.
Image credit: TLEE Spa+Wellness
Despite all the attention that touchless services have garnered, there is no replacement for the power of human touch and the wide-ranging benefits that occur when people come together in shared intention. Driven by a diverse team that is aligned by a culture of passion and purpose, it is the human element and interpersonal relationships that create the most positive change and elevates guests on their path to be the best they can be. In terms of the social and collective aspect, spas should also foster a sense of connection and community, showcasing local healing arts traditions and homegrown talent through partnerships with local resources while celebrating the specialists within their teams.
Harkening back to the pre-digital era when life unfolded in real time at a slower pace, spas should help people downshift to a more mindful state of being where social interaction and meaningful relationships flourish. While technology plays an important role in the modern spa experience, especially as it relates to efficient access and information, it’s best used in the treatment setting as a complement to human intelligence and intuition, rather than the main event. Contact-less services and self-directed experiences certainly have their place and are often more affordable than therapist-provided treatments, but in the overall equation the balance of experience should tilt in favour of the human element.
This dovetails with the shifting notions of luxury, where mindless consumption is being replaced by meaningful experiences that are often made to order. Personalised spaces, access to the best providers and practitioners, and a hyper-customised approach to treatment that targets individual specificity are all part of the new luxury equation.
Image credit: TLEE Spas+Wellness
Image credit: TLEE Spa+Wellness
For many years, the spa industry has tried to dispel the myth that spas are in the business of selling indulgence. Mirroring the rise of the modern wellness movement and the expanded audience, the industry has shifted the messaging and takeaway from relaxation and rejuvenation to mental and physical health, recovery, and performance. While the pivot toward to more tangible benefits and meaningful outcomes is a positive one for the industry, it cannot lose sight of the fact that for most, spa visits are moments of celebration. Wellness, seen as a positive and proactive pursuit, is a practice where efficacy and authenticity can comfortably co-exist with pleasure.
A radically simplified approach to menu design can replace endless variety and choice with a session-based approach that highlights the technical skills and intuitive intelligence of the therapist to deliver truly personalised outcomes with tangible benefits. Moving away from the ‘more is more’ approach, streamlining menus cut through the clutter and confusion and deliver what really matters – including concise offerings with clear focus and frameworks for meaningful customisation; a staffing, training, and service culture that prizes both technical skill and intuitive intelligence; and special events, guest practitioners, and themed retreats to add freshness and diversity to core offerings.
Since you’re here, why not read more about the spa at Equinox Hotel New York, designed by TLEE?
EXCLUSIVE: Introducing SIRO, the new holistic wellbeing brand from Kerzner
Kerzner International, the company behind One&Only, Atlantis Resorts and Residences and Magazan Beach & Golf Resort, has announced it is creating a pioneering new hospitality brand designed to sit at the convergence of travel, fitness, health and wellbeing. Here’s what we know about SIRO…
Kerzner International has launched SIRO (Strength, Inclusive, Reflection and Original), a new hospitality brand that’s purpose will be to offer a balanced wellbeing experience for guests aspiring to become a healthier, more energised and rejuvenated version of themselves. The forward-thinking aim will be nurtured by SIRO’s engaging environment, supported by experts in a suite of health-related specialisms and made especially memorable by opportunities to experience destinations urban – from urban jungles to serene countryside – through the lens of fitness.
The holistic wellbeing brand’s first property will be located in Boka Place, a new neighbourhood in the luxury marina destination of Porto Montenegro. Combining a 96-guestroom hotel and 144 managed residences, SIRO Boka Place is being designed by London-based design studio Atellior, and is slated for completion by the end of 2023.
“It is always very exciting to create the first property for a new hospitality brand and this is particularly so with SIRO because it is such a forward-looking concept – destinations of excellence forging an approach to fitness and wellbeing that meets the aspirations of modern, global lifestyles,” Una Barac, Executive Director of Atellior, told Hotel Designs. “We are also blessed with one of the most stunning locations in Europe, overlooking the breath-taking Bay of Kotor as well as Porto Montenegro, and with the Montenegrin mountains rising behind.”
Image caption: Render of the gym and fitness centre that will be sheltered inside SIRO Boka Place, designed by Atellior. | Image credit: SIRO
SIRO Boka Place will provide thoughtful environments for both guests and local residents. The public areas, we are being told, will emphasise the social aspect of wellbeing, providing a fully immersive experience and encouraging social interaction, with an overriding theme of ‘exploration’ and ‘play’ dictating the tempo. Sculptural bleacher seating in the lobby’s Amphitheatre zone will offer an informal and open place for people to relax and work, where leather cushions add comfort to the typical stadium experience and power points are hidden within integrated tables to provide numerous work hubs. The lobby is designed to come to life through sight, touch and sound, encouraging guests to linger.
Since nutrition is central to wellbeing and integral to connecting with the culture of the locality, the restaurant will provide a ‘mindful menu’ – balanced and nourishing cuisine crafted by SIRO dieticians and chefs using ingredients that are sourced locally and harvested seasonally. The restaurant’s design will have an urban vibe, with a grey conglomerate stone-effect floor and exposed service black-painted ceilings with a striking black mesh; a back-lit feature wall will create a dramatic focal point. In the centre of the space, comfortable lounge furniture in hues of grey, black and deep green surrounding low tables will lend themselves to a casual dining experience, whilst other dining tables will flank the perimeter and spill out onto the meticulously landscaped terrace.
Adjacent to the restaurant will be another another pivotal feature of the ground floor lobby; the Juice Lab and After Work-Out Bar, where bar tenders will mix healthy and nutritious cocktails, juices and smoothies.
For those seeking a party vibe, a rooftop bar with live DJs will be a glorious rendezvous spot from day into the night. Contemporary furniture in cognac leather hues will occupy the space, offering a variety of seating arrangements, from bar stools set around tall, communal tables through to comfortable lounge chairs. Striking, bespoke light features, inspired by sports’ physical movements will decorate the walls and hang as pendants. Contemporary outdoor furniture will grace the terrace together with lanterns and ample planting, creating a perfect al fresco experience and offering views across Boka Bay.
By contrast, the guestrooms are being designed as poised sanctuaries where guests can continue their fitness regime, recharge and sleep very well thanks to blackout and soundproof technology. Importantly, the rooms can transform quickly and easily between active and passive mode, pulse and restorative spaces. Each room comes with a range of fitness equipment, including punch bags, yoga balls and dumbbells, and there is plenty of space to work out or meditate. Another unique feature within the guestrooms will be the stretching bars, which form an integral part of the built-in joinery, enabling guests to exercise whilst also achieving a striking design feature. In-room mist showers, innovative furniture design and sustainable materials will work together to create a private retreat for rest, rejuvenation and recovery.
A high-performance fitness club will sit at the heart of the hotel. Featuring signature equipment and studios for workouts, yoga and dance, it will offer ample natural light thanks to the carefully designed see-saw roof, reminiscent of the industrial buildings that previously occupied the site. In addition, there will be the ‘Experience Box’ – an immersive studio with club-style lighting, sound and a large XL screen, and a smart climate-controlled 20-metre pool with a retractable roof which will allow guests to train freely regardless of weather, pausing only to take in the stunning views from the pool’s rooftop location.
Since rehabilitation is an important part of the SIRO experience, a ‘Recovery Lab’ will offer sports rehabilitation, innovative procedures, meditation classes and relaxing treatments. The Lab’s state-of-the-art equipment and procedures will explore new avenues to renewed, improved and harmonious health. Recovery facilities will include a selection of health spa services, ranging from cryo chambers, specialised massage therapies to meditation classes for mindful regeneration.
Igniting guests’ passions for exhilarating pursuits in the great outdoors, SIRO Boka Place will come complete with access to a number of demanding sailing circuits, plus cycling routes of varying intensity. Other outdoor activities will include hiking, boxing, climbing, kite surfing, parkour and, during the winter months, skiing, to name but a few.
SIRO will also be building TEAM SIRO, a team of key athletes from around the world who’ll each play an advisory role as SIRO develops the fitness and wellness elements at the heart of its immersive lifestyle experience. The first ambassador is GB Olympic gold medallist swimmer Adam Peaty – an Olympic, World, European and Commonwealth champion, and a favourite to win gold again at the next Olympics.
“SIRO is a gamechanger.” – Una Barac, Executive Director of Atellior.
Atellior’s aesthetic for the hotel has taken its cue from SIRO’s brand values, reflected in finishes that combine both traditional and contemporary materials such as oak, plaster, stone and aniline leather together with concrete, metal and glass. In this way, the contrast between the active and passive faces of SIRO, the physical as well as the mindful benefits that the experience provides, are expressed. The dramatic landscape background has inspired and defined the colour palette – tan leather and dark green upholstery combined with the softer tones of the warm ivory plaster, pale fabrics and light textured wood. Materials are being specified with great care to ensure they are ISO certified, regionally sourced and, where possible, incorporate elements of recycling within their manufacturing process.
The managed residences will range from studio apartments to three-bedroom duplexes and penthouses designed with a pared-back aesthetic. Clean lines and neutral tones will create an optimal environment for holistic wellbeing. Similar in aesthetic to the hotel guestrooms, they are designed with a calming and neutral palette inspired by the local limestone, with pops of colour in aniline cognac leather and striking artwork. Varying in size from 45 metre-squared to 170 metre-squared, the managed residences will all qualify for Montenegro’s Citizenship by Investment Programme (CBIP).
“SIRO is a gamechanger,” says Barac. “Developing a unique concept with health, well-being and mindfulness at its core has never been more relevant and together we have the opportunity to achieve a benchmark of excellence that will be the bedrock of future SIRO hotels. It is also special to us, as a firm with studios in London and Zagreb, to work in Montenegro with such a forward-looking international team.”
Hottest hotel openings anticipated for 2022 (Q3 & Q4)
Keeping the momentum going and following hot on the heels of our list of hotel openings slated for Q1 & Q2, Pauline Brettell takes over, keeping a collective eye glued to the hospitality horizon with a list of openings that are planned for the second half of 2022, which have piqued our curiosity and titillated our design tastebuds…
If, like many, you are unable to schedule your personal life beyond a 24-hour window, looking forward to plans and proposals post-spring of 2022 might seem a little unrealistic. Thankfully, for those who find themselves in this situation, we have identified the movers and shakers on the hotel design stage who are planning for 2022 and beyond.
Despite all the setbacks and slowdowns, there are so many exciting and ambitious hotels on the horizon that is a challenge to narrow it down. However, rising to the task in hand – and following on from our first article in this series that looked at openings this side of the year – here’s a must-read list of some of the VIP arrivals that have caught our attention and which we plan to follow as they unfold in Q3 and Q4.
Locke at East Side Gallery, Berlin – opening in Q3, 2022
Image credit: Locke
Lifestyle aparthotel brand Locke is to expand further into Europe with two new German openings in 2022. The opening of Locke at East Side Gallery in Berlin plans to continue with the brand ethos by challenging convention, and partnering with unique up-and-coming designers and local food and drink partners to give this location its own distinctive character and style. The 2022 openings continue the rapid expansion of the home-meets-hotel brand, which has established itself as a leader in the hybrid hospitality movement.
Maisons Pariente Paris – opening in Q3, 2022
Image credit: Maisons Pariente
After Crillon le Brave in Provence, Lou Pinet in Saint-Tropez and Le Coucou in Méribel, Maisons Pariente has chosen the heart of Le Marais for its new five star hotel. Le Grand Mazarin is located in the heart of the action in a buzzing district that’s bursting with creativity and constantly coming up with cutting-edge trends and avant-garde concepts. With its dream location on the corner of Rue des Archives and Rue de la Verrerie near Hotel de Ville, the collection’s first city-centre hotel embodies Le Marais’ signature bold and cosmopolitan eclecticism. Le Grand Mazarin is a place to meet and get together in a sophisticated setting that puts a playful spin on styles and periods. With 61 quirky guestrooms and suites, a spectacular restaurant with all-day service, a chic yet enigmatic underground bar, not to mention the largest private pool in Le Marais, Maisons Pariente are ready to make their mark in the City of Lights.
The Lana, Dorchester Collection – opening in Q4, 2022
Image credit: Dorchester Collection
Image credit: Dorchester Collection
Slated to open in the last quarter of 2022, The Lana marks Dorchester Collection’s first address in the Middle East. Taking its name from the Arabic expression ‘for us’, The Lana is a striking 30-storey tower designed by the award-winning architects Foster + Partners that perfectly captures the essence of its destination as an unparalleled luxury experience in Downtown Dubai. With its 225 guestrooms, it will be located in the heart of Dubai, in the Burj Khalifa District and overlooking the vibrant Business Bay area.
Como Le Montrachet – opening in Q4, 2022
Image credit: COMO Hotels and Resorts
COMO Le Montrachet will be the COMO Group’s first French property, and is set to bring its signature style and design to the Burgundy region where it will make its home alongside some of the regions most acclaimed wines and vines. Italian designer Paola Navone will be bringing her trademark contemporary touches to the historic 18th-century property in the sought-after Côte-d’Or. Arranged across four heritage buildings, 31 guestrooms and suites will be converted into chic sanctuaries over the course of 2022.
Six Senses New York – opening in Q4, 2022
Image credit: Six Senses
Six Senses New York, the group’s first North American property, will be housed in The XI – two unique, twisting towers designed by world-renowned architect Bjarke Ingels in an unparalleled location between Manhattan’s Hudson River and The High Line. Guestrooms and suites designed by Parisian firm Gilles & Boissier will be contemporary in style, while offering every modern convenience in a calm ambiance of natural-hued fabrics and furnishings. Two restaurants will showcase the brand’s popular culinary approach to wellness, while the Six Senses Spa will introduce its layered approach to wellness with treatments that are an intuitive mix of science and human awareness, and where a high-tech and high-touch approach is crafted around the individual.
Nobu Marrakech – opening in Q4, 2022
Image credit: Nobu Hospitality
Nobu Hotel Marrakech will be the brands debut in the Red City, where it plans to bring its contemporary style to the design while keeping the city’s rich heritage as a reference and backdrop. The hotel will be located in the Hivernage district, steps from the historic heart of the city, souks and vibrant Djemaa el-Fna. Transformed into a luxury lifestyle destination, the hotel will house 71 spacious guestrooms and suites, a selection of dynamic dining venues and rooftop spaces, 2,000 square meters of luxurious spa and fitness centre, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, and meeting and event space.
Ritz-Carlton Arizona – opening in Q4, 2022
Image credit: Ritz-Carlton
Set in 20 acres of lush, cooling landscape with the grandeur of Camelback Mountain on the horizon, The Ritz-Carlton, Paradise Valley is an exclusive sanctuary and retreat that will evoke a sense of playfulness and escape. Its modern accommodations and luxury amenities include secret gardens and citrus groves, world-class shopping and dining, all underlined by a statement 120 metre pool.
citizenM Chicago – opening in Q4, 2022
Image credit: citizenM
citizenM is planning its first opening in Chicago with a newly constructed hotel that will be part of Sterling Bay’s mixed-use development at 300 North Michigan Avenue, situated between the Riverwalk and Millennium Park. The 280-room hotel sits within the 47-story tower which also includes 289 residential units and 25,000 square feet of retail space. citizenM Chicago Downtown will offer the signature brand experience, with an art-filled living room, 24/7 canteenM and three societyM meeting rooms. The hotel façade will feature a commissioned piece by New York-based artist Nina Chanel Abney, whose artwork will also appear in the entrance.
W Hotel Sydney – opening in Q4, 2022
Image credit: W Hotels
The W Sydney is set to make its debut in the city later this year. It will be the third W hotel in Australia, following the W Brisbane and the W Melbourne. The hotel will mark the re-entry of W Hotels into Sydney, and will be part of ‘The Ribbon’ development The 25 storey build designed by HASSEL, will shelter 539 guestrooms, serviced apartments, along with an infinity pool, all with stunning views of the harbour.
Raffles Resort Sentosa – opening in Q4, 2022
Image credit: Raffles
And finally, ending in style, Singapore is about to get a second Raffles Hotel, this time on Sentosa, 135 years after the original now iconic colonial-style hotel in Beach Road opened its doors. The developers say they are taking Raffles ‘back to the beach’, as the original hotel, which opened in 1887, was conceived as a beach hotel and has long since been engulfed by the bustling city. Each of the 61 villas will feature its own private swimming pool, and will be set in more than 10 hectares of sprawling tropical gardens with beautiful views over the south China Sea.
Weekly digest: Hotel openings, a review from Paris & trends galore
Peek-a-boo! Editor Hamish Kilburn here, emerging from the Holidays slumber, with your first weekly digest of 2022 – and it’s a big one! Our list of must-read stories this week features an extensive look at significant hotels openings expected between now and June, a hotel design trends special as well as a hotel review, sent with love, from Paris…
And just like that, it was January: a month that crawls by under the shadow of the Holidays. It’s not all dark mornings and freezing evenings, though, as January is a time at Hotel Designs when we put our fortune-telling hats on to explore some of the most significant hotel openings expected over the next 12 months.
Okay, we may not quite qualify as fortune tellers, but we do our best to keep our readers in the loop on all the latest hotel developments, emerging trends and new products – all while providing an entertaining read (and sometimes listen with our podcast) to keep things aptly light.
As important as it is for designers, architects, hoteliers, developers and suppliers to keep their fingers of the pulse, it’s not always the easiest of tasks to do when on-the-go and on site (somewhat of a novelty these days). Therefore, the weekly digest, published (you got it, every week) will include all the most-read and must-read stories. Shall we get started?
Each year, adhering to tradition, we started January on a unique mission: to pinpoint the hottest hotel openings; the game-altering properties that will flex their muscles, challenge conventional approaches to hotel design and effortlessly take hospitality, on an international scale, forward.
If last year was about recovery, then 2022 will be defined by the designers, architects and hoteliers who are willing to put it all on the line for the sake of innovation and creativity – it’s time to show-off as we gather around the crystal ball once more to see which hotel openings of 2022 will make the biggest impact. And we start the two-part series by taking a glance at the hotels that are expected to arrive in Q1 and Q2.
Briefed to expect the unexpected, Gareth Thomas sets off on a Parisian adventure – far removed from chichés but still in the beating heart of the action – and checks in and checks out Fauchon L’Hotel Paris, where a bold interior design scheme juxtaposes heritage architecture in the heart of the city.
With more than 75 new hotels planned across Europe, the Middle East and Africa in the coming year, Hilton is sharing its optimism and enticing us with their choices. It is starting to feel like it is time to start planning the next year’s jet-setting adventures. From Morocco to Mallorca, here is a taste of what is to come on the Hilton International agenda.
Nestled in a hilly forested area in Shizuoka, Japan, Phase Dance is an impressive architectural structure, designed by Takeshi Hirobe Architects. But the journey to create this masterpiece was not as effortless as the result itself.
As we start look past the crisis period of Covid-19, and start to settle into a ‘new normal’, the definition of hospitality has a new meaning – one of comfort, security and escape. International architecture firm SB Architects has identified which key hotel trends are shaping hospitality design in 2022 and beyond.
A new 165-key Dream Hotel has been planned as a centrepiece to the world-class Riverside Wharf hospitality and entertainment development in the heart of Downtown Miami. Here’s what we know.
The modern Statement shower collection from global brand Kohler brings a range of unique shapes and various sizes to the shower, breathing new, contemporary life into well-loved standards and marrying the latest in technology with enduring craftsmanship. Innovative sprays elevate the showering experience, and universal compatibility means the system works wherever in the world it is installed. Inspired by iconic furniture and home goods, and defined by soft, approachable designs, the collection carries an underlying familiarity while creating striking aesthetics within the space.
More than 60,000 readers per month enjoy the content we publish on Hotel Designs. Our mission is to define the point on international hotel design, and we are doing that by serving relevant news stories and engaging features. To keep up to date on the hottest stories that are emerging, you can sign up to the newsletter, which is completely free of charge. As well as receiving a weekly round-up of the top stories, you will also access our bi-monthly HD Edit –staying ahead of the curve has never been so easy!
Product watch: The modern Statement shower collection from Kohler
Complete with unique shapes, finishes and an array of sizes, the Statement shower collection from Kohler breathes new life – and technology – into the bathroom. The modern shower range is inspired by iconic design forms and offers an array of sensory stimuli, as Editor Hamish Kilburn explores…
The modern Statement shower collection from global brand Kohler brings a range of unique shapes and various sizes to the shower, breathing new, contemporary life into well-loved standards and marrying the latest in technology with enduring craftsmanship. Innovative sprays elevate the showering experience, and universal compatibility means the system works wherever in the world it is installed. Inspired by iconic furniture and home goods, and defined by soft, approachable designs, the collection carries an underlying familiarity while creating striking aesthetics within the space.
Image credit: Kohler
Image credit: Kohler
“Showering re-envisioned at the most basic level,” is how the brand is describing it. An oblong showerhead results in more enveloping water coverage for the whole body, and seven immersive spray experiences offered within the collection include a ‘deep massage’ spray composed of twisting jets that knead sore muscles and a cloud spray that swathes the body in a warm mist. Other spray options include a full coverage rain, a dense, wide sweep, and ribbon massage that cascades in an angled stream. Additionally, the collection offers an infinity spray – interlaced water streams create three experience zones in a single spray – the droplets closest to the nozzle rinse, while the middle zone massages, and the farthest stream provides coverage. Many components also make use of the gamechanging Kohler Katalyst technology, which enhances every droplet with air for a warm, luxurious cloak of water.
Image credit: Kohler
Image credit: Kohler
“Showering is so much more than just getting clean. It is a chance to feel rejuvenated, a moment to focus on self-care,” said Lun Cheak Tan, Kohler Vice President of Industrial Design. “A shower should provide a rich experience – through design-forward craftsmanship, meaningful functionality and un-compromised focus on the user.”
The global Statement Collection includes a showerhead, four styles of handshowers, four unique rainheads, and two bodysprays, all available in a range of sizes and shapes to best suit the décor and design environment. Finishes include polished chrome, brushed nickel, matte black, and brushed moderne brass (finish options may vary by region); all are aesthetically arresting and created to yield a natural interplay with other accessories and design elements.
Image credit: Kohler
To add to Statement’s overall ease of use and provide peace of mind to designers and specifiers, the components were designed to be universally compatible. The collection is designed – from thread size to flow rate – to work globally, no matter how different the local codes and standards may be.
Statement represents an evolution in modern showering, one that engages all the senses and elevates the everyday. Its handsome forms are matched by exceptional function that results in an indulgent, customised showering experience.
Kohler is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.
As modern travellers update their wishlists and re-pack suitcases to make up for lost time, Hilton has made it easy to be inspired with its list of new hotels planned across Europe, the Middle East and Africa…
With more than 75 new hotels planned across Europe, the Middle East and Africa in the coming year, Hilton is sharing its optimism and enticing us with their choices. It is starting to feel like it is time to start planning the next year’s jet-setting adventures. From Morocco to Mallorca, here is a taste of what is to come on the Hilton International agenda.
Hilton Bahrain – opening summer 2022
As listed in our focus on Hottest hotel openings 2022, Hilton Bahrain is slated to open in June 2022. Located along Al Fateh Highway, the 348-room hotel will feature studios, one- and two-bedroom apartments, all with the brands trademark attention to comfort and luxury, as well as a stunning view of the sea from each unit’s balcony. With six distinct restaurants and lounges, nine meeting rooms and a luxurious spa, the hotel promises an exceptional guest experience.
Conrad Rabat Arzana – opening autumn 2022
Image credit: Hilton International
Set to debut as Hilton’s first luxury hotel in Morocco, this hotel promises to offer spectacular ocean views from its elevated waterfront location, overlooking a tranquil lagoon and beach. Guests will be able to experience these breath-taking surroundings while enjoying locally inspired food and beverage at two unique restaurants. The hotel will also offer a fully appointed spa and salon as well as over 600 square meters of event space that includes a grand ballroom and four meeting rooms.
Iceland Parliament Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton – opening spring 2022
The Iceland Parliament Hotel will be a complex of seven rebuilt and new buildings at the doorstep of the Icelandic parliament – Alþingi. Surrounded by three different squares, close to the cathedral, city hall, and the upcoming harbour area, the hotel will be in a key location within the city’s most high-profile zone, making it the perfect location to start your Icelandic explorations. The hotel will offer state-of-the-art meeting and conference facilities, an executive lounge, a fitness room, a spa area, café, bar and restaurant.
Conrad Chia Laguna Sardinia – opening spring 2022
Image credit: Hilton International
Conrad Chia Laguna Sardinia will shelter 107 guestrooms, each featuring a private garden or terrace, with the majority offering panoramic views of the entire Chia lagoon. La Terrazza restaurant will feature outdoor seating and iconic views of Chia Laguna. Sa Mesa, meaning ‘the table’ in local Sardinian dialect, will be the hotel’s signature restaurant offering authentic Sardinian cuisine and an extensive selection of local wines from small local producers in an informal trattoria style setting. Bar Bollicine will serve as the hotel’s all-day bar and lounge, where guests can enjoy an extensive collection of champagnes and proseccos, as well as cocktails with a modern twist. The hotel’s Conrad Spa will also offer six treatment rooms, a spa bar, a yoga studio, and a state-of-the-art gym.
Lost Property St. Paul’s London, Curio Collection by Hilton – opening spring 2022
Image credit: Curio Collection by Hilton
Image credit: Curio collection by Hilton
Lost Property St Paul’s London, Curio Collection by Hilton, will open this spring to offer stunning views of St. Paul’s Cathedral and the City of London. Sheltering 145 guestrooms, designed by Rani Ahluwalia, the décor has been inspired by London’s lost stories in history. The six-storey hotel will offer a charming restaurant for guests and close access to some of London’s most visited tourist attractions.
Hilton Dubai Palm Jumeirah – opening spring 2022
Image credit: Hilton International
Located on the iconic Palm Jumeirah, this hotels’ beachfront location makes it a destination of choice for those looking for a relaxing getaway. After waking up to the sunrise reflecting over the serene waters of the Palm, guests can exercise on the mile-long promenade, take a dip on the property’s private beach, enjoy a treatment at the spacious eforea spa, or have a bite at the hotel’s wide range of restaurants, bars and lounges which will include international brands such as Trader Vic’s, Barfly by Buddha Bar, and Claw BBQ.
Hampton by Hilton Doha Old Town – opening in early 2022
Situated in the Old Salata district, Hampton by Hilton Doha Old Town will feature 221 modern guestrooms, an all-day dining restaurant, juice and snack bar, work zone and fitness centre. It will be conveniently located close to Doha attractions such as the corniche, the Museum of Islamic Art, the National Museum of Qatar, and the famous Souk Waqif. It will also be in close proximity to the banking district and the Emiri Diwan Palace.
Sea Breeze Santorini Beach Resort, Curio Collection by Hilton – opening spring 2022
Image credit: Hilton International
Sea Breeze Santorini Beach Resort, Curio Collection by Hilton will be Hilton’s first location on the glamorous Greek island of Santorini. The 37-key hotel draws its inspiration from Santorini’s iconic blue and whitewashed architecture and incorporates the island’s rugged natural beauty with stone walls and organic wooden textures. Each room will boast private terraces and a hot tub or pool. Guests can choose from two restaurants and two bars for a relaxed meal or cocktail, with two of the outlets being located on the resort’s private beach. spoiled for choice with swimming pools, a spa, fitness facilities and loungers by the beach, guests can alternate between working up a sweat, getting pampered, soaking up the sun, and cooling off in the water.
Motto by Hilton Rotterdam Blaak – opening spring 2022
Motto by Hilton Rotterdam Blaak will become the first Motto property in the Netherlands, as well as being the first in Europe, when it opens this year. The hotel provides convenient access to some of the city’s top attractions, such as the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Old Harbour, Maritime Museum Rotterdam, and Cube Houses. It’s also just a few minutes’ walk from Rotterdam’s famous Markthal, where visitors can shop and explore nearly 100 indoor food stalls and restaurants.
Waldorf Astoria Kuwait – opening spring 2022
Image credit: Hilton International
The 200 luxury guestrooms at the new Waldorf Astoria Kuwait will be just feet away from world-class shopping and dining, thanks to its location in Avenues Mall — a destination with more than 1,100 shops and a movie theatre. The hotel will also be home to the award-winning Japanese restaurant concept ROKA and will feature an exclusive Club Lounge as well as an awe-inspiring 13,560 sq ft Waldorf Spa. Kuwait City Centre, historical and cultural sites, and the Grand Mosque of Kuwait are just a short 15-minute drive away.
Hotel Saski Krakow, Curio Collection by Hilton – opening summer 2022
Set in the centre of Krakow’s old town, adjacent to the historic Main Square, Hotel Saski Krakow is poised to be one of the city’s most celebrated hotels. The property will be ideal for both travellers of leisure and business, offering a swimming pool, spa and fitness centre, a restaurant and bar, as well as a business centre.
Hilton Mallorca Galatzo – opening summer 2022
Image credit: Hilton International
The 208-key Hilton Mallorca Galatzo will join Hilton’s growing pipeline of properties in Spain. Set over 54,000 square metres of perfectly presented gardens, Hilton Mallorca Galatzo will boast three swimming pools and two pool bars, ensuring guests are never far from a cool drink and a dip in the pool to complement the warm Balearic climate. With relaxation and rejuvenation in mind, the hotel will offer a sizeable wellness centre and two distinct dining experiences and is located less than a five-minute drive from the popular beaches of Paguera.
Hilton Rome Eur La Lama – opening autumn 2022
Image credit: Hilton International
Hilton Rome Eur La Lama is located in EUR business district, with direct access to La Nuvola Roma Convention Centre. The hotel will include 439 guestrooms, all within an architecturally distinctive structure known as “La Lama” (The Blade). Metro links are just a few streets away, and Euroma2 mall is within a 10-minute drive. The hotel features a rooftop restaurant and terrace, kids’ activities, and a library bar.
Hilton Cairo Nile Maadi – opening autumn 2022 Located in the upscale residential and diplomatic district of Maadi, once complete the hotel will bring 257 keys to Cairo, while also offering direct access to the Corniche El Nile and providing views of some of Egypt’s ancient heritage sites. It is expected to house a business centre, meeting rooms, a health club and spa, and a handful of F&B outlets. Hotel guests will be able to enjoy the spectacular views of the Nile River while sunbathing by the outdoor pool. Perfect for both leisure and business, Hilton Cairo Nile Maadi will feature a large health club and spa, an outdoor swimming pool, two restaurants, an executive lounge, as well as fully equipped meeting and event spaces.
Since you’re here…
More than 40,000 readers per month enjoy the content we publish on Hotel Designs. Our mission is to define the point on international hotel design, and we are doing that by serving relevant news stories and engaging features. To keep up to date on the hottest stories that are emerging, you can sign up to the newsletter, which is completely free of charge. As well as receiving a weekly round-up of the top stories, you will also access our bi-monthly HD Edit –staying ahead of the curve has never been so easy!
With two new rich shades of red being added to the Artis range, bathroom brand Villeroy & Boch looks at energising the bathroom with a vibrant colour palette. Red isn’t dead, it seems…
Reds are all about vibrant and warm tones. They feel stimulating and exude optimism and energy. With so much focus on transforming our bathrooms into sanctuaries for wellbeing, red shades are a perfect choice for anyone who wants to recharge their batteries and find daily inspiration while brushing their teeth. Admittedly, it does take a little courage, but this is a colour that has the potential to transform your bathroom into a very personal source of energy.
Image credit: Villeroy & Boch
Image credit: Villeroy & boch
Artis surface-mounted washbasins provide a perfect showcase for strong colours. With their dual-colour look, combining a brilliant white interior with coloured outer surfaces, the washbasins coordinate in any bathroom, even if other ceramic fittings are in a classic white. In 2021, the German-Danish designer Gesa Hansen added two new rich red shades to the Artis colour palette, Bordeaux and Rust. Bordeaux evokes images of the intensive hues of ripe grapes, while Rust is a warm shade with an earthy, natural feel.
Image credit: Villeroy & Boch
Red is a strong colour that needs a sparring partner to reveal its full effect in the bathroom. Bold combinations, for example, a red basin on a matt black vanity unit, increase the intensity. Another combination with a guaranteed wow effect, is the Artis handbasin in combination with a Finion vanity unit in Peony, a shade again inspired by nature, and the vibrant red of blossoming peonies.
Wood tones and natural shades such as sand or light grey, on the other hand, create a harmonising effect. They offset the vibrancy of red colours and emphasise their warm, cosy character.
And if you aren’t quite ready to embrace the red in your bathroom basin, put it on the wall instead. A red wall will create a strong statement as a contrast to the pure white of the ceramics, and will infuse the room, and your daily routine, with warmth.
Villeroy & Boch is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.
Fauchon L’Hotel Paris: Where rock & roll, design and luxury hospitality meet
Briefed to expect the unexpected, Gareth Thomas sets off on a Parisian adventure – far removed from chichés but still in the beating heart of the action – and checks in and checks out Fauchon L’Hotel Paris, where a bold interior design scheme juxtaposes heritage architecture in the heart of the city…
Ahhh Pareee! (Paris!) – La Ville Lumiere (the City of Light) – the undistributed home of haute couture, elegant interior design and a historical destination for those seeking that ‘je ne sais quoi’ when it comes to matters of the heart.
While being a traveller in Paris comes naturally to most – people watching from a corner café isn’t exactly a difficult lifestyle to adapt to – operating a hospitality business amongst the city’s backdrop is anything but simple. Any new-kid-on-the-block hotel (even for Fauchon L’Hotel Paris, which is owned by one of France’s most iconic confectionary luxury brands) therefore needs to work hard in order to make a statement in a city littered with luxury hotels. Fauchon L’Hotel Paris shouts loudly, yet elegantly, by aiming to seamlessly harness and blend Parisian fashion cues, confident design aesthetics and even a nod to a rock-and-roll mindset, all housed in a traditional and effortlessly beautiful Haussmanien building.
Image credit: Fauchon L’Hotel Paris
Image credit: Fauchon L’Hotel Paris
The hotel’s natural playfulness and signature hot-pink touches are boldly and sensitively injected alongside the original design by renowned architect Richard Martinet who worked together with Atelier Paluel-Marmont. The juxtaposition of ‘new design meets old architecture’ feels intentional, and is further heightened when guests walk through the doors to experience celebrated French artist commissions that are hung throughout the public spaces, by names such as Aristide Najean and Monica Nowan.
Since opening in the summer of 2019 – the last travel season before the pandemic brought global travel and hospitality to its knees – Fauchon L’Hotel Paris unveiled itself as a house of innovation and excellence. The boutique hotel, which has remerged from the pandemic with bounds of character, lives up to its reputation by being a feast for all the senses that capture first impressions.
Image credit: Fauchon L’Hotel Paris
Image credit: Fauchon L’Hotel Paris
The sensory mood is set from arrival, within an elegant yet fun library that is complete with roaring digital fireplace and cosy intimate seating arrangements, with those signature hot-pink accents evident throughout. Champagne and delicious macarons – the only cliché, I promise – tantalise the tastebuds. Beyond what you can see, the hotel’s rich, indulgent, and very captivating, bespoke fragrance lingers delightfully in the air, further proving that attention to detail is paramount in the desired aim to deliver on this full sensory experience.
The public areas – from the discreet seating located throughout the public spaces to the exquisite dining room adorned with further art and sculptures that gives guests a more private gastronomic experience away from the elegant but busting Fauchon Café – further help communicate and elevate the brand’s contemporary yet refined hospitality experience.
Image credit: Fauchon L’Hotel Paris
Image credit: Fauchon L’Hotel Paris
Each of the hotel’s immaculately designed and decorated 54 rooms and suites frame the classic Parisian city view, with some extending to include a balcony view of the Eiffel Tower – truly la crème de la crème!
The rooms themselves are spread across two interconnected buildings and this is where the triad of fashion, design and unapologetic rock and roll truly meet through the hotel’s defining concept of G.L.A.M:
Gourmet – gastronomy is the signature Fauchon experience that is the focal point of the brand experience
Location – located in the heart and soul of central Paris, there is no escaping the energy and delights of the city
Attention and experiences – bespoke is the name of the game, each room is unique, and each guest deserves a unique and special experience.
Mesdames – femininity is celebrated and prioritised at every stage of the hotel design experience.
Image credit: Fauchon L’Hotel Paris
Guests checking in to one of the split-level suites on the top floor of the hotel will be provided with a 360-degree living experience. A lower ground-floor bedroom, with queen-sized bed is complete with punches of colour on the linens, which give way to a sizeable and well-thought-out bathroom designed for the discerning traveller in mind, complete with a walk-in shower area with full rain shower experience and complimentary mood lighting around a generous vanity mirror.
Within each room, the sound system is a timeless reminder of what music used to mean. A modest record player sits, harmoniously adding value to the authentic hospitality experience, while creating further texture to the overall design scheme. A selection of classic vinyl albums are also available to either listen to, either in private serenity or while throwing open the multiple balcony doors. There is something aptly satisfying about usurping digital experiences we have all grown accustomed to in favour of an analogue process that is more grounded, more tactile, and more expressive. It may be an obvious reminder of the rock-and-roll personality (depending on which album you select) the hotel presents to its guests – but this particular guest loved every second!
Image credit: Fauchon L’Hotel Paris
The playful quirkiness of the Fauchon brand extends upstairs into the living area of the suite where the famed mini bar is displayed pride of place. Less functional drinks cabinet, more exhibition focal point, the elegant, custom-designed pink armoire installation designed by Sacha Lakic is stylishly graphic on the outside with a metallic multi-faceted finish, whilst the interior houses all the goodies and you would expect from a hotel belonging to the house of Fauchon.
Image credit: Fauchon L’Hotel Paris
Image credit: Fauchon L’Hotel Paris
From one memorable gastrnomy experience to another (though tempting to not leave the beautiful suite), The Grand Café Fauchon is a dining spectacle that awaits both guests and loyal Parisian diners and imbibers. Its design and service pays homage to the founder, Auguste Fauchon, whose legacy is celebrated here each day through Fauchon’s passionate commitment to pleasure, quality and fierce dedication to ensuring the quality of the products used and sold are from the best producers in France. These pillars, keeping the hotel relevant in the congested luxury hospitality arena of Paris, are upheld by the culinary mastery of the Fauchon chefs – three of France’s finest: François Daubinet, Head Pastry Chef; Frédéric Claudel, Executive Chef du Grand Café Fauchon and Sébastien Monceau, Executive Chef de la Maison Fauchon.
As day turns to night, the hotel’s restaurant comes to life with an eye-catching chandelier display that seems to dance above diners in what look like fishnets. This area allows guests a more secluded and private eating experience, away from the energetic and bustling public Cafe location. The design of this space reflects that intention with a relaxing yet opulent colour palate with nods to classical design sitting in harmony with the signature Fauchon modern touch.
Image credit: Fauchon L’Hotel Paris
Image credit: Fauchon L’Hotel Paris
Fauchon L’Hotel Paris, refreshingly not simply defined by its F&B offerings, is more than a base during your time in this vibrant city. It is a hotel that confidently matches – dare I say even contributes to the energy of – the awesomeness of Paris. The hotel earns its right to be a ‘destination’ in its own regard and cleverly achieves its aim to bring together the worlds of fashion, design and music, collectively which deliver its unique personality. If you are looking for a hotel experience that is distinctly Parisian but at the same time distinctly unique then Fauchon L‘Hotel Paris is for you.
Architecture structure ‘Phase Dance’ wrapped into the natural world
Nestled in a hilly forested area in Shizuoka, Japan, Phase Dance is an impressive architectural structure, designed by Takeshi Hirobe Architects. But the journey to create this masterpiece was not as effortless as the result itself, as editor Hamish Kilburn discovers…
The sloping location of Phase Dance, in Shizuoka, posed a range of challenges – not least the question of how the building should be positioned on site so that its architectural qualities can be admired while also remaining sensitive to the surrounding typography. To avoid an excessively large and deep foundation, a third of the floor space of the building was designed as an overhang, reducing the contact area with the ground. The basic structure from the basement to the ceiling of the second floor consists of reinforced concrete covered with wood.
Image credit:Phase Dance/Koichi Torimura
Image credit: Phase Dance/Koichi Torimura
Furthermore, the architects at Takeshi Hirobe Architects noticed an orangebark stewartia tree during their site visit. Calculations taking account of building-spacing regulations and other restrictions indicated that the tree stood at the centre of the area in which construction was possible. They decided to leave the tree intact and to design the structure of the building around it – as a tribute to the importance of nature, which – whether they intended or not – instantly created a new layer of the overall design narrative.
While the studio understood the tree to be central point, they were careful to avoid a symmetrical design with uniform angles in order to create unique, generously sized rooms. With that in mind, the architects sought to lend each room a cozy and playful air.
Image credit: Phase Dance/Koichi Torimura
Image credit: Phase Dance/Koichi Torimura
In the bathroom, the clear formal language of the Duravit washbasin from the Vero complete bathroom range blends perfectly into the overall ambience – as elegant as it is durable. The range, which launched in 2001, has found great popularity, especially among architects, thanks to its iconic rectangular character.
Large windows that follow the uneven contours of the walls afford expansive views of the green landscape and bring natural light into the interior.
The upper floor serves as a library and reading area. It has the same floor plan as the lower floor and includes a triangular roof. Although the roof is subdivided into multiple sections, it gives the impression of being a single piece that covers the building.
During the continuous decision-making process, Takeshi Hirobe Architects likened their reactions to the various phases and aspects of the project to a dance – and dubbed the project ‘Phase Dance’, inspired by the dynamics of the song of the same name by guitarist Pat Metheny.
Duravit is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.
Fitness trends beyond the treadmill in hotel design
It may be a new year, but the noise around wellness and wellbeing is just as loud in 2022 as it has been in recent times. Beverley Bayes, Creative Director at Sparcstudio, takes a look at future fitness trends and how hotel design can be used to direct the new wave of spa and wellness spaces being offered in hotels in 2022 and beyond…
Sparcstudio Design, a specialist studio focused in the design of spa and wellness – and therefore an expert studio to identify fitness trends in hotel design – has long had its finger on the pulse when it comes to the latest fitness trends through its work with destination fitness clubs, such as Third Space, Rise Gym, and Aspria clubs in Europe, as well as substantial fitness facilities that form a key part of hotel spas, such as South Lodge Spa, Champneys Mottram Hall, and Sopwell Cottonmill Club.
Fitness is currently undergoing a post-pandemic revolution, which is set to boom. Many people have tired of working out at home, so are longing for both experience and connection, along with the chance to work out in beautiful surroundings in a social and supportive setting. In a world where ‘health is the new wealth’, people recognise the importance of being fit and active and are beginning to convert to a more wellness-based vacation, become a member of a standalone club, or frequenter of one of the many ‘pay & play’ boutique studio/spin studios. Many are also joining membership waiting lists to aspirational hotel spa and fitness clubs that offer exclusive memberships in a luxury setting. Hotels are therefore perfectly positioned to meet these needs but, in many cases, require a complete rethink in terms of design approach to fitness spaces & offering.
Image credit: Sparcstudio
Experience-led design is spearheading a new wave of design in the spa and wellness space, especially when it comes to gyms and fitness studios. Well-designed fitness offers are moving away from the typical gym set up in a basement with rows of equipment packed into darkened spaces, a concept that originated from the ‘cardio-theatre’ model with equipment ranged around a wall of screens. Cutting-edge fitness design is now much more about wellness spaces with soul, designed with a softer biophilic approach, ideally overlooking and connecting to natural surroundings with outdoor workout facilities.
Image credit: sparcstudio / Amy Murrell
Image credit: Sparcstudio
An optimal gym layout, as seen at South Lodge Spa, designed by Sparcstudio, is open-plan and light-filled, incorporating at its centre a functional training zone for group and social exercise with TRX rig surrounded by zoned spaces for cardio, weights or resistance work. Designed to offer an uplifting experience, the 18.5 square-metre gym was located on an upper level of the spa with full height glazing opening onto a dedicated training terrace, benefitting from views of the South Downs and the spa garden terraces below, complete with natural swim pond at the centre.
People are naturally drawn to nature, and exercising outdoors can form part of the offering at any hotel or gym that has some appropriate and available space. It can be vast, exploring woodland terrain, building outdoor equipment and nature trails, or simply a yoga deck or HIIT terrace that has fresh air and views looking across the landscape. It can add variety to the workout and offer a new experience for many guests.
Image credit: Sparcstudio
The inclusion of technology is also key to design and it should enable and facilitate in a discreet way rather than translating into clinical, sensory deprived environments. In advanced spaces, some sites are installing recovery areas with 3D imaging machines, locker rooms complete with infrared saunas with big-screen TVs that stream Netflix, and selfie-friendly cryotherapy chamber, while treadmills can be fitted with O2 vaporisers so that you can train to peak performance. For many millennial gym-goers, a trip to the fitness studio will often replace a night out at the pub or nightclub. This is especially true for many young urbanites. New high-end boutique gyms are aiming to cultivate a tribal loyalty and community. Club membership has become a status symbol and savvy urban hoteliers can embrace this, designing their fitness space and offering within to match the needs of this growing subculture.
Image credit: Sparcstudio
Historically, fitness studios are often multi-use, uninspiring, and over-lit spaces. Sparcstudio take more of a bespoke approach based around the experience and how you want to make the user feel. For example we designed London’s first dedicated hot yoga studio, which is a truly sensuous space with pale pink panelling lined with fragrant juniper logs and fitted with state of the art anti-bacterial technology. Members can enter deep stretches and poses, and detoxify through perspiration, in a hot, cleansing environment.
Whereas high energy classes such as spin or HIIT can resemble a night club in terms of their style and delivery with immersive, wraparound lighting and sound. The advent of virtual classes has increased the utilisation of these rooms without the need for additional members of staff. They also tap into the tribe-like following that many have (think Les Mills and Peloton).
The home-meets-hotel concept is growing, as demonstrated by the rapid expansion of Locke Hotels. Developing this one step further, they are taking a private members club-like approach to the offering with an array of experiences ranging from flexible co-working spaces, destination dining, artisan grocer, yoga studio, rooftop cocktail bar, a locally-inspired cultural programme. Niche hotels, and international members clubs cultivate their audience to create a tribe-like following where international wellness travellers expect to turn up in their next destination to find the same level of service, design and experiences, wherever they are in the world. Clever hoteliers have realised this and have created fitness spaces that feed into the need for belonging and collective experience.
Sparcstudio is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.
Radisson looks back on 2021 as it steps optimistically into 2022
Following its successful expansion and growth over the past year, Radisson Group is on track to reach its goal of 150 hotels by 2025. To understand more, Hotel Designs hears from senior figures at the Group about how it plans to develop…
As Radisson Hotel Group looks towards and sets goals for 2022, it has reviewed the numerous milestones it has achieved in Africa over the past 12 months. These include new hotels and conversions, along with apartments, and places the group in a strong position to move forward. Having set a record on the continent this year with 14 signings to date, adding more than 2,500 rooms to its African portfolio, the Group continues with its plans to grow its footprint in the region.
“In Africa this year, we opened five stunning hotels in bucket-list destinations and in 2022, we’re on track to open at least 11 hotels, starting with the portfolio of three hotels in Madagascar within the first two weeks of the year,” said Tim Cordon, Senior Area Vice President, Middle East & Africa at Radisson Hotel Group. “Continuing the unpredictability of 2020, this year has been a rollercoaster with restrictions easing and tightening and borders opening and closing. Africa in general has commercially performed well, given the situation and in comparison to other international markets, proving its resilience and ever-present dynamism. Our commitment to the continent not only remains but we are looking at deploying further resources as our Group reaches new heights and where our ambitions for growth are only representative of the region’s potential.”
Image credit: Radisson Hotel Group
10 additional hotels in one of the key African focus countries, Morocco, have been included in the portfolio. These includes the entry into new territories within the country such as Al Hoceima, Taghazout and Saidia. Two new brands have also been introduced to the country with the signing of Radisson Hotel Casablanca Gauthier La Citadelle and Lincoln Casablanca, a Radisson Collection, which has elevated the brands offering in Africa.
Image credit: Radisson Hotel Group
Numerous new market entries have also contributed to the brands growth. These include the Group’s debut in Djibouti with Radisson Hotel Djibouti, the introduction of the Radisson Individuals brand in Africa with the Earl Heights Suite Hotel, a member of Radisson Individuals in Accra, Ghana as well as the entry into Victoria Falls with Radisson Blu Resort Mosi-Oa-Tunya Livingstone.
“2021 has been a record year of numerous milestones for us in our expansion across Africa, from market entries to further establishing critical scale in key focus markets,” said Ramsay Rankoussi, Vice President, Development, Africa & Turkey at Radisson Hotel Group. “We have led the market share this year in terms of new signings across the industry and those achievements demonstrate our continued focus and the clear execution of our established strategy. In 2022 we aim to leverage this momentum with the same priorities within our identified key markets such as Egypt and Morocco in North Africa; various countries such as Nigeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast and Senegal within West and Central Africa but also reinforcing our presence in South Africa and its neighbouring countries. Our strategy over the next twelve months includes the expansion of our African resort offering and continuing the trend in conversions, while we remain supportive and responsive within our owners community as we look towards the recovery of our industry.”
Hotel conversions have accounted for more than 70 per cent of these signings which provide the Group with a solid pipeline but also highlights the success of the Radisson Hotel Group in providing tailored solutions for existing hotels seeking operational improvement. Five hotels were opened during the year, including Africa’s second Radisson RED in South Africa and the brand’s debut in Johannesburg as well as four Radisson Blu resort offerings in Morocco further demonstrating the growth in leisure demand and the ability for the Group to respond to that trend.
Serviced apartments have continued to show resilience during the pandemic and Radisson Hotel Group has equally grown this segment with two stand alone serviced apartments being added to the portfolio across Africa.
Building on the success of the Group’s five-year expansion and transformation plan, Radisson Hotel Group is clearly ready for the rebound of travel with its positive plan for progress clearly mapped out.
As we start look past the crisis period of Covid-19, and start to settle into a ‘new normal’, the definition of hospitality has a new meaning – one of comfort, security and escape. International architecture firm SB Architects has identified which key hotel trends are shaping hospitality design in 2022 and beyond…
SB Architects has released insights into the most significant influences that informed design in 2021, and what trends will pick up even more momentum this year.
“During 2021, when the concept of ‘home’ became synonymous with home office, gym, entertainment centre, and space to retreat and relax, we saw the growing importance of incorporating flexibility in residential design,” explained Scott Lee, President and Principal of SB Architects. “Flexibility also became paramount for hotels and creating a less-defined program – such as multi-purpose public space and reimagined spaces for F&B, lounge, and lobby – will continue to be advantageous in the future. Overarchingly, creating opportunities for people to decompress in urban environments, enhancing physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and social wellness, and quenching a thirst for the outdoors will be key drivers for architects and designers in 2022.”
Here are seven solid trends that are steering hospitality and hotel design, globally, on a new path:
‘Home officing’ 2.0
Image credit: Telegraph Arts/SB Architects
The pandemic and ensuing work-from-home phenomenon sparked new desires for residential design. Dens are no longer to be relegated to the back of units with little or no access to natural light. Instead, residents want these spaces connected to living rooms and acting as integrated offices or flex spaces. Working from home is also changing multifamily design, where a new kind of amenity is taking shape in the form of reservable rooms for work and study, connected to communal meeting spaces where residents can both host team meetings and socialise. The ‘business centre’ model of multifamily residential projects is evolving and will be more marketable if versatile and engaging.
Here to stay: ‘Bleisure’ travel
Image credit: Grand Hyatt Limassol/SB Architects
With more employees working remotely, hotels need to cater to a new segment of ‘bleisure’ travellers who are taking advantage of their newfound workplace flexibility by extending vacations that blend work, exploration, and leisure. With guests looking to spend more time in destinations, design that is experiential and deepens connections to the location and its underlying character will be key. Developers and operators will be searching for ways to differentiate their offerings from the many repositioning’s or new openings that are coming online in 2022, and hyper-local environments where guests can immerse themselves authentically into the surrounding locale and have experiences creatively tailored to a specific ethos and set of interests will be the most competitive.
Integrating experiential programming for children and configurations such as two-bedroom suites with kitchens will also help hotels cater to guests booking longer stays and traveling with their families.
Alternative stays/glamping woven into resort destinations
Image caption: A render of a resort in the Middle East. | Image credit: SB Architects
The alternative holiday/travel experience – via treehouse stays, yurts, and glamping – is becoming more and more ingrained into hospitality, and resorts are embracing glamping as an experiential element that can be integrated into the overall offering. Adding these unconventional components to a traditional resort development can deliver the connection to nature that gives guests a sense of emotional and mental well-being, while creating the kind of authentic experience and immersive atmosphere that today’s discerning travellers are craving.
Getting outside
With pandemic-era concerns about indoor air quality and social distancing deeply embedded in our psyches, the outdoors represents an escape and safe haven, and is a key element to mental health. Travellers will seek uninterrupted sightlines to the outdoors, access to fresh air and open space in 2022. Integrating outdoor spaces in urban environments, such as rooftop amenities, will be a big driver for both hotels and residential developments in the future. Rooftop amenities create a sense of escapism in which residents or guests are nestled in an outdoor environment, perhaps with natural elements, but views to a city skyline are within reach.
The rise of the urban resort
Image credit: Rivana at Innovation Station/SB Architects
Prior to the pandemic, the urban resort concept was on the rise, with brands like Aman Hotels and Six Senses Hotels and Resorts embracing the model as part of their growth strategy, and the trend will continue to grow in 2022, as lines between work and leisure continue to blur and more guests want to experience the decompression and escapism of a resort even when in an urban environment.
By tapping into sensibilities that one might leverage in a horizontal resort environment, and applying them to an urban context, designers can create spaces where people can ‘get away from it all’ while remaining in the middle of it. Urban resorts deliver immersive experiences through rooftop experiences and iconic, place-defining food and beverage, and although in urban settings, they prioritise connections to nature, seamless transitions between indoor and outdoor spaces, natural light, and, of course, guests’ health and wellness. Special landscaped zones sprinkled throughout sites as places to host events and celebrations, and enhanced wellness experiences where spa and fitness components are sized after those of a destination resort are among the design features trending for urban resorts.
Rethinking the all-day dining concept
Image credit: Stademos Hotels/SB Architects
Image credit: Stademos Hotels/SB Architects
The pandemic pushed many (if not all) hotels to adapt their F&B offerings, as under-utilised space in an all-day dining outlet became more apparent during periods of low occupancy. Many new hotels have been breaking down the all-day dining restaurant into multiple ‘micro’ restaurants that can be sectioned or closed off depending on the time of day, to prevent the all-day dining space from being underutilised or only used during breakfast. The traditional buffet style dining that is standard in all-day dining outlets became prohibited due to Covid-19 regulations in many areas, giving rise to alternative strategies such as customised room service for breakfast. Many hotels are leveraging the specialty restaurant or lobby lounge for those seeking a more traditional hotel breakfast experience.
In the future, instead of just serving as a convenient dining outlet for internal guests, more hotel dining outlets will be regarded as valuable revenue-generating spaces independent of the hotel, with unique concepts, menus, and designs that will entice both hotel guests and locals in the community.
Capturing the baby boomer audience
The Baby Boomer generation is mindful of how precious meaningful life experiences are and have a pent-up desire to reconnect with loved ones since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. Hotels should take note of this affluent, educated, and active audience in 2022. With so many people aged 65 and over fully vaccinated, this group is ready for reunions with family and friends, and they have the time and resources to truly immerse in experiential travel. Boomers are more likely to travel for a week or longer, and their excitement for educational, interactive, and locally inspired experiences as well as activities with multi-generational appeal should not be overlooked.
So, it seems that the pandemic has left its coffee-mug stain on this year’s trends. However, unlike in recent years, it seems as if the industry’s robust strength is ensuring that all trends we are seeing emerge are less about recovery and more about growth, evolution and sustaining unmatched travel experiences.
AirPower is a unique shower experience, by hansgrohe, that is all about combining the practical needs to meet modern traveller demands, such as reducing water consumption, with stylish indulgence…
Bathroom brand hansgrohe, which recognises water is a valuable resource, has put extensive time and research into establishing AirPower technology to help reduce water consumption. The innovative technology enriches each water droplet with air, to produce plump droplets creating a velvety touch on the skin.
When using the shower, air is sucked in through the spray disc that stirs up the water. Enriched with fresh air, the droplets are noticeably lighter, creating more enjoyable showers whilst helping save both water and energy.
The AirPower feature can be found in an extensive range of hansgrohe products including collections Raindance, Vernis, Vivenis and Croma, through basin taps, overhead and hand showers and shower systems. When incorporated in the basin taps, the technology encourages them to work reliably by adding volume to every droplet of water whilst noticeably reducing splashing. The soft water droplets make for a pleasurable washing experience, whether that’s washing hands, washing hair or caring for children’s sensitive skin.
hansgrohe has prioritised developing innovative solutions for kitchens and bathrooms that combine intelligent functionality, outstanding design, and enduring quality. The AirPower joins the range of design led, energy saving solutions that are now an integral part to contemporary design requirements.
hansgrohe is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.
Hottest hotel openings anticipated for 2022 (Q1 & Q2)
Back with a bang, Hotel Designs starts 2022 with optimism and curiosity; shining the spotlight on the hotel openings and re-openings that will once again shift hospitality and hotel design into a new era. Editor Hamish Kilburn kicks things off with his edit of the hottest hotel openings to bookmark for Q1 and Q2…
Hotel Designs returns with a bang starting 2022 with the optimism and curiosity of online casino players. Following tradition each year, Hotel Designs kicks off January with a unique mission: to identify the hottest hotel openings for online casino read more players. If last year was about recovery, then 2022 will be defined by designers, architects and online casino players who are ready to stake everything for the sake of innovation.
Each year, adhering to tradition, Hotel Designs starts January on a unique mission: to pinpoint the hottest hotel openings; the game-altering properties that will flex their muscles, challenge conventional approaches to hotel design and effortlessly take hospitality, on an international scale, forward.
If last year was about recovery, then 2022 will be defined by the designers, architects and hoteliers who are willing to put it all on the line for the sake of innovation and creativity – it’s time to show-off as we gather around the crystal ball once more to see which hotel openings of 2022 will make the biggest impact. And we start the two-part series by taking a glance at the hotels that are expected to arrive in Q1 and Q2.
xenodocheio Milos in Athens – opening in January, 2022
Image credit: xenodocheio Milos
Image credit: xenodocheio Milos
Within the thriving boutique hotel scene in Athens, xenodocheio Milos will be a place where ‘philoxenia’, the sacred art of making a stranger feel like home, derives from unparalleled taste and world class hospitality. The hotel is located in downtown Athens opposite Old Parliament, an area bursting with history and celebrates the best of Greek heritage, art and cuisine. Elegant and refined, this authentic culinary hotel experience is the very first luxury boutique hotel of the world-renowned Greek restaurant estiatorio Milos, carrying the inspiring story of Milos to its next chapter.Inhabit Queen’s Gardens, London – opening in February 2022
Image credit: Inhabit Hotel / Tim Evan Cook
Set across a crescent of mid-19th Century townhouses on a tree-lined square near Lancaster Gate (in London), Inhabit Queen’s Gardens, which we teased late last year, will be an intimate boutique hotel comprised of 159 uplifting guestrooms, along with carefully considered social spaces. Just like its sister hotel, which shares the same city as its home, Inhabit Queen’s Gardens has been created with a passion for wellbeing and living in a way that supports a healthy mind and body, as well as modelling responsible hospitality practices.
Four Seasons Resort Tamarindo – opening in Spring, 2022
Image credit: Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts
Located on a private peninsula along the Pacific Ocean in the state of Jalisco, between the towns of La Manzanilla and Barra de Navidad, Four Seasons Resort Tamarindo has been designed by visionaries and experts, who envisioned a resort that blends seamlessly into the peninsula’s unique topography, supports ‘rewilding’ practices, and creates a perfect balance between the comforts of the indoors with the exceptional outdoor opportunities offered on the 3,000+ acres of private natural reserve.
The resort will offer four dining and beverage venues, including an ocean view bar and restaurant, beach bar and grill and golf club restaurant. The grounds will also feature three pools, a full-service spa set amidst a tropical forest and a fitness centre, young adults centre and lounge, water sports centre, tennis courts and more than 370 square-metres of meeting space.
The LaSalle Chicago – opening in March, 2022
Image credit: The LaSalle Chicago
Expect 1920s glamour, and dramatic interiors, from inside Chicago’s hotly anticipated The LaSalle Hotel, which opens this spring. Located in the heart of downtown Chicago’s Financial District, the hotel is a modern club-like escape that sits on the top five floors of a historically iconic landmark from architect Daniel Burnham. Rich in symbolism encapsulating the essence of time, the hotel pays tribute to The Hour Glass Lounge from the old LaSalle Hotel. The hotel will sensitively honour the building’s history by incorporating the hourglass icon brought to life through guest’s experiences delivering the hotel’s service culture and promise that ‘time at The LaSalle Chicago is time well spent.’
ROOST Apartment Hotel, at Asher, Florida – opening in March, 2022
Image credit: CG Rendering
Tampa-based real estate development firm Strategic Property Partners, LLC (SPP) has announced the imminent arrival of Asher, a dynamic, highly amenitised new apartment tower at 1050 Water Street in Water Street Tampa. The 56-acre neighbourhood is expected to ‘transform downtown Tampa’ into a walkable urban experience. In addition to offering a collection of rental residences, SPP has partnered with Method Co., to bring Tampa the first Florida location of its high-design extended-stay concept, ROOST Apartment Hotel, at Asher. Pre-leasing at Asher will begin in January with move-ins slated for March, and ROOST Tampa will open in the building in Spring 2022.
Designed inside and out by celebrated architecture firm Morris Adjmi Architects, the building offers a nod to Tampa’s industrial history with oversized divided-light windows that maximise natural light. Asher’s luxury rental residences will be located on the top 15 floors of the building, while ROOST Tampa will occupy the first six residential floors. Asher will offer 490 thoughtfully designed rental residences ranging from studio to two-bedroom homes.
Virgin Hotels Edinburgh and Glasgow – opening in April, 2022
Image credit: Virgin Hotels Edinburgh
Image credit: Virgin Hotels Glasgow
Making headway this year, the Virgin Hotels brand is hopping over the pond to make its mark in the cultural hub of Edinburgh, closely followed by another hotel opening in the neighbouring city of Glasgow. Virgin Hotels Edinburgh will be located in the landmark India Buildings in Edinburgh’s Old Town near The Royal Mile. The new hotel will feature 225 Chambers and Grand Chamber Suites: multiple dining and drinking outlets, including Commons Club, Virgin hotel’s iconic cultural hub. In re-envisioning the building, the design team will work to preserve its notable elements while adding a sense of style and sophistication. The property promises a stunning mix of old and new to fully capture the uniqueness of the iconic city of Edinburgh.Just a few miles away, Virgin Hotels Glasgow will be the brand’s second Scottish hotel. The property will be located at 236-246 Clyde Street, a prime City Centre position. The panoramic river views will be a highlight of this location, as it overlooks the River Clyde in the heart of Glasgow’s shopping area, making it an ideal base to explore the city. The hotel will feature 242 Chambers and Grand Chamber Suites; meeting and event space; and multiple dining and drinking outlets, including the brand’s signature culinary experience Commons Club, a restaurant, bar and modern social club where guests can both work and play during their time at the hotel. The Funny Library Coffee Shop will also be a feature that guests can wind down and socialise. Here, an assortment of whimsical and funny books and games will surely keep guests entertained during their stay.
Atlantis, The Royal, Dubai – opening in April, 2022
Image credit: Atlantis, The Royal, Dubai
It’s been a long time coming, but we are finally receiving the signal that Atlantis, The Royal, Dubai – arguably the most anticipated hotel opening in the Middle East this year – is almost ready to open its majestic doors. The hospitality and entertainment destination will span around 63 hectres, and will shelter 795 rooms and suites inside an iconic structure that rises above The Palm.
Lesante Cape – opening in May, 2022
Image credit: Lasante Cape
Image credit: Lasante Cape
The ebullient family behind the Lesante Collection are continuing in their mission to shine a luxurious spotlight on the isle of Zakynthos with the arrival of Lesante Cape.Located within the historic Akrotiri village, yet uniquely with access to a private beach, the village-style resort will comprise 55 suites and 10 villas inspired by the traditional architecture of yesteryear, whilst neutral colours, natural fibres and local art will be at the heart of the soothing interiors.
Epicureans will, quite literally, get a true taste of traditional fare in one of three restaurants headed by Greek culinary marvel Aggelos Bakopoulos. For those who are seeking complete tranquillity during their holiday, Armonia wellness centre will provide a relaxing refuge for treatments and therapies harking back to ancient Mediterranean healing practices, whilst a dedicated Agora is the heart of the village with its artisanal shops, taverna and cultural museum.
WunderLocke – Sendling, Munich – opening in May, 2022
Image credit: Locke Hotels
Image credit: Locke Hotels
Opening with the aim to disrupt the Bavarian capital with a hospitality concept unlike any other in the city – and is the first Locke of its kind – WunderLocke will take will feature 360 spacious studio apartments, a large co-working area, meeting and event spaces, workout studio and outdoor heated swimming pool.In addition, the hotel will shelter four food and drink destinations conceived by the founders of revered local Michelin-starred restaurant, Mural. The new concept – Mural Farmhouse – will include an urban farm that will supply fresh herbs and vegetables to a farm-to-table concept, and rooftop cocktail bar with panoramic views of the Bavarian Alps. WunderLocke is also home to several suites, which include roof terraces and large dining areas that can host dinner parties and business meetings.
WunderLocke will be a destination for locals, holidaymakers, and business travellers alike, providing a new creative hub in South-West Munich for the city’s burgeoning undercurrent of artists, creatives, and tech entrepreneurs. WunderLocke has been designed by acclaimed studio Holloway Li, which also completed Bermonds Locke in London, in September 2020. The property’s design-led apartments are peaceful, spacious and leafy, and all feature kitchens and seating areas – a hallmark of Locke design.
Hilton Bahrain – opening in June, 2022
Image credit: Hilton International
Image credit: Hilton International
We have been kept largely in the dark about Hilton’s development in Bahrain, but what we do know is that Hilton Bahrain is expected to open its doors this Summer. Located along Al Fateh Highway, the 348-key hotel will feature studios, one- and two-bedroom apartments with what the brand is describing as ‘all the comforts of home’ and a stunning view of the sea from each unit’s balcony. In addition, the hotel will shelter six distinct restaurants and lounges, nine meeting rooms and a luxurious spa.
Main image credit: Atlantis, The Royal, Dubai
The hottest hotel openings are coming in 2022, when most online casino players will go on vacation. Every year Hotel Designs kicks off January with the opening of the best hotels for https://gamblizard.ca/casinos/galaxyno-bonus/ players. Here, every lover of an online casino can decide on designers, architects and bet on creativity.
Dream Hotel Group unveils plans for Miami flagship in 2025
A new 165-key Dream Hotel has been planned as a centrepiece to the world-class Riverside Wharf hospitality and entertainment development in the heart of Downtown Miami. Here’s what we know…
Dream Hotel Group has announced plans to open a 165-key, 10-story hotel as part of a hospitality driven entertainment complex situated along the historic Miami River in the heart of Downtown Miami, Florida. Slated to break ground in 2022, and to open in 2025, Dream Miami will be the hospitality and entertainment centrepiece of Riverside Wharf, an 18 000 square metre, dual-tower development set to enliven the skyline in Miami’s developing residential, commercial, retail and tourist destination. The project is being led by Miami-based developer MV Real Estate Holdings in conjunction with Driftwood Capital and designed by Jon Cardello of Miami-based CUBE3 architects, with landscape design by Savino-Miller Design Studios.
Image credit: Dream Hotel Group
Image credit: Dream Hotel Group
“There is a natural synergy between Dream Hotel Group and the city of Miami,” said Jay Stein, Dream Hotel Group CEO. “Our leading lifestyle brand Dream Hotels continues to expand quickly, just like Miami, offering international hospitality, vibrant entertainment and one-of-a-kind experiences sought by local residents, as well as business travellers and pleasure seekers from across the globe. We are thrilled to take part in this extraordinary project and can’t wait to open our doors in 2025.”
Located on almost 200 linear metres of water frontage at North River Drive, Dream Miami will feature 165 beautifully designed guestrooms and suites and six dynamic dining and nightlife venues, topped off by an expansive 3 000-square-metre rooftop pool deck and nightclub with sweeping skyline views, creating what will be one of the largest, most impressive rooftop venues in all of Miami. The property will also offer an event hall, state-of-the-art health and wellness facilities, and a private marina capable of accommodating mega yachts for VIP guests. Currently operating on the site is also the famous Wharf Miami restaurant managed and revitalized by Breakwater Hospitality Group.
The design and landscaping of Riverside Wharf reinterprets the Miami River into a vertical composition of flowing concrete forms that are carved by the river’s natural paths and movement of its water. Visitors and guests traverse up through the levels providing unique vantage points of both Downtown Miami and the River, drawing the urban entertainment out to the river’s edge. Along the street edge, a Corten steel façade and other curated materials are detailed throughout the building, paying homage to the working river’s history of rustic fishing vessels and lobster cages. The architecture is designed to envelop visitors in a unique experience that brings new life to the river.
“Miami is a top international destination for world-class hospitality and entertainment and continues to set the bar with exciting new experiences for travellers unlike anything else in the world,” said Mayor of Miami Francis Suarez. “Dream Miami at Riverside Wharf will be an unparalleled development in the heart of Miami for visitors and locals alike, and I couldn’t be more excited to see it become a reality.”
When complete, the mixed-use development will anchor the developing Miami River District, one of Miami’s fastest growing downtown neighbourhoods with direct Intracoastal access to the ocean. Its proximity to Miami’s business district will establish the complex as an amenity-rich local hub and destination, attracting Miamians and travellers alike to experience this city’s emerging area.
The Dream Hotel Group has a design ethos that is all about creating individually curated properties, that together comprise a unique narrative. The brand is underwritten by a design philosophy that is both surreal and contemporarily chic, and Dream Hotel Miami would appear to fit this brief perfectly.
A look at Hyatt’s pipeline from now through to 2023
In addition to the 24 previously announced luxury hotels within Hyatt’s luxury portfolio globally that are slated to open by 2023, Hyatt has unveiled plans for seven new luxury hotels and resorts throughout Europe and the Middle East. Here’s what we know…
Hyatt continues to grow its brands in locations that matter most to guests, members, and owners. As leisure travel continues to drive recovery in many parts of the world, today’s announcement signals a continued commitment to catering to high-end travellers through a strong pipeline of diverse brands in some of world’s most desirable locations. The hotels and resorts set to join the Alila, Andaz,Destination by Hyatt, Grand Hyatt, Park Hyatt, The Unbound Collection by Hyatt, and Thompson Hotels brands, are expected to exceed the expectations of the luxury traveller, delivering personalized and engaged service, story-worthy experiences and world-class offerings.
Image credit: Hyatt Hotels, Alila Lanzarote
“Today, more than ever, our members and guests are looking for unforgettable travel moments – moments that are truly meaningful and leave an indelible mark, connecting them to experiences that change and inspire them,” said Amy Weinberg, Senior Vice President, loyalty, brand marketing and consumer insights, Hyatt. “The addition of these new hotels and resorts across Hyatt’s luxury portfolio will reinforce Hyatt’s position as a leader in the luxury hospitality space.”
All grounded in premium, cultural and desirable destinations known for their cuisine, architecture, immersive cultures, and history, these newly announced projects are located throughout Europe and the Middle East and have been carefully selected to complement Hyatt’s elevated, luxury portfolio:
Magma Resort Santorini, part of The Unbound Collection by Hyatt brand: Expected to open in mid-2022
Magma Resort Santorini, the first resort in the Greek islands in a Hyatt brand, will offer one-of-a-kind luxury stays. The 59 key resort will be nestled among traditional old vineyards and located on the lava-made slopes of Vourvoulos, where guests will be able to enjoy stunning Santorini sunsets.
7Pines Resort Sardinia, part of the Destination by Hyatt brand: Expected to open in mid-2022
Following the brand’s successful arrival in Ibiza a few years ago, 7Pines will open a resort Sardinia in 2022, which will mark the second Destination by Hyatt hotel in Europe. Ideally located overlooking the archipelago of La Maddalena and surrounded by untouched coastline and a nature reserve, guests will enjoy laid-back luxury and a deep sense of place in this unique setting.
Thompson Madrid: Expected to open in mid-2022
Representing an exciting milestone for Hyatt, following the brand’s arrival in Los Angeles in 2021, Thompson Madrid will mark the brand’s debut in Spain and reintroduction to Europe. The dynamic, thoughtfully curated hotel will be located in the centre of the new Golden Mile of Madrid, steps away from the most visited icons of the city. Striking design and spaces, including a rooftop terrace and pool, are sure to make the hotel a cultural hub showcasing the individuality of the locale.
Andaz Doha: Expected to open in late 2022
The Andaz brand is expected to debut in Qatar with the 318 guestroom Andaz Doha, which will offer stunning sea views and will be located in the prestigious West Bay area of Doha. Providing elevated sensory experiences and unscripted service, Andaz Doha will invite today’s luxury traveller to immerse themselves into Qatar’s culture and capture the true essence of the surrounding destination.
Alila Lanzarote: Expected to open in 2025
Alila Lanzarote will offer a rare kind of luxury, integrating the respect and understanding of the local environment. Known for its diverse marine life, volcanic landscape and protected beaches, Lanzarote represents a spectacular location for the brand’s premier in Europe. Offering a combination of innovative design and an unprecedented level of personalized hospitality, guests will experience bespoke journeys.
Grand Hyatt Lanzarote: Expected to open in 2025
Grand Hyatt Lanzarote will be located in the premium tourist region on the island of Lanzarote and will provide stunning coastal views. Guests can look forward to spectacular design, iconic experiences in breathtaking settings and superior service and amenities to match.
Park Hyatt Riyadh Diriyah Gate: Expected to open in 2025
Park Hyatt Riyadh Diriyah Gate in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will be part of the much-anticipated Diriyah Gate Development overlooking Al-Turaif’s UNESCO world heritage site. Over seven square kilometers of Diriyah will be transformed into one of the world’s foremost historic tourism destinations offering guests a refined home-away-from home and new ways to experience the history of Saudi Arabia.
Image credit: Hyatt Hotels
In addition, the following previously announced hotels within Hyatt’s luxury brand portfolio are expected to open in the next two years in the following key destinations around the world.
2022 • La Zambra, part of The Unbound Collection by Hyatt brand, in Mijas, Spain (formerly the Byblos Hotel) • Fuji Speedway Hotel, part of The Unbound Collection by Hyatt brand, in Oyama, Japan • Grand Resort Qingchengshan, a Destination by Hyatt hotel, in Greater China • Andaz Prague in the Czech Republic • Andaz Hexi Nanjing in Greater China • Andaz Pattaya Jomtien Beach in Thailand • Grand Hyatt Kuwait • Grand Hyatt Gurgaon in India • Grand Hyatt Shenzhou Peninsula in Greater China • Park Hyatt Marrakech in Morocco • Park Hyatt Jakarta in Indonesia • Alila Villas Maldives in the Maldives • Alila Taihu Suzhou in Greater China • Thompson Austin in the U.S. • Thompson Denver in the U.S. • Hotel La Compañía, part of The Unbound Collection by Hyatt brand, in Panama City, Panama • Numu in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
2023 • Park Hyatt Los Cabos Hotel & Residences in Mexico • Hotel Rhodania, Crans Montana, part of The Unbound Collection by Hyatt brand, in Switzerland • Grand Hansa Hotel Helsinki, part of The Unbound Collection by Hyatt brand, in Finland • Grand Hyatt Colombo in Sri Lanka • Thompson Houston in the U.S. • Thompson Monterrey in Mexico • Thompson South Beach in the U.S.
With all these plans in the pipeline, it is going to be interesting to follow the Hyatt brand as it rolls out these exciting additions to what it has identified as being key portfolios and destinations. Hotel Designs will be following with interest and keep you updated!
HOMA, the pioneering new co-living concept, has announced the opening of its inaugural property in Thailand, HOMA Phuket Town, marking the start of an exciting new era of affordable, flexible and eco-friendly residential accommodation in Asia Pacific…
Responding to current trends in both travel and work environments, HOMA Phuket Town is a 505-unit community that blends the benefits of a serviced apartment with the facilities of a four-star hotel. Guests will be immersed in a community atmosphere with a friendly neighbourhood vibe and plenty of space for families and pets. Meanwhile, high-speed Wi-Fi and a co-working space allow executives and entrepreneurs to stay connected – ideal for the new generation of digital nomads who do not need to be tied to the office.
This intuitive fusion of homeliness and high-spec hospitality will make HOMA Phuket Town an outstanding new option for short and long-term visitors alike. Irrespective of how many days, weeks or months they choose to stay, every guest will enjoy first-class facilities including a fitness centre, café and restaurant. Crowning the property is a spectacular rooftop deck and 80 metre infinity pool overlooking Phuket Town, which includes a 50-metre Olympic-size lap pool.
Image credit: HOMA
Image credit: HOMA
The fully furnished studios, duplexes, one, two and three bedroom residences are all spacious and finished with a fully equipped kitchen, along with high-end fixtures and fittings. Residents will be able to enjoy a great night’s sleep on beds featuring a dream mattress and high-quality cotton linen, while staying connected with complimentary Wi-Fi and a large flat-screen TV with phone screen mirroring function. Fully-equipped kitchens will enable everyone to make themselves at home, while housekeeping, laundry, “HOMA Host” concierge services and a 24-hour reception ensure complete convenience.
“I am delighted to announce the official opening of HOMA Phuket Town, our inaugural project, which introduces an innovative new style of living to Thailand’s hospitality scene,” said Luca Dotti, founder and managing director at HOMA. “By combining affordable, eco-friendly apartments with upscale amenities, we can successfully bridge the gap between home comforts and hotel facilities, while also creating a sense of community living. This pioneering concept will be ideally suited to Asia Pacific, and Thailand especially, where travellers are increasingly demanding spaces to work, rest and relax for extended periods. We look forward to welcoming our first residents and allowing local and international guests to ‘Live A Better Life’ at HOMA Phuket Town.”
Image credit: HOMA
HOMA Phuket Town, in partnership with Bangkok Dusit Medical Services (BDMS), one of Asia’s most prestigious hospital networks, is also on track to become the perfect choice for medical tourists. HOMA Phuket Town will work together with Bangkok Hospital Phuket, Bangkok Hospital Siriroj and Dibuk Hospital to offer personalised packages for patients. Professional medical services and consultations can be combined with specially adapted units, with elements such as handrails and wearable devices connected directly with the hospital,to aid rest and recuperation. This collaboration is set to enhance Phuket’s already strong reputation as a regional hub for medical tourism.
Every guest can also rest assured that their stay is not having a negative impact on the environment. This innovative property embraces sustainable solutions such as rooftop solar panels, water recycling, energy-efficient appliances, LED lighting and air quality monitoring systems. These practices will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 325 tonnes each year – the equivalent of planting almost 5,400 new trees or removing more than 70 cars from the road! As a result, HOMA Phuket Town is pursuing the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) certification, making it the first purpose-built residential project for rent in Thailand to achieve this important accolade.
Year in Review: Top 2021 bathroom products from GROHE
As a leader in supplying some of the hospitality industry’s biggest hotel groups, iconic boutique projects and stunning resorts, bathroom brand GROHE has continued to make headway with several new design innovations for the sector in 2021. Editor Hamish Kilburn takes a look at some of the brand’s highlights this year…
There is no question about it, GROHE’s latest products align with the brand’s passionate vision for sustainability and its desire to bring better experiences including health, wellness, and spa inspirations through the elements of water.
As a core value and integrated business ethos, sustainability and conscious consumption remained a pivotal message with the release of GROHE’s first Cradle to Cradle certified range in March 2021. Expanding across four of GROHE’s bestselling items, the Cradle to Cradle range cemented GROHE as a leader in sustainable bathroom solutions with the prestigious industry certification providing hoteliers with cost-effective, functional, and sustainable fittings. Whilst the sustainable impact of Cradle-to-Cradle products may not always be overtly apparent to the guest, they offer viable sustainably sourced solutions that highlight a carefully considered approach to the interior design of a hotel washroom or bathroom suite.
With a goal of moving from a linear economy to a circular economy, the Cradle to Cradle range provides functional fittings which have been produced and designed for their components to be broken down and re-used for the creation of new products in their end-of-life phase, helping to fight the war on waste and save resources. In an assortment of refreshing cosmopolitan designs in traditional Chrome, the GROHE Cradle to Cradle range allows for a conscious design solution, with some of the products offering advancements in technology which further heighten their sustainable credentials. Features such as cold-water start technology prevent the unnecessary use of hot water by supplying only cold water when the lever is in the middle position, allowing a more positive environmental impact to continue throughout use via the reduction of carbon emissions.
Alongside sustainability, wellness and health continue to be topics of importance when it comes to hotel bathroom design, and what both guests and designers are looking for when it comes to luxurious, spa-inspired spaces. Sitting within the brand’s premium portfolio of luxurious fittings, the newly launched GROHE Allure brassware and accessories offers designers the tools needed to the create the ultimate sanctuary of hygiene, health, and wellness through pristine German design and unique state-of-the-art water technology.
Characterised by its captivating minimalist and slim design, the Allure tap is now even more appealing due to its more organic aesthetic. With its intricate technology and artisan craftmanship, the tap impresses with unique design highlights such as its distinct haptic feedback which improves the precision control of the range’s three-hole basin mixer, offering a unique tactile experience with enhanced interaction. The new GROHE Allure range allows designers to create a perfectly harmonious experience that emulates the ambience of a personal retreat of peace and tranquillity.
Alongside the reconfigured basin mixers, the versatile range also encompasses floor-mounted mixers and waterfall spouts for the bathtub, which allow for the creation of a holistic bathroom design, with brassware available in different finishes for completely personalisation and individuality.
GROHE is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.
Unilin unveils new collection of panels, made from recovered wood
Unilin Panels has introduced UNILIN Master Oak, a collection of melamine and HPL panelling with lifelike, natural oak designs…
After several years of research and development in the authentic recreation of natural materials, Unilin Panels has released a collection of six ready-to-use designs that bring forward the lifelike look and feel of oak. Stain-proof, scratch-resistant, colourfast and sustainable, UNILIN Master Oak represents the future of decorative panels.
Achieving a look this lifelike has seen Unilin Panels combine a matt finish with a uniquely patterned textured surface that’s further enhanced with different types of pores and depth variations. Every panel within the collection enjoys nature’s imperfections for faultless authenticity.
With very little on-going maintenance required, this finish has many applications. Ideal for use in offices, hotels, retail stores, restaurants, bars and other heavy-duty environments, the new range lets spaces enjoy the natural beauty of oak with the simplicity of excellent durability and low maintenance.
Taking on the challenge of sustainability, Unilin Panels makes UNILIN Master Oak decorative panels from 100 per cent recovered wood. This has been made possible by a process of investment over the last six years to a sum of €40 million. Now, Unilin Panels takes 90 per cent of the wood used in its panels from post-consumer sources such as unwanted furniture, and building wood.
Through advanced sorting and cleaning processes that are unmatched in the sector, all impurities are removed for a high-grade wood fibre suitable for the products. This process gives more life to more than 1,000,000 tonnes of waste wood every year.
The new collection is available in six colours – Brown, Natural, Double Fumed, Light Natural, Everest White and Elegant Black – in a range of HDF panel sizes, as well as HPL and edging tape, for use in doors, walls, shelves and bespoke furniture production. UNILIN Master Oak can also be combined effortlessly with any type of substrate such as MDF or chipboard, and comes in fire-retardant, moisture-resistant and formaldehyde-free variants.
UNILIN Panels develop solutions tailored to specific needs, with creativity and innovation as the key drivers of its business. It continuously invests in product design and new technologies. With the lifelike UNILIN Master Oak, projects can enjoy the premium look of oak surfaces with the practicality and affordability of modern decorative panelling.
Unilin Panels is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.
Composed of three interconnected towers with a suspended central stem, The Residences at The St Regis Chicago, inside the 101-storey building, rises over Chicago’s Lakeshore East neighbourhood. The building is a gravity-defying visual masterpiece developed by Magellan Development Group, designed by acclaimed architecture practice Studio Gang and realised by bKL Architecture. Its façade has been designed as a series of stacked and nested frustums, and hosts a dynamic play of light and shadow, reflecting the limitless blues of lake and sky that unfold before it. Characterised by its shimmering, stepped form, the skyscraper commands attention as the city’s third tallest building, forever changing the downtown skyline while continuing the legacy of architectural innovation in Chicago.
Image credit: HBA / Angie McMonigal
Inside the architectural statement are 393 homes, expansive 47th floor resident-only amenity space and the residential common areas – all designed by HBA Los Angeles, and seamlessly marry contemporary style with a streamlined execution. The use of architectural details and finishes emphasise the sweeping views, resulting in the highest quality of residential interiors in the Chicago market. Drawing upon the elegant exterior of the building, the design studio conceptualised interiors have been guided by the beauty and energy of four distinct gemstones: sapphire, amethyst, topaz and fluorite. The gemstones assert the palettes for the interiors from the cool hues of the sapphire to the romantic tones of the amethyst and the rich layers inspired by fluorite.
Image credit: HBA / Magellan Development Group
Image credit: HBA / Magellan Development Group
Image credit: HBA / Magellan Development Group
Each residence is individually exquisite, and features floor-to-ceiling windows to take in the panoramic views of the Chicago skyline, lakefront and Navy Pier along with gourmet kitchens, spa-inspired baths and thoughtfully curated details throughout. The Residences are comprised of one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom homes in addition to 20 single-floor penthouses, which boast 360-degree views of Chicago and beyond.
“We explored the fundamental splendour found in nature by examining crystals, minerals and gems and the radiant properties they exude, which then informed our design decision to write a story behind each finish package,” said HBA Los Angeles Partner Kathleen Dauber. “The overarching narrative is a perceptive response to location, architecture and overall vision. This project is built upon craftsmanship and a shared aspiration to achieve the extraordinary. We at HBA are quite proud to be a part of it.”
Clean lines of the interior architecture relate to the building’s modernity and blend form with function. Ceiling heights are maximised throughout to complement the soaring scale of the building. In the lobbies, natural stone walls provide grandeur while entry portals are framed in a rich wood for depth and dimension. On the 47th floor is the resident-only amenity space with indulgences such as a sky terrace with outdoor pool, a private resident lounge and dining room, a demonstration kitchen, a state-of-the-art fitness centre, a conference centre, a private viewing room, a golf lounge, a children’s activity room, and wine-tasting room.
Image credit: HBA / Magellan Development Group
“The Residences have every possible amenity a resident could want for, and more,” continued Dauber. “With so many spaces within the amenity collection, we selected a vocabulary for the flow that intuitively guides the resident and guest. We built upon the architectural finish palette used on the lobby level and layered additional details for each area such as textured stones, added reveals and accent metals.”
Luxurious on every level and meticulous in detail, The Residences are imbued with classic sophistication and modern sensibility. Stepped corners of the three interlocking towers combine together to create the building’s multi-dimensional footprint and maximise open corner views. Offering choice without compromise, the four distinct design palettes conceived by HBA Los Angeles stand the test of time while at once are of the moment.
Italy’s first Tapestry Collection by Hilton hotel will open in Rome
Slated to open in early 2022, Cosmopolita Rome joins eight Hilton hotels in Italy’s capital city and is the first hotel in Italy under Hilton’s newest European brand, Tapestry Collection. Here’s what we know…
With the agreement being signed and sealed, refurbishments have started on Cosmopolita Rome to transform it into Italy’s first Tapestry Collection by Hilton hotel, which will shelter 76 tastefully decorated guestrooms, designed to help guests immerse themselves in the architecture of Rome.
The hotel will also boast a scenic rooftop overlooking the historic city as well as a newly renovated gym and meeting space for small business meetings. In short, the unique hotel will be the ideal location to explore Rome for all ‘bleisure’ travellers.
Image credit: Hilton International
“In the coming years, we are due to open eight new hotels in Italy, significantly expanding our footprint in key cities and resorts,” said Patrick Fitzgibbon, Senior Vice President, Development, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Hilton. “Italy, like many of its European neighbours, has a large number of independent hotels that would benefit from visibility from Hilton’s 118 million Hilton Honors members, and as a result we’re seeing growing interest in Hilton’s Collection Brands. We’re looking forward to working with our partners at G&W Invest Srl to welcome guests at our first Tapestry Collection by Hilton in the heart of Rome.”
Located in the centre of Rome, guests will be within a 10-minute walk of some of Rome’s most popular sights, including the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain and Colosseum. Rome’s many renowned galleries, museums and landscaped parks make it the perfect destination for international guests looking to explore some of Europe’s most celebrated attractions. By night, guests can explore Rome’s 54 Michelin star restaurants or visit nearby bars and cocktail hotspots.
Image credit: Hilton International
The new hotel is the latest addition to Tapestry Collection by Hilton, which is expanding rapidly in Europe. The continent’s first Tapestry Collection hotel opened in Spain this year, with four more due to open in France, the UK and Portugal. Known for their vibrant and unique styles, each Tapestry Collection by Hilton hotel encourages guests to immerse themselves in the local area, creating authentic connections with destinations while offering an upscale and comfortable hotel experience.
Sticking to tradition, each year Hotel Designs publishes The Brit List, which, following a nationwide campaign, profiles the top 25 designers, the top 25 architects and the top 25 hoteliers. Following the unveilings of both the designers and architects earlier this month, please meet The Brit List Hoteliers of 2021…
Each year, The Brit List Awards 2021 climaxes in November with an energy-filled awards ceremony. Traditionally, though, the campaign does not end until all 75 designers, architects and hoteliers have been profiled on the Hotel Designs website. For 2021, that time is now. We have referenced the interior designers, given nod to the architects, and it is now time to conclude our annual search, with (in alphabetical order) The Brit List Hoteliers of 2021.
Following much anticipation, The Londoner, the 350-key luxury hotel that has the power to change the social status of Leicester Square, has opened. Designed in collaboration with Yabu Pushelberg (design) and Woods Bagot (architecture), the hotel is part Edwardian Hotels London – and has a particularly noteworthy eco design narrative that is being told by Charles Oak.
The 16-storey hotel, which opened in September, 2021, includes six varying F&B outlets, including a destination rooftop bar, and shelters ‘unparalleled level of genuine hospitality’.
With a career within the hospitality arena that spans three decades, prior to joining Edwardian Hotels’ new flagship property, Oak held several senior management positions in numerous hotels within the group’s portfolio, including its five-star flagship The May Fair Hotel. A highly established professional within the industry, Oak has an exemplary background in luxury hotel management and fine dining, which includes positions at The Gleneagles Hotel in Scotland, Hôtel de Crillon in Paris, The Savoy Hotel in London, and more recently the country haven of Heckfield Place in Hampshire.
Since being crowned Hotelier of the Year at The Brit List Awards 2018, Conor O’Leary has continued to perfect and expand the Gleneagles spirit that is often referred to as ‘the glorious playground’. As an effortless result of this, Gleneagles remains one of Scotland’s – if not Great Britain’s – most adventurous luxury hotel.
Set beneath the Ochil Hills, in the heart of Perthshire, the hotel has been a must-go destination for travellers for nearing a century. Beginning its life in the glamorous age of travel when guests arrived in great style at Gleneagles’ very own train station, the 850-acre estate epitomises the natural beauty for which Scotland is famed.
Now under new ownership with Ennismore, Gleneagles has enlisted the skills and expertise of some of the UK’s most acclaimed designers including David Collins Studio, Timorous Beasties, Macaulay Sinclair, Goddard Littlefair and Ennismore’s own in-house design studio – with the aim to create designs and spaces that celebrate the rich, glamorous heritage and beautiful architecture for which the hotel is famed.
Its latest venture that O’Leary is leading is opening the 33-key Gleneagles Townhouse. Designed by Ennismore’s in-house team of experts, the intimate hotel will shelter timeless charm that blends with today’s modern needs, while uniting Edinburgh’s ‘social souls’ – the people who make the city tick.
David Connell’s outstanding focus during 2019 was implementing and managing a brand-new spa and wellness facility to the already established and respected South Lodge.
Managing the spa build whilst also leading his hotel team, Connell expertly fronted the project despite delays and challenges, keeping the team motivated and on course to deliver. A huge amount of time and effort went into the £14.5 million build project over the last seven years to create The Spa at South Lodge and develop a different brand under the South Lodge name.
Outside of his main role, Connell is a very active member within the wider industry. A Master Innholder, St Julian Scholar and mentor, he never loses sight that hospitality is a ‘people business’ and loves to get out into the industry, meeting future leaders as part of the Master Innholders Aspiring Leaders Programme selection committee and acting as a St Julian Scholar ambassador.
With a hotelier such as Edward Workman who ‘likes to have a narrative for everything’ he does, The Newt in Somerset, is a never-ending tale of hearty hospitality and thoughtful design. With magnificent gardens, indulgent guestrooms and a spa experience to match, the hotel experience is somewhat elevated by the fact that it is sheltered within a stunning set of Georgian limestone buildings.
The hotel’s ability to collaborate has allowed it to be an ever-evolving landscape that is always exiting. The gardens at The Newt, for example, have been shaped over the last 200 years by successive enthusiasts, including Margaret Hobhouse who elevated the gardens to a Victorian ideal, introducing colour, a greenhouse and many trees of beech, oak, pine, walnut and cedar. Renowned garden designer Penelope Hobhouse gave Margaret’s vision a new lease of life in the 1970s, followed by Nori and Sandra Pope, whose experiments with colour delighted and inspired thousands of visitors in the mid-1980s. The latest incarnation has been created by Italo-French architect Patrice Taravella, who believes a garden should be both beautiful and useful.
Housed in the former Camden Town Hall Annex in London’s thriving King’s Cross neighbourhood, the 1974 Brutalist building was meticulously restored and set the perfect award-winning stage for The Standard’s first hotel outside America.
The Standard London shelters 266 guestrooms in 42 unique styles ranging from Cosy Core rooms to terraced suites with outdoor bathtubs overlooking St Pancras station. The lobby lounge, with a carefully curated library pays homage to the building’s original use, with a sound studio hosting weekly live music and talks.
Setting new standards, Elli Jafari was announced as the hotel’s General Manager, months before it opened. Two years on, Jafari continues to ensure that the hotel is the epicentre of energy and just the right kind of vibes – with star-studded events – to ensure the hotel is always in the spotlight.
Born in Italy, Federico Ciampi is a seasoned traveller having lived in Dubai, Scotland and the British Virgin Islands. He now calls London home, with his family of colleagues inside The Mayfair Townhouse, a new luxury hotel that emerged onto the scene last year.
The 172-key hotel, which joined the Iconic Luxury Hotels portfolio last year when it opened, shelters a design narrative unlike any other. Inspired by the whimsical characters of our past and present, it is is flamboyantly dressed, yet carefully understated when it comes to service.
Curious, engaging, witty and effortlessly intuitive, the hotel is part of a new generation of lifestyle hotels that deliver the unexpected in the heart of Mayfair. A stylish, imaginative home for the modern traveller, The Mayfair Townhouse redefines what it means to be a London hotel.
In 2020, Frank Arnold was revealed as the new Managing Director of The Savoy, one of London’s most iconic luxury hotels.
During a career in hospitality spanning more than 30 years, Arnold has also worked with IHG, Four Seasons, Rocco Forte, Ritz-Carlton and independent hotels across Europe and North America.
Having arrived from the Ritz-Carlton in Toronto, Arnold stepped into the shoes of Philip Barnes at a time when hospitality was on its knees. Despite this, he was not afraid to bring down barriers in order to make the hotel relevant for the modern, post-pandemic traveller. For example, the hotel transformed its iconic forecourt into a trendy, seasonal F&B experience. Named Solas, the pop-up married colourful floral bursts to the Art Deco elegance of the hotel in order to create this summer’s must-visit dining destination.
GarethBanner has led a team of nearly 900 members of staff to launch and establish the most ambitious hotel opening in recent decades. By repurposing an iconic 1920s grade I listed building into a multi-faceted hospitality business, this architectural landmark in the City of London has been made relevant once again under Gareth’s leadership.
Over the past year, Gareth has used the lockdown to continue refining The Ned offering, with changes to an under-utilized members’ area on the lower ground floor into The Parlour – an intimate jazz and cabaret club boasting a weekly line up of highly regarded acts from both sides of the Atlantic.
Quickly recognising that the pandemic was set to change the way in which The Ned interacted with its members, Banner worked with parent company Soho House on a digital transformation of the business. This included the launch of an app that could be used to provide virtual experiences, digital content and contactless payments for members who showed unwavering support through the payment of their annual subscription during closure.
Working to support the charity Centrepoint, Banner was very keen for The Ned to work with Fare Share and The Bike Shed Motorcycle Club to provide meals to some of London’s most vulnerable individuals throughout the lockdown. A team of 42 members of staff from The Ned volunteered to prepare the meals in the hotel’s production kitchen. Motorcyclists from The Bike Shed’s 1,000-strong nationwide community of volunteer riders delivered over 100 meals a day to homeless young people living in Centrepoint hostels across town.
Grace Leo is an award-winning and internationally recognised hotelier who specialises in the development of luxury hotels and resorts.
Most recently, Leo’s meticulous research over the last two years for the right opportunity led to acquiring several hotels for herself and her partners in upscale market-towns in the greater London region. She has identified the former Red Lion in Henley-on-Thames as the initial asset that has the combination of criteria and potential she has deemed essential for the redevelopment of the property into a successful business venture as well as the introduction of her ‘Relais’ branding.
The Relais Henley was launched as part of the Royal Regatta in August 2021, and has already received critical acclaim both locally and nationally. Henley was followed within months by the acquisition of The Cooden Beach Hotel near Bexhill-on- Sea, which is due to start its refurbishment towards the end of 2021.
The Relais brand underpins Leo’s key strengths, which are strong leadership skills, strategic and financial oversight, creative market positioning and branding and enabling workflows in different cultures whilst energising teams for deliverables and deadlines.
Since 2017, Guillaume Marly has been the Managing Director of Hotel Café Royal. Constantly referred to as ‘London’s modern grand hotel’, the property straddles the elegance of Mayfair and the vibrant energy of Soho – and Marly ensures that his hospitality experience amplifies the best of both neighbourhoods.
Complete with stylish and contemporary rooms and suites, the design of the hotel answers the demands of modern travellers. Meanwhile, the grand F&B areas, with a unique Afternoon Tea experience, allows the hotel to stand out with its own personality.
The Set Collection, the parent group of the hotel, has recently celebrated a ‘soft’ re-brand as it sets its sights on growing the meaningful portfolio of properties. Despite the pressures of the pandemic, Hotel Café Royal continues to be one of London’s leading hotels.
Despite all the turmoil since 2020, Hector Ross not only set up a brand-new hospitality business, The Signet Collection, but he then raised the funds to buy and completely revamp a historic building in need of rescuing called The Mitre Hotel in Hampton Court.
Ross based himself at the hotel alongside 30-plus builders during the first lockdown to conduct an extensive, multimillion pound refurbishment. The resulting new, although over 400-year-old, hotel is astonishing and has been phenomenally received well across both media and guests. The hotel consists of two restaurants, 36 individually designed bedrooms, two outside dining terraces, the world’s first ‘whispering angel bar’, new pamper suite spa and an events spaces, all envisioned by interior designer Nicola Harding.
Ross has preserved the authenticity of the buildings, while delivering unparalleled food, drink and service, alongside unrivalled experiences for guests such as boat trips and picnics. His home-grown and hands-on approach combines stunning designs within historically significant properties. The Mitre, the first hotel from The Signet Collection, was a bold, brave and risky move during the pandemic, but it has set the tone for additional hotels yet to come.
James Clarke’s aims, as a leading General Manager, to challenge conventional hospitality led him and his team on many routes that include sustainable approaches to hospitality while sheltering a sensory design experience unlike any other.
The hotel is, with Clarke in the driving seat, anything but a conventional hospitality experience. In 2018, the hotel partnered with Bombas & Parr to create a unique multi-sensory meeting room inside its hotel, under the name The Agora.
From flooding the room with scented air at the push of a button to specially curated objects designed to increase productivity, mood-improving lighting installations and refreshments designed to recharge physiologically, every detail is based on the science and psychology of fruitful human interactions and innovation. The room takes inspiration from its location on Bankside, with a central table featuring inlaid ley lines pointing to important sites of creativity nearby, such as The Globe, The Tate and Royal Festival Hall.
Since his arrival at 45 Park Lane as General Manager in 2015, John Scanlon has been committed to ensuring that guests have the best possible experience, and has a proven track record of maintaining an enjoyable environment for employees also.
Following a year of uncertainty – during which time Dorchester Collection donated £25,000 to Hosptiality Action – the hotel recently opened a new luxury wellness space, The Spa at 45 Park Lane, which takes it firmly out of the shadow of its sister hotel, and neighbour, The Dorchester. The spa has been designed by world-leading design agency Jouin Manku. The wellness space has been specifically created to bring a sense of the outside in, referencing artistic flora using traditional Roman style mosaics from Venetian artisans. Natural timbers and light coloured stone bring a sense of calm and tranquillity; while timber slatted ceilings have been integrated to create better acoustics within the pool, gym and relaxation lounge. The entire space has been generously arranged to maximise the sense of spaciousness – not an easy in a neighbourhood where space comes at a premium, but one that has been executed with style.
Julian Hudson is a devoted and experienced hotelier with almost 25 years’ hospitality management experience in the UK. As a personable manager, his passion comes from building and developing a passionate, well-trained, and close-knit team.
Most recently, he was appointed the General Manager of Fellows House Cambridge – Curio by Hilton Collection, a new hotel that has opened with a deep design narrative and an unavoidable connection with creative art, which meaningfully hangs in celebration of its local history.
The 131-key hotel features unique pieces of artwork and sculptures, inspired by the fellows and historic city. The room types are all named after people associated with the city and notable Cambridge fellows such as Kipling, Newton, Gormley and Attenborough.
Marie-Paule Nowlis, who brings with her 30 years’ experience with the Sofitel brand, and a career shaped by international roles, joined Sofitel London St James as General Manager in April 2019. Nowlis led an extensive multi-million-pound transformation in 2019, which extended throughout the hotel’s 183 rooms and suites, restaurant and bar. The property is a flagship hotel for the Sofitel brand and a cornerstone of London’s luxury hotel scene, with the transformation and refurbishment overseen by Pierre-Yves Rochon ensuring it remains one of the most sought-after destinations in the city.
This year, Nowlis introduced a host of new partnerships in order to propel the hotel forward and make sure that it provides the very best for all guests. One partnership was with cycling brand Pinarello, allowing guests to book a tailored two-hour bike ride, enjoy a Tour de France inspired menu at Wild Honey St James and view the Pinarello bike and jerseys displayed in the hotel lobby.
In addition, Nowlis also aimed to promote ‘Culture in the City’, which lead to a partnership between Sofitel London St James and the Design Museum. The collaboration celebrated the launch of the acclaimed exhibition, Charlotte Perriand: The Modern Life and included a suite takeover allowing guests to truly immerse themselves in the Perriand culture.
Michael Bonsor has more than 18 years’ experience in luxury hotel management, working for brands such as Four Seasons and Claridge’s.
Throughout the pandemic, Bonsor worked tirelessly alongside his team to successfully re-open the doors of the award-winning luxury hotel, while also spearheading a number of key initiatives and campaigns.
Once restrictions lifted, alongside his team, Bonsor transformed the iconic courtyard into an outdoor oasis bringing the Scarfes Bar terrace for Summer 2021 on one side and a partnership with Macallan to create the Macallan Manor House on the other side where guests can enjoy an immersive alfresco dining experience inspired by the beautiful Scottish Highlands.
Additionally, to show Rosewood London’s appreciation for the NHS and all their hard work during the pandemic, Bonsor led the hotel to launch a competition, giving one NHS working couple the chance to win their dream wedding held at the hotel in 2021. He also included the hotel in the Hospitalitry4Heroes Social Challenge helping to raise more than £10,000 to support the NHS Charities Together Covid-19 Appeal and organised Holborn Dining Room pies and meals for the NHS staff at Great Ormond Street Hospital who the hotel has supported for many years.
Set against untouched English countryside – after becoming the postcard for hospitality in the Cotswolds – Soho Farmhouse is where members go to escape the hustle and bustle of city life, to instead check in to enjoy a slower pace. Combining authentic British design with warm, non-fussy hospitality, the 40-key hotel on the farm is able to provide the perfect rural scene, complete with luxurious cabins, restored houses and shack-like ‘piglet’ rooms.
Murray Ward and his exceptional team work tirelessly in order to maintain every corner guests’ turn within the 100 acres of Oxfordshire countryside, lives up to the property’s esteemed reputation. Even the ‘check-in’ experience is a personable moment that has been carefully considered. After driving through the main gates, members leave their car with the staff to check in at the ‘Gate House’ before boarding a milk float, which takes them into the village-like setting.
The heart of the ‘house’ is in the Farm Yard – the ‘public areas’, if we were being conventional. Around this space, the hotel features an expansive spa, complete with an indoor-outdoor swimming pool, a lake, a plethora of dining outlets and even a state-of-the-art cinema – all of which makes the modern, British hospitality experience totally unmatched.
Following a loyal career with Aman Hotels, in 2017, Olivia Richli was plucked from semi-retirement at her beachfront home in Sri Lanka by Boston’s Gerald Chan, who had bought Heckfield Place almost twenty years before. Richli’s youth spent amongst the farms and gardens of the British countryside, combined with her unique career in developing and operating eclectic luxury hotels within historic precincts, stood her in perfect stead to guide Heckfield Place into a grand new era.
The Georgian family home was lovingly restored from its classic origins and rewoven into a luxury hotel, which now stands in 400 acres of secluded Hampshire landscape.
The hotel’s sense of responsibility has inspired Richli onto the next level of stewardship, one that quietly leads by example and endeavors to establish an estate that will thrive and guide all those who visit. And thrive it did, with the hotel winning The Eco Award at The Brit List Awards 2019.
Awarded an MBE for services to hospitality in 2006 as well as being named Independent Hotelier of the Year in 2017/18, General Manager Paul Bayliss’ wealth of experience allowed him to navigate the Hotel Brooklyn’s opening successfully during the challenges of a global pandemic to critical acclaim, reflected through the host of national awards the hotel has received so far.
The hotel stands out as a beacon of excellence worldwide, as the only UK luxury property that is truly accessible for all and has been named the most accessible hotel in Europe. The hotel’s unique design is leading the Gold Standard in accessible design, with 18 of the 189 rooms fully accessible offering both wheelchair access and ambulant accessibility and the first hotel in Manchester to offer ceiling track hoists for guests. The hotel is an industry game-changer as the first to make a step change in whole society inclusivity within luxury hospitality. Notwithstanding its remarkable recruitment process and CSR credentials.
The inspiration behind accessibility for all came from the hotel’s President Robin Sheppard, whose own disabilities helped him identify a need for positive change in the hospitality industry. Bayliss has carried out Sheppard’s wishes tremendously, leading the hotel to win three Blue Badge Style Ticks for accessibility, as well as winning the BeFactor Awards 2020 Accessibility Award.
With many more Hotel Brooklyn properties in the pipeline, Bayliss continued work with the brand will ensure ‘accessibility for all’ to luxury full scale hotels finally becomes the norm.
Tucked away in a private courtyard in the heart of London’s West End, the 87-key DUKES LONDON has become a British hospitality landmark, celebrated for its famous martinis and exceptional service as well as its prime location overlooking Green Park and St James’s Park.
Following Covid-19 and the various lockdowns implemented in the UK over the past year, the tourism and hospitality industry has taken a huge hit. DUKES LONDON’s management team, led by General Manager Paul Skinner, had to manage expectations of owners and investors, whilst leading and supporting its team through disruption and uncertainty.
While keeping a close eye on his staff’s mental and physical wellbeing, Skinner also ensured that DUKES remained rooted in its community during this difficult time – offering beds to key workers via the Small Luxury Hotel initiative to reach out to those in need and to help ease the strain on the NHS during the crisis. The team also participated in the “Golden Friend Scheme” designed by Hospitality Action which was created to support elderly people in the community with hourly phone calls each week to keep them entertained during the stricter parts of lockdown. Additionally, the team took part in the 5km for £5 social media campaign, where all proceeds went to the NHS.
There is arguably no one who has done as much as Robin Hutson in highlighting the plight of the hospitality industry in the UK during the Covid-19 pandemic, through his ‘Seat at the Table’ campaign.
With 45 years’ experience, Hutson has led some of the world’s most famous hotels, including, but not limited to, Claridge’s, The Berkeley, Hotel de Crillon and Hotel de Vin, and between 1995 and 2008, he was Chairman of Soho House Group, assisting Nick Jones shape the ambitious expansion of the game-changing brand into Europe and the US.
Hutson is now Chairman and CEO of the much-applauded Lime Wood Group and Founder of another ground-breaking and some would say, ‘Britain’s best loved collection of country hotels, THE PIG.
The much-loved leader has tirelessly championed for more help for hoteliers, railed against government ineptitude, and brought together those in the hospitality industry to try and create a voice for a formally unrepresented industry – which delivers so much to the coffers of the Treasury, and so many jobs to the people of the UK. While doing that, he kept on all of his 1,000 or so staff – without making anyone redundant – and then opened a new PIG in Cornwall (in the summer of 2020), and another one year later in the West Sussex countryside.
Sérgio Leandro, Regional General Manager, Lore Group
A passionate and experienced hotelier, Sérgio Leandro currently manages the London Region of the Lore Group portfolio. In his role, Leandro is responsible for overseeing Sea Containers London and the soon-to-launch One Hundred Shoreditch (the former Ace Hotel London).
Leandro has extensive experience within the hotel industry, having worked with the likes of Marriott (Starwood) and sbe and holding the role of General Manager of Sea Containers London since its launch as Mondrian London (the first Mondrian in Europe) in 2014. Leandro was instrumental in ensuring a successful transition, not only for the brand, but also for his team – all of whom remained in place as the hotel entered a new era and the next step in its story.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, Leandro was determined to show support towards the NHS, so he spearheaded the Sea Containers London ‘NHS Nominate Your Hero’ campaign and gave away 545 overnight stays to NHS staff from around the country, as well as lighting up the building in a rainbow to show support and appreciation. This is an ongoing initiative and as the hotel has re-opened its doors, Leandro and his team continue to invite NHS staff into the hotel for their stays and other activities such as NHS movie nights.
In 2019, Stuart Geddes left his position as General Manager of The Goring Hotel to join The Lanesborough as Hotel Manager, with the aim to help the Oetker Collection property ‘reinforce its position as a market leader’ on the luxury hospitality scene in London.
Two years later, Geddes has recently been promoted to Managing Director of the quintessentially British hotel (some might even say landmark). Following the most challenging 18 months the industry has perhaps ever experienced, the promotion came a time when the industry as a whole was recovering in the wake of the pandemic. The hotelier’s ‘respect for heritage’, while ‘constantly pushing for creativity and innovation’, puts him in good stead to navigate the unavoidable challenges that lie ahead.
Geddes responded the promotion by calling it ‘both a pleasure and an honour’ and is full committed as well as passionate to lead the 93-key hotel into a new chapter of hospitality.
Following his appointment as General Manager in early 2019, Thomas Agius Ferrante was promoted in August 2020 to become Hotel Director of The Grove of Narberth, the five-star hotel nestled in the Pembrokeshire countryside in South West Wales.
The hotel forms part of the Seren Collection which includes the one Michelin starred Beach House Restaurant on the Gower Peninsular, and the highly regarded Coast Restaurant in Saundersfoot.
Ferrante started his career as a kitchen chef before moving into senior management roles first at One Aldwych and then at The Berkeley where he spent seven years latterly as the Food & Beverage Operations Manager. Prior to joining The Grove of Narberth, the hotelier was the Hotel Manager of The Phoenicia in Malta, an iconic five-star, historic hotel that flanks the main gates of the capital Valletta and is a member of ‘The Leading Hotels of the World’ consortium.
Will Ashworth, who is no stranger to The Brit List first came onto Hotel Designs’ radar in 2004 when he became the CEO of Watergate Bay Hotel, which he took over from his parents.
Since then, the young yet established hotelier has been able to flex his design muscles to ensure that the hotel stands out as an exceptional luxury experience.
The latest design narrative at Watergate Bay Hotel is told when checking in to one of the seven new beach-front suites, designed to take the accommodation at the hotel to a ‘new level’ with a quirky interior scheme that oozes sense of place and personality, while framing some of the most spectacular coastal views. Ashworth worked with Cornish design studio Dynargh Design to create the rooms that shelter barefoot luxury with a distinct local charm.
Despite creating a new room category that will ‘pave the way’ for future projects within the Watergate Bay Hotel portfolio, Ashworth’s pioneering stance in the hospitality arena is unequivocally highlighting how independent hotels can indeed shelter innovative, eco-friendly design that doesn’t intrude on the guest experience. For example, all electricity that the now 69-key boutique hotel uses comes from 100 per cent renewable suppliers.
The application process (free of charge) for The Brit List Awards 2022 will open in Q2 of 2022.
What you need to know about 25hours’ new hotel in Dubai
25hours Hotel One Central has opened its doors in Dubai, and like every hotel in this brand, it tells a story unique to the city, while sheltering a contemporary design scheme that tears up the rule book…
Located in central Dubai, 25hours Hotel One Central is more than just a place to sleep, it’s a place for modern-day nomads to share stories and experiences. Just like the Hakawati, the Arabian storyteller in the desert, 25hours celebrates the ancient Bedouin traditions and stories, bringing them to life across different areas of the property. The history of the region is reflected throughout the design of the hotel, created in partnership with acclaimed interior design firm, Woods Bagot, and 25hours Hotels. This is the first 25hours Hotel One Central to open outside of Europe, but true to brand, every hotel is unique to its city, and has a story to tell – the recent hotel opening in Florence, for example was designed around the theme of Dante’s ‘Divine Comedy’.
Image credit: 25hours Hotels
Image credit: 25hours Hotels
The 434 guestrooms and suites in the new Dubai hotel, feature Bedouin, Glamping and Farmstay interiors, whilst the Artist Village suites are perfect for those looking for more space. Meanwhile, the Hakawati Suite displays true Dubai glamour with a double bathtub, Triple king size bed ‘Sheikh-sized’ bed, a dining table seating 10 people, two bars, a DJ corner, dance floor, fireplace and a breath-taking view of the Museum of the Future. The room interconnects with two additional bedrooms through a secret staircase. It is the perfect playground for travellers and residents of the city to enjoy and revel in whether guests are there to indulge or relax, 25hours allows both.
All rooms and suites at the property serve as a peaceful oasis for nomads after a long day exploring. Each sanctuary draws on local influences, featuring quirky design elements such as hammocks, double rainfall showers, roll-top baths, Schindelhauer bicycles, analogue telephones and much more.
Image credit: 25hours Hotel
“25hours Hotel One Central is the most exotic 25hours project I have experienced so far,” said Christoph Hoffman, 25hours Founder. “From the beginning of this adventure our aim was to create a new Dubai experience of hospitality. Actually we want it to become the living room, the party cellar, the speakeasy, the romantic hideaway for lovers, as well as the place for relaxed and creative business meetings, inspirational various spaces, a fun rooftop for visionary thoughts and views. A new home and playground for the local community and of course travellers from all over the world.”
On the first floor, guests will find over 500 vinyl’s and a Walkman station in the ‘Analogue Circus’ in partnership with Vienna based Supersense. Following this, the hotel’s ‘Analogue Upgrade’ will give guests the opportunity to throwback and reminisce in the comfort of their own room. Delivered on demand in a trunk-case to guests bedrooms, the unique experience includes VHS and vinyl’s to typewriters and polaroid’s – encouraging guests to take a break and stimulate all senses.
Image credit:25hours Hotels
Image credit: 25hours Hotels
A fully kitted co-working space, meeting rooms, event spaces, open pantry and coffee bar are available at The Gallery on the first floor. The open plan space features plenty of modern tech, five-metre-high ceilings and huge windows so guests can enjoy the breath-taking views while they work hard…or hardly work. Other creative spaces include a pottery studio, games room and podcast studio. For bookworms 25hours has a Fountain of Tales library with thousands of books across the hotel for guests to step away from the digital world and jump into a realm of relaxation.
Image credit: 25hours Hotels
The Extra Hour Spa is dedicated to ‘you time’ and everyone is welcome – with Dubai’s first outdoor mixed gender sauna. Guests can indulge in a variety of treatments from quick fixes to full-body treatments. The sixth floor is also home to the rooftop pool and Monkey Pool Bar, where guests can relax poolside, sip cocktails and take in the view.
Image credit: 25hours Hotel
Image credit: 25hours Hotels
The 25hours brand is a smart, culturally resonant hotel idea characterised by provocative urban locations, it is all about story telling and taking guests on a journey. 25hours Hotel One Central certainly does that, as it invites you to jump on a bike and explore the streets, or lose yourself in a book and explore the story. The design is characterised by an irreverent yet functional aesthetic, with a touch of the romantic nostalgia of grand hotels. The brand focuses on individuality, authenticity and personality and, under the motto: “If you know one, you know none”, and designs each of its hotels with different designers and unique style. There is no doubting the location and inspiration for this design and all its details at 25hours Hotel One Central Dubai.
Granorte has opened a new Telford showroom, office and warehouse facility to showcase its range of sustainable cork-based floors, walls, furniture and design objects…
Due to a dynamic growth in sales, Portuguese manufacturer Granorte has moved to a new facility to ensure it continues to provide customers with a first-class service across its range of cork products for specification and retail. With a new 10,000ft2 racked warehouse space, sample facility, offices and showroom, the company can now deliver a UK-based service across its most popular collections.
“As specifiers and consumers consider the environmental impact of surfacing, furniture and design objects more closely, the status of cork as a renewable, natural resource has seen Granorte’s activity grow,” said Andrew Ellison, Sales & Development Manager of UK operations. “Our new Telford facility will ensure that we can provide our specification and retail customers with excellent service, including UK-based sampling and stock.”
Image credit: Granorte
“Our new showroom is also ideal for discovering how Granorte products can transform specifications and bring sales revenue through our range of retail displays,” continued Ellison. “It is also a place to explore the many applications of cork, from our extensive range of walls and floors to award-winning furniture.”
With growth capacity, the new warehouse will allow Granorte to introduce more products directly available from UK stock, helping to reduce lead times. A larger sample room will also ensure that specifiers and retailers can also access a wider range of product samples and product literature, with greater ease and faster despatch across the UK. The showroom is open by appointment only for specification and retail customers.
Granorte is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.
Inhabit Queen’s Gardens in London slated to open early 2022
With the opening of Inhabit Queen’s Gardens, Inhabit Hotels is expanding its mission to create restorative, environmentally and socially conscious places to stay in the city. We take a (mindful) sneak peak inside…
Set across a crescent of mid-19th Century townhouses on a tree-lined square near Lancaster Gate, Inhabit Queen’s Gardens is an intimate boutique hotel comprised of 159 uplifting guestrooms, along with carefully considered social spaces. It has been created with a passion for wellbeing and living in a way that supports a healthy mind and body, as well as modelling responsible hospitality practices. The public areas include a 70-cover, plant-heavy-menu restaurant and bar, comfortable lounge areas for socialising and working, and a noise-free library stocked with thought-provoking reads spanning wellness, meditation, social enterprise, holistic health, contemporary art, philosophy, local London, and nature. A subterranean wellness area provides treatment rooms, a fitness suite and yoga studio.
Mindfully designed for the modern traveller, everything at this new hotel has been curated with a genuine commitment to environmental initiatives and meaningful community partnerships. This ethos is not simply about providing guests with a recycled water bottle and the odd yoga lesson, it has been carefully thought through and penetrates every level, from design through to materials, from F&B offerings through to its business model and broader interaction with the local community.
Image credit: Inhabit Hotel / Tim Evan Cook
The tranquil interiors of the hotel are a result of the work of Holland Harvey Architects, Caitlin Henderson Design and the art curators at Culture A. Its soothing style blends contemporary Scandinavian inspiration and Eastern philosophical awareness with a fuse of quintessential British design. The Inhabit Hotels ethos has been considered on every step of the design journey, and the hotel showcases the ingenuity and creativity of craftspeople, working with more than 30 makers and artists. Goldfinger, an award-winning social enterprise demonstrating that high-end design can and should be people and planet positive, has produced bespoke joinery for the hotel throughout the public areas and guestrooms.
Somerset House Studios and Makerversity offer artworks by emerging as well as established artists to complement and enhance the meditative mood of the interior scheme. For visitors and guests, inspiration awaits in works by artists such as AnneMette Beck, whose multi-textural art installation welcomes guests as it plays along the wall at reception. Hugo Dalton’s dynamic light drawings nudge visitors to consider nature from a new perspective. Freya Bramble Carter’s bespoke tactile ceramics are installed throughout the guest rooms. Social-impacting soft furnishings include Myanmar’s Kalinko Homewares and Studio 306 cushions from Aerende, made by people recovering from, and living with mental health illness.
Image credit: Inhabit Hotels / Tim Evan Cook
Inhabit is a hotel brand founded on the belief that design should have a positive social impact, and they have focused on using sustainable materials throughout the building’s transformation. One such material is Granby Rock, a custom-made terrazzo produced by Granby Workshop using marble from the original site, which will now form a centrepiece fireplace in the reception. Granby Workshop is a manufacturer of architectural ceramics based in Liverpool, as part of a community-led effort to reinvigorate Granby, a neighbourhood within the city made derelict by decades of poor planning initiatives.
The understanding that wellness is not simply a physical state, but regarding it as a way of being, is what is at the heart of the Inhabit brand. The new hotel champions social connectedness, intellectual expansion, environmental responsibility, physical and emotional wellness and occupational enrichment. An engaging series of regular workshops, lectures and events will be curated by Maria Tsiarta, the Head of Wellness, to help guests recharge, invigorate, connect and learn. In keeping with the Scandi aesthetic, guestrooms and suites will be stocked with uplifting, full-size and refillable amenities from Skandinavisk, a Certified B Corporation.
Image credit: Inhabit Hotel / Tim Evan Cook
Image credit: Inhabit Hotel / Tim Evan Cook
‘Inhale at Inhabit’, the hotel’s wellness centre, hosts a programme of daily activities, including vinyasa flow, transformational Hatha and yin yoga, Pilates and complimentary morning meditation classes. The gym provides the essentials, as well as a Peloton Bike. Guests can join live classes with leading instructors, streamed directly from Peloton’s NYC studio, or choose from a library of studio workouts. There are also two treatment rooms which offer treatments by GAIA, a natural skincare brand handmade in Britain using traditional artisan production methods. Inspired by ancient Greece’s Mother Nature, the GAIA skincare range uses Fairtrade, certified-organic plant extracts sourced from small farms and producers. Inhabit Queen’s Gardens is the first London hotel to offer GAIA treatments.
Image credit: Inhabit Hotels / Tim Evan Cook
The hotel brand has collaborated with Marc Francis-Baum, founder of London venues such as Mare Street Market in Hackney, and Moor & Mead at Montcalm East, to create The Kitchen at Inhabit. A 70-cover restaurant serving an imaginative all-day menu in a light-flooded space that is quite unique to this West London neighbourhood. At the charismatic marble bar, focus is given to English wine and small UK spirit producers, while new-gen, alcohol-free drinks are plentiful, too, from vegan sparkling wine through to the pre-requisite kombucha.
“It’s an exciting challenge opening a fully meat-free hotel in London,” said Craig Purkiss, Executive Chef, Barworks. “We’ve researched and developed a menu focussed on the quality of our produce, as well as the importance of sustainable dishes and practices. Ultimately, we let the produce do the talking.”
Not content with keeping sustainability on the surface of things, the hotel brand is working towards B Corps certification with the goal of being among the first hotel groups in the UK to achieve this eminent standard of corporate responsibility, an accreditation for businesses that meet the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability to balance profit and purpose. Importantly, along with these admirable ideals, is a commitment to design and hospitality, stylishly illustrating the point that prioritising both people and profit is in fact a possibility as we step into a new year excited by the possibilities that places like Inhabit Hotels inspire us with.
> Since you’re here, why not read our review of Inhabit Hotels‘ first property?
Parkside and Strata Tiles align for a total tile solution
Parkside and Strata Tiles are aligning to become sister brands, as the two tile specification companies look to become the market leader in the commercial tile market by 2025. This is what we know…
With complimentary approaches to tile specifications, Parkside and Strata Tiles are known for excellence in service, wide-ranging product offer and the expertise of specification consultants. With a goal to grow, share and become the market leader in the commercial tile market, Parkside and Strata Tiles are now aligning to provide architects, designers, specifiers and contractors with a total tile solution.
By sharing expertise and technical solutions, specification consultants from both brands can offer the complete range of tiles, ancillary products and associated services from either company.
“Both companies enjoy a reputation for delivering designers, specifiers and contractors tile specifications that exceed expectation,” said Dan Little, Parkside and Strata Tiles Managing Director. “Each business also has a clear strategy – Parkside focused on architectural design and Strata Tiles on technical solutions – but they share many similarities, including a sustainability pledge with a commitment to become fully net carbon neutral in 2022. By combining these areas of expertise, our specification consultants are now able to provide a product and service offer that forms a total tile solution for any residential, commercial or infrastructure project. We believe that by closely aligning these brands, we improve service to our customers and will strengthen our position in the market.”
As total tile solution providers, Parkside and Strata Tiles have a complete tile range including specialist outdoor, slip-resistant and anti-bacterial collections, over 40 tiles with more than 40 per cent recycled content, natural and composite stone, grouts, adhesives, profiles and joints, pedestals and anything else needed to achieve a first-class tile specification from a single source.
Image credit: Parkside / Gidon Levin
Along with specialist services such as waterjet cutting, digital printing, bespoke product sourcing and manufacturing, design guidance, planning and more, Parkside and Strata Tiles are leading with an approach to total tile specifications that can help architects, designers, specifiers and contractors deliver thoughtful solutions.
Parkside is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.
Year in Review: Top 7 furniture products from 2021
With more to celebrate in Hotel Designs’ ‘Spotlight On’ feature this month, we are shifting our focus to furniture. To do this, our editorial team have been whittled down this year’s new furniture items to a list of just seven stand-out pieces. Our ‘top picks’ list includes curves, comfort and cutting-edge design…
Forget about a bucket list, investing in furniture rather than a flight seems a whole lot more appealing right now as we all settle into staycation mode! These furniture designs are the standouts from a year full of creative content, and between them they tick a full range of boxes; starting with the eco-conscious Leo range by Adrenalina, and moving down the list to end with the cutting-edge concept of 3D-printed furniture, we’ve got it all covered!
Image credit: Conran and Partners/Table Place Chairs
In collaboration with Stansons, Circle of Life is a structural free-standing framework with hanging recycled plastic curtains, which can be seen in the Table Place and Chairs’ new home in Clerkenwell. The sustainable products was the answer for Conran and Partners, Areen Design and stroop design recently for their three installations at HIX.
The Sideways Sofa, part of the WFHotel installation at HIX this year, is, quite simply, beautiful. From the curve of the seat to the materials used, and the intricate design details of its structure, it is a sculptural piece of furniture that is as much as a design statement as a place of comfort and refuge along with a strong coffee and a good book.
With the conversation about wellness getting louder, the bathroom has become an integral part of the design process rather than a practical add-on. With this in mind it seemed appropriate to include the Artist range by Crosswater in our furniture list for 2021 as it crosses those boundaries elegantly.
Despite its name this is a Danish design that has all the lines and details of a modern classic. Beautifully constructed with strong simple lines and attention to and combination of materials make this chair both practical and decorative.
The strong architectural lines of this range by Brazilian designer Marcio Kogan for Minotti, are what make these pieces stand out. The graphic minimalism of the design is contrasted with an exciting combination of materials that create a strong design statement.
The Lugano collection has been described by designer Rock Galpin as being ‘like a human hug’ with its well proportioned wrap around contours. Beuatifully designed, and beautifully made, you can read more about the collaborative journey of this chair in our interview with Morgan and Galpin earlier this year.
It seems fitting to end this list by looking firmly forward into the future, although with this range it feels very definitely like the future is now! Made from plastic waste, this design harnesses technology from materials right through to production and opens up the conversation about the future of furniture production.
Crosswater, Morgan and Table Place Chairs are Recommended Suppliers and regularly feature in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.
The return of a legend: The Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman re-opens
Emerging from an extensive renovation, The Ritz-Carlton Grand Caymancelebrated the 16th anniversary of opening its doors in the Cayman Islands in style, with newly imagined spaces and designs. We take a closer look…
The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman has opened the doors on its beautifully reimagined interiors, brought to life by Champalimaud Design, and featuring a refined new design which has been inspired by the rich history and diverse cultural influences of the Cayman Islands. Blending modern coastal elegance with mid-century British Caribbean style, the completely renovated spaces reflect an updated colour palette featuring the deep blues of Cayman’s night sky, lively shades of green inspired by the islands’ botanical wonders, the whites and beiges of the island’s smooth sands, and the sparkling shades of turquoise found in the Caribbean Sea. Textured inlays and crisp borders accentuate the Neoclassical architecture, leading guests through their journey to new discoveries.
Image credit: The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman
“We are thrilled to once again welcome guests to The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman, one of our most beloved resort properties in the Caribbean,” said Donna McNamara, Vice President and Global Brand Leader for The Ritz-Carlton. “The reimagined look and feel of the resort is an outstanding example of The Ritz-Carlton brand’s design ethos, which is to provide our guests with a refined and modern experience that is also reflective of what makes a destination unique.”
Enclosed behind majestic, ebonised wood arches is the lobby and lounge area, welcoming guests into a comfortable environment that invites connection. Similarly, the guestrooms and suites nod to the destination’s history with the rugged sophistication of British West Indian style while paying homage to the island’s colourful present and bright future with purposefully chosen artworks, fixtures, and rich natural textures. The incorporation of indigenous and inspired materials further connects guests to the beauty of Cayman. Retaining its spirit, the resort’s iconic Silver Palm Lounge features completely new interiors and a custom-built hardwood cabinet, which will offer guests a collection of indulgent discoveries from rare rums to premium hand-rolled cigars of the Caribbean and sweet and delightful chocolates created from the region’s finest cacao.
In addition to the public spaces and guest accommodations, the resort’s meeting spaces which are known to host Grand Cayman’s grandest galas and corporate groups from around the globe were updated as well. These palatial spaces were reimagined in luminous neutrals from cream to Champagne, with rich, warm accents on the soaring ceilings and rope detailing in the wall coverings. The pre-function area evokes a classic thatch pattern while the ballroom deconstructs those designs into a beautiful field of woven elements. Light fixtures transpose undersea life to the to the ceiling, with sculptural coral colonies of organic forms with each dome a unique shape, just like in nature.
Image credit: The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman
Image credit: The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman
“December 15 marks the beginning of an exciting next chapter in the history of our resort. With guests at the centre of all that we do, we are thrilled to introduce them to our newly reimagined resort,” said Marc Langevin, General Manager of The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman. “Our forward-looking ownership group, Dart, invested heartily into our treasured property, the result of which will now be visible for guests to enjoy. Seeing the pause in travel as an opportunity, we are grateful that Dart took advantage of this time to expand the original renovation plan, manifesting a cohesive and modern property suited to the demands of today’s most sophisticated travellers. Working alongside the talented team from Champalimaud, we have together created a resort, which though virtually brand new, maintains the charm of the beloved original and we are excited to welcome our valued guests back to The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman.”
An enclave of relaxation and effortless elegance, The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman is a Forbes Five-Star resort, which offers unparalleled service and thoughtful amenities. Much like the Cayman Islands itself, the resort’s innovative new design blends worldly influence with the one-of-a kind character of Cayman, resulting in an elevated yet spirited tapestry. Wholly unique in the Caribbean, the Cayman Islands is a respite of sophistication, comfort, quality, and luxury, created through the celebration of its diverse residents, stewardship of its natural beauty, and culture of mutual respect.
Located in prime position on the island, and set within 144 beautifully manicured acres, from the sparkling waters of the North Sound, to the white sands of world-famous Seven Mile Beach, The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman has flung open the doors of all its 369 luxuriously appointed guestrooms with its inspired new look, as it reclaims its allure as a destination set to create meaningful memories and exceptional experiences for its guests.
Year in Review: Top 7 bathroom products that launched in 2021
Continuing with Hotel Designs’ ‘Year in Review’, we are grabbing our loofah, and stepping into the bathroom to list the top seven ranges and products that have caught our editorial attention and inspired us with that essential bath time combination of practicality edged with indulgence…
Whether singing in the shower is your thing, or the more subtle option of a candlelit soak is your perfect end to the day, bathroom designs in the hotel industry have to be all things to all people. As discussed around our virtual round table this year, developers and designers are looking for timeless, while the guests are demanding personality. We think this list does a little of both.
The White Tulip range, designed for Duravit by Philippe Starke, is based on the organic silhouette of a tulip in bloom. Every element has a sculptural feel, yet underpinning the graceful details and design is an attention to practicality and usability that is integral to any successful bathroom design.
This design is all about combining contemporary technology with a hint of retro stereo technology. While the lines and dials are all about 20th century nostalgia, the functionality of this product is very much looking forward into the 21st century bathroom.
Design studio Barber and Osgerby added to the Axor One range with an additional 31 designed pieces, all of which embody the same minimalist, clean, sculptural aesthetic while offering enhanced functionality and intuitive control. Technology and function work together to tick boxes for sustainability and energy saving, while the lines and finishes all contribute to a contemporary design led range.
The Superplan Zero with its super thin, super flat design, removes boundaries and smooths transitions, as the shower is integrated into the bathroom space, rather than remaining as a defined unit within it. Seamless design combined with clever technology that works no matter how much water you chuck at it.
A collaboration between KEUCO and TEAM7, a company specialising in handcrafted solid wood furniture, resulted in the Edition Lignatur range. The natural warmth of the handcrafted wood contrasts beautifully with the harder ceramic surfaces and brings a note of natural luxury into the bathroom.
Designed by Marcel Wanders for Laufen, this range is indeed a classic, and one that combines practicality and innovation with designer lines. The soft curves of the washbasins and other elements of the collection sit beautifully on the furniture, making a strong and contemporary design statement that elevates the bathroom out of the realm of pure practicality into one of indulgence.
Contemporary design and the considered use of sustainable materials and technology all converge in this bathroom range with its soft lines and natural palette that feels like it is bringing a breath of the fresh Mediterranean air that inspired it, into the bathroom.
Duravit, Gessi, hansgrohe, Kaldewei, KEUCO, Laufen and Roca are all Recommended Suppliers of ours and regularly feature in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.
From Zurich to Dubai: A look at the latest two openings from Hyatt
Not content with doing things in moderation, Hyatt celebrates the opening of two incredible new properties. Travellers can feel the ‘Zurich-ness’ at Hyatt Place Zurich Airport The Circle – the first Hyatt Place branded hotel in Switzerland, or experience Hyatt Centric’s debut property in the Middle East, Hyatt Centric Jumeirah Dubai…
Hyatt has announced the opening of two new hotels to join the brand, and they couldn’t be more different, with one sitting at the foot of the Swiss Alps, and the other on the edge of the desert with panoramic sea views. The hotels also represent two different brands within the Hyatt family. The Hyatt Place brand, as showcased by Hyatt Place Zurich Airport The Circle, is all about designing for flexibility, making it easier for guests to maintain their work and personal routines while travelling. Hyatt Centric and Hyatt Centric Jumeirah Dubai, on the other hand is all about the destination and providing an upscale, cosmopolitan and boutique guest experience.
So, two hotels, two very different design stories, but both sharing the trademark Hyatt attention to detail and understanding of they dynamic requirements of guests and travellers.
Hyatt Place Zurich Airport The Circle is the third Hyatt branded hotel and the first Hyatt Place branded hotel in Switzerland, as the brand continues to expand its footprint globally in markets that matter most to its guests and World of Hyatt members. The new hotel features the Hyatt Place brand’s intuitive design, combined with its trademark combination of casual atmosphere with practical amenities.
Image credit: Hyatt
Image credit: Hyatt
The 300 key Hyatt Place hotel combines style, innovation and 24/7 conveniences to create an easy-to-navigate experience for today’s multi-tasking traveller. The guestrooms have been designed with separate spaces to sleep, work and play. Understanding the need for flexible space, convenient and communal workspaces have been created. Hyatt Place Zurich Airport The Circle is situated in The Circle destination and directly linked to Zurich Airport, representing one of the most central locations in Switzerland. Guests can conveniently enjoy the business and lifestyle offerings of The Circle, which includes shops, restaurants, a park, airport facilities and The Circle Convention Centre. After a productive day, guests can unwind in the park or take advantage of the great outdoors, as the Swiss Alps and Lake Zurich are nearby.
“As the Zurich Airport and the Circle district continue to be a dynamic destination, we are excited to add to the momentum by welcoming the first Hyatt Place hotel to Switzerland,” said hotel manager at Hyatt Place Zurich Airport The Circle Ines Bruenn. “With our smartly designed social spaces and guestrooms with separate work and sleep areas, our multitasking, international and local guests can easily accomplish what they need to do while on the road, while both working and relaxing with nature right at their doorstep.”
Image credit: Hyatt
A few thousand kilometres away – 4,773 to be precise if you are working in air miles – and marking the lifestyle brand’s debut in the Middle East, saw the opening of the Hyatt Centric Jumeirah Dubai. The seven-storey property is set to become a social hub in the La Mer district, featuring 173 sophisticated guestrooms, including 27 spacious deluxe rooms and suites, designed to reflect the city through the playful juxtaposition of colours, textures and curated curiosities.
Set in the heart of Dubai and bringing in a fresh take on the modern hospitality sector, Hyatt Centric Jumeirah Dubai serves as an ideal launchpad for exploration for those looking to discover the city’s local hot spots and hidden gems. Conveniently located between old and new Dubai, guests have the opportunity to experience nearby attractions including Laguna Waterpark, the La Mer beachfront shopping and dining district, Burj Khalifa, and Dubai Mall. For those seeking authentic, historical experiences, the nearby neighbourhoods of Satwa, Bur Dubai and Al Fahidi are home to traditional souks, and the Etihad Museum.
Image credit: Hyatt
Image credit: Hyatt
“Surrounded by the ocean with year-round sunshine and a stunning aesthetic, we are proud to introduce the 10th Hyatt branded hotel in Dubai and to bring the first Hyatt Centric hotel into the UAE,” said Britta Leick-Milde, hotel manager of Hyatt Centric Jumeirah Dubai. “With stunning views of the entire Dubai skyline, Hyatt Centric Jumeirah Dubai offers adventure-seeking travellers a window to the destination through a playful interpretation of local culture, art, and points of interest.”
The hotel includes thoughtfully designed and casual, relaxing spaces that boast an abundance of food and beverage experiences celebrating the region’s dynamic flavours. Hyatt Centric Jumeirah Dubai’s all-day restaurant is certain to become a hot spot for locals and visitors alike, serving continental favourites for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The hotel also features multiple spaces for meetings, events and social gatherings with a boardroom that fits up to eight guests, large terraces ideal for social gatherings for up to 85 guests, and the exclusive rooftop bar that can be used for small group celebrations. The terrace suite is also the perfect venue for a New Year’s party, where guests can take in the spectacular views of the Burj Khalifa’s firework show.
Whether fireworks, souks, or the private beach area at La Mer North beach for guests to relax and unwind, this 173-key lifestyle hotel provides, true to brand, a culturally immersive stay for travellers searching to uncover shareworthy experiences and local culture.
Miniview: Coco Hotel, where old style meets cosmo hospitality
Contemporary Copenhagen meets vintage Paris in the new boutique Coco Hotel. Colourful key in hand, Melania Guarda Ceccoli opens the door to take a closer look…
Grab your tassel key with your room number, fall asleep in crisp white organic cotton sheets and watch TV while eating in bed. You are in the Coco Hotel, the new boutique hotel in Copenhagen that mixes old style with a sprinkle of the cosmopolitan. The hotel offers 88 unique guestrooms, a lovely café and a quiet green courtyard, perfect for working or drinking with friends. The hotel caters for those travellers looking for exceptional value and those looking for a little more luxury, offering what every big city should have: bikes, toiletries, a Pilates studio, and of course, a ping-pong room.
Image credit: Coco Hotel
Image credit: Coco Hotel
Built in 1880, the building has a long history as a hotel. More recently, it was acquired by Cofoco in 2018, and the renovation process began. When it came to the interiors, the Coco’s design brief had three key points: the owner wanted to respect the architecture of the building, reuse and recycle as much as possible. This meant mixing vintage with new and, at the same time, meeting the needs of the multi-functionality of the building. The space functions as a reception, a hotel, a café, a cosy hangout, an office and a cocktail bar at night. Built in 1880, the building has a long history as a hotel.
The TONEN Agency was chosen for the interior design of Coco Hotel, a collaboration between Malene Bech-Pedersen and Mette Bonavent, both designers based in Copenhagen. The café on the ground floor is very similar to a Parisian apartment, and Tonen decorated the space exclusively with materials that age beautifully in leather, wood, brass and marble. The bar and various pieces of furniture are custom made for the hotel by a local carpenter. The Danish artist FOS made brass lamps and mirrored tables, while global icons like Thonet chairs and classic bistro tables added a taste of Paris to the mix.
Image credit: Coco Hotel
The 88 guestrooms are spread over five floors and vary in size and style: some are suites, some have gardens, some have connecting rooms, others have a garden or street views, and some are simple. TONEN chose to make them look less generic by painting different wall colours on each floor, mixing vintage with new and putting curated art on the walls. The walls on the first floor are painted a bright blue; the second floor walls are intense and vivid green; the third floor is creamy white, and the walls of the fourth and fifth floors are smoky grey. In addition to the standard rooms, the family rooms have PlayStation and toys for the younger guests.
Image credit: Coco Hotel
The more romantic penthouse suites have sofas, panoramic views and large bathrooms. Each room has its visible personality: new, classic and vintage furniture, patterned fabrics, walls with paintings, selected art books, magazines, printed fabrics, and lamps. Guests will encounter Thonet Bentwood chairs, Prouvé chairs, locally handmade wooden tables, Bauhaus-inspired trolleys, Michael Anastassiades lamps, hand-stitched leather seats and Helle Thygesen Art & Antiques handmade lampshades. All these elements contribute to the layered design of the hotel that transforms each space into an individual statement.
At the heart of both Cofoco and now Coco Hotel, is the desire to make a positive difference for people and the planet. That is why sustainability is such a big priority, and with this as a guiding principle throughout the design process, Coco Hotel has achieved Green Key Certification.
This principle runs through every element of the hotel. Café Coco primarily serves organic products, and you will find no plastic bottles in the minibar. All towels and bed linens in rooms are made from organic cotton. The entire building has been renovated with energy and water-saving solutions. Like Cofoco’s restaurants, the hotel is covered by sustainable energy from Cofoco’s solar park in Nees, North West Jutland. The solar power park is the size of nine football fields and produces more solar power than the restaurants and the hotel use combined, which means that they are self-sufficient with sustainable energy.
Following hot on the heels of this year’s designers who made the list, it’s now time to shine the spotlight on the 25 architects who were profiled in The Brit List 2021, which was unveiled in style at The Brit List Awards 2021…
After a year full of rethinking and recalibration in the hotel industry, architects have been faced with increased demands on their innovation and creativity as the industry moves forward with determination.
The Brit List Awards 2021 was the perfect platform that amplified the leading British-based architects, with Mark Bruce, Director at EPR Architects winning Architect of the Year following the unveil of NoMad London, which takes shelter inside the former Bow Street Magistrates’ Court.
In addition to the individual winners, though, the awards campaign also gave nod to the top 25 architects who are proving themselves to be influential figures in the hotel design arena. Following our unveiling of The Brit List designers of 2021, here is our list (in alphabetical order), of the architects in Britain who continue to contribute to the dynamism of British hospitality design, who have all been profiled in the published version of The Brit List 2021.
Following his arrival at Falconer Chester Hall Architects in 1999, Alastair Shepherd was appointed as a Director in 2007. Since then, he has been instrumental in delivering award-winning residential and commercial schemes across the country. Most recently, his focus has been on delivering large scale regeneration projects with a particular expertise in the private rental sector.
Cue the launch of The Other House, a new revolutionary hospitality concept that will have the body of a hotel, the heart of serviced apartments and the soul of a private members’ club. Shepherd is currently working on the conversion of the brand’s first property, Harrington Hall in South Kensington. He and his team have been tasked to transform the heritage building into a luxury hotel that will open in 2022 while also designing the brand’s second hotel, which will sit majestically in Covent Garden.
Central to these projects, the studio has carved out club flats – all of which vary in size and layout. The two new hotels will also shelter welcoming, luxurious and distinctly British public areas as well as a destination spa.
Amrit Naru is a Studio Director at ADP Architecture and leads the Newcastle studio.
ADP Architecture has been designing exceptional buildings since 1965, and the architecture and interior design teams are working on an ever-growing portfolio of exciting hotel and leisure projects. The studio works with international brands, and it is currently delivering high quality buildings and interiors for clients across the globe.
With an extensive knowledge in the healthcare sector, Naru has worked on a range of primary health care, specialist care, mental health and acute hospitals. His interest in healthcare design is further strengthened by his outside academic interests in medical health planning and elderly care in Europe and America.
Naru also has extensive experience in the hospitality sector, delivering architectural and interior-led hotel projects. In addition, he has also contributed to a number of thought-provoking articles on Hotel Designs on topics such as public spaces, green hospitality and community-driven hotel design.
The work at Ben Adams Architects is underpinned by a rigorous process that balances context, constraints, and concepts. Once the team have fully understood the constraints and potential inherent in a project, they begin to develop a concept – a visionary response to what the building needs to be, and a creative point of departure from which a design can spring.
The Founding Director of the studio, Ben Adams, is a regular name featured in The Brit List. His previous work demonstrates architectural flair, fresh thinking and commercial acumen, with projects that are individually distinctive and the result of bespoke ideas rather than formulaic solutions. Within his portfolio is Nobu Hotel Shoreditch, the first Nobu hotel that arrived in Europe. The property occupies a tight urban plot and the building follows the street line, accenting its strong linear form with horizontal steel and concrete fins at each floor level.
His most recent hospitality project is sheltered inside Page8 Hotel, a thoroughly contemporary boutique hotel, which is “all about the lifestyle”. The studio was part of the design team that created Bisushima Restaurant, the amalgamation of two key elements: Bisu represents the Egyptian God of hedonism and party and Shima, the Japanese word for island and sanctuary. Born from these two elements, the concept conveys the transformative journey that guests can relish in from Shima (Day) to Bisu (Night).
Catarina Pina-Bartrum, again no stranger to The Brit List, was part of the team developing a mixed-use development on Hanover Square; a retail-led project on Oxford Street in central London and Hoxton Southwark, a mixed-use hotel and office development, which has quickly become a new destination hotel in London.
In addition, the studio’s portfolio also includes The Moorgate, Harvey Nichols Knightsbridge, The AEG Greenwich Hotel and the London 2012 Athletes village Plot No. 2.
Prior to joining Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands in 2014, Pina-Bartrum worked with Daniel Gusmão in Rio de Janeiro on the design and development of the broadcasting centre for the 2016 Olympic Games.
Christos Passas, the winner of Architect of the Year at The Brit List Awards 2020, was the Project Director for Zaha Hadid Architect’s latest hotel project in Dubai. Spanning 84,300 sqm, the Opus was designed as two separate towers that coalesce into a singular whole – taking the form of a cube. The unique cube shape has been ‘eroded’ in its centre, creating a free-form void that is an important volume of the design in its own right. The two halves of the building on either side of the void are linked by a four-storey atrium at ground level and are also connected by an asymmetric 38-metre-wide, three-storey bridge, which is 71 metres above the ground.
The structure’s double-glazed insulating façades incorporate a UV coating and a mirrored frit pattern to reduce solar gain. Applied around the entire building, this dotted frit patterning emphasises the clarity of the building’s orthogonal form, while at the same time, dissolving its volume through the continuous play of light varying between ever-changing reflections and transparency.
Doug Pearson has extensive hospitality experience working with a number of prestigious hotel brands, covering both new build and refurbishments and conversions throughout the UK.
Pearson is a versatile architect and experienced job runner, working predominantly on hospitality, commercial and cultural projects. He is responsible for the design and delivery of high profile and complex projects. Notably, he has led design teams on the refurbishment and extension of Gleneagles Hotel in Perthshire, Goodwood Hotel in Chichester and Malmaison in Edinburgh.
Most recently, Pearson has been an integral member of the creation of Gleneagles Townhouse in Edinburgh, and is currently working on The Bull at Burford Hotel in Oxfordshire, The Lucullan Hotel in Inchmarlo and Erskine Church Development in Falkirk.
Ed Murray is an accomplished Associate and architect who has led a wide range of projects for independent owners and international brands across the entire hospitality spectrum, including luxury hotels, banqueting and conference venues, resorts and spas. Murray has meticulous attention to detail, a good sense of perspective and a proven track record in delivering projects from conception to completion. He has a strong value set based on honesty, integrity and respect for the individual.
For the last two and a half years he has been leading the delivery of the Westin London City, the brand’s debut hotel in the UK. The 222-key, new build hotel opened in September, 2021 and also shelters nine residential apartments and an 8,000 sq ft spa.
Murray’s ability to coordinate and manage large teams, his rapport with colleagues, clients, design teams and contractors alike makes him an indispensable interface between projects and their stakeholders.
His role goes well beyond a purely architectural as he is also involved in the practice’s inclusivity forum group as well mentoring other team members.
As Head of Hotels at 3DReid, Gordon Ferrier brings more than 30 years’ hospitality design experience on a wide range of hotel projects, covering both new build and refurbishments and conversions.
Ferrier has worked with a number of prominent hotel brands including Goodwood, Gleneagles, Cameron House, Dakota, Malmaison, Principal and De Vere and has worked internationally on projects across Europe, UAE, the US and Africa.
Most recently, Ferrier and his team have been putting the final touches on Gleneagles Townhouse in Edinburgh, a highly anticipated opening for the Gleneagles brand. Hi addition, he is currently working on The Bull at Burford Hotel in Oxfordshire, The Lucullan Hotel in Inchmarlo and Erskine Church Development in Falkirk.
Set behind a striking façade of Scottish stone at the point where Edinburgh’s historic Old Town meets the New Town, Market Street Hotel, designed by jmarchitects, emerged as a cultural gateway to both the city’s storied past and its pulse-quickening present.
The visual concept of the 98-key hotel pays homage to the capital’s character and historic narrative, while simultaneously exploring Scottish cosmopolitanism. Cracked, earthen walls are juxtaposed against the clean, minimalist lines of contemporary furnishings, and unexpected bursts of traditional tartans alongside heritage fabrics provide an experiential element to the hotel’s aesthetic.
A modern take on Baronial materiality and composition also provides the inspiration behind Market Street’s 98 guestrooms and suites. Organic, natural materials such as oak and locally sourced stone provide a tactile canvas for modern design classics from the likes of Fritz Hansen and Saint Luc, alongside custom-made furniture and handcrafted local pieces.
Originally from Singapore, Herbert Lui has led numerous large scale mixed-used projects at Dexter Moren Associates, ranging from residential to hospitality-led schemes both in the UK and internationally, and has pursued and won a number of international architectural design competitions. He is a popular mentor to the younger architects and assistants at the practice, and is keen to encourage hand sketching during the creative and problem-solving process among junior colleagues, as he constantly laments the disappearance of pencil and paper in current architectural education.
In the last year, despite battling through adversity, Lui has continued working on several notable international projects in Africa. Following the completion of two hotels in Benin, Lui won a commission to design a new hotel in Lagos. Responding to the client’s brief, the 20-storey tower hotel will create an iconic and exciting hospitality destination for the city, and will feature a mid-level spa and sky terrace, and rooftop pool and bar. Located on a challenging and narrow site, Lui’s architectural composition and his sculptural expression of the building’s rooftop – inspired by the sleek lines of luxury yachts – has generated much excitement with the client, his investors and the hotel brand.
James Dilley, Director, Jestico + Whiles, is more than an exceptional British designer and architect. In a career that has spanned more than 27 years, Dilley has become an accomplished and charismatic leader who has helped to steer luxury and lifestyle hospitality into several new eras. Some of his masterpieces include W London, Zuri Zanzibar and Villa Honegg.
His most recent work includes W Edinburgh, a new mixed-use development known as Island Quarter in Nottingham, a spectacular atrium onboard P&O Cruises’ Iona vessel and Kempinski Palace Engelberg, which opened earlier this year.
In addition to reshaping the hospitality landscape, Dilley is also an authentic and honest speaker on the international hotel design scene. Most recently, he has supported a campaign with Hotel Designs, supported by NEWH, to give young, and hungry designers and architects a voice by being the subject of an interview that they themselves lead.
Jen Samuel manages all aspects of a project at 3DReid, from feasibility and concept design to the production and co-ordination of construction information, liaising closely with clients and contractors at all stages of the process. Her experience spans a variety of sectors, including education, offices and residential and working primarily in the hospitality and leisure sectors.
Most recently, Samuel led the project team working on the reinstatement and extension of Scottish five-star resort, Cameron House, on Loch Lomond. Reopened in summer 2021, the hotel offers unrivalled five-star luxury. Renowned for its timeless style and refined Scottish culture, the property features 140 guestrooms, including 24 exquisite suites complemented by elegant function rooms and inspiring event spaces, with spectacular unspoiled views of Loch Lomond.
Ensuring the newly restored hotel offers an unrivalled guest experience, the restoration has required meticulous craftsmanship and attention to detail, which will be seen throughout the beautiful reinstated suites, reception areas and event spaces.
Since joining the firm in 2011, Jonny Sin has led ReardonSmith Architects’ hospitality team modestly into present time. He was a key member of the award-winning team who transformed a Grade II listed art-deco style building into the luxury boutique hotel that we know of as The Beaumont Hotel, which was one of the first projects he worked on from concept through to completion.
Other projects include a 173-key hotel in Battersea, Adere Manor, Co. Limerick as well as a conversion of three buildings in London’s Soho into a 69-key urban lifestyle hotel.
Most recently, although many of the projects the studio is working on are guarded by NDAs, ReardonSmith Architects was named as one of the architecture firms that will be working on creating The Chancery Rosewood, which is expected to make its arrival in 2024.
Julie Humphryes is an architect and innovator. One of the first two women in 700 years to be invited to read Architecture at Cambridge University’s prestigious Peterhouse college, today she is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (RSA), member of the Architects Registration Board (ARB) and Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), and is directly responsible for many of the most beautiful and iconic spaces across the United Kingdom and overseas. Her company, Archer Humphryes Architects, has won a multitude of international awards and accolades, and is championed throughout the global sector for its inimitable style of architecture and interiors, as well as its diverse range of projects.
With a portfolio worth £400 million, £3 million in turnover and a 30-strong team that is ever-increasing, the firm is revered for its approach to research and development (R&D) – embracing technological advances like no one else. This is exemplified, in the past three years, by the awards by the UK governments HMRC for unrivalled innovation, and showcased in such pioneering projects as the 95ft racing yacht Archer Humphryes is creating for Finnish sailing company, Nautor’s Swan, and the groundbreaking hospitality complex at the hotel, Peninsula London; and The Eggli Club, Gstaad; all of which boast technological advances that are a world first. Significant completed projects in her practice include Chiltern Firehouse, The Standard Hotel, The Great Northern Hotel and Lalit London.
Luke Fox is a head of studio at the practice and part of the Design Board and the Partnership Board. He leads a team of designers in London, Hong Kong and Beijing on a wide range of international projects. He is originally from Sydney, Australia and studied architecture at the University of Sydney. After graduating he worked in New York and joined Foster + Partners in 1998.
Fox has worked on many significant projects varying from infrastructure and offices to hospitality and residential. His recent schemes include new offices for Chinese ecommerce giant Alibaba, in Shanghai; Jeddah Metro, where the practice was appointed to develop the architectural vision for Jeddah’s city-wide public transport plan; Lusail Stadium in Qatar, the iconic venue for the 2022 World Cup; Murray Hotel, a new luxury hotel in Central Hong Kong and a new Four Seasons Hotel in the heart of Makkah for Jabal Omar.
Mark Bruce is a Main Board Director and heads up the hotels and hospitality team with extensive experience across the sector, with particular expertise on listed buildings, refurbishments and resort hotels.
Previous projects include The Ned, Rosewood London, Sea Containers and LaLit London. Following the completion of London’s new popular place to be, NoMad London – which is sheltered inside what used to be Bow Street Magistrates Court – Bruce is now, in collaboration with Foster + Partners and AvroKO, working with Six Senses to sensitively inject the luxury brand’s distinctive personality and philosophy into its debut hotel in London.
In addition, EPR Architects is also working on what will become Raffles’ first hotel in the UK, which will be contained inside the storied walls of the Old War Office building in Westminster.
Following much anticipation – and a year of unpredictable variables – Mark Kelly and his team at PLP Architecture have recently completed their work on creating Pan Pacific London. Arriving with the aim to take London’s luxury and wellness scene up to new heights, the project’s vision was to balance a design that is sensitive to the Asian heritage of the brand whilst creating an ultra-modern, timeless hotel and complex that challenges conventional architecture.
In an interview with Kelly, Hotel Designs’ readers learned the need for flexibility in today’s era of design and hospitality. “Architecture is an inherently flexible process – always evolving while constantly questioning and reinventing itself,” he said when discussing architecture’s role post-pandemic. “As such, it is well placed to respond to the current and seemingly ever-changing Covid crisis and, for that matter, other current and future global concerns such as the climate emergency.”
Metehan Apak brings more than 10 years’ professional experience working on projects for luxury hotel and spas in the US, Europe & Asia to the Dawson Design Associates (DDA) as Senior Interior Architect and Project Manager. Six years of work at DDA has led to his involvement in projects for renowned brands such as Z Collection Hotels, Mondrian, W Hotels and Rosewood Hotels.
Apak applies a holistic methodology during the design process from concept creation to the project completion with a tough-minded attitude and efficient communication within the team as well as with the clients. His dedication and work ethic continue to be recognised by his former and current clients.
DDA recently completed groundbreaking Hotel Zena which was designed as a new cultural hub celebrating the accomplishments of women and recognizing their enduring struggle for gender equality.
Currently, the studio is working on numerous multi-million-pound hotel projects which includes resorts and uniquely positioned city hotels.
Following 13 years at Aukett Swanke, Nicholas de Klerk recently made the bold leap, together with Co-Founder Sze Wei Lee, to set up a new design and architecture studio. Translation Architecture is on a mission to transform innovate ideas into extraordinary spaces on tomorrow’s hospitality scene. Two of Klerk and Lee’s first projects are situated in the UK – and are both for a new brand. The Relais Retreats is a waterside hospitality concept developed by Grace Leo and Tim Hartnoll.
One of these projects completed its first phase in Q3 of 2021. Both are complete refurbishments of existing buildings, one of which is Grade II Listed. The heritage and urban context of each building is fundamental to the hotel concepts that they are developing. Both also embrace changing attitudes to work by creating beautifully designed and well serviced, generous lounges with great F&B, which nonetheless create a comfortable environment with a domestic feel to it – a work from home environment that doesn’t necessarily need to be at home.
Designer of the UK’s first amphibious house, Richard Coutts, who founded BACA in 2003, featured on the Channel 5 documentary entitled “Sinking Cities – The Great Flood of London: Environmental Challenges, Food and Floating”, which referenced Aquatecture (architecture on water) and the need for consideration to be given to intelligent innovative ways of living by optimising water as a resource.
From concept right through to completion, BACA Architects has been a key collaborator and an inspiration for Tyram Lakes. Described as “so much more than a hotel, spa and resort,” the property shelters uncompromised luxury within an eco-friendly and sustainable environment.
BACA’s holistic approach has developed a pragmatic method to a long-term vision of a sustainable hospitality landscape. The team find practical solutions for inhabiting and building with water. This ultimate aim for the architecture studio is to make built communities safe – keeping people dry whilst enjoying the benefits of living near water, which humans are so attracted towards.
Richard Holland leads the hospitality team at Holland Harvey Architects – working on early concepts through to turnkey delivery of some of London’s most high-profile hotels.
His recent work includes establishing and designing architecture solutions for Inhabit, a hotel brand with a heart for community, a head for life-enhancing hospitality and wellness wisdom. Holland and his team were fundamental in the development of the brand’s first hotel, which launched in 2019. The architecture studio returned to help the brand grow its mission to create restorative, environmentally and socially conscious places to stay in the city, with a second London hotel that opened recently.
Following being listed in Hotel Designs’ 30 Under 30, which was published in 2018, Sarah Murphy has emerged as a rising figure on the British architecture scene. Not only is Murphy an emerging example of women leading the way in hotel design, her portfolio of past and present work as a senior member of the Jestico + Whiles team, is impressive as well as inspiring. This includes W Edinburgh, a new mixed-use development known as Island Quarter in Nottingham, a spectacular atrium onboard P&O Cruises’ Iona vessel and Kempinski Palace Engelberg, which opened earlier this year.
Murphy works among a strong and tight-knit team at Jestico + Whiles, which is led modestly by Director James Dilley, who is regarded by those who know him best as a strong, forward-thinking and kind mentor – everything the industry needs as it recovers and evolves.
Simon Whittaker, architect and Associate Director at Orms was deservingly crowned Architect of the Year at The Brit List Awards 2019, following the spectacular completion of The Standard London. Since then, Whittaker, fuelled by his love for retro-buildings has started to work on a new development, which will see the transformation of the Central St Martins Building in Holborn – a property that shelters many memories for the UK’s leading designers, architects and creatives alike.
Nearly a decade after University of Arts London moved out of the site, Orms is currently working with a world-renowned team to sensitively restore the building and give it a new lease of life as a mixed-used development, which will include a new lifestyle hotel.
Orms were approached in 2019 to, through the power of architecture, secure consent for a hotel on the iconic site. The plot within the Holborn area includes the Grade II listed building, formerly Central St Martins building that fronts Southampton Row, as well as a collection of ‘60s buildings behind.
In addition to a new hotel, the ‘new neighbourhood’ as Whittaker described it in an exclusive interview with Hotel Designs, will include exhibition spaces, a refurbished lecture theatre, a screening room, various F&B outlets, a library, a series of function rooms and co-working spaces.
Tom Lindblom is a Hospitality Leader and a Studio Director in Gensler’s London office (despite taking a few years out to travel and work from various Gensler offices around the world). He has more than 25 years of experience on a variety of projects, with a special focus on hotels, resorts, and museums.
Working with diverse clients in Europe, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and the United States has broadened his understanding and appreciation for unique opportunities in a variety of markets. Lindblom is active with clients in the Mediterranean and Adriatic to develop sustainable resorts that operate efficiently from an economic, social and environmental position. His experience also includes design and planning for several museums and galleries in the United States and Europe. He teaches and lectures on architecture, lighting design, and museum design at universities in the US and London.
Completing The Brit List alumni of 2021 is Yasmine Mahmoudieh, an architect, designer and product developer who is pioneering real change in hospitality arena globally through social and sustainable hospitality initiatives.
Mahmoudieh’s unique and holistic approach to design and architecture, which merges human psychology and cutting-edge technology, has resulted in an acclaimed international showcase of award-winning, one-of-a-kind projects. Her achievements include Strandhotel Atlantic and Villa Meeresstrand as well as Four Seasons Hotel in Hamburg, among others.
Hotel group Accor is going on safari, and expanding its footprint in Eastern Africa with the opening of the Mantis Masai Mara Eco-Lodge set for 2024…
The Mantis Masai Mara Eco-Lodge will be located in the Enonkishu Conservancy, and is set to become a highlight property for the brand and the group, offering guests direct access to the Mara-Seregenti game reserve and providing the ideal location for unique safari experiences.
Mantis, founded in 2000 by entrepreneur and conservationist Adrian Gardiner, features a diverse collection of extraordinary destinations around the globe. Since joining forces in 2018, Accor and Mantis have worked together to take on new opportunities to welcome guests in authentic curated hotels, eco-lodges and waterways, while prioritizing the cause of sustainability and to promote further appreciation of the natural environment across every unique destination.
The group is partnering with Rakam Investment Ltd, a limited company engaged in investment, focusing on real estate since its inception in 2016, and which has developed commercial and residential properties in the Greater Nairobi Metropolitan Area.
“We are pleased to bring Accor’s brand, Mantis, to one of the most distinct and exclusive locations in Masai Mara,” said Ann Rutere, CEO Rakam Investment Ltd. “In addition to the brand’s uniqueness and awareness in the market, our confidence in this project comes from the high focus to sustainability and preservation of natural heritage offered by the Enonkishu Conservancy and Mantis expertise in the industry. We are excited to open our doors in 2024 and look forward to offering a combination of authentic, unique, and curated experiences to our guests visiting from all parts of the world.’’
Image credit: Accor
Mantis Masai Mara Eco-Lodge will be strategically located in the Enonkishu Conservancy, on the Northern boundary of the Mara-Serengeti game reserve, and will feature 20 tented suites, a restaurant and bar, events space, a sauna and a wellness facility. As with every Mantis across the world, guests staying at Mantis Masai Mara Eco-Lodge will be immersed in an environment celebrating conservation, locality, and sustainability, with activities varying from educational talks about the Masai people and the history of the land, or evening ‘story-telling’ around the boma.
“The Masai Mara is one of the most renowned wildlife conservation and wilderness areas in Africa, and we are excited to offer guests sustainable adventures which celebrate the region’s culture and stay true to the roots of safari,” said Paul Gardiner, CEO of the Mantis Collection. “We will provide fresh experiences which enable guests to make authentic connections with both nature and the people, all whilst supporting sustainability, conservation and community empowerment and upliftment – the founding core pillars of Mantis.”
Image credit: Accor
Once open, the lodge will be ready to welcome safari enthusiasts, offering them the opportunity to discover wildlife in their environment, as well as nature lovers who enjoy stargazing at night, birding or photographic tours, all of which will be available at the property. The spectacular new Eco-Lodge will continue to promote the cause of sustainability as part of the collaboration between Accor and Mantis.
Bvlgari Hotel London reveals refreshed look of The Bvlgari Lounge
Adding another jewel to its London crown, Bvlgari Hotel London unveils the colourful new look of The Bvlgari Lounge along with a little sweet indulgence…
Following the recent unveiling of Bvglari Hotel Paris, the brand’s London property has had a revamp of its own, with its refreshed interiors and the launch of a one year residency by eminent Italian pastry chef and chocolatier Gianluca Fusto, the reimagined and newly defined space features a new ‘Dolci’ experience, as the hotel welcomes Fusto to The Bvlgari Lounge, and launches Il Cioccolato.
The hotel called upon renowned architectural and interior design firm, Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel (ACPV) – the practice that designed the original hotel interiors – to create a fresh look true to Bulgari’s heritage as the master of coloured gems. The Bulgari Lounge offers elegant all day dining in the comfortable glamour and considered taste of a beautifully appointed modern Italian living room. Inherently Bulgari in style, the new look reveals gem-coloured rugs made of wild silk in emerald, blue diamond and citrine. This fresh injection of colour is offset by cognac-hued leather sofas, armchairs in neutral tones, Calacatta marble coffee tables and a central table in black oak. Particular focus is given to the Bulgari eight-point star which is embroidered in gold on bespoke green silk wall hangings. A custom made raised polished chrome and silver mesh partition transforms the space into its own distinct destination, with smaller seating areas and half-height curtains in a soft bouclé sheer creating a cosy intimacy – the perfect spot to enjoy food and drinks at any time of day.
“The Bulgari Lounge is much loved locally as a relaxed and elegant space for gathering in style, depicting the considered taste of modern Italian comfort,” said Patricia Viel, CEO and co-founder of Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel. ” We are excited to reveal a colourful new design to take Bulgari Hotel London into its next decade at the heart of Knightsbridge.”
Image credit: Bvlgari Hotels & Resorts
A further aspect of the refresh is the addition of artworks from the Bulgari Archives; vintage adverts from the Dolce Vita era featuring images of celebrated actors and models Virna Lisi, Benedetta Barzini and Marisa Berenson adorned with iconic Bulgari pieces.
With an Italian eye to every detail, ‘Dolci’ – covering everything sweet on the menu – will be served on delicate porcelain plates and dishes with a floral design by Italian manufacture Ginori 1735. While the ‘Dolci’ themselves, crafted by Gianluca Fusto, who has been described as the ‘Italian architect of modern pastry’, have been developed with the same exquisite vision as Bulgari gem designs. Using only the most precious ingredients, the minimalistic design reveals complex textures with bold and unexpected flavour combinations. The beautifully crafted chocolates capture subtle flavour notes in masterful and unexpected combinations, such as Porcini and Black Pepper, and the limited edition boxes and seasonally inspired creations make exceptional gifts for all.
So, on that note of seasonal gifting and exquisite Bvlgari craftsmanship, who are you going to treat this Christmas with a box of Bvlgari Dolci?
Case Study: Roca goes INNSiDE the bathrooms in Liverpool
The new hotel in the heart of Liverpool, INNSiDE by Spanish hotel chain Meliá Hotels International, features products by leading bathroom manufacturer Roca throughout. Pauline Brettell take a closer look…
The much-anticipated INNSiDE Liverpool by Spanish hotel chain Meliá Hotels International is based on Old Hall Street, inside the iconic former Liverpool Echo offices, offering a superb location just a short walk from the famous Liver Building and Albert Dock. The design and reconfiguration of the building was taken on by architects Corstorphine & Wright , and the 18 floor hotel now aims to be a major attraction for visitors to the city with 207 en-suite guestrooms, restaurant, panoramic 360 Sky Bar, expansive conference & event space and state-of-the-art fitness gym.
Image credit: Roca
The contemporary and stylish guestrooms have been designed with a modern monochrome palette, using tones of black, white and grey, and open on to the minimalist bathrooms specified with high-quality bathroom products by Roca. The bathrooms feature the stylish Prisma basin, in gloss white. With its contemporary design combined with its easy functionality, the Prisma collection from Roca has been a favourite since its launch. The Prisma 600mm basin unit is completed with Roca brassware – the modern L20 basin mixer in stylish chrome, featuring Roca’s EverShine finish for long lasting shine. Larger rooms include the Prisma double basin for added convenience.
The bathrooms all feature wall-hung WC’s from Roca’s popular Debba range with luxury soft close seats and complimentary chrome flush plates. The Debba collection has a wide range of solutions that, combined with its soft, square design, fit seamlessly into any bathroom space. The Virginia freestanding bath in white, provides an impactful focal point in 26 of the bathrooms, while the rectangular Contesa adds a touch of elegance to others. Made from steel, the Contesa bath is hygienic and extremely efficient in retaining the water temperature, keeping the water warmer for longer.
Roca’s Victoria T shower columns are used in the shower areas, offering a practical and stylish solution with the added benefits of thermostatic functionality which maintains a constant water temperature for a pleasant showering experience and avoid the risk of scalding.
“We collaborated closely with the Melia Hotel team and main contractor mac-group to ensure that our innovative and high-quality bathroom products were the perfect solution for the bathrooms in this exciting project,” said Sara Farina, Specification Manager for Roca. “Roca has a long heritage of working on some of the world’s most prestigious hospitality projects and we were delighted to be able to utilise our expertise at the INNSiDE Liverpool hotel.”
Image credit: Roca
A huge draw at the INNSiDE Liverpool hotel is its stylish restaurant, Gino D’Acampo Old Hall Street, with an extensive menu of classic Italian dishes and premium drinks in a chic and contemporary setting. Further raising the bar for drinking and dining in Liverpool is Gino’s new 360 Sky Bar on the 18th floor of the hotel with unrivalled panoramic views of the city and beyond, set to be one of the city’s most desirable locations, with local resident DJ’s further elevating the atmosphere from day to night. A bar this spectacular, calls for an equally impressive guest washroom specification. The chic guest washrooms feature a full range of Roca products, including the luxurious Inspira Round on Countertop Basin, delivering a minimal and modern design style.
Roca use the very latest and most innovative materials to produce the Inspira collection. The basins are manufactured in Fineceramic, a high-quality ceramic material exclusive to Roca which facilitates precision and sophisticated design details. Deep, spacious bowls and smooth surfaces make Inspira basins both easy to use and to clean. The brassware specified is Roca’s touchless L20-E Electronic Basin Mixer in chrome for a contemporary and sleek finish. Roca’s range of electronic basin mixers feature an infrared sensor which activates the water flow when presence is detected and shuts off automatically when presence is no longer detected, avoiding direct hand contact. The lack of contact with the tap improves hygiene and prevents the build-up of droplets and fingerprints on its surface, resulting in a cleaner product for longer. Roca’s electronic basin mixers offer a highly hygienic and effective solution to fight the spread of viruses and bacteria and to reduce the use of water, making it a more eco-friendly choice.
The specifications of these products in both the guestrooms and the public areas combine the strong design and aesthetics of Roca, along with the innovation and practicality required of bathrooms in a forward thinking project like INNSiDE Liverpool.
Roca is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our recommended suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.
Closing the year in style, global lifestyle brand Nobu Hospitality, has announced plans for its fourth Spanish hotel and restaurant, Nobu Hotel and Restaurant San Sebastián for spring 2023. This is what we know…
With a strong focus on cuisine, local culture, and architectural design combined with an air of celebrity, Nobu Hospitality may have met its match in San Sebastián. As the capital of the Gipuzkoa region in Spain, this is a city with the most Michelin stars per square metre than anywhere else in the world, the site of Balenciaga’s first atelier, and a place that Hemingway fondly called home while writing ‘Fiesta’. A true culinary mecca, the mountainous Basque Country’s culture is reflected throughout the coastal town, where visitors are invited to hop from bar to restaurant while sampling bitesize gastronomy referred to locally as pintxo.
“San Sebastián is an exciting location for the brand as good quality food is intrinsic to the destination,” stated Founders Nobu Matsuhisa, Robert De Niro and Meir Teper.”We’re so pleased to be partnering with Javier Illán Plaza on this project and to be opening our fourth hotel and restaurant in Spain, bringing the Nobu cuisine to a new audience of residents and travellers.”
Image credit: Nobu Hospitality
Overlooking La Concha Bay, Nobu Hotel and Restaurant San Sebastián is scheduled to open in March 2023, with 20 luxuriously designed guestrooms and suites and a 98 seat Nobu restaurant offering panoramic water and city views. The fully renovated hotel sits on the site of the famed Palacio Vista Eder, constructed in 1912 and designed by renowned Spanish architect, Francisco Urcola.
Partnering with Nobu Hospitality on the new opening, is Millenium Hospitality Real Estate SOCIMI (MHRE). With an existing collection of five-star hotels peppered throughout Spain and Portugal, MHRE’s strategy places an emphasis on the careful selection of properties and their location. Based on generating value by acquiring and repositioning hotel assets, MHRE is managed by a multidisciplinary team of prestigious professionals with extensive experience in hotel investment, boasting a large portfolio of assets both under operation and in the process of being repositioned.
“The partnership with Nobu Hospitality and launch of Nobu Hotel and Restaurant San Sebastián further places the region on the map as the ultimate gourmet hotspot,” said Javier Illán Plaza, President and CEO of Millenium Hospitality Real Estate. “I’m thrilled to be working with the brand to make this opening one of the country’s most exciting for 2023, which will be embraced by residents and visitors alike.”
Named one of luxury’s 25 Most Innovative Brands by Robb Report, Nobu Hospitality has earned its position among an elite selection of global luxury brands. The natural growth of Nobu Hospitality, built on service, image, and reputation, offers the complete spectrum of hotel, restaurant, and residence management for unique projects around the world. The brands announcement of the slated opening of Nobu Hotel and Restaurant San Sebastián for the first quarter of 2023 is an exciting … and on look forward to following the progression as it unfolds.
Year in review: Franklite continues to take lighting to new levels
It has been a year full of new designs, divas and dramatic lighting schemes for Franklite, not to mention a few awards gathered along the way. Pauline Brettell reflects…
Franklite can look back on 2021 with pride, as amongst its achievements this year, it can list three prestigious awards along with the successful launch of new and innovative product ranges.
Starting the run of success with scooping up the Artistic Award at the Society of Light and Lighting’s Ready Steady Light 2021, the 14 other companies were clearly no match for the Franklite team. Held at Rose Bruford College, the company was tasked to illuminate a specific area of the campus, and not being one to hide its light under a bushel, it lit the way and won the day.
Later in the year, after being shortlisted in two categories for our very own Brit List Awards – Best in Tech, and Best in British Product Design, Franklite won the Best in Tech award for its latest development in LED technology, the L11 tuneable white light engine.
Image credit: Franklite
Over the last several months, Franklite has worked tirelessly to design ranges of products that are not only functional and efficient, but also beautiful and creative. In continuation of the well received Catalogue 26, new product ranges each with their own variations, have been added to the Catalogue 26 supplement.
The Diva range is exactly that, extravagant! Chrome finish fittings surrounded by rectangular crystals with a mass display of crystal glass spheres as a base. This magnificent range includes 11, 15 and 20 light fittings and matching wall bracket. When lit, the colour temperature and reflection of the lamps creates very distinctive ambiences.
Image credit: Franklite
Continuing with new designs, the large scale chrome finish fittings with a multitude of smoked and patterned clear glass spheres in varying sizes makes the Array a truly stunning centre piece. Available in 29 and 47 light fittings.
Along with new designs, existing ranges were added to. New designs can be seen amongst the brands most popular ranges; the Taper, Perdita, Philly and Wisteria, all providing customers with more product choices. The Taper range now includes wall brackets, floor and table lamps. A phenomenal 21 light, spanning 1.2m in length has been added to the Wisteria range.
Ending the year off with a bang, Franklite received Best Retail Decorative Lighting Manufacturer 2021 at the fourth consecutive Southern Enterprise Awards hosted by SME News. With all the hard work and dedication of the team at Franklite having been both recognised and rewarded, we are excited to see what the brand has in store for the industry in 2022.
Franklite is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.
Editor checks in: A sense of change in hotel design
Making the best out of a disruptive situation – day eight of 10 into quarantine after testing positive for Covid-19 – Editor Hamish Kilburn finds the time (and the words) to explore in his final editor’s letter of 2021 how sensory design and togetherness could help fuel hotel design and hospitality into a new yet-to-be-written chapter…
Can you feel, smell, hear, touch or taste it? Don’t worry, this isn’t a new variant symptoms check. There’s a transformation happening. It’s affecting the way we work. The way we communicate. Even my tone seems dissimilar (perhaps more honest) as I write this, uncomfortably pessimistic, in day eight of a 10-day quarantine after testing positive for Covid-19 the day I landed back from reviewing a recent cluster of hotel design projects in Spain.
Whether we like it or not, we have no choice but to embrace new ways of living and working. As frustrating as this ‘new world’ may feel at times, we cannot always alter our surroundings. What we can adjust, however, is how we react. In great depression comes new prospects. When we accept a remodelled status quo, we can move past the practical hurdles and start to see how a change in landscape creates a transformation in behaviour, which in turn can lead to new breakthroughs in design, architecture and hospitality.
If you are struggling to see it, look no further than The Brit List 2021, which was unveiled in November at a spectacular, glitter-filled awards ceremony. The publication includes 75 individual examples of people at the forefront of our industry who are utilising this situation, which is becoming to feel more long-term as the months draw on. Take Robin Hutson, the Founder of The PIG Hotels, for instance, who won Hotelier of the Year at The Brit List Awards 2021. During a time when hospitality was forced to be on hold, Hutson started A Seat At The Table campaign in order to give the industry – formally under-represented – an unapologetic voice.
Another example is Tina Norden, Partner at Conran and Partners, who recently completed projects include the new five-star Park Hyatt hotel in Auckland; FEAST within Hong Kong’s iconic EAST hotel and the Peninsula Boutique and Café in Hong Kong. Norden was crowned Interior Designer of Year because of these projects as well as her selfless efforts to support the industry through lockdown, saying ‘yes’ to any opportunity to help raise the profile of British and global hospitality and design at its best. And instead of wallowing in self-isolation despair, I’ve just realised that I am interviewing both leaders in just a few days (note to self: use this time locked away from the world wisely in order to work on thought-provoking questions).
Logically, design and creativity during this period should have suffered, when human interaction and supplies chains have been damaged. Okay, it’s taken longer, and designers have been forced to, at times, sacrifice global FF&E, but it has allowed our community to do what it does best; find solutions to problems. Interior designer Álvaro Sans was tasked to steer one of Seville’s most iconic hotels, Meliá Gran Hotel Colón, into a modern era at a time when it was illegal for citizens to leave their houses. The delivery times of materials was a great task to manage,” he told me. “We had to change some furniture items because they did not arrive after five months of delay.” Sans recently unveiled this project, and it is, in my opinion, genuinely one of the most impressive public area renovations in recent history.
Image caption: The check-in desk inside the hotel is littered with Andalusian artefacts. | Image credit: Meliá International
Image caption: The design of the F&B area inside the hotel continues the cohesive design narrative from the lobby. | Image credit: Meliá International
So, you see, change on this kind of scale can be a pivotal part of the overall narrative – we are turning the page of a gripping novel. Well, I have a confession to make. I read ahead and skipped a few chapter, and – spoiler alert – I have to tell you what I found before I read backwards. Waiting for us on the other side is an industry, scarred and not broken, which sets a holistic and more meaningful setting. The textured scene is layered with colour for personality, sound to create atmosphere, touch to make it personal and the smell of fresh bread from the bakery. It’s a sensory fusion of all the things we lost during dark times – a coming together of new skillsets we learned when restrained to the parameters of our homes. I’m not the only one who is reading ahead. At a recent panel discussion I moderated at Independent Hotel Show, Mark Bruce, Main Board Director at EPR Architects; Sound Designer Tom Middleton and Marie Soliman, Co-Founder of Bergman Design House discussed all the possible senses that will take hospitality forward – and no area, even the often forgotten hotel corridors, were off limit. “The gaps between the experiences are just as important as the experiences themselves,” said Bruce. “Those few metres can be thoughtful in themselves.”
The answer to many (if not all) of our problems comes in the form of collaboration, which has long been a fuel for the sector. I’m not talking about interior designers working with lighting designers or architects forming partnerships with sound architects. Instead, I’m suggesting two (or more) interior designers – AKA competitors – actually working together on a brief.
We saw this recently at HIX, in a wonderful display by the three design studios worked together to create Hotel Tomorrow. In this space, Conran and Partners injected the energy of community. Meanwhlile, Areen Design created an art installation-style safe cocoon nest that brought down the heart rate. stroop design, very much inspired by its own situation of launching recently with no physical base, was inspired by nature – and unveiled its co-working pod as a walk-in-the-park experience. Outside these three pods, the studios worked together, using visuals and sounds as tools for transformation from one area of the show to another – and as a result, intentional or not, they helped redefine the traditional trade show into an insightful experience.
Elsewhere in the show, a new revolution came to the surface in the wellness ‘living moodboards’ that were created by Sieger Design, Studio Carter, and Studio Corkinho – think hemp walls, spa-like suites and silent architecture. These concepts that were inspired with the 12 principles of design by Nestwell proved that the world is truthfully our oyster, and there is little we cannot achieve through constructive research and development (R&D).
“Yes, close the laptop lid and prepare to round-off another year on the international hotel design scene with a sense of pride from what we have created in a difficult year.” – Hamish Kilburn, Editor, Hotel Designs.
Image credit: Studio Carter’s concept explored organic materials as well as soft architecture to create an authentic sense of wellbeing. | Image credit: Studio Carter
I would like to evolve R&D to add a new ‘R’: ‘rest’, which is unreservedly an integral element with innovation in design and hospitality. It’s the same with writing. Leaving an idea or an article to mature is all part of the process, which cannot sometimes be rushed, nor forced. Resetting the scales allows you time to exhale. When the writer returns, the space they’ve created allows the opportunity to add value to whatever was created previously.
And with that, several drafts later of attempting this column, it’s time to ‘switch off’ and turn on our Out of Office automatic replies. Yes, close the laptop lid and prepare to round-off another year on the international hotel design scene with a sense of pride from what we have achieved in a difficult year. I hope that when we return in 2022, we will find it in our hearts to embrace togetherness; to take on, in harmony, new opportunities and challenges.
To spur on this sense of change, I pledge to amplify on these pages bold, genius and non-conforming concepts next year and beyond. Revise the recipe – we’re craving spice and flavour here on the editorial desk – and please help us take hotel design and hospitality forward in beautiful, authentic, and disruptive ways. So, who will feature in the next chapter, I wonder?
Registration opens for Hotel, Restaurant & Catering 2022
Hotel, Restaurant & Catering (HRC), the UK’s largest and most prestigious business event for the hospitality and foodservice sector, has opened visitor registration for its 2022 edition, taking place on 21-23 March at ExCeL London.
Hotel, Restaurant & Catering (HRC) is the UK’s largest and most prestigious event for the hospitality and foodservice industry, and Hotel Designs is proud to be one of the media partners for HRC 2022. The show welcomes a wide range of suppliers, from big brands to innovative start-ups, showcasing ground-breaking products in catering equipment, food, drink, technology, interior design and tabletop solutions.
With the 2021 HRC being cancelled – yes, you guessed it, due to Covid-19 – HRC 2022 is coming back bigger and better! For the first time in 2022, the event will take place alongside the International Food & Drink Event (IFE), IFE Manufacturing, London Produce Show and The Pub Show, bringing together a diverse audience of more than 35,000 food, drink and hospitality professionals along with over 2,000 suppliers.
“HRC was the last industry event to take place before the Covid-19 lockdown began in March 2020 and we’ve been supporting our industry throughout the pandemic with a wide range of webinars and virtual events hosted on HRC Connects, a new digital platform for the industry,” said Event Manager Ronda Annesley. “We’re thrilled to be welcoming our community back to ExCeL London to meet and do business face-to-face, and excited to be joining forces with our partner events for an unparalleled gathering of the food, drink, hospitality and foodservice industry.”
A wide range of innovative industry suppliers will be on show, covering categories such as food and drink, catering equipment, hospitality tech and, newly rebranded for 2022, design and décor.
Visitors will have free access to more than 100 talks, competitions, chef demonstrations, panel discussions and trend trails over the three days of the event covering some of the most vital challenges and opportunities for pubs, restaurants, hotels, catering businesses, public sector and more. The event will also be continuing its partnership with Staff Canteen as some of the industry’s most respected culinary experts cook up a storm at The Staff Canteen Live demo area.
Image Credit: Hotel Restaurant & Catering
In addition, HRC once again plays host to the Salon Culinaire chef competition which will be celebrating its centenary in 2022 and which has seen numerous well-known chefs compete throughout its prestigious history. The competition will see talented chefs putting their skills and knowledge to the test across a wide range of categories throughout the three days of the show.
HRC takes place between March 21 – 23, 2022. Head over to the website to register for your ticket.
Year in Review: Top 7 lighting products that launched in 2021
Continuing our ‘Spotlight On’ feature this month on ‘Year in Review’, where we publish the ultimate throwback of our 2021 highlights, this is our list of lighting products, designs and innovations that have grabbed our attention and got us swinging from the chandeliers…
Lighting in the hotel and hospitality industry has moved forward in leaps and bounds from the functional to the fabulous, and is now leading the way with the new buzzword in hotel design – flexibility. As demands on the hotel experience shift, so too do the demands on the lighting. In our Virtual Roundtable series this year we have covered several of these shifts in design and direction in the lighting industry with conversations about innovation, through to the broader social concerns of ethical solutions in lighting, reflecting the range of challenges being faced by interior and lighting designers. The seven products and designs below, we feel have responded to these demands, and are set to add depth and dimension into the interiors of 2022.
The joy of an innovative reading light…this combination of functionality with a contemporary aesthetic is what put this product in line to be awarded a Red Dot Award earlier this year.
“The starting point was to create a product which nestled into a headboard with minimum projection whilst serving as a decorative accent to an interior design scheme,” said Will Chelsom, Managing Director, Chelsom. “It had to start with ‘the look’ of the product but quickly we focussed all of our efforts on creating a thoroughly advanced mechanical design which made ‘THE EYE’ easy to use and essential to any guestroom design scheme.”
Christopher Hyde has always included bold statement pieces in its lighting collection, and the designs from The Houston Collection are no exception. A contemporary take on a traditional chandelier, what we love about this design is its versatility; it can make a grand design statement in a hotel lobby, while being equally comfortable on a domestic scale lighting up a corner of your home.
Image caption: Lighting inside Nobu London Portman Square designed by Dernier & Hamlyn. | Image credit: Jack Hardy
Image caption: Nobu Restaurant inside Nobu London Portman Square. / Image credit: Jack Hardy
It’s always exciting to see bespoke lighting projects literally light up a design scheme, in an equally exciting hotel development. The designs by Dernier & Hamilton for Nobu London Portman Square elevated the interiors in some of the most spectacular areas of the hotel.
“This project utilised many of our team’s skills to ensure the lighting we manufactured achieved the quality and attention to detail required,” Lyn Newcombe, Head of Projects at Dernier & Hamlyn, told Hotel Designs. “The lighting they produced for Nobu Hotel London Portman Square is even more exquisite than we hoped for and we have no doubt that the hotel’s guests and diners will have their experience enhanced by the mood it helps to create.”
Behind every beautiful designer lampshade, there needs to be an L11 tuneable white light engine! This innovative design makes ambient lighting both a subtle and a simple affair, and gives designers the capability to easily control the transition of light colour temperature wirelessly through an app or hard-wired within a building management system. With this product being noted as a ‘gamechanger’ in the industry, it came as no surprise when the company was awarded the Brit List Best in Tech 2021 award.
This design by LEDS C4 makes that transition from lighting to art installation with its innovative use of materials, along with a strong visual statement. With this system, design studio Nahtrang has created a lighting collection that’s visually surprising, and offers designers endless possibilities for creative and bespoke lighting schemes.
The organic shapes and natural materials of the bespoke lighting by Omio certainly caught our attention at HIX2021. The artisanal qualities of the lighting along with the oversized scale and sculptural qualities of some of the pieces are a result of the successful collaboration between craft and production. It is exciting to see the handmade and craft based techniques of the designs taking centre stage in a commercial environment.
Well-Lit has brought the question of ethical lighting to the design table, but along with questions of ethics and sustainability, it is also keeping the design profile of its lights high on the agenda. The Azure collection is an innovative combination of light and bulb and is quite simply beautiful, functional, and of course, ethical!
Chelsom, Christopher Hyde, Dernier & Hamlyn, Franklite and LEDS C4 are all Recommended Suppliers and regularly feature in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.
Each year, Hotel Designs unveils The Brit List, a publication that profiles the top 25 designers, the top 25 architects and the top 25 hoteliers who are operating in Britain. Following the official unveiling of The Brit List 2021 at this year’s spectacular award ceremony, please meet The Brit List Designers of 2021…
Since 2017, The Brit List Awards has become Hotel Designs’ meaningful year-long search to find the designers, architects and hoteliers who are proving to be trendsetters on the international hotel design scene. In addition to the individual winners who were crowned at the awards ceremony in early November, the campaign also includes the unveiling of The Brit List, an annual publication that, from the shortlisted finalists, profiles the top 25 designers, top 25 architects and the top 25 hoteliers who are operating in Britain today. And every year, in December, we take time to profile the 75 individuals.
To kickstart our editorial celebration of this year’s leading and most-influential designers, architects and hoteliers, please meet (in alphabetical order) The Brit List Designers of 2021…
Alan McVitty has worked within the interior design industry for more than 30 years and his portfolio reflects his distinctive, elegant style. The variety of projects, including the recently opened InterContinental Porto, which shelters a fresh interior design scheme, offer endless opportunities creatively, which McVitty and the team at M Studio London thrive on.
The cross over from high-end residential to luxury hotel and cruise ship projects, as well as a deep understanding around materiality, gives M Studio London the knowhow to layer the interiors in the brands’ hallmark understated style.
McVitty leads a team of multi-talented designers from the London studio.
With projects from the Middle East and Africa to Europe and the USA, Alex Kravetz is truly an international interior designer.
His clients range from private individuals to independent hotels and major global operators. The designer not only strives to create interiors that are both timeless and elegant, but through storytelling and brand creation looks at all aspects of the project to create a compelling and immersive narrative. For example, The Carlton hotel project had a very strong concept from the offset, based on the client and Kravetz’s shared vision and market positioning for the hotel. The designer and his team developed the story of The Carlton as a hip and progressive grand hotel in the heart of the city of music, re-joining the line-up of great, grand hotels in Katowice, Poland. Turning the traditional perception of a grand hotel on its head, The Carlton is a gravitating magnet yet also a paradox. A fusion of styles from both past and present, a juxtaposition of classical versus modernistic, the old versus the new. All of these paradoxes co-exist together at The Carlton, captivated through the movement of music. This vision for the hotel, was paramount to what Kravetz would do for the interiors and was woven into the brand narrative all the way through.
Beverley Bayes is a passionate designer, with a unique signature style that effortlessly blends form and function with informality and a touch of ‘barefoot luxury’. Her designs create stunning, luxurious and sumptuous spaces that add a sense of fun, enabling guests to feel at home in an instant.
Over 10 ten years, she has helped to transform and create ‘game-changing’ hotel spa and wellness facilities. Her portfolio includes Calot Spa, Dormy House Spa, Cottonmill at Sopwell House and the Spa at South Lodge (among others).
Bayes’ approach is ‘ahead of the curve’, always seeking to establish a link to the outside and nature. Calcot Spa had one of the first spa gardens in the UK with its iconic slate lined hydro pool and Cotswold stone fireplace and more recently she completed South Lodge Spa’s natural swimming pool. Most recently, Bayes has completed the interior design scheme of the new spa inside London’s iconic Harrods.
Bayes also has a unique talent for producing intelligent, inspiring environments that respect the history, culture, concept and aspirations of the project. Much of the studio’s work at the Spa at South Lodge, for example, drew on inspiration from the property’s botanical history dating back to the 1800’s to inform the spa design and concept for the 65-cover Botanica Spa Restaurant.
Clara Mason joined Dexter Moren Associates in 2017 as a junior interior designer with a background in designing F&B spaces in the UK and internationally, and has built upon this experience to establish herself as a valued member of the interior design team. In the following four years, Mason has worked on numerous major hotel projects from large scale developments to small independent hotels.
Throughout the challenges of the past year, Mason has pushed herself professionally and has stepped up to become project lead on some of DMA’s key projects, including a luxury destination wine bar, part of the Nine Elms development, and a 100-key hotel refurbishment in West London. Most recently, she has played a key role in the design and delivery of the Westin Hotel City of London, a 220 room 5* property, which includes 10 suites and nine private residences, due to open later this year and the first of its brand in the UK.
Mason is passionate about creating timeless spaces that are responsive to their environments and user needs. Striving to push the boundaries of conventional design, she believes that the opportunity to influence how people interact with the world is a particularly exciting part of the work that we do. She is instinctively artistic with a keen sense of commercial awareness and has committed to honing her skills creatively, technically and administratively, and furthermore displays a strong team spirit. Clara has proven herself to be a highly driven and well- rounded designer.
Craig McKie, Co-Founder & Creative Director, Bell & Swift
Described as the ‘beating heart’ of the creative process at Bell & Swift, Craig McKie creates impactful, locally relevant, insight-fuelled design concepts. McKie is known for pushing the boundaries to create original, commercially focused, award-winning interior schemes.
As Co-Founder of Bell & Swift, he leads the creative process and guides the team to deliver exceptional results. He has more than 12 years’ experience in the hospitality sector designing for global brands such as Hilton, IHG, Accor and Marriott International.
As an active collaborator with a foundation in construction, McKie’s drive and experience in taking complex projects to completion and maintaining the design integrity throughout the entire process, will guarantee the final product looks every bit as good as the initial concept. Specialising in brand prototype design, new builds and major refurbishments throughout the UK, Europe and North America, McKie’s passion lies within creating welcoming spaces that result in guests returning time and again.
Mckie is also passionate about giving young designers the opportunity to gain experience in our industry. He recognises how hard the last year has been for young designers starting out and how important it is for the future that they are given the chance to grow and develop their skills and experience in the field.
Dedicating his life to his passion, Dale Atkinson takes pride in his design aesthetic, rich in tradition and yet creatively contemporary, utilising research as the bedrock of all projects, allowing each project to possess a unique environment.
June 2021 saw the opening of Mykonos Social at the renowned Santa Marina Resort, on the vibrant island of Mykonos. Here, the studio was commissioned to create spaces both internally and externally that celebrated Greek culture.
Another recent project, The Stafford Park Suite, marks what has been a long, successful client-designer relationship between the hotel and the studio. It started with the award-winning restaurant, Game Bird – the first project for Rosendale Design at The Stafford that opened in 2017. After receiving glowing plaudits, the studio revitalised the illustrious American Bar, one of the longest surviving American bars in London. These acclaimed projects were followed by the 2020 debut of the fourth and fifth floor main house rooms, and finally, The Stafford Park Suite.
Other 2021/22 projects include ARAGAWA, a Japanese Steakhouse in Mayfair (one of the world’s most expensive restaurants) and Mathura by Chef Atul Kochar in the old Westminster Fire Station. Rosendale Design are also working on several high-profile residential projects including the home of the CEO of Versace. The team have also recently designed the home of A-list Chef Jason Atherton.
David Mason has 25 years’ experience in interior design, predominately located in London as well and living and working in Australia and Beijing. His career spans across all sectors but his main focus is hospitality and high-end residential. After joining Scott Brownrigg in 2016, he has helped strengthen our design and lead multiple teams in delivering exemplar and award-winning projects, including the arrival of Hard Rock Hotels brand in London.
Current projects include a 226-bedroom hotel and public area refurbishment in Stratford, East London, which is about to start on site and the design of an experiential immersive hotel for a major lifestyle brand.
In addition, Mason has recently been part of a campaign, led by Hotel Designs and supported by NEWH, to support young designers who are struggling to find the first step on the ladder. He took part in an interview, helmed by a young designer, and shared his knowledge, experience and advice on how young designers can progress post-university.
In 2012 Ed Warner launched Motionspot. Since then, he has built Motionspot to become an award-winning design company recognised by RIBA.
He has worked with hundreds of home owners, businesses, occupational therapists, architects and interior designers, helping deliver beautifully designed access for all. In 2019, Warner was appointed as the UK Government Champion for Accessible Design of Spaces and Products.
Last year, he and his team completed Hotel Brooklyn, regarded as the UK’s most accessible design-led hotel. Bringing New York flare to Manchester, the hotel provides 189 rooms that are set across 10 storeys with conference rooms, a restaurant and bar on the ground floor and mini cinema in the lobby.
But what really makes this hotel special is its commitment to design-led accessibility. This was central to the design and build of the hotel, which shelters nine wheelchair accessible bedrooms – including the first hotel in Manchester with ceiling track hoists – and nine ambulant accessible bedrooms.
Accessibility isn’t just limited to the bedrooms, as attention was paid to the communal spaces too, to ensure that guests with a range of physical, visual and cognitive access needs could enjoy all the hotel has to offer.
Last year’s winner of the Outstanding Contribution to the Hospitality Industry award, Fiona Thompson is one of the UK’s leading and most-respected hospitality interior designers – and for good reason.
What’s more, Hotel Designs has seen first-hand Thompson’s support for the next generation of designers – a sign of a real leader – such as putting forward her own employees who were shortlisted for the 30-under-30 campaign that the publication launched in 2018.
Geraldine Dohogne, Founder, Beyond Design
An unorthodox beginning to her career, Geraldine Dohogne began on the operational side of hospitality, with Zannier Hotels. It was not long until her natural gifts and undeniable talent as a designer began to shine through, and quickly pulled her to become the brand’s DesignDirector. Her career blossomed out of pure love for design.. With each project, she brings positive social impacts, sustainable literacy and fresh inspiration drawn from each country and culture. Her strategy and work ethic that she leads her studio with, pushes projects beyond ‘hotels’ and into spheres of learning, leisure and beauty.
Grandvoir, nestled in the Ardennes, Belgium is due to open in Autumn 2022 – and it will be a masterful expression of biophilic design. 84 cottages will span over 60 acres in the pocket of pristine vegetation. The project will bring children’s education in nature and regenerative sustainability to the forefront. With educational paths, stimulating architecture and mindful wildlife watching, the project will be driven by our humanistic need, for both adult and child, to play and reconnect. What’s more, all products will be locally grown, made or found.
People like Dohogne remind us that designers shape the world. It is through our collective decision making in construction, development and experience when our world interacts — and ecological and social system are built.
Director Hamish Brown and CEO Stuart Horwood are the Partners of 1508 London design studio, specialising in private residential, hospitality and multi-unit developments as well as yachts and product design created 12 years ago. Deeply rooted on a collaborative approach, the designs are derived from measured principles, inspired by history, geography and the local architectural vernacular. The studio’s expertise extends across all stages of design and construction; from feasibility studies, planning applications, conceptual and detailed design through to monitoring construction on-site, procurement, dressing and hand-over, ensuring each project is finished to the highest level of quality.
With offices spreading across four continents 1508 London offers a world leading design service with a global reach. 1508 London is currently designing an important historical Townhouse in London, an incredible property in Reykjavík, Iceland and Villas in South of France and Italy. In addition to private clients, 1508 also have a dedicated team, fully experienced in designing larger scale projects such as The Raffles Residences at the OWO (the old war office) a landmark in London, a new Four Seasons Resort in the Middle East and The Rosewood Doha that will be ready for the World Cup 2022.
Since opening his multi-disciplinary London studio in 2002, Henry Chebaane has developed an all-encompassing approach to designing hospitality spaces that are more akin to film and stage productions. Always starting with a compelling concept with a story to tell, his interiors are meticulously articulated through script-writing, stage-setting, scenography, architecture and product design, immersing staff and customers into experiential transactions within each project – think modern-day Oliver Messel.
From single cocktail bars to multi-use real estate developments, he endeavours for each client to balance commercial discipline and brand identity with high impact drama, quirky detail and strong styling.
His eclectic design philosophy has led him to work for large brands such as Four Seasons, InterContinental, Hyatt, Hilton, Marriott as well as independent hotels and restaurants.
Each project, which recently includes Voco, The Hague, The Megaro at Kings Cross in London and Andaz Prague, shelters thought-provoking art installations that he creates himself, enabling multiple levels of engagement for the public: from simply entertaining to often deeper introspection into culture, sociology, ecology and animal welfare.
Australian by origin, Hilary Lancaster is an award-winning interior designer with more than 25 years’ experience, designing internationally for some of the world’s most high-profile clients and projects.
After returning to the UK in 2015, following a few international design ventures, she won a series of hotel projects in Amsterdam, which took her to yet another exciting city and culture in the Netherlands. Adding to the melting-pot of her experience and widening even further her knowledge of various cultures, she experienced their ways of living and working and expanded her connections in the industry from suppliers to investors to hoteliers and private clients. Her design for The Hendrick’s Hotel in Amsterdam is well-known for its charm and uniqueness, sheltering just 25 rooms in an old Canal House.
The designer is very interested in developing her interest in sustainability in design. She is appreciative of the opportunity given to her by Club Med that enabled her to deliver her first sustainable resort for Club Med in the Dominican Republic. Following this, she is planning on working on more sustainability-led projects in the Caribbean and globally.
Ilse Crawford, the Founding Editor of Elle Decoration UK, is a designer, teacher and creative director. As Founder of Studioilse, over two decades – in which time she has published a handful books – she has pioneered humanistic design in its real-life application to environments, objects and experiences, by addressing true human needs (not manufactured ones).
As a meaningful designer, who once said, “design is a verb, not a noun,” her portfolio includes Ett Hem, Babbington House, Soho House New York and Kranzbach Hotel – as well as designing innovative products (or ‘things’ as they are described on her website) such as the Together Table, the Touch Collection and the iconic Ilse Sofa.
One of her most recent projects is located in Hong Kong. Carlyle & Co., Rosewood Hotels’ debut members’ club opened earlier this year, presenting a new style of the private membership experience.
Carlyle & Co. welcomes a carefully curated community of members drawn together by personalities, passions, interests and stories – rather than status or profession – to experience exceptional dining and lifestyle moments, a rich cultural calendar and unrivalled entertainment.
For more than 10 years, Sibley Grove has been considered a pioneer in the world of interiors and sustainability. During a difficult 2020, Jeremy Grove, after winning The Eco Award at The Brit List Awards 2020, has continued to drive forward with existing projects and win new, exciting projects that will be implemented in 2022.
KAUST Hotel in Jeddah was completed in September, 2021. The hotel is on the site of the world’s largest LEED accredited university campus; it is more than 22,000sqm and consists of 300 guestrooms and suites, conference centres, restaurants, a gym and fitness centre, and a rooftop terrace and restaurant.
Grove approached the interior design from a human scale, celebrating the seven-metre ground floor ceiling heights and creating warmth and intimacy through the introduction of lighting rafts, screens and partitioning. The designer created a horizontal datum along the large walls and applied a fluted lighting feature on the upper half to cut down the vast volumes and rationalise the spaces. Using a feature chain link screen, the studio created private lounges and areas for informal meetings while maintaining visibility across the space.
The ambition for the guestrooms was to create the feeling of a luxury apartment. The materials, palette and layout reflect a relaxed residential scheme, rather than a more formal/generic hotel guestroom.
The team at Sibley Grove have spent many years visiting factories and building relationships with suppliers and manufacturers to ensure supply chains are as sustainable and ethical as possible.
I-AM London has been a fundamental partner in successfully designing the interiors for a number of hotels, including the Center Hotel Laugavegur in Iceland.
For Laugavegur, Kirsty Vance and her team used their ideation process to capture the brand’s values and translate it across the building’s interiors, while effectively attracting the target audience. I-AM London created the ‘stay like a local’ philosophy for the group, which led the concept of the lobby design. Encompassing both the hotel reception and a guest lounge, the lobby features a concierge desk, luggage locker wall and area for guests to digitally book tours and trips. The waiting area incorporates a feature wall showcasing various Icelandic curiosities and providing an insight into the local culture. It also has a flexi-space that guests can use to work or relax, creating an atmosphere that aims to feel like a home away from home.
Following the success of Laugavegur, I-AM London continues to be the hotel brand’s much loved design partner. Along with the launch of a new destination restaurant Héðinn, which opened its doors in June, 2021, I-AM London is also working with the group on a number of other hotels, including Ísafold Restaurant in Þingholt and the complete redesign of the hotel Skjaldbreid.
Following five years at HBA London working as Projects Senior Designer, Marie Soliman together with partner Albin Burgland, launched Bergman Interiors in 2016 with the aim to establish a design studio that focused on tailored briefs, redefining luxury and delivering bespoke experiences within the hospitality arena.
The designer and her team are currently working on a new luxury hospitality experience at Silverstone, while helping to develop a revolutionary hospitality concept, called The Other House. Launching in Spring 2022, the brand’s first hotel, located in South Kensington, promises to combine world-class design with a decidedly clubby feel to encourage a new generation of long and short-term guests to make Southwest London their home.
Effortlessly and elegantly combining home comforts with hotel style facilities, whatever the length of stay, The Other House South Kensington will offer 200 signature fully fitted and contemporary classic Club Flats – for leisure travellers and corporate visitors alike.
And that’s just the beginning. Following Burglund winning Interior Designer of The Year at The Brit List Awards 2020, the team have recently expanded, and in the process launched Njord by Bergman Design House, which is travelling at full-force to design tomorrow’s fleet of luxury superyachts.
Mark Bithrey, Founder & Creative Director, B3 Designers
Mark Bithrey’s approach to design is always first to ensure operational efficiency – whether that’s in hotels, restaurants, bars, cafés, or homes. The design concepts and finishes make most sense when the space works to do what it is supposed to.
For the Sheraton Frankfurt Airport Hotel & Conference Centre, the design challenge posed to B3 Designers was multifold. The property has been split into two, to accommodate two Marriott brands – Sheraton and Marriott. B3 Designers was tasked with designing the entire interiors for the common areas at the Sheraton, and some shared areas between the two hotels: lobby, check-in, F&B spaces, lounge and business meetings areas. A new train station is under construction, from where a bridge will lead straight up to the communal area of the hotel.
The HOSHO Hostel in Paris was another challenging hotel/accommodation project that Bithrey and his team worked on, and was launched in early 2021. Catering to young travellers and families, this hostel needed to sleep guests in bunk beds, which B3 Designers designed, while offering a cool and fun F&B space, locker area, and laundry section.
Bithrey brings 20 years’ experience to every single project; looking at each of them with fresh eyes while applying his knowledge and solid understanding of design, technically challenging spaces are his forte.
Neil Andrew joined Perkins&Will in 2020 to head up hospitality projects for interior design and architecture – and there was no time for a gentle ‘easing in’ period.
Since joining the company, Andrew has led the design for the public areas of Hilton London Metropole which opened in September 2020. As one of the largest conference hotels in Europe, the Metropole boasts some vast spaces, and so the challenge as architects and interior designers was to bring those down to a human scale, creating intimate pockets within the larger spaces. At the same time, it was important to balance design flair and concept narrative with a practicality which would meet the functional requirements of the property – as it caters for conference and leisure guests.
Currently Perkins&Will are developing their Net Zero Pledge for Hospitality which will see the team set a target of producing 100 per cent Net Zero design by 2030. In order to do so Andrew’s team are contributing to the Perkins&Will ‘Now Database’ which is a shared resource for designers and architects within other practices, listing suppliers that adhere to sustainability requirements outlined by the studio. In order for the hospitality market to continue growing whilst reducing its carbon footprint on the planet some quite drastic steps need to be taken now and this is key to the Perkins&Will ethos.
Nicholas J Hickson, with more than 34 years’ experience, has extensive knowledge and understanding within the hotel design arena. His diverse contemporary approach to traditional manufacturing ideas, combined with his attention to detail, delivers inspirational client led solutions. He has extensive experience with hotel interior architecture, schematic planning, FF&E selection & custom design, and procurement strategies. He has a contemporary approach to traditional manufacturing, combined with his attention to detail, he delivers inspirational interiors.
In terms of projects, he and his team completed the interiors inside the Hilton DoubleTree Roma Monti in April. Last year THDP also completed Indigo Verona, Terme di Saturnia, Hilton Frankfurt City Centre. In addition, the studio has recently finished a brand-new RG Naxos hotel that will become a Marriott next year, as well as more projects in Venice.
In addition, Hickson is a well-versed speaker on the international hotel design scene. He recently joined Hotel Designs LIVE, a unique online conference that was launched during the Covid-19 crisis, to explore the topic of bathrooms beyond practical spaces.
Scott Torrance leads the 3DReid interiors team and works on a diverse range of interior projects and sectors designing three-, four- and five-star hotels, bars and restaurants, F&B operations, hospitality lounges, residential including student residences, retail, leisure, health
and wellbeing and workplace environments.
Torrance has extensive experience particularly within the hotel sector working collaboratively with clients throughout the UK and abroad. He is responsible for all aspects of projects from managing initial concept design to project delivery on site and has a particular interest in historic buildings, specifically their change of use and reinvention into hotels.
Scott has worked on the following selected hospitality projects, including the British Airways Lounge in Aberdeen, Goodwood Hotel in Chichester, Hotel Indigo Manchester – Victoria Station, KM Central in Edinburgh, Masson House Hotel in Edinburgh, Rutland Arms Hotel in Newmarket and V&A Hotel in Manchester (among others).
Simon Kincaid joined Conran and Partners in 2006, became a Director in 2016 and a Partner in 2018. His work at the practice covers various typologies including residential, hotel, restaurant and retail projects, across markets ranging from the UK, Europe and North America to China, India and South Korea.
Kincaid is deeply immersed in the creative industry, on an international level, which has allowed him to travel to culturally significant places, meet inspirational people, and enjoy experiences which have become treasured memories. It’s the culmination of these encounters, places and the people that shape his designs.
Collaboration is a central part Simon’s approach and his projects acknowledge the importance of working closely with specialist design and brand consultants, engineers and fabricators.
He approaches any interior design project with the complete building and the way in which individuals use – and relate to – the design in mind, irrespective of the scope of the brief. It’s a process that focuses on the quality of the journey which residents, guests or customers make through spaces, and how well-considered design can encourage personal engagement with buildings and interiors. This holistic approach allows him to marry the interiors of a building with the exterior, considering the journey to and through a building and space throughout the design.
As Creative Director of David Collins Studio, Simon Rawlings has overseen the realisation of some of the world’s most iconic hospitality, residential and retail spaces. In the course of more than two decades at the studio, he has collaborated with clients such as Harrods, Alexander McQueen and Mandarin Oriental, both in reinventing prominent buildings and establishing important new landmarks.
His most recent headline-grabbing project was Nobu Hotel London Portman Square, which, unavailingly was forced to confront the pressures of the pandemic by opening its hotel as the UK went into a national lockdown. Despite this, its contemporary approach to both aesthetics and hospitality, has kept it on the agenda of modern travellers and design enthusiasts. The hotel’s design takes cues from Japanese architectural disciplines and minimalist design, whilst utilising a refined colour palette influenced by heritage Japanese colour combinations.
Located in the heart of central London’s vibrant Marylebone area, the new luxury hotel features 249 guestrooms and suites, Nobu’s world-class restaurant, a ballroom and meeting spaces – all beautifully conceptualised by David Collins Studio with architecture by Make Architects.
Suzanne Garuda, Principal Designer, Garuda Design
The Garuda vision, led by Suzanne Garuda, is luxurious but creative and fluid. The team creates interiors for a rich kaleidoscope of tastes, but communication is at the heart of everything they do. The studio matches aesthetics to the architecture and purpose of the space and the lifestyle of the client – or customer in commercial work. There is no single Garuda style – as you scroll through the portfolio, you begin to notice that each project has its own unique story and vision.
The studio is made up of a talented team, consisting of architectural technologists, design experts, and specialists in commercial and residential work. The studio works with multi-talented artisans, who vary from design to design.
NYX Hotels, a brand that the studio is working with, shelters a unique cluster of lifestyle hotels. Each amplifies the vibrancy of the cities they are in, while also being destinations of relaxed luxury.
NYX Hotel London Holborn, which the studio recently completed, is perfectly located on Southampton Row in the Midtown area between the City and London’s West End. At NYX Hotel London Holborn, London’s electrifying spirit does stop at the front door, but instead flows throughout and inspires everything you see, hear, taste and experience.
Tina Norden’s energy is infectious – not a word we use lightly (especially following the biggest cultural shift the industry has perhaps ever seen). She is an architect and interior designer with a truly diverse portfolio which stretches across many contexts and continents, from hotel and restaurant design to high-end residential.
Throughout the pandemic, Norden was a consistent and key voice in the industry, speaking at various online events and university lectures about the impact of the pandemic on the hospitality industry. She continued to mentor more junior members of the team, inspiring the next generation of designers – ‘no’ is not in her vocabulary when it comes to the opportunity to help others.
With every project, Norden approaches the brief by delving into its context and unique history to create timeless spaces that tell a story. Her unique, concept-driven approach has shaped the way in which the whole practice presents its work and was influential in the creation of Conran and Partners’ first monograph which was published last autumn.
Recently completed projects include the new five-star Park Hyatt hotel in Auckland, FEAST within Hong Kong’s iconic EAST hotel, a new dining destination and members’ club within London’s Taj Hotel and the Peninsula Boutique and Café in Hong Kong.
The application process (free of charge) for The Brit List Awards 2022 will open in Q2 of 2022.
Year in Review: How Harrison Spinks will go Net Carbon Zero by 2023
World leaders in luxury sustainable comfort, Harrison Spinks is a heritage bedmaker that has been at the forefront of sustainable bed making for 180 years. Innovation drives our business and is contributing to saving the planet, with every decision made rooted in sustainability, as Editor Hamish Kilburn learns when reflecting on the brand’s year…
For some time now – 180 years to be precise – Harrison Spinks has been ahead of the curve when it comes to technology, sustainability and innovation in bed making. In 2021, the brand went further than it has ever gone in its commitment to the circular economy and announced that it will become Net Carbon Zero by 2023. And here’s how it’s going to achieve that ambitious task.
The brand’s Beyond Circular approach focuses on ethical and sustainable design, committing to an entirely recyclable, reusable and zero to landfill production to ensure we continue to lead the way in sustainability and change the way the world sleeps. This year, Harrison Spinks published our first annual Sustainability Report, proudly stating it is a Carbon Neutral plus manufacturer. It included details such as offsetting more than 3,500 tonnes of carbon in the last year but, even more importantly, it detailing how the brand is leading the way in sustainable innovation. From its circular-by-design approach to how it is reducing and recycling with the objective to become Net Carbon Zero by 2023.
Every handmade mattress manufactured is 100 per cent glue, foam and FR chemical treatment free and 100 per cent recyclable. Each product is handcrafted, in the brand’s factory in Leeds, England, to the highest standards by its master craftspeople using time-honoured skills and only the best luxuriously sustainable materials available.
Image credit: Harrison Spinks
The Pocket Spring machines are designed in-house by the brand’s own engineers, which in turn allows the brand to manufacture its award-winning pocket and micro pocket springs, all with glue less technology, meaning each spring system can be fully recycled at end of life.
The Harrison Spinks sustainable story starts at the farm, just outside York, where the brand grows its own hemp and flax. In 2021, Harrison Spinks also partnered with British Wool to launch a new scheme that traces the origin of the wool used in its mattresses from farm to factory. This allowed consumers to fully understand where the wool in the products they are purchasing comes from and giving them peace of mind that the farmer has received a fair price.
The brand also uses synthetic fillings and these are all 100 per cent GRS, 100 per cent recyclable and made from recycled plastic bottles. In addition, it is the only bed manufacturer to weave the fabric it uses to cover our mattresses in house on our state of the art weaving looms. This fabric is 100 per cent FR chemical treatment free and adds a natural finish to the perfect night’s sleep.
Each year 5.8m mattresses in the UK end up being burnt or disposed of in landfill sites. In short, brands like Harrison Spinks want to put a stop to this. As a result, it has pledged to recycle all its mattresses that contain our Cortec spring technology. In 2021, the brand opened its own recycling centre, working towards our vision to be the most sustainable bed manufacturer in the world.
2021 has also been a hugely successful year with multiple product launches in our Hospitality division. The Sprint Collection, offering three mattress types featuring multiple layers of sustainable and synthetic fillings alongside the brand’s innovative pocket spring systems all available in a rolled format, should you wish, for ease of installation. The Signature collection, a range of six mattresses, all featuring sustainably and supremely comfortable natural fillings.
And in October the brand launched the Exclusive Collection, a range of four mattresses that are the ultimate definition of handmade luxury, with the very finest natural fillings, handmade to order, and all 100 per cent recyclable.
Harrison Spinks Hospitality Beds Division now offers the most comprehensive hospitality collection available with pocket counts from 750 through to 42,000, essentially a mattress to suit every hotel. Harrison Spinks works with some of the most prestigious names in the industry to understand their requirements, while helping every customer to improve their own green footprint our mission is to deliver the ultimate sleep experience for every guest.
With unrivalled sustainability credentials, 180 years of manufacturing excellence and multiple Queens Awards, Harrison Spinks are proving themselves to be “the true bedmakers” and will continue we hope to change the way the world sleeps in 2022 and beyond.
Harrison Spinks is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.
Panel discussion: Exploring sensory design in hospitality at IHS 2021
At the Independent Hotel Show 2021, Editor Hamish Kilburn sat down with Mark Bruce, Main Board Director at EPR Architects; Sound Designer Tom Middleton and Marie Soliman, Co-Founder of Bergman Design House, to discuss the latest developments in the world of sensory design. Nicola Macdonald writes…
Creating an appealing hotel design is no longer just about making a space easy on the eye. Sensory design has grown rapidly as a movement in recent years, incorporating smell, taste, sound and touch from the initial design, not as an afterthought, and interlinking closely with trends such as wellness and curated, personalised customer experiences. A prestigious panel of industry experts gathered at the Independent Hotel Show 2021 to discuss some of the innovations at the forefront of sensory design.
Hamish Kilburn, Editor of Hotel Designs, kicked off the discussion by commenting that, while all hotels are different, all hospitality projects can benefit, regardless of budget, from looking at their designs from a 3D perspective.
“Sound can be used congruently with other senses to help support the journeys we’re on every day,” added sound architect Tom Middleton. “It can reduce anxiety, help with peak performance and productivity, help you become les anxious and overwhelmed and, vitally, help you get a better night’s sleep.”
Mark Bruce, EPR Architects’ Board Director, who following this panel was crowned Architect of the Year at The Brit List Awards 2021, agreed. He said: “What has changed recently is that we value all of the senses more. Acoustics was a form of design and sadly often it was a plug-in or an add-on, an afterthought. We’ve now found ourselves in a really interesting place in terms of our experiences in hotels.
“As all of our lives get busier and more frantic, hotels are a little moment of luxury and when we start looking at all the senses holistically we can understand the value of that. It’s not just about having a great soundtrack in a bar, it’s about influencing the customer experience and making people enjoy themselves more by understanding the science and embedding that in the design.”
Marie Soliman, Co-Founder of Bergman Design House, added: “I get asked ‘what makes you loyal to a specific brand?’ and the answer is that I care how I felt in that hotel. People forget how the room looks, but they don’t forget how they felt. The room needs to be about them, with the right light and the right sound.”
Image caption: Hamish Kilburn was joined by Marie Soliman, Tom Middleton and Mark Bruce to discuss a sense of design in hospitality. | Image credit: Independent Hotel Show 2021
Bruce commented that even corridors were becoming a sensory experience, in addition to being a functional route from A to B: “The gaps between the experiences are just as important as the experiences themselves. Those few metres can be thoughtful in themselves.
“With Six Senses [the luxury hotel brand’s debut London property, opening in 2023], we looked at how we can use sound, light and smell to help people with their moods, and to get them ready for their experience.
“First thing in the morning people don’t want to walk into a dark corridor, so we worked with some very talented light engineers to mimic certain types of light across the year, with calming music and smells. Not plug-ins, but very subtle undertones to help with your heart rate and your mood. What we’re talking here about isn’t hugely expensive; we all have LED lights and speaker systems.”
Image caption: Standing room only on the Innovation Stage at Independent Hotel Show 2021. | Image credit: Independent Hotel Show 2021
“Having a sense of where the customer might be emotionally and mentally is key to adapting sensory design to fit the occasion,” added Middleton. “There is a social responsibility. Every hospitality brand right now needs to be considering the anxiety that guests will be experiencing getting out there, travelling and flying again.
“We need to understand that, as human beings, we’ve had our nervous systems decimated over the past year and half. Anxiety is going through the roof, as is mental health generally, so wellness is a key word right now: emotional and mental wellbeing. We should be supportive and kind.
“We’re handing over trust to brands as we’re going to go into this environment.” – Sound architect Tom Middleton.
“I design with empathy, and we all need to be more empathetic in the way that we approach design so that the whole journey isn’t too hyper-stimulating. The reason I use that word is that we’ve been hyper-stimulated for nearly a year and a half by fear, uncertainty and overwhelm.
“We’re handing over trust to brands as we’re going to go into this environment: trust that it’s going to be safe and we’re going to enjoy ourselves. Trust that it’s even going to help us feel more relaxed and less anxious. That’s my responsibility now: work with all these sensory inputs and the ecosystem of senses within designing and make sure that the guest does feel supported. I think that’s our responsibility within the industry.”
Moxy Hotels, Marriott Bonvoy’s experiential hotel brand, has officially opened in Manchester with the launch of Moxy Manchester City, inviting us all to #playon #atthemoxy…
Manchester’s latest contemporary neighbourhood hotel, Moxy Manchester, is located in the heart of Spinningfields. The hotel is sheltered inside a rising nine-storey building, which is clad in weathered-effect metal panels to give an urban contrast to the original façade that has been retained from the former hat factory. Young at heart, Moxy Manchester City is the place to be for a social staycation, offering affordable fun and endless adventure, which starts the minute you step into Bar Moxy – the social heart of the hotel, which also serves as the hotel’s front desk, where a cocktail is served at check-in, alongside the room key.
Image credit: Moxy Hotels
Bar Moxy and the social atrium space has a modern and industrial feel, with local-inspired artwork, curated Manchester-style illustrations and illuminated signs across the lobby. A foosball table, card games and board games and communal lockers also feature in the 24/7 space. From brightly coloured pouffe seating, hidden corners, and laid-back sofas to seats at the urban-style wrap-around bar, there’s something for all occasions.
Featuring a light bites menu and vibrant cocktail, Bar Moxy will also have DJs playing every night to draw hotel guests out of their rooms and locals out of their homes. An extensive drinks menu of beers, spirits, wine, and cocktails are available – featuring Moxy specials, Got MOXY: Gin, with MOXY syrup blend, a non-alcoholic Fauxy Moxy: MOXY Syrup Blend and Chilled Tea and the star of the show, Disco Diva: the ultimate sharing cocktail served in a disco ball with Vodka, Vanilla, Limoncello, Citrus Elderflower, Pomegranate, and Prosecco. There’s also a dedicated barista counter for a coffee fix, and Grab n Go snacks and beverages available 24/7.
The 146 stylish and smartly designed guestrooms can be as productive or as playful as needed. From plush platform beds to a fun-size workspace and comfy lounge chairs. Moxy Manchester City rooms feature walk-in showers, TVs with Netflix, open-wall closets, and motion activated LED guidelights. Plus, they’re pet friendly, so pooches can come too.
Moxy hotels are designed with social media-lovers in mind, and Moxy Manchester City is the first Manchester hotel to have a digital ‘Guestbook’ wall. The Guestbook streams photos, and videos that Moxy guests have shared to the social sphere. Moxy moments are shared on the wall, which constantly changes as the social feed is updated.
Image credit: Moxy Hotels
The hotel brand offers a playful hotel experience for the young at heart. With more than 100 properties open across North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific, Moxy Manchester joins the group as they boldly break the rules of a conventional hotel stay across the globe. The Moxy ethos is all about stylish, industrial design and sociable service at an attractive price point, allowing guests to splurge on the experiences that matter most to them during their travels.
> Since you’re here, why not read about Moxy in China?
Marriott to debut Ritz-Carlton Reserve brand Bahamas
Marriott International has announced its plans to introduce a Ritz-Carlton Reserve to the island of Eleuthera, Bahamas, making it one of only five properties in this exclusive collection around the world. Here’s what we know…
Marriott International has announced it has signed an agreement with Cotton Bay Holdings to introduce a Ritz-Carlton Reserve on the island of Eleuthera in the Bahamas. The proposed resort will be a highly personalized leisure experience, blending the signature Ritz-Carlton intuitive service with local design and stunning natural landscapes. Located on the southern end of the island, the Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Eleuthera is expected to feature an open-air resort with 90 intimate guestrooms forming part of the community once known as the iconic Cotton Bay Club. A range of select luxury amenities and exceptional services are slated to include an 18-hole golf course, a lavish spa and swimming pools, and restaurants all surrounded by pristine beaches, azure waters and tropical flora and fauna.
“We are thrilled to bring the Ritz-Carlton Reserve brand and service to this pristine island in the Great Bahama Bank,” said Laurent de Kousemaeker, Chief Development Officer, Caribbean and Latin America, Marriott International. “We are excited to partner with Cotton Bay Holdings in developing this luxury resort, where the original Cotton Bay Club was built in 1959.”
there are also plans for 60 Ritz-Carlton Reserve branded residences, which are expected to include a mix of two to five-bedroom villas. Designed in the same unique architectural style of the resort, each privately owned residence will offer refined design, and a one-of-a-kind luxury experience for owners.
“We are pleased to work with Marriott International to bring the Ritz-Carlton Reserve brand and experience to one of the most exotic and secluded destinations in the Caribbean,” said Daniel Zuleta, Manager for Cotton Bay Holdings. “We are excited to make this project a prime example of business, environmental and social excellence. Our plan for the project takes into strong consideration the role of the local communities and their active participation for its success.”
Ritz-Carlton Reserve is a complete escape to the unexpected – a private and transformative travel experience that is centred around human connection and brings together unique elements of the local culture, history, heritage and environment. For the most discerning travellers seeking a personalized and luxurious escape, Reserve properties are tucked away in the rarest corners of the world, featuring chic, relaxed and intimate settings that weave native flavours with highly responsive and individualized service. The Eleuthera development is set to join the five properties currently under the Reserve brand by Marriott International, located across Thailand, Japan, Indonesia, Puerto Rico and Mexico.
New collections from Moooi Carpets to put on your 2022 watch list
Moooi Carpets, which never fails to deliver an endless mix of colours, has just unveiled four new collections, which have been designed by individual artists – all with the aim to add personality in hotel design. Editor Hamish Kilburn takes a look…
All rugs at Moooi Carpets combine an endless mix of colours thanks to the use of a ground breaking high definition Chromo jet printer and its accurate tones, which generate a playful illusion of depth – just take a look at the Liquid Layer collection if you need convincing.
When Marcel Wanders (Founder of Moooi in 2001) came across the technique of digital printing on carpet material, more than 10 years ago, he realised that it was so ground breaking that he felt it needed its own space to grow, without being absorbed by/in something else. Moooi Carpets was launched by Moooi in 2015.
Since then, each collection launched has, in its own way, challenged conventional design with meaningful patterns – and the brand’s latest collections are no exception. Cue the arrival of ‘Pluck Their Petals’, ‘Lint’, ‘In the Meadow’ and Bisanto.
Pluck their Petals by Ferry Schiffelers
Ferry Schiffelers founded his eponymous womenswear label at the age of 25. In 2018, Schiffelers graduated Cum Laude from the design department at AMFI (Amsterdam Fashion Institute). His graduation collection ‘Défilé de Deuil’ ensured that he won the Lichting prize and was named the most promising graduate of 2018. In September 2019, Schiffelers presented his first independent collection ‘Ladies Who Lunch’ during AFW (Amsterdam Fashion Week). Prior to AMFI, he followed the four-year Fashion / Bespoke tailoring course to develop himself in the field of tailoring and techniques. Schiffelers has successfully completed internships in the couture atelier of Viktor & Rolf and Antwerp designer Tim van Steenbergen. His work is being published in Vogue, ELLE and Mirror Mirror magazine.
Image credit: Moooi Carpets
Combining fashion with design – a concept we can’t get enough of at Hotel Designs – Schiffelers designed the ‘Pluck their Petals’ colleciton, which was inspired by the greatest love tragedy whether he loves me – or not. Multiple layers of tulle petals build up a gradient of colour causing a mysterious, yet romantic and dramatic dimension. The technique of layering creates more depth and darkly shadowing in the creases, turning the carpet into a fantasy like destination somewhere between a dream and a nightmare.
Lint by Visser & Meijwaard
Visser & Meijwaard is a design studio focused on product- and scenographic exhibition design based in Arnhem, The Netherlands. The studio is run by Dutch designers Vera Meijwaard and Steven Visser who met at ArtEZ University of the Arts. As a design duo they create distinct but minimalistic products from an aesthetic world of material, colour and shape. Their working method is associative. By playing with materiality, context and scale and with a fascination for ‘form follows function’, Visser & Meijwaard researches new applications for the hidden aesthetics found in everyday products. Their wide range of work extends from furniture and lighting to textile, ceramic and glassware. Visser & Meijwaard collaborate, among others, with brands as Hermès , Linteloo and Pulpo Products. Their work has been presented in museums, galleries and fairs worldwide, including London, Paris, Milan, New York, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Barcelona, Cologne and Copenhagen.
Image credit: Moooi Carpets
In the ‘Lint’ carpet collection, silk ribbons are woven into a colourful graphic pattern to create a bold interplay of lines. Inspiration for the ‘Lint’ design was found in the rectilinear pattern of a traditional tartan textile, made by weaving alternating strips of coloured threads, both in the warp and in the weft, at right angles to each other. ‘Lint’ was created by playing with the materiality and the size of the threads and in search of the right colours to contrast but complement each other at the same time.
In the Meadow by Emma Larsson
The carpets of Larsson’s In The Meadow collection are inspired by the never-ending wonders of nature. With whimsical and abstract shapes, the carpets depict mesmerising worlds of aquarelle art. The bright and soft colours are an ode to nature’s variety. In The Meadow is Larsson’s contribution to bringing nature indoors, into your space, like ink in water.
Image credit: Moooi Carpets
Image credit: Moooi Carpets
The intensity of colours creates density while maintaining that ethereal feel. Every day we are surrounded by an endless variety of colours, shapes, textures, and patterns. Every living moment our senses are treated with a beauty only nature can give us. And it gives us everything. It gives us scents and smells that keep us going or calm us down. Spectacular colours that fill our hearts and minds with hope and lightness. Textures and patterns that amaze and trick us. For artists and designers, nature is an endless source of inspiration. It has been so for centuries, and hopefully it will be for the next centuries. Nature is to be coveted and cherished, for it is as close as magic we will ever experience. In The Meadow, by Emma Larsson, reveals an ethereal world of abstract aquarelle shapes. Inspired by the beauty that nature surrounds us with every day. Inspired by nature’s endless variations of colours, shapes, patterns, and textures. Nature surrounds us when we’re outside, but with In The Meadow, you can bring the magical beauty of nature inside. Whimsical and abstract shapes in bright and soft colours to mesmerise every onlooker. In The Meadow is a collection of carpets that all bear the signature aquarelle-style artwork of artist & designer Emma Larsson. Her contribution to bringing the beauty of nature inside.
Bisanto by Antonio Aricò
Antonio Aricò is an Italian artist, designer and creative director. After earning a double degree at Milan Polytechnic he obtained his master’s degree with a work based on the themes of Design & Tradition, combining the fields of art, craft and design. These theories merged with the poetic of contemporary culture, make up Aricò’s inter-disciplinary practice today. He is known as forerunner of a unique approach that parallels crafts and self-production with industrial design. With each new project he approaches design themes, preferring to focus on the romantic, fantastic and archetypical rather than just the functional. In this universe the coldness of industrialism is replaced by the poetry, fantasy and romance of our past, vividly brought to life in contemporary days.
Image credit: Moooi Carpets
Italy is not a country, it is a sea of stories. Its imaginary is waved of infinite magic stories coming from North to South and from West to East. By shaking and mixing these stories come to life BISANTO, a collection drawn by the intimate memories of a child playing with iconic souvenir coming from his memories of antique ages. The idea is to transform the Byzantine Italy into a Carpet Collection by playing with drawings and colors. The result are Luxurious Textile Mosaics printed on carpets able to represent new characters and worlds. Each piece is “secretly” inspired by real Italian historical masterpieces that are reinvented starting from eclectic inspirations and ending into renovated traditions. Indeed, all the IKONAS of the collection hide a secret inspiration belonging to Italian History of Art, coming both from North & South. The result is a collection of carpets where bidimensional signs get mixed with 3D elements, where the mosaic become soft and flocked as velvet and heavy precious printed jewels becomes a as light as fabric. Aricò doodles becomes vivid icons, making Italian tradition new again.
Moooi Carpets is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.
The emblematic ON Residence, a partnership between TOR Hotel Group and Grivalia Hospitality, is one of Greece’s most anticipated hotel arrivals, breathing new life into the centre of Thessaloniki. We found out more about this historical renovation…
The lights at the historic Olympos Naoussa are about to turn back on. Thessaloniki will welcome, not only a legendary restaurant that brings back the glamour of a bygone era, but also a unique hotel that aims to redefine luxury hospitality in Greece’s co-capital. A true seafront jewel in the heart of the city, with unobstructed views of Thermaikos bay, ON Residence marks a new chapter for the TOR Hotel Group, one of Greece’s most established hospitality firms, operating since 1925. In addition, its opening is a vote of confidence in the tourist market of northern Greece by leading investment fund, Grivalia Hospitality.
Image credit: ON Residence
Image credit: ON Residence
The iconic restaurant, Olympos Naoussa, was the heart of Thessaloniki’s jet-setting society for decades, acting as a favourite hangout for celebrities and politicians such as former prime ministers George Papandreou and Constantine Karamanlis, Giscard d’Estaing and many more, until its closure in the mid-90s.
“Now, Olympos Naoussa returns to the city of Thessaloniki. Our vision to revive the historic restaurant, and together with the Tornivoukas family, to create a hotel destination of unparalleled beauty and a high level of service is close to completion,” said George Chryssikos, CEO of Grivalia. “We are certain that all visitors will love and embrace it, as we did from the first moment.”
The main restaurant, Olympos Naoussa, will be on the ground floor, along with a beautiful inner courtyard, the cocktail bar, Tiger Loop, a modern gym, and a specially designed mezzanine ideal for business meetings and events.
ON Residence will have 60 beautifully designed guestrooms and suites. Characterised by high quality materials and bold designs, the guestrooms are designed to create an expression of timeless chic. With the brief of classic design meets calm luxury, the rooms are decorated in natural colour tones with touches of light pink and green.
Image credit: ON Residence
For Konstantinos Tornivoukas, CEO of TOR Hotel Group, ON Residence is a key project for the company and for Thessaloniki itself. “After the violent shutdown of the Mediterranée Hotel by the catastrophic earthquake in 1978, my dream has always been to be able to return to the city’s seafront with a project that would have the dynamics of the legendary hotel founded by my grandfather in 1925,” he told Hotel Designs. “When the property that housed Olympos Naoussa, which was connected to the Mediterranée due to their close proximity and similar history, went up for auction I considered this more than a business opportunity. It was also an act of gratitude from our family towards our beloved city to restore this historic restaurant, and at the same time create a hotel of high standards that would turn the page for luxury hospitality in Thessaloniki.”
With a luxurious design that connects the past with the present, the property that houses ON Residence was based on designs by renowned Greek-Jewish architect Jacques Mosse and was built in 1926. It is a typical example of Thessaloniki’s eclecticism during the interwar period, with elements reminiscent of the Belle Époque and neoclassicism. The important and delicate past of the building essentially provided the guidelines for its restoration process, completed by the architects Diversity Group and Dimitris Thomopoulos who collaborated on the project. The preservation of the façade and the decorative elements of the building were completed according to the instructions of the Ministry of Culture. The architects took extra care to not only bring to the surface all the features that made the building unique, but also to carefully combine them with contemporary elements, always guided by the aim to achieve a harmonious coexistence. The award-winning architects Nikiforidis and Cuomo took on the design of the surrounding communal areas, while the office of Nikos Fletoridis was responsible for the architectural study. The interior design was done by French decorator Fabienne Spahn, who wanted to give a renewed classic art deco style to the project, enriching it with a discreet luxury that matched the character of the building.
“On my first visit to the place, I felt that I was at the house of ‘Sleeping Beauty’,” said Spahn. “Bringing the place back to life using modern design elements but fully respecting the building’s architectural heritage was a big challenge. It reminds me of wonderful brasseries in Paris with their neoclassical charm.”
Image credit: ON Residence
The important gastronomic heritage of Olympos Naoussa, and its influence on Thessaloniki’s food culture were the guiding principles for the hotel’s namesake main restaurant. The elegant interiors blend beautifully decorative elements from the past and from European bistros, juxtaposing them with a modern, urban aesthetic. In addition to the refined ambience inside the restaurant, the visitor is invited to discover a hidden evergreen courtyard, a rare oasis of relaxation in the bustling city centre of Thessaloniki. The restaurant is led by executive chef Dimitris Tassioulas, the main representative of a new and highly dynamic generation of chefs from Northern Greece, with important and award-winning projects, such as Sebrico and Thria, which Sunday Times Travel magazine awarded the title Gourmand’s Destination in 2019.
The F&B offering is completed by Tiger Loop, a cosy cocktail bar with art deco elements. Here, black, gold and deep red dominate; the space is full of movement and energy. The catalogue is curated by the award-winning bartender and entrepreneur, Achilleas Plakidas. Known for creating popular venues such as Gorilla and Mahalo, here he is called to give a cosmopolitan twist to the drink menu.
Both of these collaborations show the culture that ON Residence carefully builds, aiming to function as a connecting link between people and experiences. At the same time, it underlines the commitment of the hotel to develop these synergies that will continue to promote the culinary identity and the unique cultural character of Thessaloniki.
Year in review: Fashion-forward rug designs by Modieus
2021 has been an exciting year for Modieus, the Australian-based fashion-led carpet and rug company – here’s just a selection of what it launched to the market. Editor Hamish Kilburn writes…
Since becoming a Hotel Designs Recommended Supplier earlier this year, we have referred to Modieus as many things; ‘rugtrepreneurs’ and ‘pioneers’ are among them. From being specified in new hotels to unveiling breathtaking designs, the brand is quickly establishing itself as a trend-setting supplier.
From case studies to product launches, Modieus has a lot to celebrate in 2021, and here are our top picks.
Hotel Indigo Adelaide
Image credit: Hotel Indigo
Earlier this year, the sixteen-storey boutique hotel on Market Street became the first Hotel Indigo in Adelaide and the sixth signing for the brand in Australasia, following Hotel Indigo Brisbane Fortitude Valley, Melbourne Docklands, Sydney Central, Melbourne Little Collins Street and Auckland. The boutique hotel rooms pay homage to the legendary festivals of the city and Modieus designed colourful and personality-packed rugs inside the rooms and suites.
Landers and Rogers
Image credit: Carr/Lander & Rogers
Image credit: Lander & Rogers, Photo by @peterclarkephoto
The second case study that Hotel Designs published of Modieus was in reference to the leading Australian law firm Landers and Rogers. In this editorial, we established how flooring can be used to create connective workspaces. The Melbourne office combines socially activated spaces for connection and collaboration with quiet work settings for privacy and focus. This contemporary space fosters creativity, whilst providing people with flexibility and adaptability in the way they work.
In addition, Modieus also supplied the carpets for the guestrooms in the Ace Hotel Sydney.
Image credit: Anson Smart
Image credit: Anson Smart
NEW PRODUCTS
Modieus launched three collections during 2021 – cohesive colour palettes and distinctive designs which can be made into broadloom carpets or rugs.
The Makers Mark rug collection really packed a punch and has been the inspiration for many projects Modieus has worked on this year. Incorporating nine encapsulating art stories – from colour blurs to graffiti and stylised monochromatic graphic effects, this unique collection of rug designs belonged in an art gallery.
Image credit: Modieus
Launched in Spring, the Lifestyle Living collection by Modieus is structured around five easy to use colour palettes which appeal to a broad spectrum of sectors from boutique hotels to beautiful retirement living residences.
Modieus is currently promoting its Revive Collection. Four neutral colour palettes with a contemporary twist – each is distinctively different. Cool greys, stonewashed denim blues and teals sit alongside rusts, terracotta and dusty pinks with a touch of intense black highlights to add drama.
Earlier this year, Hotel Designs was the first to report the 2021 Embracing Nature trends by Modieus. The four trends: Grounded, Green Utopia, Textured Layers and Crafted reflected our need for freedom from isolation; it embraced nature, craved simplicity, and inspired meaningful moments of peace. It was spot on and has proved to be the inspiration for so many projects this year.
Modieus is currently working on their 2022 trends and will share them shortly.
Modieus is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.
‘First in’ to review the newly renovated Hotel Colón Gran Meliá
In the heart of Seville, the iconic Hotel Colón Gran Meliá re-emerges from lockdown showcasing a sophisticated first impression that’s timeless design effortlessly takes it into a new era. Editor Hamish Kilburn is among those ‘first in’ to explore the newly renovated hotel – and while there, he manages to secure an interview with the interior designer behind the project…
With its grandeur monuments, orange tree-lined cobbled streets and a vibrant gastronomy scene, Seville is a city that will leave a lasting impression on even the most seasoned of travellers. At the epicentre of this cultural hub – just a 10-minute stroll from the The río Guadalquivir, the Torre del Oro and the Real Maestranza Bull Ring – is Hotel Colón Gran Meliá; a hotel that has been an inherent part of Seville since its iconic architecture by José Miguel de la Cuadra was first unveiled in 1929.
Some 92 years later, and the building is now a listed pillar, having majestically maintained its original neoclassical façade. Don’t let its grand structure fool you, though. It shelters a contemporary hotel that fluidly forms around a modernist central dome, made up of thousands of coloured crystals. It, as Rosana Gonzáles, General Manager of the hotel says: “Shines over the hotel bringing a new light over Seville’s history.” And it was this central part of the hotel that became the core inspiration for interior designer Álvaro Sans when he was asked to steer to the its public areas through a sensitive renovation that could meet the demands of today’s travellers.
“Seville is a unique city, the ‘Spanish Florence’, if you like.” – Álvaro Sans, interior designer.
Image caption: The central dome inside Gran Melia Hotel Colón, which is the heart of the hotel and was a significant source of inspiration for the design team. | Image credit: Meliá Hotels International
“We wanted to differentiate Hotel Colón Gran Meliá from the rest of the hotels in the city,” said Sans. “To do this, we decided to inject a healthy dose of Sevillian culture, art and feeling into the building. The strong sense of place transports guests to the destination where they can really experience the true essence of the location. Seville is a unique city, the ‘Spanish Florence’, if you like. The ‘Sevillano’ is felt in the streets and by visitors who live who live within it. There is a contagious joy of living here.”
QUICK-FIRE ROUND WITH THE DESIGNER:
Hamish Kilburn: How long did the project take from concept to completion? Álvaro Sans: Two years, due to delays with Covid-19
HK: Describe the newly renovated hotel in two words? AS: Sevillian and timeless
HK: What’s next for the hotel? AS: Two wonderful suites, but you didn’t hear that from me!
There is no doubt about it: the hotel’s rejuvenation has been influenced by the past. However, its hospitality offering on the other hand has been created with a worldly traveller in mind, while looking ahead towards the future. By opening up the space in the lobby, the opportunity emerged for Sans to create a new F&B proposal – a new destination bar – that is now the focal point of all first impressions, which sits under the magnificent dome. The interiors of the bar are decorated with pieces that have been curated by young local artisans. Together, they form a magical atmosphere.
Making such a drastic transformation in an iconic hotel is challenging enough, but add to this the fact that Sans was working on this project during a pandemic creates a whole new layer of uncertainty. “The delivery times of materials was a great task to manage,” Sans explains. “We had to change some furniture items because they did not arrive after five months of delay.”
Originally known as Hotel Majestic, the property was, in its hay day, one of the most luxurious hotels in Spain, built primarily to welcome international visitors of the world’s fair, Exposición Iberoamericana, hosted in Seville in 1929. Following this, world renowned figures such as Ava Gardner, Picasso and Dalí also walked its floors and fell in love with the historical building. The hotel was where famous matadors (bull fighters) used to stay ahead of crowd-drawing Corridas (bull fighting events), which arguably helped put Seville on the tourism – domestic and international – map. In fact, traje de luces (the various costumes) of the famous El Cordobes have become part of the interior design decoration, displayed behind the check-in desk, along with original flamenco dancer costumes, to add a unique sense of place for guests who are beginning or ending their stay.
Image caption: The check-in desk inside the hotel features a display of memorabilia, which gives a sensitive nod to Sevillian culture. | Image credit: Melia Hotels International
As guests arrive, what was a dated red and white design scheme has been transformed into a space that feels light, elegant and welcoming. “Pure red is a colour only used in the bullfighter’s cape in Seville – it is not an emblematic colour of the city,” explains the designer. The lobby now features hues of green, ochra, gold – reminiscent of the Andalusian countryside. Wood alongside luxurious and elegant materials such as velvet, silk, leather and walnut add meaningful texture. Amongst the new services, guests can enjoy a completely new Red Level on the ground floor, the new Bar del Colón and the restaurant Abacería del Colón.
“Seville is olive green,” adds Sans. “It is a city with many cultures that have merged in a magnificent way. The hotel, therefore, had to have something that amplified this authentically.” To achieve this, Sans introduced natural materials – Andalusian Macael white marble, solid walnut wood, hydraulic concrete floors – designed and built for the hotel, in a format larger than the traditional one. “We chose olive green [throughout the lobby and public areas downstairs], to mimic hotel’s wonderful skylight,” says Sans. “Ceramics were handcrafted specially for the hotel by Isabel Parente’s workshop in Seville, in an oxidised olive-green tone and an original Mudejar design, with details of the plasterwork from the Alhambra in Granada.”
Image caption: The design of the F&B area inside the hotel continues the cohesive design narrative from the lobby. | Image credit: Meliá International
Image caption: The new design of the lobby opened up space for a new F&B outlet to emerge. | Image credit: Meliá International
One of the gastronomy venues at the hotel, Burladero restaurant offers a wide range of Andalucian tapas that attract locals as well as international visitors. The new Abacería del Colón is a place where guests can indulge in typical Sevillan produce such as jamón, cold meats, jams and chicharrones, as well as purchasing them to bring that iconic Sevillian flavour back home.
The hotel is also part of the Virtuoso y Fine Hotels and Resorts de Amex (FHR), as well as The Leading Hotels Of The World (LHW). It comprises of 188 rooms including 24 suites, adorned with classic paintings of the Spanish Golden Age from artists such as Goya, Murillo, Velazquez y and El Greco – the giants of 16th and 17th century Spanish painting.
Image caption: If rumours are to be believed, the next chapter for the hotel will be the renovation of two suites. | Image credit: Meliá International
The newly renovated Hotel Colón Gran Meliá is a tribute to Seville’s history and culture; a space where old and new meet with incredible results. Everything is curated to the smallest detail and recalls original elements from the 1929 Exposition to make every guest walk back in the past and discover the beauty of the city. And with whispers all but confirmed from Meliá International that the hotel will unveil two new renovated suites soon, it’s clear that the Gran Melia Hotel Colón’s narrative is far from ending.
With uninterrupted views of the Bosphorus, and taking inspiration from the uniquely Turkish hammam experience, Six Senses Spa Kokatas Mansions is open and ready to pamper…
Elevated above the retreat, and blending into the natural landscape, Six Senses Spa Kocataş Mansions, Istanbul is set in a beautifully restored 100-year-old stone house. Using natural materials from the original setting, the 1,500 square-metre three-level spa has been constructed with sensitivity to the local environment and incorporating local cultural references which pay homage to the city’s past.
Image credit: Six Senses
Within the calm oasis away from the city, there are five treatment rooms, three hammams, two steam rooms, two saunas, an open-plan relaxation area and retail boutique, along with a Holistic Anti-Aging Centre, Pilates Studio, Alchemy Bar, and Nail Bar. A locally inspired, multi-layered mix of treatments are on offer including massages, facials, rituals, and hair, body, and beauty treatments. In addition, the spa has partnered with French skincare specialist Biologique Recherche to supply treatments and Subtle Energies for ayurvedic aromatherapy rituals.
“Six Senses Spa Kocataş Mansions, Istanbul is a magical place for guests and members alike,” said Spa Director Sündüz Ediz Kibar. “After months of anticipation, we have opened our doors, completing the resort’s identity. Our passionate team will be working to create #OutOfTheOrdinary guest experiences and immersive wellness programming and retreats.”
Image credit: Six Senses
Inspired by the tiles of the Blue Mosque, the walls of treatment rooms are designed with brilliant blue tiles to celebrate Turkish culture, and completed with red line details to give the walls a natural, authentic, and smooth finish. The blue accents throughout the design also reflect and reference the blue hues of the Bosphorus which provides the spa with both view and inspiration.
Six Senses Kocataş Mansions, Istanbul marks a new milestone for the brand as it combines the Six Senses ethos of sustainability, wellness and local sensitivity with Turkish heritage and culture in everything it does, right down to the 100 per cent sustainable uniforms for the spa hosts. The resort has partnered with local designers EzraTuba, who champion sustainable, circular, and ethical fashion in Turkey.
How Banyan Tree Group will double its footprint of hotels by 2025
Banyan Tree Group is set to introduce five new brands into its portfolio, all flying the flag of purposeful travel. We take a look to see where they are headed…
Banyan Tree Group has announced that it is set to double its footprint of 54 properties across 23 countries by 2025, with the introduction of five new brands launching over the next 18 months. As a pioneer of purposeful stewardship and responsible tourism, this expanded global portfolio of 10 unique brands will allow the Group to increase its impact in the countries where it operates, whilst taking advantage of post Covid-19 growth opportunities in purposeful travel.
Image credit: Banyan Tree Group
Through the Banyan Tree Global Foundation, all brands coming onboard will abide by the proprietary Stay for Good program, a structured framework that aligns with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. Stay for Good embeds core stewardship values in operations and guest experience, promoting community engagement and partnership to drive long-term impact in the three core pillars of Environment, Society, and Governance (ESG).
Deepening this mission amidst expansion, Banyan Tree Group’s operation of Stay for Good across its multi-branded ecosystem ensures that each location, no matter how far apart, is unified in its commitment to regenerative and wellbeing practices.
“We have always believed that tourism can be a powerful force for driving positive change,” said Ms. Ho Ren Yung, Senior Vice President of Brand HQ. “Covid-19 gave us the impetus, pause and opportunity to reinforce our ethos of ‘Embracing the Environment, Empowering People’ in the context of today’s needs. It is our generation’s mission to build forward better together with our partners and guests, and redefine what essential, purposeful and responsible travel looks like in this next era.”
Image credit: Banyan Tree Group
Image credit: Banyan Tree Group
Throughout 2022, the Group will introduce new brands Garrya, Homm and Folio, as well as two new brand extensions of Banyan Tree named Veya, and Escape. Each of the five new brands to be released are responses to macro and regional trends in travel, accelerated by Covid’s impact, such as conversion opportunities in resort destinations, emerging second-tier tourism destinations, as well as a greater desire for wellbeing and sustainability-minded travel offerings.
“This expanded multi-brand ecosystem fortifies our stronghold in the lifestyle spectrum in Asia, while diversifying our offerings to meet the evolving needs of diverse, affluent travellers around the world,” said Mr. Eddy See, President of Banyan Tree Group. “As an independent, mission driven company with our core DNA in wellbeing and sustainability, we define what ‘good growth’ looks like. We are committed to being an exemplar and leader in our field, inspiring better living for our guests and associates in all the communities where we operate.”
With the soft-opening of Banyan Tree Veya Phuket scheduled for this month, the group plans a total of 19 openings across seven countries, throughout 2022 – Maldives, Thailand, China, Indonesia, Cambodia, Mozambique and Saudi Arabia – seeing new flags being planted in the latter three countries.
IHG Hotels & Resorts announces European debut of new luxury brand Vignette
In a landmark property deal bringing together exclusive properties in sought after urban and resort locations, with signings in Austria and Portugal, IHG’s latest brand, Vignette Collection, is set to make its mark…
In August 2021, Vignette Collection became the sixth brand added to IHG’s portfolio in the past four years, taking it to an impressive 17 brands across more than 6,000 hotels in more than 100 countries. Its first two signings set the tone of the unique and distinctive nature of the collection, with The Aquatique Hotel in Pattaya, Thailand, and Hotel X Brisbane Fortitude Valley in Australia. The driving force behind the Vignette collection is the commitment to welcoming world-class independent hotels to the company’s Luxury & Lifestyle collection in a style that combines the distinctive identity of each property with the power of IHG’s global scale and expertise.
The addition of Vignette Collection further enriches IHG’s Luxury & Lifestyle offer for leisure and business travellers alike, and IHG expects to attract more than 100 Vignette Collection hotels in 10 years, with the brand key to delivering its ambition of industry-leading net rooms growth.
Image credit: IHG Vignette Collection
The agreement between IHG Hotels & Resorts, and JJW Hotels & Resorts includes a new property for IHG’s voco hotels brand overlooking the Atlantic Ocean in Portugal’s Algarve. Other hotels included in the European launch are ; Grand Hotel Wien, Vienna Austria, Penina Resort and Golf, Algarve Portugal, Dona Filipa Hotel, Algarve Portugal.
Image credit: IHG Vignette Collection
Image credit: IHG Vignette Collection
“We are delighted to announce our first European Vignette Collection signings through our partnership with JJW Hotels & Resorts. Complementing our existing Luxury & Lifestyle portfolio in Europe, these unique properties will meet the needs of travellers seeking a luxury stay experience, whilst maintaining each hotel’s authentic charm and individuality,” said Karin Sheppard, Senior Vice President and Managing Director Europe.” The introduction of Vignette Collection follows the successful launch of voco hotels – another of our many conversion-friendly brands – so it’s fitting that we are also working with JJW to build voco’s presence in the popular Algarve region.”
Going above and beyond the remit of hotel development, Vignette Collection embraces IHG’s ethos of responsible commitments to care for our people, communities and planet. Hotels in the collection will have the opportunity to work with IHG on a range of initiatives that are part of the shared vision to not only build hotels, but to build brighter futures for the communities in which they operate.
Year in Review: It’s in with the new for Newmor Wallcoverings
2021 has been quite a year for Newmor Wallcoverings, not only has the company rebranded, but it has also launched a host of innovative wallcovering designs – here are just a few of them. Editor Hamish Kilburn explores…
Earlier this year, Hotel Designs exclusively revealed the rebrand of Newmor Wallcoverings after I met with David Johnston, the brand’s Managing Director.
Since then, Newmor Wallcoverings, which is is the largest independent commercial wallcovering manufacturer in the UK, operating in more than 70 countries, has launched some eye-catching new product collections. And here are our top picks:
Spring 2021 was all about celebrating traditional style, with a twist
Metropolis – stacked blocks are reminiscent of city skylines which catch the light from every angle.
Kensington – a traditional botanical damask with a woven emboss to add a tactile textile surface.
Tweel – a classic weave print with a tactile surface in a palette inspired by natural dyeing processes.
Newmor Wallcoverings also launched a brand new Newmor Custom collection – Trompe-L’oeil. Each design can be recoloured, rescaled and printed on an array of wall covering textures and window films.
Image credit: Tweel by Newmor Wallcoverings
Image credit: Kensington by Newmor Wallcoverings
Autumn 2021 new designs focussed on craftsmanship, organic surfaces, and surface texture
Peloso – an intricate emboss that replicates cowhide as the plush texture shifts and shimmers as the mica pigments catch the light.
Batik – tapping into the trend of resistance dying techniques, this design was inspired by a piece hand-dyed fabric, the super matte emboss adds to the tactile feel of creased fabric.
Marquetry – this geometric design celebrates artisanal craftsmanship and the technique of marquetry, which uses wood veneer to create decorative patterns.
Each year Newmor Wallcoverings launches a new designer collaboration to bring the work of artists and designers to the commercial interiors market. This autumn the brand launched a collaboration with Lois O’Hara, a Brighton-based artist and designer who creates joyful hand-painted murals and illustrations. O’hara’s brand ethos, which we looked at earlier this year, explores how colour can have a positive effect on how people feel when they use spaces. Her unique colour combinations and use of shape and movement form her signature style. The designer has transformed many public spaces and has partnered with exciting brands including Habitat, Pantone, Westfield, Brighton City Council, London Design Festival, and Urban Outfitters, to name a few.
Image credit: Newmor Wallcoverings
Image credit: Newmor Wallcoverings
The Brit List Awards 2021 – a worthy shortlisted finalist
In September, Newmor Wallcoverings was shortlisted in the Best In British Product Design category for their innovative Healthcare Wallcoverings. Newmor is the largest independent commercial wallcovering manufacturer in the UK and are specialists in design and manufacturing vinyl wallcoverings. The ideal choice for high traffic areas as they are washable and scrubbable, Newmor’s healthcare wallcoverings provide added assurance as they contain an antimicrobial additive that is highly effective against a broad spectrum of bacteria, fungi and algae.
Case studies
In a year where many of us enjoyed staycations the newly-refurbished ibis Styles Bournemouth was the perfect destination for families. The ibis Styles Bournemouth takes inspiration from the local beach environment, so guests can enjoy the sunny Great British Seaside vibes.
You really wouldn’t want to work from home if you could work in a place like the new RB Pharma office in Lisbon. Newmor completed this project with Yaroslav Galant for the company headquarters. It is bright and colourful with an organic colour palette inspired by a nearby park, and features designs from their Leigh Bagley Designer collection.
What to expect next
At the beginning of each year Newmor launches its trends predications and 2021 was no exception. Stay tuned, as the brand is putting the finishing touches on the 2022 trends predictions.
Newmor Wallcoverings is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.
London Architecture firm unveiled for The Dorchester renovation
London-based architecture firm ReardonSmith Architects has been named the ‘architects’ and ‘lead designers’ for the extensive renovation that is due to be completed inside The Dorchester by Spring 2022. Editor Hamish Kilburn writes…
Following yesterday’s news that unveiled The Dorchester will undergo a major renovation, we have done a bit more digging and we can now reveal that London-based architecture firm ReardonSmith Architects will be the architects and lead designers on the project, which will include the re-design of the iconic The Promenade and The Bar at The Dorchester, as well as two guest floors.
We now have clear endorsement from one of the project directors at The Dorchester that ReardonSmith Architects has been working closely with The Dorchester management team since June 2019 on a long-term design plan for the hotel and, in particular, on the detailed plan for phase one of the programme. In a statement released after the official announcement, the firm’s extensive involvement in the project will include a partial redesign of the arrival lobby, to provide greater ingress of natural light and enhance the hotel’s street level presence.
ReardonSmith Architects will be working closely with Pierre-Yves Rochon and Martin Brudnizki Design Studio to sensitively steer the 250-key luxury hotel in London into a new era.
The architecture firm, which recently unveiled phase one of a new design scheme inside The Beaumont, has been responsible for the coordination of all consultants, documentation and local planning, as well as listed-building approvals for the iconic Grade II listed building.
As we expect this story will become the hotel design gift that keeps on giving between now and when Spring 2022 (and potentially beyond), Hotel Designs will be following this project closely to report on accurate information and updates throughout the process.
> Since you’re here, why not read our in-depth feature on The Dorchester, where we argued that style will always conquer over fashion inside the hotel?
Breaking: The Dorchester announces major renovation
Dorchester Collection’s ongoing investment programme to enhance its luxury portfolio of hotels has led to The Dorchester, one of London’s finest luxury hotels, commencing a comprehensive renovation, which will start in February, 2022. Here’s what we know…
The Dorchester, which is one of London’s most celebrated luxury hotels, has announced that the hotel will be undergoing a major renovation in February 2022.
The 250-key hotel, which was recently featured by Hotel Designs as a hotel that shelters style over fashion, is known for its distinct classic English residential style, which has stood proud on Park Lane – majestically on the fringe of Hyde Park – for nearly nine decades. Within that time, it has managed to build and retain a legacy while effortlessly leading London’s premium hospitality scene to rank itself time and time again as an award-winning luxury hotel.
Image caption: The Dorchester Harlequin Penthouse | Image credit: The Dorchester
Image caption: The Dorchester Harlequin Penthouse | Image credit: The Dorchester
The renovation will be the biggest since 1989 and will start with the entrance to the hotel, The Promenade and The Bar at The Dorchester, as well as two guest floors, with this work to be complete by September 2022.
Two of the most renowned names in design have been appointed to transform the hotel: Pierre-Yves Rochon is reimagining the hotel entrance, The Promenade and the new guest rooms and suites, while Martin Brudnizki Design Studio has been appointed to re-create the bar.
Image caption: The Promenade at The Dorchester, which features stunning floral displays using the signature Dorchester rose| Image credit: The Dorchester
The Dorchester will remain open for guests throughout this time with its popular afternoon tea served in the spectacular Orchid Room and a reinvigorated concept for the rooftop restaurant to be launched in spring 2022.
As The Grill, Alain Ducasse and China Tang completed refurbishments in the last few years, they will continue to remain open as normal, as will The Dorchester Spa. The Ballroom, with its own entrance on Park Lane, the magically theatrical Penthouse & Pavilion rooms, and the Chef’s Table will continue to be available for corporate and social events.
Curio Collection by Hilton opens the Wasserturm Hotel in Cologne
Housed in what was once the tallest water tower in Europe, Hilton has opened the newest addition to its Curio Collection, the Wasserturm Hotel, in a historic building right in the heart of the city…
With sweeping views of the city from its rooftop bar, Wasserturm Hotel Cologne presents itself as a dynamic work of art that always has new, unexpected discoveries in store. Designed by the internationally awarded design studio Goddard Littlefair, this ethos can be felt as soon as you enter the characterful 11-metre high lobby. The hotel’s structure showcases some impressive brickwork, lofty ceilings, and geometric patterns, all of which contrast with the contemporary elegance and touches of down-to-earth charm that can be seen throughout the design.
Image credit: Wasserturm Hotel Cologne, Curio Collection by Hilton
Image credit: Wasserturm Hotel Cologne, Curio Collection by Hilton
“Wasserturm Hotel Cologne joins a growing number of Curio Collection by Hilton hotels in Europe, a portfolio that is expected to more than double in the coming years,” said David Kelly, senior vice president, Continental Europe, Hilton. “This hotel, with its imposing structure, tasteful design, and elevated guest offering, is a perfect addition to that collection. As both a centre of commerce and a popular tourist destination, travellers will be well poised at this enviably located hotel to take advantage of all Cologne has to offer.”
The historic building, owned by Aroundtown, Germany’s largest listed commercial real estate company, is now home to 88 guestrooms and suites, a spa, gym, and three bars and restaurants. At the heart of the water tower is a round hub, leading guests to the lounge and adjacent winter garden. Here, hotel guests can start the day with a breakfast of regional delicacies, freshly baked bread, and homemade jams. Guests can enjoy a direct view of the private garden, which wraps around the entire hotel like a green ring and helps to create a calm oasis in the city. Also with access to the private garden are the hotel’s nine fully flexible event and meeting rooms, which combine to make 500 square metres of event space.
Image credit: Wasserturm Hotel Cologne, Curio Collection by Hilton
As the lift travels up the water tower’s 11 floors, guests move past the rooms and suites, all with state-of-the-art furnishings, and Tapps, the hotel’s spa and gym, complete with treatment rooms, sauna, and training equipment. Finally, on the 11th floor, the top of Wasserturm Hotel Cologne, guests can experience a whole new view of the city at a height of 35 metres. The intriguing and atmospheric Bar Botanik is where botany, plants, herbal and floral aromas meet industrial chic and Cologne air. As the new hotspot for cocktail lovers, the rooftop Bar Botanik represents the bar culture and trendy Cologne society scene. This is where Cologne and its visitors feel equally at home, in an atmospheric mix that can only be topped by the breathtaking panoramic view.
Located less than five minutes from major attractions such as the cathedral, Cologne Chocolate Museum, and the Rhine, Wasserturm Hotel Cologne, making a statement in this iconic and historical building, is set to take its place with the other unique, one-of-a-kind hotels that make up the Curio Collection by Hilton.
Villeroy & Boch scoops multiple accolades at German Design Award 2022
Bathroom brand Villeroy & Boch was awarded no fewer than three accolades in the German Design Award 2022…
A total of three of Villeroy & Boch’s product lines received awards at the German Design Award 2022, including the water-saving TwistFlush toilet, the Artis BiColour washbasin series and the Subway Style ceramic sink.
These successes once again clearly demonstrate the Mettlach-based company’s strong positioning with its products designed to create stylish looks throughout the entire home. Almost no other manufacturer offers collections and colour schemes that coordinate perfectly in every detail – from the washbasin and unit to bathroom textiles in harmonious shades.
The German Design Award was introduced in 2012 by the German Design Council, a world-leading centre of excellence for design. Only products nominated on the strength of their exceptional design quality can take part in the competition. An expert jury assesses the entries and selects the winners.
Award-winning: TwistFlush and Artis BiColour
The innovative TwistFlush water-saving toilet flushing system uses the physical force of a controlled water vortex to thoroughly rinse the entire inner surface of the toilet bowl. And it cleans so thoroughly that it generally eliminates the need for repeated flushing or tiresome cleaning with a brush. The toilet needs just 4.5 litres of water for a large flush and three litres for a small flush. This allows a family of four to save up to 19,700 litres of water a year – with a flushing performance that significantly exceeds the current standard requirements.
The Artis BiColour washbasin series is making a real style statement in the bathroom this year in the rich new colours of Indian Summer, Sage Green, Rust and Bordeaux, developed by the German-Danish designer Gesa Hansen. The Artis colour palette now includes a selection of eight shades for the delicate surface-mounted washbasins with coloured exteriors and a glossy pure white inner surface, in round, oval or square versions.
Image credit: Villeroy & Boch
Image credit: Villeroy & Boch
Award-winning: Subway Style ceramic sink
As diverse as life itself – the trendy Subway Style ceramic sink combines a timeless design with fine lines. It also impresses with clever functionality. The slender tap hole bench serves as a shelf for accessories, while the large basin offers lots of space for cleaning large kitchen utensils and additional accessories transform the sink area into the perfect workstation. The thin-walled ceramic is resistant to scratches and impacts, heat-resistant, food-safe and, thanks to the CeramicPlus surface finish, exceptionally easy to clean. Subway Style is available in 13 lightfast ceramic colours for 60 cm and 50 cm vanity units and can be installed either surface-mounted or flush-fitting depending on interior design and layout preferences.
Villeroy & Boch is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.
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