Hotel Designs

    NEWS AND ANALYSIS FOR HOTELIERS, DESIGNERS AND INDUSTRY SUPPLIERS
    Idle Rocks Hotel, St Mawes, Opening Day, June 24th 2013

    Checking in: The Idle Rocks, St Mawes, Cornwall

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    Checking in: The Idle Rocks, St Mawes, Cornwall

    During the ongoing Covid-19 crisis, editor Hamish Kilburn managed to escape briefly to check in to The Idle Rocks, St Mawes in Cornwall – a hotel that knows a thing or two about battling adversity – which shelters an unmatched personality, character and style…

    Idle Rocks Hotel, St Mawes, Opening Day, June 24th 2013

    Being close to the water’s edge – so close you can hear shrunken waves break on the shoreline – does something to us, mentally. Not only does it send a reflux through our bodies to sharply loosen our shoulders to allow for a deeper exhale from a life that feels constantly left on fast-forward, but it also enables us to find a different perspective (something we could all benefit from, I’m sure, right now).

    If like me you grew up by the coast before diving into the deep end of city life, then you would have also felt the magnetic pull, like gravity, that regularly drags me back to the edge of the land. My recent nostalgic fix came when I travelled down to Cornwall, to check in to The Idle Rocks, St Mawes.

    Image of exterior of The Idle Rocks St Mawes

    Image credit: The Idle Rocks, St Mawes

    The hotel, which is the brainchild of husband and wife duo Karen Richards and David Richards, was originally opened in 2013. Two years prior, the pair fell in love with the building that now shelters the hotel. It’s position right at the water’s edge of the harbour, inspired the name of the hotel as well as its quirky, contemporary and stripped-back luxury style. “Our aim was to create a hotel that was young, fresh and relaxing,” explained Karen in an interview with Hotel Designs. “We wanted to make it a home-from-home, eliminating formalities and in this way, differentiate ourselves from our more traditional competitors.”

    Image of door opening in St Mawes hotel to see the sea

    Image credit: The Idle Rocks, St Mawes

    Karen, who lives and breathes design, envisioned the boutique gem with its own identity, when she fell in love with the property. But for David, whose career within motor sport has led to great acclaim in a wide range of disciplines from F1 to Sports Car racing and rallying, hospitality was a new adventure, which (it turns out) shared similar traits to the motor sport industry, such as forming the ‘dream team’ – from housekeeping to chefs, front-of-house staff to savvy marketing – in order to find that sweet spot of personable luxury hospitality.

    With the current Covid-19 crisis dominating headlines and sadly bringing hospitality to its knees, it would be easy to forget other storms that The Idle Rocks, St Mawes has weathered over the years – but we must not as it forms an integral chapter in the property’s history. Less than a year after first opening, a 90-mph winds hit St Mawes combined with an extremely high tide. The impact of the storm destroyed the ground floor of the hotel. “The following day, I was on site with the team and we did what we could to board up the smashed windows,” Karen painfully recalls. “Just when we thought things couldn’t get any worse, that evening another squall came in and caused even more damage.”

    It took the team just two months to definitely repair the damage before reopening once more, with more soul and purpose than ever.

    Seven years later, following the hotel being the subject of major broadsheets for its unparalleled hospitality offering, I arrive to check in to the boutique legend that is The Idle Rocks St Mawes.

    Walking through the front door evokes the same effortless, refreshing coastal vibes as the destination itself has done for centuries, which has allured the likes of writers, artists and even royalty alike. No other hotel can match Karen’s home-from-home style, which in the lobby/lounge area is complete with deep, comfy sofas and furnishings that come in every shade of blue.

    “In a coastal hotel, it is all too easy for the design to be predictable and something I worked hard to avoid.” – Karen Richards, co-owner, The Idle Rocks, St Mawes.

    The art is a story in itself – framed traditional woollen swimsuits and abstract pieces that depict boats painted in primary colours. “We have very consciously focused on local Cornish Artists throughout the hotel,” explains Karen. “In a coastal hotel, it is all too easy for the design to be predictable and something I worked hard to avoid. I love visiting antique shops and fairs, which is where a lot of pieces within the property came from.”

    Although the design inside the F&B areas is impressive, with wooden bucket-like chandeliers and vibrant art that hangs on a rustic wall, it is the view that stretches over the working harbour, seen from all perspectives in the restaurant, that is this hotel’s wildcard and offers guests a window into the community outside.

    Colourful and vibrant restaurant

    Image credit: The Idle Rocks, St Mawes

    Acting as an ever-changing backdrop as storms come and go, the restaurant, which presents young chef Dorian Janmaat’s locally inspired menu, is the beating heart of the hotel.

    Upstairs, each of the 19 guestrooms and suites have been individually designed to sensitively inject a meaningful sense of place. Naturally, the colour scheme is toned down with just a few flashes of colour to allow the view over the water to become part of the hotel experience, which it does very quickly.

    Through a translucent sliding door, the bathrooms include a deep, freestanding Victoria + Albert bath that is positioned right next to the window. Quirky nods to the hotel’s coastal location, such as shells that act as soap dishes and distressed wooden framed mirrors above the sink. A Rainfinity shower from hansgrohe with Axor fittings takes this wellness scene to a new level, and is positioned in such as way at the back of the bathroom so that you can see outside through the window but people cannot see in. The bathroom is completed with a quality Villeroy & Boch toilet with Geberit push button panels.

    Light and minimalist sea-themed bathroom

    Image credit: The Idle Rocks, St Mawes

    Considering Cornwall’s etched reputation in the history books for delivering quality hospitality time and time again, The Idle Rocks St Mawes stands out from the crowd as being something different on the luxury scene in the westcountry. It’s colourful and vibrant personality makes it hard for any guest to check out of what feels very much like a home away from home. And with my tastebuds teased, body rested and state of mind recovered I reluctantly check out of this boutique jewel, taking one last look at the postcard perfect view of St Mawes, a town I will no-doubt be returning to shortly.

    Main image credit: The Idle Rocks, St Mawes

    5 minutes with: Julie Ingham & Burlington on bespoke bathroom design

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    5 minutes with: Julie Ingham & Burlington on bespoke bathroom design

    Following the spectacular launch of Burlington’s Bespoke Collection earlier this year – and to mark the start of our Year in Review series – editor Hamish Kilburn caught up with Burlington’s marketing manager, Faye Froy, and Julie Ingham who was the designer behind that colourful and eclectic range of bathroom products…

    British designer Julie Ingham is known for creating patterns and illustrations for packaging, greeting cards, homewares, textiles and books. However, recently, she was asked by Burlington to take a leap into a new segment of the design industry, to help the bathroom brand create its most recent hero collection. 

    Representing a new era of classic bathroom design, Bespoke by Burlington is a distinctive and unique collection of coloured and hand-decorated ceramics. Offering true customisation, the new products provide architects, specifiers and designers with an unsurpassed level of individuality, placing Burlington at the very forefront of modern-day bathroom design, whilst remaining true to its historic influences and style.

    Image caption: Oriental Blossum from the Bespoke by Burlington collection

    To understand more about the collection, I caught up with Ingham and Faye Froy, Marketing Manager at Burlington:

    Hamish Kilburn: What are the challenges of designing a ‘bespoke’ range for a commercial market?

    Faye Froy: The Bespoke collection was created to offer the customer alternatives to our normal white finish. Whilst white looks stunning and will still be the main choice, there is increasing demand for colour and for decoration. We developed the technology to make the wide range offered in the Bespoke collection and this gives Burlington the chance to offer colours, single colour decoration and multi-colour decoration. Now we have the process fine-tuned we can produce these with short lead times (6 weeks) on a made to order basis. Within the range is Bespoke lettering which allows Burlington to personalise with the name of the home such a “The Old Dairy” and we can also produce with hotel or business logos on.

    There are no specific challenges in extending this to the commercial market, and for contracts we can produce bespoke designs if the project is looking for a unique design or unique colour.

    HK: Why is 2020 the ideal year to launch the Bespoke Collection?

    FF: It was always part of our strategy to launch the Bespoke collection this year. When the Covid-19 Pandemic hit we quickly agreed that we still wanted to launch the collection but in a different way. Instead of the launch event we originally planned on hosting in London, we moved the launch online, engaging various high-profile influencers to promote the brand and a two-week launch was created. It was such an exciting month where we created such a buzz and we gained so much coverage through our press and social channels.

    It was important to Burlington that we still went ahead with the launch. Many businesses this year have delayed their new products to 2021 but that gave us more of a reason to push ahead and create something new and exciting for the brand.

    HK: What was the thinking behind the colours you chose for the collection?

    Julie Ingham: The colours came from an enormous amount of research into bathroom trends.  I looked at what colours people already had in their bathrooms and how they used them and what they were comfortable with. I also looked at colour historically in bathrooms both domestically and commercially. But probably most importantly how colour would sit on such an iconic bathroom shape.  We wanted to give the product a new edge and feel, whilst still retaining a balance and direction towards what the shape represents. I Photo-shopped about 200 colours onto basins to get the right feel. Colour is so individual and logistically we had to choose three for production. I think the colour choice was harder than the pattern choice!

    HK: How would you describe the collection in three words?

    JI: Stylish, inspired and iconic.

    HK: If you were to design an extension to the Bespoke Collection, what themes would you explore?

    JI: A children’s range, with boats and bunting perhaps in nursery style pastel shades. I adore the work on Eric Ravillious, and Midwinter’s Jessie Tait, so perhaps a nod in their direction, geometric and landscapes. Trees, forests, dark greens swaying movements. My personal favourites from the collection we designed are the Oriental Blossom and Spring Forest designs and I would like to continue the organic feel that I think these two have.

    HK: How has the pandemic changed peoples’ perception of bathrooms in hotel design?

    FF: The bathroom is a room that certainly should not be overlooked. Often heavily featured on Instagram, blogs and in magazines with the heading of ‘the best Instagrammable bathrooms to visit,’ consumers are looking for high design quality throughout every room in a hotel, and the bathroom will often heavily influence their decision on whether to book a stay. Whether the bathroom is bold and colourful, or is a spa-like haven to retreat to, consumers will wish to stay in hotels with Instagrammable bathrooms.

    With the pandemic resulting is us all spending much more time in our homes, getting away to a hotel whether for a one-night stay or a week away is more important than ever. Consumers will want to feel like they are really escaping day to day life, so hotel design will become more important than ever to offer the guest that true feeling of relax, rest and rejuvenate. The bathroom will continue to play a big part of that theme.

    Burlington 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 credit: Burlington

    Sustainability in the bathroom – it’s all in the materials

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    Sustainability in the bathroom – it’s all in the materials

    The Swiss bathroom specialist, Laufen, has set new sustainability trends in bathroom design. Editor Hamish Kilburn investigates…

    With unprecedented performance properties, the revolutionary SaphirKeramik, found in all Laufen products, bestows possibilities and versatility never seen before, enabling exceptional shaping where finely-defined curves and tight edge radii of 1-2mm are created.

    This unique ceramic is considerably thinner and has an improved bending strength, compared to traditional bathroom ceramics. Laufen is now able to produce wafer-thin, yet exceptionally robust ceramic bodies, which in turn makes it more sustainable by reducing weight with a lower consumption of raw materials and energy, required for the manufacturing process. SaphirKeramik is not a replacement for any existing materials; instead, it broadens the range of forms of expression of the natural base material.

    Since its launch in 2013 SaphirKeramik has developed into a favourite material of many architects and bathroom planners, because it permits a whole new design language within bathroom ceramics, which could not have been realised in the same way with conventional ceramics. Designed under the creative leadership of superstar Dutch designer Marcel Wanders, the contemporary ‘The New Classic’ collection interprets classical styles using Laufen’s innovative SaphirKeramik to help create soft, gentle feminine curves, alongside angular, masculine elements.

    Since you’re here, why not read Hotel Designs’ tour of Roca and Laufen UK headquarters?

    Image caption: The New Classic, designed by Marcel Wanders for Laufen

    Image caption: The New Classic, designed by Marcel Wanders for Laufen

    Laufen is also taking responsibility for the its impact on the environment by developing ways to recycle wastewater. In collaboration with Austrian design studio EOOS and long-term research by Eawag, Laufen have developed a ground-breaking urine separation toilet that opens a new chapter in sustainable wastewater management: Save! Supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Save! will revolutionise sanitation, reduce the environmental issue of wastewater pollution and provide a solution fit for the 21st century.

    The key innovation in Save! is the “urine trap”, created by EOOS Design, which diverts urine to a concealed outlet using only surface tension. By trapping the urine – which contains a high number of nutrients – the device allows the liquid to be repurposed into a  fertiliser called Aurin.

    "urine trap", created by EOOS Design for Laufen

    Image caption: “urine trap”, created by EOOS Design for Laufen

    The installation of urine separation toilets into hotels, public areas and residential developments will lead to sustainable and energy-saving wastewater management, seamlessly integrating the circular economy by efficiently treating the collected wastewater, recovering and recycling the preserved nutrients.

    Laufen is committed to contributing towards the development of innovative technologies to solve this urgent problem, developing new, sustainable solutions that will help save lives and improve sanitation conditions in developing countries.

    Laufen 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 credit: Laufen

    In the factory with sustainable bed & mattress manufacturer Naturalmat

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    In the factory with sustainable bed & mattress manufacturer Naturalmat

    With its fascinating storyline stretching from luxury superyachts to international hotels, bed and mattress brand Naturalmat’s stamp of approval can be traced right back to the source, as editor Hamish Kilburn learns when he pays a visit to the brand’s HQ in Topsham, Devon…

    The story behind the success of bed and mattress manufacturer Naturalmat, and its esteemed reputation for being a conscious brand, all started more than 20 years ago. The Tremlett family, boat builders at the time, were in their yard in Topsham, Devon, and realised that there was a void in the luxury marine industry.

    Mark Tremlett and his father designed luxury superyachts for the super-rich, which were complete with high-end fittings and fixtures while flooded with innovative space-saving solutions. Each vessel that would come out of the yard was perfectly designed for its heavy pocketed owner.

    And yet, the family realised that while the luxury marine industry had evolved into an exciting design-led arena, the pre-existing beds that were being specified within these floating abodes were not fit for purpose. “I saw that people were still sleeping on polyurethane foam mattresses underneath it all,” said Mark, who is the co-founder of Naturalmat, explained to Hotel Designs. “This is not a great material to use on a boat (or any bed) as it’s not breathable, leading to issues of damp and mould, and doesn’t give the most comfortable experience.” It was during this lightbulb moment when Naturalmat was born.

    Image caption: The Rosemoor Bed | Image credit: Naturalmat

    Image caption: The Rosemoor Bed | Image credit: Naturalmat

    Five interesting facts about Naturalmat

    • The company saves approximately 40,000 kw per year through its various eco initiatives
    • Naturalmat offers three 100 per cent natural fibre mattresses, and three natural fibre plus pocket spring mattresses
    • Naturalmat uses the husk of a coconut within its mattresses, which gives the user a fairly straight, robust fibre. But if you twist these very tightly and unravel them, they retain that curl which is then perfect to tease into a pad —in the absence of metal coils, it’s the natural ‘spring’ layer that provides the structure and bounce on each mattress
    • Naturalmat does not use fire retardant chemicals in any of its products
    • As of last year, Naturalmat done away with using plastic in packaging, and now the various packaging across the business is either from potato starch, corn starch, sugar cane, unbleached cotton, recycled kraft boxes, paper bags, or large, infinitely reusable mattress-sized duffle bags.

    A few years after all but conquering the marine and nursery industry with locally and intuitively designed mattresses, in 2008 the company was approached by Simon Woodroffe, founder of Yo! Sushi, who had just launched a new hotel concept, YOTEL. Naturalmat soon landed its first major hotel project, when Woodroffe specified the brand for YOTEL New York. With smaller sized rooms, which the hotel brand refers to as cabins, the meaningful partnership was stitched together. It was this leap into the hospitality market that allowed the Devonshire-based family business to boom on the international hotel design scene.

    Following the extensive project inside the 669-key lifestyle hotel, more relationships between the bed manufacturer and hotel brands such as Qbic, Six Senses Resorts, Z Hotels, Hoxton Hotels forged as Naturalmat’s unique and fully sustainable manufacturing process complimented brand, sustainability and quality standards.

    A bedroom inside Hoxton Southwark

    Image caption: Hoxton Hotels specifies Naturalmat mattreses | Image credit: Hoxton Hotels/Ennismore

    Following the bed and mattress brand winning Best in British Product Design at The Brit List Awards 2019, I headed down south to understand how each mattress is made, by hand. But before we dive in, first let’s explore where the materials are sourced from. The organic lambswool, used to create comfortable products that are unmatched, comes from Soil Association certified farms in Devon, Dorset and Somerset. The company purchases direct from organic farmers, not just to ensure the highest quality but also to give the farmers a better return than taking the wool to market. As a result, the company is consciously supporting the local farming community.

    Once the wool has been purchased, here is the step-by-step process behind each and every handmade Naturalmat mattress:

    • First the roll of wool and cotton herringbone ticking is cut to the size of the mattress that has been ordered.
    • The company’s precise sewing team then stitch the handles onto the edge panels, as well as the Naturalmat label onto the surface.
    A women sewing a mattress

    Image caption: Anne is one of Naturalmat’s precise sewing team | Image credit: Naturalmat

    • Downstairs in the mattress making section of the factory, a team of two layer the mattress ‘sandwich’ starting with coir (or a spring unit, if being used), layering with natural latex, mohair, cashmere, or whatever else the ‘mattress recipe’ calls for.
    Two men in the factory designing and making Naturalmat mattresses

    Image caption: A team of two layer the mattress ‘sandwich’ starting with coir | Image credit: Naturalmat

    • When this stage is complete, each mattress and topper that is manufactured gets a top layer of organic lambswool, and the covers are loosely stretched out onto either side. The side panel is then rolled around the edges and loosely pinned.
    • This ‘sandwich’ is then moved to a large table where the brand’s expert upholsterer (who’s been making mattresses for more than 20 years) runs a clever tape-edging machine around it, which seals the mattress sandwich with the brand’s signature grey wool and cotton piping. The mattress is then flipped (bit tricky for Emperor-sized units), then the team tape-edge the other side.
    • Once the ‘sandwich’ is sealed, it’s moved across to a jig which props it up on its side, allowing the team to tuft all the buttons through the mattress. The tufting is what keeps all the natural fibres in place, as well as offers that bit of ‘puff’ for comfort.
    • The finished mattress is then slid into one of the company’s large, recyclable, sugar-cane derived packaging bags, sealed, then loaded onto a Naturalmat van ready for delivery.

    What’s as impressive as the quality behind each product is the company’s passion around sustainability. From the very beginning, the company took a different approach to the rest of the trade. The factory, for example, that shelters this innovative manufacturing process is on its own an eco-friendly machine, complete with solar paneling that powers the building and the operations inside.

    A blue bed in a modern room

    Image credit: Naturalmat

    From a materials perspective, Naturalmat could not understand why the majority of mattresses were made using man-made synthetic materials that were neither biodegradable nor from a sustainable source.

    Most recently, the bed and mattress brand’s eco credentials caught the attention of Geetie Singh-Watson, a self-proclaimed warrior against greenwashing in hospitality, as she was designing The Bull Inn in Totnes. Singh-Watson was only interested in sourcing all products and services locally and researched each brand thoroughly before specifying each and every product within the eight-key pub/hotel.

    A close up of a bed inside The Bull Inn in Totnes

    Image caption: Naturalmat supplied the beds for The Bull Inn, Totnes credit: Rachel Hoile Photography

    With the brand catching the attention of authentic independents and large chains – it is currently processing an order for the first urban Six Senses hotel, which will open in New York – the brand’s modern attitude matched with traditional ethos is going from strength to strength, and in turn is educating the hotel design and hospitality arena on the values of conscious design.

    Naturalmat 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 credit: Naturalmat

    Crosswater introduces range extension to Kai furniture

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    Crosswater introduces range extension to Kai furniture

    A spacious and affordable storage solution for today’s bathrooms, Kai from Crosswater combines contemporary styling with everyday functionality, ensuring an affordable range of furniture units that will sit cohesively within interiors of all styles and sizes…

    From refreshing and sleek grey palettes to modern monochrome colour combinations, the three understated finishes will complement and sit beautifully within a wide range of on-trend bathroom schemes.

    With storage a key consideration in any bathroom, the Kai furniture range provide homeowners with the option to choose from single or double drawer styles, complete with a white gloss worktop or a fine fireclay basin tops for added appeal. The units are available in Grey Oak, White Gloss and Grey Gloss finishes and feature substantial storage with full extension and soft closing drawers ideal for hiding away toiletries and everyday bathroom essentials.

    Perfect for both the cloakroom and main family bathroom, each piece will slot cohesively into a variety of interior design spaces. The designs can be paired with striking patterned surfaces and hints of greenery for a contemporary look  – or go for a minimalistic style by pairing the Kai furniture and toilet units to create a neutral colour palette throughout.

    An exceptionally versatile range, Kai provides strikingly spacious furniture for bathrooms of all styles and sizes.  From 500mm to 1000mm units, each piece has been specially crafted to cater to the needs of every household – delivering the ultimate affordable bathroom experience.

    Crosswater 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 credit: Crosswater

    An image of a pool outside a villa

    RAKxa, a revolutionary wellness retreat in Bangkok, opens its doors

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    RAKxa, a revolutionary wellness retreat in Bangkok, opens its doors

    The new ‘integrative wellness and medical retreat, RAKxa, has opened its doors to guests in Bangkok’s ‘Green Lung’. Editor Hamish Kilburn writes… 

    Set in Bangkok’s preserved ‘Green Lung’, a protected jungle-clad island on the Chao Phraya River, RAKxa is a 60-key retreat (27 villas are currently open), which shelters tailored wellness programmes designed by certified medical doctors.

    An image of a pool outside a villa

    These programmes combine advanced medical treatments with revered holistic therapies alongside renowned Thai hospitality, resulting in a world-class medical destination.

    A mix of traditional materials and crafts have been used in a contemporary styling to create a medical wellness retreat that has avoided the ‘spa’ look whilst ensuring the crisp, neutral tones are not associated with a hospital. Traditional materials include rattan, bamboo, reclaimed wood, earth-wear, ceramics, brass, jute, mulberry paper and water hyacinth. Light colours of teal and gentle greens are used throughout the premises to soothe and restore an element of calm. Showcasing the serene location next to the river, traditional river boats decorate the gym area as well as elements such as old balers used to decorate the walls.

    RAKxa uses objects throughout the premises that may not traditionally be considered art, such as teapots, chairs and stools. These all have a sense of place and are considered as traditional Thai decor, based on the countries’ history. One area proudly displays 72 teapots along a shelving unit, all made from a local southern Thai pottery maker and each unique to one another. Using local artisans to create the rugs and woven wall decor, RAKxa exemplifies traditional Thai styling, creating the ultimate wellness retreat where Thai hospitality oozes through the design.

    This ground-breaking enhanced wellness retreat is the first of its kind in Thailand and promises a fully transformative experience through personalised three-to-fourteen day programmes with long-term health goals in mind.

    Main image credit: RAKxa

    Image of sculpture of running cheetah

    Design gone wild: Introducing Queen Ava the Cheetah by Marokka

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    Design gone wild: Introducing Queen Ava the Cheetah by Marokka

    Geometric design brand Marokka takes a walk on the wild side by introducing Queen Ava the Cheetah to its contemporary collection of statement sculptures…

    When you walk into a hotel lobby or hotel bedroom the senses become more heightened when there is an interesting sculpture, a stunning piece of wall art or a feature that provides a point of interest for guests.

    Image of sculpture of running cheetah

    Marokka knows all about making a lasting impression with its range of 3D animal-inspired sculptures that are showcased in bedrooms at a luxury four-star hotel in Port Lympne while the larger Gus the Gorilla sculpture resides outside in the Aspinall Safari Foundation Park near the hotel. The sculptures have caused a buzz amongst visitors and makes the experience to Port Lympne all the more memorable

    In keeping with Marokka’s style to excite, engage and provide luxurious art forms that ‘wow’ for the hospitality industry and consumers alike, Marokka has recently unveiled its latest creation, Queen Ava the Cheetah. Ava is no ordinary Cheetah, she is a digital lenticular sculpture that unites the real world with the virtual and digital world.

    When the Aspinall Foundation re-homed two hand reared cheetahs Saba and Nairo, Marokka wanted to celebrate this and give recognition to the elegance and prowess of this beautiful animal and as a result Ava the lenticular was born and she comes alive in full hunting mode as different movements are captured within the print.

    Queen Ava has been designed in five distinct styles:

    • Wireframe Faceted Polygonal
    • Faceted Polygonal
    • Wireframe Vonoroi
    • Vonoroi
    • Faceted Vonoroi

    Lenticulars are gaining popularity and have been seen in lobbies of 25 ‘W Hotels’ across the globe while retailers like Clinton Cards have seen a shift towards lenticular birthday cards and postcards amongst its consumers.

    Also, as with all its sculptures, Marokka also raises awareness of the charities that care for animals and is proud to donate a percentage of sales for every digital sculpture of this endangered species sold to the Ashia Cheetah Conservation, A not-for-profit conservation project in Paarl, South Africa, dedicated to the survival of the cheetah by running a significant wilding & release program.

    COMING SOON – Thanks to the popularity of Queen Ava the Cheetah Marokka will be adding to the range with Ava candles, charms and charm bracelets.

    Marokka is one of our Industry Support Package clients 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 credit: Marokka

    Bvlgari render of Miani hotel

    Bvlgari Hotels to open debut property in the US

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    Bvlgari Hotels to open debut property in the US

    Bvlgari Hotels & Resorts has announced the agreement for a new hotel in Miami Beach, scheduled to open in 2024…

    The luxury hotel brand, Bvlgari Hotels & Resorts, is on a roll, following announced projects in Paris, to open in 2021, Moscow and Rome in 2022 and Tokyo in 2023.

    Bvlgari render of Miani hotel

    Its latest announcement to arrive in Miami will bring the Bvlgari Hotels & Resorts Collection to eleven properties, including Milan, London, Dubai, Shanghai, Beijing and Bali.

    The new hotel in Miami will be located at 100 21st street in Miami Beach, and will mark Bvlgari Hotel’s debut in the United States. Waterfront located with beautiful beaches while being a short walk from the city’s most vibrant attractions and South Beach’s trendy Ocean Drive, the Bvlgari Hotel Miami Beach will offer stunning ocean views just a few steps from the exciting Miami Art Deco district.  

    The building hosting the Bvlgari Hotel Miami Beach was originally designed as hotel by Miami architect Albert Anis in the late 1950’s, as part of the Miami Modern movement in Miami Beach; it is a contributing building located in the National Register Architectural District and was well known as a centre of events and parties for the Hollywood Crowd descending on Miami Beach for the winter.  

    Image credit: Bvlgari Hotels & Resorts

    “We are particularly proud to have secured such an extraordinary location for the new Bvlgari Hotel in Miami Beach,” said Jean-Christophe Babin, CEO of Bvlgari. “This will be our first property in the United States which is a key market for our Brand and we are delighted to add the vibrant and glamorous Miami Beach to our Collection. We are convinced that the Bvlgari Hotel Miami Beach, to be opened in 2024, will represent an irresistible Roman Jeweler Hospitality, a unique ultra luxury experience in the American upscale hotel market.”

    The design project, which will be curated , like all the other Bvlgari Hotels, by the Milanese architectural firm Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel, will contemplate around 100 rooms, most of them suites, and a full range of luxury facilities including an outdoor swimming pool, a large spa and fitness center, and a Bvlgari restaurant and bar both curated by Italian three Michelin-star chef Niko Romito. 

    Main image credit: Bvlgari Hotels & Resorts

    An artistic wallcovering behind blue armchair

    Product watch: Moooi Tokyo Blue wallcoverings by Arte

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    Product watch: Moooi Tokyo Blue wallcoverings by Arte

    The distinct features and surroundings of the latest addition to the Museum of Extinct Animals, the Indigo Macaque, inspired a new collection within the Extinct Animals Wallcovering Collection; Moooi Tokyo Blue.

    An artistic wallcovering behind blue armchair

    Hotel Designs first wrote about Arte and Moooi’s wild collaboration in 2019. Launched at Deco Off in Paris, the Extinct Animals wallcoverings range was bold, fearless and the result of a unique collaboration with Arte and Moooi. Both leading brands launched the collection in order to celebrate nature’s diversity, stimulating to stretch the limits of imagination.

    More than a year later and the collaboration between the two brands has authentically evolved, and with a deeper look into the somewhat unwritten world of extinct animals – this time geographically placing the research in Japan – a new strand of the collection was born.

    The Moooi Tokyo Blue is made up of five extraordinary wallcoverings of divergent techniques, such as denim and marquetry. Five different designs with Japan’s beautiful and versatile nature and ancient culture as common denominator.

    These wallcoverings are:

    • Indigo Macaque – Textile wallcovering made from denim, with coloured embroidery. The design on the Indigo Macaque wallcovering displays a playful scene of Indigo Macaque families bathing in their favourite relaxing spot: the hot springs at the foot of the Japanese mountains.
    • Shoji Blossom – Symbolic cherry blossoms and straight lines resembling the minimalistic feel of Japanese Shoji screens. Opposed to the stark contrast of pink hues on translucent Washi paper, this monotone 3D wallcovering made from denim or felted wool radiates tranquility.
    • Tie-Tami – Treat your eyes to the rich and versatile colours of spectacular sunset. This jute and raffia wallcovering, honouring the ancient Japanese flooring solution of woven tatami-mats, pictures abstract clouds that slowly drift by while the day gives way to night.
    • Lucky O’s – Overlapping O’s, created of wood veneer marquetry inlay, resemble the rolling waves of the ocean. The unique wallcovering’s ancient Seigaiha pattern symbolising waves of water represents good luck, power, and resilience.
    • Rendezvous Tokyo Blue – Printed on a soft and velvety finish fabric with denim textures, this lively wallcovering depicts a lush forest brimming with life and movement. Upon closer inspection, Indigo Macaques dressed in traditional kimonos can be discovered between the abundance of exotic flowers.

    Arte 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 credit: Arte

    Product watch: Heathfied & Co’s Pearl Collection

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    Product watch: Heathfied & Co’s Pearl Collection

    Inspired by the iconic and classic symbolism of pearls featured throughout fashion, beauty and film over the years, Heathfield & Co’s Pearl Collection reflects the rare beauty of this unique gemstone…

    Whilst each piece holds its own distinctive influence, opal glass spheres and hemispheres are characteristic throughout, each providing a soft ambient glow. Curved brass metalwork, subtly reflective surfaces and asymmetric configurations are combined to provide a cohesive visual identity.

    Referencing a pearls timeless and traditional nature, these innovative designs carefully reinterpret the original aesthetic to create a simple, yet elegant range of contemporary lighting.

    Perfectly petite, our Halo table lamp (left) demonstrates a contemporary design highlighted with classic styling. The subtly tapered alabaster cone creates a soft aesthetic, set off against polished brass metalwork and a defined opal glass globe, which provides an ambient glow.

    Drawing inspiration from classic jewellery design, the vertical body of the brand’s Vermeer pendant (right) creates an elegant aesthetic in any interior. The piece features four opal glass spheres, asymmetrically positioned around its minimal form.

    Audrey Pendant in the Pearl Collection | Image credit Heathfield & Co

    Image caption: Audrey Pendant in the Pearl Collection | Image credit Heathfield & Co

    Heathfield & Co is one of the brands that has taken advantage of our Industry Support Package. To keep up to date with supplier news, click here. And, if you are interested in also benefitting from this  three-month editorial package, please email Katy Phillips by clicking here.

    Main image caption: Gabriella Pendant in the Pearl Collection | Image credit Heathfield & Co

    Image of Sonar bath from Laufen

    How a rise in wellness & wellbeing is inspiring new evolutions in the bathroom

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    How a rise in wellness & wellbeing is inspiring new evolutions in the bathroom

    In light of recent events, people are increasingly open to the idea of ‘self-care’ and grasp the importance of wellness and with this bathrooms have become our modern sanctuaries. Bathroom brand Laufen explains…

    Image of Sonar bath from Laufen

    We now have the technology and products easily available to be able to cleanse, pamper, soak and relax.

    Smart technology has become part of our everyday lives and the bathroom is no exception, with technological features coming into play. Shower toilets are an evolving market worldwide and we are seeing an increasing demand within the sector for innovative solutions.

    Impressing with a compact design and simple functions, Laufen’s Cleanet Navia, designed exclusively by Peter Wirz, deliberately focusses on the core task of a shower toilet: washing without compromising on hygiene. Providing 3.5 litres of fresh water per minute in a high volume shower jet, allows for ultimate comfort whilst leaving users feeling thoroughly clean.  The WC can be easily operated with the intelligent and convenient rotary button on the side or via a smartphone app. With ergonomic controls and an intuitive design this is perfect for hospitality settings.

    Navia toilet by Laufen

    Image credit: Laufen

    Freestanding baths are the epitome of  luxurious spa-inspired bathrooms. As well as creating an impressive focal point, freestanding baths add opulence and luxury into any bathroom space. A great example of this can be seen in Laufen’s designer collection Sonar. Now more than ever, we need a place to escape and the freestanding Sonar bath enables true relaxation. With a  lavish backrest and a compact bath tray, perfect for all your essentials, Laufen offers the ultimate comfort in bathing.

    Laufen’s Marbond is also a great example of innovative use of material. Marbond is a unique material, consisting of two layers, which are firmly bonded to one another and refined with a high-quality gel coat surface finish. The result is a fine surface texture which has a pleasant and warm natural touch, excellent for spa-like environments.

    Shower Tray - Marbond

    Image credit: Laufen

    Laufen has recently used this revolutionary material for the new Laufen Pro Marbond shower trays. Available in over 30 standard sizes, the shower trays are durable, hygienic, easy to clean and have the added benefit of anti-slip. Marbond is also customisable, making it ideal for wetrooms and custom bathroom spaces.

    Laufen 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 credit: Laufen

     

    Meliá Hotels International to open fourth hotel in Milan

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    Meliá Hotels International to open fourth hotel in Milan

    The 70-key five-star hotel, which will be sheltered inside one of the most recognisable buildings in Piazza Cordusio, will become Meliá Hotels International’s fourth property in Milan when it opens in 2023…

    Following the reopening of ME Dubai this week, Meliá Hotels International and Generali Real Estate have announced that they will be partnering together in a unique project in Milan: a new Gran Meliá hotel opening in the city centre in 2023. 

    Significant buildings in the portfolio of Generali Real Estate in Europe (photo gallery updated at May 2020)

    Image credit: Meliá Hotels International

    The five-star hotel will be the result of the complete refurbishment and restoration of the historic Palazzo Venezia, one of the most recognisable buildings in Piazza Cordusio, just a few metres from Piazza del Duomo in the centre of Milan. The building owns its name to Generali’s Venetian roots: it was designed in the late XIX century by architect Luca Beltrami, built by the Generali Group as its headquarters in Milan, and hosted the Generali offices until the move of the Generali Tower in CityLife.

    A render of a contemporary lobby

    Image credit: Meliá Hotels International

    The transformation of the building into a luxury hotel will be the perfect transition owing to its monumental architecture and innate elegance, coupled with state-of-the-art, world-class hospitality. After the renovation, the building will comply with the criteria required to obtain the LEED Gold certification, an international sustainability recognition that is particularly remarkable in the case of a historical building. Furthermore, as a hotel, the building will be accessible to the public for the first time in its history.

    “Italy is one of the world’s greatest tourist destinations and it is a privilege for us to offer iconic hotels such as the Gran Meliá in Milan, which bring even greater recognition to our brands”, commented Gabriel Escarrer, Vice President and CEO of the hotel company, who also assures that “thanks to our efforts to raise the quality of our portfolio, we will be in the best possible condition to face the recovery and once again attract demand in the most competitive destinations in the world.” 

    A render of a modern and contemporary bar/lounge within the hotel

    Image credit: Meliá Hotels International

    Thanks to its unique location, the new Gran Meliá hotel will set a new benchmark for luxury travel, providing the perfect base from which to explore Milan for leisure and business travellers alike. It is ideally situated to discover the city of fashion and design, the artistic and cultural monuments, whilst also being within easy access of the business and financial hubs. 

    After an extensive renovation, the building – property of a fund managed by Generali Real Estate SGR – will preserve its majestic historical façade and will house 70 luxurious rooms designed to offer guests the most unforgettable stay. True to any Gran Melia experience, the hotel will offer unparalleled food and drink experiences, offering gourmet travellers a selection of the finest Italian and international cuisine. The building will also feature a rooftop bar and terrace, offering breath-taking 360° views of the city from a unique viewpoint, under the characteristic dome.  

    “With this important investment, we confirm our confidence in the strength of Milan and its come-back among the most important business and travel destination, after the pandemic crisis”, commented Aldo Mazzocco, CEO of Generali Real Estate. “As a long-term investor, we selected a world-class and forward-looking partner such as Melia, which shares with us a ‘Mediterranean’ root and style, to both preserve and transform one of our most iconic buildings into a high-end hotel”.

    Another of the brand’s hallmarks is its variety of “exceptional experiences”, a unique collection of experiences to help guests discover and enjoy the destination and designed for travellers who wish to explore the true essence of the city.  

    This hotel will be a new addition to the exclusive Gran Meliá family, an exceptional collection of premium hotels located in the most desired destinations in the world and defined by elegance in every detail and rooted in Spanish style. The brand exudes sophistication and aesthetic refinement, values that fit naturally with the Milan ambience. 

    The addition of the Gran Meliá hotel in Milan is a further example of Meliá Hotels International’s commitment to growth in Italy, and in particular, in Milan, where it already operates hotels under three of its brands: Meliá Milano, ME Milano Il Duca and INNSIDE Milano Torre Galfa. In addition, the company also has hotels in Rome and Genoa. 

    Main image credit: Meliá Hotels International

    image of Crow Wood Hotel & Spa resort

    Case study: creating timeless touchpoints inside Crow Wood Hotel & Spa Resort

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    Case study: creating timeless touchpoints inside Crow Wood Hotel & Spa Resort

    Hamilton Litestat’s Hartland CFX evokes timeless sophistication at every touchpoint in the newly built Crow Wood Hotel & Spa Resort…

    Set in 40 acres of stunning private park land in Burnley,Lancashire, sits the recently opened Crow Wood Hotel & Spa Report.

    image of Crow Wood Hotel & Spa resort

    Its 76 luxury guestrooms and suites have been created with the utmost care and attention-to-detail to provide a stylish retreat and place of relaxation.The resort offers spectacular views of Pendle Hill and the surrounding countryside, as well as the hotel’s beautiful ornamental lake and fabulous gardens.

    The Brief

    During the construction of the Crow Wood Hotel & Spa Report, building contractor Walsh Integrated Building Services sought a trusted supplier to provide durable wiring accessories with a high quality, designer finish. Electrical wholesaler LED Electrical Nelson, based in Nelson, Lancashire, recommended Hamilton Litestat’s products for installation throughout the bedrooms and bathrooms in its 70 guestrooms, along with the bedrooms, bathrooms and living areas in its six guest suites.

    The solution

    Hamilton worked closely with LED Electrical Nelson and Walsh Integrated Building Services to find designer decorative wiring accessories suited to the aesthetic and functionality requirements of the modern and effortlessly stylish guestrooms and suites. Aiming for an elegant and timeless look, Hamilton’s sleek Hartland CFX design was chosen for all applications throughout the guest areas, ensuring design continuity. It was selected in a sophisticated satin steel finish with satin steel switches and black inserts, which complement the finish of the bespoke accent light fittings selected for the rooms.

    Bedroom inside Crow Wood Hotel

    Image credit: Crow Wood Hotel & Resort

    In each of the 70 guestrooms, three plates with differing functionalities were located on each side of the bed: a switched double socket for easy charging of devices; a single one-gang switch plate to control the bedside reading light, and a single two-gang switch plate to control both lighting located above the bed and the main room light. Further wiring accessories were selected for installation at each desk/vanity area in the guestrooms. A two-Gang 13A Switched Socket with both 2.1A and 1A USB charging outlets allow guests to easily use devices and work at the desk if needed. A 5A lighting point was also installed within the seating area to ensure the space is well lit.

    Suite inside Crow Wood Hotel

    Image credit: Crow Wood Hotel & Resort

    For installation in the six suites, Hamilton provided additional charging points and lighting control functionality. At the side of each bed, the switched double socket has been upgraded to include dual 2.1A and 1A USB outlets for additional charging options. The bedside two-gang switch is replaced with retractive switches that deliver dimming capability, allowing guests to alter the light intensity depending on their requirements or preferred ambience. All guestrooms and suites have a dual 2.1A and 1A USB switched socket located at the desk/vanity area, while the suites also have a four-gang grid plate positioned here to control the lighting for the lobby, seated area and bed area. In the seated area, two additional 5A unswitched sockets support the power requirements for lamps positioned either side of the suite’s TV monitor. Throughout all bathrooms, a single grid plate with 20A cable outlet is installed for the heated towel rail.

    Final Master Bathroom inside Crow Wood Hotel & Resort

    Image credit: Crow Wood Hotel & Resort

    The result

    Hamilton’s Hartland CFX solutions provide functional yet sleek, stylish and sophisticated wiring accessories that complement the overall architecture and interior design of the resort. Guests lighting and charging requirements are provided for with elegant simplicity. Darren Worgan, Senior Contracts Manager at Walsh Integrated Building Services, selected the products and says: “Hamilton’s wiring accessories provided the perfect finishing touch and continue the high-quality and sophisticated look and feel delivered by the room overall. Guests visiting the resort come for a luxurious experience, and they will get that at every point in their stay –the greatest attention to detail has been paid to all elements of the build, and Hamilton’s wiring accessories illustrate this.”

    Mark Kitchen, Business Development Manager at LED Electrical Nelson, added: “Hamilton is a dependable brand that I’ve worked with on many projects, offering excellent quality for a great price. On this development, as with previous projects, we also benefited from Hamilton’s Bristol-based manufacturing, which ensured swift delivery of products and meant we were able to meet tight installation deadlines.”

    Andrew Brown, Managing Director, at Crow Wood Leisure, says: “We’ve received fantastic feedback from guests about their experiences staying at the resort since we opened in October 2019. The functionality, finish and placement of the wiring accessories delivers exactly what our guests need and expect of a luxury resort like the Crow Wood Hotel.

    Hamilton Litestat 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 credit: Hamilton Litestat

    A modern bed with black lighting

    Hypnos launches carbon neutral eco-packaging solution

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    Hypnos launches carbon neutral eco-packaging solution

    Sustainable bed manufacturer Hypnos has pioneered a ground-breaking carbon neutral packaging that could help with carbon reduction efforts across the bed and furniture industry…

    A modern bed with black lighting

    After 18 months of intensive research and development, Hypnos has successfully developed another industry first by creating a new recyclable, eco-friendly packaging solution which will be used for their beds and mattresses across both its retail and contract factories. It comes as part of major efforts by the cutting-edge manufacturer to design its packaging from sustainable and renewable sources and eliminate the use of harmful, fossil-based products.

    At the heart of the packaging is sugar cane, a renewable and carbon dioxide depleting resource. Sugar cane ethanol is combined with recycled plastic which has a carbon footprint that can be up to four times lower than that of normal plastic, helping those who use it to massively reduce their carbon footprint. The use of ethanol, a bi-product of sugar cane production and recycled plastics that form a green polyethylene (a more environmentally-friendly form of plastic), means the creation is carbon neutral and 100 per cent recyclable as well. Furthermore it’s incredibly durable and has superior technical properties to normal polythene, performing better on puncture tests.

    Hypnos led the challenge by working in partnership with a specialist green polyethylene manufacturer to create the cutting-edge solution which could be a sustainability game changer across the entire bed and furniture industry. Indeed, Hypnos made the decision not to patent or trademark this revolutionary packaging for themselves. Instead the brand wants to share their innovation globally and are calling on industries around the world to ditch single use polythene and make the transition to this 100 per cent recyclable product.

    “New government legislation requires that all businesses use plastic packaging that contains at least 30 per cent recycled plastic by 2022 or they will face a new Plastic Packaging Tax.”

    Richard Naylor, Sustainability Director at Hypnos, comments: “We’re extremely proud of our sustainability credentials and it’s Hypnos’ commitment to creating ethical solutions which benefit the environment that has allowed us to invest in this revolutionary green polythene. We’ve been working hard to develop this innovation and continue to look at new ways we can make better sustainable solutions and choices, not just for Hypnos, but for the bed and furniture industry as a whole.

    “We believe in fostering environmental responsibility wherever we can which is why we are keen to share this technology with other industries. Most bed manufacturers use plastic to protect their beds and products. If all the mattress manufacturers in the UK switched to eco polythene instead, it would save a staggering 8,000 tonnes of CO2 per year, so just imagine what could be achieved if bed and furniture manufacturers world-wide made this change!

    “We are now calling on all bed and furniture manufacturers to change from fossil-based polythene, which can take thousands of years to decompose. Instead, we’re asking them to make the transition to this product to reduce our combined carbon footprints and help care for the planet. We’re happy to set up meetings and put them in touch with our specialist manufacturer so that they too can start to benefit from this pioneering sustainable, carbon neutral solution.” 

    New government legislation requires that all businesses use plastic packaging that contains at least 30 per cent recycled plastic by 2022 or they will face a new Plastic Packaging Tax. With a ratio of 65 per cent renewable sugarcane to 35 per cent recycled plastics, the new eco polythene by Hypnos will take even more plastic out of landfill and incineration, stimulating increased demand for recycled plastics that can be turned into further reusable and sustainable materials. 

    Hypnos has been trialling their green packaging on selected mattresses and beds for several months and from November has been rolling it out across its entire range. An essential part of the process is the removal and return of the packaging by Hypnos’ delivery partners as this allows it to be returned and recycled in perpetuity. As a result Hypnos is taking back its new packaging from retailers and hospitality partners wherever possible so that it can once again be recycled.

    This latest development is another milestone in Hypnos’s successful sustainability agenda. From the use of renewable and traceable natural resources to carbon offsetting programmes, they were the first bed maker in the world to become carbon neutral, and have been continuously carbon neutral for a decade. In addition they have also been awarded the Queen’s Award for Enterprise for Sustainable Development this year.

    Furthermore, Hypnos’ beds and mattresses have been made from natural and sustainable materials, with no chemical-based foams and have been completely recyclable, ensuring they never need to go to landfill, for over a decade. And now, even the protective packaging its beds come in is entirely recyclable and carbon neutral too.

    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.

    Main image credit: Hypnos

    Main image for Hotel Designs LIVE

    Speakers announced for first Hotel Designs LIVE event in 2021

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    Speakers announced for first Hotel Designs LIVE event in 2021

    Following two successful events, Hotel Designs LIVE will return on February 23, 2021, with a global line-up of speakers who will appear in a series of four engaging panel discussions. Editor Hamish Kilburn, who will host the event, reveals all…

    Main image for Hotel Designs LIVE

    It all started in June 2020. The temperatures in the UK soared to record-breaking highs, which helped the industry awaken from its forced hibernation with passion, energy and optimism. At the time, we were going live to our global audience for the very first time with the aim to keep the conversation flowing and the industry connected during the Covid-19 crisis.

    Following a successful debut, Hotel Designs LIVE returned in October 2020 with a new production crew, a fresh panel of speakers and a slightly different tone. UK hospitality was slowly being patched up; hoteliers were polishing off their post-war opening strategies that would reassure the post-corona consumer and the focus for designers  and archtiects was around adding personality to eliminate hotels looking and feeling like sterile shells in a post-pandemic arena.

    Since then, though, a second lockdown and a carefully monitored government-led tiered system has left yet more dents on UK hospitality, with other destinations around the globe suffering from similar restrictions; hotels were forced to close or at least part-close once more and the industry felt the sting of the pandemic’s tail with more distressed assets were being announced. Meanwhile, the editorial desk at Hotel Designs exposed the desperate methods that some designers are using in order to win business in turbulent times.

    So, with discussions and debates far from over on how the pandemic will impact the global hotel design and hospitality landscape, Hotel Designs LIVE is back with purpose! While the industry is still somewhat socially distanced, the first of three scheduled Hotel Designs LIVE events to take place in 2021 will further amplify conversations unlike any other with the help of what might possibly be the brand’s most renowned speakership line-up to date.

    Here are our confirmed speakers (so far) for the event, as well as the topics that we will explore:

    Secure your place in the audience for the editor’s welcome.

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    Secure your place in the audience for session 1: Floor 20, Room 31 – Checking in 10 years from now.

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    Secure your place in the audience for session 2: Sustainability, beneath the surface.

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    Secure your place in the audience for session 3: Safe & sound hospitality & hotel design

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    Secure your place in the audience for session 4: A new era of wellness in hotel design.

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    “With three Hotel Designs LIVE series planned for 2021, our aim is to further challenge conventional views and opinions in global hotel design and hospitality.” – Hamish Kilburn, Editor, Hotel Designs.

    In addition to the live interviews and panel discussions with handpicked industry experts – and to ensure that the event is bridging the gap between hospitality suppliers and designers, architects, hoteliers and developers – the conference also included structured ‘PRODUCT WATCH’ pitches around each session, allowing suppliers the opportunity to pitch their products and services in a ‘live’ environment to the hospitality buyers that are tuned in.

    “While the industry’s Covid-19 restrictions continue to change lanes, Hotel Designs LIVE will continue to quickly adapt so that we can serve the design, architecture and hospitality industry with purpose,” said editor Hamish Kilburn who will host Hotel Designs LIVE for a third time in February. “With three Hotel Designs LIVE series planned for 2021, our aim is to further challenge conventional views and opinions in global hotel design and hospitality.”

    If you are a designer, architect, hotelier  or developer and would like to secure your complimentary seats in the audience, click here. If you are a supplier to the hotel design industry and would like to promote your latest product or services to the Hotel Designs LIVE audience, please contact Katy Phillips via email or call +44 (0)1992 374050.

    Main image credit: Oladimeji Odunsi/Unsplash

    Render of what London Olympia will look like in 2023

    cititzenM to land in Olympia London in 2023

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    cititzenM to land in Olympia London in 2023

    The fifth citizenM hotel in London will be in the regenerated Olympia London exhibition centre, a £1.3bn mixed development in cooperation with Yoo Capital and Deutsche Finance International; featuring a state-of-the art live music venue and conference centres set to open in 2023…

    Render of what London Olympia will look like in 2023

    citizenM London Olympia will be the brand’s fifth hotel in London, featuring, for the first time, a listed living area: the historic Apex room. The 145-key hotel will comprise the first floor with front-of-house and three guest room floors on top of the existing historic building. 

    citizenM’s hybrid hotels offer travellers luxury accommodation at affordable prices in prime urban centres. This latest addition will be part of a major £1.3bn Olympia London redevelopment project, led by Yoo Capital and Deutsche Finance International, that will create a new cultural hub in West London. The new neighbourhood will include a four-screen arthouse cinema, 80,000 sq ft performing arts space, 1,500-seat theatre, restaurants, shops, cafés, hotels and 550,000 sq ft of office and co-working space. The Heatherwick Studio and SPPARC-designed project will also see the redevelopment of the existing exhibition halls and 2.5 acres of new public space created. 

    “We’re taking a strategic approach to expansion in London,” commented Klaas van Lookeren Campagne, CEO of citizenM hotels. “Despite the current challenges in both the hotel and conference industries, we are confident in the positive future outlook for citizenM, and therefore Olympia London fitted the brief perfectly. We believe our offer of affordable luxury accommodation will appeal to visitors of the conference centre, as well as the theatre and music venues, and confirms our commitment to expand in London’s most desirable neighbourhoods.”

    Chairman of Yoo Capital, John Hitchcox, said: “Having citizenM as an anchor operator is a huge positive for the Olympia project. They are an ideal partner to have on board as we continue our work to transform this area into a destination for culture and creativity and today marks a major milestone towards the realisation of a new vision for Olympia London.”

    The hotel interiors will be designed by citizenM’s Amsterdam-based partner Concrete and will feature furniture from long-term collaborator Vitra. The guest rooms will include citizenM’s famous XL king-sized beds, powerful rain showers and large flat screen TVs. Guests will be able to enjoy the same creative technology that has marked citizenM as an innovative force in hospitality, from online check in to in-room mood pads. Since June, citizenM is also offering contactless stays powered by its new award-winning app.

    citizenM London Olympia will be located at Hammersmith Road and will be the fifth standpost of citizenM in London, following openings in Bankside (2012), Shoreditch (2016), Tower of London (2016) and Victoria Station (2022). citizenM was advised by CMS during the drafting process of the agreement and closing of the transaction.

    Since you’re here, why not read about the arrival of citizenM in USA’s west coast?

    Main image credit:wearenarritiv

    A trio of modern maroon dining chairs from Morgan

    Morgan expands Rakino Collection designed by Tim Rundle

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    Morgan expands Rakino Collection designed by Tim Rundle

    Morgan, contract furniture designer and manufacturer, announces the launch of two dining chairs to the Rakino Collection, a series of lounge chairs and tables, designed by Tim Rundle…

    A trio of modern maroon dining chairs from Morgan

    Juxtaposing soft sculpted upholstery with a strong, low line frame, the new dining chairs in the Rakino Collection by Morgan feature crisp timber detailing, emphasised by a clean linear structure.

    “It’s been a pleasure working with Tim, who brings an international perspective to Rakino,” said Katerina Zachariades, Design Director at Morgan. “We have enjoyed developing this chair and refining our production methods to achieve the light, simple structure that defines it.”

    A close up of the maroon dining chair from Morgan

    Image credit: Morgan

    The original collection, which won Product of the Year at the 2019 FX Awards, was first unveiled at Clerkenwell Design Week. Rundle told Hotel Designs that the series of furniture items were inspired “in the best way”, following a trip to see the production. “In Hampshire I discovered a factory staffed by some serious experts in upholstery and timber joinery,” he said. “I really wanted to make the most of these capabilities, and maybe even push them a little to see what was possible. In terms of the chairs themselves I wanted to create something that felt quiet and inviting, that could feel right in your home, while obviously being appropriate for hard working contract environments.”

    Since you’re here, why not read Hotel Designs’ Q&A with furniture designer Tim Rundle?

    Morgan 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 credit: Morgan

    Product watch: sanitiser dispenser from KEUCO

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    Product watch: sanitiser dispenser from KEUCO

    With hygiene hot on the agenda, bathrooms solution brand KEUCO has launched a stylish way to keep hands sanitised…

    Where the design of functional accessories is concerned KEUCO has set a new standard with its sanitiser dispensers.

    They have a number of new models; each one is suitable for different areas and locations depending on the environment and form of application required. All of the new dispensers combine design with functionality to meet hygiene requirements, whilst incorporating KEUCO’s own sense of style; creating a distinguished design with state-of-the-art hygiene properties.

    Stable, high quality and always ready to use

    Design object or functional accessories? In today’s COVID climate sanitiser dispensers have become a must for every property. KEUCO’S dispenser with its straightforward, linear design language originates from the pen of the design office Tesseraux + Partner, Potsdam. These simple elegant styles with technical features that have been almost invisibly integrated in the design are typical for KEUCO. These dispensers make a stylish addition in an entrance or waiting area, in fact any location where people gather.

    The dispenser’s extraordinary appearance is a combination of high quality workmanship and the best materials all combined within a strong design. They are easy to operate: just press the big buzzer to dispense the sanitiser. The storage container is discreetly hidden inside the column and can be easily refilled with a liquid or gel sanitiser of your choice.

    Variety in design

    KEUCO sanitiser dispensers offer a wide variety of different colours and colour-combinations including plain coloured, multi-coloured, black and white or elegant metallics and for multi-site requirements we can even bespoke with own brand identity. From subtle to eye-catching – this collection provides the perfect solution for every room.

    There is the correct niche for every dispenser – whether in a public building, office, boutique or hotel.

    KEUCO makes a practical design statement in the entrance area

    Slim, free-standing and stable; the sanitiser dispenser variant with shiny chrome head provides an elegant finishing touch whilst ensuring ease of use. The chrome top is simple to remove, just pull upwards and the supply bottle is revealed ready to be refilled. The large base plate ensures stability and catches stray drops of sanitiser during use.

    KEUCO 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 credit: KEUCO

    Image of luxury tents next to pond

    The real definition of ‘glamping’ in hotel design

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    The real definition of ‘glamping’ in hotel design

    To complete our editorial series with Exclusive Tents, we ask Paul Zway, the brand’s founder, to push the preconceptions to one side and tell us what glamping really looks like on the international hotel design scene…

    Image of luxury tents next to pond

    The word glamping is a portmanteau of “glamorous” and “camping”. It was first used in the United Kingdom around 2005 and but only added to the Oxford dictionary more than a decade later.

    Although the word is new, glamping in the true sense of the word has been documented for centuries and in most cases referred to a great variety of tents and canvas covered wagons. Historically it would have been more accurate to refer to the style of camping as luxurious or even opulent camping rather than glamorous camping.

    Black and white image of tents

    Image credit: Exclusive Tents

    Most of these tent constructs were constantly moved in the progression of wars or colonisation, and some designs are still used today by nomadic societies in regions such as the Middle East, Asia and Africa using a wide variety of materials including goat hair, wool felt and animal hides.

    Tent frames and coverings varied greatly over the centuries from tusk, bone and stick frames with animal hide and/or vegetation coverings with cotton canvas emerging as the predominant and most practical covering whilst tent frames have also evolved to steel, turned wooden poles, bamboo and other newer more sophisticated materials.

    Early tent dwelling with luxuries was evident from before the Roman era and featured prominently in Hannibal’s historic crossing of the Alps into Italy with his herd of legendary African elephants in the second of the three Punic Wars.

    The Romans used tents extensively in their numerous military campaigns and occupation of other lands. During this era, tents for officers, people of status and dignitaries were mostly opulent, comfortable and luxuriously comfortable.

    Perhaps the most impressive was the ottomans extensive use of tents to the extent that their encampments were so extensive that they could legitimately have been termed “tent cities”.

    Through Medieval times (the Middle Ages) between the 5th and late 15th century tents in a variety of designs played a very similar roll during these turbulent times.

    Native American tribes used their well-known and distinct conical tipis dating back to at least the 15th Century.

    The Mongolians were famous for their yurts and it is said that Genghis Khan’s tent was so big and elaborate that is was setup upon a wheeled platform 9 meters (30 feet) in diameter and mounted on a huge wheeled cart pulled by 22 oxen.

    Napoleon Bonaparte’s tents were masterpieces with 18th century tapestry and gilt embroidery and he himself through his various campaigns, spent a large portion of his active adult life living in tents.

    Eskimos with their Igloo designs pre-dated the evolution of dome and bubble tents.

    When participating in Hunting Safaris into India and Africa, royalty and their wealthy guests required luxuries including baths, comfortable furniture, fresh clothes and excellent food and alcohol. The British and French with their numerous wars and hunting parties gave rise to Campaign Furniture (also known as Bivouac furniture). Campaign furniture is both beautiful and compact in design, has a minimalistic footprint, is foldable, stackable and includes chest type items. Most of this furniture is made from wood, leather, and cane with brass trims. Campaign furniture with the additional refinement thereof over the years, often features in modern day glamping interiors.

    In many historical traditions the tent interiors consisted of ornate carpets/rugs and pillows with colourful gilt drapery on the inside with no hard furniture except perhaps for low tables.

    Modern day glamping as we now know it started in Africa around the mid 1950’s but tents were relatively small and modest with a cot, “pee pottie” (under the bed), clothes locker, metal washstand, simple folding table and chairs, and kerosene lamps. Toilets, showers and the kitchen/dining areas were mostly shared common facility areas within the camp.

    Image of safari luggage and tools

    Image credit: Exclusive Tents

    In the 70’s and 80’s glamping took on a more serious role when tent designs became somewhat more creative and quality improved with new canvas fabrics that were more durable and 100 per cent waterproof. Even though still rustic, interiors became more comfortable creating a “cosier” atmosphere for the guests. Many of these were hunting camps and safari lodges where the tents included ensuite bathrooms that catered directly to the wealthier guests. Today glamping destinations whether large or boutique, can be found in virtually every country in the world and is affordable for many according to the degree of luxury, cuisine, experience and service.

    To be true to the name, modern glamping is primarily in tents though domes, canvas covered wagons also fit the bill. However, there are also many other structures such as wooden pods/cabins, metal cubes, shipping containers, cabins, tree houses and pods – to name but a few – which are emerging at a rapid pace and being integrated into the glamping market.

    Image of interiors of a luxury tent on safari site

    Image credit: Exclusive Tents

    Exclusive Tents has consciously chosen to stay true to its passion for tents and tent dwelling with our focus purely on luxury tented structures. We strive to remain masters of our domain rather than become a jack of all trades, with the clear objective of constantly improving and innovating on design, quality, elegance, craftsmanship, style and functionality.

    Glamping has and will continue to evolve, particularly since Covid-19 which saw so many people locked down for extended periods of time and with so many restrictions placed on travel, in particular international travel. People are more inclined to visit local open air and natural settings to find a way to relax and feel safe with family and/or friends, seeking space, luxury and privacy in an experiential fashion – this is exactly what glamping is all about. The hospitality industry is having to evolve and adapt to meet the challenge of a post pandemic world. Wellness, wellbeing, health, nutrition, space, nature, peace of mind, and disconnection in some instances, are becoming central to this evolution.

    In practical terms, there is very little that one cannot do with a tent that one can do with a conventional structure – when you know how.

    Wood or aluminium framed windows and doors can be easily installed into a tent with relatively little effort though a lot of people remain nostalgic for the traditional zip-up roll-up openings.

    These ‘exclusive tents’ are truly multi-functional and, as well as providing accommodation, they can be used for many other purposes and applications, they can and are also used as permanent homes.

    Exclusive Tents considers multiple aspects of tent ownership and use, for example having recently developed an artistic and elegant rainwater harvesting system whereby rainwater can be stored in tanks under the tent platform or underground.

    Lightning is also an issue in some places and a lightning deflection system is another unique feature that can be installed into an Exclusive Tent if required.

    Certain installations will require a fire dousing sprinkler system to be incorporated into a tent, this is yet another challenge that Exclusive Tents has met and resolved.

    Insulation is an increasingly important consideration in hot and cold climates, especially where a HVAC system or wood burning stove is required. Exclusive Tents has a variety of insulation options available for the canvas tent roof and walls. The insulation acts not only a thermal barrier, but also an acoustic barrier which is also an important consideration when it comes to glamping. Fireplaces or wood burning stoves commonly feature in tents: Not only to create an ambiance but to also to heat the tents during the winter months or for year-round use in high elevation locations.

    Modern fireplaces are clean and very elegant and allow for installation freedom within the tent, with extraction through the floor and out from under the tent platform.

    The tents are built to be functional all year round even in extreme hot (50C+) or cold (-35C) conditions.

    Exclusive Tents have transitioned their tents to an extremely robust roof frame which has been engineered to resist winds up to a safe speed of 180 k/mph (without steel cable bracing lines), yet retaining the elegant roof lines and aesthetics for which they are renown. This engineering zeal accommodates high internal weight loads (lights/fans/pendants) and external loads for snow, hail, and wind.

    Exclusive Tents already offer a high-end portfolio of Exclusive Campaign furniture, and will soon be manufacturing their Exclusive collections of Safari, Island, and Rustic furniture.

    Whilst Exclusive Tents crafts tents designed for extreme weather conditions, they are also designed to be able to be dismantled rapidly, for example should the tents find themselves in the path of a catastrophic storm.

    With this evolutionary expansion taking place in the glamping industry, it is critical to maintain privacy and enhance the connection between the living space and the natural environment. Thoughtful design, master planning, landscaping, and integration of the tent (together with its platform), will capitalise upon the full potential of good quality tents – offering an idyllic experience that seamlessly combines exquisite comfort with an unequalled connection to the natural world.

    Exclusive Tents are resolutely eco-friendly, with a minimal footprint in complete alignment with the guardianship / kaitiakitanga of the environment. The direct connection between tented living space and the outside, with its closeness to nature, creates the opportunity for guests to embrace the inclusivity of mental and physical well-being. The tent is in essence a “living” structure as it ebbs and flows with nature. Spending time in a tent is experientially unique, and can offer guests the opportunity to connect with their primordial selves.

    Glamping has come a long way and it most certainly presents the greatest opportunities for hospitality in this post-pandemic world.

    Exclusive Tents International is one of the brands that has taken advantage of our Industry Support Package. To keep up to date with supplier news, click here. 

    Main image credit: Exclusive Tents

    ME Dubai re-emerges with award-winning architecture status

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    ME Dubai re-emerges with award-winning architecture status

    The striking ME Dubai, which is sheltered inside Zaha Hadid Archtiects’ latest award-winning building, has reopened its doors as hospitality in the Middle East enters into a cautious era… 

    ME Dubai inside The Opus by Omniyat, which considered an architectural masterpiece and was a winner at The Brit List Awards 2020, has reopened its contemporary doors. Home to world- class cultural programming, innovative culinary experiences and breath-taking design by Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA), the hotel is the latest addition to Dubai’s iconic skyline located in the heart of the Burj Khalifa district.

    Known as the late Zaha Hadid’s legacy project, ME Dubai is the only hotel in the world to have both its interiors and exteriors designed by ZHA, and its futuristic architecture, characterised by curves, sharp angles and bold materials, epitomises Hadid’s unique design style.

    Exterior of The Opus

    Image credit: ME Dubai/Zaha Hadid Archtiects

    The hotel boasts 74 guestrooms and 19 suites, including the Passion Suite, Personality Suite, the Vibe Room and the ultra-luxurious ‘ME Suite’. All rooms are split into two themes: Midnight and Desert. Midnight rooms reflect the dynamic night skies of the Dubai skyline, whilst the Desert theme pays homage to the serene environment and soft hues of the UAE landscape.

    View from inside ME Dubai overlooking Dubai skyline

    Image credit: ME Dubai/Zaha Hadid Archtiects

    “The reopening of ME Dubai marks a historic moment for The Opus Building project; a true legacy project for the firm,” said Patrik Schumacher of Zaha Hadid Architects. “We’re also extremely proud to present the exclusive Zaha Hadid Exhibition within the hotel; a project that we’ve worked closely with the hotel team on to showcase some never-before seen work by the late Zaha Hadid.”

    Equally as impressive is the hotel’s wellness offering. Guests can take advantage of ME Dubai’s state-of-the- art gym, spanning 7,000 square feet and home to the region’s best fitness equipment and facilities, including the Middle East’s first ultramodern Technogym Biocircuit. Those keen to work up a sweat can then cool down with a refreshing dip in the hotel’s pool terrace. Wellness gurus can indulge at the hotel’s world- class spa, offering guests the ultimate refuge for relaxation and a variety of luxurious spa treatments for individuals or couples to unwind.

    With properties located in cultural capitals around the world, ME by Meliá creates a unique link to the communities in which it operates. ME Dubai’s Culture Collective cultural programme acts as a platform for contemporary Middle Eastern culture, connecting music, art, design, fashion and gastronomy in curated events that bring the creative scene of the city into the hotel, tapping into the latest trends whilst shaping the local cultural landscape. Guests can look forward to insider advice on the best places to experience the most diverse cultural happenings in the vibrant city of Dubai.

    Since you’re here, why not read about The Morpheus (another ZHA groundbreaking project)…

    Main image credit: ME Dubai/Zaha Hadid Architects

    Image of stand with contemporary furniture

    BREAKING: Salone del Mobile.Milano delayed until September 2021

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    BREAKING: Salone del Mobile.Milano delayed until September 2021

    The show has released a statement announcing that the sixtieth edition of the Salone del Mobile.Milano will be held in 2021, not in April as is traditional, but from September 5 – 10…

    Image of stand with contemporary furniture

    Following lengthy and wide-ranging discussions between the management of the Salone del Mobile and Fiera Milano, the 2021 edition of Salone del Mobile.Milano will now take place in September.

    President of the Salone del Mobile, Claudio Luti, had this to say: “Being able to hold the Salone next year is an absolute priority for all those of us whose lives revolve around design. We have tried very hard over the last few weeks not to make proclamations or announcements that might subsequently have to be denied or revised in view of the evolving situation. Moving the dates of the Salone del Mobile is not just a matter of rejigging the calendar, it also has to consider the many days needed to set up and dismantle the various pavilions, which in turn have to fit in with the demands of many other fairs held in the Fiera Milano spaces. Now that we have achieved the best possible all-round solution, thanks to the collaboration of Fiera Milano, we are in a position to confirm the new date.

    “We also believe that moving the fair to September will leave enough time for the ongoing acute phase of the pandemic to subside and that this will provide a real chance to kickstart design at global level. We all need the Salone in Milan. Over the last few months, clients and designers from all over the world, and the press that follows us at international level, have been asking us constantly to confirm the dates for this edition. We’ll be there, and we’ll be even more attractive and more motivated, just as motivated as the companies working to design and manufacture the best possible products. After such a lengthy period of physical and social distancing in every sphere, we would like to be able to see the Salone as an opportunity for actual meeting and discussion, and a chance for us all to share our excitement with a city buzzing with new ideas.”

    The 60th edition will bring together for the first time all the product categories, representing a special moment.

    This is breaking news – more information to follow…

    Main image credit: Salone del Mobile

    Product watch: Skopos launches new tropical print

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    Product watch: Skopos launches new tropical print

    Alongside its ever-expanding selection of flame-retardant print base-cloths, Skopos has recently launched a new tropical print design…

    The design, showcased on Sonno blackout velvet, is a recent addition to the portfolio. This stunning print is a taste of a brand-new collection, due to be launched in the new year, which also explores decorative woven products for drapery and bedding projects.

    Available in 12 colourways, the Palmyra print delivers a relaxing and calm finishing touch to contract interiors in all settings. With a soft kitten touch and blackout lining, the Sonno quality is a popular choice to achieve blackout as a curtain in hotel bedrooms. 100 per cent polyester, with FR backcoating, Sonno is also washable at 30°C. Adding a touch of luxury, but aiding a good night’s sleep, Sonno provides something completely different.

    Skopos also offer a full range of antimicrobial fabrics and antimicrobial print base cloths, for added assurance during these times. It has has almost 50 years’ experience of developing flame-retardant fabrics and soft furnishings for the contract market.

    Skopos 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 credit: Skopos

    Nature's Herringbone mock up

    Siminetti to unveil a new collection in 2021

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    Siminetti to unveil a new collection in 2021

    Siminetti has announced the launch of its latest collection, created in collaboration with a renowned British designer who will be unveiled shortly. Here’s an exclusive sneak peek of the Seasons Collection, a series of 12 stunning designs inspired by nature…

    Nature's Herringbone mock up

    Consistent in its quest to create inspirational luxury surfaces, that are crafted with passion, viewed with awe and are kind to the planet on which we live, the collection transforms the tier of decorative surfaces, testing the boundaries of what is possible with nature’s most stunning material; Mother of Pearl.

    Each design has undergone an exhaustive research & refinement process, where Siminetti’s leading industry knowledge of decorative surfaces gels harmoniously with their collaborators exemplary understanding of crafting beautiful surface deigns.

    The collection can be broken down into the four seasons; spring, summer,autumn and winter. The creative process began with these seasons being dissected into their connotations and denotations to find the most alluring themes. This process also highlighted how the natural qualities of mother of pearl could harmoniously tie with a selection of the most stunning organic shapes and patterns found in nature. However, also highlighted how the systematic patterns of old could be elevated to harness more organic patterns and the craft challenges that would need to be solved.

    Siminetti’s Mother of Pearl decorative surfaces are the next generation in Mother of Pearl surface finishes. Handcrafted by Siminetti’s team of artisans, the new collection of Decorative Surfaces capture the stunning natural beauty of Mother of Pearl in combination with stunning organic influences.

    Today we can reveal some sneak peaks from the new collection. When it comes to aesthetics where better to take inspiration from than creation itself. Patterns are found all around us in the natural world. Distinctive markings reoccur, creating symmetries, stripes, swirls, bubbles, waves and many other shapes. Cycles, repetition and pattern give a sense of order and calm – they help to harmonise our understanding of the world around us.

    Spring, the season of rejuvenation and renewal – Plant veins are brimming with life. The undivided blade of a leaf encompasses structural patterns creating ordered geometric impressions. Nature’s Herringbone (pictured in main image) picks up these irregularities and organises them into straight parallels.

    Summer, the warmer half of the year conjures nostalgic notions of long carefree days and relaxation. The bright Summer sun casts warm shadows creating silhouettes of leaves and foliage. Eucalyptus preserves the contrast of light from this familiar mid-summer bloom.

    Image credit: Siminetti

    Autumn, synonymous with colour marks a season of change as Summer turns into Winter. Its papery silver and white bark gently flakes away from the fissured trunk of the familiar woodland tree. Silver Birch collates the elements that are newly exposed as the surface peels and breaks forming decorative motifs.

    Silver Birch within the Seasons Collection from Siminetti

    Image credit: Siminetti

    Winter, The coldest of the seasons; days are shorter, and beautiful winter sunlight creates its very own individual, charming shapes and patterns in nature. Beautiful hexagonal patterns are often seen in frosty environments as freezing water turns to ice. These charming lucent shapes inspired the creation of ‘Crystal’ the first Winter Decorative surface pattern in the Seasons Collection.

    Image credit: Siminetti

    The seasons collection will be launching January 2021. Siminetti is one of the brands that has taken advantage of our Industry Support Package. To keep up to date with supplier news, click here.

    Main image credit: Siminetti

    The Residences DC Duplex 28

    Sneak peek inside The Residences, Dorchester Collection, Dubai

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    Sneak peek inside The Residences, Dorchester Collection, Dubai

    The opening of the 32-storey glass-facade building, which is being described as ‘a landmark of opulence’ in Dubai, will mark the Dorchester Collection’s entrance into the Middle East. Here’s a sneak peek inside the luxury address…

    The Residences DC Duplex 28

    Developed by OMNIYAT, which is one of the most recognised property developers in the Middle East, The Residences, Dorchester Collection, Dubai will be located in globally renowned Downtown Dubai, and will be sheltered inside an eye-catching, glass-facade building that has been designed by award-winning architecture firm Foster + Partners.

    The Residences Dorchester Collection Dubai Exterior

    Image credit: Foster + Partners/Dorchester Collection/OMNIYAT

    Boasting two spectacular interconnected towers – one housing the 10th iconic Dorchester Collection hotel and the other a residential tower – the property, which is said to be 60 per cent complete, perfectly captures the essence of chic metropolitan dwelling and offers patrons of luxury around the world an unequalled lifestyle experience.

    The Residences Dorchester Collection Dubai Terrace

    Image credit: Foster + Partners/Dorchester Collection/OMNIYAT

    The 32-storey residential tower includes just 39 fully furnished residences, ranging from 3,900sqft to 10,100sqft, with two-, three- and four-bedroom apartments. Additionally, situated on the 30th, 31st and 32nd floor, The Residences, Dorchester Collection, Dubai, offers six elegant four- and five-bedroom penthouses exclusively designed to create a private, high-quality and lavish lifestyle statement for the world’s luxury cognoscenti. Consisting of a staggering 17,700sqft with soaring ceilings and vast, uninterrupted views of the sea, each penthouse features its own swimming pool overlooking Dubai Canal and stunning Dubai cityscape.

    The Residences DC Duplex 14

    Image credit: Dorchester Collection/OMNIYAT

    “At OMNIYAT we work with pioneers and leaders in their respective fields to provide audiences with a bespoke, luxury lifestyle, and The Residences, Dorchester Collection, Dubai, embodies this,” explained Mahdi Amjad, Founder and Executive Chairman of OMNIYAT. “We are delighted to be the first developer to collaborate with the legendary hospitality brand Dorchester Collection in launching the 10th iconic hotel and exclusive residences, therein bringing an unrivalled experience to Dubai.”

    The Residences DC Duplex 46

    Image credit: Dorchester Collection/OMNIYAT

    Managed by legendary hospitality brand Dorchester Collection, synonymous with quality and known for its unparalleled standards of service – with The Dorchester in London arguably being the flagship of the brand – this development will be setting the benchmark for the ultimate city lifestyle. An inimitable blend of design, landmark architecture and exceptional service in the heart of Dubai, The Residences, Dorchester Collection, Dubai, is as unique as a fingerprint, set to meet the needs and expectations of connoisseurs of luxury around the world.

    “We are immensely proud to partner with OMNIYAT, a pioneer renowned globally for its architectural landmarks,” said Christopher Cowdray, CEO of Dorchester Collection. “Set to become a significant new beacon on the Dubai skyline, The Residences, Dorchester Collection, Dubai, will offer one of the most exciting propositions seen in the Middle East, especially combined with our legendary award-winning service.”

    > Since you’re here, why not watch our design tour of The Dorchester?

    Bringing the interior design to life is the Parisian Duo Gilles & Boissier. Ensuring residents step into their very own sanctuary of sophistication, the interiors combine exquisite finishing, intricate detail and a sumptuous material palette with unique features such as floor to ceiling glass windows and doors, expansive terraces and bespoke furniture designed by Gilles & Boissier, offering a seamless turnkey experience for buyers.

    A large masculine bedroom overlooking Dubai

    Image credit: Dorchester Collection/OMNIYAT

    At OMNIYAT, details make perfection, and in addition to a timeless and elegant interior design, residents get to enjoy a wide variety of the latest technology and utilities. With grandiose kitchens fully equipped with modern touches such as large fridge and wine cooler made by Sub-Zero, as well as cooking and cleaning appliances by Gaggenau, each residence is also fitted with instant filtered, sparkling and boiling water by Quooker and modern taps by THG Paris, custom designed by Gilles & Boissier.

    Image credit: Dorchester Collection/OMNIYAT

    Each apartment also features the latest collection of wide-screen televisions by Bang & Olufsen, audio systems fitted by Sonos, home automation system for easy living by Crestron and dressing rooms by Molteni Dada and Poliform.

    Further adding to the overall living experience, residents will get to indulge in unrivalled amenities including swift access to sports thanks to the private gym and yoga studio, the expansive outdoor pool with a view of Dubai and a 200-metre wide untouched water frontage on the Dubai Water Canal.

    Main image credit: OMNIYAT/Dorchester Collection

    Atlas Concorde launches new colour palette for Prism Collection

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    Atlas Concorde launches new colour palette for Prism Collection

    Hot off the heals of presenting a dynamic Product Watch at Hotel Designs LIVE, Atlas Concorde launches a new colour palette in the Prism Collection…

    In interior design, colour is key. Just as sunlight splits into the colours of the rainbow when it goes through a prism, Atlas Concorde’s Prism collection transforms space with the magic of a 13-tone palette.

    The original palette was specially selected by the Lissoni Associati studio led by Piero Lissoni, an exceptional colour consultant who described the design process in the following way. “We based the concept on the effect of light through a prism,” said Lissoni. “These colours are what we imagined would be the result of prism light transformed into a rainbow. We then worked on this refracted light to try to reproduce it on the tile surface, a palette modified to become domestic colours or architectural colours.”

    The graphic effect inspired by the flowing beauty of hand-troweled resin, calibrated according to each size, defines the temperament of each tone with a soft texture, sinuous lines, and an authentic look. With Atlas Concorde’s Prism colour is the key to understanding the character of the environment, while the floors and walls become protagonists of the interior’s style, capable of taking any architectural project to the next level.

    An aerial video of a red sofa

    Image credit: Ceramiche/Atlas Concorde S.P.A

    What atmospheres does Prism evoke? The metaphysical scenery of Giorgio de Chirico’s paintings immediately comes to mind, always evocative and exciting. The suggestion combines the “new decò” trend of contemporary architecture, opting for classic codes reinterpreted with an unprecedented freedom. While colour is the common thread, the sinuous graphics of the hand-troweled resin effect is the detail that reflects the personality of those who choose it and match its style.

    “The explosion of colour that the Prism palette offers is accompanied by all the practical benefits of porcelain tiles.”

    Atlas Concorde’s Prism collection combines the beauty of resin with the performance of porcelain tiles. The explosion of colour that the Prism palette offers is accompanied by all the practical benefits of porcelain tiles such as resistance to time, weight, and stains and ease of cleaning, installation, and maintenance. Prism is also available in the large 120×278 cm format, offers modularity of the floor and wall tiles, and can be ordered with a Silk finish – velvety to the touch and with a subtle gloss – providing additional design tools to shape spaces that express the taste and identity of those who live in them.

    The colours range from warm, welcoming tones that can be combined with most wall tile shades to cool, contemporary tones that can be used with all the wall tile shades. The colours are designed to be matched in varying shades or broken up with accents like grape.

    > Since you’re already here, why not read more about Atlas Concorde’s debut decor collection by Piero Lissoni?

    Wall decorations 

    GRADIENT  – 50 x 120cm decoration

    Decoration made in a 50×120 cm format. The surface features soft nuances that recreate the strokes of a dry brush. 120×278 cm matching decoration.

    BRUSH – 50 x 120cm decoration

    Decoration made in a 50 x 120 cm format. A strong identity distinguishes the graphics with shaded brush strokes that add three-dimensionality to the decoration.

    GOLD – 50 x 120cm decoration

    Decoration made in a 50 x 120 cm format. The minimalist, simple graphics are enriched by the earthy effects of the delicate, contemporary geometric texture. The resin effect is thus expressed in an original manner with a precious appearance.

    WIGGLE MOSAIC

    For use only on walls. The mosaic features interlocking geometric shapes that create a strongly three-dimensional effect thanks to some tiles with a reflective surface. Available in different colour combinations.

    BEAD MOSAIC

    For use only on walls. Sinuous geometric shapes fit together to create a mosaic with a horizontal arch, simple but with lines that blend perfectly with the product’s graphics. Suitable for decorating rooms with an attractive but non-invasive pattern.

    Q MOSAIC

    For use only on walls, the mosaic consists of small square tiles with a slight shine.

    ENIGMA DECORATION

    The Enigma decoration creates a geometric pattern enriched by sparkling effects that complement most of the colours of the resin-effect surfaces of the Prism collection.

    Atlas Concorde was a Product Watch Partner for Hotel Designs LIVE, which will return on February 23, 2021.

    Main image credit: Ceramiche/Atlas Concorde S.P.A

    Minimalist luxury guestroom inside the Marriott hotel on Grosvenor Square

    In pictures // London Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square completes renovation

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    In pictures // London Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square completes renovation

    Hospitality interior design firm RPW Design has completed a renovation to transform the Mayfair hotel’s guestrooms and suites…

    London Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square has revealed its newly refurbished guestrooms and suites 

    Minimalist luxury guestroom inside the Marriott hotel on Grosvenor Square

    Situated in the heart of Mayfair, the 237 guestrooms and suites, complete with alfresco terraces and private gardens, have been carefully renovated to honour the elegant architecture in which they reside. Having worked with Marriott Hotels across Europe, RPW have designed the rooms and suites to be inspiring, contemporary spaces with a residential feel, offering guests a ‘home-away-from-home’ comfort.

    “We are delighted to unveil the results of this exciting collaboration between RPW Design and London Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square,” explained Elizabeth Lane, a Partner at RPW Design who was at the helm of the project. “As a significant property in the centre of Mayfair, we wanted our new design to emulate the hotel’s historic setting with traditional feel, whilst simultaneously creating a welcoming and stylish space that provides access to the whole city.”

    The refurbished guestrooms and suites adopt a neutral colour palette featuring rich navy blues and crisp whites complemented with grey accents in varying textures and finishes. Each guestroom and suite offers a stylish desk in a modern room setting for guests to work in and inspire brilliance. In the bathrooms, guests will admire innovative design details, spacious overhead rain showers and contemporary vanity units.

    Marble looking bathroom

    Image credit: RPW Design/Marriott International

    RPW Design’s inspiration for the refurbishment was drawn from the local, historic area with subtle nods to Mayfair’s heritage and architecture throughout. Design details such as the herringbone pattern in the wallpaper and upholsteries pay homage to the famous Savile Row and Bond Street tailors; and the ironwork detailing woven into the carpets and rugs is reminiscent of the surrounding quintessential Georgian architecture.

    > Elizabeth Lane is one of our Brit List Designers of 2020. Since you’re here, why not check out The Brit List 2020.

    Ian Pask, General Manager of London Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square commented: “The refurbishment perfectly captures the elegance of the building and the surrounding Mayfair area. The transformation captures a classic yet contemporary British style, while offering a spacious retreat for guests to relax, work and be inspired in.”

    London Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square promises an ideal setting for couples looking to be based in the heart of London whilst having the luxury of a private space to retreat to. Boasting eight balcony suites with private alfresco terraces, guests can enjoy exclusive access to the hotel’s hidden courtyard garden. The garden, a tranquil haven, possesses a central water feature where guests can step back from the glamour of Mayfair for a reflective moment.

    Main image credit: RPW Design/Marriott International

    Image of lobby inside TRIBE hotel

    Accor enters into exclusive negotiations with Ennismore

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    Accor enters into exclusive negotiations with Ennismore

    With the two brands working as one, the lifestyle entity is set to become the largest and fastest growing global player, with 12 world-class brands under their umbrella…

    Accor and Ennismore, both award-winning hotel brands, have started exclusive negotiations to form the world’s leading lifestyle operator in the hospitality sector, with a clear focus on one of the fastest growing segments of the industry.

    Image of lobby inside TRIBE hotel

    Through this all-share merger, a new autonomous and fully asset light entity will bring together an unrivalled portfolio of world class brands, including The Hoxton, Gleneagles, Delano, SLS, Mondrian, SO/, Hyde, Mama Shelter, 25hours, 21c Museum Hotels, TRIBE, JO&JOE and Working From_. The new entity will be headquartered in London and will take the name Ennismore.

    Image credit: Gleneagles

    “The combined entity will comprise 12 brands with 73 hotels.”

    Sharan Pasricha, Founder and CEO of Ennismore and Gaurav Bhushan, CEO of the Accor Lifestyle division will become Co-CEOs of the combined entity, alongside an experienced, highly skilled and international management team coming from the various brands and industries across the globe. Accor will be the majority shareholder of the new entity, with Sharan Pasricha holding a substantial minority position.

    “Over the last nine years, our mission with Ennismore has always been creating hospitality brands that inspire discovery,” Pasricha explained. “I’m passionate about how brands make you feel, from the personalised digital experience to the design, and with an incredible team of operators and creatives around me, we have expanded The Hoxton across the globe; reimagined Gleneagles; and crafted unique restaurant and bar concepts. This exciting autonomous entity with Accor – one with culture and brand purpose at its heart – allows us to come together to build on our combined portfolio of unique lifestyle brands, accelerate our growth and explore new markets.”

    Image credit: Hoxton Southwark

    At its inception, the combined entity will comprise 12 brands with 73 hotels in operation with a committed pipeline of more than 110 hotels and another c. 70 hotels under active discussion, and more than 150 destination restaurant and bars. Based on the current network and pipeline the lifestyle platform should achieve an EBITDA of over c. €100m by midterm, the project resulting in significant cost synergies of approximately €15m per year.

    In order to form this joint venture, Accor intends to buy out its partners in sbe (see dedicated release by Accor), Mama Shelter and 25hours. The planned combination also envisages the formation of a new company which will hold all the leased assets under the combined entity’s brands. The deconsolidation of the existing leases will have a €52m positive effect on Accor’s consolidated net debt in 2020.

    A quirky twin bedroom inside Mama Shelter Lille

    Image credit: Mama Shelter Lille

    Gaurav Bhushan, CEO of Accor’s Lifestyle operations said: “Joining forces with Sharan and Ennismore’s talented teams will be a major step in Accor’s development strategy. With this combination, we are putting together an unrivalled portfolio of unique brands that appeals to owners, partners and guests, supported by the greatest set of talents in the industry, state of the art distribution and tools and a common ambition to continue to grow and innovate. I very much look forward to our journey together.

    Sébastien Bazin, Chairman & CEO of Accor added: “Lifestyle, entertainment, places with a soul have been at the heart of our development and growth strategy over the last years. Partnering with Ennismore’s founder Sharan and his great teams will take our Lifestyle ambition to a new and exciting level. With this combination, we are leading the hospitality industry by creating the largest and fastest growing ecosystem of world class brands. Lifestyle is a sector fueled by passionate and daring entrepreneurs, constantly pushing the boundaries of a reinvented vision of travelling the world. I am proud Accor has been able to join forces with many of the most creative and talented ones. This new powerful combination is set to become the engine of our exciting future growth. “

    Under the leadership of Pasricha and Bhushan, each brand will retain their unique culture and purpose, supported by dedicated teams and with the full support of their founders, including the Trigano family, founders of Mama Shelter; Christoph Hoffman, founder of 25 Hours; Sam Nazarian, founder of sbe; Laura Lee Brown and Steve Wilson for 21C, and Melissa and Mark Peters for TRIBE.

    This new, unified and powerful venture will benefit from an in-house global creative studio, designing award-winning interiors and brand communication; an expert digital and technology team innovating the guest experience; and a team of restaurant and bar specialists crafting unique concepts rooted in their neighbourhoods.

    Accor’s Lifestyle operations today represent c.5 per cent of Accor’s fees and more than 25 per cent of the pipeline fees. Growth will be accelerated, building on a strong footprint in Europe and the U.S., and a rapidly expanding presence in Asia Pacific, the Middle East and South America supported by Accor’s development teams.

    Closing is expected to occur in the first semester of 2021 and is subject to the employee consultation process and customary regulatory authorisations for projects of this type.

    Main image credit: Accor

    Suite inside The Modernist in Athens

    The Modernist Athens – designed for the urban explorer

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    The Modernist Athens – designed for the urban explorer

    With a statement as grand as that headline, it was only ever a matter of time before Hotel Designs took a sneaky peek inside the latest boutique beauty to arrive in Athens: The Modernist. Sheltering a design that is said to inspire curiosity, we find out how this new 38-key hotel is settling in to its city surroundings…

    Suite inside The Modernist in Athens

    For many design enthusiasts, including myself, Athens is the etherial Goddess of boutique hotels – and therefore any brand entering this built-up authentic metropolis should do so with caution. In a destination where culture actually rises from the earth – I’m talking about the acropolis, of course – any hotel planning to open without a personality will be exposed and swallowed up by the noise of disobedience that echoes through cobbled streets.

    Cue the opening of The Modernist, a 38-key gem that is perched aptly on a street corner. It opens with the aim to authentically connect its guests to the real Athens; to entice its guests to “explore its soul through culture and meaningful connections with the locals.”

    The boutique hotel stands as the sister property to the award-winning Modernist Thessaloniki and marks a second chapter in the expanding hospitality brand created by entrepreneur Kostis Karatzas.

    Located in the former Canadian embassy in Kolonaki, this new project maintains the same playful juxtaposition of art deco elements, mid-century detailing and Danish design found in its companion Thessaloniki location. Its high-quality offerings are grounded by the interior and exterior’s cool, well-honed character. The result is a relaxed, elegant environment that makes guests feel at home from the moment they set foot in the lobby.

    “The Modernist is about contemporary hospitality that inspires curiosity and authentic experiences,” Karatzas says. “Ethics and aesthetics course through everything we do, as an invisible thread that connects us with the world. Following the opening of our first property in Thessaloniki two years ago, Athens was a natural next step for us. And this is only the beginning for our brand.”

    Image of the staircase inside The Modernist Athens

    Image credit: The Modernist

    The building itself commingles the minimalism of post-war 1950s architecture with the nowness of sleek yet subtle contemporary spaces. With clean, symmetrical lines that stay true to the brand’s design philosophy, the exterior of The Modernist Athens is a sight to behold amid the vibrant cityscape.

    Inside, guests are greeted by sharp contrasts in colour and shape, which anchor them back in the present day. The raw assertiveness of the marble, plaster, bronze and black glass within the lobby perfectly juxtaposes the softer, more refined nature of the oak wood floors, leather headboards and artful midcentury-inspired furnishings found inside the rooms.

    An image showing exposed wardrobe and work area inside suite - The Modernist in Athens

    Image credit: The Modernist

    “We want its guests to be able to move and thrive in this space.” – Konstantinos Theodoridis and Eleni Papaevangelou, Co-Founders of FORMrelated.

    Collaborating architects FORMrelated made use of an eclectic mix of local and international interior design brands, while employing custom builds such as embossed veneer panels and bronze details to articulate the second, equally cool addition to the Modernist name.

    “We see The Modernist Athens becoming a compelling value proposition not just in living but in the experience industry as well,” explains Konstantinos Theodoridis and Eleni Papaevangelou, the studio’s co-founders. “We want its guests to be able to move and thrive in this space, in this small and intimate unit that manages to encapsulate contemporary luxuries in such an understated way.”

    The 38 rooms are spread across six floors. Designed to be modern living spaces, each guestroom offers an uncomplicated aesthetic that is elevated by custom lighting and made-to-measure furniture, ensuring elegance across the board. Meanwhile, a meaningful sizing nomenclature (S, M, L, XL) makes it easy for guests to select the option that best fits their individual needs.

    Image of a guestroom with contemporary interiors inside The Modernist in Athens

    Image credit: The Modernist

    Elsewhere, the lobby maintains an aura of refinement thanks to its midcentury vibe, with dark tones and bronze details marrying minimalism with opulence. At the same time, true to the brand’s overall intuitive approach to spatial planning, it acts as the hotel’s beating heart, orienting and guiding its patrons organically between different floors and services.

    On the ground floor, the breakfast buffet transforms into an all-day cafe bar, ideal for relaxation. Plywood and marble blend together to create a warm atmosphere, while minimalist shelves are filled with a refined selection of modern and limited edition books.

    The rooftop garden, which can double up as an open cinema, features verdant greens and frames breath-taking views over Athens and the Acropolis, which serves as the jewel in the crown of this urban oasis.

    Image of rooftop garden overlooking Athens

    Image credit: The Modernist

    The Modernist project began in downtown Thessaloniki as the perfect hub for constant travellers. While ideating its Athenian counterpart, the main challenge lay in staying true to the spirit of the brand, and at the same time expressing the individual spirit of each city.

    A respect for the existing exterior architecture has remained one of the brand’s common denominators, as has the propensity towards using natural, reusable materials in the interiors.

    Still, by far the most important element of both Modernist hotels is the symbiotic relationship they maintain with their respective creative communities.

    Given Athens’ vast cultural heritage, the hotel has a plethora of options to connect its guests to locals through highly curated experiences. The introduction to a refined couleur locale starts from inside the hotel, where various artists have put their stamp on everything, from ceramics and the artwork on walls to tailor-made music playlists, and even a vinyl collection that’s in the works. The hotel also offers itself as an events epicentre, with its rooftop garden doubling as an open cinema and its ground floor as a space for workshops and talks by guest artists.

    Aiming to inspire curiosity and meaningful connections with the city’s creatives, The Modernist Athens is an exciting new chapter not only for the brand which celebrates metropolitanism in a collected, understated way but also for the hospitality scene in Athens, which has taken a battering this year due to the on-going Covid-19 crisis.

    Main image credit: The Modernist

    A fun living area inside Moxy Hotels with industrial design

    Lifestyle brand Moxy to arrive in Dubai

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    Lifestyle brand Moxy to arrive in Dubai

    Just when we thought Dubai’s skyline couldn’t contain any more hotels, Marriott International drops the news that it will open a 320-key Moxy hotel in Dubai, which will mark the brand’s entrance into the Middle East…

    Slated to open in 2025, Moxy Downtown Dubai will rise within Dubai’s iconic downtown neighbourhood.

    A fun living area inside Moxy Hotels with industrial design

    The news breaks weeks after the Moxy brand landed its third hotel in Japan. Marriott International announced it has signed an agreement with Ingenious Holding Limited to debut the company’s bold and experiential brand in the Middle East.

    “We are excited to work with Ingenious Holding Limited to open the first Moxy Hotel in the region,” said Jerome Briet, Chief Development Officer, Middle East and Africa, Marriott International. “The introduction of Moxy continues to reinforce the demand we are seeing for affordable accommodation across the Middle East, without compromising on style. With its playful personality and stylish setting, Moxy will be a great fit for a vibrant and dynamic destination like Dubai.”

    Although there are no official images that have been released yet, here’s what we do know:

    • Moxy Downtown Dubai is expected to feature 320 modern guestrooms with smart modular furniture, hi-tech touches and furiously fast Wi-Fi.
    • The industrial-chic design will include buzzing social spaces, such as a rooftop bar and restaurant with stunning views of Downtown Dubai, a bowling alley and a swimming pool.
    • The hotel will also highlight several of the Moxy brand’s signature public spaces including its ‘Library’ where guests can plug-in and tune out; ‘The Welcome’ for guests to check-in and hang out; and the gym, which offers a fully equipped fitness centre.

    Moxy Hotels are designed to reimagine the hotel scene, offering guests unexpected, playful extras and affordability without compromising on style. Moxy Downtown Dubai will encompass the signatures of the brand such as its energetic lobby where guests are met by the welcoming crew, its smart and fun self-service B&F concept and its kinetic Living Room space for day to night gatherings.

    > Since you’re here, why not read Hotel Designs’ exclusive review of Moxy Chelsea, New York?

    Watch this space…

    Main image credit: Marriott International/Moxy Hotels

    The Dorchester Terrace Penthouse living room

    The Dorchester, where style will always conquer over fashion

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    The Dorchester, where style will always conquer over fashion

    The new challenge for traditional luxury hotels in London – aside from navigating the obvious pandemic – is confronting the demand for a new era of contemporary luxury hotels. Editor Hamish Kilburn checks in to one of Mayfair’s finest establishments, The Dorchester, to understand the power of style over fashion in hotel design. Inside the 250-key hotel, he investigates how heritage luxury hotels are sensitively remaining relevant in modern times…

    The Dorchester Terrace Penthouse living room

    London, which to many is regarded a capital city of worldwide hospitality (at the very least a major hospitality hub), is entering a new era: the luxury lifestyle market is answering to the demand of modern travellers and, as a result, a new wave of contemporary hotels is approaching the city on an unprecedented scale.

    According to the data analysts at STR, pre-Covid, 2020 was expected to become the year with the highest number of hotel openings that the city has ever seen, which was fuelled somewhat by the fall in the pound against other currencies in the on-going Brexit saga. Although this can only be seen a positive for the holistic hospitality industry in London, it no doubt puts into question the demand for – and therefore the role of – traditional luxury hotels that are dotted around Mayfair.

    If we were to personify these illustrious jewels in a theatrical manner, think of them as the headline acts; their roles so impressive and unique that they have earned the right to a residency following countless standing-ovation and headline-grabbing performances.

    Within this cluster of legends is The Dorchester, a 250-key luxury hotel that shelters a 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.

    To truly understand what sets The Dorchester aside from other luxury addresses in London, I invited our official videographers at CUBE Video along with me to check in and capture luxury hospitality meeting stylish design. Here’s how we got on:

    Since first opening in 1931, after being built in record time over just 18 months (which is the equivalent to the speed of completing one floor per week), The Dorchester has been favoured by royalty and celebrities alike. It was here, in the Park Suite, where HRH Prince Phillips famously spent his last night as a bachelor – and down the corridor where Queen Elizabeth II was spotted on the day of her engagement.

    > Since you’re here, why not read our ‘In (Lockdown) Conversation With’ Robert Whitfield, The Dorchester Collection’s Regional Director (UK) & General Manager of The Dorchester.

    The hotel’s style was originally created by Oliver Ford, who also handled the decoration for the Queen Mother’s residence at the Royal Lodge in Windsor and Clarence House in St James. Ford introduced details such as handmade carpets on each floor in different floral patterns.

    One of the most iconic, and most photographed, areas inside The Dorchester is The Promenade, which is adorned with rich coral coloured silk draperies, custom gold-framed mirrors and striking chandeliers. Rumoured to be as long as Nelson’s Column is high, The Promenade is a clever use of space that stretches right down the hotel’s spine and is aptly decorated with sumptuous seating and striking floral displays that feature ‘The Dorchester Rose’, which was dedicated to the hotel by award-winning rose breeders Meijer Roses. The hotel’s in-house designer florist Philip Hammond explains how a small detail like a rose can compliment the hotel’s design scheme. “This specially selected rose is blousy in composition and has a pale blush colouring, with the pink tone gaining more colour as the rose gradually opens up,” Hammond says. “When you see it against the backdrop of The Dorchester, you really appreciate how it complements our timeless interiors.”

    The Promenade at The Dorchester

    Image caption: The Promenade at The Dorchester, which features stunning floral displays using the signature Dorchester rose| Image credit: The Dorchester

    The Grill has been an integral dining outside within the hotel since it opened. However, with the recent appointment of head chef Tom Booton – who at just 27 years old happens to be the restaurant’s youngest ever head chef – the restaurant has been led into a new chapter (and the critics love it!).

    As well as serving up a creative and playful menu that was designed by the man who, in his own words is, “all about fine dining without the formality”, everything about The Grill’s modern personality is surprisingly applauded by the hotel’s luxury status. The lobster thermidor tart, for example, has become somewhat of a signature dish for The Grill: a cheesy cheddar tart with thermidor foam and a rich lobster bisque, topped with a roasted lobster tail.

    For dessert, The Grill’s twist on tradition now challenges the very nature of conventional dining, subtly, by introducing The Pudding Bar, which is the perfect way to finish off Booton’s dining experience. By pulling up a stall (quite literally), guests can break away from their tables to watch their sweet treat, such as the rich Double Decker (it is as delicious as it sounds) being prepared. Not only does this create a welcome disruption to a standardised dining formula – not to mention putting apt emphasis on what is, let’s face it, the best part of any meal – but it also tactfully injects a healthy dose of theatre within the experience, with guests able to interact with the chefs.

    The Pudding Bar complete with artefacts on a feature wall inside The Grill | Image credit: The Dorchester

    Image caption: The Pudding Bar inside The Grill | Image credit: The Dorchester

    There is no doubt about it, the public areas and F&B outlets inside The Dorchester are breathtaking, and operate smoothly under awe-inspiring original design features. But public areas aside, what about the private areas within a hotel where guests demand modern flavour; the guestrooms and suites?

    With such a bold and distinctive design narrative comes great challenges and enormous responsibility when the time inevitably approaches to renovate; finding the balance to create the right level of contemporary flavour while staying true to the hotel’s traditional leafy design scheme is an ambitious and somewhat arduous task for any designer, regardless of previous credentials.

    Image caption: The bedroom inside The Dorchester Suite | Image credit: The Dorchester

    In 2002, the hotel underwent a multi-million pound refurbishment with an all-encompassing renovation of guestrooms and suites, including the addition of a custom-built, high-tech entertainment and business console in each guestroom and a remarkably advanced telecommunications system.

    In 2007, award-winning design firm Alexandra Champalimaud, design studio that created the interiors for Raffles Singapore, The Carlyle and Monkey Island Estate, was given the responsibility to refurbish a handful of the property’s most prestigious suites: The Audley, Terrace and Harlequin Penthouses. And with the studio’s ability to effortlessly transform these areas to become tech-savvy yet timeless abodes, the design plot for The Dorchester thickened and a new era for the hotel was born. Whilst these suites stayed true to the hotel’s classic English residential style, the design within them fused contemporary comfort with timeless glamour.

    In 2012, Champalimaud Design returned to sensitively renovate a further 22 suites. As well as redesigning the bedrooms and living areas, the design team also remodelled the statement marble-flooded bathrooms, which feature a separate stall shower with large drench shower head and what are said to be London’s deepest hotel bathtubs.

    An all-marble bathroom inside one of the finest hotels in London

    Image caption: The Dorchester bathrooms are said to shelter London’s deepest baths | Image credit: The Dorchester

    Having now secured landmark status, The Dorchester’s majestic glow is physically protected from change. In terms of its secret to remaining relevant nine decades since first opening to the world, the answer is perhaps unclear. What is transparent, however, is the hotel’s ability to evolve with meaning into modern times while also retaining and celebrating the building’s history, which has become its legacy.

    What’s more, by consistently choosing style over fashion, The Dorchester remains a much-loved and integral part of history in British hospitality, and stands as proud today as it was in 1931 as one of London’s most refined headline acts.

    [Cue The Dorchester’s post-lockdown curtain call.]

    Main image credit: The Dorchester

    Selection of tech set-ups for TIG

    How integrated smart tech can enhance hotel experiences

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    How integrated smart tech can enhance hotel experiences

    Whilst the hospitality industry is rapidly adopting smart tech during the pandemic period, the benefits go way beyond simple automation and touchless control. Christophe Malsot, Director of Hospitality, Leisure and Retail for EMEA at Technological Innovations Group (TIG), explains how selecting technologies that integrate with one another can provide hotels with the opportunity to elevate the guest experience to another level…

    Selection of tech set-ups for TIG

    Post-lockdown, guests will undoubtedly expect to see more technology in all areas of a hotel, that provides a safer but still very welcoming and ultra-personalised experience. Great examples of integrated technology will include digital signage in lobbies, bars and restaurants, gyms and conference rooms, that indicates the availability and cleanliness status of the furniture and equipment in these spaces. Guests will also expect to be able to use their own smartphones to check in, open their room, control their environment and in-room entertainment, and get in touch with the concierge.

    But, with the hospitality industry not expected to recover much before 2023, hotels are being forced to reconsider their offering and find ways of staying ahead of the game. Christophe Malsot, Director of Hospitality, Leisure and Retail for EMEA at Technological Innovations Group (TIG) says: “Covid is forcing companies in all industries to innovate and, by marrying together the right smart tech solutions, hotels can completely change the way visitors want to use their space, above and beyond a place to stop and rest.”

    TIG offers an ecosystem of class-leading technologies that can be bundled together to form tailor-made solutions, which will help cater to new consumer habits and an altogether enhanced user experience. As Malsot explains, “Technology integration can provide many more opportunities to be creative in the way hotels use their existing assets, by increasing the functions of a communal space or guestroom and thus offering a multi-faceted guest experience.”

    For instance, during this challenging period of mass under-occupancy, and with the meetings and events industry in complete standstill, many hotels have taken to renting out guestrooms, conference rooms and communal spaces for individuals to use as an office. The ‘hotel office’ concept goes hand-in-hand with the flexible working culture which has developed in response to the pandemic. Rooms may also be hired out to serve as the backdrop for virtual events. Packages range from late check-out to single-day rental or even five-day Monday to Friday deals, with the option to extend and include overnight stays, use of the gym or luxury add-ons such as a butler service.

    Ideal for visitors who are in the city for work and need a quiet place for a few hours or for locals who simply need to escape the distractions and monotony of working from home, this initiative can maximise the benefits of your hotel’s existing space and recover lost revenue. By combining the need for a dedicated working space with the amenities of your hotel, with perks such as a proper desk, a clean and peaceful private environment, high-speed internet, printing privileges and the latest integrated technology, hotels can provide a value-added service in today’s volatile climate.

    “TIG understands the need for a human touch, to ensure it is truly beneficial to the user.” – Christophe Malsot, Director of Hospitality, Leisure and Retail for EMEA at Technological Innovations Group (TIG).

    Little touches like cute stationary packs, free refreshments and loyalty rewards programmes are also a way to make your offering competitive, but they’re just the cherry on top, as the key to developing this kind of service lies in technology!

    What users need first and foremost is to be able to rely on easy-to-use unified communications systems, impressive audio-visual facilities and remote collaboration tools that work with any device, so they can simply connect and hit go from their own laptop, tablet or smartphone.

    According to Malsot: “Any crisis will unveil the need to go through a series of technological changes and transformations. But simply injecting tech without purpose is not the most user-friendly approach. TIG understands the need for a human touch, to ensure it is truly beneficial to the user. That’s why our solutions integrate to form bespoke bundles that match your clientele’s needs today and futureproof your offering.

    “There’s a fine line between something working well, and something that is so seamless and intuitive that it transforms the entire experience and leaves your guests begging for more!”

    TIG’s portfolio includes intuitive automation, beautiful control hardware, remote management, audio-visual equipment, best-in-class unified communications solutions, conference room booking software and show-stopping digital signage. Mix and match between:

    • Collaboration, unified communications and automation technology from Crestron
    • Intuitive contemporary control panels from Black Nova
    • Energy-saving power distribution and remote monitoring systems from GUDE
    • Luxury custom-design switches and sockets from Rhombus Europe
    • Status lights and signs from Embrava that indicate availability and cleanliness of communal facilities
    • Advanced conference room booking software from NFS
    • Made-to-order furniture from Salamander Designs that fits in perfectly with specific AV products to bring a space-saving and stylish finish

    Unified communications tech from Crestron enables the guestroom to function like the home office, only better. The unmatched videoconferencing services facilitate easy-to-manage, hassle-free collaboration to professional standards, making remote working feel less remote! AirMedia enables secure, wireless content sharing from the comfort of a personal device. This integrates with Crestron touch screens and occupancy sensors to turn the system on with just one command or automatically, the moment a guest enters the room. Do Not Disturb signs help drive efficiency and increase motivation, with zero distractions.

    Below is a video that captures editor Hamish Kilburn checking in to review the recent tech renvoation of Bloc Hotel Gatwick, in collaboration with Symbiot and Crestron:

    Room booking software from NFS is an ultra-convenient and cost-effective solution, empowering hotels by streamlining the management of meetings, catering and resources. It offers search and reporting functionality, giving staff real-time visibility of how spaces are being used, and includes visitor management such as parking and building controls, as well as the booking of services like catering and AV. Its integration with Crestron also enables the in-room lighting and tech systems to automatically shut down when the room is no longer in use.

    For the ultimate in comfort and ergonomics in any-size room, Salamander Designs’ AV furniture brings a compact, sleek solution which is as functional as it is beautiful. The innovative design of its cabinets, tables and mobile trolleys allow virtually all wiring, power supplies, components and cables to be hidden yet easily accessible, packaged within a customisable solution that perfectly matches your hotel’s style.

    A white office room with a large tv and tablet device

    Image credit: Salamander Designs

    Malsot concludes: “In today’s climate of uncertainty, hotels that show forward-thinking will be the ones that reap the rewards. Tech is the glue that holds together many different aspects, and TIG is helping hotels across EMEA use this to their advantage. By building multi-purpose smart spaces where every device is seamlessly connected with an intuitive and user-friendly control solution, hotels can remain flexible, futureproof and confidently able to ride the storm!”

    To help people understand how TIG’s ecosystem works, it has opened two Experience Spaces in London and Frankfurt, with more to come in Paris, Moscow and Johannesburg in 2021, where visitors can see the solutions in action.

    Technological Innovations Group is the founding Headline Partner of Hotel Designs LIVE. The next online conference takes place on February 23.

    Main image credit: TIG

    Look of the month from Kobe: worry less, live more

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    Look of the month from Kobe: worry less, live more

    This month’s fabric and soft furnishing inspiration comes from FIBREGUARD upholstery collections by Kobe, which offer luxury style and easy-to-clean design…

    This month’s look from fabric supplier Kobe is more of a feeling rather than a look: worry less, and live more, which taps into comfort, balance and creating the ultimate home-from-home environment.

    With working from home (WFH) meaning that we are all staying indoors more during autumn and as we fall into winter, Hotel Designs and Kobe want to remind the industry that the meaning of a happy work/life balance is about enjoying the small yet significant moments.

    Within this month’s ‘look‘, the colour palette includes a mix of earthy tones – think beige, grey and blue – and have been captured for this feature with black as the frame for the upholstery and soft purple as an accent.

    The look of the month, a brown/beige armchair with food on it

    Image credit: Kobe

    Upcycle and recycle

    Although worrying less and living more suggests we shouldn’t sweat the small stuff, topics such as sustainability should always be on the agenda – and can be so within this look by connecting us with nature.

    The ‘look’ in Kobe’s archive

    Kobe’s stain-free velvet fabrics like PAXTON FR can give a piece of furniture new life. For a more rustic look, the BARIUM FR or BERYL FR is a textured linen. If you are looking for a bit of a statement maker, we suggest the metallic look chenille NICKEL FR.

    All of Kobe’s Fibreguard collections are stocked with a Domestic Cig & Match back-coat, available direct from stock. For Contract use, the brand offers suitable treatments – available on request.

    Kobe 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 credit: Kobe

    A london bus outside Sofitel London St James

    Weekly briefing: a London review, a Japanese gem & re-living the drama

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    Weekly briefing: a London review, a Japanese gem & re-living the drama

    Just in time for the weekend, here’s your weekly briefing, featuring the hottest stories of the week. This briefing includes our video review of Sofitel London St James, a boutique bombshell up for sale in Bordeaux and how you can re-watch all the drama from The Brit List Awards 2020…

    A london bus outside Sofitel London St James

    As we gear up to dive into our ultimate throwback, when we will revisit the hottest product launches from the last 11 months, the editorial team at Hotel Designs has been busy publishing the latest news and engaging original features. We appreciate that you may not have time to read all the hot content that Hotel Designs has been published this week, therefore, here is our ‘editor’s pick’ of what we believe are the juiciest stories from the past five days.

    Inside Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto, A Luxury Collection Hotel & Spa

    Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto, A Luxury Collection Hotel & Spa, has opened in the heart of Japan’s ancient capital – sheltering design by an international team of renowned architects and designers including Akira Kuryu, André Fu, Shunsaku Miyagi and Yohei Akao.

    Read more.

    Boutique hotel, La Vue, in Bordeaux region goes on sale

    An outdoor pool iun between barns in La Vue

    Image credit: La Vue

    2020 has proven itself to be the year of distressed assets, with characterful hotel properties around the world being sold to the chains. However, there is nothing distressed about La Vue, a perfectly placed boutique hotel that has potential to be something incredible on Europe’s independent hotel scene.

    Situated right at the centre of a triangle drawn between three major cities in France – Bordeaux, Cognac and Angouleme – La Vue is a luxury boutique gem set in one acre of land, which is surrounded by vineyards and spectacular views.

    Read more.

    Hotel review (in video): checking in to Sofitel London St James

    Sofitel London St James bathroom

    image credit: Sofitel London St James

    17 years after first unveiling the original designs for the Sofitel London St James, Pierre-Yves Rochon returned to London to breathe new life into the 183-key lifestyle luxury hotel. Editor Hamish Kilburn, along with a production team to film his response, checks in find out more.

    For Sofitel London St James, a flagship for the global hotel brand that is positioned in between Westminster and Mayfair, the decision to invite legendary designer Pierre-Yves Rochon back to redesign the guestrooms and suites was one that came naturally. And it was his ability to combine English décor with refined French elegance that gave this hotel’s interiors a new and somewhat an unexpected personality.

    Read more. 

    Re-live all the drama from The Brit List Awards 2020

    Image of the Sterling Suite with Brit List logo

    Hundreds of designers, architects, hoteliers, developers and suppliers tuned in on November 12 to watch the awards ceremony that crowned the winners of The Brit List Awards 2020. But if you missed it, you can watch the full ceremony here, on demand.

    Adhering to social distancing measures and the latest government guidelines, this year’s awards were produced by CUBE Video and filmed from inside Minotti London’s Fitzrovia showroom, which will host The Brit List Winners’ Party/MEET UP London on April 29, 2021.

    Read more.

    (In video) Hotel Designs LIVE: The revival of smart tech post-pandemic

    Main image for Hotel Designs LIVE Session 4

    In the final session of Hotel Designs LIVE, editor Hamish Kilburn was joined by global industry experts to discuss the revival of smart tech after he checked in to a completely contactless hotel experience.

    The final session that took place during Hotel Designs LIVE was entitled: The revival of smart tech post-pandemic – and was sponsored by Grohe, a bathroom manufacturer that is clearly leading the way when it comes to utilising technology to create innovative bathroom solutions.

    Read more.

    A collection of bathroom products, lighting and furniture

    Spotlight on: December (Hotel Designs’ ultimate throwback)

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    Spotlight on: December (Hotel Designs’ ultimate throwback)

    Hotel Designs’ December editorial feature has landed, which is ‘Year in Review’, an ultimate throwback to 2020’s more signifiant product launches…

    It has become a tradition at Hotel Designs to spend December reflecting the editorial spotlight on the year’s most groundbreaking product launches.

    A collection of bathroom products, lighting and furniture

    In 2020 – the year when Covid-19 caused chaos to all areas of the industry; with trade shows cancelled and hospitality being brought to its knees with several lockdowns – that nod has become even more meaningful. From lighting to flooring, hygiene to furniture, we will take a look back at the product launches that have created the biggest statement on the design and hospitality scene.

    In what is now described as our ‘ultimate throwback’, the editorial team will cut through the noise, and inviting our Recommended Suppliers to share their hero products of 2020, to identify the products that designers, architects and hoteliers should be specifying in their future projects.

    If you wish to find out more about Recommended Supplier packages, or know of a product that we should be talking about, please email Katy Phillips. 

    Main image credit: Gessi, Morgan, Chelsom

    A safari accomodation tent in the dessert

    Luxurious and comfortable accommodation from Bushtec Safari

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    Luxurious and comfortable accommodation from Bushtec Safari

    Following the brand’s presentation as a Product Watch Partner at Hotel Designs LIVE, Bushtec Safari explains why luxury tented resorts have become global trend for guests seeking luxurious and comfortable accommodation…

    A safari accomodation tent in the dessert

    Luxury tented resorts have become global trending destinations for luxurious and comfortable accommodation, seeing to unique experiences, without compromising on quality.

    Bushtec Safari as part of the Canvas & Tent Group is one of the leading tent manufacturers and suppliers to well-known safari camps and game reserves, hunting and luxury lodges, villas and resorts within the travel market both locally and internationally.

    A tented accommodation in front of a river

    Image credit: Bushtec Safari Display Area

    The brand is renowned globally as we have provided luxury tents to countless projects through our head office and our branches in America, Europe and Botswana as well as our distributors in the UAE, Australia and Asia.

    With more than 1,000 different tent designs, we prefer keeping everything we do in-house – from design, to manufacturing, delivering, and installing.

    Over the years that we have been designing and manufacturing luxury tents, we have truly tested boundaries and accomplished the unthinkable. We have a range of standard designed luxury tents which can be customised according to specified requirements, alternatively we can create a custom design from scratch based on a concept on paper. With our team of in-house designers, we can create almost anything that you can imagine. We also work closely with the investor’s architect should one be appointed.

    A tented accommodation in the middle of nowhere with stars above

    Image credit: Mountain View Safari Lodge

    Ladysmith, which is in the Kwa Zulu Natal province in South Africa, shelters our state-of-the-art factories, totalling a productive area of 27,500 m2 where more than 300 skilled design, technical and specialist personnel are employed. Here we craft masterpieces with passion and dedication.

    Despite the rigorous quality standards which we adhere to when manufacturing our tents, we still need to deliver on our mantra: “Designed to Impress. Built to Last”.

    While our materials are manufactured according to the most exacting quality and climatic durability standards, over time exposure to the elements will take its toll. To conserve the aesthetic appearance of your tented accommodation and extend the lifespan and return on investment, we offer regular on-site inspections and a maintenance service.

    If you’d prefer to do it yourself, we can provide maintenance training for your camp managers and staff members, so they can extend the lifespan of your tented accommodation. The usual maintenance includes replacement of zips for canvas-style doors, resealing of the square tubing, tensioning of flysheets, washing each tent as well as reproofing each tent.

    We also understand the importance of different environmental elements that have to be taken into consideration when we manufacture luxury tents. In order to accommodate these considerations, we offer different types of steel frames, different combinations of materials, fire-retardant materials, insulated materials and even guarantee that our canvas and flysheets are UV treated, welded and stitched to high standards. We engineer our tent structures in such a way that it can withstand the elements that it is exposed to, enabling the tents to last the investor for more than 10 years, which will be great for your return on investment.

    Aerial shot of a tented site

    Image credit: Bushtec Safari/Private Resort

    Our tents are eco-friendly and can blend in with the natural surroundings quite effortlessly. Each tent has a light footprint, and by securing it to a wooden deck that plants into the ground, you can have your luxury tented camp without disrupting the environment at all.

    Bushtec Safari luxury tents are designed and manufactured for year-round use in various weather conditions – from the African bush, to the deserts of the UAE, to the woodland landscapes of Europe and even tropical island style resorts – Bushtec Safari has got you covered.

    Not only do we supply these one-of-a-kind luxury tents, we can also offer the investor the option of a full turnkey solution through our sister brand, Bushtec Safari. In this scenario everything concerning the project will be managed and implemented by our in-house team, from planning to concept development, design, site layouts, sourcing, manufacture and supply of all items needed including interiors, right through to deployment and project management. With our professional and experienced team you can rest assured that your investment is in the best hands. For us, no destination is too remote, no idea too bold, no challenge too big.

    Bushtec Safari was one of our Product Watch Pitch Partners for Hotel Designs LIVE

    Main image credit: Bushtec Safari/Good Moremi Gorge

    Green light

    Product watch: new ‘greenworld’ lighting from Inspired by design

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    Product watch: new ‘greenworld’ lighting from Inspired by design

    Inspired By Design, which was a Product Watch Pitch partner of Hotel Designs LIVE, brings the outside indoors with its new range of biophilic lighting. The brand’s Simon Shuck explains…

    Green light

    During the pandemic, being outside and connecting with nature has never been more important. This helps us to relax and think more clearly. Following our recent attendance at two Hotel Designs LIVE virtual conferences, where public areas were put under the spotlight, it became apparent that this type of lighting is of paramount importance.

    Public areas suffused with biophilic lighting exudes calmness and are more welcoming and have been reported to increase room rates. As moss and other biophilic materials absorb excessive noise, they create a more tranquil atmosphere reducing stress levels which is particularly beneficial in busy hotels, offices or clinical settings. So we realised that biophilic design enhanced entrances and other areas to be more inviting.

    Our moss and foliage is 100 per cent natural and maintenance-free and can also be used to create walls and dividers to aid absorbing sound in open spaces; ideal for large lobbies in hotels and commercial buildings.

    Bespoke lighting solutions

    Whether dramatic, delicate or discreet, we work bespoke to transform lighting ideas into reality – however flamboyant, we offer bespoke solutions. As one of the UK’s leading lighting suppliers, we love creating unique designs – the more fantastic the better.

    Our lighting is sheltered in five-star hotels worldwide including London, Monaco and Beverley Hills and Dubai.

    More recently, we are just about to start working on a new Hilton hotel in Woking, which is being structurally designed by architecture firm Gensler, where we will be supplying all the bedroom lighting together with bespoke decorative in all the public areas.

    Since you’re here, why not read our Hotel Designs LAB article on biophillic design 2.0 – from living walls to living hotels?

    Presently we are quoting for all the external lighting for a resort in Seychelles.

    Inspired By Design was a Product Watch Pitch Partner at Hotel Designs LIVE. 

    Main image credit: Inspired By Design

    Sofitel London St James luxury room with blue tartan carpets and blue modern furniture

    Hotel review (in video): checking in to Sofitel London St James

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    Hotel review (in video): checking in to Sofitel London St James

    17 years after first unveiling the original designs for the Sofitel London St James, Pierre-Yves Rochon returned to London to breathe new life into the 183-key lifestyle luxury hotel. Editor Hamish Kilburn, along with a production team to film his response, checks in find out more…

    Sofitel London St James luxury room with blue tartan carpets and blue modern furniture

    The ultimate compliment for a hotel designer, aside from a client signing off one stage allowing them to move on to the next, is being asked to return back to a project years later to lead it sensitively into a new era. This scenario, although rare and therefore highly momentous, also comes with certain pressures, considering that each and every decision will be scrutinised by client and critic and compared to the statement design scheme that was originally unveiled and considered a success.

    For Sofitel London St James, a flagship for the global hotel brand that is positioned in between Westminster and Mayfair, the decision to invite legendary designer Pierre-Yves Rochon back to redesign the guestrooms and suites was one that came naturally. And it was his ability to combine English décor with refined French elegance that gave this hotel’s interiors a new and somewhat an unexpected personality.

    “It was important to preserve the identity of the hotel that was created 17 years ago.” – Pierre-Yves Rochon

    To truly capture the essence of this modern hotel sheltered in a heritage building, I checked in with our product team at CUBE Video to explore what makes this hotel special. Here’s how I got on…

    “It was important to preserve the identity of the hotel that was created 17 years ago,” Rochon told Hotel Designs. “So, there was a clever mix between the elements of the past that we have kept and the new elements marking the new decoration. For example, we kept the headboards and bedside tables the same, but we created a new concept in the guestrooms and suites, which we refer to as the ‘Media wall library’.”

    Sofitel London St James luxury twin room in red

    Image credit: Sofitel London St James

    Inside the new guestrooms, which are complete with retro furniture and bold colours, it is clear that the aim was to, in Rochon’s words, “give a new life to the hotel.” To prevent each room in either green, red or blue colour schemes from looking ‘tired’, and to refine a modern interior design scheme fit for the flagship status it has been given, Rochon’s bold leap away from convention allowed him to further blur the definition of what a London hotel should look like. The tartan carpets, for example, create a textured layer of detail but also compliment the 1960s – 70s theme explored in the design scheme, as Rochon explains: “The choice of Scottish-inspired carpets in the bedrooms is, of course, linked to the fact that we are in the UK, but another reason we choose these carpets was because of the geometric appearance which corresponds to this particular period of design in the 1960s and 70s.”

    Image credit: Sofitel London St James blue guestrooms with tartan carpets and blue walls

    Image credit: Sofitel London St James

    Throughout the hotel, there is a dominant theme of English Style meeting French elegance. While the guestrooms are trendy with certain nods to British iconic fashion figures of the 60s and 70s, the bathrooms are chic, well-lit and with a black and white colour scheme they are also somewhat timeless. “The bathrooms have always been appreciated by the hotel’s guests, so we simply decided to refurbish them when necessary,” said Rochon. “This included improving the lighting, creating showers and redesigning the floors in black and white graphics, in continuity with the original decoration.”

    When asked, Rochon admitted that the most challenging aspect of the renovation was staying within budget, “while also respecting the decorative spirit” of the hotel. Regardless of having to stay between the lines of a budget, it is admirable how one designer’s creativity can lead one hotel into two different eras, and as a result re-unveil a modern masterpiece that lives up to its flagship title.

    Main image credit: Sofitel London St James

    The entrance to the Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto

    Inside Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto, A Luxury Collection Hotel & Spa

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    Inside Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto, A Luxury Collection Hotel & Spa

    Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto, A Luxury Collection Hotel & Spa, has opened in the heart of Japan’s ancient capital – sheltering design by an international team of renowned architects and designers including Akira Kuryu, André Fu, Shunsaku Miyagi and Yohei Akao…

    The entrance to the Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto

    The Luxury Collection, part of Marriott International Inc., has announced the opening of Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto, A Luxury Collection Hotel & Spa in Kyoto, Japan.

    Once the private residence of the aristocratic Mitsui family, the property’s 300-year-old main entrance, the Kajiimiya Gate, still stands today. Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto resides in the heart of Kyoto, the only luxury hotel in the city centre with its own natural hot spring drawn from the thermal waters deep below ground. The hotel opens up to one of the world’s most enriching and desirable destination discoveries, including the 17th-century UNESCO World Heritage-listed Nijo Castle located directly opposite the hotel and other shrines, palaces and gardens.

    An image at night of the traditional gate framing the entrance to the hotel

    Image credit: Marriett International/Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto

    “We are delighted to celebrate the expansion of The Luxury Collection here in Japan with the opening of Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto as the brand’s second iconic property in Kyoto, in partnership with Mitsui Fudosan Group,” said Rajeev Menon, President, Asia Pacific (excluding China), Marriott International. “The Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts are an ensemble of unique hotels across the world that celebrate authenticity and indigenousness in every destination. Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto is a wonderful addition to this very special collection, and we are confident that guests will enjoy its impeccable service as much as its beauty and surroundings.”

    Thoughtfully designed by an international team of renowned architects and designers including Akira Kuryu, André Fu, Shunsaku Miyagi and Yohei Akao, Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto blends tradition with modernity. Throughout the hotel, guests will be inspired by the minimalist yet contemporary design, which creates a sense of comfort with natural luxury. The gardens express the beauty and serenity as expected of a classical Japanese garden.

    The hotel’s 161 guest rooms and suites feature exquisite natural materials shaped by traditional artisanal skills. Each room reimagines elegance and relaxed luxury of traditional Japanese tea-rooms, and bathing areas in every room feature spacious bathtubs hewn from stone. Two Onsen Suites feature separate living rooms, private gardens and outdoor hot spring baths for a highly memorable experience of Japanese onsen traditions in complete luxury and privacy.

    A modern suite inside the mitsui kyoto a luxury collection hotel and spa/

    Image credit: Marriott International/Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto

    Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto features two restaurants, a bar and lounge and a private dining space, all of which showcase Japanese and international epicurean experiences while offering breath-taking views of the hotel gardens. In the signature gastronomy teppan restaurant TOKI, guests are offered culinary specialties prepared on an open-plan steel teppan framed by a Kabazakura birch counter.

    The hotel’s Italian restaurant FORNI features an okudosan, a traditional Japanese cooking range reimagined as a wood-burning oven for pizzas and roasts. The Garden Bar, meanwhile, offers the perfect space to enjoy afternoon tea, drinks and cocktails and SHIKI-NO-MA provides an exclusive dining venue in an elegant setting, ideal for private events.

    The hotel’s unique thermal spring spa is a relaxing sanctuary of more than 1,000 square metres of space which includes a thermal onsen spring, two private onsen facilities, four spa treatment rooms and a fully-equipped gym.

    “Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto represents the essence of Japan, as framed by the narrative of its history, culture, architecture, crafts and cuisine. We seek to express this essence in our brand concept of “Embracing Japan’s Beauty”,” said Jennie Toh, Vice President, Brand, Asia Pacific, Marriott International. “We have merged tradition and modernity across all aspects of our hotel design, culinary offerings and service. We look forward to welcoming guests to our hotel, and to usher them into a world of luxury inspired by the beauty and traditions of Japan.”

    Since you’re here, why not read more about Marriott International’s expansion in the Asia Pacific region?

    Main image credit: Marriott International/Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto

    Industry insight: bathroom planning for the future of hotels

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    Industry insight: bathroom planning for the future of hotels

    As the pandemic continues to challenge existing hotel concepts in all sectors of hospitality, the conventional bathroom and wellness area is being confronted. Tony Taylor-Sherif, Area Specification Consultant at Schlüter Systems who delivered a PRODUCT WATCH pitch at Hotel Designs LIVE, explains…

    It is no secret that 2020 has been an unpredictable year with challenges faced by all due to Covid-19. The hospitality sector is one of many which has been hit particularly hard by the pandemic, but hopefully a strong bounce back will be on the horizon due to the resilient nature of the industry.

    However, the design and build of a hotel is a long process that can take a number of years, and predicting how the landscape of the hospitality sector will look on the other side of a global pandemic really is anybody’s guess. One thing that is certain, though, hotels at the early stages of the design process will need to be impressive, welcoming and have the all-important ‘wow’ factor.

    Schlüter Systems’ latest range of shower boards could be a key player in assisting with the long-term plans of hotels going forward: a low height version within the Schlüter-KERDI-SHOWER-LTS range has been created specifically to work alongside the Schlüter-KERDI-LINE-G3 linear drain to provide low build up and level access whilst being fully waterproof.

    Exclusive modern white bathroom with glass shower

    Image credit: Schlüter Systems

    The reason this product can help future high-rise hotels is that when installed with the KERDI-LINE-G3 drain, the KERDI-SHOWER-LTS low height offering has the potential to allow for an extra storey to be created with the additional space available due to the fall of 1:80. When return on investment is such an important factor, this option could make all the difference.

    Not only does the low height offering provide architects with more space to build upwards, another benefit is that it can easily be installed as part of a warrantied and fully waterproof system. The KERDI-SHOWER-LTS can be used seamlessly with other products in their portfolio, such as Schlüter-DITRA-HEAT to offer the popular choice of underfloor heating, and the BBA-certified Schlüter-KERDI-BOARD for the slick creation of niches or partition walls.

    New design bathroom with shower and two basins, in gray and white with black details

    Image credit: Schlüter Systems

    This will provide both hotel owners and their guests with the much-needed reassurance and peace of mind that the specified bathrooms will be long-lasting and reliable. Getting the parts behind the tiles right ensures that any elements you add to give guests an unforgettable experience will stand the test of time.

    Although it is difficult to know what the next few years will look like for the hospitality sector, it is clear that hotels will need to offer the very best to their customers and with Schlüter Systems, this can be done stylishly with ease.

    Since you’re here, why not read more about Schlüter System’s stylish niches and shelves.

    Schlüter Systems was a PRODUCT WATCH pitch partner at Hotel Designs LIVE.

    Main image credit: Schlüter Systems

    Product watch: the Statement Sculpture by Marokka Design House

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    Product watch: the Statement Sculpture by Marokka Design House

    Need to add a little statement into your next hotel project? Marokka Design House, a brand that is built on creating geometric objects of desire, may have just the thing…

    The best destinations always have a sense of place by connecting with visitors on a deeper more experiential level, this can be through heritage, architecture and attention-grabbing designs.

    The latter resonates especially with Marokka Design House, a business that is built on creating geometric objects of desire that also gives back to the societies and places in which they exist.

    It is not surprising that sculpting one of the oldest forms of art, preceding painting, the purpose not being to depict beauty but to provide a physical presence for the spirituality of early civilisation.

    When the imposing three-metre high Gus, a western lowland gorilla, was originally created in partnership with Broadgate and The Aspinall Foundation for a unique, tech-inspired exhibition – WILD LIFE, it had a clear objective which was to raise the awareness of endangered animals.

    The stunning polygonal gorilla formed the cornerstone of an interactive exhibition in the centre of London’s Financial District and combined the physical sculpture with digital experiences. By downloading Marokka’s free app, visitors were able to bring augmented reality animations to life while highlighting the plight of endangered animals around the world and celebrating the incredible work of charity partner, The Aspinall Foundation in protecting them and sending animals back to the wild.

    The advantage of creating a physical sculpture is its permanence and in the case of King Gus (as he has since been named), is that he now resides in the entrance at Port Lympne Hotel and Reserve and his large presence makes the experience all the more memorable for those who visit.

    Charlotte Clout, owner of Marokka Design House, has also revealed that another King Gus will be launching soon and will be looking for his forever home. He can be customised to enhance and reinforce the brand presence of any business park, hotel interior or exterior.

    As well as making large scale sculptures, Marokka makes smaller-scale sculptures for the home that are made from sustainable and eco-friendly materials, available to buy on the website – plus, the brand donates 10 per cent of all sales to The Aspinall Foundation and DOTS (Dogs on the Street).

    Marokka is one of our Industry Support Package clients 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 credit: Marokka

    Man in mirror

    KEUCO’s mirrors ensure bathrooms don’t get left in the dark

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    KEUCO’s mirrors ensure bathrooms don’t get left in the dark

    The Royal Modular 2.0 from KEUCO is a stylish mirrored cabinet that combines state-of- the-art technology with adaptable storage and modern design…

    Introducing the Royal Modular 2.0 from KEUCO; a stylish modern cabinet that combines state-of- the-art technology, such as intelligent LED lighting with adaptable storage and modern design elements.

    Man in mirror

    Size matters

    There’s a saying ‘one size fits all’ but in the case of the Royal Modular 2.0 it’s one cabinet to fit all sizes. With widths of 500mm now through to 2100mm, options of two heights and two depths, recessed or wall mounted and the option to be with or without illumination this cabinet can be designed to fit any bathroom wall and match any size of washbasin.

    Substance meets style

    Because the Royal Modular 2.0 is available in so many versions it does not mean it falls behind in any aspect of design or technology. Intelligent LED lighting is integrated horizontally at the top and bottom of each cabinet. The lights are easily adjusted to provide a brighter daylight white light when needed, for example when shaving or applying make-up. A softer gentle warm yellow shade is available for other times of the day; whatever time and which ever shade of white is selected the lighting produced is both shadow and glare free.

    The cabinet has mirrors on both sides of the doors, the shelves within the interior of the cabinet are made with tinted glass, whilst the rear of the cabinet is white glass. This makes it easy to see the contents and clean the inside.

    Personalisation is one of the key elements of the Royal Modular 2.0. It easy to alter to suit a persons needs as the interior shelves can be easily adjusted to cater for the heights of different bottles and jars. In addition the soft close doors can be adapted to close as slowly or as quickly as needed.

    It’s all in the detail

    Specific practical design elements which have been added to the Royal Modular 2.0 cabinets.

    • A magnifying cosmetic mirror has been added, this can be attached to the interior shelves, the doors or an external surface.
    • Magnetic strips on the interior ensure that smaller beauty items are stored safely and are easy to find.
    • Secure power sockets and usb ports are safely hidden within the body of the cabinet, enabling you to charge your mobile even in the bathroom

    KEUCO 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 credit: KEUCO

    A purple lit bathroom with black bath and candles on the floor

    Industry insight: adding personality in the bathroom with scenic lighting

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    Industry insight: adding personality in the bathroom with scenic lighting

    Bathroom brand Duravit explores lighting in the bathrooms, both as a functional element and as a personal one…

    Light is functional and atmospheric and plays an elementary role in the bathroom. There are three aspects that need to be considered for the perfect lighting setup: basic lighting, accent lighting, and functional lighting.

    A purple lit bathroom with black bath and candles on the floor

    While basic lighting lights our way, accent lighting injects a feel-good factor into the lighting concept. Contrast-rich and expressive lighting generates a stimulating atmosphere in the bathroom and creates cozy accents. Conversely, the focus at the washing area is on functional lighting this needs to be bright without dazzling the user.

    Image caption: Illuminated treasure chest: an optional inner lighting system is available for the Happy D.2 Plus vanity unit. The LED light turns on or off when the drawer is opened or closed. | Image credit: Duravit

    From warm white to neutral white and up to daylight white – the spectrum of light colours ranges from warm yellow to cool blue, you can enjoy the perfect light at any time of day: cold in the morning to wake you up, warm in the evening to help you relax.

    Duravit is one of our 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.

    Since you’re here, why not read more about the psychology of colour?

    Main image caption: Candlelight and mirror lighting light up the darkness: Happy D.2 Plus mirror with circular ambient light. The LED- lighting can be individually configured via the touchscreen | Image credit: Duravit

    Computer generated image of a luxurious and modern living room interiors. 3D Rendering of a full furnished living Room.

    Product watch: Focus launches the gas Gyrofocus

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    Product watch: Focus launches the gas Gyrofocus

    Focus has launched the world’s first pivoting gas fire, the gas Gyrofocus – a new patented global innovation with design meeting environmental standards – once again shaking up established codes…

    Computer generated image of a luxurious and modern living room interiors. 3D Rendering of a full furnished living Room.

    Fireplace brand Focus, which was recently Highly Commended in The Eco Award category at The Brit List Awards 2020, has reinvented replace technology with the announcement of the world’s first pivoting gas fire. Introducing the gas Gyrofocus.

    The legendary design, originally created more than 50 years ago as a wood-burning stove, has a newly patented technology allowing the gas to be brought down through a sealed pipe into the suspended replace whilst pivoting 100 degrees. This is a real technological feat and a world first recognised by the filing of a patent.

    Image credit: Focus

    The gas Gyrofocus is practical, easy to maintain and a stress-free fire. It is a generous and spectacular fire with ceramic logs that perfectly imitate the dancing ames of a real wood fire.

    The first suspended and pivoting gas replace is energy efficient with an output of 13 kW and allows for ease of installation above any type
    of flooring. The gas Gyrofocus is also equipped with remote control: instant ignition, adjustment of flame and heat intensity, programming for controlled, constant and comfortable heat.

    Odourless and with zero particle emissions, this icon naturally finds its place in an apartment in any geo-location. Thanks to its ease of use, this sculptural design can be installed in the reception areas of large hotels, restaurants and establishments open to the public.

    With its advanced technology, the gas Gyrofocus, available in two colours (black or white) cannot be sold without a preliminary technical survey of the site and its installation must be carried out by official Focus partner-resellers trained in this technology. The model is equipped with a specially designed plate to allow the gas to pass through the pipe. The installation operates on batteries and the burner is controlled with a remote control.

    Since you’re here, why not read more about Focus’ latest outdoor range of fireplaces?

    Focus is one of the brands that has taken advantage of our Industry Support Package. To keep up to date with supplier news, click here. 

    Main image credit: Focus

    Boutique hotel, La Vue, in Bordeaux region goes on sale

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    Boutique hotel, La Vue, in Bordeaux region goes on sale

    The family-owned La Vue, a luxury hotel and wedding venue that is sheltered inside a former 17th Century Cognac distillery, is up for sale – and Hotel Designs, for the first time in the publication’s history, is keen to find a buyer for the family…

    2020 has proven itself to be the year of distressed assets, with characterful hotel properties around the world being sold to the chains. However, there is nothing distressed about La Vue, a perfectly placed boutique hotel that has potential to be something incredible on Europe’s independent hotel scene.

    Situated right at the centre of a triangle drawn between three major cities in France – Bordeaux, Cognac and Angouleme – La Vue is a luxury boutique gem set in one acre of land, which is surrounded by vineyards and spectacular views.

    The 15-key property, which was refurbished in 2018 and reviewed in The Telegraph shortly after where it was described as a “tasteful, secluded little gem” and dubbed the “Tuscany of France”, is home to five three-bedroom self-catering gites, which are attached to a spectacular Manor House with en-suite guestrooms, bar, bistro and staff accommodation.

    The hotel and wedding venue is located in a small village called Birac, which is roughly 1 hour and 20 minutes from Bordeaux, 30 minutes from Cognac and 25 minutes from Angouleme. Previous guests have often tied in trips to La Vue with visits to St Emilion, Pauillac and other famous wine making domaines. Cognac lovers are well catered for too in the eponymous city – with tours of Remy Martin, Martel and Courvoisier available. Adjacent to La Vue is an organic Cognac maker called Jean Luc Pasquet who supply the hotel and offer tastings and tours.

    “The hotel has recently been granted preliminary approval from the local authorities for a further 50 beds.”

    La Vue itself is a former 17th Century Cognac distillery, and is architecturally very typical of the Charentes region. The current family who own the property acquired it in 2017 from a British couple who had been running it as a wedding venue for many years, primarily catering to British guests. In 2018 it underwent a complete overhaul to bring it up to a standard where it could be relaunched as a high-end wedding venue. 

    An outdoor pool iun between barns in La Vue

    Image credit: La Vue

    Outside, there are two swimming pools and a small spa and wellness area that is complete with sauna and steam room, plus staff accommodation facilities. The landscape has a beautiful lawn to the rear surrounding the pool deck, and a pergola that is suitable for outdoor dining. At the rear there is an observation deck with views that stretch across the valley, and that frames spectacular sunsets.

    What’s more, the hotel has reported a strong pipeline of bookings running into 2022, and it has recently been granted preliminary approval from the local authorities for a further 50 beds – the site for the proposed expansion is a currently disused cognac barn.

    To find out more details about this boutique hotel, and to be put in touch with the owners, please email us on the editorial desk. 

    Main image credit: La Vue France

    Outdoor heating in F&B setting

    Anything but business as usual: the demand for outdoor heating

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    Anything but business as usual: the demand for outdoor heating

    Following presenting a dynamic product pitch at Hotel Designs LIVE, Bromic Heating discusses how hotels can re-purpose their spaces with outdoor heating to ensure they’re both compliant with Covid-19 regulations and deliver a premium guest experience…

    Outdoor heating in F&B setting

    With the current pandemic effectively halting the global hospitality industry, hotels around the world would like nothing more than to return to business as usual. However, as the sector slowly starts reopening, it’s clear that it will be anything but business as usual with many hotels questioning just how they will be able to stay afloat while ensuring their guests’ safety.

    With occupancy rates still at a record low, many hotels are using this time to re-evaluate how they can expand their current footprint to accommodate the largest number of guests while adhering to social distancing guidelines. Providing guests with access to more spaces with cleaner and fresher air will play a central role in any strategy moving forward and hotels have already started contemplating new design solutions with more open-air environments. Below are some of the key areas that will benefit from a move outdoors.

    One of the main touchpoints affected by the current restrictions will be the food and beverage serving areas. As a result, some hotels have already started looking at alternatives to their usual buffet service, from moving entire dining rooms outdoors to offering “anyplace dining”, allowing guests to eat anywhere in the hotel, whether that’s by the pool or in the garden. Other, more structural solutions, include the introduction of bi-fold doors and windows that can quickly turn any indoor dining room into an outdoor restaurant.

    Fitness and health: from indoor gym to open air workouts

    Another potential victim of the pandemic will be indoor gym facilities. While hotels will have the option to reconfigure their onsite gyms to create more space between equipment, they should also consider moving their gyms outdoors. Outdoor exercise has become a familiar sight during the pandemic and a trend that is likely to survive the lockdown. Hotels should therefore look at re-purposing some of their outdoor spaces into exercise areas, offering their guests open-air workout alternatives, whether that’s rooftop yoga or patio Pilates. This will also help hotels expand their wellness offering – a trend that is likely to receive a post-pandemic boost with guest welfare becoming paramount.

    Outdoor heating for 24-hour comfort

    When looking at expanding or re-purposing outdoor environments, it’s important to not neglect guest comfort. Hotels operate 24 hours, so ensuring that guests have access to outdoor spaces at any time of the day or night will be essential. Outdoor heating solutions can help. Quickly and easily installed, they’re a cost-effective solution that ensures guests are comfortable while dining, exercising or when stepping out of their room for some fresh air, whatever the time or season.

    Well-designed outdoor spaces will be the key to recovery. Heaters should be positioned in a way that they offer even heat distribution across both the seating and food serving areas. Another point to consider is the nature and direction of prevailing winds. Thoughtful placement of heating in areas most susceptible to ingress of cold air, using wall-mounted, ceiling-mounted, suspended or portable heaters, create warm and welcoming spaces where guest can dine and relax comfortably at any time of the year.

    Case Study: The Sheraton Carlsbad Resort & Spa

    The Sheraton Carlsbad Resort & Spa is a 209-room luxury resort within walking distance of California’s scenic North County beaches and the picturesque village of Carlsbad. The resort prides itself in offering guests countless activities and luxuries from a single location, including a spa, golf course, gourmet dining, bars and a convention centre.

    One of the resort’s key dining destinations, the Twenty/20 Grill & Wine Bar, boasts a large outdoor patio, where guests can take in the spectacular views of the Pacific coastline while enjoying some of California’s best locally-sourced cuisine. To further enhance their guests’ dining experience and to ensure patrons are warm and comfortable even during cooler nights, the restaurant installed 15 Bromic Platinum Smart-HeatTM Gas heaters across its 120-seat outdoor patio back in 2008.

    “Guests love to sit in this area especially during dinner to view the setting sun over the Pacific Ocean while dining. It can get a bit chilly due to the coastal breezes which makes these heaters very important,” comments Kent Bailey, Complex Director of Engineering at the Sheraton Carlsbad Resort & Spa.

    Premium finish and performance

    Made from premium-grade stainless-steel, Bromic Platinum Smart-HeatTM Gas heaters were specifically engineered to deliver superior performance and durability for the highest level of investment protection. With their signature ceramic glass fascia, the heaters provide an even heat distribution across a large area, while innovative, patented technology ensures that guests are comfortably warm even in wind speeds of up to 18km/h.

    “Many of our patrons say they love the heaters and how they make you feel warm, but are not blazing on top of your head,” adds Kent.

    A modular design that’s built to last                       

    After about 12 years of service in a challenging coastal climate the heaters started showing signs of wear and tear and the Sheraton decided it was time to replace the units. When the hotel contacted Bromic to inquire about its options, it became clear that instead of a full replacement, the Sheraton would only need to exchange a few critical parts, saving the resort both valuable time and money.

    “Bromic gas heaters have a modular design which means that critical components from the inside of the control module to the ignition wires and burners are interchangeable as they wear out over time,” explains Karl Tschauner, Director of Sales at Bromic Heating. “For the Sheraton this meant that they only needed to replace certain parts instead of having to uninstall and reinstall an entire group of heaters.”

    “When we were challenged with having to replace the heaters, we were in a pinch to get them ordered and on to the property, so they could be installed quickly,” remembers Kent. “The team at Bromic were great to work with and did everything in their power to ensure we received the replacement parts as quickly as possible.”

    Bromic Heating was a PRODUCT PITCH partner at Hotel Designs LIVE.

    Main image credit: Bromic Heating

    Main image for Hotel Designs LIVE Session 4

    (In video) Hotel Designs LIVE: The revival of smart tech post-pandemic

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    (In video) Hotel Designs LIVE: The revival of smart tech post-pandemic

    In the final session of Hotel Designs LIVE, editor Hamish Kilburn was joined by global industry experts to discuss the revival of smart tech after he checked in to a completely contactless hotel experience…

    Main image for Hotel Designs LIVE Session 4

    The final session that took place during Hotel Designs LIVE was entitled: The revival of smart tech post-pandemic – and was sponsored by Grohe, a bathroom manufacturer that is clearly leading the way when it comes to utilising technology to create innovative bathroom solutions.

    To introduce the topic to the audience, editor Hamish Kilburn shared a video feature that showed him teaming up with Headline Partner Technological Innovations Group to explore technology’s role post-Covid. To do this, they checked in to Bloc Hotel Gatwick, which has just undergone an extensive technology renovation and now shelters a completely contactless hotel experience.

    Here’s how they got on:

    Following this immersive hotel review, which was produced by the event’s official videographers at CUBE Video, Kilburn was armed with relevant questions to put forward to his expert panel about tech solutions for a post-pandemic world.

    On the panel:

    Within this session, the audience heard PRODUCT WATCH pitches from Grohe, Technological Innovations Group, Aqualisa, Hamilton Litestat and a sponsored question from Duravit.

    Since you’re here, why not watch all four sessions from Hotel Designs LIVE – sessions one, two and three – on demand?

    SAVE THE DATE: Hotel Designs LIVE will return for a third edition on February 23, 2021. Session titles and speakers will be announced shortly. Once these have been announced, tickets for Hotel Designs LIVE will be available. In the meantime, if you would like to discuss sponsorship opportunities, focused PRODUCT WATCH pitches or the concept of Hotel Designs LIVE, please contact Katy Phillips or call +44 (0) 1992 374050.

    (In video) Watch The Brit List Awards 2020 – the awards ceremony

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    (In video) Watch The Brit List Awards 2020 – the awards ceremony

    Hundreds of designers, architects, hoteliers, developers and suppliers tuned in on November 12 to watch the awards ceremony that crowned the winners of The Brit List Awards 2020. But if you missed it, you can watch the full ceremony here, on demand…

    Hotel Designs’ nationwide search to find the top designers, architects, hoteliers and suppliers operating in Britain came to a head last week when the winners of The Brit List Awards 2020, sponsored by Crosswater, were officially announced.

    Adhering to social distancing measures and the latest government guidelines, this year’s awards were produced by CUBE Video and filmed from inside Minotti London’s Fitzrovia showroom, which will host The Brit List Winners’ Party/MEET UP London on April 29, 2021.

    Editor Hamish Kilburn hosted all the drama, which included an engaging panel discussion with the international judging panel, the unveiling of The Brit List 2020 and announcing this year’s individual winners.

    You can watch the action unfold below:

    Since you’re here, why not read The Brit List Awards 2020 winners’ story, referencing the judges’ reasons behind this year’s seven worthy individual winners.

    Thank you to our partners:

    Falcon Contract Flooring’s role inside Leonardo Royal Hotel London City

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    Falcon Contract Flooring’s role inside Leonardo Royal Hotel London City

    When Edgewater Contracts were let down by its flooring installers on site at Leonardo Royal Hotel London City, Falcon Contract Flooring were approached to assist with the hard flooring packages in the main reception areas…

    Already partaking in an initial project in Cardiff for Edgewater Contracts, Falcon Contract Flooring were proving themselves to be a highly dependable flooring contractor and has gained a positive reputation. With a reactive and maintenance service also available, offering a 24-hour service level agreement, Falcon is used to working on projects that require fast turnarounds.

    Using more than 50 boxes (400m2) of Amtico, to fit in the Restaurant and Bar area, Falcon used just two installers to complete the job. Both experts of the trade, it was down to them to scribe and re-level the Amtico planks on site, yet this was only once they also had levelled and fully prepared the floor in the first place. The subfloor had sunk with the previous floor, and so an extra 200m2 of latex had to be used to make sure the floor was perfect and ready for the single plank design. Considering there was just two weeks for completion, the pressure was on.

    One of the major challenges was preparing the floor for a complex design work whilst working in a highly trafficked area – the public areas – with several other construction contractors working alongside. Falcon didn’t let this affect their quality of work though and produced something to be proud of.

    Falcon has since gone on to partake in several other projects alongside Edgewater including Leonardo’s St Pauls and The Portman Hotel; both located in London. More than 50 per cent of Falcon’s work comes from the hospitality sector. In fact, the company is the trusted contractor for some of the most popular hotel chains in the UK, including Travelodge, Marriott and Premier Inn. The company has worked alongside Premier Inn and Whitbread for more than 10 years and continue to assist with refurbs and new builds as well as being approached by new partners daily.

    Image of the floor being installed in Leonardo Royal City London hotel

    Image credit: Falcon Contract Flooring

    The relationship between Falcon and Edgewater Contracts has, since this project, further blossomed. “Edgewater would like to thank Falcon for all of their efforts on this project,” said Padraig Martin, Quantity Surveyor at Edgewater. “From tender stage, right through to onsite installation, the team made the process effortless. Their elements of the works were completed on time and within budget. Falcon was always on hand to give their expert advice to help us overcome any problems that arose, and we look forward to working with them on future projects.”

    It is projects like this that highlight the quality work Falcon is achieving, and this is down to the hard working and dedicated team behind the scenes including the internal office staff who work around the clock to make sure clients are always happy with the service provided. Leonardo City Hotel is a clear example of the skill set that the installing company has.

    Falcon Contract Flooring was a PRODUCT WATCH pitch partner at Hotel Designs LIVE.

    Main image credit: Leonardo Royal Hotel London City

    Lighting case study: The DuPont patisserie

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    Lighting case study: The DuPont patisserie

    Masiero’s latest project was to supply a new lighting scheme inside The DuPont patisserie, which included the Nappe and Eva collection…

    The DuPont patisserie is an institution founded in Dives sur Mer in Normandy in 1912. This historical success story is closely bound to the values of tradition and excelllence passed on from father to son in the DuPont family.

    Jean Pierre Etienvre Meilleur Ouvrier de France came to lead the Maison DuPont in 1990 with the sole purpose of offering quality products sublimated by the taste and memories of childhood. He kept the DuPont name, while adding “with tea”, so as to brand the gourmet tea rooms in the Cote Fleurie towns of Cabourg, Trouville sur Mer and Deauville.

    Image credit: Masiero

    Unmissable, with its trellis and gracious blue facade, the Dives sur Mer shop, a historical address since 1912, also offers special creations of the Maison.
    DuPont avec un the’ is also a key location for lovers of chocolate.

    As an artist, but not only in patisserie, Jean Pierre Etienvre has selected two iconic Masiero collections – Nappe and Eva – to light up his patisserie, an undisputed symbol of Normandy.

    Masiero is a family decorative lighting business going back almost 40 years and is recognised worldwide for its creations; these range from the classical world, detailed in the Atelier catalogue, to the contemporary sphere in the Dimore catalogue, both complemented by the outdoor collection called Drylight.
    Each collection in the Dimore catalogue stands out for its unique designs, which will captivate you, with their running theme being the remarkable Masiero taste.

    Walking into this paradise of good taste, you’ll be able to admire the Nappe lights in a delicate white hue as they adorn the tasty counter as if an elegant garland. The Nappe design, unique and unmistakable, was created by Marco Zito, who took inspiration from the tassels used in the past in grand Venetian salons to close substantial curtains; these Nappe light up the patisserie with great style, with the interplay of pastel hues that are a feature of the locale.

    The Eva collection, designed by the Fly Studio for Masiero, was chosen to light up the tables where visitors will be able not only to taste the delicacies of the patisserie but also to appreciate the welcoming and elegant environment. The marriage of classic and modern which are the hallmark of Eva, make this design a spot-on one for contemporary settings with a touch of the classic.

    Masiero is one of our Industry Support Package clients 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 credit: Masiero

    Bathroom brand Aqualisa expands its brassware offering

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    Bathroom brand Aqualisa expands its brassware offering

    Hard on the heels of launching an extended brassware range – the warmly received Uptown collection – shower manufacturer Aqualisa has introduced two more ranges of brassware under the new Downtown and Central branding…

    All three ranges are a value for money option, that will support shower sales with a combined, style matched brassware proposition. This latest move establishes Aqualisa as a brassware category player with a strong proposition for market sectors where bathroom customisation and the trend towards ‘mix and match’ is a strong purchase influence.

    These new tap offerings are relevant to all Aqualisa’s target markets – trade, consumer and specifier – where the opportunity exists to offer a co-ordinated sale of shower and taps under one brand with the same style elements. With a variation of lever styles, these taps cover both basin and bath variants and can be paired with a wide selection of single and dual lever mixer showers and bar valves, including the AQ, Mian, Midas and Dream ranges.

    “We’re keen  to support our showers through specialist retail and merchant showrooms with consumers that are looking for co-ordinated taps with strong brand values as well as to brand loyal installers at the trade counter who will specify taps as part of a complete bathroom refurbishment project,” says Head of Marketing Sian Brink.

    The introduction of these new tap ranges announces Aqualisa’s serious entry into the brassware market as it heads towards the end of 2020, but, importantly, the launch positions Aqualisa as a brassware brand with a more extensive offering to come in 2021.

    “These brassware options see the Aqualisa brand covering full, matching combinations of showers and taps to suit a broad range of bathroom installations,” says Sian Brink. “The choice of different lever styles provides options to match both new and existing sanitaryware styles, making them ideal for bathroom makeovers and updates.”

    All taps in the ranges are easy to fit with flexible hose connections and click clack wastes included with the basin taps. They are durable and functional with high quality limescale resistant chrome plate finish, justifying a five-year guarantee against any manufacturing defect.  With integral flow limiters and full WRAS approval, the ranges satisfy all Part G water safety, usage and efficiency standards.

    Aqualisa is one of our 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.

    Main image credit: Aqualisa

    Image of the Sterling Suite with Brit List logo

    The Brit List Awards 2020: the winners’ story

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    The Brit List Awards 2020: the winners’ story

    The Brit List Awards 2020 came to a dramatic climax yesterday, when the individual winners – in seven categories – were announced in the virtual awards ceremony that was broadcasted live from London. Editor Hamish Kilburn, who hosted that ceremony, has the winners’ story…

    Image of the Sterling Suite with Brit List logo

    Earlier this year, when we were all adapting to a #WFH summer, a designer accurately described how the pandemic has made us feel. “Covid-19 has been like a wet fish being slapped across our faces,” she said as I laughed, and then frowned with concern when I considered the enormity of the situation. Adapting during these no-doubt challenging times has resulted in many changes, but we were never going to allow a virus to impact on the quality of our nationwide search to find the top designers, architects, hoteliers and suppliers operating in Britain.

    This year’s judging panel – and of course our sponsors and partners – have been phenomenal: going above and beyond to support us as we made that difficult yet responsible decision to transform this year’s awards ceremony into a virtual capacity (while looking forward to the winners’ party that will following in April).

    During the in-depth judging process, we all discovered a new meaning of hospitality as we read how designers, architects and hoteliers are continuing to push conventional boundaries. But the category that really stood out, was the hoteliers – seeing the innovative initiatives that were born during the Covid-19 crisis was breathtaking, and this has naturally become a common thread between this year’s entries.

    Following the unveiling of The Brit List 2020, which references the top 75 influencers in British design and hospitality, we unveiled this year’s individual winners. Here are their stories.

    INTERIOR DESIGNER OF THE YEAR
    Winner: Albin Berglund, Co-Founder, Bergman Interiors

    The Brit List Awards - Albin Berglund

    Albin Burglund, in the judge’s words, won because of the wonderful sense of place that pervaded in his recent projects that were referenced in his entry. However, it is also his pioneering approach to designing a new era in wellness hospitality – and the studio’s drive to challenge conventional design – that makes Albin a worthy winner.

    Albin Berglund and Marie Soliman, the founders of Bergman Interiors, are making noise on the world’s luxury hotel design stage for challenging the past and offering solutions when designing the future of hospitality.

    ARCHITECT OF THE YEAR
    Winner: Christos Passas, Project Director, Zaha Hadid Architects

    The Brit List Awards - Christos Passas

    Christos Passas and the whole team at Zaha Hadid Architects have showed such immeasurable creativity for their work on The Opus in Dubai, which shelters ME Dubai. The striking mirrored-glass building gives modern architecture a new meaning. Its new-age yet timeless design challenges so many forms of convention, defying boundaries in architecture and design to stand as a fitting legacy to the late Zaha Hadid.

    HOTELIER OF THE YEAR
    Winner: Gary Neville, Co-Owner, Stock Exchange Hotel

    The Brit List Awards - Gary Neville

    To further prevent the spread of Covid-19 and to support key workers, both Hotel Football and Stock Exchange Hotel were among the first hotels in the UK to close and offer their rooms to NHS staff for free. Not only this but Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs, the co-owners of both hotels, also vowed not to make any staff redundant or put them on unpaid leave during the closures.

    BEST IN TECH
    Winner: XR Smart Studio (Royal Lancaster London)

    The Brit List Awards - XR Smart Studio

    In a time when hosting an event seems an unlikely possibility (sounds familiar), the team at the Royal Lancaster London introduced XR SmartStudio, in partnership with Smart AV. This innovative piece of equipment features a 20 sqm Extended Reality stage with LED backdrop and floor, audio, broadcast cameras and TV-ready lighting allowing clients to have both a live audience and virtual attendees.

    THE ECO AWARD
    Winner: Sibley Grove (The Chamberlain)

    The Brit List Awards - Sibley Grove

    Sibley Grove adopts a circular approach to design. This means that the studio considers the entire lifecycle of a product, ensuring materials are used again and again or integrated back into the natural world through decomposition. Designing in a circular way reduces demand on resources, reduces landfill, and incentivizes the production of clean, reusable materials.

    In the Chamberlain, for example, the ceilings use TROL DEKT acoustic panels, a biological material made from 100 per cent natural elements and FSC timber. It achieves high levels of technical performance in use, but crucially it can be disposed of harmlessly.

    A crucial part of The Chamberlain design is Sibley Grove’s policy of ‘design for disassembly’. An approach adopted in all of their projects. In other words, it is considering how the design will come apart after use, whether it is two or two hundred years into the future.

    BEST IN BRITISH PRODUCT DESIGN
    Winner: Sequel Principle collection, from Parkside and Alusid

    The Brit List Awards - Parkside

    The new Sequel Principle collection, from Parkside and Alusid, represents a huge step forward for the ceramic tile industry as the world’s first mass produced 95 per cent recycled content tile.

    With a tile body made entirely from by-products (post-consumer recycled glass and ceramic) of other manufacturing processes, Sequel Principle is based on technology that has taken a bold leap from a small batch production to a fully scalable process. Made by adapting the tile body to work in standard ceramic production facilities, Sequel Principle achieves a similar like-to-like cost as some other twice-fired tiles.

    OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY
    Winner: Fiona Thompson, Principal, Richmond International

    The Brit List Awards - Fiona Thompson

    I first met Fiona Thompson, Principal of Richmond International, in 2015. As a shy and timid features editor, I had not long graduated from uni and just like every post-grad feels in his/her first job, I felt like I had a point to prove. At the time, The Sterling Suite sheltered inside The Langham London was about to be completed, and I was fortunate enough to gain access into the studio where the sketches from this project became reality. Naturally, I was nervous.

    However, I was totally put at ease when Fiona beamed into the room, sat down and explained every design detail of the 450-square metre suite. Not only did she answer every single one of my 20+ questions, but she also showed an interest in me.

    During our priceless conversation, Fiona made me realise that I was embarking into an industry where human relationships – real relationships – are at the core of nearly every decision. And in these challenging times that we are in, I am all about REAL and MEANINGFUL relationships! Fiona, you wholeheartedly deserve this award!

    Thank you to our partners, and we will see you at the winners’ party in April!

    Geometric tiled walls inside Marriott Hotel Kensington

    Case study: Parkside’s role in Marriott Hotel Kensington

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    Case study: Parkside’s role in Marriott Hotel Kensington

    Several architectural tile collections from Parkside feature in the newly refurbished reception lobby, bar and restaurant of London’s Marriott Hotel Kensington…

    Geometric tiled walls inside Marriott Hotel Kensington

    Drawing inspiration from the culture, museums and architecture of the Kensington district, Design Coalition worked with Parkside on a scheme involving the specification company’s wall and floor tiles.

    Behind the main check-in desk and on the front of counters, the 3D Rombini Triangle by Mutina is used to striking linear effect, bringing a distinctly modern feel in crisp white. On the floors of the reception lobby, Design Coalition has drawn inspiration from the grand architecture of the museums surrounding the hotel with the large format terrazzo design Blythe combined with a concrete effect tile waterjet cut to shape.

    The hotel’s Cast Iron restaurant takes on a classic British mid-century theme and so Parkside sourced custom mosaics to meet Design Coalition’s brief, as well as supplying Lome in the Crochet pattern, a design inspired by traditional hand-painted terracotta tiles.

    Kim Thraves, interior design associate, Design Coalition, says: “Parkside really helped us to make the most of our tile specification for the hotel, working to source exactly what we needed and offering fast samples. They even met the contractors on-site, surveying the project to check the specification was suitable and gave advice on installation and the selection of the correct adhesives and grouts.”

    A total of 450m2 of ceramic and porcelain tiles supplied by Parkside were installed at Marriott Hotel Kensington by Charnic Interiors, a specialist hotel refurbishment company.

    Parkside, which has just won Best in British Product Design at The Brit List Awards 2020, is one of our 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.

    Main image credit: Parkside/Marriott Hotel Kensington

    Winners of The Brit List Awards 2020 unveiled

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    Winners of The Brit List Awards 2020 unveiled

    Hundreds of designers, architects, hoteliers, developers and suppliers tuned in today to watch the awards ceremony that crowned the winners of The Brit List Awards 2020…

    Hotel Designs’ nationwide search to find the top designers, architects, hoteliers and suppliers operating in Britain came to a head yesterday as the winners of The Brit List Awards 2020 were officially announced.

    Adhering to social distancing measures and the latest government guidelines, this year’s awards were filmed from inside Minotti London’s Fitzrovia showroom, which will host The Brit List Winners’ Party/MEET UP London on April 29, 2021.

    “If anything, the pandemic has made our nationwide search that much more meaningful.” – Hamish Kilburn, editor of Hotel Designs and host of The Brit List Awards 2020.

    Editor Hamish Kilburn, who took the microphone as host for the third consecutive year, welcomed the virtual audience with a nod to the industry’s resilience during the pandemic. “Covid-19 may have changed a lot of things, but it was never going to impact the quality of our nationwide search to find the most influential designers, architects and hoteliers operating in Britain,” said Kilburn. “If anything, the pandemic has made our nationwide search that much more meaningful.

    Save the date: The Brit List Winners’ Party/MEET UP London takes place on April 29

    “Year-on-year, we pour our hearts into our nationwide search, and I am really proud that our awards has become a major event in the design, architecture and hospitality calendar.”

    Ahead of the virtual event, Hotel Designs asked this year’s partners and judges what The Brit List Awards meant to them:

    This year’s handpicked judging panel, who joined Kilburn in a brief panel discussion during the awards ceremony, were carefully selected to include international experts in design, architecture and hotel development.

    The afternoon’s celebrations were divided into two sections. First came the formal unveiling of The Brit List 2020, the official publication, produced by Hotel Designs, that whittles down the shortlist to reference this year’s top 75 designers, architects and hoteliers who have proven themselves to be the industry’s most creative and innovative individuals operating in Britain today.

    The event then continued, with Kilburn inviting Parters of The Brit List Awards 2020 to announce this year’s individual award winners.

    And the winners are: 

    INTERIOR DESIGNER OF THE YEAR

    The Brit List Awards - Albin Berglund

    Highly Commended: Geraldine Dohogne, Founder, Beyond Design
    Winner: Albin Berglund, Co-Founder, Bergman Interiors

    ARCHITECT OF THE YEAR

    The Brit List Awards - Christos Passas

    Highly Commended: Luke Fox, Head of Studio, Foster + Partners
    Winner: Christos Passas, Project Director, Zaha Hadid Architects

    HOTELIER OF THE YEAR

    The Brit List Awards - Gary Neville

    Highly Commended: Chris King, Co-Founder, Birch
    Winner: Gary Neville, Co-Founder, Stock Exchange Hotel

    BEST IN TECH

    The Brit List Awards - XR Smart Studio

    Highly Commended: Aqualisa (Quartz Touch)
    Winner: XR Smart Studio (Royal Lancaster London)

    THE ECO AWARD

    The Brit List Awards - Sibley Grove

    Highly Commended: Focus EcoDesign Fireplaces
    Winner: Sibley Grove (The Chamberlain)

    BEST IN BRITISH PRODUCT DESIGN 

    The Brit List Awards - Parkside

    Highly Commended: Monkey Puzzle Tree (‘Hit the North’ real cork wallpaper)
    Winner: Sequel Principle collection, from Parkside and Alusid

    OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY AWARD:

    The Brit List Awards - Fiona Thompson
    Winner: Fiona Thompson, Principal, Richmond International

    —

    Thank you to our Partners!

    Innovation in shower design: introducing Crossbox Push by Crosswater

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    Innovation in shower design: introducing Crossbox Push by Crosswater

    One year on from the successful launch of the original Crossbox – a single universal installation box with multiple trim set designs – Crosswater has extended the range with the introduction of Crossbox Push…

    Crossbox Push is Crosswater’s recently launched shower unit, which has evolved out of the success of Crossbox that launched last year. It comprises an all-metal backplate, rotary and temperature control which delivers a high-quality, premium feel – with five different MPRO trim-sets available.

    Available in a two or three outlet variant, the new coloured trim-sets offer enhanced choice, allowing the homeowner to select a trim design that will complement their existing décor.  Intelligent push technology relies on NEOPERL® ABS push buttons and FSG cartridge to provide a seamless showering experience, the user can easily transition between sources or alternatively, stop the flow completely.

    Comfort and safety is guaranteed with the vernet thermostatic cartridge technology, this means that whilst the temperature will be regulated, if there was a sudden change in water temperature, the thermostatic cartridge can adapt quickly and return the water to its comfortable pre-set temperature. Flühs precise 45-degree rotation, allows the water flow to be easily adjusted.

    Extremely easy to install, the Crossbox Push device requires installation via one single universal installation core. Enhanced with deeper 16.5mm projection, the backplate can easily accommodate the push technology whilst retaining its sleek aesthetic.

    A black bathroom with modern Crosswater shower outlet

    Image credit: Crosswater

    Developed with all of the intelligent features seen in the original Crossbox design but with an enhanced trim, the new Crossbox Push benefits from the built-in ‘Easy-Switch’ module, to allow for simple and quick flow reversal if the feeds are plumbed the wrong way around making it an ideal choice for installers and retailers alike.

    While you’re here, why not check out the Matt White finishes in Crosswater’s MPRO Collection?

    With ease of installation and ease of use at the forefront of its design, Crossbox Push is, in our opinion, the perfect addition to the modern bathroom and ideal for lifestyle hotels that are looking to future-proof their showers.

    Crosswater 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 credit: Crosswater

    Image of Little Emporers propertys and Rebecca, the company's founder

    Industry insight: booking travel through a tech-savvy app

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    Industry insight: booking travel through a tech-savvy app

    Hotel Designs learns how one company is using innovative tech to target its audience in the best way possible. Rebecca Masri, Founder of Little Emperors, writes…

    Image of Little Emporers propertys and Rebecca, the company's founder

    Following my 10 years working in the city at Goldman Sachs, I learnt the importance of purchase power. Following the financial crash in 2008 I decided to set up a hotel club, Little Emperors, based on my experience and using the contacts I had acquired. 11 years later this established hotel club offers its members affordable luxury with exclusive access to incredible hotel rates and benefits.

    Little Emperors advanced forward-thinking technology and optimised search engine helps members find bespoke hotel trips and experiences perfectly suited to their requirements and personal preferences.  The technology allows the company to target its members with bespoke marketing and knows what its members want even before they do. Using a sophisticated technology we can track our 35,000+ members search and booking patterns, and engage in tactical suggestions with an easy to use app and website. With access to booking search engines, we are in a unique position of being able to access what travellers are looking for and can therefore predict future travel trends, always being one step ahead of the curve.

    We save time and money – both valuable of course, with our quick thinking app where members can complete a booking within just four clicks, and our hotel partnerships which offer our members both corporate rates or leisure benefits, guaranteed to save money on bookings. We also have a ‘Lowest Rate Guaranteed’ with all our hotel partners, so if a member finds a comparable rate cheaper elsewhere, we will match the price and add a benefit to the booking such as a room upgrade or hotel credit.

    As well as allowing members to book easily, our app also provides access to live availability and detailed hotel & room descriptions at any time. I believe it is our innovative tech that has allowed us to grow into a members club which truly looks after its members. This is why we have a 98 per cent retention rate of members and each member on average will refer at least three more who join.

    The last six months have been particularly challenging and have shown us the importance of connection and booking holidays through a trusted source. Members clubs are not only safe, but they look after members, and will work around the clock ensuring all members needs are met. As travellers are increasingly waiting until the very last moment to book holidays, the desire to book using a smart and efficient system is becoming more popular than ever. Thankfully Little Emperors was created with our members best interests at heart, delivering the very best service through our user-friendly app, and we hope we can help more and more aspiring travellers to once again reach all corners of the world through travelling with us.

    Main image credit: Little Emperors

    Marriott debuts first Moxy hotel in Taiwan

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    Marriott debuts first Moxy hotel in Taiwan

    Moxy Taichung combines stylish, industrial-chic design with sociable service at the intersection of Taichung’s uptown and downtown districts…

    Following the hotel group announcing its 800th hotel opening in the Asia Pacific region, Marriott International has announced the opening of its first Moxy Hotel in Taiwan, shaking up the city’s hospitality scene with its playful spirit. The experiential and next gen-focused Moxy Taichung is located near many of the city’s attractions, including the colorfully quirky Rainbow Village, Zhongshe Flower Market, as well as the street food paradise of Yizhong Street Night Market – all must-visit destinations for the young and young-at-heart.

    “We are excited to see the arrival of the Moxy brand in Taiwan with the opening of Moxy Taichung,” said Henry Lee, President, Greater China, Marriott International. “This opening marks the sixth Moxy Hotel to open in Asia Pacific and further underscores Marriott International’s commitment to continue growing its lifestyle portfolio across the region, and to cater to the next-generation of travelers with tailored experiences in a well-designed space that is surprisingly affordable.”

    Queen supier room inside Moxy Hotel

    Image credit: Moxy Hotels/Marriott International

    Moxy Taichung features 262 bedrooms that are cleverly designed to maximise space and allow guests the flexibility to adapt the room to their needs. Each room is equipped with the latest technology featuring a 55-inch flat screen television, high quality sound system, furiously fast and free Wi-Fi, ample USB power outlets, motion-activated LED guidelights below the bed, and a backlighted glass panel to add ambiance.

    The hotel also features several of the brand’s signature playful touches, kicking the experience off with check-in at Bar Moxy where guests are greeted with a complimentary “Got Moxy” cocktail. The bar also doubles up as a communal hub for dining, drinks, and social gatherings. At sunset, the chic rooftop bar XOXO is buzzing with energy, and is the place to be for light bites, decadent drinks, and curated cocktails.

    The hotel also shelters a 24-hour fitness centre decked out with cardiovascular equipment, free weights, and other equipment including SYNRGY and TRX. In addition, a tech-enabled meeting room is also available for any team brainstorming sessions in the hotel.

    “Across the Asia Pacific region and the world, the strong growth of our playful Moxy brand is proof that its brand philosophy resonates with millennial and next-gen guests, who seek a hotel stay at an affordable price point, saving on space and splurging on experiences,” said Jennie Toh, Vice President, Brand, Asia Pacific, Marriott International. “We are excited to be bringing the Moxy brand to Taiwan with the opening of Moxy Taichung, and to welcome travellers to the Moxy experience in this dynamic, future-forward city.”

    Taichung is Taiwan’s second largest city, home to its lively cultural, arts, entertainment, and lifestyle scenes. In addition to its many museums, theaters, parks and temples, Taichung’s Chun Shui Tang teahouse is said to be the original birthplace of bubble tea. The city is also home to many of Taiwan’s high-tech manufacturing facilities, particularly in the semiconductor and transport industries.

    Main image credit: Moxy Hotels/Marriott International

    A lonely chair on cork flooring

    A modern tradition – introducing a new range by Granorte

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    A modern tradition – introducing a new range by Granorte

    As we continue our journey looking at innovative sustainable solutions, editor Hamish Kilburn casts his eyes on Tradition, a range of glue-down cork floor tiles from Granorte…

    A lonely chair on cork flooring

    As we spend more time in our home during the new normal, we’re increasingly conscious of the materials and finishes we choose and the impact they have on our wellbeing. Materials that link us to the positive effects of the natural world are gaining popularity and helping us to feel calm and relaxed as we seek to feel protected and secure within our homes.

    Cork, as we have realised for a while now at Hotel Designs, is an ideal surface to foster this connectivity and is one that not only links us to nature but helps to preserve it also. Cork’s unique aesthetic is deep rooted in the natural world and arguably, its status as a historic floor used in happier times cements its soothing and calming effect. Harvested from bark, rather than felling, cork comes from trees that live for hundreds of years, so it is a material that’s renewable and natural, and which also helps to sustain the balance of the atmosphere.

    Granorte’s Tradition collection is as close to the original cork floors as is possible to find today. Possessing a history dating back over a century, cork tiled floors are the purest use of the material and to which Tradition stays faithful. With a natural sanded pre-finish ready for sealing, these stylish glue-down tiles are available in agglomerated designs that all provide a beautiful and richly organic cork aesthetic.

    “While we have innovated to harness the benefits of cork with products that respond to today’s interiors in floating click floors and PVC-free LVT alternatives, it is the simplicity and pureness of Tradition that seems extraordinarily appropriate at the moment,” says Paulo Rocha, product and R&D manager, Granorte. “Tradition is a sustainable flooring choice that puts homes in direct touch with the natural environment – it is a simple execution of the material that feels all the more genuine and authentic for that very reason.”

    Tradition is available from Granorte in a 4mm thick 600 x 300mm tile, manufactured in Portugal from 100% cork recycled from the wine stopper industry.

    Granorte is one of our Industry Support Package clients 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 credit: Granorte

    The Brit List Awards 2020: how to virtually celebrate in style

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    The Brit List Awards 2020: how to virtually celebrate in style

    With The Brit List Awards 2020 getting underway in just a few hours time, our editorial team have compiled their top tips to making the most out of a virtual awards ceremony (it includes fizz)…

    The awards ceremony for The Brit List Awards 2020, Hotel Designs’ nationwide search to find the top designers, architects, hoteliers and suppliers operating in Britain, takes place at 14:00 (UK time) today.

    While you’re here, why not read the shortlist for The Brit list Awards 2020?

    As this year’s ceremony is taking place in a virtual format in order to adhere to the latest social distancing measures (not something that comes naturally to our industry), we have pulled together some tried and tested top tips to ensure you experience this year’s virtual awards ceremony in style.

    1) Do not disturb

    An animation that says do not disturb

    Image credit: Morgan Housel on Unsplash

    Switch your ‘Out of Office’ on, get comfortable and stay hydrated (we recommend a glass of fizz as this is a celebration) 

    2) Stay connected

    WALLPAPER with tweet tweet in lighting

    Image credit: Chris J. Davis on Unsplash

    Connect with us and the industry across social – our hashtag for the event is #TheBritListAwards2020.

    Please tag us in your posts on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and Linkedin – @HotelDesigns – so that we can reshare your content to our global audience.

    3) Get ready to party!

    Image of champagne and sign to party

    Image credit:Alealexander Naglestad- and Nick Fewings on unsplash

    And finally, why not dress to impress? While our awards ceremony this year may be virtual, our winners’ party is certainly not! The Brit List Winners’ Party/MEET UP London is taking place at Minotti London on April 29, 202 (purchase your tickets here).

    So, what happens now?

    If you have signed up to join us for this memorable industry calendar moment then you will have received your Zoom invitation by now. This will have come from Forum Events with the subject line – The Brit List Awards 2020 – The Award Ceremony Confirmation.  

    You know the drill – just click the link in the Zoom confirmation email to attend The Brit List Awards 2020 (don’t be late)! 

    The agenda of the virtual awards ceremony

    Editor’s Welcome
    Meet the Judges
    The unveiling of The Brit List 2020
    Individual winners announced 

    #TheBritListAwards2020 | Main image credit: Unsplash

    A bathroom with floral walls and modern shower unit from Kaldewei

    Kaldewei provides bathroom solutions for Germany’s largest hotel

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    Kaldewei provides bathroom solutions for Germany’s largest hotel

    Bathroom brand Kaldewei has been specified to provide high-end bathroom solutions for The Estrel, which is Germany’s largest hotel…

    With no less than 1,125 guestrooms and suites, The Estrel, located in Berlin, is Germany’s largest hotel – and it has just announced a major refurbishment.

    A bathroom with floral walls and modern shower unit from Kaldewei

    In addition to the mass of rooms, the hotel also shelters four restaurants, three bars, a summer garden with its own landing pier, a state-of-the-art wellness area and gym. Adjoining the four-star plus hotel is the Estrel Congress Center, where more than 75 conference rooms provide the ideal setting for events and conventions.

    As part of its refurbishment, the hotel specified Kaldewei bathtubs, shower surfaces and washbasins for more than 1,000 of its bathrooms. Thanks to these superior steel enamel bathroom solutions, the bathrooms have been transformed into exclusive sanctuaries, surrounded by, but far removed from hectic city life.

    The Estrel offers an intimate ambience and modern design that shapes the character of the spacious rooms and suites. In addition to the numerous standard and de luxe rooms, accessible rooms are also available. Whatever a guest’s room requirements, The Estrel will meet them with its Junior, Deluxe and Executive suites or its Presidential Suite, which also features antique furnishings. Located on the 17th floor, the 250 square metre Presidential Suite is one of the hotel’s highlights. As a privately-run property, creating an intimate ambience and ensuring guests are given individual attention are paramount for the Estrel Berlin. This includes special features such as the Estrel summer garden with its own landing pier, from where guests can embark on a cruise on the Spree through Berlin.

    The guest bathrooms: personalised comfort of the highest standard

    At the Estrel, guests can experience to shower surfaces, washbasins and bathtubs made of sustainable Kaldewei steel enamel which, thanks to state-of-the-art add- on accessories, promise unparalleled relaxation. More than 1,000 of the hotel’s bathrooms feature Cayonoplan, Superplan and Superplan Plus shower surfaces so guests can enjoy a wonderfully invigorating experience.

    A bathroom with floral wallcoverings and modern bath in the middle from Kaldewei

    Image credit: Kaldewei/The Estrel

    In addition, the Pure Duo bathtubs – some fitted with Kaldewei Skin Touch and Sound Wave – guarantee delightful bathing that stimulates all the senses. While the Skin Touch wellness feature delivers a naturally rejuvenating effect, guests can immerse themselves in the resonant vibrations of their favourite music with the Sound Wave bathtub audio system. In keeping with the elegant and aesthetic bathroom design, the wellness experience is rounded off with over 500 Puro undercounter washbasins. In this way, Kaldewei once again meets the hotel industry’s demanding requirements for aesthetic, long-lasting and sustainable bathroom solutions.

    Steel enamel: for sustainability in the bathroom

    Thanks to the resilient surface made of superior steel enamel, Kaldewei bathroom solutions show no signs of wear and tear even after years of intensive use and cleaning. Once their long useful life comes to an end, they are fully recyclable making them ideal for sustainable hotels. “We are delighted that our high-end bathroom solutions are helping to make the Estrel Berlin a very special place for rest and regeneration. Kaldewei and Estrel are two brands that fit perfectly together and meet the highest standards,” says Managing Director Franz Kaldewei.

    Kaldewei is one of our 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.

    Main image credit: Kaldewei/The Estrel

    UNILIN Evola brings the perfect blue to KafKaf

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    UNILIN Evola brings the perfect blue to KafKaf

    UNILIN Panels, has helped to create an Instagrammable Parisian hotspot at KafKaf, a Middle Eastern inspired coffee bar with an interior by design studio Fairly…

    After just a few months of opening in the 11th district of Paris, KafKaf boasts an online community of some 15,000 followers and has become a favoured meeting place for the local community. UNILIN Evola decorative finishes have been used in a scheme created by studio Fairly, unusually developed before the bar’s location had been decided.

    Adeline Paty, co-founder of design studio Fairly, comments: “Even before the final site was determined, we had to develop the concept and select the materials and furniture. We had the opportunity to start at the very essence of the project without getting lost in site-specific challenges. This ultimately led to stronger and more radical design choices.

    “Whoever walks through KafKaf’s door has to feel like they’ve travelled to Tunisia without running into cliches and so used a few small, original Middle Eastern details in the interior. Everything also had to be connected – the colours of the coffee makers and other decorative accessories are in the same hues as the finishes. Terracotta-rose comes up in different places and surfaces and on the skirting boards and some chairs you’ll find black accents. The famous Majorelle blue, contrasting with the rest of the interior, gives the bar its unique identity.”

    The original colours and high-quality finish of UNILIN Evola HPL panels, notably in Persian Blue, captured the aesthetics of KafKaf and fitted with the sustainable goals of Fairly. Offering a finish that delivers impressive durability and low maintenance, UNILIN Evola is ideal for the busy café, with the décor’s matt finish to giving the colour an authentic richness.

    “Of course, the most important reason for choosing UNILIN Evola for the bar and counter was that perfect blue hue. It was precisely what we wanted.” continues Adeline Paty. “In addition, we always recommend solutions to our customers that have the smallest possible CO2 footprint. During a visit to UNILIN’s production site in Belgium, we were impressed by the company’s global, sustainable approach – particularly its use of recycled wood in panels. For a company called Fairly, this means something.”

    UNILIN is one of our 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.

    Main image credit: UNILIN

    Image of minimalist bedroom with earthy tones

    Architectural films: the eco-friendly materials that are transforming hotel interiors

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    Architectural films: the eco-friendly materials that are transforming hotel interiors

    With eco-friendly materials fast becoming rising stars in the world of interiors, there are multiple benefits of using architectural films and how they can refurbish existing surfaces. Lindsay Appleton, from surface manufacturer Architextural, explains…

    Image of minimalist bedroom with earthy tones

    Gone are the days when wrapping was exclusive to vehicles; architectural films have opened up a wealth of design possibilities.

    In a world where businesses need to keep up with the latest trends, refurbs are always high on the agenda, but contrary to popular belief, a renovation project doesn’t have to break the bank. Transforming a hotel interior has never been easier. From walls to partitions and even lifts, doors, columns and ceilings, thanks to architectural finishes you can wrap any surface. If you’re looking for an alternative renovation solution, why not consider self-adhesive films for a simple and cost-effective resolution for interior design projects?

    You may not realise it, but you are surrounded by architectural films. Commonly found on intricate structures, self-adhesive films can be used in both domestic and commercial environments, including bars, restaurants, offices and more.

    Third Wave Coffee Shop Interior

    Image credit: Architextural/Third Wave Coffee Shop

    Architects and interior designers turn to wrapping films for a number of reasons. They are durable, 3D-conformable, and can be quickly and easily installed with little noise, mess or waste and because they are lightweight, they can be applied in situ.

    Wrap it, don’t rip it

    The last decade has highlighted the importance of looking after our environment and architectural finishes can help tick that box too.

    The traditional rip out and replace refurb methods result in existing interiors and materials being sent to landfill. Architectural finishes solve this problem. With a durability of 10 years plus, cost-conscious businesses have the option to renovate on a budget by simply wrapping the existing surfaces and upcycling instead.

    With sustainability set to be a key trend in 2020 surface finishes can be used to make high-impact, sophisticated designs, in a variety of realistic finishes, ranging from textiles, concrete, marble, wood grain and more.

     On trend

    With over a thousand patterns to choose from, the possibilities really are unlimited, making in-vogue design more than achievable with architectural finishes.

    Mimicking the aesthetics of natural materials, architectural films offer unrivalled choice of on-trend patterns and an alternative method to upcycle existing substrates in an affordable, high-quality finish.

    Believe it or not, concrete is increasingly becoming the go-to material for bathrooms. Replicating this trend using film can be achieved, without having to build a wall of concrete. Giving a robust, industrial feel, the tough yet stylish look can offer a focal point for wall design.

    Ever pined for interior design that replicates the outdoors? Then a realistic wood finish should be high on your list. You may be thinking that the look, feel and touch of wood would be impossible to replicate; however, with the new dry wood collection from 3M DI-NOC architectural finishes, it is possible to look and feel like the real deal.

    A chair in a lounge with dark surfaces on the walls and a bookshelf

    Image credit: Architextural

    Feature walls are also a must-have in numerous commercial spaces. We are starting to see more and more distinctive feature walls or partitions and vinyls can provide businesses with a creative way to stand out from the crowd as a more durable alternative to wallpapers and painted effects. It’s important to maximise feature wall opportunities as it can help to create a strong, dynamic impression within an interior space. The new ultra matt or suede range also ticks this box.

    Cost benefits

    The market opportunity for refurbishment projects is huge. Market growth is a key indicator that shows commercial businesses are keen to invest to improve their spaces, to not only enhance branding, employee satisfaction and also customers experience.

    As it typically costs seven times more to rip out and buy new interiors, rather than refurbishing existing surfaces, architectural finishes offer a great way of keeping within a manageable budget.

    Image of wood-like surface in modern bedroom

    Image credit: Architextural

    Companies looking to reduce costs and improve their environmental sustainability should perhaps consider upcycling the building’s doors, structures, partitions and furniture with self-adhesive finishes to refresh spaces without the loss of revenue or disruption to the business.

    Architextural is one of our 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.

    Main image credit: Architextural

    Image of pictures hung on the wall

    Industry insight: the art of lighting

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    Industry insight: the art of lighting

    As we begin to steer our editorial attention towards art, lighting brand Franklite offers an interesting perspective on the possibilities of creative lighting schemes…

    Image of pictures hung on the wall

    Artists use light to give form, depth and atmosphere to their piece when they sculpt. By studying the way light works artists used this knowledge to evoke an emotional response with their audience. Leonardo Da Vinci researched the effects of light during the renaissance, breathing a new sense of life and realness into his paintings that wasn’t present in the most religious art of that time.

    With light being so important in the creation of art, it is equally, if not more, important in the display of that art. There are various ways to light art, ranging from the picture light to the framing projector. Accent lighting is used to highlight pictures and collections by accentuating architectural features, adding drama and creating a mood.

    Last year in Amsterdam at the Independent Hotel Show, Franklite collaborated with the Saatchi Gallery to illuminate their exhibition. In these portrait pieces it was important to highlight the faces of the subjects. For this the lighting designer decided to utilise our adjustable picture lights to direct the light source as required.

    The brand’s picture lights are available in modern matt gold, bronze, polished brass and satin nickel finishes to suit any décor and the LED lamps come in a variety of colour temperatures to help you evoke the right mood for the space – and picture light dimming options are also available.

    Franklite is one of our 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.

    *Lights supplied for the Saatchi Art Gallery by Franklite.

    Main image credit: Franklite

    Colourful Morgan showroom in Clerkenwell, featuring an option of contemporary furniture

    Morgan showroom in Clerkenwell, London, goes virtual

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    Morgan showroom in Clerkenwell, London, goes virtual

    Morgan, one of the UK’s most respected contract furniture designers and manufacturers, announces a forward-thinking digital launch, making what otherwise would be an impossible task, a completely viable option in today’s online world…

    Colourful Morgan showroom in Clerkenwell, featuring an option of contemporary furniture

    With the world falling into a second wave of lockdown and restrictions, Morgan have moved its Clerkenwell showroom from London to online, creating a showroom tour accessible to its clients worldwide, via a virtual showroom found on the company’s website.

    The virtual tour allows clients and prospective buyers to walk through the double-height gallery space with as much clarity as if they were truly in Clerkenwell. Allowing a brilliant opportunity to safely explore the products, showcased in a brightly lit, carefully curated interior.

    Each product is tagged with a link directly to the associated product page, allowing you to quickly and easily see alternative options for your interior. Further links included take you to the resources page, full of detailed information and downloadable files.

    While you’re here, why not read about how Morgan put a new spin on furniture with classic materials?

    Morgan is one of our 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.

    Main image credit: Morgan

    Orb lighting in nail bar inside spa

    Case study: taking Champneys Mottram Hall into a new design era

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    Case study: taking Champneys Mottram Hall into a new design era

    Sparcstudio, an independent, creative design studio with a reputation for excellence in the spa, wellness, hotel and resort sectors has collaborated on one of the UK’s most highly anticipated spa redevelopments for 2020, Champneys Mottram Hall…

    Orb lighting in nail bar inside spa

    Champneys first property in the North of England at Mottram Hall in Cheshire opened this September following a £10m spa renovation. The updated 3,270sqm Champneys Health Club and Spa features 15 treatment rooms.

    Sparcstudio were honoured to work alongside Champneys’ own in-house spa experts; Champneys owners, Stephen and Dorothy Purdew & Group Property Director Chris Maryon to help create and design the new spa – both from a space planning and interior design perspective, working alongside Architects Darling Associates.

    Exterior of Mottram Hall

    Image credit: Peter Kochia

    “The result is without doubt the best hotel spa in the United Kingdom.” – Stephen Purdew, owner of the Champneys group.

    “We are absolutely delighted, the design by Beverley and Tom at Sparcstudio is just incredible,” said Stephen Purdew, owner of the Champneys group. “With the ambition to build the very best spa for a Hotel in the United Kingdom, there was only one design practice to use, Sparcstudio. The result is without doubt the best hotel spa in the United Kingdom. The design and attention to detail, plus their enthusiasm, professionalism and cooperative working culture has all been a joy. Thank you to the Sparcstudio team, we at Champneys are so happy.”

    Image of day beds on side of the pool

    Image credit: Fleur Challis Photography

    Embracing the concept of ‘barefoot luxury’, the team at Sparcstudio, led by Directors, Beverley Bayes and Tom Howell brings together a design palette to reflect refined nature, which is cosy, contemporary and effortlessly glamorous. The relaxed and informal vibe runs from reception through to the seamless merging of the inside and out throughout the spa. Sparcstudio has created a sense of anticipation in design throughout the guest journey, with glimpses of the spa experiences created throughout the project. In reception guests can see through to the Beauty Lounge, pool area, hexagonal spa café  and gardens beyond.

    Image of round sun beds surrounding large pool

    Image credit: Fleur Challis Photography

    Bayes said: “For Champneys Spa Mottram Hall,  we looked to create a Glamorous contemporary country house vibe befitting to the Champneys brand incorporating lots of areas for lounging and socialising throughout the zones and spa experiences, furnished with grand scale bespoke designed organic  sofas, and including bespoke designed thermal cabins and pools.

    “Champneys has always been ahead of the curve in terms of its philosophy of combining  health, beauty and wellbeing, so we paid particular attention to the design of the extensive fitness areas, which includes a timber lined gym with full height glazing overlooking a terrace and reflective pool, a spin studio and and first floor panoramic Studio.

    “The palette includes Light oak fluted timber, washed timber ceiling and the use of natural cane to provide an instant connection with nature, offset with sumptuous leather, mohair and brass to create a sense of luxury and opulence.”

    On entering, guests are immersed into a luxurious contemporary country house-style. The double-sided fireplace is the centrepiece of this space, providing a warm glow and comforting welcome flanked by double sided bookcases, twin bespoke curving fringed sofas They are greeted at the padded leather, cane and marble reception desk.

    Reception at Champneys Mottram Hall

    Image credit: Andy Griffiths

    Light oak fluted timber, timber ceiling and the use of natural cane creates an instant connection with nature. Geometric diamond patterns on screens are repeated in the fabrics which help to connect the design throughout the spa. Elegant social spaces have been created with small gathering hubs backed by diamond fret cut screens. Carrara marble and satin brass fixtures create a textured, elegant and sumptuous look to the space.

    Spa cafe inside Mottram Hall

    Image credit: Andy Griffiths

    The use of geometric patterns in the spa design create a natural connection to the hexagonal design of the spa lounge and cafe, all complemented Tom Dixon light fittings suspended from the ceiling and doors connecting to the Spa garden.

    The light filled timber panelled fitness area has been designed by Sparcstudio to harmonise with the spa overall, reflecting the fact that fitness and wellbeing are an integral part of the Champneys offer. Sparcstudio have created a natural vibe with geometric tiles, herringbone timber floors and rubberised matting for functional and HIIT training make this a purposeful and contemporary fitness space, fret cut screens create mini-zones and breakout spaces for guests and the centrepiece is an aged olive tree, a focal point which connects the inside and out perfectly.

    Outside the full height glazed windows of the gym runs a water feature to further connect the indoor and outside, with views to the grounds beyond. Two additional workout studios include one for spin classes and a pilates/yoga studio with  and panoramic views from the full height glazing.

    In the changing rooms, Sparcstudio has installed luxurious vanity points, bespoke swivelling powder bar chairs, (by RHA furniture) marble lined showers and spacious, wood and brass lockers to craft a space that is contemporary, modern and private. Guests arriving for treatments can benefit from the Beauty Lounge with with nail bar and pedicure ‘throne’, Champneys’ first barbers and for individual treatments, each treatment room is finished with marble counter tops, brass circular mirrors and soft green walls to create a sense of serenity and calm.

    Modern hair salon inside Mottram Hall

    Image credit: Fleur Challis Photography

    The first floor restaurant is light filled and has panoramic views across countryside and  features pale concrete wall rendering, timber wall paneling and flooring, created from wood and encaustic tiles with geometric patterns. Bespoke banquette seating backed with cane and crafted plush fabrics add a cosy touch with an added element of privacy.

    The space features a ‘bris soleil’ screen and fluted timber paneling, bespoke artwork and lighting on each table by Northern Lights.

    The pool area has been extensively upgraded with the addition of a  new elevated  oval Hydro pool , experience showers and elegant private cabanas. This leads through to a new Pool and Thermal zone building with a 20m pool top lit pool at its centre,  surrounded by full height glazing overlooking the spa garden. Sparcstduio designed a series bespoke thermal experiences (supplied by Dale Sauna) including a circular salt steam room, brechel bath, ice shute, cold room and organic sauna have been added. The organic sauna is designed with glazed fascia and etched natural pattern features views to the pool area and to the terrace outside.

    Sparcstudio is one of the brands that has taken advantage of our Industry Support Package. To keep up to date with supplier news, click here.

    Main image caption: Andy Griffiths

    A close up of a shower outlet from Unidrain

    Product watch: Unidrain introduce new outlet unit

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    Product watch: Unidrain introduce new outlet unit

    One of the main USPs of Unidrain’s new outlet is the low installation height, which allows for faster and more efficient installation…

    Efficient and cost effective building solutions are always being sort within the industry.

    A close up of a shower outlet from Unidrain

    A product that is easy to install, reduces not only the number of materials needed but the time it takes to complete the building process, is destined to be in high demand. This is especially true, when the unit is introduced by a company with an award – winning reputation for excellence.

    Unidrain have expanded their range; to include a newly developed outlet unit with an extra low installation height – just 69 mm. The solution includes a brand new water trap with a height of 50 mm. This new outlet unit is almost 20 mm lower than the manufacturer’s existing outlet units.

    “We’ve developed a solution where the building height is lowered by almost 20 mm, which actually means a lot in construction. The extra-low outlet unit and water trap provide several benefits on site which combine to make installation both easier and faster,” said Lasse Lyck, Technical Manager at Unidrain. “It is particularly beneficial for renovation and conversion projects as they benefit from a lower drainage installation that’s easier to build into an existing floor.”

    A lower solution with lots of capacity

    The water trap effectively guides the water out of the shower and eliminates odour; the water capacity in the new water trap is 32 litres per minute; making the solution well above the minimum requirement of 24 litres per minute. The water trap can easily be dismantled for cleaning and if a rear facing outlet is required the trap can be rotated as needed.

    “We kept the height as low as possible, so the installation also ends up being very low but without compromising on either function or effectiveness. We’ve optimised the solution in terms of size whilst at the same time retained all its benefits and lots of capacity,” added Lyck.

    In addition to being VA-approved, the product meets all common Danish standards, such as BR18 (including SBi Guideline 252) and DS 432. In addition, the solution meets the important European standard EN1253 and is approved in most European countries.

    Unidrain was established in 2003 this design company has gone from inventing the linear floor drain to creating a leading international brand, spreading Danish design ethics and Nordic minimalism to the rest of the globe.

    Unidrain 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.

    Main image credit: Unidrain

    HRC 2021 cancelled due to Covid-19

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    HRC 2021 cancelled due to Covid-19

    The 2021 edition of the Hotel, Restaurant and Catering show (HRC) has been cancelled  due to the Covid-19 crisis… 

    The organisers of the Hotel, Restaurant and Catering show (HRC) have made the difficult yet responsible decision to cancel its 2021 physical event in response the ongoing global pandemic.

    In a statement issued by the show’s event manager Ronada Annesley, it was announced that the next HRC event will now take place on February 28, 2022.

    “Even though we had introduced ‘All Secure Standard’, a risk-assessment based framework for Covid-19, and planned for the highest standards of hygiene and cleanliness, ultimately the lack of guidance and clarity from the government on when business events can restart has meant that we have had to take the painful decision to postpone HRC until 2022,” said Annesley.

    “We felt extremely confident that we could deliver a safe and secure live event for the tens of thousands of hospitality industry professionals that look forward to the show each year and we are devastated that we will not be able to play our part next year in helping the hospitality industry recover from the catastrophic consequences of the pandemic in a face to face format. However, we are currently investigating numerous ways in which we can continue to support and connect with the hospitality industry throughout 2021 and beyond, and hope to make an announcement around this in the near future.”

    While you’re here, why not read our exclusive roundtable on how the industry is reacting to the Covid-19 crisis? 

    Image credit: HRC

    Weekly briefing: sustainability standards, awards countdown & biophilic design 2.0

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    Weekly briefing: sustainability standards, awards countdown & biophilic design 2.0

    Only got a minute? As we prepare to host The Brit List Awards 2020 next week, we have have compiled our top stories that have been published over the last five days, including a haunted check-in, a hotel that sets new standards in sustainability and how we begin to engage with the post-corona consumer…

    We are days away from unveiling the winners of the The Brit List Awards 2020. On November 12, starting at 14:00 (GMT), the industry will pause momentarily to tune in to attend our virtual awards ceremony. It will be an afternoon of celebration as we not only reflect on what has no-doubt been a challenging year for designers, architects, hoteliers and suppliers but also champion those who are driving change. As well as crowning this year’s individual winners, the awards ceremony will also include the official unveiling of The Brit List 2020, which will profile the top 25 designers, top 25 architects and top 25 hoteliers who are operating in Britain.

    Want to attend The Brit List Awards 2020 free of charge? Designers, architect, hoteliers and developers: click here to secure your places in the audience. Suppliers: click here to secure you places in the audience.

    Before the awards, though, here are this week’s top stories, brought to you by editor Hamish Kilburn…

     Biophilic design 2.0 – from living walls to living hotels

    Large hotel atrium with living walls

    Image credit: Pixabay

    For article three in the Hotel Designs LAB series, Hotel Designs and Arigami explore wellbeing through the lens of biophilic design. Founder of Arigami Ari Peralta compiles the thoughts of biophilic design expert Oliver Heath and environmental psychology researcher Nigel Oseland to explore the science of nature in design.

    Biophilic design is much more than adding plants to a space, it is a strategy for developing a multi-sensory relationship with the world around us…

    Read more. 

    (In video) Hotel Designs LIVE: Reassuring the post-corona consumer

    In the third session of Hotel Designs LIVE, we were joined by hoteliers from around the world in St Lucia, France, Zimbabwe and the UK to ask how we will reassure tomorrow’s travellers in a post-pandemic world.

    On the panel: 

    Watch the panel discussion.

    Checking in to The Bull Inn, Totnes – a new standard in eco hospitality

    Wooden furniture inside the pub of The Bull Inn in Totnes

    It is time we erase the myth that sustainable hotels are a compromise on luxury. No longer should it be culturally acceptable to greenwash your way into the headlines by simply replacing miniatures and enforcing a ban disposable plastic – this should now be common practice. Instead, hotels and hospitality businesses should be conjuring up new, innovative ways to make a difference, not only environmentally, but also locally within the community.

    Cue the arrival of The Bull Inn, an eight-key British bolthole located in Totnes. This deliberately rough round-the-edges pub/hotel is the fourth brainchild of visionary Geetie Singh-Watson, who worked with local architect Jackie Gillespie to ensure that, from concept through to completion, that every nook and cranny – from the pastel-coloured, untouched rooms right down to the innovative heating system – is sustainable.

    Read the full review. 

    In the HIX Seat: the journey back to ‘in real life’

    An image of Joel Butler and HIX Event animations

    Joel Butler, Co-Founder of HIX Event, has become a monthly columnist for Hotel Designs. In his first published opinion piece, Butler contemplates challenging times and asks ‘what’s next’ for the industry and its much-loved series of trade events.

    Read Joel’s debut column here. 

    One&Only Mandarina arrives in Mexico’s Riviera Nayarit

    Overlooking the Pacific Ocean with dramatic vistas and an awe-inspiring beachfront rainforest setting, One&Only Mandarina is a hidden retreat complete with secluded eco-designed treehouses and clifftop villas, swimmable shores, destination dining from Chef Enrique Olvera, active and mindful experiences, and an environment crafted for reconnection.

    Read more.

    5 Minutes With: Karen Richards, co-founder and designer, The Idle Rocks

    Image of Karen Richards and various interior shots inside The Idle Rocks Hotels

    During a laid-back luxury experience at The Idle Rocks, we caught up with co-founder and designer Karen Richards to understand the hotel’s design narrative, and how it has adapted since lockdown.

    Read the interview here.

    Industry insight: from hospitality furniture to prison cell

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    Industry insight: from hospitality furniture to prison cell

    Award-winning furniture designer Rock Galpin is preparing to speak at Dubai Design Week about the highly challenging brief to design a new era of furniture for the Ministry of Justice inside HM Prisons in the UK…

    Furniture designer Rock Galpin will open up next week at Dubai Design Week about one of his most challenging briefs to date; his ongoing work with the Ministry of Justice inside HM Prisons in the UK.

    As well as unveiling details about his most recent projects, the established furniture, product and brand designer from London (who has recently escaped to live in Dubai), will speak at Dubai Design Week about his furniture projects have been exhibited in more than 40 exhibitions worldwide, from London, Tokyo, Paris, Milan, Cologne and New York. 

    You can catch one of three of Galpin’s talks by signing up below:

    While you’re here, why not read Hotel Designs’ exlcusive interview with designer Rock Galpin? 

    Main image credit: Rock Galpin

    A luxury pool and tented accommodation in the middle of the desert

    The architecture of luxury tented accommodation

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    The architecture of luxury tented accommodation

    As many areas of the world continue to hunker down in the Covid-19 crisis, we take a look at Exclusive Tents and architect Patrice Belle and the value of luxury tented accommodation in a pandemic world… 

    A luxury pool and tented accommodation in the middle of the desert

    Tents have afforded shelter and respite in the histories of most cultures around the globe, since ancient times. Whilst cultures have become sedentary with nomadic lifestyles seemingly consigned to the past (or the hotel room), the tent has nonetheless found a new lease of life as the appeal of a stronger, more fundamental link with nature is being actively sought – most especially in the tourism sector with the rise of experiential travel.

    The interiors of a luxury tent

    Image credit: Telal Resort

    As an Anglo-French international architect, Patrice Belle began practising architecture in both London and Paris for clients making the leap across languages and cultures to establish themselves in foreign markets. In 2008 a friend and colleague found an ideal site near Limoges, in France, for an African themed leisure park. Projected to have 200 luxury family sized tents of an irreproachable quality and design, fantasy pool reminiscent of the Great Lakes, and excellent facilities, it was to be open to guests all year round.

    While you’re here, why not read our exclusive biographical feature: a journey through tents? 

    As project architect, Belle carried out research to source the most appropriate tents, providing the best quality, design, longevity and value for money. Exclusive Tents came out significantly ahead of the field (and continue to do so, according to Belle’s monitoring of the market). The global financial meltdown was too much for the “African Legends Resort” Project. However, an excellent working and personal relationship was forged with Paul and Angelika Zway, of Exclusive Tents, where the meeting of architecture and luxury tents has perfectly reflected the emergence of experiential travel.

    Belle has witnessed glamping grow rapidly as the concept is adopted in new locations. Mostly, glamping has established its niche as an essentially rustic experience: tents that offer a greater degree of comfort and space than a recreational tent, and sometimes with amenities such as wood burning stoves, bathrooms, electrical supply or kitchenettes. By their nature, they have been predominantly off-grid, with very little infrastructure, purely seasonal, and small scale.

    Image of a camouflaged tent structure

    Image credit: Patrice Belle

    In essence the glamping experience has been fashioned from the range of tents available on the market. With very few exceptions, every owner has had no choice but to adapt their project to the constraints of a defined range of floor plans and forms, and are very quickly faced with numerous constraints with which both they and their designers are unfamiliar. As is to be expected, they lack the knowledge and experience with tents to know what can be done to marry the tent to their requirements. Furthermore, they will not have the expertise to compare and assess between different tent providers, or assess whether or not a certain type of tent will perform as they require.

    It is in response to this disconnect that Belle architects have evolved a very close symbiotic relationship with Exclusive Tents as they bridge this divide. As glamping captures the publics’ imagination there is an emergent demand for a more complete and culturally sophisticated experience. This is the field in which Belle delights in integrating, adapting, and designing luxury tents as an integral part of the process of creating exquisite destinations that offer all the intrinsic benefits of an enchanting experience under canvas yet with the underpinning benefits of modern levels of comfort, performance and longevity.

    Aerial view of tented accommodation in the desert

    Image credit: Telal Resort

    Rather than be constrained to adapt the project to the tent, the tent can be made to suit the project: think custom made fitted shoe but without the cost penalty. As tents, and other forms of alternative accommodation, are adopted for more demanding roles, they need to be integrated within a much broader range of considerations. For Belle, this is where an architect’s specialist skills and experience come into play: for any project to succeed it needs to provide an elegant solution to myriad objectives, constraints, and requirements. Deciding to use tents rather than main-stream construction solutions can prove to be beneficial and advantageous for a number of key reasons – both aesthetic and financial. The romance of a closer link with nature, the exhilaration of creating something exotic, seductive and sexy is the driving force. Yet whilst the imagery is very seductive, making the transition from dream to reality means navigating a huge spectrum of factors with a direct influence on the project, facing myriad choices, and implementing numerous decisions. Without a deep knowledge and understanding of luxury tents and canvas structures, this can quickly become a huge challenge.

    Image taken under tented accomodation to show rolling sand dunes in the desert

    Image credit: Telal Resort

    Whilst each tent is configured to client specification (canvas colours, tent body performance, door and window positions, etc.), and Exclusive Tents have a long experience of providing luxury tents to demanding customers, their expertise is in the development and fabrication of high-end tents. It is the project designer’s role to work with the client to define the strategic (project) brief: choosing, customising, or designing the tents is only one – albeit important – part of this process. From the brief begins an exciting and challenging journey to create a final destination that responds to location, terrain, geography, geology, climate, fauna and flora. Core to this is the guest or occupant experience – both subjectively (enjoyment, pleasure, uniqueness) and objectively (kept warm/cool, safe, and well looked after in comfort) – which must be framed within the desired and attainable ROI (Return on Investment).

    Successful resorts offer a quality experience and service at an attractive financial ROI (for others this need not be purely financial. The ROI for an individual might simply be an exquisite guest suite for visiting family). Luxury tent resorts embody this principal with the advantage of a quicker and potentially better ROI – with a big Asterix. Of course, any resort project depends on much more than just choosing what type of guest accommodation to offer or how to embody the resort facilities, but that will not come as a surprise to existing hotel & resort owners and operators!

    The fascination and reward for Belle and his team is multi-faceted:

    • Almost without exception, owners and clients that are attracted to these types of project are adventurous, courageous, and open-minded. They have the courage of their convictions and the determination to make it happen. It is enriching to meet such individuals.
    • Belle has a simple philosophy for all projects: arrive with an open mind and a blank canvas. This, he confirms, is easier said than done and always provokes a frisson of anticipation, and the experience is always both intimidating and exhilarating.
    • Listening attentively to the client, immersing within the project site and its physical and social location, and working closely together to clearly identify and establish the ambitions, goals, constraints, and defining factors that will mould the project: beginning to fill the canvas with the information that will mould the project.
    • Creating and refining a fully integrated project design: filling the canvas with each detail of the project where every participant is co-author. Great design is more than just good aesthetics, it is by its nature complex and intricate. Design does not exist in isolation: It is the search for an aesthetically pleasing, fully functional solution to complex interconnecting factors, a reflection of our goals and aspirations, brought to reality with a deliberate balance of light, space, materials, and time that makes its impact in ways both subtle and overt.
    • Working closely with Exclusive Tents to either select or create tents that are the best match for the project (not being forced to shoe-horn the project into standard tents when there is a mis-match). The tents need to be integrated into the project and its site – even (especially) if they are the centre pieces – rather than the other way round. The luxury tents are core elements of such a project: there has to be a coherent integration within the project and its context as a whole.
    • Enabling our clients, who quickly become our friends, to turn their dreams into destinations that enchant the senses, applying the values of ecologically sustainable low-impact implementation and life cycle with a clear conscience.

    At this point, Belle clarifies a key point: his teams expertise and in-depth knowledge of Exclusive Tents methods and products is a valuable asset in aligning the client’s goals with Exclusive Tents prowess. However, when appointed by a client, they will act in strict accordance with their professional code of conduct: the advice given and professional services will be entirely independent. For example, Belle will not systematically propose tents for all and every situation even if the client has come through Exclusive Tents. Instead, their philosophy is to advise their client and provide to the project exciting, beautiful solutions in the context of short, medium and long-term project objectives. Project design can integrate tents with other forms of structure arising from aesthetic or functional choice, for example integrating the creative use of locally sourced materials, or more rigid structures for certain back-of-house facilities such as kitchens, stores, and utilities infrastructure.

    The close professional relationship with Exclusive Tents is clearly working well. Together, they have designed and provided some stunning tents as can be seen at Telal Resort in the UAE where the notion of glamping has been taken to a luxurious zenith. The resort, its amazing tents, and eclectic interiors were entirely designed by Patrice Belle Architects to offer an exceptional experience in the Arabian desert. The resort includes a main reception tent inspired by Arabic geometry covering an astonishing 2,625m2 set atop a magnificent dune and featuring a hidden subterranean cloistered pool. The guest accommodation ranges from delightful 50m2 canvas lodges to the resplendent 440m2 interior of the VIP lodge under 810m2 of canvas.

    Whilst Telal Resort is clearly at one end of the spectrum, it shows the benefits of the tent being an integral element of the overall project design rather than a fixed point around which everything else must adapt. It also demonstrates clearly that tents are being tasked with meeting new challenges. They are being pushed to evolve, to meet modern requirements of luxury, convenience, comfort, sanitation, technical performance, bathrooms and WC, ventilation, heating, cooling, etc., whilst retaining their connection with nature, ecological and sustainable credentials, and capacity to ‘leave no footprint’.

    Whereas most projects clearly adapt to the tent, Patrice Belle Architects and Exclusive Tents are working with clients to provide tents best adapted to each project. Each and every project provides feedback and fuels the constant development of ever better tents with improved performance: thermal, acoustic, wind resistance, materials, longevity, robustness, etc. Rather than steal his thunder, Patrice leaves the in-depth summary of the many advances in high-end luxury tents made over the last couple of years to an upcoming article by Paul Zway of Exclusive Tents.

    This brings us back the Asterix mentioned earlier. The demands made upon the tents, and other forms of adventurous accommodation that cater to our desire for experiential travel, become ever more demanding. The tent has to be fully integrated with electrical and sanitary provisions, heating, cooling, and often AC (although the more we move to alternative forms of cooling the better), and should always do so in as discrete a way as possible without detracting from the essential ‘escapism’ of the experience.

    As cost and investment rise with the increase in complexity, and provision of greater comfort and luxury, it is increasingly evident that a good quality tent is one (important) element in an extensive armoury of tools and solutions for creating wonderful destinations, all of which should be expected to have a significantly longer useful lifespan at the forefront of ecological sustainable development. As with everything in architecture, a tent is only as good as its design, materials, implementation, and maintenance. From Patrice’s perspective, a well-designed, specified, implemented, and maintained luxury tent project will have a lifespan of decades before significant refurbishment is required – on a par with traditional hotels and resorts. So, as Patrice advises: “Choose wisely, care for, and enjoy your investment”.

    These are exciting times as experiential travel captures the public’s imagination, and there are some beautiful destinations that have been created by adventurous investors and talented designers around the globe. Patrice Belle and his team are looking forward to working hand-in-glove with the pioneers of experiential travel to make their dreams become reality. Their specialist understanding of luxury tents and canvas structures gives Patrice Belle Architects a unique skill set designing stunningly beautiful luxury tents, traditional structures, and complete projects, in harmony such that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

    Exclusive Tents International is one of the brands that has taken advantage of our Industry Support Package. To keep up to date with supplier news, click here. 

    Main image credit: Exclusive Tents

    A render of a guestroom inside a former jail

    How would you design the most haunted hotel in the UK?

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    How would you design the most haunted hotel in the UK?

    Slated to open in February 2021, The Bodmin Jail Hotel is expected to make a haunted entrance onto the UK hospitality scene. But how will the modern hotel’s design scheme follow a narrative that dates back to the 18th century? Editor Hamish Kilburn investigates…

    A render of a guestroom inside a former jail

    Nestled in the heart of Cornwall you’ll find a the foundations of a luxury hotel unlike anything else in the Britain. When it opens in 2021, The Bodmin Jail Hotel will be a place that intertwines the history of an 18th century prison with creative, contemporary design to introduce a memorable hotel experience.

    Exterior of Bodmin Jail Hotel

    For most of its life it was used as a debtor’s prison, until 1869 when imprisonment for debt was abolished. From 1887, the Royal Navy occupied an entire wing, and it was also used to house the Crowne Jewels during WWI.

    After thousands of people had passed through its doors, the jail was finally closed in 1927. Now nearly 100 years later, the building is being brought back to life and remembered as a historic landmark.

    A render of a contemporary restaurant inside Bodmin Jail Hotel

    Image credit: Bodmin Jail Hotel

    55 executions took place within the building’s formidable walls, for crimes such as rape, murder and stealing. Most of these executions were viewed by the public, and thousands would travel specially to witness the hangings. The last person taken to the gallows was William Hampton, who in July 1909 paid the ultimate price for taking the life of his 17-year-old girlfriend; he was also the last man to be hung in Cornwall.

    The Bodmin Jail now encapsulates a contemporary hotel. The guestrooms, which feature modern touchpoints including a flat screen TV and free Wi-Fi, have been created by combining three cells, utilising their original features.

    A cross section render of a guestroom inside Bodmin Jail Hotel

    Image credit: Bodmin Jail Hotel

    The guestrooms weave together original jail features with contemporary design to create a cosy, luxurious environment that strikes a delicate balance between old and new. The weathered stone walls and the stories they hold create the perfect backdrop. Complete with luxury details such as free-standing baths, walk-in showers and sumptuous bedding, every element of the hotel has been designed to offer ultimate comfort and luxury, creating the perfect setting for an enchanting escape.

    A render of a bathroom inside Bodmin Jail Hotel

    Image credit: Bodmin Jail Hotel

    When guests step out of their rooms into the walkways, they will be captivated by the glass ceiling that creates a magical central space. From here, guests can easily explore the rugged beauty of Bodmin Moor, wander the sandy beaches of the North and South coastlines, or delve into the delights of Padstow or Fowey.

    Main image credit: The Bodmin Jail Hotel

    Image showing collage of projects and The Brit List Awards 2020 logo

    The Brit List Awards 2020: how to gatecrash!

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    The Brit List Awards 2020: how to gatecrash!

    With The Brit List Awards 2020 taking place this Thursday (at 14:00 UK time), there is no need to gatecrash, as it is completely free to attend this year’s virtual award ceremony…

    Image showing collage of projects and The Brit List Awards 2020 logo

    You won’t hear phrase “if you’re not on the list, you’re not coming in” at this year’s The Brit List Awards 2020 as Hotel Designs’ nationwide search prepares to go live with its virtual award ceremony, taking place this Thursday at 14:00 (GMT).

    Although this year’s award ceremony is free to attend, you do however still need to register in order to secure your complimentary seats in the audience.

    DESIGNERS/ARCHITECTS/HOTELIERS/DEVELOPERS, CLICK HERE TO ATTEND (FOC) 
    SUPPLIERS, CLICK HERE TO ATTEND (FOC)

    Following the unveiling of the shortlist, which referenced more than 120 individuals and projects, this year’s virtual awards ceremony will be broadcast from Minotti London, which is where the winners’ party will be sheltered on April 29, 2021. Following a catch up with this year’s global juding panel, editor Hamish Kilburn will unveil The Brit List 2020, which is Hotel Designs’ annual publication that references the top 25 designers, top 25 architects and top 25 hoteliers. Following this, he will be joined by a number of the event’s sponsors to unveil the individual winners of the following categories:

    • Interior Designer of the Year
    • Architect of the Year
    • Hotelier of the Year
    • Best in Tech
    • The Eco Award
    • Best in British Product Design
    • Outstanding Contribution to the Hospitality Industry

    Following the virtual awards ceremony on Thursday, Hotel Designs is inviting the industry to come together on April 29, 2021 for a spectacular winners’ Party. To attend The Brit List Awards Winners’ Party, click here.

    Over the last three years, The Brit List Awards has becoming a significant event in the design, architecture and hospitality calendar, as Kilburn explains: “The Brit List Awards was born out of the concept to celebrate Britain as a major design and hospitality hub,” he says. “Arguably, it is more important this year than any other year before to mark that success while celebrating the talented individuals who are continuing to design innovative spaces on the international design scene. It is therefore my pleasure to host this year’s event, albeit virtually, and I cannot wait to personally congratulate the winners when we all meet again in April 2021 for the winners’ party.”

    Meet our Partners:

    Image of Karen Richards and various interior shots inside The Idle Rocks Hotels

    5 Minutes With: Karen Richards, co-founder and designer, The Idle Rocks

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    5 Minutes With: Karen Richards, co-founder and designer, The Idle Rocks

    During a laid-back luxury experience at The Idle Rocks, editor Hamish Kilburn catches up with co-founder and designer Karen Richards to understand the hotel’s design narrative, and how it has adapted since lockdown…

    Image of Karen Richards and various interior shots inside The Idle Rocks Hotels

    Framing unparalleled coastal views that overlook the harbour in St Mawes, The Idle Rocks is my kind of boutique place to visit when I need to relax and unwind. With a sensitive design scheme that evokes a warm and inviting home-from-home, the hotel is a safe place from the turbulent world outside.

    I was awoken by the gentle sound of waves crashing against the sea wall – a sign of high tide in Cornwall. Exploring a new destination the only way I knew how, my morning run captured the locals on their commute – queuing up to hop on the small ferry to Falmouth – while the autumn sun slowly appeared over rolling hills.

    Once back in the hotel, I enjoyed a delicious breakfast and it was here where I met the fabulous Karen Richards, co-founder of the hotel who designed the interiors herself. Feeling like I had all the time in the world – Cornwall’s graceful pace is somewhat addictive – we discussed hotel’s authentic design narrative, which was inspired not only by the unedited destination but also unexpected events that happened along the way.

    Grand seaview room with coastal themed interiors inside The Idle Rocks, St Mawes

    Image caption: Grand seaview room inside The Idle Rocks, St Mawes

    Hamish Kilburn: How would you describe the style of The Idle Rocks?

    Karen Richards: It’s a fusion of contemporary design and relaxed coastal style.

    HK: How does the hotel stand out from other well-known luxury properties in the area?

    KR: When my husband David and I bought the building in 2010, our aim was to create a hotel that was young, fresh and relaxing. We wanted to make it a home from home, eliminating formalities and in this way differentiate ourselves from our more traditional competitors.

    HK: Can you explain art’s role in the hotel?

    KR: We have very consciously focused on local Cornish Artists throughout the hotel. In a coastal hotel it is all too easy for the design to be predictable and something I worked hard to avoid. I love visiting antique shops and fairs, which is where a lot of pieces within the property came from. For example, I came across these traditional woollen swimsuits at an antiques fair. The gentleman who sold them to me asked what I was going to do with them, and I answered: “I am going to frame them and hang them in my hotel for guests to enjoy.”

    Image credit: The vibrant lounge inside The Idle Rocks, St Mawes

    QUICK-FIRE ROUND

    HK: What trend do you hope will never return?

    KR: Foreign Holidays

    HK: What’s been the most important lesson you have learned since opening in 2013?

    KR: Surround yourself with a great team.

    HK: Describe Cornwall in three words?

    KR: My favourite place

    HK: I read about the storm that hit St Mawes in 2013. What happened, and how did it impact the hotel?

    KR: We had only opened the hotel for less than a year and after a busy Christmas we were closed for maintenance. The storm hit the morning before we were set to reopen – 90 mph winds ripped through the ground floor of the hotel, destroying everything. The tide that morning was one of the highest ever recorded in St Mawes.

    The following day, I was on site with the team and we did what we could to board up the smashed windows. Just when we thought things couldn’t get any worse, that evening another squall came in and caused even more damage.

    I was completely devastated but we were determined to reopen. In just two months, we had repaired all the damage – everything had to be replaced from the furniture and floors to the curtains and doors. Luckily, I had a close relationship with my suppliers and everyone was extremely helpful.

    The Terrace at The Idle Rocks, St Mawes, which overlooks the harbour

    Image caption: The Terrace at The Idle Rocks, which overlooks the harbour in St Mawes

    HK: Seven years later, and from one storm to another (one could argue), what happened to the hotel during the Covid-19 UK lockdown?

    KR: It has been a very tough time for everyone in the hospitality industry.

    For us lockdown was challenging on a number of fronts as we had just recruited our ‘dream team’ and there were so many uncertainties about what the season ahead would look like. We didn’t even know when we’d be allowed to reopen!

    However, I honestly believe we’ve come out of this terrible period much stronger and the great feedback from guests, after a very busy Summer, reflects this.

    Main image credit: The Idle Rocks

    An image of Joel Butler and HIX Event animations

    In the HIX Seat: the journey back to ‘in real life’

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    In the HIX Seat: the journey back to ‘in real life’

    Joel Butler, Co-Founder of HIX Event, has become a monthly columnist for Hotel Designs. In his first published opinion piece, Butler contemplates challenging times and asks ‘what’s next’ for the industry and its much-loved series of trade events…

    An image of Joel Butler and HIX Event animations

    I was on a zoom call last week with a designer. We were discussing vaccines, tests, curves and tiers (I think he meant tiers and not tears) when he informed me that our respective products were the future, ‘because we both do IRL’, you see. Excited by the dynamism and mystique of this fresh acronym I asked what it meant. “‘In Real Life’,” he replied, “events, hotels, travelling, shared experiences…it’s what we do!”

    And he’s right, of course, both bizarrely and tragically the 50,000 year-old activity of face-to-face communication has been reduced to a futuristic concept, and hospitality, travel and ‘tangible’ togetherness have all hit ‘pause’ in the process.

    So how can we understand the current hotel landscape and the hospitality experience that waits for us in our brave new world? We have industry pipelines and reports, the wonder of social media and the insightful views of experts, but of course it’s not until we all get back to ‘In Real Life’ that things will begin to become clear.

    “In answer to the question, ‘what’s next?’, people’s views may vary from the apocalyptic to the utopian.”

    As event organisers we consider ourselves to be ‘in hospitality’ so we’ve been following these discussions with interest. In answer to the question, ‘what’s next?’, people’s views may vary from the apocalyptic to the utopian. A popular consensus is that Covid-19 has pressed fast-forward on the trends that were already happening anyway, then there’s the ultimately pragmatic view that it’ll be a case of ‘as we all were’ but with cleaner hands. Many design details have also been discussed, the check-in experience, social distancing and F&B and the death of the buffet. My 10 year old daughter has already expressed fury at this last prediction.

    But beyond the detail shines a star of optimism that the entire community can see and universally agree is worth following – responsible travel. Travel that is respectful towards ourselves, the communities we visit, and to the planet Earth. 2020 forced peace, quiet and reflection onto us all, and as we had no choice but to accept these gifts fish began to swim in the unusually clear water of Venetian canals. The world felt like it was resetting. So here’s our biggest hope from what has been an incredibly challenging year: that truly responsible hospitality can be universally demanded by the guest, imagined by designers, championed by owners and delivered by operators. If this new-normal (and we extend these ideals to the events that we create) allows us to share experiences, travel and to explore the world in a way that allows our kid’s kids to enjoy the same privileges then all of the details will take care of themselves.

    So, here’s to the big picture and all of the design details, to all who are virtually attending and all who are shortlisted for The Brit List Awards 2020! As we raise raise our glasses to celebrate community and your incredible achievements in such challenging times, we look forward to seeing you ‘IRL’.

    HIX Event is the Networking Partner for The Brit List Awards 2020, and Hotel Designs is with HIX ‘IRL’ as it prepares to launch in November 2021.

    Main image credit: HIX Event

    Hotel Designs LIVE: Reassuring the post-corona consumer

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    Hotel Designs LIVE: Reassuring the post-corona consumer

    In the third session of Hotel Designs LIVE, editor Hamish Kilburn was joined by hoteliers from around the world in St Lucia, France, Zimbabwe and the UK to ask how we will reassure tomorrow’s travellers in a post-pandemic world…

    In the second edition of Hotel Designs LIVE, sponsored by Technological Innovations Group in association with Crestron, editor Hamish Kilburn returned to host a number of panel discussions and interviews with the aim to keep the conversation and the industry connected.

    With the pandemic on everyone’s agenda, the third session of the day – sponsored by Room To Breathe UK – was a hotelier special that virtually checked in to hotels around the world to understand the impact Covid-19 is having on global hospitality and possible solutions when re-engaging with tomorrow’s travellers.

    On the panel: 

    The session, followed recent studies that suggested that the post-corona consumer will be hesitant to re-explore the hospitality scene, looked at how tomorrow’s hospitality arenas can effectively and sensitively reassure modern travellers that hotels are safe spaces.

    Within this session, the audience heard PRODUCT WATCH pitches from Room To Breathe UK, Bushtec Creations, Air Revive and Bromic Heating.

    We join the panel discussion as Kilburn introduces the session sponsor and speakers (the conversation starts at 02:26 in the video)… 

     

    While you’re here, why not tune in to Hotel Designs LIVE’s other sessions on discussing sustainability with Bill Bensley and adding personality in public areas.

    The recording of the final session, The revival of smart tech post-pandmeic, will go live shortly. 

    SAVE THE DATE: Hotel Designs LIVE will return for a third edition on February 23, 2021. Session titles and speakers will be announced shortly. Once these have been announced, tickets for Hotel Designs LIVE will be available. In the meantime, if you would like to discuss sponsorship opportunities, focused PRODUCT WATCH pitches or the concept of Hotel Designs LIVE, please contact Katy Phillips or call +44 (0) 1992 374050.

    A contemporary dining area in a hotel with bold orb lighting

    A hotel for the design-savvy traveller, created by Tara Bernerd & Partners

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    A hotel for the design-savvy traveller, created by Tara Bernerd & Partners

    Tara Bernerd & Partners lends expertise to the first of a new hotel brand by Palace Hotel Group…

    Conceptualised with the design-conscious traveller in mind, Zentis Osaka, which opened its doors this summer, seeks to raise the bar on select-service hospitality for a design-centric and contemporary audience.

    A contemporary dining area in a hotel with bold orb lighting

    The internationally renowned interior architectural practice brought this vision to life through an intelligent approach to interior space-planning and design, establishing a distinct design DNA that is true to the brand, the location and the people who will stay there. 

    “We approached the design with our signature style, one of approachable luxury with an industrial edge.” – Tara Bernerd, Founder, Tara Bernerd & Partners.

    A birds eye view of a contemporary lounge with dining area and sofas on geometric flooring

    Image credit: Stirling Elmendorf

    The lobby provides an open and casual welcome with an architecturally inspired stone staircase anchoring the space. Sculptural in style and materiality, the staircase is visible from street level and makes a distinctive impact on arrival. The contemporary yet laid-back feel continues throughout the ground floor, with the lounge providing an intimate escape in the heart of the city.

    “We were thrilled to be brought on board to help Palace Hotel Group bring its new hotel concept to life,” said Tara Bernerd, Founder, Tara Bernerd & Partners. “We approached the design with our signature style, one of approachable luxury with an industrial edge. With a focus on fresh palettes and raw materials, each space possesses a handsome, and ultimately timeless elegance, catering for a sophisticated patronage seeking a unique offering in the heart of Osaka.”

    Tara Bernerd & Partners worked closely with the architects to anchor the building within the garden space, creating a seamless feel between inside and out. A glass-framed, double-sided fireplace in the lounge brings a focal point emphasising this connection. The lounge itself has a mixture of seating arrangements to suit different purposes and bring a home-from-home feel to the space.  From cosy banquette seating with a hint of privacy, to the shared communal table and sofa groupings placed more centrally in the room, or close to the fireplace on the playful encaustic tiled floor. Sets of two chairs and a table have been placed near the window to capture as much of the greenery outdoors as possible and bring a connection to nature.

    Envisaging the second-floor bar and lounge as an atmospheric destination, a rich palette was designed to create a seductive, moodier atmosphere. An impressive double height ceiling is softened with bold blue and mustard tones to compliment the exposed brickwork, timber beams and Crittall windows. Mirroring the architectural statement of the staircase on the first floor, the bespoke bar made from locally sourced tiles, divides the lounge and restaurant seamlessly giving each area its own identity while continuing the design language of the level below. The blue tones are continued throughout the restaurant and a more artisanal design is felt here. Patterned floor tiles and a feature bookcase add texture, and the view into the kitchen delivers drama for diners.

    A modern guestroom with white bed and abstract symbol above the bed

    Image credit: Stirling Elmendorf

    Throughout the hotel, Tara Bernerd & Partners aimed to establish the aesthetics of the Zentis brand whilst simultaneously creating meaning and connection through a distinct sense of place. Imagining the guestrooms like traditional Japanese bento boxes, interlocking layouts were devised to optimise on the limited floorplate and create a functional yet inviting sanctuary for guests. Continuing the fresh palettes from the lobby, muted tones with warm pops of colour were added and traditional art pieces by a local Japanese artist were commissioned as a nod to the vibrant location in which the hotel is set.

    Main image credit: Stirling Elmendorf

    A messy bed inside The Bull Inn in Totnes

    Checking in to The Bull Inn, Totnes – a new standard in eco hospitality

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    Checking in to The Bull Inn, Totnes – a new standard in eco hospitality

    The award-winning indy hotel, The Bull Inn in Totnes, is a bare reminder that hospitality can be fully sustainable in both design and service. Editor Hamish Kilburn checks in…

    A messy bed inside The Bull Inn in Totnes

    It is time we erase the myth that sustainable hotels are a compromise on luxury. No longer should it be culturally acceptable to greenwash your way into the headlines by simply replacing miniatures and enforcing a ban disposable plastic – this should now be common practice. Instead, hotels and hospitality businesses should be conjuring up new, innovative ways to make a difference, not only environmentally, but also locally within the community.

    Cue the arrival of The Bull Inn, an eight-key British bolthole located in Totnes. This deliberately rough round-the-edges pub/hotel is the fourth brainchild of visionary Geetie Singh-Watson, who worked with local architect Jackie Gillespie to ensure that, from concept through to completion, that every nook and cranny – from the pastel-coloured, untouched rooms right down to the innovative heating system – is sustainable.

    Image credit: Rachel Hoile Photography

    A short stroll uphill from the town’s high street, the boutique jewel is positioned in an ideal location that captures the atmosphere of the town. Locals can claim it as their own while guests visiting can stay in the heart of Totnes, and while doing so are able to discover a comfortable and conscious slice local life.

    Downstairs, the stripped back design of the pub – with earthy tones and quirky detailing – celebrates the building’s unique style and design narrative. Mismatched wooden furniture and authentic rugs work were either reclaimed or upcycled. The walls have been stripped back to create a deliberately rustic feel that makes the place feel immediately cosy.

    This bare and minimalist design is also apparent in the guestrooms – there are no TVs or radios and each room has its own personality. After climbing the original stairs that are layered with meaningful art, the first thing I notice as I walk into my room is the original, slightly sunken ceilings, which further indicate that this hotel embraces its quirks and imperfections with confidence.

    Image credit: Rachel Hoile Photography

    The trendy rooms are scattered with antiques that Singh-Watson sourced or upcycled herself, and every supplier specified has been done thoughtfully. The side lamps, for example, were handcrafted by a Dartmoor wood craftsman. The beds, all made up with 100 per cent organic linens from greenfibres, were also sourced locally by Naturalmat, which won ‘Best in British Product Design’ at The Brit List Awards 2019 after earning Hotel Designs‘ stamp of approval for being a sustainable and eco-friendly manufacturer.

    A close up of a bed inside The Bull Inn in Totnes

    Image credit: Rachel Hoile Photography

    The white brick tiled bathrooms with accents of muted gold – two rooms with baths and six with showers – feature quality brands such as Crosswater (fittings and showers), Bette (baths), Duravit (toilets) and Geberit (WC flush button levers). These modern areas are stylish, functional and eco-friendly, complete with organic shampoos and conditioner and sustainable waffle towels which were again sourced locally.

    “Singh-Watson’s latest property is a sustainable statement that has certainly made a mark on the hospitality map.”

    The roof has been fitted with solar panels, while the hotelier worked with the architect to develop an innovative heat recovery system to be installed in to lock in heat generated by the kitchen. The result is that the hot water from the guestrooms is heated from this new system that is fully sustainable.

    The Bull Inn is so much more than an organic pub featuring a few well-dressed guestrooms. Singh-Watson’s latest property is a sustainable statement that has certainly made a mark on the hospitality map – it has just been named Eco Hotel of the Year by The Times and The Sunday Times and was runner up in the National Geographic Big Sleep Awards 2020.

    And image of Geetie Singh-Watson standing outside The Bull Inn in Totnes

    Image caption: Geetie Singh-Watson outside The Bull Inn in Totnes | Image credit: Rachel Hoile Photography

    Standing modestly as a true, consciously driven hospitality gem, The Bull Inn in Totnes was rescued from a tired pub and transformed into a clutter-free, authentic pub and hotel that is timeless in both design and service.

    Main image credit: Rachel Hoile Photography

    A number of wall and floor light pendents

    Product watch: Sustainable Kyoto lighting by Harris & Harris

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    Product watch: Sustainable Kyoto lighting by Harris & Harris

    Harris & Harris, an environmentally and socially responsible interior and product design studio, unveils the Kyoto range, a sustainable lighting family with Eastern influences featuring bamboo and opal glass…

    A number of wall and floor light pendents

    The Kyoto lighting range by Harris & Harris is a calming lighting family, will provide a sense of zen to any interior.

    The designs are influenced by the Harris & Harris’s founders European and Asian heritage coupled with Modernism and 1960s Pop Design and their love of craft and texture

    The lights are named after Japan’s historical city of Kyoto and comprises floor light, wall light, pendant and 2 sizes of table light for both residential and commercial settings

    Hand made to order in England, the group of lights feature a mix of highly sustainable solid bamboo with bamboo sticks & string, reminiscent of a sushi rolling mat. A warm and soothing light emits from the matt opal glass globe, containing a low energy and efficient E14 G9 LED bulb. In the case of the floor and table lights, a woven power flex exits the bamboo ‘lily pad’ shaped base with an inline switch.

    While you’re here, why not read more about how the conscious design studio Harris & Harris was born?

    Main image credit: Harris & Harris

    A chain-like art piece that hangs on the wall surrounded by moody interiors

    Siminetti: Proud producers of sustainable mother of pearl surfaces

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    Siminetti: Proud producers of sustainable mother of pearl surfaces

    Siminetti is proud of its ethical and ecological credentials and takes the greatest care when sourcing its range of natural products, to ensure the brand meets strict ecological standards…

    A chain-like art piece that hangs on the wall surrounded by moody interiors

    Siminetti, a unique surface brand that sources its materials from sustainable, farmed locations wherever in the world they are grown, absolutely opposes the use of overfishing and exploitation of our worlds sea beds and actively engage with ocean charities who look to sustain our oceans for the betterment of marine life and the conservation for our futures.

    The company only deals with raw material suppliers who have a full understanding of relevant practices and legislation to ensure consistent, high quality products – they must hold a fisheries export license when appropriate, comply with biosecurity laws, provide Certificates of Origin and demonstrate evidence of the specific harvest area.

    While you’re here, why not check out Mother of Pearl decorative panels by Siminetti?

    Siminetti have been hand crafting sustainable mother of pearl surfaces since 2010. This year, along side the celebration of the company’s 10 year anniversary, the brand is launching a new line (of sorts, the brand has been doing it for a while just not really spoken about it)! Siminetti Wall Art, utilising its stunning decorative panels in bespoke frames to add a luxury accent to any discerning space.

    Image credit: Siminetti

    The brand currently offers more than 30 decorative surfaces which can all be made into wall art. In 2021 this will be increasing, with a new line of decorative panels Siminetti are developing in conjunction with a renowned British surface designer.

    As with all our mother of pearl, we are also ensuring the materials used to make our frames is sustainably sourced, with FSC approved timber to protect our planet for future generations.

    Siminetti is one of the brands that has taken advantage of our Industry Support Package. To keep up to date with supplier news, click here.

    Main image credit: Siminetti

    An image of a spiral sculpture in a large atrium

    Industry insight: briefing your art consultant

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    Industry insight: briefing your art consultant

    Great art captures the mind and stays with you. But how do you brief an art consultant to achieve great art? Harry Pass from Elegant Clutter explains…

    An image of a spiral sculpture in a large atrium

    We understand that talking about art may, at first, be quite daunting. You might think that you need to have a deep knowledge of art to incorporate it into your project. This just isn’t the case. It’s not necessarily about liking a particular style or being an expert on a particular period or artist. In fact, everything is subjective and knowing what you don’t like is really helpful too. But really, you should focus on how you want people to feel in a particular place.

    What kind of experience do you want your guests to have? And how does this fit with your branding? Beautifully crafted artwork can cleverly reinforce and define what your brand story is. These are the some of the jumping off points we use when our team is talking to an architect, designer and/or their client during the consultation stage. An art consultant who knows their craft will help expand this conversation and take the time to develop these areas.

    Image caption: Establishing the artwork ‘mood board’ and comparing with other interior finishes. | Image credit: Elegant Clutter

    They will also need to understand how important the location of the property is to the final guest experience. Location based research is key as it helps to build an art collection that connects with the unique environment of where the art is on view. Very often, the interior designer will create interior schemes that are inspired by local narratives. Artwork is an opportunity to delve deep into these stories – which ultimately results in layer upon layer of discovery for the guest.

    For example, is it an old building that is steeped in history? And if so, do you want that history to be the dominant inspiration for the art collection? When working on a new build project, every area has some story to tell, whether it’s the people that lived there, the industries that developed there, or more whimsical local tales and customs. Researching and unlocking the hidden histories or even the present realities of a space offers rich territory to find that creative spark. For the Radisson Blu in Leeds we worked with Trevillion Interiors to focus on ‘Leeds stories’ reflecting the heritage of this vibrant city. The standout piece was an oversized, spray-painted mural of one of Leeds most famous sons, Peter O’Toole, who gazes down at guests in the lounge.

    Image caption: Radisson Blu in Leeds, spray-painted mural of one of Leeds most famous sons, Peter O’Toole. | Image credit: Elegant Clutter

    Outstanding artwork projects happen when the art consultant is involved from early stages and is working together with the client, designers and other key contributors such as lighting consultants and branding consultancies. The responsibility to lead the artwork development calls on project management skills as well as creative talent. To go back to the original question, great art requires a team approach but with well-defined responsibilities. A client and interior designer who encourage an experienced art consultant to be creative will help the project become more of a destination – sometimes it’s the wild cards that somehow bring together the space!

    While you’re here, why not read this industry insight on the power of art in hotel design?

    The art consultant will be able to create detailed art specifications from the developed brief. It’s not simply a case of selecting and creating artwork in isolation. Presentation is make or break and the frame can be just as important as the piece that is framed within. The Hard Rock Hotel in Budapest gave us the most recent opportunity to prove this theory. During our research stage, we discovered that Ernő Rubik was the Hungarian architect and inventor of the famous toy that takes his name. Something about this mass-produced puzzle appealed to our Pop Art loving consultants. We initially didn’t know where this would feature but we eventually created a picture frame using actual Rubik’s Cubes to build the body of the frame.

    Image caption: Bespoke Wall Sculpture at Etc Venues Chancery lane. Image credit: Elegant Clutter

    Before you engage with an art specialist, you may want to consider what kind of company structure you want to work with and what capabilities you expect. Some consultancies are set up like agencies and it’s mostly about selecting artists with elements such as picture framing and installation sub-contracted to third parties. We work with clients on an end-to-end process with a team of on-site art consultants, designers, artists, picture framers, project managers and manufacturers. Our experience is that this approach allows us to realise more ambitious artwork collections across many types of media. Being an under-one-roof operation, we have also found that it reduces the lead time overall.

    Now comes the part that we mostly don’t talk about in public – the fine art of budgeting! The expertise of the art specialist is important at concept stage in this area and can help to establish options for levels of investment. Every project is unique and will have different levels of spend per piece depending on many factors such as variety, volume and whether the work is original, limited edition or open edition. Some of our clients like to invest in both emerging and established original art, allowing the art collection to be an asset that appreciates in value as well as a powerful draw for visitors and guests. Whichever is the preferred route, early budgeting for artwork is advisable.

    The last piece of advice we have to offer and perhaps the most important for relationship building in the project – have fun with the art! Art consultancy can be such an enjoyable part of the creative process and a huge amount of energy and enthusiasm is involved in creating this magic ingredient. Solid foundations in contract structure, budgeting and project goals will allow some of the more unpredictable and creative methods to develop an art collection that is more than the sum of its parts.

    Elegant Clutter is one of the brands that has taken advantage of our Industry Support Package. To keep up to date with supplier news, click here.

    Main image caption: Design Development Proposals for a suspended sculpture at The Circle, Zürich | Image credit: Elegant Clutter

    Introducing AXOR MyEdition 2.0

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    Introducing AXOR MyEdition 2.0

    AXOR launches nationwide design competition to celebrate infinite design possibilities…

    Originally conceived as an expression of self-realisation and creativity, AXOR MyEdition was designed to offer a brassware range that could be tailored through 15 exclusive AXOR FinishPlus special finishes and plates for a personalised look.

    Pushing the boundaries of individualisation further, the launch of AXOR MyEdition 2.0 fully satisfies the demand for bespoke bathroom interiors by allowing infinite design possibilities.

    AXOR embodies the belief that every great design begins with a story and that making a personal statement through customised interiors is the essence of luxury. Inspired by a certain encounter, a mood, an experience, or a place of memory, AXOR MyEdition 2.0 allows individuals to bring a piece of their world into the bathroom. The neutral mounting plate makes it possible to apply individually selected materials, patterns and textures to the tap. Enabling true design autonomy, the mounting plate specifications can be downloaded and the individual can create and apply their own plate with the help of a craftsman*.

    To celebrate the launch, and affirm the brand’s maxim of true individualisation, AXOR is launching a nationwide competition, inviting the UK’s creative and design community to share their story by designing their own MyEdition plate. Entries are open from 26th October and closes on 27th November. With an esteemed judging panel, including Andreas Difenbech from world leading design and innovation studio, Phoenix Design, alongside Global Head of AXOR Marketing Anke Sohn and Hansgrohe UK’s Managing Director, Jay Phillips. The winner will have their design realised in a prototype, which will be displayed in the window of Hansgrohe’s Water Studio on Clerkenwell Road in London.

    “With AXOR MyEdition 2.0, we have created a blank canvas, setting the stage for personal creativity,” said Andreas Difenbach from Pheonix Design. “MyEdition gives the individual the tools to create their ideal piece. The extraordinary choice of colours, materials and patterns is the point of departure for a unique, personalised result. The collection is a creative kit for escape and imagination.”

    Image credit: AXOR/hansgrohe

    In addition to its customisable aesthetic, the collection offers a superior water experience. MyEdition is available with the innovative PowderRain spray – a first for washbasin mixers. With the advantage of micro spray technology, this water method has six fine openings per nozzle (instead of one), transforming the spray into thousands of micro droplets that envelop hands in a gentle cocoon of water.

    While you’re here, why not check out hansgrohe’s expansion in its FinishPlus range?

    hansgrohe is one of our 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.

    Main image credit: hansgrohe

    Feature // Is Covid an opportunity for cleaner, greener hotels?

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    Feature // Is Covid an opportunity for cleaner, greener hotels?

    Following an engaging discussion about sustainability with Bill Bensley at Hotel Designs LIVE, we asked session sponsor Silentnight Group how Covid-19 will impact the industry’s stance on hygiene and eco-friendly behaviour. Sales Director, David Lawenson writes…

    The past seven months has been challenging for the hospitality industry. The current global pandemic has hit the industry hard and reopening has been a confusing and staggered process. At a time where the current topic of the moment is cleanliness, could the post-pandemic environment be an opportunity for cleaner, greener hotels?

    David Lawrenson, Sales Director of Hospitality at Silentnight Group believes that it could be the push that businesses in the hospitality industry needs to choose sustainable options. “Sustainability promotes a healthier environment, both inside and outside of a hotel property, and given the recent pandemic, this has never been more relevant.”

    Image credit: Silentnight Group

    In recent years, sustainability has shifted from a niche concern to a mainstream opportunity, and current trends are being driven towards sustainable practices. In response, we have seen a big shift in the way brands in other industries are responding to sustainability, and it could be time for the hospitality industry to follow. Becoming carbon neutral could soon be the minimum for hospitality suppliers, and there will be movement towards businesses becoming carbon negative too.

    Silentnight Group are proud to be carbon neutral, and through their eco-friendly product development, progressive work practices and their partnership with the Marine conservation Society, they are determined to make the world a greener place, maintaining their position as a trusted mainstream brand at the same time. As a mass market manufacturer simply switching to ‘naturals’ like cotton or wool was not a commercial option for Silentnight.

    Angela Moran Product Strategy Director at Silentnight explains: “Instead we took inspiration from the likes of Nike, Adidas and Patagonia and take single use plastics and turn them into new products. Whilst there is much media hype demonising plastic following Blue Planet, it’s not so much plastic per se, but the littering of plastic, particularly single use, that’s the problem.

    “Circular economy thinking makes perfect sense for any business because ultimately it’s about being a resource efficient business. In nature there is no waste as everything is re-cycled. We’re taking another industry’s waste product and converting it into new comfort fibres, therefore adding value by making new consumer goods.”

    Taking inspiration from the principles of the circular economy, Silentnight’s innovative Eco Comfort filling contains intelligent fibres made from recycled plastic bottles. Not only does each mattress prevent 150 plastic bottles from entering the waste stream, but the high-tech design process offers greater breathability and is available at an affordable price point. Thus far, the Eco Comfort filling has prevented a staggering 105 million plastic bottles from entering landfill and oceans.

    Silentnight’s Eco Comfort 1200 Pocket mattress has been awarded a ‘Which? Best Buy’ 5 years running and is the brands best-selling mattress online, proving that sustainable design doesn’t always mean paying a premium for the consumer or sacrificing sales as a brand.

    It could be said that the pandemic has handed the hospitality industry the opportunity to harness sustainable practices. With the many changes required due to government legislation, potentially fewer guests permitted into hospitality venues and a need to focus on being a resource efficient business, it could be a perfect time to introduce small changes that together, could have a big impact on the environment.

    Silentnight Group, which provides sustainable sleeping solutions for the hospitality industry, was a session sponsor for Hotel Designs LIVE, which took place on October 13, 2020.

    Main image credit: Silentnight Group

    One&Only Mandarina arrives in Mexico’s Riviera Nayarit

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    One&Only Mandarina arrives in Mexico’s Riviera Nayarit

    Set on an undiscovered stretch of coastline along the Riviera Nayarit in Mexico, One&Only Mandarina has opened its doors…

    Overlooking the Pacific Ocean with dramatic vistas and an awe-inspiring beachfront rainforest setting, One&Only Mandarina is a hidden retreat complete with secluded eco-designed treehouses and clifftop villas, swimmable shores, destination dining from Chef Enrique Olvera, active and mindful experiences, and an environment crafted for reconnection.

    Identified earlier this year as a hotel development hotspot, Mexico’s Riviera Nayarit, a remote 192-mile-long coastline that frames the majestic Sierra Madre mountains, is tipped to be in hot demand once travel restrictions have lifted.

    One&Only Mandarina was built around the unique topography of the land – in this volcanic and fertile region, three different microclimates are steeped in natural beauty with some of the richest biodiversity in North America, and more than 50 species of ancient trees grow in the jungle – allowing nature to take centre stage and preserving the precious environment. The resort was sensitively designed to embrace the dramatic setting, rather than reshape it, and careful low-density planning in consultation with botany experts has preserved the land and the historic and ecological importance of the destination.

    The resort showcases low-impact contemporary style and sustainable design, coupled with unrivalled seclusion in an adventurous beachfront setting. Amid the jungle surrounds are 105 chic standalone treehouses and villas either elevated amongst the canopy or perched cliffside, all designed for indoor and outdoor living with breath-taking views of the Pacific Coast, Sierra del Vallejo mountains or rainforest. Accommodations boast private plunge pools and terraces, floor to ceiling windows, glass walls and expansive bathrooms – all framing the natural surroundings – as well as interiors complemented by custom woodwork and artefacts by local designers. Constructed with clay, wood, precious metal and stone, and the finest raw materials indigenous to the region, the villas are private sanctuaries, grounded in the earthen spirit of the local Cora and Huichol cultures.

    The brand is renowned for its collection of expansive villas offering the ultimate in space and privacy within each resort. One&Only Mandarina will be home to Villa One, the pinnacle of resort living, stretching over 1,747m2 and boasting three bedrooms, infinity pool, private spa and gym, full screen cinema, wine cellar and generous outdoor dining terrace. The resort’s signature villas have all been thoughtfully designed to hero local craftsmanship, such as Villa Pacifico – a 342m2 sanctuary sleeping up to eight guests with two private swimming pools, plenty of entertaining and living space including a full-screen cinema and outdoor covered dining terrace with barbeque grill, it is ideal for family gatherings and celebrations.

    The resort embraces the cultural traditions and signature warmth of Mexican cuisine and hospitality, from casual beachside dining to award-winning cuisine. The elegant culinary masterpiece Carao from world-renowned Mexican Chef Enrique Olvera showcases Mexican specialties reinvented through a combination of modern approaches and revered ancient technique. Located at southernmost peak of the resort, the newest concept from the famed chef is an extraordinary dining destination reflective of his globally recognised skill and passion for contemporary Mexican fare.

    The relaxed Jetty Beach Club located on the resort’s private beach serves fresh seafood grilled to perfection over charcoal, as well as snacks, quick bites and inventive cocktails overlooking the ocean. The family-friendly, all-day dining destination Alma provides a variety of garden-to-plate menus featuring seasonal specialties mixed amongst Pan-American dishes designed with remarkable attention to flavour. The open kitchen concept features two striking, wood-fired hornos, or ovens, and an intimate dining room and citrus-tree lined patio for al-fresco gatherings. The adjacent botanical bar, The Treetop, showcases refined yet playful versions of classic cocktails paired with sweeping views of the coast.

    Situated in a natural volcanic rock garden, One&Only Spa features a collection of six isolated, enclosed treatment rooms, offering experiences cocooned beneath a canopy of large Higuera trees, where guests can find privacy and serenity amidst the pristine, tropical rainforest.

    Woven seamlessly into Mexico’s most awe-inspiring coastal rainforest, One&Only Mandarina balances unparalleled seclusion with the signature One&Only atmosphere. Discovering the sanctuary of unspoiled nature, open space and cultural heritage in Mexico’s Riviera Nayarit, resort guests experience a unifying environment amidst the palm-fringed sands, emerald cliffsides, sparkling lagoons and wandering estuaries that encourage guests to reconnect with themselves, loved ones, and the natural world around them.

    Main image credit: One&Only

    How an ‘Ohana Spirit’ navigated WATG through 75 years of business

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    How an ‘Ohana Spirit’ navigated WATG through 75 years of business

    WATG’s roots were planted 75 years ago in Honolulu by our founders George “Pete” Wimberly and Howard Cook, who adopted the enduring cultural principles from Hawaii including ‘Ohana, meaning “family” or “extended kin”. Anthony Mallows, President and CEO of WATG, writes…

    The spirit of the islands taught us to focus on community strength, self-reliance and sustainability, which we still prioritise each and every day.

    Through 2020, we have been collectively reflecting on how our island identity, roots and corporate culture have led to our long-term business resilience. It is my pleasure to share these insights with my fellow business leaders.

    Image caption: Nobu Los Cabos | Image credit: WATG

    1) Build a culture of ‘Ohana.

    Even if you aren’t Hawaiian, let the concept of ‘Ohana define your organization. Strong, bonded teams celebrate good times and fight their way through life’s obstacles. They know that they can’t row it alone and they are stronger together than they are as individuals. A culture of ‘Ohana is also key to employee retention and creating a healthy, positive relationship with work. Actively drawing from ‘Ohana helps bring our team together through shared values, purpose, and performance. That’s the type of supportive environment we must all foster to create a “best place to work” for employees. This year has certainly reinforced the need for team collaboration and we were fortunate to have built a strong foundation over the last 75 years which has helped us weather the challenge of 2020 together.

    2) Let Aloha guide you.

    An aloha spirit has given WATG strength for generations and has been a critical component of how we define ourselves: how we hire, how we build our client relationships, create design solutions, and pivot during the inevitable obstacles. Aloha focuses on connectivity, peace, compassion, and a mutual understanding of respect: living in harmony with the people and land around you. Some of this might sound counterintuitive in business but it shouldn’t be. Aloha has given our firm its purpose: We are here to propel and inspire each other through exceptional design that drives long-term value for our clients and extraordinary experiences for their guests and visitors.

    Grand Hyatt Kauai from above by Nicholas Doyle

    Image caption: Grand Hyatt Kauai from above by Nicholas Doyle

    3) Work with what you have.

    Look at any island community or nation. Islanders live life in the balance of the elements. They are highly cooperative in the measures they take and share an overall concern for their environment that is different than the typical urban dweller. Resilience and sustainability are more than pillars of our firm. They inform how we work each and every day. In a world where almost anything can be imported or bought online, it’s important that all businesses become a part of their own local communities: take a look around, get to know your local purveyors, craftspeople, artisans and other small businesses. When businesses support local talent and work with what they have, they can begin to ensure that the places and experiences they create balance the long-term social, economic, and environmental needs of a community that will leave them thriving for generations to come.

    4) Always be prepared for a hurricane.

    A colorful sunset and perfect temperatures can make you feel without a care in the world, but when you live in paradise you must always be prepared for a hurricane. 2020 has highlighted the need for storm preparation for all of us. Boom and bust cycles are inevitable and each generation will experience ups and downs. Downtimes bring the culture of your organisation to the surface. How do you handle failure? Do your people remain calm? Can your leadership team make tough decisions that hurt now, but better the company in the long-term? Is leadership effectively communicating the importance of tough decisions for the health of the company long-term? WATG has weathered 12 different economic recessions, starting with WWII. If this is your first world event, know that firms fit to survive can advance during tough times: finding new niches, partnering with new clients, pushing the boundaries of creative problem-solving and seeking out new talent. The key is active and quick decision making based on an evaluation of your talent, skill, and position in the market. Adversity begets innovation and entrepreneurial thinking. Empower and enable your teams to think and work differently. Every member of Ohana plays an equally critical role during a storm – give them the leeway to be creative. In times of crisis and collective sacrifice, people will deliver in extraordinary ways.

    5) Let the tide take you to new places

    Our founder Pete Wimberly coined the term “have pencil, will travel” and used to travel with a pencil, a lightbulb, and a screwdriver as they were regularly in far-flung, underdeveloped resort destinations. Staying overnight in guesthouses or beach huts, he used his pencil to sketch; his lightbulb to see, as most of these places had poor or no lighting; and the screwdriver to remove a bathroom door to convert into a sketch table. Wimberly himself developed a friendship with Juan Trippe, the founder of PanAm, which owned InterContinental Hotels & Resorts. During the post-war period, the two of them pioneered into the southern hemisphere – Juan creating new air passageways and Pete designing the hotels and resorts. Because of this adventurous spirit, WATG is largely credited with developing the South Pacific as a global tourism destination. Encourage exploration and nurture your employees’ hunger for adventure. Reward employees for their curiosity and encourage them to explore new places, and reel in a big fish to bring home to the family.

    Image credit: WATG

    6) Foster mutual respect

    Our presence spans from Hawaii around the globe to London, the Middle East, Singapore and Shanghai, so whatever time zone we are in, we always make sure to carve out time to enjoy each other’s company, really getting to know one another on a personal level. It is estimated that we will spend one third of our lives at work – approximately 90,000 hours over an average lifetime.  Time spent listening to one another, appreciating each other’s stories and authentically understanding where someone ‘comes from’ are fundamental extensions of mutual respect. When we share these experiences, we share our values. We are enriched personally and creatively by our own culture in addition to the culture of others. This process helps evolve our multifaceted understanding of ‘Ohana. And like many diverse communities all over the world, allows us to appreciate the lessons and creativity of those that came before us 75 years ago.

    Main image credit: WATG

    Hygiene vs sustainability: the ‘new normal’ in hotel guest experiences

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    Hygiene vs sustainability: the ‘new normal’ in hotel guest experiences

    Following Hotel Designs LIVE, where both topics were put under the spotlight, we asked session sponsor GROHE how hygiene and sustainability can work together to create a ‘new normal’ in hotel guest experiences…

    Not so long ago, the average hotel guest might have put king size beds, room service and fine dining, or a room with a view at the top of their overnight experience wish-list. Today however things are very different. In light of the current COVID-19 crisis, hospitality businesses have had to swiftly adapt to this ‘new normal’ in a bid to stay afloat during what has been a treacherous time for the industry as a whole.

    Whilst the ongoing pandemic continues to present uncertainty and new challenges, global leading bathroom manufacturer GROHE believes that the swift change in direction when it comes to hygiene and how this can in turn positively impact sustainability, can be viewed as an opportunity to improve guest experiences and establish better standards within the industry. Now is the time to optimise high-tech hygienic solutions and combine them with a sustainable stance to create the ultimate safe, relaxing and enjoyable hotel stay.

    Image caption: GROHE Bau Cosmo E taps in commercial washroom.

    Hygiene is key to making guests feel safe

    After a difficult and unprecedented year, the world is beginning to embrace a ‘new normal’, tentatively looking ahead to the future at prospects of business trips, holidays and staycations. Creating a hygienic environment within our hotels and hospitality spaces is key to ensuring that guests feel safe and can comfortably enjoy their stay, whilst continuing to boost a nationwide confidence across the sector over the coming months.

    GROHE has the perfect bathroom product selection, from advanced shower toilet systems and innovative infra-red solutions for taps and WC flushes, to help optimise hygiene across both guestroom bathrooms, and communal washrooms and spa facilities.

    The GROHE Sensia Arena shower toilet for instance can provide a totally touchless experience as users can control and personalise washing and drying features from their smartphone as well as utilising the automatic functions. As the guest approaches the toilet, a sensor is activated to lift the lid. It then closes after use, followed by an automatic flush. Additional hygiene features such as its powerful Triple Vortex flush, rimless design and anti-bacterial surface coating which is applied to the toilet bowl, shower arms and nozzle guards, further help eradicate unwanted dirt particles by making it difficult for them to stick to surfaces. The Sensia Arena also benefits from GROHE’s ion technology known as PlasmaCluster which releases positive and negative ions into even the farthest hard-to-reach corners of the toilet bowl and in the air around the toilet, to inactivate bacteria. Meanwhile, an automatic odour extraction system is integrated into the toilet system to ensure the ambient air remains free from unpleasant odours. These state-of-the-art hygiene functions are particularly beneficial when shower toilets are used in communal spaces of hotels with increased footfall. They help to maintain superior hygiene standards between each use to supplement routine cleaning protocols carried out by staff.

    Meanwhile, for hoteliers looking for a more cost-effective retrofit solution, the GROHE Bau Manual Bidet Seat can be installed quickly and easily. Compatible with most existing toilet cisterns, the seat and accompanying spray allows guests to opt for a more natural, gentler way of maintaining their intimate hygiene. The seat provides a simple yet effective solution as it does not require any electrical work as the spray is powered solely by water pressure.

    Image caption: GROHE Manual Bidet Seat (close up).

    Infra-red is also a leading go-to hygienic solution, primarily with touchless taps and automatic flushing in mind. “GROHE’S infra-red sensor taps allow for a truly innovative and hygienic way of washing your hands,” explains Karl Lennon, Director A&D Accounts EMENA at GROHE. “The sensor registers when your hands are approaching and automatically activates the flow of water. If the sensor no longer detects movement, the water will automatically turn off.” And so, with products such as the GROHE Bau Cosmopolitan E infra-red tap, no touching means minimising the risk of germs, bacteria and cross-contamination. It also ensures reduced water consumption, increasing sustainability credentials for hotel establishments without compromising on design or style.

    It may seem that the future has been on fast forward in recent months and it’s true that these latest technologies are now being addressed as a matter of urgency. “Hygienic solutions have been on the market for a while now,” confirms Glen Wilson, Head of Projects at GROHE UK, “including the likes of infra-red technology and shower toilets. With such advanced technology already at our fingertips, the pandemic will likely spur on a new surge of innovations as the nation continues to establish this ‘new normal’ and the changing interactions with various aspects of our everyday lives, which will become relevant for both our homes and hotel spaces. As well as touchless technology, voice-activation and app-control will also be popular contenders for new ways of operating taps, appliances and other everyday items.”

    How the ‘new normal’ can improve sustainability

    This new demand for increased hygiene and a safe environment is not going to go away. And to some extent, this begs the question: why should it?

    It is, after all, an ethos which the world should probably have been embracing even before the events of this year unfolded.
    GROHE sees this increased need for hygiene as the perfect opportunity to improve sustainability credentials at the same time. For the hotel industry it can mean substantial savings on water and energy with infra-red taps and sensor flushing, as well as the potential for a reduction in the use of amenities such as toilet paper thanks to the new technologies available that are giving bathrooms a holistic, hygienic makeover.

    Image caption: GROHE Sensia Arena shower toilet.

    The possibilities go far beyond these tangible, instantaneous measures though, with GROHE exploring long-term changes too such as the world of 3D metal-printing in order to reduce excess waste in the manufacturing process.

    “Sustainability has always been integral to GROHE’s brand identity,” explains Karl Lennon, Director A&D accounts EMENA, “and is one of the company’s key values. GROHE uses a 360-degree sustainability approach that incorporates employees, suppliers, customers, processes, products, as well as the company’s social contribution. All of GROHE’s products and manufacturing processes have been designed over time to conserve water and energy wherever possible and are constantly evolving.”

    This gives the hotel industry an ideal opportunity to offer guests not only an ultimately safe and hygienic stay, but also an experience within a sustainable, eco-conscious hotel that does its bit to help protect our planet.

    Keep informed with RIBA-approved training modules

    The hotelier, architect and design community can keep abreast of the latest knowledge around the topics of sustainability and hygiene by using resources such as GROHE’s RIBA-approved CPD seminars on water-saving and 3D printing. In November, its roster of training modules will also be enhanced with a brand-new seminar dedicated to hygiene.

    3D Printing for Advanced Bathroom Fittings dissects 3D printing technology, its place in the manufacturing sector and its ongoing growth across many industries due to its ability to create small batch custom manufacturing in a much more sustainable and accessible way. The session also sheds light on the positive sustainability impact 3D printing can have on reducing CO2 emissions and saving water thanks to less wastage and more efficient use of raw materials. Meanwhile, Water Saving Without Compromising Performance seeks to encourage greater awareness and action from the architect community when it comes to specifying water fittings for projects. Both seminars can be booked for online learning at www.ribacpd.com.

    GROHE sponsored the session entitled: The revival of smart technology at Hotel Designs LIVE, which took place on October 13, 2020.

    Main image credit: GROHE

    Weekly briefing: lighting confessions, new arrivals & a contactless check in

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    Weekly briefing: lighting confessions, new arrivals & a contactless check in

    Only got a minute? It’s been a busy week on the editorial desk but we have have compiled our top stories, including a confession of a lighting designer, multiple hotel debuts and a panel discussion on the future of public areas…

    As we gear up to unveil the winners of The Brit List Awards 2020 on November 12, the headlines this week have been flooded with positivity – from new hotel arrivals and new lighting solutions to eco and conscious design brands unveiling new products. We appreciate you may not have time to read all the content that Hotel Designs has published this week. Therefore, here is our ‘editor’s pick’ of the juiciest stories that have been covered this week.

    Checking in to a contactless hotel (with touchless tech from TIG)

    Technological Innovations Group (TIG) has played a key role in helping BLOC Hotels develop and implement new ‘touchless’ hotel technology. In an exclusive video review, editor Hamish Kilburn checks in to discover what the contactless hotel experience is all about.

    “You may already be familiar with Bloc Hotels, but you haven’t seen anything like Block Hotel Gatwick’s recent renovation…”

    Read more.

    Banyan Tree unveils first luxury resort to open in Krabi in 11 years

    Nestled on a verdant hillside with spectacular vistas of limestone cliffs rising from the sea, Banyan Tree Krabi has opened. Owned by Asset World Corporation (AWC), the new luxury resort backs onto a lush national park and Naga Crest Hill, granting three ultra-exclusive beachfront pool villas, 10 beachfront pool villas, and 59 pool suites — each of which has its own private pool — a westward-facing view of sunset over the Andaman. A natural spring flows downhill into the property where it is transformed into a flower-fringed canal ferrying spring water to the sea.

    Read more.

    Virtual roundtable: lighting solutions for tomorrow’s hotel

    Following a number of recent roundtables where lighting was unintentionally put under the spotlight, Hotel Designs collaborates with innovative lighting expert Moritz Waldemeyer and a number of designers to understand lighting’s role in tomorrow’s hotel.

    Read more.

    Confessions of a lighting designer – sparks and relationships

    In the second editorial of the ‘confessions of a lighting designer’ series, Gary Thornton, senior project designer at neolight global, explores lighting relationships.

    Following our previous article, the hotel guest experience can be considered as being framed physically by the architecture, informed by the interior design, and reinforced by the service that you receive, but transcending across all of those to make it an outstanding experience is the intangible – great lighting design.

    Read more.

    How conscious design studio Harris & Harris was born

    Founded in 2014 by husband and wife team Alexander and Sharon Harris, Harris & Harris emerged onto the design scene as a sustainable breathe of fresh air. Working internationally, the studio creates chic yet playful designs focusing on craftsmanship and quality whilst minimising the impact on the planet – and it was this unique blend that caught our editorial attention.

    Read more.

    (In video) Hotel Designs LIVE: Adding personality in public areas

    In the second edition of Hotel Designs LIVE, sponsored by Technological Innovations Group in association with Crestron, editor Hamish Kilburn returned to host a number of panel discussions and interviews with the aim to keep the conversation and the industry connected.

    Following on from the inaugural Hotel Designs LIVE where an expert panel questioned the very existence of lobbies in the wake of Covid-19, Hotel Designs was back to put public areas back under the spotlight.

    Read more.

    SNEAK PEEK // INNSIDE Newcastle to open in December

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    SNEAK PEEK // INNSIDE Newcastle to open in December

    Meliá Hotels International, Spain’s largest hotel group, has released new CGI renders of INNSiDE Newcastle, which is slated to open this December…

    The 161-key INNSIDE Newcastle, designed by Faulknerbrowns Architects, will be located in the heart of the city on the historical Quayside, offering breath-taking views across the River Tyne and an eclectic home-from-home feel for guests to explore Newcastle’s city centre.

    The building that shelters the hotel has taken architectural inspiration from iconic local landmarks such as the Tyne’s bridges, whilst the hotel’s interior will showcase a light, minimal and versatile space, featuring modern and comfortable furnishings. 

    Image credit: Meliá Hotels International

    Each stay is expected to be enriched with music, art and literature curated by the hotel’s local experts. The Open Living Lounge will act as the beating heart of the hotel, with the open plan lobby offering the ideal transitional space to allow guests skip seamlessly from work to play. The Open Living Lounge will serve food throughout the day with local DJs providing the perfect soundtrack for guests and visitors to relax and unwind over a post-work cocktail. Meanwhile, a well-appointed gym, complete with state-of-the-art Technogym equipment, will be available for guest use 24-hours a day. 

    Guests and locals alike will be able to enjoy an exclusive dining experience on the Tyne, thanks to the restaurant’s floor to ceiling windows and beautiful outdoor terrace overlooking the iconic river. This space will become an exciting destination restaurant for both hotel guests and locals alike. 

    INNSiDE by Meliá’s philosophy ‘Stay Curious’ promises to accommodate guest’s every need and desire, providing them with a home away from home, offering the ideal work life balance. INNSiDE Newcastlewill offer five multi-functional meeting spaces with maximum capacity for up to 170 banqueting, including a Big Ideas Space, full of smart, sustainable touches to inspire the unconventional. The hotel will also offer a bespoke ‘Workcation’ package for business travellers looking for convenience, comfort and flexibility.

    Demonstrating INNSiDE by Meliá’s commitment to sustainability, single-use paper and plastic have been eliminated throughout all properties with sustainable amenities available in all rooms, along with 100 per cent eco-friendly bed linens and towels. INNSiDE by Meliá has hotels in 28 locations, spread across 10 countries with 13 additional properties in the pipeline. Upcoming new openings include INNSiDE Liverpool, INNSiDE Newcastle, and INNSiDE Lisbon.

    As part of Meliá Hotels International, INNSiDE Newcastle will operate the global ‘Stay Safe With Meliá’ programme across the hotel, including measures to prioritise guest and staff safety during Covid-19.

    Main image credit: Meliá Hotels International

    Hypnos achieves ISO Standard for quality management

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    Hypnos achieves ISO Standard for quality management

    Royal warrant holder and award-winning British bedmaker Hypnos has announced that its Castle Donington site has achieved compliance with ISO 9001, the international standard that specifies requirements for an effective Quality Management System (QMS)…

    This ISO 9001 accreditation is further proof of the company’s commitment to top-class design and craftsmanship to build the most comfortable, stylish and sustainable beds on the market and to ensure its operations are run with high quality systems and high quality assurance in place. 

    Image credit: Hypnos

    The standard means that the company’s Castle Donington site, where its specialist contract beds and mattresses are made for the hospitality market, delivers to a consistently high quality level and standard, and continually measures and improves every aspect of its operations.

    Darren Machin, Quality and Facilities Manager at Hypnos, said: “Delivering the most comfortable beds made in an environmentally and socially responsible way has been at the heart of what we do for over a decade.

    “By gaining ISO 9001 accreditation and assurance, we can prove to our customers that we always strive for our products and service to meet the highest expectations and consistency in our sustainable designs and production. So whether it’s pushing the boundaries of bed-making to achieve the best possible design, considering the environmental impact of everything we do, or caring about the people we work with, our customers can have the utmost confidence that they will truly have a, comfortable bed made with the upmost integrity when they purchase from us.

    “Our dedication to crafting quality mattresses and beds has been at the heart of our business for over 100 years and it’s this ongoing commitment that has seen us collaborate with suppliers to source more traceable and certified materials in our products.  Qualifications such as this really do play such an important role in the development of a business, helping to drive training and learning, and reinforcing rigorous inspection standards by the quality team. It very much aligns with the dedication, care and authentic craft of bed making that our entire work force has so we’re very proud to have achieved it.

    “As we grow and expand in the UK and overseas, across a wider range of contract interior markets, including hotels, serviced apartments, student living and co-living, it will be more important than ever to be able to demonstrate this level of dedication to design, sustainability, quality, and customer service via internationally-recognised standards such as this.”

    To gain the accreditation, which reinforces the trust Hypnos has earned from supplying homes, hotels and palaces around the world, the company had to assess every area of its hospitality business and manufacturing processes at the Castle Donington site, and develop formal procedures to continuously improve its operations and ensure excellence at every level. As a result of this ongoing attention to detail and quality, Hypnos is able to assure consistency across its sustainable designs and its methods of production, ensuring comfort and a good night’s sleep are always delivered.

    Hypnos 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.

    Main image credit: Hypnos

    The multi-room smart air purifier designed for the hospitality industry

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    The multi-room smart air purifier designed for the hospitality industry

    With air hygiene front of mind, we learn more about Air-Reviver Cube, a product that has been designed to add a new layer of hygiene in hospitality…

    Never has air quality and cleanliness been given as much attention as it is today. Over the past few years health concerns regarding air quality have been increasing exponentially and coronavirus is making that even more significant. Air hygiene, especially indoors is a new, broader concern that now affects everyone – from the perpetual germaphobe to the more laidback hotel-goer, who didn’t think twice about germs before the pandemic.

    As the pandemic evolves, we are more unsure about how and when it’s coming to an end, but it’s safe to say that there will be lasting cultural changes that will affect the socioeconomic structure of how people consume services in public spaces. Air hygiene assurance will now be of much higher importance in consumers’ decision hierarchy and that’s where Air-Reviver and it’s patented air purifying technology comes in.

    What is Air-Reviver Technology?

    Air-Reviver systems are based on a patented Bipolar Ionization technology. The Air-Reviver generates positive and negative ions, just like those found in nature when it’s released in the air and mixes with existing H2O. This causes a chemical reaction that neutralises harmful parasites, bacteria and viruses within minutes.

    The Air-Reviver Cube: designed for the hospitality industry.

    The Air-Reviver Cube has 5 filtration layers including H13 HEPA medical grade filter, charcoal filter and a UV light that has long been proven to eliminate the Flu and Common cold virus which are in the same viral family as Covid-19. It provides an all-round coverage against many airborne pollutants, bacteria, fungi and mold spores such as VOCs, E.Coli, Influenza etc.

    A smart purifier

     Providing purified and hygienic air is only half of what the Air-Reviver does. The Cube is designed to be used alongside the Air-Reviver app, designed to facilitate the use of multiple units in the same hotel while providing real time data on air quality. You can name each unit and delegate it to a specific room, control the unit individually or set collective, timely functions such as fan speed, on and off times and more. There is also a remote control fob for ease of use.

    Real time air quality analysis for consumer reassurance.

    The unit’s air quality sensor constantly relays information about the air-quality in the environment generating real time data that can be displayed in a lobby screen or sent to customers individually, which can be a powerful ally in reassuring your customers of the safety of your establishment.

    The Air-Reviver cube comes in three versions, Cube 1, Cube 3 and 4. varying in size and power output with room size coverage ranging from 20 to 90 sqm per unit and it can be mounted to the wall or ceiling as well as freestanding.

    Air Revive was a PRODUCT WATCH pitch partner for Hotel Designs LIVE, which took place on October 13, 2020.

    Main image credit: Air Revive

    Product watch: play it your way with Studio Moods

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    Product watch: play it your way with Studio Moods

    Award-winning Studio Moods is the off-the-shelf bespoke LVT solution from IVC Commercial, making one-off feature floors more affordable…

    Using nine geometric shapes, including four new XL formats over the original collection, combined with wood, stone and colour looks, Studio Moods presents 107 off-the-shelf QuickShip patterns that make it fast and easy to select a floor personalised to your project. Alternatively, you can use the 69 building blocks used for all QuickShip patterns to create your own design or go completely bespoke across 160 looks from just 75m2.

    Image credit: Studio Moods/IVC Commercial

    From classic chevron and herringbone in surprising stone effects, through to patterns involving multiple formats, Studio Moods is all about versatility and creativity. Wood combined with stone, giant hexagons in solid colours next to dark oak; this is an LVT collection that brings personality to workplace, retail, hospitality and leisure, PRS and PBSA projects.

    “The original Studio Moods collection has proved itself as the ideal solution for creating stunning feature areas in a wide variety of projects,” says David Bigland, managing director, IVC Commercial. “Now with the new Studio Moods, we’ve refined the concept, so designers have access to a wider variety of patterns, bigger scale and new wood, colour and stone looks; all easily and quickly accessible from stock through our QuickShip programme.”

    Image credit: Studio Moods/IVC Commercial

    Using IVC Commercial’s 55 specification ensures that Studio performs wherever you choose to install it. Suitable for receptions, breakout zones and feature areas; as well as anywhere else that demands style and performance; the floor is durable and easy to maintain, efficiently made in Belgium using renewable energy and features 30 per cent recycled content.

    IVC Commercial is one of our 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.

    Main image credit: IVC Commercial

    Product watch: Niza collection by CTD Architectural Tiles

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    Product watch: Niza collection by CTD Architectural Tiles

    The new Niza collection by CTD Architectural Tiles is inspired by the colours of both the earth and the ocean…

    Niza is a collection of rectangular and hexagonal tiles in an understated nature-inspired palette. From the warmth of Clay to the freshness of Green, the various tiles come with a gentle shade variation that reflects the essence of traditional ceramic tiles, bringing a modern touch to this cutting-edge product range.

    Available in a rectangular 92 x 370mm and a hexagonal 215 x 250mm format, the versatile cement-effect tiles will add an injection of character to both walls and floors in all residential, commercial and hospitality projects. With a +36 PTV wet slip resistance, the matt glazed porcelain tiles deliver on both technical and aesthetic properties, allowing specifiers, architects and designers to bring subtle texture and warmth to surfaces, whether used in bathrooms, kitchens or living spaces.

    Part of the Saint-Gobain family, CTD Architectural Tiles specialises in the supply of high quality ceramic tile finishes and tiling solutions across all sectors in the UK commercial specification market. With clients in a variety of sectors including the leisure, retail, hospitality industries, CTD Architectural Tiles is committed to bringing customers the latest innovations in product and in service. With unparalleled expertise and technical knowledge, the team works with industry leading, innovative manufacturers to offer a complete portfolio of ceramic and porcelain tile ranges to suit the architect, interior designer, developer and specification professional.

    CTD Architectural Tiles is one of the brands that has taken advantage of our Industry Support Package. To keep up to date with supplier news, click here.

    Main image credit: CTD Architectural Tiles

    BREAKING: Hyatt brand to arrive in Sweden

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    BREAKING: Hyatt brand to arrive in Sweden

    Located in Stockholm, Hotell Reisen will join The Unbound Collection by Hyatt brand, continuing to fuel Hyatt’s brand growth in Europe…

    Hyatt Hotels has announced that a Hyatt affiliate has entered into a franchise agreement with First Hotel Reisen AB to open the first Hyatt property in Sweden. The 144-key Hotell Reisen will be available on Hyatt’s booking systems, on an unbranded basis, as of December 1, 2020 with plans to join The Unbound Collection by Hyatt brand after refurbishment in the first quarter of 2021. In the Nordics, the hotel will join the planned Grand Hansa Hotel in Helsinki, Finland as part of The Unbound Collection by Hyatt and Hyatt Centric Reykjavík, Iceland. The three hotels represent strategic cornerstones in Hyatt’s expansion plans for Northern Europe.

    “The rich history and unique location in central Stockholm make Hotell Reisen a perfect addition to The Unbound Collection by Hyatt brand.” – Peter Norman, Senior Vice President of development Europe, Hyatt.

    Located in the heart of Stockholm’s old town directly on the waterfront and on Skeppsbron, Hotell Reisen is rich in history, dating back to the 17th century. The property will offer cultural moments for guests seeking a sophisticated yet unscripted experience, as it will be located within walking distance of many of Stockholm’s landmark attractions. Independent-minded travellers can experience highlights of the city including The Royal Palace and the ferry to Djurgården, bringing guests to the tranquil oasis that is home to many of the city’s most famous museums and cultural attractions.

    “At Hyatt, we are focused on thoughtful growth based on locations that matter most to our guests, World of Hyatt members and customers, and Stockholm has been a priority market for some time,” said Peter Norman, Senior Vice President of development Europe, Hyatt. “While Stockholm is known for its high barrier to entry for global brands, the rich history and unique location in central Stockholm make Hotell Reisen a perfect addition to The Unbound Collection by Hyatt brand. This brand has seen great momentum across the region, as each property celebrates their destination’s distinct culture and atmosphere, and we look forward to expanding the brand’s footprint in the Nordics.”

    The name of Reisen originates from a 1750’s coffee house run by a Dutchman, Frederik Reiss. As the coffee house was a popular meeting space for merchants and travellers from all over the world, Frederik Reiss’s daughter soon started to rent rooms in the early 19th century. Ever since, the building has been in use as a hotel and today is a celebration of the vibrant and rich history of Sweden’s capital.

    “We are delighted to work alongside Hyatt for the first Hyatt hotel in Sweden,” said Anders Moe, CEO of Host AB which owns First Hotel Reisen AB. “In creating a destination that locals and guests from afar will treasure, Hotell Reisen will honour the history of the building and the city. The combination of our expertise in Sweden’s hospitality market and Hyatt’s international reputation will allow for our vision to come to life.”

    Born out of the belief that every property has a unique story to tell, The Unbound Collection by Hyatt brand invites guests to discover unforgettable places, showcasing the uniqueness of each property’s location. Hotell Reisen will join the eight European hotels under The Unbound Collection by Hyatt brand, including Great Scotland Yard Hotel, Hôtel Martinez, Hôtel du Louvre, Hôtel du Palais Biarritz, Párisi Udvar Hotel Budapest, Hotel SOFIA Barcelona as well as Byblos Hotel and Grand Hansa Hotel, which are both expected to open in 2022.

    Main image credit: Hyatt Hotels

    Checking in to a contactless hotel (with touchless tech from TIG)

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    Checking in to a contactless hotel (with touchless tech from TIG)

    Technological Innovations Group (TIG) has played a key role in helping BLOC Hotels develop and implement new ‘touchless’ hotel technology. In an exclusive video review, editor Hamish Kilburn checks in to discover what the contactless hotel experience is all about…

    The BLOC hotel at Gatwick Airport is a advanced concept in hospitality that offers a comfortable night’s sleep at a competitive price whilst embracing technology for the easiest and most convenient guest experience possible.

    The ‘touchless’ technologies recently installed had the useful side-effect of being ‘Covid friendly’, as guests use their own devices for everything they need to do, from the moment they step through the door to their room right up to checkout.

    Here’s Hotel Designs‘ exclusive video review of checking in to Bloc Hotel Gatwick, filmed by CUBE Video, ahead of Hotel Designs LIVE:

    There are no keycards required. The guestrooms can be unlocked from a smart device, without even the need to download an app. Once in their room, guests can then control the door entry, lights, climate, blinds and television from their smartphone or tablet, and when it’s time to leave, they can use it to check out too.

    Technological Innovations Group (TIG) worked with Symbiot to create this unprecedented hotel experience for BLOC, specifying secure Crestron hardware that eliminate the need for bulky onsite systems architecture.

    A bespoke cloud-based room control management system was developed for BLOC by Symbiot that integrates with the hotel’s Property Management System and Point of Sale systems, to control the entire hotel experience and environment, using the class-leading Crestron technology provided by TIG.

    Image caption: The new contactless experience is operated via a smartphone, without having to download an app. | Image credit: Symbiot/TIG

    The challenge

    Olivier Delaunoy, BLOC’s chief technology officer explained the challenges that were involved: “Initially we wanted to develop a completely new hotel stay experience that was seamless for our customers. But the technology we needed to control our rooms was not available as no one had attempted this before in the hotel industry!”

    The solution

    Delaunoy explains: “We had to adapt existing hardware and create inventive software to realise our vision. We needed the backbone of the control hardware to be resilient and secure. That’s why we chose Crestron hardware supplied by TIG and installed by an approved Crestron Integrator.”

    The results

    Phillip Pini, Head of Residential Sales UK, TIG is very happy with the outcome and explains: “What makes this ground-breaking is its seamlessness, its ease of use, and how convenient it all is. Guests simply use a web-based control system on their mobile device to control their surroundings, check in and out, and open their door – there is nothing to download, nothing else needed to access this clever system. Guests simply scan a QR code, put in their reference number, and away they go! What’s more, it is inclusive, with an option to cater to those who are still more used to analogue methods. This marks a huge shift at the right time!”

    The control system can even be used to operate the elevator within the BLOC hotel and will show the guests to their room. Although Covid-19 was not foreseen when this system was designed, the reduced contact was a fortunate by-product. Olivier comments: “We did not go out initially to reduce the risk of infections, but what we’ve created suits that purpose perfectly and we’re now adapting our technology further to embrace that requirement.”

    “In addition to this advantage, cost-savings can be achieved through streamlined housekeeping and maintenance. The Gatwick BLOC’s infrastructure can be accessed by management to provide operational insights, as well as real-time diagnosis of everything from lighting status to leak detection.”

    BLOC plans to open more hotels and will install this technology in all its future properties. Symbiot is now selling and implementing the technology to other hotel chains, and it is being rolled out internationally.

    Soon, it may be that this touchless, convenient and seamlessly advanced experience developed for BLOC by Symbiot, in partnership with TIG, will be a big part of the future for the hospitality sector.

    Technological Innovations Group is the Founding Headline Partner of Hotel Designs LIVE. To find out more about how Technological Innovations Group can help your business develop and deploy pioneering solutions to modern challenges, visit the website.

    Main image credit: TIG/BLOC Hotels/Symbiot

    Unlacquered brass finish added to Crosswater’s Belgravia collection

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    Unlacquered brass finish added to Crosswater’s Belgravia collection

    Brand new for autumn 2020, Crosswater is delighted to introduce a stunning new finish to its beautifully timeless Belgravia collection…

    Perfect for adding an elegant finishing touch to bathrooms, the new ‘Unlacquered Brass’ finish offers a traditional look with a contemporary twist, and joins two existing finishes – Chrome and Nickel – to complete this much-loved traditional range.

    Belgravia Unlacquered Brass offers luxurious style influenced by time-honoured design, in a range of premium taps, showerheads, valves and bath fillers. In contrast to Chrome and Nickel, the Unlacquered Brass finish offers a warm metallic finish with a gorgeous golden glow that is guaranteed to make an on-trend statement in bathrooms of all designs.

    A natural living finish, this new addition to the collection is specifically designed and manufactured to oxidise over time, resulting in a changing, unique look which offers even more personality to the bathroom.

    Its silky smooth and reflective surface makes it ideal for achieving a high-end and modern look in period-style bathrooms and is strikingly coordinated against the details of Belgravia’s white glazed ceramic levers.

    Features of the range include elaborate bath fillers, traditional shower handsets, exposed shower valves and decadent showerheads, all sympathetically curated in the style and essence of the Victorian era. The ideal choice for lovers of traditional design, the Belgravia Unlacquered Brass range encompasses a beautifully classic look that will complement any bathing space.

    While you’re here, why not check out The Arena Collection by Crosswater?

    Crosswater is one of our 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.

    Main image credit: Crosswater

    Speakers for Sleep & Eat 2020 announced

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    Speakers for Sleep & Eat 2020 announced

    Sleep & Eat returns virtually this November to serve up an impressive line-up of speakers, including Tony Chi, Adam D. Tihany, Lauren Rottet and more…

    Every year, Sleep & Eat delivers a conference that combines global insights from design polymaths, perspectives from hospitality industry leaders, inspiration, education and a unique theme to galvanise its audience.

    This year, the virtual event is presenting a three-day conference entitled ‘Redefining Freedom’, which will explore the likely impacts of the pandemic on guest behaviours and lifestyle choices, and the investment, operational and design implications of these. After selected talks, visitors will also be able to ask their own questions directly to the expert speakers, in live speaker Q&As.

    Click here to register to Sleep & Eat 2020.

    The six keynote speakers have been announced. They are:

    Tony Chi, Founder of tonychi and Alison Chi, Managing Director and Co-Creative Director of tonychi studio – Designing to Contain the Chaos

    Image caption: Alison Chi, Tony Chi

    Design maverick, Tony Chi, may have first coined the phrase: “Design is the organization of the chaos within” several years ago, but now it has clearly gained a new and pressing meaning. In conversation with Alison Chi, he will argue that before creativity becomes cohesive, it must have free-reign, before a team can harmonise, its members must dive into the asynchronous rhythms of their own expertise and before an interior becomes iconic, its designers will have drawn on inspiration from across time and space. Taking the audience through some of the studio’s most acclaimed projects, the pair will encapsulate the notion of designing to contain the chaos.

    Stefan Leser, CEO of Langham Hospitality Group – Delivering Luxury Hospitality in the Next Normal

    With nearly 30 years’ experience in the travel and hospitality industries, Hong Kong based Stefan Leser will share his insights into how a luxury hospitality brand can manage to operate in the current crisis. He will consider what the new learnings have been, how guest expectations have changed, what might be embraced in the future more than ever before – and what may never return.

    Adam D. Tihany, Founder, Tihany Design – Designer as Problem Solver

    Adam D. Tihany has been solving problems through design for world-renowned chefs, hoteliers and restaurateurs creating spaces of wonder and awe that not only enlighten but also transcend. The world is currently facing a problem of immeasurable scale. What can designers and design do it uplift and soothe? Adam D. Tihany will offer his views as he looks back on his ground-breaking career to pave a way for a more hopeful future.

    Lauren Rottet, Founding Principal of Rottet Studio – Clean Design

    As we move forward, we may speak about different levels of clean – clean, really clean and the perception of clean. In her keynote, Lauren Rottet, one of the most celebrated interior architects of our time, will explore how to create for the future, now. Digging deep into her understanding of her craft, she will seek to find answers to the meaning of clean, how they will manifest themselves in guest behaviour and what this means for design over the years to come.

    Yann Bernard Lejard, Executive Chef at Ritz-Carlton Bahrain – Bridging Art and Gastronomy

    Representing an extraordinary confluence of fine cuisine and artistry, chef Yann has created some of the most fascinating plate art in the world and helped to unleash global awareness of the possibilities of this art. Chef Yann’s motto is “to dare”, and looking at his plates, it’s easy to see what he means. His keynote at the Sleep & Eat Conference will provide an insight into the work and inspiration of this exceptional person.

    While you’re here, why not check out ‘hotel guestroom 2035’ which will be unveiled at Sleep & Eat 2020…

    In addition to the keynotes, insightful panel discussions are promised, including members of Women in Hotels considering the latest in hospitality acquisitions and developments, a panel of leading hotel general managers and another of international design company principals. The designers of the concept Sleep & Eat Sets, which in this 15th anniversary year of the event are focused on guestroom design for the next 15 years, will share their thinking and inspiration, and resort developers from around the world will talk about the rise of wellness travel and the closely aligned issue of sustainability.

    Main image credit (and all credits): Sleep & Eat 2020

    Introducing the Lunar Loo from Duravit

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    Introducing the Lunar Loo from Duravit

    FranziskaWülker, development engineer at the designer bathroom manufacturer Duravit, designed and developed a ‘Lunar Loo’ for competition that was conducted by NASA…

    Developing a toilet that can work in a weightless environment and on the moon, sounds like quite a tricky task! That is why NASA offered a $35,000 prize for the three best designs – for which they received 20,000 proposals from participants around the world.

    NASA announced the winners at a ceremony on October 22, 2020, and awarded third prize to Franziska Wülker, development engineer at the designer bathroom manufacturer Duravit. The two first places were awarded to teams from the United States. Franziska Wülker is the female non-American individual engineer who made it to the top three.

    Jonny Kim, the Silver Star recipient and NASA astronaut was also present at the ceremony, as he is involved in the Artemis program.  This is expected to send the next male and first female astronaut tothe moon in 2024.

    Thomas Stammel, Chief Technical Officer at Duravit AG, was delighted, and said: “We are extremely proud that Franziska Wülker was able to conceive and complete such an ingenious project alongside her regular work. The third place award is a considerable achievement and is testament to our expertise in the field of toilet technology.”

    The Duravit space toilet is comfortable for both male and female astronauts to use – thanks to its optimised sitting geometry. Suction is used to reliably remove all excretions from the user’s body. Due to the absence of gravity, excretions are fed into a centrifuge, where they are accelerated and deposited in a tank via a screw conveyor.

    The geometry of the design and filters guarantees that neither unpleasant odours nor bacteria can escape into the cabin of the spaceship. The toilet system is self-contained, meaning that the safety of the crew is guaranteed even in the event of a power outage, preventing exposure to a vacuum or similar. Despite its ingenious technology, Duravit’s design comes in well below NASA’s specifications in terms of weight and energy consumption.

    Duravit deploys state-of-the-art technology in all its research and development, which is enhanced by the experience of the skilled workforce in the development team. Engineers, product developers, and designers work closely on new projects. For example, they utlilise the very latest software used for research in the automotive industry, the aviation and aerospace sector and in universities. For instance this software enables the flow of water to be realistically simulated and visualised, this means that new products can be developed and optimised quickly and efficiently. The company previously used the software in the development of the Duravit Rimless® technology, this offers enhanced hygiene and cleaning comfort thanks to the open design of the flushing rim.

    “When developing toilets, we pay close attention to reliable flushing performance and good hygiene. As well as functionality and design, we are also always mindful of current issues such as water consumption,” said development engineer Franziska Wülker. “On our toilets designed for use on earth, we are naturally assisted by gravity, which causes the excrement to fall automatically into the toilet bowl. One of the biggest challenges in the construction of the Lunar Loo was rethinking everything to ensure that the functionality also worked in a weightless environment.”

    Duravit 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.

    Main image credit: Duravit

    Confessions of a lighting designer – sparks and relationships

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    Confessions of a lighting designer – sparks and relationships

    In the second editorial of the ‘confessions of a lighting designer’ series, Gary Thornton, senior project designer at neolight global, explores lighting relationships…

    Following our previous article, the hotel guest experience can be considered as being framed physically by the architecture, informed by the interior design, and reinforced by the service that you receive, but transcending across all of those to make it an outstanding experience is the intangible – great lighting design.

    We find now that hotels in particular, and most of the major operators now, have a good understanding of the positive role of the lighting designer on a project. For our part, we believe that we bring a unique creative flair to each project, combined with technical expertise that satisfies all of the relevant codes, of which there are many stringent ones to work with now. Combined with a clear understanding of the commercial aspects of projects are our ability to communicate well, hotel clients are very receptive and willing to discuss new ideas within their own frameworks.

    One demonstrable aspect of a client or a hotel operator really understanding what it is that lighting designers do, and the value that lighting can bring to an environment, is repeat business and working with the same design team time and time again.

    For neolight this is clear in our continuing relationship with Address Hotels + Resorts, the premium luxury hotel group launched by Emaar Hospitality Group, for which we have been involved, in full or in part, for a number of their properties in Dubai.

    A key contributing factor to the ongoing relationship is because of our expertise and experience within the luxury hospitality sector in the Middle East region.  We understand their design ethos and principles, their exceptional service standards, and how they position themselves in the business/leisure/luxury market in order to be able to enhance all of their guest experiences through light.

    Started by Alan Mitchell in 2003, neolight’s first experience with Address Hotels started in 2004 and the iconic flagship property in Dubai – The Address Downtown, located across the water and the famous fountains from the Burj Khalifa.

    neolight were lucky enough to get onto the Address Downtown development via the architects, WS Atkins and Partners Overseas. Alan Mitchell had been associate director at JSA, working with Atkins on the Jumeirah Beach Resort, plus the façade of the now iconic Burj Al Arab. Due to the close working relationship, Atkin’s top management sought Alan and his new company for the team, and neolight were introduced to Mirage Mille (now Mirage Leisure and Development) in 2004.

    Address Downtown became a huge success for Address Hotels and led the way to another new working relationship between neolight and Mirage. neolight continue to work on most of their large scale developments, like the Saadiyat St Regis, Abu Dhabi and Caesars Palace at Bluewaters Island, Dubai.

    In fact, neolight did all the front of house lighting at Bluewaters Island which included two hotels, eleven residential blocks, a dedicated shopping souk, and all of the public realm. Currently neolight are working on The Island in Dubai – a WASL development with MGM, Bellagio and Aria hotels plus a custom 320 seat theatre and 5000 capacity Multi Purpose Venue.

    Image credit: neolight

    After the success of the first Address Hotel, neolight were again appointed as part of the team for the Address Boulevard in Dubai for which we designed and completed the façade lighting for the new flagship property located beside the Burj Khalifa.

    Since then, we have been engaged to complete the 80 storey double tower know as Address Jumeirah Gate. For this, we value engineered the entire package as well as renewed the façade lighting with a fresh new design, suitable for the current climate and client expectations.

    Notably projects with Address Hotels show their ability to bring together a great team and drive the team to provide the best possible solution. Working in the Middle East in hospitality brings its own unique challenges but the Address Hotels have a clear focus and drive, and this helps in creating exciting and vibrant designs.

    Even beyond the wider design team of consultants, good working relationships with the General Managers of the properties are also maintained.  On more than one occasion we have been requested back directly by Address to look at an area they are updating, or a new space they are revising for lighting input which is testament to how they value our work and ethos.

    Along-side repeat work with Address Hotels we were appointed to work on Vida hotels with the same client, Emaar, and have since completed façade lighting for the Vida Residence Downtown as well as all FOH lighting for Vida Dubai Creek harbour.

    Success is in listening to, and delivering, what the client wants

    Over the years, we have kept in close contact with Emaar, the owner of the Address Hotels, and due to the ongoing relationship were appointed lighting designers for the Opera House Dubai, the first major performing space of its kind in the Emirates. This was a hugely successful project that saw neolight being awarded Best Entertainment and Leisure Project in the Light Middle East awards 2016.

    Image credit: neolight

    By nurturing the relationships we have with clients, a greater understanding and respect of their requirements are obtained, allowing us to provide a better service for future projects.

    For all the ongoing work with them, the very first Address remains a firm favourite.  The Address Downtown was one of the first major projects for neolight, and as such the memories, both good and bad, of the challenges we undertook in getting what at the time was one of the tallest hotels in the region to become an icon of the area was daunting to say the least, but we rose to the challenge and remember the opening night with affection. It received great critical acclaim and our success as a company owes a lot to the success of the hotel.

    Whilst building relationships with new clients and consultants are a core component of how we work, our working process, ethos, and delivered results are testament to it being rare that we only ever work with a client once. Growing existing relationships and showcasing the success of previous projects mean that we continue to work with all of these brands and clients, and hope to continue many more years of the same.

    Main image credit: neolight

    Virtual roundtable: lighting solutions for tomorrow’s hotel

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    Virtual roundtable: lighting solutions for tomorrow’s hotel

    Following a number of recent roundtables where lighting was unintentionally put under the spotlight, Hotel Designs collaborates with innovative lighting expert Moritz Waldemeyer and a number of designers to understand lighting’s role in tomorrow’s hotel…

    There is arguably no one in the industry who is more dedicated, more aware and more creative in lighting design than Moritz Waldemeyer.

    As well as working with a number of hotels to create powerful installations, the lighting guru has designed LED ‘couture’ pieces for music icons such as Ellie Goulding, WillIAm, Take That and Rhianna (to name a few). He has dominated catwalks during collaborations with the likes of fashion design legend Philip Treacy OBE and Versace.

    Just when we thought Waldemeyer had found his rhythm, he surprised us yet again by unveiling a fresh and innovative lighting scheme for Bentley Motors, which magnificently went on display to mark the car company’s 100-year anniversary.

    So, when curating an exclusive virtual roundtable on ‘lighting solutions for tomorrow’s hotel’, it felt only fitting to collaborate with the LED master himself. To help Waldemeyer and I shed light on this heavily debated topic, we invited a handful of leading designers and consultants from around the world to join the conversation…

    On the panel:

    “For me, the advancements in LED has been the enabler to what lighting designers have been able to achieve in recent years.” – Moritz Waldemeyer, Founder, Studio Waldemeyer.

    Hamish Kilburn: When did lighting become more than just a decorative accessory in hotel design?

    Neil Knowles: Lighting has always been important, but in my career, it has taken off from being created by lighting engineers to now being designed by lighting specialists. For me, that is the key difference. Lighting used to be very uniformed and efficient, and slowly we have evolved to make it more theatrical.

    Hayley Roy: Guests’ expectations have changed, and they now expect lighting to create an experience. This, I believe, has happened in the last 20 years with guests valuing what interior designers do more.

    Moritz Waldemeyer: About 20 years ago I was working as a research scientist for Phillips. I remember looking at a graph about light output for LEDS. It was a revolutionary piece of tech that would half lighting costs. For me, the advancements in LED has been the enabler to what lighting designers have been able to achieve in recent years.

    Marie Solimen: Our lifestyles have changed massively in the last 20 years. I believe that guests were acknowledging design before, but all of a sudden, we were able to capture these moments with the evolution of social media. People started realising the impact and drama lighting can have in a space.

    Six years ago, I saw it change. The lighting designer’s role became more significant and there was definitively a rise in the use of colour, which was driven largely by social media.

    HR: The industry has realised for some time now that they are certain projects where you absolutely need to bring in a lighting consultant, because lighting is such an integral element to get right in an interior design project 

    Asao Nakayama: In Japan, we had a massive lifestyle change just before the millennium. At that time, wellness became a dominant consumer demand for travellers.

    HK: Japan is a great example of a destination where technology and wellness can work in harmony with one another. How do you find the balance?

    Atushi Kaneda: Japan manufactures a lot of high-tech products, but in places it is lacking good and meaningful design. The end user, in many, circumstances is more sophisticated than the designer.

    HK: Asao and Atushi, you have recently worked together to design Tokyo’s debut Aloft hotel. Can you tell us more about the lighting scheme in this hotel?

    AN: The hotel, both interior and exterior, has been designed to challenge conventional lighting design. The concept was to create a “hotel that wears light” in the city, with the exterior being inspired by ‘Japanese lanterns’.

    AK: The Interior space is dramatic. We specifically designed the public areas with the aim to create a strong 70s vibe. To achieve this, we used a new LED technology to ensure the lighting was the best quality.

    What’s more, the lighting in the hotel can be changed easily with the idea being that the lighting scheme within the hotel will be unique to the seasons. It’s a subconscious change for the guests but one that we believe will enhance their experience.

    HK: Let’s talk about personalisation. Will all hotels, like Aloft Ginza Tokyo soon shelter this ability to personalise lighting, and can you see this technology being utilised in all guestrooms in the future?

    GC: I love that idea, but being a realist I just don’t think that every hotel within the Marriott brand at least would be able to utilise this concept to its potential. [As designers], we can only control so much in regards to training of staff, for example. There are certain properties worldwide that are more suited to this style of tech hotel.

    A luxe and modern suite

    Image credit: W London/Marriott International

    “A solid lighting scheme will create a purposeful experience and help the design narrative to unfold.” – Marie Soliman, Co-Founder and Creative Director, Bergman Interiors.

    HK: Marie you are working on projects that will open years from now, and I assume that you are trying to take technology to its limits within the boundaries of wellness. What is lighting’s role in these projects?

    MS: Lighting for us is a huge part of what we do. Once we have a project, we immediately speak to a lighting designer.

    First of all, lighting enhances the whole experience within a hotel, and secondly it creates memories. A solid lighting scheme will create a purposeful experience and help the design narrative to unfold. We can achieve this by playing with light and colour.

    Typically, hoteliers want guests to feel at home, and naturally comfortable. One area that is very interesting to explore is circadian rhythm, and understanding how we can change how areas feel throughout the day.

    “We are now focusing more on creating that warmth of hospitality and not the ‘wow factor’.” – Gabriella Callinan, Interior Design Manager, Marriott International.

    HK: Gabriella, Marriott International is a hotel group known for its research when it comes to lighting and sound. What innovations have you seen recently?  

    GC: Across all 30 brands, we have many different styles of hotels. The guest is savvy and whether they are in a high-end luxury hotel or a cheaper lifestyle property, their demands when it comes to lighting are the same. Today’s guest knows what they want and we have to deliver that.

    Today, as well as there being more technology for the guest, we are also able to monitor what elements within our hotels are being used most. We can design the most amazing lobby complete with presets and light levels. However, if it is not being used then that is a poor investment. Sometimes, six months after the opening of a hotel we will return to find that nobody has touched those controls. Perhaps the General Manager or Director of Engineering has left. Practically, we do see this scenario.

    A sedated interior scheme inside the guestroom of the hotel

    Image credit: Tokyo Edition/Marriott International

    Recently, we have pulled back on the ‘wow factor’ and instead given the consumer a simple, clean and effective design. We are now focusing more on creating that warmth of hospitality and not the ‘wow factor’.

    We have looked at how lighting can work in loyalty. So in your app, we have looked at giving that customisation without overwhelming guests. It’s difficult to make everyone happy.

    Image credit: Moritz Waldemeyer

    HK: Moritz, your studio straddles between design, fashion and other industries. What advantages does that give you?

    MW: One thing we like to do in the studio is jump from one industry to another and bring something from an previous experience. We regularly bring together design and fashion, for example, which always takes our projects to a new level. I think that universal curiosity gives a real advantage when approaching a new challenge – and it is that magical connection that allows us to breathe fresh life into projects.

    “If the idea is strong then you have a greater chance to create something timeless.” – Moritz Waldemeyer, Founder, Studio Waldemeyer.

    HK: Fashion is short shelf life, do you see some of your designs being more long-lasting?

    MW: At the studio, we try to use technology to create our own electronics and circuit boards, but it’s important that the idea stands out and is the driver of any project we are working on. If the idea is strong then you have a greater chance to create something timeless. It has to be idea-driven and not tech-driven.

    HK: Marie, what’s lighting’s role in fitness?

    MS: Lighting is so important in a wellness and fitness setting, and our studio has been able to pioneer new fitness spaces by utilising lighting. We found a formula that allowed lighting to enhance overall performance.

    In a hotel, you want to give a warm welcome but in a HIIT studio, for example, you want to bring the energy up! We designed a new boutique rowing studio called the Engine Room. To really make the design work, we connected the ceiling lights, which were deliberately designed as arrows, to work in sync with the user rowing. All of a sudden, the light was enhancing the performance.

    Image credit: The Engine Room, designed by Bergman Interiors

    We have also recently worked with Accor to replace that one-size-fits-all mentally when designing fitness spaces. The environment we designed inside Pullman Power Fitness is bold and offers much more than just a gym. We want guests to feel the vibe. The idea is that our guests – their bodies – are the art. It’s all inspired by fashion and how your body is a sculpture.

    HK: Do you think we are missing a trick in lighting F&B spaces?

    HR: No, I don’t think we are. Every design we do is tailored to the client. At an entrance, the wow factor is there – you want that! When you walk into the F&B experience it is normally about bringing that mood into that F&B area. It’s really important to bring drama but you do this in a different way and in more of a subtle manor.

    NK: It’s really important to remember, especially in F&B areas, good lighting design shouldn’t be noticed. It’s about setting an appropriate mood and not always about creating a statement.

    HK: What lighting trends should hotels avoid in the future?

    GC: It was trends – and still is for some people – to create that moody experience; to dim the lighting and mute the space. Although that may look appealing, you have to understand how that space would then function during all times (day and night). So we asked our guests across different brands what they thought. What was interesting was that the response – especially amongst women – was that travellers actually felt unsafe.

    While you’re here, click here to read our exclusive panel discussion on the role of UV Lighting in a post-pandemic world.

    In conclusion to this panel discussion, new LED technology and software is allowing designers and consultants to utilise lighting when finding new, innovative ways to enhance the guest experience and cater to new demands of modern travellers. However, like all elements in international hotel design, lighting scheme concepts should not be dictated to by trends. Instead, in order to find the right balance – and to create a timeless statement and/or ambiance – it is wise to collaborate with a credible lighting designer/consultant.

    If you would like to have your say about lighting solutions for tomorrow’s hotels, please Tweet us @HotelDesigns. A special thanks to Studio Waldemeyer and our expert panellist for joining the conversation.

    Hotel Designs LIVE: Adding personality in public areas

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    Hotel Designs LIVE: Adding personality in public areas

    In the second session of Hotel Designs LIVE, editor Hamish Kilburn was joined by Constantina Tsoutsikou, founder of Studio LOST; Eric Jafari, CDO of Locke and Erik Nissen Johansen, Founder of Stylt to discuss adding personality in public areas…

    In the second edition of Hotel Designs LIVE, sponsored by Technological Innovations Group in association with Crestron, editor Hamish Kilburn returned to host a number of panel discussions and interviews with the aim to keep the conversation and the industry connected.

    Following on from the inaugural Hotel Designs LIVE where an expert panel questioned the very existence of lobbies in the wake of Covid-19, Hotel Designs was back to put public areas back under the spotlight.

    To move away from pure sterile solutions and to instead inject design and character back into public areas, Kilburn invited internationally acclaimed designers and hotel figures, such as Constantina Tsoutsikou, founder of Studio LOST; Erica Pritchard, Associate at HBA; Eric Jafari, CDO of Locke, Erik Nissen Johansen, Founder of Stylt, onto the virtual Hotel Designs LIVE sofa.

    The panel discussion, which was sponsored by Falcon Contract Flooring, started with Kilburn asking how the industry can authentically create purposeful areas that evoke interesting first impressions.

    Within this session, the audience heard PRODUCT WATCH pitches from Falcon Contract Flooring, Atlas Concorde, Franklite and Inspired By Design.

    Here’s the full panel discussion.

    While you’re here: click here to watch Hotel Design LIVE’s exclusive interview with Bill Bensley.

    The recordings of the other two sessions (Reassuring the post-corona consumer and The revival of smart tech post-pandmeic) will go live shortly. 

    SAVE THE DATE: Hotel Designs LIVE will return for a third edition on February 23, 2021. Session titles and speakers will be announced shortly. Once these have been announced, tickets for Hotel Designs LIVE will be available. In the meantime, if you would like to discuss sponsorship opportunities, focused PRODUCT WATCH pitches or the concept of Hotel Designs LIVE, please contact Katy Phillips or call +44 (0) 1992 374050.

    Banyan Tree unveils first luxury resort to open in Krabi in 11 years

     730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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    Banyan Tree unveils first luxury resort to open in Krabi in 11 years

    Elevating the destination on the southern Thailand’s west coast, the 72-key Banyan Tree Krabi has opened…

    Nestled on a verdant hillside with spectacular vistas of limestone cliffs rising from the sea, Banyan Tree Krabi has opened.

    Owned by Asset World Corporation (AWC), the new luxury resort backs onto a lush national park and Naga Crest Hill, granting three ultra-exclusive beachfront pool villas, 10 beachfront pool villas, and 59 pool suites — each of which has its own private pool — a westward-facing view of sunset over the Andaman. A natural spring flows downhill into the property where it is transformed into a flower-fringed canal ferrying springwater to the sea.

    Facilities at Banyan Tree Krabi include two restaurants and a beach bar, a fitness centre, a meeting centre, and in keeping with Banyan Tree’s global wellbeing branding — a rainforest-themed spa.

    The centerpiece of the resort, as guests walk through the naga legend-inspired entrance, is a circular water feature in the lobby that cascades into a cavernous meeting room area below. With a backdrop of emerald sea and karsts, the awe-inspiring spectacle is shaping up as one of the resort’s signature images. 

    Image caption: The lobby at Banyan Tree Krabi, with the karst towers of Than Bok Korani National Marine Park in the background | Image credit: Banyan Tree Krabi

    The hotel offers eight suite and villa types. The most modest accommodation type, coming in at 99 sq.m, is the Deluxe Pool Suite. Highlight of the room is a sumptuous double bed, situated beneath a pitched hardwood ceiling and fan. A private terrace, plunge pool and jet pool surround the bedroom, giving guests the feeling of being on a small island.

    The largest is the majestic seven-bedroom Presidential Villa, which sits directly in front of the beach. Guests can reserve the villa as a three-bedroom unit or take an option to combine the three-bedroom with the two adjoining 2-bedroom beachfront villas, transforming it into a seven-bedroom wonderland of saltwater pools, canals, and myriad balconies and terraces. Designed as a retreat for multi-generational family vacations and intimate wedding celebrations, the Presidential Villa commands a palatial 1,335 sq.m as a seven-bedroom arrangement.

    All suites and villas have private saltwater pools and water features. Each is modern and bright with gentle tones of wood, stone and sand. Decor is modern chic, while bathrooms are resplendent with sandy beige marble tiles, a double sink, and decorated with naga art.

    Mod-cons include a lavish bathtub and jet pool, high-speed Internet, IPTV with multiple-device connectivity, a full range of multi-lingual channels on state-of-the-art flat screen TVs, and a premium coffee machine.

    In keeping with Banyan Tree Group’s “Safe Sanctuary” programme rolled out during the Covid pandemic, guests at the new resort will be assured of enhanced safety and hygiene protocols with emphasis on wellbeing and nature-focused offerings. Among them is a personalised check-in and check-out service in their rooms. Prior to arrival, each guest is assigned a Banyan Tree Host – similar to a dedicated butler. Upon checking in, guests receive a Portier Smartphone with unlimited international calls and data – to contact their Banyan Tree Host at the touch of a button and enjoy personalised service, ranging from in-room dining to arranging tours, as well as room service and housekeeping requests.

    One of the most dramatic features at Banyan Tree Krabi will be the three “Bird’s Nest” tables perched precariously among the trees around the resort’s highly-elevated signature restaurant, Saffron. With a lush jungle scene as backdrop, and a sea vista of Krabi’s world-famous limestone wonders at sunset, this romantic dining spot will make for some memorable Instagram moments. 

    As well as an all-day dining restaurant, Saffron Restaurant and its accompanying Sunset Wedding Deck can be accessed by a quaint electric funicular, large enough for eight persons, which will ascend and descend the hillside throughout the evening. 

    Banyan Tree has been recognised worldwide for its sustainability stewardship. Sister resort Banyan Tree Samui was lauded by global organisation EarthCheck in 2018 as the first hotel in Thailand to receive its highest certification. Banyan Tree Area General Manager Remko Kroesen, who will oversee both southern Thai resorts, aims to maintain the same high standards at Banyan Tree Krabi.

    Main image credit: Banyan Tree Krabi