Hotel Designs

NEWS AND ANALYSIS FOR HOTELIERS, DESIGNERS AND INDUSTRY SUPPLIERS
LED light in the middle of stree

LEDS C4 lights up the Llum BCN 2022 festival

 730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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LEDS C4 lights up the Llum BCN 2022 festival

LEDS C4 took on the signage project for the Llum BCN light festival, which was held in Barcelona from February 4 – 6. The festival comprised of 19 light sculptures, which were strategically distributed throughout the streets and designed in a way that allows the general public to enjoy them up close…

LED light in the middle of stree

Llum BCN 2022 festival in Barcelona is all about lighting the streets with personality. For this year’s event, LEDS C4 took on the signage project by contributing to two artistic installations: the “Treequency” project, the work of a group of students at IED Barcelona design school, and the OracLED artistic installation by BeatMe Lab, which is taking part in the Off Llum alternative circuit, combining video mapping and pixel mapping to recreate scenes straight from a dream.

Llum BCN 2022 is an extensive laboratory full of night-time landscapes that are home to a wide range of artistic disciplines, placing it among some of the world’s top light art events, such as those in Eindhoven, Prague and Lyon.

The signage project is made up of 19 large light sculptures that are strategically placed throughout the Poblenou district of Barcelona, one of the city’s most dynamic and vibrant areas and the perfect setting for the Festival of the Light Arts.

The main design element of each signage sculpture was a circle: a simple expression that symbolises the concept of a place, a meeting point. The rings with built-in LED strips were designed by the special project department at LEDS C4. They are all 1.5 metres in diameter and installed on minimalist structures at a height of three metres.

Each ring was lit up in one of three basic and easily distinguishable colours: red, blue or yellow. Each colour represented the different parts of the festival: festival locations (red), schools (blue) and external collaborations with the festival (yellow).

LEDS C4 is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.

Main image credit: LEDS C4

SpaceInvader designs interior scheme for new Tribe Hotel in Malta

 730 565 Pauline Brettell
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SpaceInvader designs interior scheme for new Tribe Hotel in Malta

Leading Manchester-based design studio SpaceInvader has created the interiors scheme for a new Tribe Hotel within Malta’s fast-developing airport city complex. Here’s what we know…

Tribe, a new and rapidly growing hotel brand from Accor with three properties from Paris to Perth, has more than 38 hotels in the pipeline. Geared towards a youthful, contemporary traveller, the brand is making significant inroads into the design-led affordable luxury sector. When the owners of the Skypark development in Malta invited bids for one of the sites to become a hotel, it was a clear match, and Tribe together with a regional Maltese consortium won the bid. Malta-based architects AP Valletta have now designed the building envelope, with designers SpaceInvader creating the hotel’s interior concept, having been appointed to the project after already having worked with the Tribe brand on UK hotel concepts for Liverpool and Glasgow.

Tribe,a new fast-growing hotel brand from Accor, with three properties from Paris to Perth currently operating, has more than 38 hotels in the pipeline. Geared towards a youthful, contemporary traveller, the brand is making significant inroads into the design-led affordable luxury sector’. When The owners of the Skypark development in Malta, where the hotel will be located, invited bids for one of the sites to become a hotel, it was a clear match.The bid by Tribe together with a regional Maltese consortium won the bid and Malta-based architects AP Valletta Ltd have now designed the building envelope, with designers SpaceInvader creating the hotel’s interior concept, having been appointed to the project after working twice already with the Tribe brand on UK hotel concepts for Liverpool and Glasgow.

Image credit: SpaceInvader

The brief for the interiors was to create a vibrant and sociable atmosphere for guests, visible from the second they enter the hotel. The area of Malta the hotel is located in is young, cool and already known for its F&B offerings – including a lively evening cocktail culture – meaning the hotel has an additional role to play in responding to and staying in keeping with the existing local vibe. In response to this and the building’s architectural concept, with plays on light and dark and the concept of day-to-night transformation, SpaceInvader’s design concept is fun, glamourous and dramatic.

The overall concept was inspired by the idea of a ‘Zoetrope’. “This was an early form of animation technology offering fast-moving contrasts from black to white or light to dark,” explained John Williams, Founder of SpaceInvader. “It most often took the form of a cylinder with vertical slits cut into the sides. We have expanded on the concept to design an interior that captures constant movement in a fixed space, reflecting the nature and situation of the hotel as a robust and monolithic building made of local stone, but surrounded at all times by the fast-paced movement of the airport and a sense of travel, transformation and possibility. The Zoetrope additionally references the spirit of theatre and performance, as theatre has traditionally been such a major part of Maltese cultural life.”

 

lighting plays a key role in the design of The Tribe hotel Malta

Image credit: SpaceInvader

The concept’s applications will find form in myriad ways, from art installations by local artists to interiors elements such as panels that allow slivers of light and movement to be glimpsed through the gaps. The concept will also be expressed in the lighting scheme, which includes a bespoke, supersized bar pendant with moving images projected onto its interior surface. Corridor lighting meanwhile will play with dramatic light-and-dark illusions, making a perfect backdrop for guests to record on Instagram. Effects throughout the hotel will ensure a strong sense of day-to-night transition and a variety of atmospheres making use of colour, art and video projection, which can be customised as required to reflect local events, exhibitions and seasonal festivities.

roof terrace with low seating and statement lighting

Image credit: SpaceInvader

A crucial ‘affordable luxury’ element will be the use of local materials, from the hotel’s construction to the inclusion of ceramics. Maltese glassware and ceramics will create decorative, eye-catching moments, nodding to a key Maltese craft and marrying Maltese culture with Tribe’s high-style commitment to contemporary artwork, photography and installations. The material palette for the interior will make use of contrasting colours, bold prints and tactile textures, sitting proudly on a balanced neutral base of Maltese limestone. Surfaces of Maltese terrazzo and hammered gold will refer to Maltese crafts and architecture, whilst marble and brass finishes add notes of an affordable luxury aesthetic with added Zoetrope lines ensuring fun graphical concept features. Furniture will include bold monolithic forms to chime with Maltese architecture, together with the fun element synonymous with the Tribe brand.

a guestroom with a panoramic city view at The Tribe in malta with contemporary furniture and lighting

Image credit: SpaceInvader

Dark corridor spaces with floor and ceiling spotlighting cast light and shadow paths, creating a transient lighting effect inspired by the overall design concept. The hotel’s standard bedrooms will feature bold colour blocking with layered textures and forms for depth and interest. Contrasting black and white patterns within the upholstery and lighting will once again reflect the movement of the Zoetrope, with feature lamps inspired by the film and photography industry. Bathrooms will offer 3D linear feature tile offset with luxury marble vanity, along with block colour tiles. Brass sanitaryware and detailing ensures an elegant luxurious bathroom that reflects Tribe’s bold and vibrant brand.

The hotel’s executive bedrooms will feature a palette of muted tones, taking influence from the colours of Malta’s Luzzu boats and surrounding Mediterranean hues. Softness and warmth will be added through the use of timber flooring together with warm lighting and luxury detailing. The executive bathrooms feature stunning vanity units in a bold and unique blue marble, together with gold tones, reflecting the Mediterranean Sea, set against Malta’s limestone architecture.

Tribe Hotels is Accors answer to the affordable luxury niche of contemporary, design-driven accommodation. The brand focuses on an edited guest experience having identified that luxury under this umbrella, is all about efficiency flexibility and design, rather than the contents of your minibar. The brand is about simplicity accessibility and social connectivity, it is about getting the style and budget balance right, along with an understanding of what a functional, contemporary hotel should be. The Tribe pipeline is testimony to a trend that is clearly here to stay, and the Spaceinvader design concept for Tribe Malta encapsulates this design ethos as it prepares to drive the brand forward.

Main image credit: SpaceInvader

porcelain tile from RAK ceramics that looks like marble

Product watch: Versilia Marble from RAK Ceramics

 730 565 Pauline Brettell
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Product watch: Versilia Marble from RAK Ceramics

Versilia Marble by RAK Ceramics is all about combining the look of luxury with the practicality of porcelain…

porcelain tile from RAK ceramics that looks like marble

Inspired by the natural, effortless beauty of marble, but with all the practical advantages that porcelain brings to interiors, Versilia Marble displays striking grey veining set against a neutral white backdrop for instant attention.

Monochromatic kitchen design using Versilia tile by RAK that looks like marble

Image credit: RAK Ceramics

Durable, straightforward to install and easy to care for, this revised classical marble surface is the ideal choice for worktops, wall surfaces and floor coverings. The high gloss finish gives the material the edge, even when used over compact spaces where reflecting light can introduce the illusion of spaciousness into the design.

Tapping into the continental trend for worktops with a slim profile, Versilia Marble is 9mm thick and in measurements from 60x120cm per tile. The Mega Slab format allows for greater consistency when used over large areas, with less need for grout lines and a seamless finish.

Having identified the bathroom trends moving forward into 2022, this Versilia Marble tile is a perfect fit as we look to add a bit of designer luxury  to our lifestyle.

RAK Ceramics 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: RAK Ceramics

Hotel Designs Ritz Carlton Costa Rica

SB Architects reveals design details for Ritz-Carlton in Costa Rica

 730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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SB Architects reveals design details for Ritz-Carlton in Costa Rica

With construction scheduled to commence anytime now, the new Ritz-Carlton resort and exclusive collection of luxury-branded residences in Costa Rica will be nestled in one of the most prized coastal locations of Peninsula Papagayo in the northwestern region of Guanacaste…

Hotel Designs Ritz Carlton Costa Rica

SB Architects has revealed the design it led for Nekajui, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve and Nekajui, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve Residence. The resort and exclusive collection of luxury-branded residences will be located in Peninsula Papagayo, a private club and resort community in Costa Rica’s northwestern region of Guanacaste. Collaborating with landscape architect and land planner, EDSA, and a market leader in experiential lodging, Luxury Frontiers, SB Architects created a design reflective of the Guanacaste region and the Ritz-Carlton Reserve brand, which is renowned for creating immersive and meaningful escapes in the rarest corners of the world.

Costa Rica, rich with almost five per cent of the entire world’s species, is known as a ‘blue zone’, a destination where data indicates people live longer and healthier. The new Ritz-Carlton resort’s design and architecture pays deep respect to the region’s biodiversity. “Today’s discerning travellers and buyers are seeking the most beautiful, remote landscapes to relax, explore, and deepen their connection to nature,” said SB Architects President and Principal, Scott Lee. “With immersive hospitality concepts informed by research into the traditions and architecture of the Guanacaste region, our team designed Nekajui as a place to soak up the local culture, satiate a thirst for outdoor adventure, and experience the peninsula’s natural wonders through the Ritz-Carlton Reserve brand.”

Hotel Design exterior Ritz-Carlton Costa Rica

Image credit: Gencom

Nekajui, a Ritz Carlton Reserve will encompass 107 guestrooms and suites while the Residences will include 36 rare villa and estate homes. The exotic sanctuary is in Costa Rica’s Área de Conservación Guanacaste (ACG), a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As a sensitive nod to Costa Rica’s position as a prime ecotourism destination and one of the most biodiverse countries in the world, SB Architects’ site-sensitive design weaves tree-house type structures and tents alongside villas, with a light-on-land approach that allows the design to be guided by the natural, steep contours of the land.

SB Architects conducted research into local architectural elements and reinterpreted them for its design, which immerses guests and residences authentically in the locale and delivers experiences tailored to the ethos of Guanacaste. A ‘classic zone’ at the heart of the resort draws from traditional, hacienda-style architecture and honours Spanish influences, while a ‘transitional zone’ showcases an interpretation of architecture found in the local Guanacaste region across guest rooms, suites, and branded residences. An ‘organic zone’ encompassing the guest lodging, beach club, and wellness spa features iconic treehouse-style architecture inspired by the natural environment and distinctive site.

Hotel Designs pool Ritz-Carlton Cosa Rica

Image credit: Gencom

An understated arrival pavilion in the local architectural vernacular leads guests to a spectacular central open-air courtyard, where La Casona and beautifully crafted guestrooms and suites are rooted in the Classic Costa Rican Hacienda Architecture. Comprised of a collection of buildings at the heart of the property, La Casona welcomes guests to the arrival pavilion, an event centre resembling a Guanacastecan church, and three main ocean front buildings that include the Great Room/lobby, barista bar and marketplace, boardroom, and suites on the top levels, all facing the ocean. La Casona also leads guests down one level to a three-meal restaurant, a hidden rum cave to savour the finest regional rums and exclusive tasting events, and to the main pool and pool bar. As guests move out further from the resort, the scale of buildings becomes smaller, and the guestrooms and residences showcase an elegant, clean, and light transitional interpretation of the architecture found within the local region of Guanacaste.

The branded residences are intimately scaled buildings tucked into the hillsides, featuring entrances from the second level, and delivering great privacy to owners. Ranging from 2,200-6,300 square feet, most of the two-to-five-bedroom villas feature spacious outdoor living areas, views from master bedrooms and bathrooms, canopied terraces, outdoor kitchens, and private pools. Designed in a transitional Costa Rican style, the homes feature modern interiors with a distinguishing feature – the Great Room – conceived as a modern version of the salón in Spanish colonial architecture.

“SB Architects’ contemporary reinterpretation unifies the kitchen, dining, and living room spaces into one grand salón,” said SB Architects Vice President Marcelo Balzano. “The Great Room is the arrival point in every home at Nekajui Ritz-Carlton Reserve Residence, a place where residents can reunite with family and friends in an exotic coastal retreat.”

Nekajui winds organically from coastal bluffs down to the sandy beach, offering unparalleled access to the peninsula’s natural beauty and a multifaceted architectural journey. SB Architects conceived the notion of giving guests the option of staying close to the heart of the resort at La Casona, in one of the guestrooms scattered across the site, or in tents or treehouse-type structures that are more remote and the most casual and organic in design. The design caters to a wide audience with varying tastes and appetites for adventure travel, allowing people to delve as deeply into nature and organic experiences as they desire.

Hotel Designs Master bathroom inside Ritz-Carlton Costa Rica

Image credit: Gencom

The beach club, designed in a whimsical, rustic style akin to the tent structures, features its own natural lagoon-like pool, with another pool and three-meal restaurant experience situated above at La Casona. An iconic funicular carries guests down from the main pool to the secluded beach club, which is designed high above the sand and pushed back to respect the coast. Whisking guests 200 feet up and down the coastal hillsides, the funicular offers bird’s-eye views between the arrival core and the beach club destination. Here, guests will discover the organic shaped pool and a casual private dining experience that extends above the sloping mountainside, along with sandy pathways leading to the ocean.

Main image credit: Gencom

arched ceiling and dramatic chandelier in EDITION Dubai

A new EDITION Hotel stands tall in downtown Dubai

 730 565 Pauline Brettell
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A new EDITION Hotel stands tall in downtown Dubai

Designed by Dubai-based interior design studio LW, The Dubai EDITION is Marriott International’s latest addition in the Middle East. Making a strong statement on the city skyline, we stepped inside to take a closer look at the design and details inspired by the energy and innovation of downtown Dubai…

arched ceiling and dramatic chandelier in EDITION Dubai

Having thrown open its (impressive) doors to guests in November 2021, The Dubai EDITION, with its own unique design and identity, has already made its mark in the centre of this thriving international gateway city. The EDITION  brand by Marriott, a concept innovated in collaboration with designer Ian Schrager, is all about creating a personal and unique hotel experience that embodies a sense of place. And claiming to herald a new generation of modern luxury, the Dubai EDITION, designed by LW, takes this mantra on and pays homage to Dubai’s passion to create something entirely new. The result is an elegant, vibrant, urban hub that undeniably encapsulates the essence of this inspired city and sets the bar for luxury. The hotel brings a new bespoke, boutique experience with the attention to detail and finesse that the brand is known for.

entrance to the Dubai EDITION with organic curved staircase

Image credit: Marriott International / Natelee Cocks

As with all EDITION hotels, the lobby is a dynamic, social space that subtly reveals a sense of place and of time. With its soaring arches, the impressive domed ceiling is reminiscent of Italian architectural structures. You are immediately drawn to the centre piece, a seamless triple spiral staircase, which makes a unique design statement as it connects the lobby to other public spaces. Dark woods, neutral tones, soft textures and warm lighting take you effortlessly through the public areas where the space is broken up with furniture placed in intimate seating groups. This considered and intentional space is consciously tranquil and comfortable. A grand three-tiered crystal chandelier adds drama and decadence to this  gathering place, a place definitely to see and be seen.

gallery wall in the seating area in the lounge at the Dubai EDITION

Image credit: Marriott International / Natelee Cocks

The cohesive design language flows seamlessly throughout the hotel and continues into the 275 guestrooms, including 41 suites and a vast Penthouse. This simplicity in design immediately brings attention to minute details such as the matching of veins in the natural stone and wood. The palette is minimal yet warm, with a journey of slightly different hues and colours. The light oak wood and stone accents flow from one room to the other and evoke a feeling of tranquil luxury. The monochromatic colour scheme and contemporary minimalism make each room feel fresh and light and is complemented by the elegant lines of the furniture, textured upholstery and wooden-lined walls. Floor to ceiling windows provide abundant light and lead onto large glass balconies with spectacular views over the iconic Burj Khalifa.

Accessible from the lobby, the ground floor is home to Duomo, the theatrical Italian restaurant which is again, filled with natural light from the  floor to ceiling windows and punctuated with pops of yellow in the velvet furnishings, a clear design departure from the natural toned lobby. Abstract digital art is projected onto the dome ceiling above, creating an interactive and encompassing dining experience from the surroundings to the plate. Tucked away in the lobby, Leon is a cosy speakeasy-style bar serving original custom cocktails and flavours from around the world. It is an exciting juxtaposition to the rest of the hotel with contrasting punchy accents in orange and red against a dark, rich background. Clever lighting further enhances the vibrant colour-blocking throughout the space. It is full of energy and has already become the place for visitors and those living in the city to enjoy live DJs, network and socialise,  as it channels EDITION’s ethos to surprise guests with the unexpected.

The combination of these spaces and the considered design has created both a serene escape from from the busy city life of Dubai, as well as a social and vibrant destination hotel.

> Since you’re here, why not find out more about Marriott’s plans and pipeline for 2022?

Main image credit: Marriott International / Natelee Cocks

IDAS Lineup of speakers

Meet the speakers for Interior Design & Architecture Summit 2022

 730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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Meet the speakers for Interior Design & Architecture Summit 2022

Hotel Designs has taken over the speakership programme for the Interior Design & Architecture Summit that takes place on June 30 at London Hilton Canary Wharf. Interior designers and architects attending will enjoy three panel discussions that will cover topics such as sustainability, wellness and materials. Editor Hamish Kilburn writes…

IDAS Lineup of speakers

The Interior Design & Architecture Summit (IDAS), which is free to attend for qualifying designers and architects, is Hotel Designs’ premium meet-the-buyer event.

The one-day event, which this year will take shelter at London Hilton Canary Wharf on June 30, is designed to dynamically bridge the gap between senior designers, architects and key-industry suppliers. The Summit includes pre-arranged face-to-face meetings, a networking lunch – and to round it all off, Hotel Designs has curated a captivating panel discussion programme. The three debates will run throughout the day, and will include leading industry figures to discuss topics such as sustainability, wellness and materials.

“When curating this year’s sessions and line-up of speakers, we identified these three particular topics, not just because of their relevance but also because of the pre-conceptions around them,” Editor Hamish Kilburn who will chair each conversation said. “Take sustainability, for example: the ultimate ‘buzzword’ of the modern design era. We want to go beyond championing products and schemes that use recycled materials and move into talking about what’s next; products, projects and new methods of working that intuitively help our industry to work towards a circular economy.

“The speakers we have invited for all of our sessions, I believe, are at the forefront of change – and have been called upon to impart their knowledge and latest research. Above all, though, we are encouraging all designers and architects to come to together to challenge conventional approaches to design and architecture.”

This year’s confirmed sessions and speakers are:

01_IDAS_Speakers

IDAS panel discussion on wellnessHow to attend IDAS:

If you are interested in exhibiting at the 2022 event, please email Katie Parkin, or call 01992 374064. If you are a senior designer and/or architect and would like to attend the 2022 event, please email Alex King, or call 01992 374086, or email .

Main image credit: IDAS/Hotel Designs

Hotel Designs: Interior Designer of the Year, Tina Norden Conran and Partners

In conversation with: Tina Norden, Interior Designer of the Year 2021

 730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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In conversation with: Tina Norden, Interior Designer of the Year 2021

Conran and Partners’ Tina Norden – recently crowned Interior Designer of the Year at The Brit List Awards 2021 – welcomes Editor Hamish Kilburn into the studio’s brand-new Clerkenwell home, in the heart of London’s thriving design neighbourhood…

Hotel Designs: Interior Designer of the Year, Tina Norden Conran and Partners

Tina Norden is a rare breed when it comes to hotel and hospitality design. Throughout the pandemic, Norden was a consistent and key voice in the industry, speaking as a leading interior designer and architect at various online events on topics such as, emerging interior design trends, the impact of the pandemic on the hospitality industry, inclusive design, and quality craftsmanship. Throughout this year, the interior designer and architect continued to mentor more junior members of her team and generally kept the momentum going and the positive vibes electric all while working on and completed large-scale projects remotely.

It was therefore only natural for the judges of The Brit List Awards 2021 to collectively award her the prestigious title of Interior Designer of the Year.

Following what she describes as an “unsuspecting win” at the awards ceremony which she describes as like a “big group hug from the industry,” I went to visit Norden in Conran and Partners’ new home in the heart of Clerkenwell.

Norden’s passion and curiosity for interior design and architecture was a combination of nature as well as nurture. Her father was a landscape architect, and growing up on the outer edges of the German port city Hamburg – a destination that amplifies creativity, culture and liberal attitudes – which influenced her career path.

Despite her love for her hometown, Norden’s commitment to the world of design and architecture brought her to London aged just 18 years old – directly after leaving school. Drawn, she explains in the Conran and Partners’ A Way of Living book, to the city’s “incredible music scene”, when it came to applying for university, there was no other place for Norden.

> Watch the full interview with Tina Norden, Partner, Conran and Partners here.

Upon completing Part I of a course, Norden took a year out, which opened the door to a placement at Conran and Partners, a place that Norden describes as “the place for me.”

Taking away the experience from her placement, Norden was offered a place at the Royal College of Art (RCA) in London, on a course that combined both design and architecture (something she wishes was more common in today’s educational system). There, she completed her Part II, and arguably where she discovered her interest in interior architecture.

While studying, the designer and architect continued working at Conran and Partners (and never left), enjoying the creative freedom, while working closely with Sir Terence Conran on a number of high-profile projects.

In her time at Conran and Partner, Norden has given so many projects new leases of life, while also leading a team with a strong and empathetic style. Her masterpieces include German Gymnasium, Skylon, South place Hotel, Finsbury and the Maximilian Hotel in Prague.

One thing is certain when flicking through all of Norden’s work: she designs for style over fashion (every time) to ensure the result is both aspirational and long-lasting – a skill she has no-doubt inherited from Sir Terrence Conran himself.

Recently completed projects include the new Park Hyatt hotel in Auckland, FEAST within Hong Kong’s iconic EAST hotel, a new dining destination and members’ club within London’s Taj Hotel and the Peninsula Boutique and Café in Hong Kong.

In addition, Norden and her team were recently part of what many would consider the highlight of HIX Event 2021; designing the WFHotel installation. The studio worked collaboratively to design a set that explored how consumers’ attitudes towards working from home/hotel could challenge conventional lobby designs. Norden’s interpretation of the brief centred around community-focused ways to interact (unsurprising after experiencing for myself her selfless approach to being a true leader in international hotel design).

This editorial series is sponsored by GROHE, Broadcasting Partner of The Brit List Awards 2021 – and was filmed by CUBE. The Brit List Awards will return this year – with applications/nominations opening in the Summer, and remaining a free-of-charge process for all categories. Following our interview with Norden as Interior Designer of the Year, up next we meet Mark Bruce, Main Board Director of EPR Architects who was recently crowned Architect of the Year 2021.

Main image credit: Conran and Partners

Hotel Restaurant & Catering show confirm line-up

 730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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Hotel Restaurant & Catering show confirm line-up

Hotel, Restaurant & Catering (HRC) has unveiled its 2022 seminar programme, with an all-star line-up of hospitality brands and industry leaders, including some of our own here at Hotel Designs. The event, which takes place on March 21-23 at ExCeL London, will reunite the hospitality and foodservice industry for three packed days of learning, networking and product discovery…

Hotel Restaurant & Catering (HRC) has partnered with EXP101 for this year’s event to curate the programme of content for the Vision Stage, designed by Harp Design, which will be focussing on a range of timely topics and trends affecting hoteliers, publicans, restauranteurs and professional caterers.

After a two-year period which has seen significant evolution in the use of hospitality tech, the show’s Tech X stage will host sessions examining best practice in implementing new technology and where to make smart investments for hospitality businesses.

“HRC 2022 is jam-packed with content tackling some of the most important topics, challenges and opportunities in the world of foodservice and hospitality,” said Ronda Annesley, HRC Event Manager. “We’re thrilled to be working with some fantastic content partners who have brought exciting new insights, speakers and talking points to this year’s seminar programme.”

 Monday March 21

Day one of the show will kick off with ‘The return of the pub’ on the Vision Stage, during which KAM, the British Institute of Innkeeping, Louise Maclean of Signature Pubs and Anthony Pender of Yummy Pubs will be discussing the impact that the past two years have had on the pub and bar sector and some of the new opportunities that have emerged since restrictions eased in the UK.

One of the biggest challenges to emerge in recent years has been staffing shortages in the hospitality and foodservice industry, and 21 March will see an all-star panel hosted by Keiron Bailey of EXP101 and featuring Chris Gamm of Springboard, Mark McCulloch, Founder of Hospitality Rising, Abi Dunn of Sixty Eight People and UKHospitality CEO Kate Nicholls take to the stage to discuss the changing approaches needed in recruitment and retention.

Dunn commented: “We’ve seen operators struggling with staff shortages throughout the pandemic at all levels, not just in recruitment but also in retention. Some of the more successful businesses to tackle this have collaborated with marketing teams, made smart use of technology and have understood that there is a need to invest in people.”

At 14:15 – 15:00, Editor Hamish Kilburn will take to the vision stage with David Chenery, Founder and Director of Object, Space, Place Limited and Claire Smith, Director of ADBA Design to discuss how restaurant design and bring back consumers to dine out again.

Tuesday March 22

Day two of the show will see HRC’s Chef Ambassador Michel Roux Jr take to the stage to discuss shifting kitchen cultures with a panel of top UK chefs.

This will be followed by Katie Rose, CFO and COO of Market Halls and Andy Dyson, Business Development Director – New Concepts at Revolution, revealing how diversifying your offering can grow and protect your business.

On the Tech X stage, KAM Founder Katy Moses will be joined by Yummy Pubs Founder Tim Foster and Philip Thorley of Thorley Taverns to discuss how hospitality tech can benefit both pubs and their patrons.

Wednesday March 23

The third and final day of HRC will be putting people on the agenda with a session from The People Collective featuring John Mason of Sideways, Leanne Tester, Learning & Development Manager at Pizza Pilgrims, Grind’s Head of People Preeya Parker and Avi Collins, Head of People at Tapas Revolution.

Tech on Toast Editor and EXP101 Founder Chris Fletcher will then be joined on stage by pointOne EPoS Founder Steven Rolfe, Dub Lee of Honest Burgers and William Connors of Popeyes for a discussion around all things digital transformation, and how technology has elevated the online offering of leading hospitality brands.  

View the full seminar programme, including the chef line-up for The Staff Canteen Live and the agendas for the Better Hospitality Conference and Hospitality’s Talent Conundrum conference, at hrc.co.uk/2022-seminar-programme. Places are limited for these live discussions so ensure you book ahead to secure your place. 

Main image credit: HRC

brass and wood bar area in Motto by Hilton

New Motto by Hilton opens in Chelsea, New York

 730 565 Pauline Brettell
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New Motto by Hilton opens in Chelsea, New York

As one of the first of Hilton’s new Motto brand properties to open, this project in one of Manhattan’s most vibrant neighbourhoods sets a standard for those to come. We stepped inside for a closer look…

brass and wood bar area in Motto by Hilton

A short walk from architectural icons like the Flatiron Building and the High Line, the 374-key Motto New York is sheltered inside a 42-storey structure by Stonehill Taylor, the New York City based firm that has also designed the hotel’s interiors.

The setting within a former theatre district and current arts district inspired the use of unique art installations and dramatic arches in The Motto New York’s public spaces and guest rooms. However, it was the venue’s 24th Street address that acted as the main design muse, as Stonehill Taylor used the number 24 and its significance in different contexts as a spark for the hotel’s colour scheme, furnishings, finishes, and artwork.

entrance to Motto by Hilton in Chelsea New York

Image credit: Motto by Hilton / Joe Thomas

The ’24’ design concept is highlighted by way of three unique concept pillars. The first, the 24 hours in a day, takes inspiration from the passage of time, the sun, the moon, and the contrast of light to dark. In military time, 2,400 signifies the midnight hour, which the firm wove into the hotel through accents of deep midnight blue. The second 24-ism references metals, in particular 24-karat gold and chromium, the 24th element on the periodic table. Stonehill Taylor’s team incorporated these finishes in a unique yet cohesive way in light fixtures, case goods, and artwork. For the third and final concept, the designers looked to 24-bit colour, a means to produce colour digitally in its truest form, which resulted in concentrated moments of vibrant jewel tones carefully curated throughout the hotel.

Stepping inside you are greeted by multi-coloured panels hung in a kaleidoscopic ceiling installation. A jewel-tinted stained-glass screen, inspired by the phases of the moon, provides a vibrant backdrop to a clean-lined reception desk. Moving into the food and beverage area, gold and midnight blue elements define the space in a skylit F&B space located along the ground floor’s eastern edge. Gold velvet-upholstered chairs saddle up to walnut tables, and back-lit midnight-hued velvet and leather banquettes adjoin the walls. Located centrally on the ground floor is a dramatically sunken day-to-night conversation pit for working or lounging by the main bar. A suspended lighting installation of glowing multi-coloured glass globes climbs its way through the brass-railed feature stair to the second-floor lounge, where an over-sized mixed metal wall sculpture greets guests at the upper level of the stair. There, a well-appointed lounge area can be found with welcoming and stylish furnishings atop jewel-toned area rugs and a bar with a midnight blue mosaic tiled wall, softly lit by glowing brass and chrome mirrors. All these elements clearly showcasing different aspects of the design narrative.

A restrained but distinctive design scheme characterises the guestrooms. These compact yet smartly appointed spaces feature furnishings that make maximal use of available space. Platform beds have channel-tufted headboards in a light-to-midnight-blue ombre, as well as built-in storage. Contrasting midnight-blue and white colour blocking appears on the tiled walls in the bathroom, highlighting brass and chrome fixtures. In both the guestrooms and corridors, the designers have carefully curated a selection of artworks recalling urban elements of New York City, whether through colourful graphics or striking photography. Guestroom corridor wallcoverings continue the contrasting blue and white concept with a carpet design that explodes in a prism of colour. In addition to traditional king and double guestrooms, the Chelsea Motto offers a unique three-bay plan, that includes a “king bunkie” option – a king bed with a twin bed above it.

From the striking Motto green entry doors through to the lobby, public spaces and finally the guestrooms, the story behind the design concept has been considered at every step and in all the details. The finishes, fixtures and installations are all part of a cohesive project that reflects the neighbourhood that shelters the latest addition to the Motto by Hilton brand.

> Since you’re here, why not find out more about the brand Motto by Hilton?

Main image credit: Motto by Hilton/ Joe Thomas

Render of concept of new hotel in Africa

A hotel concept designed using innovative sustainable materials

 730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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A hotel concept designed using innovative sustainable materials

In the wake of winning the special Jury Prize for their innovative hotel concept that they unveiled at Accor Design Awards, Yasmine Bennani, Solène Percie Du Serf, Nicolas Alibert and Alexandre Albert-Picquet from L’Ecole de Design Nantes Atlantique speak to editor Hamish Kilburn about the unique materials explored in this hotel experience of tomorrow…

Render of concept of new hotel in Africa

The Coccon project, a hotel concept unveiled by the students from L’Ecole de Design Nantes Atlantique, was one of the highlights of Accor Design Awards in 2021. The sustainable shells of each ‘cabin’ or ‘suite’ stunned the judges with the designers’ level of creativity, flair and knowledge of innovative materials.

The hotel presented to the judges catered to the rising demand of bleisure travel. Forget the typical corporate shell, though, because this hotel suite concept – made from biopolymer, local wood and other eco-friendly elements – has been designed for the future as a one-off travel experience in Africa.

Following their special accolade, designers Yasmine Bennani, Solène Percie Du Serf, Nicolas Alibert and Alexandre Albert-Picquet, spoke to Hotel Designs about how the project came about, as well as what they hope the industry can learn from their research.

Hamish Kilburn: What were the major challenges of this project?

Yasmine Bennani: The major challenge was creating a project suitable for future travellers, and predicting what that would look and feel like. We had a free hand on the design but we really wanted to challenge today’s existing views on sustainability. As well, we pushed our creatives and technical limits, both on design and on software.

HK: What or who were the main influences?

Solène Percie Du Serf: Our main influence was Neri Oxman, an American scientist, architect and designer who is a leader of bioclimatic architecture. With her team at the MIT Media Lab, she works on new sustainable process for the design of the future.

HK: What brand would you believe would be most appropriate for this concept?

Nicolas Alibert: Matching with our concept, it would be great to have a business-oriented brand, in the premium sector and with a special sustainable ethos. We think that Mantis Collection answers this need, as it is anchored in the preservation of the environment. ‘An exceptional place to find yourself’ is the baseline of the brand, which is in line with our concept.

HK: Can you tell our readers a bit more about the materials you had in mind for this concept?

YB: The main material is the chitin developed by Neri Oxman, which is a large, structural polysaccharide made from chains of modified glucose and is found in the exoskeletons of insects. It is an engineering track, an experimental material nowadays to imagine tomorrow standardisation. We would love to count on the new modes of 3D printing to push for a freer architectures.

HK: Nearly one year on, would you change anything with the design?

Alexandre Albert-Picquet: We would not change the concept, still today we are proud of our design. We would however go into further detail, in the finishing touches, to make the experience completely real and adjusted to customers’ needs.

The hotel concept on the outskirts of a city

Image caption: The hotel concept’s design and architecture took cues from the local vernacular, designed to be a non-invasive luxury hospitality experience. | Image credit: Accor Design Awards

HK: Where else, geographically, can you see this concept working?

NA: Our design is very specific to Konza City, with locals resources and needs. But we can imagine our ‘break’ concept, from the city to the nature, developed in all the technopolis of tomorrow with a new local thinking.

HK: And finally, how has this ‘special accolade’ from the judges helped you in your individual journeys?

AAP: It proves that we are not doing this for nothing; our hard work is awarded and respected. It gives us the confidence and the desire to not hold back, and to always push the boundaries in our work. Also, it helps us to be recognised by the professional community, which makes it easier when we have to apply for internships and future jobs.

Main image credit: Accor Design Awards

ILIV Atlantic fabric collection in dark blue colourway

ILIV introduces new weaves & textures into its 2022 collections

 730 565 Pauline Brettell
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ILIV introduces new weaves & textures into its 2022 collections

The year has got off to a flying start for the family owned fabric company of SMD ILIV, as it plans for ten brand new collections to launch in a dynamic response to emerging design trends…

ILIV Atlantic fabric collection in dark blue colourway

The past twelve months has seen the SMD ILIV team investing heavily in research to identify new and emerging markets and trends with a view to align them to gaps in the company’s product offering. As a result of this time and inspiration, ten brand new collections are set to be launched across all of the three sectors of hospitality, workplace, and care.

This means that ILIV now has over thirty collections suitable for drapery to choose from with two more plain drape collections set to launch over the next quarter, including an elegant herringbone weave and sumptuous duotone chenille. The range now spans a selection of velvet and chenille qualities along with drier, woven textures such as basket weaves and wools.

Alto, one of the latest releases, is available in twenty-nine colours and has a natural animal look with an organic feel. With its soft handle, Alto creates the ultimate drape, perfect for hospitality environments. The mottled design within the cloth has an iridescent appeal, giving a more luxe feel making it the ideal choice for making a statement.

The second of the new collections to launch, Nightfall, is the first ever wide-width flame retardant dim-out drapery collection. Echoing the woven texture of the bestselling drapes collection Tundra, Nightfall has a subtle two-tone construction with a soft, light-weight handle. Nightfall, along with the Starlight, Aura and Eclipse collections, make up the wide-width offering, allowing designers and specifiers ample choice of dim-out plains, black-out plains, voiles and patterned designs for interior schemes.

starlight fabric range by ILIV

Image credit: ILIV

Alongside the plain drapes collection, ILIV offers an extensive offering of printed designs which allow flexibility within interior schemes. With seventeen base cloths to choose from, the print qualities range from sheer voiles to antimicrobial weaves and velvets, suitable for any concept. The Brookland velour drapery quality has now been added to our base cloths selection (Q1529), offering a more cost-sensitive alternative with a soft handle and drape. Later this year, the launch of  the  crib-5 velvet Casa upholstery quality for printing, will add a luxurious feel to the existing offerings.

Serene is the latest print collection to launch and was created with a watercolour hand-painted look with soft brush strokes and a relaxed form. Heavily inspired by the pandemic, the Serene collection emotes stillness and serenity, designed to bring calmness and tranquillity to interior design, a strong trend which has swept the nation during the global pandemic.

SMD Group is one of the brands that has taken advantage of our Black Friday package. To keep up to date with supplier news, click here. 

Main image credit: ILIV

Villeroy & Boch new range of VICTORIAN tiles incorporate fashion and interior design as inspiration

Mary Katrantzou designs new tile collection for Villeroy & Boch

 730 565 Pauline Brettell
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Mary Katrantzou designs new tile collection for Villeroy & Boch

Inspired by the past to create designs for the future, Villeroy & Boch has collaborated with fashion designer Mary Katrantzou to bring the natural world into the living environment with the VICTORIAN tile collection…

Villeroy & Boch new range of VICTORIAN tiles incorporate fashion and interior design as inspiration

Villeroy & Boch tiles has unveiled its first designer collaboration in more than 20 years. Created by leading fashion designer Mary Katrantzou, VICTORIAN is a vibrant and colourful tile collection inspired by the art of lepidopterists and the geometry of traditional Victorian tiles. Captured by the creative vision of Katrantzou – an acclaimed designer with a strong passion for premium and timeless elegance, as well as an appreciation of craftsmanship and tradition – Villeroy & Boch tiles saw the opportunity to create a signature collection that would lend itself to the designer’s unique aesthetic and style.

When Katrantzou was first approached by the tile specialist, she was instantly drawn to its over two centuries’ history of design and manufacturing. The designer was keen to convert her approach to fashion into a spatial context of walls and floors, blurring boundaries between decorative mediums and drawing inspiration from objects, interiors and art. By visiting Villeroy & Boch tiles’ headquarters in Merzig, Germany, Katrantzou learnt more about the process behind the creation of its tiles. She also discovered that tiles from this era were still present in one of the hallways on site and realised that 19th century Victorian tiles have truly stood the test of time, being as fashionable today as when they first came into style.
Katrantzou felt that this collaboration with Villeroy & Boch tiles should be an exercise in the understanding and application of balance, symmetry and proportion, and that striking a harmonious balance between colour, pattern and form is just as important in interiors as it is in fashion.

designer Mary Katrantzou with tiles designed for Villeroy & Boch

Image credit: Villeroy & Boch / V&B Fliesen GmbH

As a former architectural student, she also explored Victorian interiors and ornamentation in her own Autumn/Winter 2018 Collection. As a result, the designer and Villeroy & Boch tiles decided to collaborate on a collection that interplays between their respective archival designs.
Butterflies are central to the new VICTORIAN collection. A recurring theme in her fashion collections, Katrantzou sees them as one of the truest examples of metamorphosis. The designer wanted to utilise butterfly prints to communicate optimism while transforming tiles into a collectable piece of art. Another theme central to Katrantzou’s work is that of postage stamps. She believes that they “exude the allure of faraway lands and make you dream about what each piece of paper represents, where it might have been, who has touched it on its journey round the world.” In a world where stamps are becoming obsolete, the designer appreciates them even more “as tokens of the past and relics of a different era”. Through the VICTORIAN collection, she wanted to create a vignette within the home, a window into the world that captures this sense of nostalgia but is equally graphic and modern in its design.

butterflies and postage motifs tile designs

Image credit: Villeroy & Boch / V&B Fliesen GmbH

Gathering these themes together, VICTORIAN features eight different décor sets (20cm x 20cm) with borders and edges to complete the offering. Four coloured butterflies on either white or black backgrounds have been created using a combination of digital print and traditional screen-printing, with light visual 3-D effect used to provide a handcrafted appearance to each tile. Seen either straight-on or at a 45-degree angle, each butterfly tile is enhanced with either gold, black or perforated borders. Continuing the theme of white, black and gold, authentic marble-effect tiles are offered in two different finishes – high gloss for walls and polished surface for floors. They are joined by concentric designs alongside modern graphic interpretations of Victorian tiles. The butterfly tiles can be used independently or in combination to create a design that perfectly suits every bathroom setting.

Villeroy & Boch is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.

Main image credit: Villeroy & Boch / V&B Fliesen GmbH

Hyperion new graphic architectural ceiling tiles in luxury hotel guestroom

Hyperion Tiles adds Mikodam luxury panels to its portfolio

 730 565 Pauline Brettell
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Hyperion Tiles adds Mikodam luxury panels to its portfolio

Designer tile specialist Hyperion Tiles has expanded its portfolio to include contemporary wall and ceiling panels for commercial interiors. The five distinctive designs have been launched with luxury hotel living in mind…

Hyperion new graphic architectural ceiling tiles in luxury hotel guestroom

Hyperion Tiles is known for its design-driven portfolio of porcelain, stone and mosaic statement wall tiles and engineered wood flooring. By expanding its collection to include the range of luxury wall panels by Mikodan, Hyperion will be able to provide alternative state-of-the-art wall and ceiling solutions for discerning interior designers and hoteliers.

three dimensional luxury wall panel from Hyperion tiles

Image credit: Hyperion Tiles

“We have successfully joined forces with Mikodam, an architectural products and furniture brand, as their exclusive UK supplier,” said Richard Skeoch, director at Hyperion Tiles. “Installing Mikodam panels on walls and ceilings facilitates even sound distribution and prevents acoustical defects such as glare, background noise echo and flutter echo. This makes them the perfect solution for commercial properties, such as hotels, restaurants and bars.”

Mikodam has just launched five new striking panel designs – Deta, Neka, Rona, Sona and Zeta, all of which which are now available at Hyperion Tiles. With strong graphic and architectural qualities, these panels have the ability to transform a wall or ceiling into a unique design statement. All the panels are available in a range of colours, materials and shapes, with options allowing the designer to experiment with different rotations and combinations, as each panel is attached to an innovative rail system which allows for 90°,180° and 270° swivel.

“These panels are part of Mikodam’s ultra-modern acoustic collection, which combines function with form,” said Skeoch. ” They address a variety of noise and soundproofing issues making these ideal for the hotel sector, enhancing peace, privacy and comfort.”

Aside from the aesthetic qualities of the panels as a strong design statement, they also provide practical solutions by improving acoustics, and facilitating visual definition of space. They are a versatile feature for commercial properties such as offices, restaurants and bars, as well as being a valuable addition to residential projects, such as luxury apartments and town houses.

Hyperion Tiles 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: Hyperion Tiles

Thornbury Castle exterior

Case study: A sensitive bathroom renovation inside Thornbury Castle

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Case study: A sensitive bathroom renovation inside Thornbury Castle

Once owned by Henry VIII, Thornbury Castle, having undergone an extensive and impressive renovation, has been transformed into a luxury hotel and sought after event venue. Schlüter-Systems came to the rescue with a full system solution…

Thornbury Castle exterior

Situated in the heart of Gloucestershire, Thornbury Castle is the last Tudor Castle to be built in England. Once owned by Henry VIII, it is now a high-end luxury hotel and popular venue for weddings and other grand events. This impressive renovation project saw multiple guestrooms and guest bathrooms refurbished and reimagined.

Due to its historic roots, there needed to be a balance between creating the new facilities whilst retaining the charm of the famous Grade I listed building. Schlüter-Systems were able to help with this tricky task, offering a full system solution using Schlüter-KERDI products to ensure waterproofing within the guest bathrooms, which were designed and specified by Childs Sulzmann Architects.

bathroom renovation at thornbury Castle using schluter sytem

Image credit: Schlüter-Systems

For areas of high moisture, waterproofing is an essential consideration, and it takes on an even greater significance when it comes to preserving historic buildings such as Thornbury Castle. To meet this requirement, a selection of Schlüter products were utilised to create a fully tanked system. This included the BBA-certified Schlüter-KERDI-BOARD tiling substrate and sealing components Schlüter-KERDI-KEBA sealing band, KERDI-COLL-L sealant adhesive and Schlüter-KERDI-KERECK which was used for internal corners.
To provide entry level within the shower area, Schlüter-KERDI-LS sloped shower tray and Schlüter-SHOWERPROFILE-S tapered profile were installed beneath the tiles.

When working on the design and specification of bathrooms within heritage buildings, waterproofing will ensure the building is preserved for generations to come, and Schlüter-Systems are able to work within heritage constraints to create sympathetic and practical solutions.

Schlüter-Systems 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: Schlüter-Systems / Thornbury Castle

Contemporary guestroom

Product watch: The latest lamps, fittings & pendants from Franklite

 730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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Product watch: The latest lamps, fittings & pendants from Franklite

In the wake of an award-stealing year, lighting brand Franklite emerges in 2022 fired up with new product ranges that are new in stock. Hotel Designs takes a peek…

Contemporary guestroom

Following a fantastic 2021, during which the brand received three prestigious national lighting awards and sponsored a roundtable on innovative lighting, Franklite has unveiled new product ranges that are now all in stock.

With two successful product launches in January and September last year, Franklite’s Catalogue 26 Supplement is quite the bumper edition, full of exquisite product ranges.

A range of lighting products

Image caption: The Perdita range. | Image credit: Franklite

The Perdita, an already very popular range, is now available in brushed brass finish with rectangular crystal drop. With varying sizes – from five-light to 30-light fittings– the range is suitable for any application.

Modern and contemporary bedroom in San Francisco with views of the financial district of the city. Condo or Hotel accommodation.

Image caption: The Avenue range. | Image credit: Franklite

Floor lamps make a subtle, yet functional addition to any hotel room. The Avenue range includes a matt brass finish floor lamp on a white marble base along with a satin nickel finish floor lamp on a black marble base both with an in-line switch on the cable.

The ceiling fitting, pendant and wall bracket of the Acoste makes this range suitable in multiple areas within a hotel. Available in brushed brass and satin nickel finish with clear ribbed, enclosed glass with a slightly inverted base. The modern, uniquely designed wall brackets frame any hotel bed perfectly all whilst providing sufficient reading light.

Adding a touch of royal elegance to any hotel interior is the Coronet, a chrome finish fitting with oval-shaped crystal glass. The fitting is supplied with a chain suspension which can easily be converted to a flush fitting suitable for low ceilings.

Image caption: The Coronet collection. | image credit: Franklite

Franklite continues to design product ranges for the hospitality market that are not only functional and efficient, but also beautiful and creative.

Franklite, which won Best in British Product Design at The Brit List Awards 2021,  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: Franklite

Fluid architecture Hotel Designs Westin London City

Celebrating sculptural design: Inside Westin London City

 730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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Celebrating sculptural design: Inside Westin London City

Almost four years on from when Editor Hamish Kilburn broke the news that Westin Hotels & Resorts will make its debut on the UK hotel design scene, he is back to unveil the design and architecture narrative now that Westin London City has officially opened its doors…

Fluid architecture Hotel Designs Westin London City

Days after Marriott International shared its hotel opening pipeline for 2022 and beyond, Westin Hotels & Resorts has given Hotel Designs access inside the brand’s debut hotel in the UK, which also marks the 1,000 property within the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio in Europe, Middle East, and Africa.

Designed by British architecture and interior design studio Dexter Moren Associates, the new riverside hotel, with unparalleled views of Shakespeare’s Globe theatre and Tate Modern art gallery, combines meaningful wellness with contemporary fluid and sculptural design. Built on the premise that a connection to nature enhances wellbeing, the design is integral and is inspired by the unique location, and shelters a modern residential feel.

Hotel Designs: The lobby inside Westin London City

Image credit: Marriott International

“The Westin London City seamlessly balances London’s captivating energy with the wellness promise that Westin Hotels & Resorts is known for, providing mindful travellers a new way to experience this iconic destination,” said Jason Nuell, Senior Vice President, Premium Brands, Marriott International. “As the brand’s debut in the UK, we’re excited to continue expanding our portfolio, delivering industry-leading well-being experiences designed to empower a better you.”

Wellness plays a powerful role within the hotel’s 222 guestrooms, which feature brand signatures, such as the iconic Heavenly Bed and a spa-like bathroom. In fact, the hotel experience comes to life through the brand’s six pillars of wellbeing – Sleep Well, Eat Well, Move Well, Feel Well, Work Well, and Play Well – allowing guests to personalise their stay and engage in programming that best meets their needs.

The expansive Heavenly Spa by Westin has been designed to prioritise guest’s well-being with six treatment rooms and an indoor pool, which was carefully constructed around the archaeological remains of the Huggin Hill Bathhouse below.

Westin London-heavenly-spa-indoor-pool-29734_Feature-Hor copy

Image credit: Marriott International

Riverside dining can be enjoyed at two venues – wine bar Hithe + Seek, overlooking the Thames, and all-day dining destination Mosaic, featuring a sustainably sourced menu of nutritious dishes. Presenting a world of contrasts to city-goers, Hithe + Seek is set at the heart of the hotel.

Plush furnishings and modern finishes create an intimate atmosphere while the eclectic wine list, made up of 80 references, is carefully split into two sections – Hithe which features a selection of familiar favourites and Seek which showcases undiscovered gems hand-picked for diners looking to expand their palate. The small plates menu combines recipes from old and new world wine countries within the wine list.

Named after the colourful artwork commissioned for the front of the hotel, Mosaic offers a sustainably sourced menu ideal for those seeking healthier choices including dishes from the Westin Eat Well menu, which provides options that fuel and energise guests without compromising flavour, taste, or satisfaction. Located on the fourth floor, where the north and south sides of the hotel merge, its city-facing location makes it the perfect destination for lunches or after work dinners and drinks.

“By connecting these two sides of London, we have opened a walkway that could help towards a greener city.” – Neil Taylor, Chief Operating Officer at 4C Hotel Group.

Collaborative working areas that spark creativity are at the heart of the hotel with its 1,060 square meters of contemporary meeting and events space. Allowing flexibility in function through simple and intuitive design details, the hotel’s Ballroom is a fluid space that can be easily tailored to host a range of events. Five expansive meeting rooms emulate the linear nature of the north lobby’s design, introducing residential touches and natural textures.

Owned by 4C Hotel Group and managed by leading hospitality management company RBH, Westin London City, which also has nine state-of-the-art residences, unites the final piece of the Thames pathway connecting the Embankment to the Tower of London. “By connecting these two sides of London, we have opened a walkway that could help towards a greener city, encouraging locals and visitors alike to walk the beautiful stretch of river,” said Neil Taylor, Chief Operating Officer at 4C Hotel Group. “It has been 80 years in the making in bringing this walkway back for everyday use and we are delighted to see our city united once more.”

Main image credit: Marriott International

Hotel Designs Zimmer + Rohde ss22 collection

Product watch: Zimmer + Rohde unveils SS22 collections

 730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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Product watch: Zimmer + Rohde unveils SS22 collections

Textile manufacturer Zimmer + Rohde has given Hotel Designs a sneak peek of its SS22 collections, which will be on display at Design Centre Chelsea Harbour at London Design Week this March. Editor Hamish Kilburn shares his top picks from the launch…

Hotel Designs Zimmer + Rohde ss22 collection

On March 13, the design community will gather in the uplifted Design Centre Chelsea Harbour for what we expect to be the most meaningful London Design Weeks yet, given the struggle around live events over the last few years and following the venue’s spectacular renovation.

Among the resident suppliers that will be showcasing the latest trends and new ranges will be Zimmer + Rohde, which will unveil a range of beautiful new textiles. And it is my role to tease the design industry on what the textiles brand will be celebrating.

Sketchbook 

Sketchbooks have their own special charm, as they provide an insight into the internal workings of the artistic process. They reveal the raw material behind design and, according to Goethe, speak directly to the spirit, without intellectually circuitous detours. On the quest for the origins of artistic geniality, the sketchbook is its own genre in the art world and the scribbles of major artists are, of course, exhibited alongside finished works.

There are many different types of sketching: the planned formal sketching in a studio, in an artist’s workbook, scribbles on a journey in small sketch pads or on loose scraps of paper that fit into a jacket pocket. Sketching nocturnal inspirations on a notepad next to the bed or even the classic white serviette in a restaurant. Taken together they have one thing in common: they immortalise the creative flashes of genius. It is this short moment, as well as its myriad manifestations in the shape of dots, lines, bundles of lines, hatching, brush marks and colour splotches, spontaneously transferred onto paper, that the Sketchbook collection by Zimmer + Rhode is dedicated to.

For the artistic designs – Graffiti, Script and Superimposition – fine line drawings, scribbles and hatchings were translated into artfully woven and finely embroidered textiles. The spectacular linen print, Colour Study, is a textile interpretation of a painterly colour study. The material collage, Compilation, was created through lighthearted experiments with weave and Scherli techniques as well as a virtuoso choice of materials. The deliberate use of random principles in the manufacturing process and the combination of print and jacquard fabrics is particularly acute in the two signature designs, Grand Leaves and Kubist, which tell of the experimental joy of working with a sketchbook. This ramble through the decorative worlds of a variety of artistic styles is rounded off by extensive monochrome palettes in unadulterated materials like thick-pile mohair velour and relaxed but sophisticated linen satin, all the way down to flattering soft textured mélange fabrics.

Of all the interior materials we use in our homes (and in the hotels we design), textiles are responsible for the feeling of softness and warmth in the living space. Its appearance varies like no other, depending on the light, the atmosphere and simply due to its inherent liveliness. In this way, the fabric, and therefore the collection, takes on the role in interior space that the sketchbook would in an exhibition.

Etamine – ‘Coup de Soleil’

Against whitewashed walls and rough stone floor, the sun plays games with the flowers of an Etamine fabric and creates shadows that dance in the wind. Somewhere in Andalusia, in the studio of a French artist, the Coup de Soleil, collection by Etamine offers us a glimpse of the beauty of natural materials and the rich colours of its prints and embroideries.

Like a painter’s canvas, the Chant de L’eau fabric offers us a depth of focus of an imaginary horizon thanks to a digital printing process that also reduces energy and water consumption. For Esprit de Vent, the blend of cotton, linen and recycled fibres creates an open weave like a fishing net that gently entraps the light while the wild flowers of Liberté Folle throw themselves at a linen voile with a hand-washed finish that comes to us straight from the shores of Lake Como.

Who is the true creator, nature or the artist? Etamine steps away from the norm and projects its vision of the world in an imaginary dimension where shapes and fabrics blend and fuse. Wool fabric wraps itself around a piece of furniture to enhance its form, a voile fabric reaches out ephemerally into nature to create an illusion and reveal a gesture. The essence is light, nomadic and the stuff of dreams.

Caught in the last rays of the sun, the floral fabrics come to life, while at nightfall a star sparkles above the olive groves; it bears the beautiful name Etamine.

Travers – Garden Club

Designed to reflect the spirit of a well-travelled lifestyle, inspiration for Garden Club was drawn from all corners of the world. It stays true to Travers’ traditional design history and is influenced by the outdoors. The designs in the collection offer escapism, with an assortment of patterns and textures reminiscent of the diversity found in nature. The collection is motivated by the dream of a beautifully cultivated garden composed of plants and flowers that have been gathered from near and far. This philosophy directly relates to a variety of original designs, printing techniques and weaving processes that together form a layered collection of fabrics reminiscent of old world style.

A mastery of craftsmanship and attention to detail is found in the development of each design in the collection. To realise the hero print, Audubon Garden, Zimmer + Rhode teamed up with Southern California artist Allison Cosmos. Every brush stroke was preserved for the fabric adaptation of this original hand painted garden oasis, filled with birds, flowers and butterflies. Wave Hill, a true warp print produced by trained artisans in India has a rustic quality that perfectly encapsulates a feeling of vintage charm. The colour palette is ‘of today’, with a relaxed casual nuance making each fabric approachable and easy to use. Garden Club blurs the lines between home and garden, breathing fresh colour and new life into each interior.

Zimmer + Rhode 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: Zimmer + Rhode

One&Only Moonlight Basin private home design

Inside One&Only’s debut resort in the United States of America

 730 565 Pauline Brettell
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Inside One&Only’s debut resort in the United States of America

Rolling out the first One&Only resort and residential community in the United States, One&Only Moonlight Basin, slated to open in 2024, sets out to redefine luxury hospitality in Big Sky, Montana…

One&Only Moonlight Basin private home design

The Lone Mountain Land Company and Kerzner International Holdings Limited have released plans for Moonlight Basin in Big Sky Montana, the first One&Only resort and residential community in the United States. The development forms part of the strategic growth for the brand portfolio with its ethos of introducing its resorts and residences to some of the world’s most incredible natural settings, buzzing urban centres, and exclusive communities.

Designed by architect Olson Kundig, One&Only Moonlight Basin will shelter 73 guestrooms and suites in the main lodge, 19 secluded villas throughout the resort, a separate ski lodge, and a Chenot Spa. In addition, the resort will introduce the first community of One&Only Private Homes in the U.S., offering 62 private residences throughout the landscape, which are sure to become one of the most sought after addresses in the U.S. The free-standing Olson Kundig-designed homes will offer a contemporary design, complete with glass walls to showcase Big Sky’s soaring mountain ranges.

“Each One&Only resort celebrates their own distinctive location and Big Sky is the perfect site, where guests and residents alike can enjoy the very best of nature year-round through the life and energy of One&Only.” – Philippe Zuber, Chief Executive Officer, Kerzner International.

floor to ceiling glass windows look out over mountains at One&Only Moonlight Basin private homes

Image credit: One&Only

“I am thrilled that we are introducing our first One&Only resort and community of Private Homes in the U.S.,” said Philippe Zuber, Chief Executive Officer, Kerzner International. “Each One&Only resort celebrates their own distinctive location and Big Sky is the perfect site, where guests and residents alike can enjoy the very best of nature year-round through the life and energy of One&Only. At Moonlight Basin, Lone Mountain Land Company has built a mountain destination that showcases the natural beauty of Montana’s extensive, dramatic landscapes, and I am delighted to introduce One&Only in this unrivalled destination.”

warm wood and leather interior design with glass windows overlooking the mountains

Image credit: One&Only

Intimate in size, the architectural design of the resort respects the terrain, and minimal impact will be made to the location’s ecosystem during development. Framing the majestic mountain ranges of the area, the resort will seamlessly integrate into the inspired landscape. Featuring local art embracing textiles, roaring fires, and stunning floor-to-ceiling windows, guests will simultaneously feel connected to, yet protected from, the spectacular surroundings. Like all properties in the collection, Moonlight Basin will place an emphasis on privacy, providing the ultimate hideaway within a choice of accommodations that are perfect for both couples and families. An emphasis will be placed on outdoor living spaces to enjoy the natural mountain surroundings.

One&Only also has an exclusive global partnership with the leading health and wellness brand based in Switzerland, Chenot. The resort will be home to a transformative Chenot Spa, providing an experience that combines science-based health and beauty with alternative therapies. This will be the first time the Chenot Method will be available in North America. A cutting-edge fitness centre will feature both indoor and outdoor spaces as part of the resort’s overall amenities that will evolve with the seasons.

view across the lake to One&Only Moonlight Basin Lodge

Image credit: One&Only

The resort will act as both the nexus for adventure, and a space to unwind between activities. From hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, fly fishing and snowshoeing, to Alpine and Nordic skiing, dogsledding, and snowmobiling, personal experiences will be offered to discover the best of Big Sky. As with all One&Only properties, it will offer innovative programming for families with children while carefully preserving space for adults only as well.

From awe-inspiring natural landscapes to state-of-the-art facilities for fitness, wellness, art, cooking and more, Moonlight Basin will be a stimulating oasis for active, mindful, and creative pursuits, regardless of age or passions. An adventurous experience in an authentically wild environment that will take the One&Only brand ethos into the heart of the country.

> Since you’re here, why not read One&Only Portonovi or about SIRO, the new wellness brand launched by Kerzner International?

Main image credit: One&Only

A lilac sofa and purple, textured run in living room

Top 3 rug and interior design trends forecasted for 2022

 730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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Top 3 rug and interior design trends forecasted for 2022

On the topic of cutting-edge rug and interior design trends, it’s always intriguing to hear what the experts at Modieus are predicating. This year, the team have grouped their trends under one overarching theme, allusion, which Hotel Designs has broken down into three sub-trends…

A lilac sofa and purple, textured run in living room

So far this year, the trend forecasts published on Hotel Designs have provided a safety blanket for designers and architects. Whether it has been surface design trends, wider hospitality trends or how wellness and wellbeing is shifting up a gear, the trends that have emerged in recent months are clear indicators that the industry needs to adapt in order to keep ahead of modern traveller demands.

Most recently, though, we have heard from Modieus which never fails to shake up conventional approaches to interior design. The ‘rugtrepeneurs’ there have confidently categorised this year’s predicted trends under one overarching theme, Allusion.

So, how does the concept of Allusion relate to trends, you may ask? Well, as we’ve come to expect from Modieus it’s with a thought provoking twist.

“We have developed a series of design stories to support our three core trends which represent a passage through time,” Xander Okhuizen, Founder of Modieus, tells Hotel Designs. “We took time to consider key influences as we journeyed through this linear timeline. We call this process “stop at an intersection” –  we look back, look around, look up, ahead and forward. In that moment, we assimilate particular historical styles and events.”

The design team at Modieus identified three core trends each linked to a point in time, but each trend has two distinct viewpoints. Leah Manwaring and Debra Ryan, the creative brains behind this report were keen to emphasise that you can have different perspectives when following a trend.

Boho folk

Image caption: 1970s trendboard of colours and tones that surround the 'boho folk' trend. | Image credit: Modieus

Image caption: 1970s trendboard of colours and tones that surround the ‘boho folk’ trend. | Image credit: Modieus

The Boho Folk trend takes us back in time to the ’70s. Think retro fused with boho. A nostalgic revival style that started in fashion.

“The fabulous fervor of the 70s geometrics, lines and block patterns are modernised and embrace a Japandi construction, Scandinavian rustic and Japanese minimalism. Shapes are round, circular or arched,” says Manwaring. “Furniture is also curvilinear in style. Colours feel grounding like they have literally been drawn from the earth, clay and ochre. Mixed with a light honey, slightly saturated and soft. This is almost neutral.”

A tonal living room set up inspired by 1970s trends

Image caption: Modieus

Ryan adds: “While we pause in the 1970’s, we soak up bohemian vibes to articulate our second story. Whimsical florals, delicate petals awash with texture. Hand painted blooms and stylised flowers have been bleached and sunkissed. Our nude colour story uses soft pinks, porcelain and blush. Our soft pinks have a chalky effect.”

Urban street

Image caption: A trendboard that reflects the colours and tones that represent 'urban street'. | Image caption: Modieus

Image caption: A trendboard that reflects the colours and tones that represent ‘urban street’. | Image caption: Modieus

The street art movement that started in the 90’s comes back with a contemporary feel in the Urban Street trend.

“The maximalism of the street art movement is back with a contemporary feel,” Ryan explains. “With pattern-clashing and eroding textural mash-ups. You can add drama to industrial hospitality spaces, incorporating a maximalist feel without a huge commitment to step outside the comfort zone with a rug that has big energy.

“Do you remember the tie dye shirts from the 90’s? Once the preserve of hippies, ravers and Grateful Dead fans, tie-dye has moved into the mainstream the trend gathered steam during the pandemic. Our tie dye inspired designs are darker and moodier, like darker timber colours that are set to make a comeback.”

A living room set up with '90s inspired colours

Image caption: Modieus

Manwaring shares the other side of their Urban Steet trend. “Our collective love for lush indoor environments will continue to bloom,” she says. “Our innate connection to nature has seen the incorporation of biophilic elements within interior spaces, while outdoor spaces such as courtyards and balconies have become secondary living and working spaces.

“This has meant an increasing pursuit of natural light, harnessing lighter-toned colour palettes and embracing plants.  Using lush leafy greens, hues of the forest and foliage as a way to interact with and nurture our natural environment from the comfort of our own homes.”

Smart future

Image caption: A trendboard made up of futuristic colours that represent Smart Future. | Image credit: Modieus

Image caption: A trendboard made up of futuristic colours that represent Smart Future. | Image credit: Modieus

The Smart Future trend caters for our ever-changing needs, recognising that we need to provide equally adaptable interiors.

“The design of the future is multi-functional and in harmony with the end-user, more meaningfully than ever before,” Manwaring explains. “For example, as designers, we could be asked to design a bar space to become a pop up cinema for an indie movie festival. We need to develop solutions for experiences in a way previously unseen.”

“The two colour stories in this trend are ELECTRIC BLUE, reflecting digital, automated and clean patterns and  PEARLESCENT, which incorporates disco glam hues and  structured patterns.” adds Ryan.

Purple carpet in airport gate area

Image credit: Modieus

PANTONE 17-3938 Very Peri is a perfect partner for muted pastel tones. These pearlescent tones appear translucent, layered and take a nod to the sparkle of disco glam.

It’s pretty clear that the Modieus team are driven by colour, with more than 1,400 shades to select from, their clients can be confident in colour matching in any construction type. Whether it is wall to wall carpets, rugs (indoor or outdoor), impervious backed, carpet tiles or even entrance mats, Modieus skill is finding solutions for their clients.  And because everything is bespoke, almost anything is possible.

> Since you’re here, why not read our exclusive interview with the founders of Modieus?

Modieus is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.

Main image credit: Modieus

Hafele lighting installation for Loox 5

Häfele’s Loox Van takes to the road

 730 565 Pauline Brettell
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Häfele’s Loox Van takes to the road

Häfele has overhauled a Renault Relay van, installing it with the latest innovations from its new Loox range to offer customers the chance to get up close with the products and explore the breadth of its capabilities…

Hafele lighting installation for Loox 5

Häfele has started touring the UK in its brand new Loox Van in an innovative launch of Loox 5 and its Lighting Design Service. Kitchen design studios, independent retailers, merchants, architects, manufacturers, installers and others in the industry can now book a slot to receive their own personalised experience in the Loox Van, with Häfele’s team of lighting experts on hand to discuss the latest lighting trends and design advice.

“The Loox Van was developed to provide a mobile, accessible facility for the industry to improve their understanding of how lighting can improve their projects, and how our products and services can help them achieve even more for their customers,” said Shaun Barker, assistant product group manager for smart lighting, security and media at Häfele UK. “We’ve seen demand for Loox products increase almost 20 per cent in the last 12 months which – given trading conditions – is brilliant, and we expect that trend continue as we officially release Loox 5 to market and continue to tour the country with the Loox Van.”

Hafele Loox Van taking products on the road

Image credit: Häfele

The Loox 5 range is a form of LED lighting that can be integrated and built into furniture and units. It includes upgraded internal components and an improved distribution style compared to its predecessor, making it suitable for a wider variety of applications spanning the domestic and commercial markets. Its connection capability has increased from 3.5amp to 5amp, with improved drivers that mean the lighting can be used 24 hours a day for up to 50,000 hours – and in some case 70,000 hours – without any noticeable reduction in performance.

The colour rendering index – a scale that rates an artificial white light source’s ability to accurately display colour – is above 90, meaning that during extended use there is no difference in colour quality, making it a top choice for settings where colour accuracy is important, such as shop displays, or galleries.

“Loox 5 is the next generation in lighting; it offers a distinct improvement in performance compared to anything currently available on the market,” Barker went on to explain. “As well as being technically more capable than similar products, the beauty of the range is that it’s designed to meet the tastes and needs of more people – from families working with installers and manufacturers to create modern kitchens, to hotel owners wanting to offer their guests a unique lighting experience.”

Alongside Loox 5, Häfele is officially launching its Lighting Design Service, arming designers, retailers, manufacturers, and installers with a free, value-added tool to ensure customers receive great-looking, holistic lighting solutions in their projects. Customers can submit room or floor plans to the Lighting Design Service’s team who will create creative and technical lighting schemes on their behalf providing a bespoke layout, product list and priced quote – all free of charge. This can then be used together with Häfele to Order – a service that cuts, assembles, packages, labels and delivers products to specific requirements to save time during the installation process.

Häfele 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: Häfele

eclectic and layered guestroom design at 25hours hotel in Copenhagen

Come as you are: 25hours opens its first hotel in Scandinavia

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Come as you are: 25hours opens its first hotel in Scandinavia

The 25hours Hotel Indre By, slated to open its doors next month, is the first 25hours hotel in Scandinavia, and the design team has been true to brand developing layered interiors focussed on individuality and personality while exploring the buildings previous purpose as a university and a place of learning…

eclectic and layered guestroom design at 25hours hotel in Copenhagen

The name of this hotel says it all, as the Danish term ‘Indre By’ means inner city or city centre, and, like it says on the tin, this hotel is situated right in the middle of Copenhagen. The building itself dates back to the 19th century, once housed a porcelain factory and was later used as a university building. The interior design of the complex, which comprises four buildings, was the result of a first-time collaboration between 25hours and the London-based Martin Brudnizki Design Studio.

“Coming of Age was our fundamental idea when we were developing the concept of the hotel, which ties in with the building’s former use as part of a university,” explained Copenhagen Project Director Henning Weiß. “Passion and knowledge, art and science find a new home in the hotel in an exciting combination.”

design details in a Knowledge themed room at 25hours copenhagen guestroom

Image credit: 25hours / Stephan Lemke

The 243 guestrooms, designed in ‘Passion’ and ‘Knowledge’ styles, range from Small to Gigantic and offer a retreat to suit every traveller and their needs. Several of the rooms even boast a small terrace and access to the Secret Garden – something which is virtually unique in Copenhagen.

Whether it’s the Vinyl Room or the Love Library, there are hidden spots all over the hotel which are well worth exploring. The Assembly Hall forms the central meeting point and is the perfect location for a quick coffee in the morning, a snack after a stroll around the city or a drink before checking out the Copenhagen nightlife. The NENI restaurant and Café Duse are destinations for hotel guests and locals alike, and the Boilerman Bar in the basement is the ideal place to spend cosy evenings with music and top-class drinks.

The hotel’s spacious wellbeing area is situated on the first floor. Awaiting visitors is a fully-equipped fitness studio with the latest techno gym equipment, yoga mats and a view of the terrace. The outdoor sauna, featuring both indoor and outdoor loungers, offers guests deep relaxation. Those who arrive early and want to hit the town before check-in can use the power shower in a section specially fitted out for early check-ins or late check-outs to freshen up before their rendezvous with Copenhagen.

yellow basin and vintage furniture bathroom detail in 25hours hotel in copenhagen

Image credit: 25hours / Stephan Lemke

The bicycle is as synonymous with Copenhagen as the famous Smørrebrød, and the city is ideal for exploring by bike, which is why guests of the 25hours Hotel Indre By can also enjoy the urban bikes of Berlin-based firm Schindelhauer. Both classic city bikes and e-bikes are available, perfect for a relaxed tour of the neighbourhood. The bikes come with a tour map of the city’s most charming routes, which has been specially compiled for 25hours by bike professionals.

25hours Hotels have positioned themselves as a creative hospitality company rooted in culture and community, and characterized by provocative urban locations, irreverent yet functional aesthetic, and the romantic nostalgia of grand hotels. The brand focuses on individuality, authenticity and personality and, under the motto “If you know one, you know none”, designs each of its hotels with different designers and unique style. This Copenhagen design team have ensured that Hotel Indre By lives up to all the branding with its eclectic interior that tells a story at every turn.

> Since you’re here, why not read about 25hours in Italy?

Main image credit: 25hours / Stephan Lemke

bar, restuarant and working space at YOTEL Shoreditch

YOTEL picks up the pace with its fifth UK opening

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YOTEL picks up the pace with its fifth UK opening

Global hospitality brand YOTEL has announced the addition of YOTEL London Shoreditch to its portfolio, the groups fifth city centre hotel in the UK, and its nineteenth globally. Slated to open in April, here’s what we know…

bar, restuarant and working space at YOTEL Shoreditch

Putting a clean emphasis on British development, YOTEL is opening its fifth hotel in the UK this April. The 161-key hotel, conveniently located in the heart of vibrant East London, on Cambridge Heath Road, already incorporates some of YOTEL’s minimalistic design features and facilities. As part of the conversion, the property will receive a light refurbishment to incorporate YOTEL’s signature design and technology features. Guests will be able to check-in in under a minute on self-service stations at Mission Control and will be able to use their mobile devices as SmartKeys.

The hotel is ideal for both business and leisure travellers, featuring several room types, from double and twins, to family and interconnecting rooms. Accessible via the high street and hotel lobby, the hotel also features its own beautifully designed bar, restaurant, and co-working space. YOTEL London Shoreditch is owned by Crestline Investors Inc. and Avelios Investors, and will be managed by Michels & Taylor.

exterior view of YOTEL Shoreditch

Image credit: YOTEL

“Being able to secure two franchise deals in under three months is testament to the growing strength of the YOTEL brand and its increased relevance in delivering low-touch high-tech hospitality experiences,” said Hubert Viriot, CEO, YOTEL. “We’re delighted to be working with institutional partners Crestline and Avelios, which once again showcases YOTEL’s continued sophistication in working with established hotel owners and investors.”

Less than three minutes’ walk away from Bethnal Green tube station, the hotel is situated in a vibrant part of East London, home to many creative start-ups, media agencies, and entrepreneurs. The area is conveniently connected to the city centre, famous London landmarks, and leisure attractions through various transport links. It is well supplied with cocktail bars, urban wineries, and world-class restaurants. Guest staying at the hotel will be a short walk away from London Fields, Broadway Market, and Columbia Road.

“As with YOTEL Manchester, YOTEL London Shoreditch contributes to the more than 1,200 keys in our UK portfolio and is testament to the continuation of our hotel conversion strategy as well as our expansion plans in the UK and Europe whether through franchise or hotel management agreements,” said Viriot. “We are looking forward to emulating this strategy in other cities around the world.”

The group currently has 19 hotels in operation worldwide, from San Francisco to New York, Amsterdam to Istanbul, and all the way to Singapore. The next YOTEL to open will be YOTEL and YOTELPAD Miami in spring 2022, followed by YOTEL Geneva later in the year.

> Since you’re here, why not find out more about the design ethos behind the YOTEL brand?

Main image credit: YOTEL

Blue and grey bathroom design with Duravit No 1 range

A new design by Duravit, No 1 is a complete range with a host of combinations

 730 565 Pauline Brettell
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A new design by Duravit, No 1 is a complete range with a host of combinations

With the focus on what is truly required in the bathroom, the new Duravit No.1 complete bathroom series is a compact and comprehensive product range that is excellent value for money within in the entry-level segment…

Blue and grey bathroom design with Duravit No 1 range

Bathroom concepts in the budget price range are usually dominated by round shapes. With the new No 1 series, Duravit presents an exciting alternative in planning-friendly dimensions. The rectangular shape of the washbasins and the narrow design of the side edge produce a large inner basin – with a generous, comfortable tap panel. Washbasins, as well as hand rinse basins can be combined with pedestals, semi-pedestals, or vanity units. In addition furniture and built-in washbasins are available.

rectangular hand basin in duravit no 1 range

Image credit: Duravit

A practical choice of furniture is part of this range, with a minimal overhang from the washbasin to the bathroom furniture, which underlines the modernity of the Duravit No.1 design. Features like the recessed grip and surfaces pleasant to the touch makes for a seamlessly integrated design into the décor fronts. Available in White Matt or Graphite Matt, the furniture has been designed to enable easy retrofitting at a later stage.

Vanity units with a hinged door are available for the handrinse basins and furniture with a pull-out compartment, with an additional and practical internal drawer on request for some of the washbasins. A semi-tall cabinet provides generous storage options. Matching mirrors and mirrored cabinets have long-lasting and energy-saving LED lighting. All furniture is supplied pre-assembled and fully adjusted, enabling quick and convenient final installation.

The stylish Duravit No.1 tap range has a harmonious and balanced design. The handle, with its dynamic upward-facing position, feels pleasant in the hand and underlines the high-quality aesthetics. The washbasin mixers excel both in terms of quality and function with their long-lasting ceramic cartridges, subtly integrated aerators, and sustainable product features – they are available with FreshStart (energy-saving cold-water start) or MinusFlow (throughput limited to 3.5 l/min).

A further highlight in this price segment is the trapezoid built-in bathtub made from sanitary acrylic, available in three sizes, with the option of left or right corner versions. The bathtub provides a luxurious bathing experience with a comparatively low filling volume even on smaller floor plans. Rectangular built-in bathtubs in all standard sizes complete the range; the 1800 x 800 mm model is available as a two-seater. With depths of 40 or 46 cm, the bathtubs are comfortable whether sitting or lying. The bathing experience can be further enhanced by the optional whirl function with its beneficial massage effect. Bathtub handles, can be ordered separately and are installed at the factory, improve safety.

trapezoid shaped bath in a blue bathroom design

Image credit: Duravit

The Duravit No.1 toilet range features the bathroom manufacturer’s innovative Duravit Rimless flushing technology and the successful DuraStyle Basic toilets, plus a wall-mounted toilet for children. Bidets and urinals complete the product range.

Designed to be simple, practicable, and stylish, Duravit No.1 has everything that a contemporary bathroom needs, optimum quality at an unbeatable price. This is an ideal collection for a first time buyer bathroom through to the hotel and the project sector: all products stemming from Duravit’s new in-house design have been created to enhance the quality of daily life. With the focus on what is truly required in the bathroom, Duravit No.1 opens up a whole host of combination options, creating the perfect foundation for a range of bathroom plans and designs.

Duravit is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.

Main image credit: Duravit

Paola Navone

In Conversation With: Paola Navone, interior design muse for COMO

 730 565 Pauline Brettell
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In Conversation With: Paola Navone, interior design muse for COMO

The Italian designer and talent behind several COMO projects, Paola Navone, talks to Pauline Brettell about her inspiration, love of travel, and her latest COMO design collaboration at COMO Le Montrachet…

Paola Navone

From Thailand to Tuscany, paging through the Paola Navone’s COMO portfolio is a journey in both design and destination. She is a designer who always draws in attention with her strong visual statements, and this signature has become interwoven with her history and work with the brand. She approaches each project with a fresh eye and innovative designs, allowing for a strong sense of place and context.

hotel interior design with red accents and local materials for COMO Point Yamu

Image credit: COMO Hotels and Resorts

On the COMO website it states that “Italian designer Paola Navone is one of COMO’s greatest inspirations,” so we started the conversation by asking her about this relationship, and how it started.

“I have known Cristina Ong for many years. We immediately shared an appreciation for the same kind of understated luxury – immaterial, never aggressive and respectful. I had the chance to design COMO Point Yamu and we chose to design a hotel that was made entirely with materials available in Thailand, taking advantage of the incredible Thai craft traditions. It was a great creative adventure which has been followed by other very special collaborations with COMO all over the world. The most recent are in Europe, with COMO Castello del Nero in Tuscany and the new COMO Le Montrachet in Burgundy.”

It is clear from looking at Navone’s work across all mediums, that there is a love for travel that expresses itself through her designs, as she has the ability to extract what is essential to a destination and communicate this in the details. She has a rich history in the design movement more broadly and can trace her roots and influences back to being part of the Alchimia family, in the late seventies, right through to today where she is still seen to be at the forefront of contemporary design. There remains an irreverence and eclecticism that runs through her designs which sits comfortably alongside the multifaceted influences that come from travel.

“Much of my free and unconventional way of thinking about things comes from my involvement in Alchimia family, the anti-academic side of architecture in Italy in the late seventies. Then there is, of course, my nomadic attitude, my Mediterranean roots and my sense of beauty linked to simplicity and imperfection.”

The love of travel, the nomadic, clearly informs the designs and gives insight into what makes a successful hotel interior concept and design. “When I travel, I love breathing in the atmosphere of the place I’m in. I always like saying that, when you wake up in a hotel room, you need to open your eyes and feel where you are, whether that be on a Mediterranean island, in India or in New York. So, when I design the interiors of a hotel, I always try to make guests feel an instinctive complicity with the environment, a natural sense of belonging to the place, always in a contemporary, relaxing and joyful way.”

La Sirena restaurant designed by Paola Navone at COMO Point Yamu

Image credit: COMO Hotels and Restaurants

Despite a substantial portfolio in hospitality and hotel design, Navone’s projects have never become formulaic. But like most designers, there is a strand or a common element that runs through the body of work. She discussed a little more about how each project is unique, and what it is that connects the COMO projects she has worked on, the common element, and it is all about a feeling rather than a physical design construct.

“Each of my projects come from a special alchemy, that’s why they are always unique. It’s a bit like in cinema, where each movie is distinctive because the story, the actors and the costumes are different, even if the director is always the same. What connects every project for COMO Hotels and Resorts is the feeling, the special attention to the all-round wellbeing of guests linked to the pleasure of spending quality time in a beautiful place.”

guestroom design by Paola Navone for COMO Castello Del Nero

Image credit: COMO Hotels and Resorts

“When you wake up in a hotel room, you need to open your eyes and feel where you are” – Paola Navone.

With so many beautiful hotels and resorts in the COMO portfolio, we had to ask Navone, as a designer, if she has a favourite – not necessarily the biggest and the boldest project that she has worked on with the COMO brand, but the one that for her stands out on a personal level. With no hesitation COMO Point Yamu was on top of her list.

interior design by Paola Navone at COMO point Yamu

Image credit: COMO Hotels and Resorts

“COMO Hotels and Resorts are always located in wonderful places around the world, and this is the first thing that makes them so special. COMO Point Yamu is immersed in the magnificent natural scenery of Phuket and even the smallest details are designed to involve the guest in the magic of the natural environment. Point Yamu demonstrates what I love to do in my work very well, incorporating my passion for craft traditions, my taste for the imperfect beauty of natural materials and the idea that even everyday things can have a surprising chance of a new life.”

design details using natural and local materials as inspiration at Point Yamu

Image credit: COMO Hotels and Resorts

QUICK-FIRE ROUND

Pauline Brettell: Which is your favourite space in the new COMO Le Montrachet Hotel?

Paola Navone: As with all COMO properties, guest wellbeing will be the core of the experience even at Le Montrachet. The COMO Shambhala Retreat, known all over the world for its wellness treatments and therapies, will be one of the surprising highlights of the project

PB: Your favourite (or go-to) colour/palette?

PN: I have an instinctive attraction for cold colours, the shades of air and water

PB: A favourite COMO Hotel 1) as a traveller, and 2) as a designer

PN: Both as a traveller and a designer, I’m looking forward of visiting Bhutan, relaxing and enjoying the breathtaking Himalayan panoramas that COMO Uma Paro offers

PB: Next destination on your travel bucket list?

PN: COMO Uma Paro!

As both the hospitality industry and interior designers are starting to look critically at the design process, we moved away briefly from Le Montrachet and veered off into the bigger and broader question that is on everybody’s lips right now, the question of sustainable and ethical design. Navone’s response makes it clear that this is not a new concept to her, but one that has always been an integral and unselfconscious element of her designs.

“My way of thinking about design, linked to simplicity and respect for the craft traditions of the world, naturally embodies the idea of sustainability. I enjoy introducing the simplicity and poetry hidden in natural materials and the raw finishes present in the industrial process. It’s not always easy but what happens is always full of wonder.”

Looking at the details and the integration of craft and artisanal finishes, is what always draws me into these designs, there is always the element of innovation as she is able to see the extraordinary in the ordinary. The magical process of taking an everyday utilitarian item and turning it into a design statement is something she excels at, the vision in which the lobster basket becomes statement lighting, woven wicker is scaled up and becomes a wall. Trying to get a sneak peek into what is happening behind closed doors in the Le Montrachet project, we thought we would ask if she has found anything is this corner of France that called out for repurpose and some design inspiration? But she kept her designer cards close to her chest!

“We love to discover excellence in the craftsmanship of the places we work. Meeting local artisans and getting to know their art is always an exciting part of the project for us and a great source of inspiration. France has got countless traditions and it will be beautiful to express them in the design of this exciting new hotel. Working on an existing property with so much history, the challenge is to create an element of surprise in a special and respectful way. Working on historical heritage has never been a barrier to us, but a great creative opportunity. In harmony with COMO’s style, everything about the Le Montrachet project will be very light and soft, in order not to overshadow the special charm of the place.”

So for now, it looks like “light and soft” are our only taste of designer things to come at Le Montrachet!

Slated to open later this year COMO Le Montrachet has been consistently listed as one of the most anticipated hotel opening of 2022, and the role of Paola Navone as interior designer on this project is creating as much interest as the hotel opening itself. With everything going on behind closed french doors, we are intrigued and waiting to see the results of  what her signature style and trademark contemporary touches will bring to the historic 18th-century property in the sought-after Côte-d’Or.

Main image credit: Giovanni Gastel

Audience at Surface Design Show

Surface Design Show 2022: Line-up confirmed for 2022 edition

 730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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Surface Design Show 2022: Line-up confirmed for 2022 edition

Days ahead of Surface Design Show 2022 officially opening its doors, Hotel Designs takes a peek at the speakership line-up, which includes Editor Hamish Kilburn moderating one of the opening night debates as well as interviewing interior designer of the year, Tina Norden, on the main stage…

Audience at Surface Design Show

Surface Design Show 2022, which opens next, will be an exciting combination of education, engagement and entertainment at one of the first industry events to fully return to a face-to-face format this year. Held from February 8 – 10, the event, which will aim to shine the spotlight on surface trends, will take place once again at London’s Business Design Centre in Islington.

The Main Stage will host a total of 18 different talks staged across the 2 1/2 days, featuring some 50 speakers, inspiring and educating a professional audience of over 1,000 architects and designers.

Audience walking around hall at Surface Design Show

Image credit: Surface Design Show

The Opening Night Debate, held in partnership with RIBA, kicks off proceedings from 18:30 – 19:30pm on February 8, where a stellar line up of industry experts will discuss Climate Change and Future Proofing. This session will explore not only the issues around the future durability and adaptability of current projects, but also how we can ensure that the commercial value of projects can be future proofed against climate change. Speakers include Rachael Owens, Architect and Head of Sustainability with Buckley Grey Yeoman, Simon Sturgis, Founder of carbon consultancy Targeting Zero LLP and Ana Rita Martens, Architect and Senior Associate sustainability at Woodalls.

Continuing the environmentally conscious theme, the second session of that evening will be moderated by Hotel Designs’ Hamish Kilburn, and will look at Why Sustainable Interiors Matter, featuring founding signatories of the Interior Design Declares, an industry response to climate breakdown and biodiversity collapse. These include biophilic design champion Oliver Heath, MCM’s Design Director Deepak Parmar and Helen Gordon, Co-founder of sustainable construction company Kite.

There will be a number of ‘Legends Live’ sessions throughout Surface Design Show. These will offer visitors the chance to hear from the likes of lighting designer Sally Storey being interviewed by Theresa Dowling of FX Magazine, Conran and Partners’ Tina Norden being interviewed by Kilburn and AHMM’s Paul Monaghan talking to Phil Coffey of Coffey Architects as they discuss their illustrious careers to date.

Among the highlights of Wednesday are the Colour, Material and Finish Forecast featuring Hannah Malein, Head of Trends for Colour Hive/MIX magazine and the Surface Design Awards Preview: Surface Tension. Chaired by architectural critic and correspondent Aidan Walker, the session will gather together a group of articulate influencers to select and discuss some of the outstanding submissions from the 2022 Surface Design Awards.

The winners of the Surface Design Awards will be revealed in a networking breakfast on Thursday 10 February from 08:45 until 10:30. Hosted by designer, educator, diversity & inclusion consultant and careers mentor, Simon Hamilton, 48 Finalists will be present to hear whom the judges have chosen as their 2022 winners. Ever-supportive of emerging talent, the Surface Design Awards Display will be designed by a team of young people supported by the Design Museum.

Ever popular elements of the Surface Design Show return once more including the New Talent section, dedicated to ‘start up’ designers and Surface Spotlight Live where visitors can touch and feel a selection of materials curated by trend and colour expert Sally Angharad.

Stone Gallery is set for its strongest ever showing with an Italian Pavilion of 28 stone producers. Britain’s Stone Federation will also be hosting a pavilion, whilst architects Squire & Partners has designed a Stone Tapestry, a bespoke installation piece exploring innovative textures, light, colour and pattern to create a tapestry of inspiring materials from around the world.

Get set for a packed few days of knowledge sharing, a celebration of industry achievements and plenty of opportunities for networking at Surface Design Show 2022.

Main image credit: Surface Design Show

sundeck looking across the pool and out to sea in marbella

9 leading hoteliers share expectations & predictions for 2022

 730 565 Pauline Brettell
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9 leading hoteliers share expectations & predictions for 2022

As January slides seamlessly into the rest of the year, and 2022 is starting to look optimistically (dare we say it) like some normality might be on the horizon, we speak to some of the movers and shakers in the world of hoteliers and hospitality about their expectations and predictions for the year ahead…

sundeck looking across the pool and out to sea in marbella

The beginning of the year is always awash with trend predications and expectations, and as we emerge, a little bleary eyed from the enforced hibernation of a global pandemic, with the baton of optimism firmly in hand, we spoke to nine hoteliers from very different corners of the globe, and asked them to share some of their thoughts on the year ahead for hospitality.

Periklis Gompakis, Sales & Marketing Director of the MarBella Collection, Greece:

hotelier Periklis Gompakis, Sales & Marketing Director of the MarBella Collection, Greece

Image credit: MarBella Collection

“2022 is shaping up to be a year like no other, bringing together new trends inherited and accelerated following the last two years with a series of post-pandemic consequences in a global socio-economic context. Sustainable and mindful travel is expected to co-exist with increased flight costs and inflation rise. Staycation, bleisure, and workcation patterns are here to stay, resulting in less frequent travel but for more extended periods. Upward trends for both multigeneration and solo travel will resume, focused on the luxury five-star resorts and private residences or villas, mainly for Europe and the Mediterranean. High-end holidaymakers will continue to expect personalised services and seek tailor-made holiday experiences, keeping a balance with enhanced digitised hotel services offering. No slowdown in new hotel openings is anticipated, although the significant disruptions in the global supply chain and the labour shortage hotel firms are already facing.”

Nick Prattas, Vice President & Managing Director of Windjammer Landing, St Lucia:

windjammer landing st lucia

Image credit: Windjammer Landing

“This year, we are already seeing amazingly positive signs for the resort. Bookings up an incredible 22 per cent compared to 2019, with enquiries continuing to come in thick and fast. With the demand bouncing back for long haul travel and the rise in multi-generational trips, St Lucia is firmly back to being a bucket list destination. We are also implementing many new advances in technology, service and food and beverage at Windjammer Landing for 2022, which alongside the Caribbean Tourism officials report, will look to be one of the best years for us and the Caribbean.”

Sean Moriarty, CEO of Quinta do Lago, Portugal:

Sean Moriarty, CEO of Quinta do Lago, Portugal

Image credit: Quinta do Lago

“Destination of choice is key in the decision making, and confidence in the location is already paramount for 2022. Destinations that have continued to invest will always stand out in the luxury market and will attract repeated and new travellers and investors. Low-density areas are also becoming a target for shorter breaks rather than city break style trips. Furthermore, people will look for more places where nature is respected and protected – where the brand has strong sustainability initiatives. We are also starting to see longer holidays and rising trend in real estate, where buyers’ second home is becoming their primary residence, due to the flexibility in remote working.”

Kate Hughes, Operations Director of Lepogo Lodges, South Africa:

safari lodge bedroom at Lepogo Lapalala

Image credit: Lepogo Lodges

“Once South Africa was removed from the red list, we saw a steady stream of international enquiries for 2022. Many for family groups rather than individual couples, and longer stays of four – six nights rather than the two – three we saw before. However, there is still a level of uncertainty in booking, and flexibility is key which, of course, we are happy to provide. We believe this year will bring guests keen for adventure and bucket list trips after the last two years, travelling in family groups and staying in one place for longer than moving every few days.”

Simon Ball, Founder of Tuscany Now & More, Italy:

Simon Ball, Founder of Tuscany Now & More, Italy

Image credit: Tuscany Now & More

“With 90 per cent of our stock sold for 2022, we are anticipating that travel this year will be even busier than pre-pandemic times. Since people have not had the opportunity to travel in two years, we’re noticing a growing interest in villas with services and properties that offer privacy and peace. The reality is that our future is in the hands of various governments and political powers, therefore we must trust that they make the best decision to help the travel industry and our economy bounce back.”

Julian Hudson, General Manager of The Fellows House Cambridge, Curio Collection by Hilton, UK:

Julian Hudson, General Manager of The Fellows House Cambridge, Curio Collection by Hilton, UK

Image credit: The Fellows House Cambridge

“Looking ahead to 2022, we are anticipating the return of business travel to Cambridge and that our luxury lifestyle long-stay apartment offering will be a refreshing alternative to hotels guests may have previously visited. The Fellows House Cambridge, Curio Collection by Hilton is a hybrid option of hotel facilities combined with your own apartment and place to call home, even just for the night. For our long stay market segments (7+ nights), we are forecasting this to be at least 45-50 per cent of our business mix, and we are the only operator in Cambridge that our guests not only get discounted prices based on length of stay but are also rewarded with points via the Hilton Honours programme.”

Howard Hastings, Managing Director of Hastings Hotels, Northern Ireland:

lounge and bar area in the europa hotel

Image credit: Hastings Hotels

“Last year we enjoyed an excellent staycation boom from the Republic of Ireland. Travel from GB will be boosted in 2022, both due to the post-pandemic sustained marketing for Northern Ireland in GB and the reduction in air passenger duty from April, making it cheaper to arrive here by air. There is also much pent-up demand from the US – the direct flights cancelled during the Pandemic are being reinstated (Dublin – San Francisco has now resumed), and new ones have been added (Dublin – Vancouver direct starts in June). So we expect to see a strong rebound in 2022 from North American visitors. It is also anticipated that 2022 will be a record year for the number of passengers on Cruise Liners coming to Belfast, so we look forward to welcoming the influx of guests in the near future.”

Roberto Sortino, Managing Director & Founder of Villatravellers, Sicily, Italy:

Roberto Sortino, Managing Director & Founder of Villatravellers, Sicily, Italy

Image credit: Villatravellers

“I’m hopeful and optimistic that travel will return in full force in 2022. I think that the trends we saw in 2021 – longer term stays, a desire for space and privacy, and an interest in really getting to authentically know your destination – will continue this year. Villa holidays are a great way to enjoy a sunny and secluded getaway, and Villatravellers has a wonderful selection of villas to rent, and we also offer extra experiences that let you see the real Sicily in all its glory. We hope that travellers will continue to be curious and enjoy precious time with family and friends this year.”

Raffaella Scalisi, General Manager of the Courmayeur Mont Blanc, Tourism Board, Italian Alps:

swimming pool in the snow at Courmayeur Mont Blanc

Image credit: Courmayeur Mont Blanc / ©Bazzana Aiace

“In 2022 we predict a gradual restart to tourism, with long-haul trips from flourishing markets such as the US hopefully resuming in full swing in the summer season. As travel continues to return and grow, Courmayeur is confident in its ability to handle high amounts of tourism during peak season, while still preserving the area’s essence of a typical alpine village. Additionally, as sustainability is one of our highest priorities, we are proud to boast a pedestrian-friendly city centre and offer tourists plenty of options from public transportation to biking to reach the nearby Veny and Ferret valleys.”

> Since you’re here, why not check out the Hottest hotel openings in February 2022 ?

Main image credit: MarBella Collection

Contemprary bathroom design in cream and wood finishes with GROHE Allure brassware in Cool Sunrise

GROHE ‘reinvents’ two of its premium bathroom collections

 730 565 Pauline Brettell
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GROHE ‘reinvents’ two of its premium bathroom collections

In response to the growing health and wellness trend, GROHE has extended its premium portfolio of bathroom fittings with the newly reinvented GROHE Allure range and the new GROHE Rainshower Aqua Body Sprays for an enhanced, expertly crafted bathroom experience…

Contemprary bathroom design in cream and wood finishes with GROHE Allure brassware in Cool Sunrise

Offering sanctum and oasis from a hectic day of meetings, travel and sightseeing, the hotel bathroom plays a big role in the overall experience of a guest’s stay. Materials, light, fixtures, and fittings must marry together to offer a relaxing and cosseted experience. The GROHE Allure range offers designers the freedom to tailor the space to the client’s needs, whether designing a tranquil spa landscape for a resort, or a private luxurious private bathroom in a boutique. Progressive designs and carefully chosen materials, finishes, and colours, combined with high-end technology, will stand out and create the desired impact in any bathroom project.

“These exclusive new products are especially dedicated to architects and designers who want to transform their clients’ bathrooms into a holistic wellness oasis that becomes a perfect hideaway to recharge body, mind, and soul,” said Patrick Speck, Leader, LIXIL Global Design, EMENA.”GROHE Allure is defined by a progressive design that allows full design coordination, creating unique bathroom experiences. These memorable, unique spaces will stand out in any project. In addition, a palette of carefully curated colours and finishes enables architects and designers to add a personal touch.”

GROHE Allure tap and three-hole basin mixer in Brushed Cool Sunrise

Image credit: GROHE

The popular GROHE Allure tap line has been updated to offer the very best in health and wellness within the bathroom. The design statement captivates with its minimalist and extraordinarily slim design, which is now even more appealing due to its newly refined aesthetic. By combining state-of-the-art water technology with German craftsmanship, the tap offers a distinctive highlight in the range. Thanks to seamlessly designed haptic feedback, the precision control of the three-hole basin mixer offers a unique tactile experience and improves interaction.

Contemporary bathroom in cream and white with a deck-mounted bath filler and hand shower

Image credit: GROHE

The versatile range also encompasses floor-mounted taps and waterfall spouts for the bathtub, which allow for a holistic, coordinated design. For tasteful accents in the bathroom, the Allure line offers a choice of different colours and finishes: Chrome, Brushed Cool Sunrise, Brushed Warm Sunset, and Hard Graphite – all perfectly coordinated with GROHE Allure Accessories.

GROHE Rainshower Aqua Body Spray

Image credit: GROHE

With the Rainshower Aqua Body sprays, GROHE launches a showering highlight which upgrades the daily routine with a pulsating water massage. Control and function are intuitive with a pop-up design; when the water is activated, the body sprays pop out of the cover plate, allowing users to switch between the Rain and Active Jet spray easily by simply turning them. When the water is turned off, the body sprays pull back and blend into the shower surround completely, resulting in a slim, minimalist design for optimised space in the shower.

Full freedom of choice is guaranteed with round and square designs, available in different GROHE colours to match any aesthetic. Along with a luxurious showering experience, the Rainshower Aqua Body sprays support in eco-conscious design with GROHE’s EcoJoy technology integrated for a reduced water consumption, combining innovation and sustainability.

GROHE is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.

Main image credit: GROHE

croquet on the lawn at The sinet Collection The Retreat at Elcot Park

Quintessentially British design scheme unveiled for The Retreat at Elcot Park

 730 565 Pauline Brettell
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Quintessentially British design scheme unveiled for The Retreat at Elcot Park

On a mission to create extraordinary boutique hotels in curated destinations, The Signet Collection has transformed The Retreat at Elcot Park into a design that is both classic and contemporary with a few unexpected twists en-route…

croquet on the lawn at The sinet Collection The Retreat at Elcot Park

The Retreat is getting dressed and ready for its springtime launch, following in the successful footsteps of its cousin property The Mitre Hampton Court, as visionary British hospitality brand The Signet Collection reveal the design details of its second hotel. Housed in a Grade II-listed 18th century building, The Retreat has a storied past, once being the childhood home of the great poet Percy Bysshe Shelley. Following the success of The Mitre Hampton Court, The Retreat will continue the brand’s celebrated design aesthetic, blending the old with the new and quirky British sensibility. Tasked with a fun, escapist and element-of-surprise oriented brief, London-based luxury interior design practice Taylor and Turner is the creative lead behind its transformation, which nods to both the history and location of the picturesque country house.

“Elcot Park has a fascinating, long and rich history,” commented Anneke Gilkes and Harriette Cayzer, of Taylor & Turner. “It has been a huge privilege to be entrusted with creating a new chapter in its story with Hector and the brilliant team at Signet. We have endeavoured to respect its past whilst ensuring that the design practicalities meet the rigorous standards of the modern day. Our ethos has been rooted in creating a retreat for any age offering complete escapism and a sense of fun.”

The Retreat will be home to 55 characterful and comfortable guestrooms, including three suites, each showcasing its individual heritage. Each room is a celebration of the very best of British design, with many of the rooms containing eclectic antiques sourced by local dealers. Whilst antique furniture and traditional elements remain throughout, punches of colour, fun and the unexpected are clearly visible in each of the rooms. Guests will be spoilt for choice when choosing from views over the Wessex Downs, the gardens, or picturesque courtyards.

Each floor has a theme, with rooms named after champion racehorses, famous jockeys, local points of interest, or nods to British country pursuits such as: shooting, fishing, hunting and racing. Meanwhile, the three Signature Suites are decorative and named after previous inhabitants of the country house: the Sutton, Bushby Bacon (a family suite), and the Percy Shelley.

The Sutton Suite features Watts of Westminster’s hand-blocked ‘Pineapple’ wallpaper which provides an elegant contrast to the duck-egg blue doors and skirting boards. Key design elements include a pomegranate Sanderson bed canopy with a contrasting Fermoie striped headboard, and a spectacular roll top copper bathtub in front of large bay windows. A blush pink Mimi Pickard sofa and strawberry patterned throw cushions inject pops of colour throughout the Suite.

freestanding roll top bath in bay window at the retreat elcot park

Image credit: The Signet Collection

The Bushby Bacon Suite, an expansive two-bedroom family suite with an open plan bathroom, is dedicated to one of The Retreat’s earliest inhabitants. Elegant and refined, the suite features a contemporary four poster bed with a navy and cream interior with pelmet and simple pleating, set against red and blue Braquenié’s Toile des Indes wallpaper by Pierre Frey. The suite leads through to the children’s bedroom where curtained orange bunk beds take centre stage, against hand-painted striped walls. The bedrooms connect to a stylish white bathroom with a freestanding marble bathtub surrounded by bay windows.

A spectacularly elegant suite dedicated to one of the major English Romantic poets, The Percy Shelley Suite boasts bold and expressive décor with statement vintage Morris & Co wallpaper. Contrasting sage green woodwork matches the tone of the freestanding bath which sits in front of a large window overlooking the gardens.

Taylor & Turner have breathed new life into the bedrooms, which ooze vibrancy and fun with bobbin mirrors, Rosi de Ruig lamps, scalloped-edged side tables and bright upholstered headboards. Each bedroom is a treasure-trove of pattern and personality, and the playful use of colour and antiques lends soulfulness to give each room its own unique character.

Similarly to The Mitre, the designers have placed emphasis on the entrance hall being a place for reading and relaxation, similar to a drawing room in a country home. Mohair blue sofas, traditional seating, yellow cushions and Titley and Marr green curtains make for a cosy atmosphere. Complemented by the beige walls, many of the existing fittings and furnishings have been restored, such as the teak wooden flooring. Guests are met by a hand-painted map of the local area illustrating the abundance of British pursuits on The Retreat’s doorstep. Meanwhile, to the right of the grand entrance, a quote from one of Percy Shelley’s poems adorns the walls, reflecting the property’s literature and arts heritage. The result is a quintessentially British feel with an informal, playful twist where guests will quickly feel at home.

True to brand, all things culinary will have pride of place at The Retreat, which will open with a Whiskey room, two private dining spaces and two restaurants: Yü, a Pan-Asian restaurant, and 1772, an all-day-dining Brasserie. Atmospheric orb bulbs, a sputnik chandelier and golden table lamps make for a sleek and refined setting. A five metre brass bar with a fluted leather front is paired with elegant striped-back bar stools. Curved and straight seating booths in sumptuous deep blue and bottle green velvet offer pleasing aesthetics, and an intimate dining experience.

Having dined and imbibed to their hearts content, guests can enjoy the facilities of an impressive Health Club, including hydrotherapy pools, three treatment rooms, a steam room & sauna, large gym, spin studio and a relaxation area. The tone and textures in the spa exude a feeling of calm, in contrast to the women’s changing room, however, which is unexpected, playful, and fun, and inspired by the 1950s boudoir.

The Signet Collection is a home grown and hands-on brand, resolute in its dedication to crafting stunning designs in historically significant properties, preserving authenticity and delivering unparalleled service and experiences. The addition of The Retreat Elcot Park to the portfolio looks set to ensure the brand continues on its journey of creating meaningful stays in time honoured places. 

Main image credit: The Signet Collection

Arte wallcovering Saturnia in the Les Thermes range

Sneak peek: SS22 wallcovering collections from Arte

 730 565 Pauline Brettell
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Sneak peek: SS22 wallcovering collections from Arte

Drawing inspiration from the past for the design year ahead, the new collections from Arte are serving us luxurious materials from traditional techniques that can transport us back in time with a taste of grandeur of days gone by…

Arte wallcovering Saturnia in the Les Thermes range

Arte is planning to take us on a journey of discovery with its new collections. Not only will designers dive into the splendid architecture of stately Greek temples and Italian palazzos, but impressive mosaics, sculptures and ornaments will also catch the eye as classical antiquity is revisited in a modern and playful way through the use of surprising drawings, materials, techniques and colours.

“Arte strives to create innovative wallpaper collections that explore exciting new production methods and quality materials and reach far beyond the boundaries of traditional wallpaper design,”said Philippe Desart, Co-owner and Managing Director, Arte. “This spring the eight new collections include luxurious mosaics and plaster inspired details, which recognise historic crafts, as well as hand-painted scenes and large-scale panoramic designs that create truly show stopping art for your home.”

The Les Thermes collection depicts the rich history of Greco-Roman antiquity in which sculpture and architecture both play an important role. The well-known bathing culture also has a prominent presence, and this is reflected in aspects such as luxurious mosaics, traditional techniques, and an impression of a hand-painted scene of Roman thermal baths. This opulent collection provides a taste of the grandeur of days gone by.

Within the collection is the Mosaico design, where large mosaics with a metallic accent catch the eye in an aged tile pattern, creating an incomparable graphic effect. Mosaics have adorned the walls and floors of countless squares, palazzos, and historic buildings for centuries. This characterful wallcovering adds a touch of history to modern interiors and comes in nine shimmering colourways that compliment the other designs in the Les Thermes collection.

Saturnia – Within the collection, the statement design takes its inspiration from the Tuscan village of the same name which has been known for its hot springs since Roman times. This peaceful scene illustrates people bathing in the springs. As well as providing relief, the underlying fil-à-fil technique with silver and gold foil creates a unique sheen in the water, creating a genuine statement wallcovering. This design is available in three colourways which integrate with the colours running through the Mosaico pattern.

terracotta stucco design wallcovering adds texture to the wall surface

Image credit: Arte

Stucco – This design makes a playful reference to the decorative plaster used during Greco-Roman antiquity. It is an abstraction of textile and the tone-on-tone colour palette ensures a serene but weathered patina. The design is available in 16 colourways.

Tessera – The small squares made of stone, ceramic, terracotta or glass that are used to make mosaic floors or decorative jewellery are the inspiration for this design in the Les Thermes family. This pattern adds a note of luxury to the collection with its highly luxurious feel due to the reflective nature of the metallic shades of silver, gold, bronze and rose.

Orrizonte – The textile-inspired wallcovering has a warm weathered look thanks to the luxurious bouclé fabric it takes its inspiration from. The horizontally woven multicolour threads lend depth and relief to the pattern, and the visible metal threads ensure a subtle sheen. This design comes in an extensive 11 colourways.

mosaic effect finish in the tessera design wallcovering

Image credit: Arte

A second collection, Sculptura, draws its inspiration from traditional plasterwork. Strips of plaster were arranged by hand and then transformed into a surprising textural vinyl collection, leaving the typical plaster structure of mesh, cracks and uneven areas clearly visible. This intriguing wallcovering with its surprising geometric patterns subtly lends a touch of colour, relief and structure to the wall. The shadow play of light and dark brings smooth walls to life. Sculptura lends a subtle, classic decorative touch to an interior.

feature wall with etched mural of ancient rome by arte

Image credit: Arte

Rovine – The statement design of the Sculptura Collection, Rovine depicts an etching of a Greek ruin, the drawing shows antiquity in decay, yet with an element of grandeur in its statement dimensions. The work is dedicated to Monsieur Descamps, one of the king’s artists, and is available in three colourways.

Oblong – The design qualities within this collection feature a playful patchwork of irregular rectangles. As with plaster, strips are placed on top of each other and flow together. The result is a peaceful, plain effect that reflects the enduring trend for uneven plasterwork. This design comes in the earthy tones  that compliment the rest of the collection.

Shards – Displaying a composition of fragments the design titled Shards draws its inspiration from plasterwork, which gives the pattern a traditional character. The uneven nature of the wallcovering and incidence of light create extra relief and are more organic in feel. Available in ten colourways.

Piante – Showcasing a botanical drawing designed to transport you into untamed nature, the collection, which is available in 10 colourways, is a celebration of all things outside of perfection. Due to the tone-on-tone plasterwork effect, the overall look remains peaceful and lends character to the wall. The uneven nature of the wallcovering and incidence of light create extra depth and relief.

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

Hotel Designs - Christopher Hyde

Product watch: 3 new lighting collections from Christopher Hyde

 730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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Product watch: 3 new lighting collections from Christopher Hyde

Having excelled at manufacturing luxury luminaires for an extensive range of interiors for more than 25 years, Christopher Hyde Lighting is showcasing some of the finest designs within the prestigious classic and contemporary collections…

Hotel Designs - Christopher Hyde

Christopher Hyde has unveiled a stunning range of new lighting products. Here’s our editor’s pick of some of our favourites.

The Carlton Collection comprises of sconces and elegant chandeliers available in antique french gold and antique silver with clear crystal droplets, which can also be available in smoke or mixed glass.

Image caption: The Carlton Collection. | Image credit: Christopher Hyde

Image caption: The Carlton Collection. | Image credit: Christopher Hyde

The Chicago Collection of floor and table lamps make a subtle, yet functional addition to any hotel room. Suitable for both contemporary and classic interior design styles, the range of mirror-covered floor and table lamps with dark wood details and antique dark bronze finish are supplied with a stone coloured chinette shade.

The Victoria collection includes cut crystal lanterns on a cast brass frame finished in satin chrome and available in three sizes. The style of this collection is quite unique from the more traditional style lanterns who would expect to see.

Product shot of the Victoria Collection chandelier

Image caption: The Victoria Collection. | Image credit: Christopher Hyde

Recently, Christopher Hyde has been working on new product designs and is excited to include these luminaires to the eclectic collections. The Christopher Hyde Lighting team based at the Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour, are always available to offer expert advice.

Christopher Hyde Lighting is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our recommended suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.

Main image caption: The Chicago Collection. | Image credit: Christopher Hyde

Hotel Designs Clarke and Clarke ss22 collection

Product watch: Clarke & Clarke unveils SS22 fabrics collection

 730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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Product watch: Clarke & Clarke unveils SS22 fabrics collection

Texture, style and substance… Clarke & Clarke’s SS22 fabrics collection sets the stage for new heights of performance with technically equipped fabrics that shine in hospitality settings…

Hotel Designs Clarke and Clarke ss22 collection

Clarke & Clarke’s new fabrics collection for SS22 combines elevated performance in its very fibres, with luxurious style. Whether it is for banquette seating in a bar setting, bedroom headboards or a variety of lobby chairs and stools to greet patrons, Clarke & Clarke’s latest fabric additions, take hospitality design up a notch, offering technically superior fabrics without compromising on style.

Flame retardant, GRS certified (Global Recycling Standard) and utilising innovative materials to achieve high-spec, luxurious fabrics, Orla, Riva and Dawson are three strikingly beautiful new designs, created to capture the essence of many an interior setting and in some instances, mimic fabric textures and details.

Cameo selection of fabrics

Image credit: Clarke & Clarke

Orla, crafted from 52 per cent recycled plastic bottles, is a go-to fabric for upholstery and drapes. Sumptuously soft, the relaxed, natural-feeling fabric has a subtle herringbone detail and an incredibly tactile quality. 24 trend-led colours, all GRS certified, range from subtle naturalistic shades of Pebble and Ash to the more daring Spice and Garnet, complemented by earthy tones of Olive and Saffron, ensuring that the fabric suits a host of interior schemes. The 48 per cent natural cotton ensures a soft and high-quality texture is maintained and this delicate balance of recycled and natural fibres creates a luxe yet relaxed weight, for bespoke drapes and soft upholstered pieces. Orla is the first Studio G recycled product at Clarke & Clarke.

Entering the realm of mimicry, Dawson has mastered the leather-look whilst also being inherently flame retardant, waterproof, antimicrobial and phthalate-free. Durable and sophisticated, Dawson, in its 18 shades and tones, is the perfect embossed faux leather for dining and drinking areas, where traffic is high, and spillages may occur. The antimicrobial fabric is waterproof to one metre and is  cigarette and match certified, passes IMO 8 and meets American standards for international specification. Natural hues combine with more punchy jewel tones to create accents and highlights in amongst an otherwise meltingly soft palette of Chestnut and Mahogany, for that classic, leather-bound chair appeal.

Dawson collection featured in modern lounge setting

Image caption: Dawson collection. | Image credit: Clarke & Clarke

Booth seating or bar stool designs look equally high-end in Dawson, with its naturalistic patina and muted shine allowing the texture and feel of the fabric to delicately accent the entire interior setting, be that a cool cocktail bar or a hotel brasserie.

Clarke & Clarke’s reputation for the development of its eco portfolio continues in Riva, a soft, luxurious velvet made entirely from plastic bottles. The opulent drama of Riva’s velvet texture and colour choices, of which there are 25, makes for the ultimate fabric for hospitality settings. This dual-purpose, environmentally conscious fabric is GRS certified (Global Recycling Standard) but does not hold back on glamour and style. Rich, sumptuous and innovative with its harnessing of the power of recycling, this short velvet traverses the spectrum in bold Chartreuse, inky indigo and a heritage-inspired Moss, to complement a rich tapestry of leathers, woods and metals within an interior. Pairing Dawson and Riva in communal settings create texture and depth, for the most convivial environment, limiting environmentally impact and elevating style all at once. Equally, Riva’s rich palette and texture that melts in your fingers would serve private bedrooms and suites beautifully.

Riva landscape feature with red sofa

Image caption: Riva collection. | Image credit: Clarke & Clarke

Orla, Dawson and Riva join Burlington, whose legacy for strong performance matched with stylish aesthetics continues.

Inspired by the historic Burlington Street, London, home to Savile Row, a distinguished wool feel emerges from a washable, 100 per cent fire retardant fabric. Highly durable and adaptable, Burlington sets the standard for brushed decorative weaves, pairing high performance with that sleek London style.

A modern bedroom with Burlington Clarke and Clarke fabrics

Image caption: Burlington collection. | Image credit: Clarke & Clarke

Crafted in plains, stripes and checks, the 100 per cent inherent FR polyester yarns and overall durability of the fabric does not impact the style, including herringbone and dog tooths, only serving to elevate Burlington’s suitability for hospitality environments.

> Since you’re here, why not read our trends special ahead of Surface Design Show?

Clarke & Clarke 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: Clarke & Clarke

surface design show trends of textured surfaces, with stone, paper and plants

Preview: Trends & materials to emerge at Surface Design Show 2022

 730 565 Pauline Brettell
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Preview: Trends & materials to emerge at Surface Design Show 2022

As we gear up for all things material at the Surface Design Show 2022 next week, where editor Hamish Kilburn will take to the stage moderating two sessions; taking an in depth look at why sustainable interiors matter, and interviewing Tina Nordan on the Legends Live platform, Pauline Brettell takes a sneak peek at what visitors can expect and the emerging design trends for surface design and materials…

surface design show trends of textured surfaces, with stone, paper and plants

Taking place next week at London’s Business Design Centre, Surface Design Show will again provide architects and designers with an exciting and inspirational range of surface designs and materials as it prepares to ‘bring surfaces back to life’. The show promises to inspire with innovation and creativity both in the form of exhibitors, as well as conversations to challenge and debate around issues that are important for the design industry as a whole.

Speaking before the event opens, trend forecaster and curator of the Show’s Surface Spotlight Live feature, Sally Angharad has given us a sneak peek into the trends that are predicted to direct our designs over the coming year. “The design directions I have highlighted see new surfaces that blur the boundaries of material properties and celebrate original characteristics,” explained Angharad. “With greater focus on offering multiple solutions in one, we see solid materials interact with light and mixed material designs that give the customer greater choice. It is particularly exciting to see biodegradable and recycled ingredients driving aesthetics, with a move towards unique colourways and textures. Once again the Show will set the scene for the next year in terms of design ideas.”

These trends, as highlighted and developed by Angharad, have been divided into the appropriately descriptive categories of Soft Lines, Pattern Inlays, Translucent Layers, Bio Magic and Dappled Colour. We take a closer look at the colours, textures, and technology at play, and some of the makers and manufacturers championing them.

The soft lines trend is all about gentle relief surfaces that evoke a sense of calm by featuring tonal shifts and subtle line work for a pared back aesthetic. Tattoo by Italian wallpaper designer and manufacturer Zambaiti Parati showcases this trend in its embossed wallpaper with beautiful soft tactile lines that echo natural stone.

Raven is Europe’s leading Japanese tile specialist, and Yuki is a glazed porcelain tile from Master Ceramicists, INAX of Japan. The YU-KI name is from YU meaning glaze and KI meaning seasons. The standard white colour represents winter snow, the red represents summer sun, and the black represents the night sky of a mid-autumn day. The gentle curved Yuki border form is naturally created by using split bamboo, one of the most familiar materials for Japanese people.

Pattern Inlays looks at how patterns and motifs are introduced in intricate ways, taking inspiration from marquetry techniques, with modular shapes creating a design. Cora Wood Experience has teamed up Pininfarina to create Miraggio a new wooden floor collection that combines different technologies and materials and features complex geometric patterns inspired by natural elements. The idea behind the collection was to create continuous flooring that blurs the borders between the exterior and interior spaces, uniting them with a unique design, mixing the wooden surfaces with ceramic elements.

Wonderwall Studios brings this theme to life in its premium panelling created from salvaged wood, giving discarded timber a second lease of life. Pheonix is perhaps its most avant-garde design, conceived of furniture-grade hardwoods with geometric and organic patterns that collide.

surface design patterned wooden panelling from salvaged wood

Image credit: Phoenix Wonderwall Studios

Translucent Layers introduces designers to hard materials which explore translucency to maximise on light and space using geometric shapes and interlocking structures. Jodhpur Blue has developed a range of stunning translucent stone sheets that bring this theme to life. Made using a thin layer of stone with a transparent resin backing to create a beautiful stone sheet that can be back lit to enhance the stones features and characteristics.

Another interesting application of this concept can be seen in the installations by Amron Architectural, a trusted supplier and manufacturer of products for the architectural and design industry worldwide. Providing innovative solutions from the workplace to award winning restaurants, used within their schemes are chains by Kriscadecor. This architectural solution uses intricate chains to create semi-transparent textures and shapes from elegant waves to parallel structures.

kriskadecor chain installed as design feature

Image credit: Kriskadecor

Bio Magic is set to be a key trend for 2022 and beyond as it looks at biodegradable ingredients and materials which continue to offer sustainable solutions with developments in colour dyeing and recycling processes bringing new alternatives to the table using food waste. Johnson Tan, one of 32 ‘New Talents’ at Surface Design Show, has created surfaces using food shell waste including eggshells and coffee which creates a delicate, subtle and translucent material. Also found within the New Talent section is Biotic by Studio Lionne Van Deursen, an ongoing research project and material archive. Microbes are used to grow a biological material which is made of bacterial cellulose. This is made using yeast and bacteria in a fermentation process. During this process bacteria spin nano fibres of cellulose and produce a layer on the surface. When this layer has dried, it becomes a solid material that has comparable properties to leather.

sustainable leather alternatives

Image credit: Biotic Studio

Also innovating on the leather front, Wildman & Bugby brings ecology leather to the show in the form of a sustainable 100 per cent genuine leather made using Olivenleder a biodegradable tanning agent. The leathers within this collection are tanned with the patented wet-green technology. Using the power of nature, the olive leaf extract used for the tanning agent is exclusively made from the fallen leaves of the Mediterranean olive harvest.

leather using olive leaf extract in tanning process

Image credit: Wildman 7 Bugby

The Dappled Colour trend heroes the rise in recycled materials and sees more one-off design aesthetics emerge where repurposed materials define the colour palette, embracing dappled patterns and flecks of contrast instead of solid colour.

The Good Plastic Company produces sustainable panels from 100per cent recycled plastic, in addition each panel is made from a single type of plastic so it can easily be recycled, extending the economic life of the material. There is a huge choice of colours and styles with many having a striking dappled colour effect. Another dappled surface being created from plastic is WasBottle from Benecore, a 100per cent recycled HDPL panel designed to produce tabletops, shelves and partition elements and claddings for interiors. Each panel is unique thanks to the randomness of the recycled material showing variations in colour which creates a vibrant dappled texture.

wasbottle bencore recycled plastic surface

Image credit: Benecore

We are only touching the surface of these trends here, and it is clear that there is a lot to look out for and discover amongst the exhibitors at this years Surface Design Show. As we explore and discover all this material innovation, take time to listen to the conversations on stage. At a time when interior designers are joining others across the industry and are being challenged by the Interior Design Declares petition, these trends and materials take on a greater significance in the big design picture.

Hotel Designs is proud to be a media partner with this event and editor Hamish Kilburn will be moderating the conversation on the main stage on ‘Why sustainable interiors matter and how we plan to transform the industry’ at 19:45 on February 8. The following day Kilburn will join Conran & Partners Tina Norden on stage as part of the ‘Legends Live’ interview series on the main stage 14:30 February 9.

Main image credit: Zambaiti Parati 

Four Season Private Residences Lake Austin

Four Seasons unveils 2022 hotel development pipeline

 730 565 Pauline Brettell
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Four Seasons unveils 2022 hotel development pipeline

For Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, 2022 is all about solidifying success and strategic expansion. We take a look at the group’s plans and pipeline for the year ahead…

Four Season Private Residences Lake Austin

Luxury hospitality company Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, plans to continue to solidify its position through the strategic expansion of its portfolio of hotels, resorts and residential developments. The company is also extending its luxury lifestyle offering through the growth of Private Retreats, its portfolio of luxury villa and vacation home rentals, its bespoke Private Jet experience and through the Four Seasons at Home luxury goods collection. Despite industry-wide challenges caused by the pandemic, Four Seasons outlook for 2022 looks set to build upon the success of the past year, including the addition of highly anticipated new hotels, resorts and residences in key markets, and the extension of its standalone residential collection with new properties opening last year in Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Supporting this growth, the company’s longstanding shareholder, an affiliate of Cascade Investment, L.L.C. (Cascade), closed this month on its acquisition of a majority stake in Four Seasons from its long-term investment partner, an affiliate of Kingdom Holding Company (KHC). The transaction marks a pivotal point for the company, further demonstrating Cascade’s commitment to provide Four Seasons with resources to accelerate growth, support the company’s properties and owners, and expand its strategic goals. KHC retains a 23.75 per cent stake in Four Seasons and remains strongly dedicated to the company’s considerable opportunities.

“2022 marks an important moment in the evolution of Four Seasons as we sharpen our development focus in key markets, strengthen our leadership position as an iconic luxury brand and capitalise on new opportunities that will continue to drive and diversify our growth,” said John Davison, President and CEO, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. “Realising these opportunities means investing in our greatest competitive advantage – our people. For more than 60 years, the strength of Four Seasons has been grounded in our unmatched commitment to service excellence. As we grow with intention, so too do the opportunities for our people, ensuring we create an environment in which they can flourish.”

swimming pool with sunloungers and umbrellas at San Domenico Palace Taormina

Image credit: Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts

Four Seasons is building on the momentum of its successful 2021 openings in strategic markets, including in Napa Valley, California; New Orleans, Louisiana; and Taormina, Italy. The company continues to accelerate expansion plans worldwide with four openings planned for 2022, including exciting new developments in Tamarindo, Mexico; Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Nashville, Tennessee; and Minneapolis, Minnesota. Along with the accelerated pace of new openings, the high valuations and increasing demand for existing Four Seasons properties managed on behalf of owners speaks to the strength of the Four Seasons brand.

chandelier in the lobby and bar in four seasons private residences new orleans

Image credit: Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts

Four Seasons has more than 50 new projects under planning or development, including in Italy, Spain, China, Japan, Colombia, Belize and across key markets in the US, all of which will add to the company’s existing portfolio of 122 hotels and resorts and 48 residential properties in 47 countries around the world.

“Four Seasons has a strong, strategic growth trajectory – an extensive pipeline of projects that will open in key global destinations, with visionary development partners who share our commitment to excellence,” said Bart Carnahan, President, Global Business Development and Portfolio Management, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. “Our residential business in particular is a key pillar in our growth plans, with a five-year pipeline of USD 7 billion in gross sales value comprising more than 30 projects worldwide.”

New standalone Private Residences, developments not connected to a hotel or resort, set to open in the coming years include Four Seasons Private Residences Dubai at Jumeirah – a project that fully sold out before public sales began – Four Seasons Private Residences Lake Austin and Four Seasons Private Residences Marrakech at M Avenue. These new standalone developments join the company’s current collection in London, San Francisco and Los Angeles. Other upcoming residential developments connected to an existing or soon-to-open Four Seasons property include Fort Lauderdale, Minneapolis, Nashville, Mumbai, Cartagena and Belize.

As Four Seasons extends its portfolio globally, the company does so with consideration for Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) priorities. Four Seasons is committed to sustainable hospitality, including reducing carbon emissions, conserving water, eliminating waste, and sourcing responsibly. To further its commitments to address waste and protect local ecosystems, the company aims to remove all single-use plastic from the guest experience by the end of 2022.

Main image credit: Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts

EDITION LIGNATUR from KEUCO and TEAM7

EDITION LIGNATUR by KEUCO and TEAM 7 add new furniture pieces

 730 565 Pauline Brettell
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EDITION LIGNATUR by KEUCO and TEAM 7 add new furniture pieces

KEUCO and TEAM 7 have announced a new addition to the Edition Lignatur collection of solid wood bathroom furniture. Wild white oak has been added to the collection of premium natural wood surfaces which are the bespoke trademark of this collection…

EDITION LIGNATUR from KEUCO and TEAM7

EDITION LIGNATUR is an exclusive collection of furniture made from natural wood, and is the result of many years of bathroom know-how from KEUCO combined with leading manufacturer TEAM 7’s traditional art of woodworking. Every element of EDITION LIGNATUR furniture has been individually created by the Design House Tesseraux + Partner, as these unique pieces are custom-made and hand built for each and every order.

The original offering of premium natural wood surfaces has been extended, and now includes a distinctive range of wild white oak furniture. Each piece of this light wild oak series features uniquely prominent dark knots. To enhance these natural features, the entire surface is treated with a special formula that includes a natural white oil which helps to give the furniture its distinct appearance. The wild white oak joins the other premium real wood finishes in the range which include noble walnut, oak and Venetian oak. The Venetian oak furniture is made of aged oak piles from the lagoon city of Venice, with their natural shipworm markings as a key feature. Each piece of EDITION LIGNATUR solid wood has its own individual markings, making it one of a kind.

edition lignatur bench seat provides natural bathroom storage in white wild oak

Image credit: KEUCO

As well as introducing the wild white oak finish, the range is also including an additional washbasin, fitting and mirror cabinet options, extending the possibilities for designing exclusive bathrooms. You can now choose from a range of single or double washbasin units and counter top washbasins, as well as side units, tall units and bench seats. The vanity units for surface mounted round washbasins, as well as side units and the coordinated side units, are available with a choice of either with ceramic or glass cover plates.

KEUCO fittings and accessories create a harmonious visual appearance with surfaces in classic chrome or new brushed finishes, including bronze, champagne-coloured nickel, or trendy black chrome. The EDITION LIGNATUR free-standing accessories for the washbasin and toilet incorporate different types of wooden furniture and designs into the range.

Washbasins made of Varicor or ceramic can be combined with these noble wood surfaces. Round ceramic surface mounted washbasins in white or slate grey complement the product range, and a specially developed free-standing fitting stands enhanced in the middle of the washbasin. The washbasins can also be combined with KEUCO on-wall fittings.

grey ceramic surface mounted basin with natural wood finish in the edition lignatur range

Image credit: KEUCO

The EDITION LIGNATUR mirror cabinet offers a perfect combination of wood, mirrors and light accentuating the natural wood elements of the design, while the shelf inners, rear wall and exterior side panels all made of matching wood. This triple-sided light frame makes it a real highlight in the bathroom and comes as either as a classic on-wall or recessed mirror cabinet.

bathroom furniture and fixtures in natural wod in a contemporary bathroom

Image credit: KEUCO

The open shelf  is the perfect stage for your favourite products, while the LED lighting can be dimmed by means of a panel giving you the possibility of changing the light colour from warm white to daylight.

The aim of perfectly crafted products is to combine aesthetic forms with sensible functionalities, and this is a claim that is consistently taken into account with this collaborative bathroom collection, right from the idea through to the implementation.

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

Moooi Hotel Designs

Product watch: Re-cut from Atelier Reservé for Moooi Carpets

 730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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Product watch: Re-cut from Atelier Reservé for Moooi Carpets

Atelier Reservé is an Amsterdam-based niche brand, founded by the Reverse Boys Alljan Moehamad & designer Deyrinio Fraenk, with a focus to bring old stock fabrics, used materials and vintage garments, back to life. Moooi Carpets’ Re-cut collection is a product of that vision…

Moooi Hotel Designs

Atelier Reservé’s focus is on redesigning and reinventing garments by using a combination of old and new blended fabrics, with uniquely designed Japanese and tattoo references. Not surprisingly, the brand’s design philosophy and aesthetics have led to admiration and representation around South-East Asia, with exclusive high-end retail partners in Hong Kong, Singapore, China and Japan.

The brand’s love for using vintage Levi’s garments and fabrics has also resulted in a long-term collaboration with the global jeans brand. For Levi’s, Atelier Reservé created various limited edition capsule collections, upcycling and reconstructing existing Levi’s classics.

With these collections, the two brands appeal to a next generation of consumers who are looking for sustainable and unique pieces with a story, and who are not limited by conventional norms, fashion rules or trends. For Atelier Reservé, each item is genderless by nature and can be worn fitted, oversized, inside out, or anyway the owner likes it.

Without explicitly highlighting its sustainable and organic nature, Atelier Reservé gives an authentic touch to quality garments and embraces the aging process that naturally occurs as a result of day-to-day wear and tear. For Atelier Reservé, ‘one-of-a-kind’ means each garment has its own story with its own unique shape. All garments are made by hand, by a small team at a workshop in Amsterdam. That’s why colours, shapes and details vary. The consistency is in the love for handwork, quality materials and the free-spirited nature of the makers.

Atelier Reservé follows its own nonconforming path and invites its wearers to do the same.

The vintage garments are “Re-cut” to give a longer lifespan to fabrics and raw materials that are already in rotation. Redesigning and reinventing a combination of old and new blended in a unique garment with strong Japanese references.

> Since you’re here, why not read about what else Moooi Carpets is launching in 2022?

Moooi Carpets is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.

Main image credit: Moooi Carpets

safe surfaces in the bathroom and shower from duravit

Duravit offers attractive solutions to safety in the bathroom

 730 565 Pauline Brettell
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Duravit offers attractive solutions to safety in the bathroom

Bathrooms can present us with a range of risks and hazards. With this always in mind, Duravit offers solutions that are both safe as well as aesthetically dynamic…

safe surfaces in the bathroom and shower from duravit

Whether caused by moisture, less than ideal structural conditions, or operator error, typical sources of risk in the bathroom include slipping or stumbling hazards, and scalding hot water. The risk of accidents can be significantly reduced if careful precautions are taken right from the beginning of the design and specification process. Duravit’s range includes a host of elements to enhance safety in the bathroom – whilst still meeting the highest aesthetic standards.

flush fitting shower base by duravit to prevent accidents in the bathroom

Image credit: Duravit

Preventing falls with a flush-fitting, anti-slip base is why all Duravit acrylic shower trays come with an antislip coating to reduce the risk of slipping on a wet surface. The transparent and yet tangible primer guarantees sureness of footing and slip-resistance. TÜV Rheinland has confirmed quality level C for wet barefoot areas (DIN 51097). For example, all Tempano shower trays are available with this anti-slip coating.

Products made from DuraSolid meet anti-slip requirements even without an additional coating. DuraSolid is a cast mineral material developed by Duravit. Bathtubs made from DuraSolid A feature a matt, velvety surface, and offer a pleasant feel without visible joints and seams – for example the bathtubs of the ranges Cape Cod by Philippe Starck, Dura Square or Luv by Cecilie Manz. Stonetto shower trays with the DuraSolid Q surface texture guarantee safety in the bathroom thanks to class B slip-resistance. Users warm to the innovative mineral material on the first touch
thanks to its texture that is reminiscent of natural stone.

Structural conditions need to be taken into account in addition to the composition of bathroom elements. Flush-fitting showers do not have a lip, which helps prevent trips. Tempano offers the option of a straightforward flush-fitting installation, and the specially developed support frame is supplied in a preassembled format and can be easily adapted to the height of the floor structure on site using templates and the adjustable feet that are accessible from above. Stonetto also offers the option of flush-fitting installation.

Bathroom lighting can be a further safety factor, and a well-lit bathroom makes trip hazards visible –by day and night. Shower-toilets with LED night-light function, such as SensoWash Starck f, offer orientation and safety in the dark without interrupting the body’s repose. All keys on the A2 actuator plate are permanently illuminated in the dark to aid orientation and the night-light function switches on or off automatically, depending on the ambient light. Some mirrors and mirrored cabinet models also feature washbasin lighting that acts as a night light. For example, the L-Cube furniture series comes with an optional installation frame including an integrated LED night light and daylight sensor.

Scald protection thanks to thermostats is another safety feature that can be easily intergrated into a design. A thermostat guarantees that the required temperature can quickly be set and is ideal in cases of recurrent fluctuations in pressure and temperature in the supply pipes. A safety lock at 38 degrees Celsius protects the user from scalding. At the same time, warmer water can be obtained by pressing a safety button and turning the handle further. The C.1 Duravit faucet series by Kurt Merki Jr. includes shower-head and bathtub thermostats for exposed or concealed installation, as is also the case with B.1 and B.2. Shower systems that are optionally available with a thermostat or single lever shower mixer are a practical all-in-one solution. Holistic bathroom design is ensured by B.1, B.2, and C.1, each perfectly match all Duravit series with their soft, striking, or simply unpretentious design language. Polished chrome surfaces ensure a pleasant feel on all models. The combination of the anti-slip and flush-fitting base, illumination, and a thermostat from the Duravit portfolio creates a safe environment, consistent with the design concept of the holistic bathroom.

Duravit is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.

Main image credit: Duravit

Hotel Designs Hottest Hotel Openings in February 2022

VIP arrivals: Hottest hotel openings in February 2022

 730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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VIP arrivals: Hottest hotel openings in February 2022

Cutting through the noise around the flood of hotel openings anticipated for Q1 in 2022, Editor Hamish Kilburn shares his pick of the VIP arrivals expected this February. In his round-up, he picks out a quirky LA bolthole, a 250-key luxury abode in New York and a new wellness destination in the Middle East…

Hotel Designs Hottest Hotel Openings in February 2022

So far this year, the most popular stories on Hotel Designs have been the articles that have referenced Marriott, Raffles, Hyatt and Hilton’s hotel openings and development plans in 2022 and beyond. Following popular demand among our readers to be in-the-know when it comes to the latest and greatest hospitality entrances, from this February onwards we have re-launched our much-loved VIP arrivals editorial series.

Each month, the editorial team will take it in turns to lay down the upcoming hotel openings that we cannot stop talking about. So, without further a due, here are my hottest hotel openings to look forward to in February.

One Hundred Shoreditch, London

Located in prime position on Shoreditch High Street, and arriving this February on our ‘hotel openings’ radar, One Hundred Shoreditch is the new hotel from Lore Group, the group behind Sea Containers London, Pulitzer Amsterdam, Riggs Washington DC and Lyle Washington DC. Designed by Lore Group Creative Director Jacu Strauss, One Hundred Shoreditch will reflect how the area has evolved during the last decade, with interiors that mirror the neighbourhood’s new, grown-up feel while retaining the buzz and vibrancy synonymous with the area in the hotel’s public spaces.

Zulal Wellness Resort by Chiva-Som, Qatar

Render of Zula Wellness, a hotel opening in February

Image credit: Chiva-Som

For the wellness gurus among us, the news that Chiva-Som is opening a retreat in the Middle East is nothing short of significant for the brand, as well as Qatar. Zulal Wellness Resort by Chiva-Som sits in a pioneering destination in the Middle East that blends Traditional Arabic and Islamic Medicine with a holistic health and wellbeing philosophy, established by Chiva-Som, the internationally acclaimed wellness resort in Thailand.

The Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad

Hotel openings in February: Exterior of building on York York skyline. Hotel Designs The Ritz Carloton New York Nomad

Image credit: Marriott International

Following our insight into Marriott’s 2022 hotel development pipeline, there is one hotel that stands out for us in that exciting mix of hotel openings in Manhattan, and that’s the The Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad, steeped in history but we are told will feel ‘thoroughly modern’. The 250-key hotel, which will finally open this February, shelters a spa with eight treatment rooms, an all-day dining restaurant led by Michelin-starred chef José Andrés and almost 1,000 square-metres of event space.

YOTELPAD Miami 

An interesting hotel opening in February, Hotel Designs YOTELPAD guestroom

Image credit: YOTEL

Taking the clever hospitality concept that made YOTEL famous and loved among the on-the-go modern travellers, but packaging it up with a more residential feel, YOTELPAD, we expect, is going to turn heads on the global long-stay hospitality scene. Each PAD is the epitome of efficiency, with custom European kitchen and bath cabinetry with stone finishes, contemporary flooring and beautifully made furniture and that transforms to do everything modern guests need.

Short Stories Hotel

Hotel Designs Short Stories

Image credit: Short Stories Hotels

In the heart of Los Angeles sits a 66-key boutique hotel that is about to open a new hospitality experience, where the stories may be short but also deeply meaningful. Short Stories Hotel LA draws inspiration from LA’s breezy natural aesthetic and pace, and will serve as a ‘tranquil retreat in an urban core’.

MET La Paz

Opening in one of Bolivia’s trendiest neighbourhoods, the 76-key MET La Paz will shelter a contemporary design narrative, which will flow through from the lobby/open restaurant area right into the guestrooms and suites.

Inhabit Queen’s Gardens, London

Listed in our ‘hottest arrivals in 2022‘, Inhabit London Queen’s Gardens will open as an intimate boutique hotel comprising of 159 uplifting guestrooms, along with carefully considered social spaces. Just like its sister hotel, which shares the same city as its home, Inhabit Queen’s Gardens has been created with a passion for wellbeing and living in a way that supports a healthy mind and body, as well as modelling responsible hospitality practices.

Since you’re here…

More than 60,000 readers per month enjoy the content we publish on Hotel Designs. Our mission is to define the point on international hotel design, and we are doing that by serving relevant news stories and engaging features. To keep up to date on the hottest stories that are emerging, you can sign up to the newsletter, which is completely free of charge. As well as receiving a weekly round-up of the top stories, you will also access our bi-monthly HD Edit –staying ahead of the curve has never been so easy!

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Main image credit: Marriott International

Woman standing in courtyard at The Temple House Hotel Designs

Weekly digest: Design deliveries, ace openings & development pipelines

 730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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Weekly digest: Design deliveries, ace openings & development pipelines

Namaste! Editor Hamish Kilburn here to wrap up your week (and month) with the only story you need to read this week in order to be fully aware of the latest movements on the hotel design and hospitality scene. This week’s round-up includes news from the likes of Marriott, The Set Collection and Ace Hotel Group…

Woman standing in courtyard at The Temple House Hotel Designs

Is it that time already? Fridays on the editorial desk at Hotel Designs always starts the same: with a piping-hot coffee followed by scroll of our analytics to see which of the headlines published over the last five days have been a hit with our readers.

As we prepare to bid farewell to what I am glad to call a stable month – a welcome novelty given the unpredictable times we were all working in over the last two years – the stories that have stood out this week as our most-read include interviews and features that all share a common denominator; they are all looking towards brighter, happier and healthier times – PMA to the rescue!

Channelling nothing by good vibes, here are our top stories from the week.

In conversation with: Jean-Luc Naret, Executive Director, The Set Collection

Image caption: A contemporary guestroom inside Mamilla Jerusalem. | Image credit: The Set Collection

Image caption: A contemporary guestroom inside Mamilla Jerusalem. | Image credit: The Set Collection

Inside The Set Collection’s iconic London hotel, Hotel Café Royal, Hotel Designs meets legendary hotelier and Executive Director Jean-Luc Naret to discuss hotel development, the definition of luxury and how (and why) the collection is expanding.

“A decade on from that spectacular opening party, I am back here, inside the Regent Suite that casts an unparalleled view over Piccadilly Circus, to meet Jean-Luc Naret, the Executive Director of The Set Collection, which is made up of a cluster of iconic hotels in spectacular locations.”

Read more.

In pictures: Pigeon Post Bar & Eatery, Hilton Cologne

detail of bar design at Pigeon Post cologne

Image credit: Hilton / THDP

The Hilton Cologne is nestled in an amazing location in Cologne’s city heart, being a stone’s throw from the most visited attraction in the city, the Cologne Cathedral. The city is also known for its vibrant cultural scene, including numerous festivals such as Cologne Carnival, Cologne Lights, Cologne Pride, Art Cologne, IMM Cologne, Heinzels Winter Fairy-tale: Handbrotzeit and several food festivals, amongst many others. The hotel itself was once home to Cologne’s postal savings bank, a landmark building on the famous Marzellenstrasse. The building’s heritage is the inspiration behind the interior design of The Pigeon Post Bar & Eatery by the THDP design studio, which expresses this vintage vibe, while being considered and contemporary with some fun quirky details.

Read more.

First look inside Ace Hotel Toronto

Guestroom inside Ace Hotel Toronto with wooden interiors and modern design scheme

Image credit: Ace Hotel Group

The opening of the 124-key Ace Hotel Toronto this June will mark the brand’s debut property in Canada. The modern hotel, which has been developed in partnership with Zinc Developments and Alterra Group and designed by Toronto-based design firm Shim-Sutcliffe Architects in collaboration with Atelier Ace’s interior design team, will be housed in a new building in Toronto’s Garment District designed. “Our intention with Ace Hotel Toronto was to make a positive contribution to our city, a welcoming civic space where life happens and memories are made, and where both locals and their guests feel equally at home, Brigitte Shim from Shim-Sutcliffe Architects told Hotel Designs.

Read more.

How The Londoner created a new dialogue between design & wellness

It was one of the most ambitious architecture and hotel development projects that Leicester Square had ever seen. The plans for the world’s first ‘super boutique’ hotel, The Londoner, designed by Yabu Pushelberg, engineer experts at Arup Associates and artist Ian Monroe, reportedly cost £5 million and included 15-storeys of innovative design and architecture. 

Read more.

Pharrell Williams and David Grutman to open hotel in The Bahamas

Image credit: Somewhere Else

It’s not the first time celebrities have dipped their toe in the hospitality waters, with the likes of Hugh Jackman, Donatella Versace, Elizabeth Hurley and of course Robert De Niro among A-listers owning hotels. The recent addition to the list includes Pharrell Williams and David Grutman who in 2021 opened The Goodtime Hotel to rave reviews.

Less than a year later, the pair have tasked design and architecture studio Rockwell Group to bring to life their next hotel vision of a design-forward lifestyle hotel in The Bahamas.

Read more.

Marriott provides insight on 2022 hotel development

crystal clear water at island resort of st regis in the red sea

Image credit: Marriott International

Following the lows of the pandemic, 2021 was a surprisingly good year for Marriott International and there was plenty to celebrate about, including opening its 70th hotel in Japan, opening its 100th JW Marriott property worldwide and agreeing the signings of three new hotels in Saudi Arabia.

At the end of 2021, the hotel group’s worldwide system consisted of nearly 8,000 properties and roughly 1.48 million rooms in 139 countries and territories. At year-end, the company had the largest global development pipeline, with roughly 485,000 rooms.

Read more.

Editor checks in: ESG, let’s talk about it (consciously)

coastal bedroom designed using net zero principles and sutainable materials

Image caption: This month, Perkins&Will announced how it plans to go carbon neutral on its projects by 2030. | Image credit: Perkins&Will

I would like to address the greenwashing effects of buzzwords. The latest of which, surrounding the topic of sustainability, is ESG, which stands for Environmental, Social, Governance. The decision was made (by whom, I am still not entirely sure) to replace the over-used term of ‘sustainability’ with ‘ESG’ in the hope of encouraging people to think about the wider context. But in doing so, the problem has in fact escalated. I have waited until now, adhering to the unspoken rule of thinking before I speak, to put forward my views on this matter, but I’m afraid my frustration has boiled over.

Read more.

Since you’re here…

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Main image credit: The Set Collection/The House Collective

Hafele Hotel Designs main image

Why architectural ironmongery is key to successful hotel design

 730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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Why architectural ironmongery is key to successful hotel design

The individual components of a hotel are cherry picked to strike the perfect balance between aesthetic and functionality. To achieve this, architectural ironmongery is crucial, says Paul Smith, Head of Specification Sales at Häfele UK…

Hafele Hotel Designs main image

As hotel design projects progress, budget limitations sometimes mean the teams have to swap the originally specified products for cheaper alternatives. As a result, the final hurdle of the project – which sees the initial vision truly come to life – becomes more about hitting cost requirements than selecting the best products for the building’s needs, and the guest’s expectations.

The assistance of an architectural ironmonger at the specification stages of a project can prove vital. Helping to translate and convert your requirements into a functional and legally compliant ironmongery schedule, an ironmongery expert will also help achieve an overall aesthetic that will impress your guests and ensure the finished building has the wow factor.

A creative, geometric headboard in modern bedroom

Image credit: Häfele UK

On a recent project at the Harrington Hall Hotel in South Kensington, the Häfele Projects 360 team were called on to help create a luxury interiors scheme that would leave a lasting impression on guests. They developed and supplied a suite of UK-manufactured brass door hardware, specially finished in satin and antique styles, to complement the building’s character and established aesthetic while adding a modern edge.

The Häfele Projects 360 Team offers hotel designers and operators a solution to ensure design consistency across an entire building, from start to finish. The team is made up of more than 20 Guild of Architectural Ironmongers who are DipGAI qualified and were some of the founding members of the GuildMark Scheme, assuring customers of the highest standards of modern specification.

Close up of bedroom floor

Image credit: Häfele UK

Its tailored programmes of work are built around specific budgets and deadlines, while also adhering to current construction design standards, offering bespoke solutions which ensure each hotel stands out for its individuality. The team offers design consultation, product specification and product selection, as well as order management, ongoing support and after sales care. All of this helps customers achieve the levels of accuracy, attention to detail and absolute functionality required for every part of their project, with a specific focus placed on architectural ironmongery.

For example, via Häfele’s industry standard door scheduling software, the Häfele Projects 360 team can prepare accurate and detailed ‘door by door schedules’ for hotel projects of all shapes and sizes. Customers will receive an easy to follow document with a comprehensive list of all doors within the project and the related hardware, tailored to specific requirements, including product imagery and pricing information, grouping similar products into hardware sets.

Additionally, Häfele’s breadth of range means that it has products to suit every budget. The team can work to the original ironmongery brief without amending the functionality, a solution can be sourced to suit the budget of a project without compromising on the intended look and feel, meaning a client’s original vision need never be sacrificed. The finishing touches of a hotel scheme should be equally prioritised as the bricks and mortar. As the space develops, moving from concept to reality, the finite detail must remain a big deal and be delivered in such a way to ensure your project runs efficiently, meets the expectations of customers today and stands out in a crowded marketplace. The Häfele experts are on hand to oversee the entire process, leaving operators to focus on getting people through their doors.

Häfele 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: Häfele

hypnos bed in hotel indigo on the french riviera

Case study: In bed with Hypnos and Hotel Indigo

 730 565 Pauline Brettell
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Case study: In bed with Hypnos and Hotel Indigo

Hypnos Contract beds can be found in Hotel Indigo hotels across the UK and Europe. We take a look at how Hypnos seamlessly delivers comfort to two very different hotel design styles…

hypnos bed in hotel indigo on the french riviera

The first Hotel Indigo opened in 2004, and today this wonderful boutique hotel brand from IHG can be found all over the world. Each Hotel Indigo delivers authentic local experiences, modern design and intimate service with the peace of mind and consistency of staying with one of the world’s largest hotel groups. And because no two neighbourhoods are alike, neither are any two Hotel Indigo properties. Every Hotel Indigo has its own character, no matter where in the world, but they all have one thing in common, and that is to provide exceptional customer experience, which of course, includes a great night’s sleep.

Hypnos beds can be found in Hotel Indigo’s across the UK and Europe. Olivier Brommet, Director of Global Business Development, Hypnos Contract Beds explains why. “Hypnos are the only bed manufacturer approved to supply the worlds four largest international hotel groups,” said Brommet. “Our extensive network of global representative’s service and supply our clients in their locality. This collaborative approach allows us to provide our global clients such as IHG with bespoke solutions consistently across their hotels around the world.”

Hotel Indigo Cagnes-sur-Mer and Hotel Indigo Bath are two perfect examples of how design style can be completely different, but guests can be sure of the same comfortable night’s sleep.

hypnos beds in hotel indigo bath

Image credit: Hypnos / Hotel Indigo

Bedrooms at the Hotel Indigo Bath are contemporary with a traditional twist, reflecting the age and style of the 18th century Georgian building whist also catering for modern tastes. Each of the stunning 166 guestrooms are furnished with fabulously comfy Hypnos beds.

guestroom opening onto a private terrace at Hotel Indigo in France

Image credit: Hypnos / Hotel Indigo

Hotel Indigo Cagnes-sur-Mer is the perfect escape on the French Riviera. This modern hotel provides a peaceful haven from the bustle of this medieval city, while Hypnos beds provide a more classic comfort in the contemporary design scheme. In the past, the city was used as a great retreat for all kinds of artists, most famously Renoir who spent his last 12 years living just around the corner from Hotel Indigo site.

With this meeting of great brands, guests can enjoy a great night’s sleep after exploring beautiful culturally rich cities across the UK and Europe, as Hypnos beds can be found in Hotel Indigo’s, from Stratford upon Avon to Glasgow in the UK, and from Belgrade to Madrid in Europe.

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 / Hotel Indigo

Editor checks in: ESG, let’s talk about it (consciously)

 730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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Editor checks in: ESG, let’s talk about it (consciously)

Are you discombobulated with the various buzzwords that are circulating conversations around sustainability? Why are we being advised to use the term ESG, and what does it even mean? Editor Hamish Kilburn attempts to answer these questions when trying desperately to encourage people to be more conscious when using terminology on the global design and hospitality scene… 

Throughout my childhood, there was one saying over others that I remember most vividly. “Think before you speak,” my mother, teacher – even my gymnastics coach, would say. It’s been ingrained into my head ever since I received soap in my mouth after asking for the ‘effing’ marmalade at the breakfast table, when my grandparents were present.

As I grew up, careless back-chatting advanced into opinions being formed. Later, this transformed, as luck would have it, into a career of journalism where I have always found comfort and passion in sticking up for the unpopular and ethically addressing the formally unsaid or underrepresented (or both at times).

“ESG stands for Environmental, Social, Governance.”

With that in mind – and in the risk of sounding overtly negative in this already challenging era of design and hospitality – I would like to address the greenwashing effects of buzzwords. The latest of which, surrounding the topic of sustainability, is ESG, which stands for Environmental, Social, Governance. The decision was made (by whom, I am still not entirely sure) to replace the over-used term of ‘sustainability’ with ‘ESG’ in the hope of encouraging people to think about the wider context. But in doing so, the problem has in fact escalated. I have waited until now, adhering to the unspoken rule of thinking before I speak, to put forward my views on this matter, but I’m afraid my frustration has boiled over.

Lounge area at Inhabit queens park london with natural light filled interior and wooden crafted furniture

Image caption: When it opens later this year, Inhabit Queen’s Gardens will shelter a conscious design narrative, which is sustainable and innovative. | Image credit: Inhabit Hotel / Tim Evan Cook

“The truth is, I don’t care what words are use, so long as they are spoken or written with morality, understanding and meaning.” – Hamish Kilburn, Editor, Hotel Designs.

Having watched friends, colleagues, clients and brands blurt out the term without fully comprehending it, enough is enough. And they are not alone, nor do I blame them. Many people, quite understandably, assume (making an ‘ass’ out of ‘u’ and ‘me’ in the process) that the ‘S’ in ESG stands for ‘sustainability’, which voids the entire sentiment of using yet another acronym. Instead it stands for social; the social impacts of decisions.

In addition, admittedly fuelled by passion and good will, eco-warriors – of which I say with sensitivity as I put myself in the same category – unintentionally have amplified the stigma around sustainability that heavily suggests that if you’re not using the right terminology then you’re on the wrong side of history against the wider issue of climate change.

The truth is, I and many others who care deeper about the wider and devastating impacts of climate change, don’t care what words are use, so long as they are spoken or written with morality, understanding and meaning. I can get on board with ESG, but I do feel like there are other words that can be used that offer more clarity.

coastal bedroom designed using net zero principles and sutainable materials

Image caption: This month, Perkins&Will announced how it plans to go carbon neutral on its projects by 2030. | Image credit: Perkins&Will

I also fear that the industry’s strive to say the right thing, instead of trying to do everything we can to live and work more consciously, will camouflage those who are proposing and delivering very good and innovative work behind the scenes, which is where the attention should really be focused on. This month, we shone the spotlight on several of these, including Perkins&Will’s mission to become Net Zero by 2030, Harrison Spinks’ on-going journey to become carbon-neutral by 2023 and two hotels that, when they open, will seriously disrupt and challenge the current hospitality landscape. In just a few weeks, I will have the pleasure of joining industry legends from Interior Design Matters on stage at the Surface Design Show to discuss the significance of sustainability and why we all should act now to become better working citizens.

As we leave January behind – having explored hotel openings and smart tech – we move into investigating our upcoming features; surface design and lighting. 2022 is well and truly underway, folks and, during the next 11 months, I hope you will see how our committed team will discover the unsung heroes when finding those around us who are showing original and conscious concepts that will better people.

If hotel designers, architects, hoteliers and brands developed themselves while being conscious to those around them as well as the environment they are in, then the hospitality and hotel design landscape, on a global level, would be a much cleaner and greener place to sleep, work, play and eat.

Consciously yours (always),

Editor, Hotel Designs

Meet Up London 2022

MEET UP London: Early bird promotion ends this Friday!

 730 565 Pauline Brettell
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MEET UP London: Early bird promotion ends this Friday!

A short sharp shout-out for our early bird promotion which runs until 17:00 on Friday (yes, that’s tomorrow!) for you to claim your early bird tickets to Hotel Designs‘ Q1 networking event, MEET UP London…

Meet Up London 2022

Where: MEET UP London is taking place in the Minotti London showroom on March 24 2022, so not only will you get to meet and network with professionals across the disciplines in the hospitality design industry, but you will be doing it in an inspiring space.

What: MEET UP London is a networking event, designed specifically to bridge the gap between designers, architects, hoteliers, developers and suppliers. This next MEET UP will be themed ‘inspiring creativity’.

Why: “If we have learned anything from the last few years, it is that hotel design and hospitality is fuelled extensively by human relationships,” said editor Hamish Kilburn who will return to the Minotti London to host MEET UP London. “If our recent face-to-face networking events, including The Brit List Awards 2021, are anything to go by, designers, architects, hoteliers, developers and suppliers alike have a strong appetite for meaningful networking events. And with that qualitative research complete, we are once again ready to serve.”

The early bird promo runs until 17:00 on Friday 28 January – between now and then, tickets for designers, architects, hoteliers and developers are just £10 + VAT (inflating to £20 + VAT after early bird promo). For anyone else, they are just £99 + VAT (inflating to £150 + VAT after early bird promo).

Not wanting to make you panic, but…please note, there are limited tickets available for MEET UP London. Due to the demand for this event, we anticipate that tickets will sell out. To purchase tickets, click on either the supplier booking form tab or the Buyer booking form tab*.

* Only designers, architects, hoteliers and developers qualify as ‘buyers’.

Sponsors and partners

Main image credit: Hotel Designs

Sekers Grandeur fabric as dramatic full length curtains

Product watch: Sekers launches two new collections

 730 565 Pauline Brettell
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Product watch: Sekers launches two new collections

Sekers has launched two new fabric collections, Grandeur and Munro, both referencing the brands Scottish locale as inspiration in the sheer weaves and textured neutrals…

Sekers Grandeur fabric as dramatic full length curtains

Fabric brand Sekers has launched its first sustainable collection woven in Global Recycling Standard certified polyester, whilst continuing to meet the necessary contract market requirements. The Grandeur collection features a textured plain with a complementary wide width sheer, woven in a refined palette of sophisticated neutrals, cool greys, attractive pinks and soft, dusky blues.

sekers fabric glamis from grandeur collection

Image credit: Sekers

Grandeur is made up of two designs; Glamis and Kinnaird. Glamis is composed of 53 per cent recycled polyester and 47 per cent polyester, and ideally suits being used to make contract curtains, bedding and accessories. This design has an elegant, raised strié effect which gives a subtle striped appearance on the fabric. The use of Glamis can add a hint of personality when used in an interior space, as it adds a textural element to the room which will not go unnoticed. The supporting plain wide width sheer, is composed of 100 per cent recycled polyester, making this collection the ideal choice for the environmentally conscious designers specifying for the hospitality and leisure markets.

Sustainability aside, this washable collection also has a delicate hand and fluid drape, proving Grandeur to be an elegant addition to any hospitality or leisure interior.

Munro, inspired by Scotland’s towering mountains, glistening lochs and golden beaches, is a striking collection of five decorative, wide width sheers. The five designs in this collection all clearly directing us to the source of inspiration, are Dorain, Lomond, Macdui, Nevis and Wyvis.
Dorain is a dramatic net textile with intertwining yarns, giving this design a bold, noticeable appearance. Lomond is a dense weave with a subtle lustre, while Nevis draws inspiration from the rippling water of Loch Eil which reflects the mighty peak of Ben Nevis. The fourth design, Macdui, resembles the plateau of the mountain which is covered with granite gravel and boulder fields. Its delicate texture flaunts decorative floats which display an attractive ombré effect. Finally, Wyvis shows off an exaggerated strié effect which mimics the grand cliff edges.

Much like Scotland’s landscape, this collection will take your breath away. Munro is available in a refined palette inspired by the natural world with a great selection of greys, whites and blues. Munro is an elegant addition to any interior and the ideal choice for the designer specifying for the hospitality, leisure and marine (with the exception of Dorain and Lomond) markets.

Sekers 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: Sekers

Hotel Designs in conversation with Jean-Luc Naret for The Set Collection

Talking all things luxury hospitality with Jean-Luc Naret

 730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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Talking all things luxury hospitality with Jean-Luc Naret

Inside The Set Collection’s iconic London hotel, Hotel Café Royal, Editor Hamish Kilburn meets legendary hotelier and Executive Director Jean-Luc Naret to discuss hotel development, the definition of luxury and how (and why) the collection is expanding…

Hotel Designs in conversation with Jean-Luc Naret for The Set Collection

In the heart of London – straddled between the well-to-do neighbourhood of Mayfair and the exuberant quarters of Soho – sits the iconic Hotel Café Royal, which for many is the epitome of luxury hospitality with its bold, voguish design that meets the height of quality service.

“If only walls could talk,” I say to myself when walking through the paired-back, minimalist corridors being told tales of the building’s former existence, when it was, as the name suggests, a café. But not just any café in London. It was a place where the rich and famous were seen rubbing shoulders. Patrons include the likes of Mohamed Ali, Virginia Woolf, George Bernard Shaw, Mick Jagger, Elizabeth Taylor and Diana, Princess of Wales.

Hotel Designs Cafe Royal London Lobby

Image caption: The magnificent lobby inside Hotel Café Royal. | Image credit: Hotel Café Royal/The Set Collection

In 2008, the hotel closed for an extensive renovation, which was led by David Chipperfield Architects and Donald Insall Associates. The task was to transform the building into a thriving luxury hotel, while also being sensitive to the building’s long and storied heritage.

Hotel Café Royal emerged in 2012 from its building site to reveal a modern five-star hotel. The second hotel of what was then The Set, its sister hotels include the Conservatorium in Amsterdam and Hotel Lutetia in Paris.

A decade on from that spectacular opening party, I am back here, inside the Regent Suite that casts an unparalleled view over Piccadilly Circus, to meet Jean-Luc Naret, the Executive Director of The Set Collection, which is made up of a cluster of iconic hotels in spectacular locations.

Prior to starting his journey with The Set Collection, Naret took the global hospitality industry by storm. He was the Director General of the Michelin Guide and also managed luxury hotels worldwide, in destinations such a Mauritius, the Maldives, Barbados and also become CEO of La Réserve Hoetls & Spas, where he was at the helm of a collection of six hotels and five private residences.

His latest mission is to sensitively expand The Set Collection’s small cluster of award-winning luxury hotels, to welcome new members that speak the same design and hospitality language. “The Set Collection launched a few years ago during the pandemic,” he tells me. “We started with four properties in Europe (the original members, if you like). From there, we wanted to expand and that’s where our search for unique design-led hotels began.”

Hotel Designs Hotel Lutetia suite bedroom

Image caption: A bedroom inside a suite at the iconic Hotel Lutetia in Paris. | Image credit: The Set Collection

When it comes to selection process of which hotels will be sheltered under The Set Collection umbrella, Naret and his team are looking for properties that sit in a class all on their own and have a strong and meaningful sense-of-place, both in the design as well as hospitality. “We are not looking for more than one hotel per destination,” Naret explains. “We want to avoid our hotels feeling like they are competing against each other. Therefore, we are looking for a properties that are leading luxury hotels within their neighbourhoods. Each of the hotels that are already in the collection – Lutetia in Paris, the Conservatorium in Amsterdam, the Mamilla in Jerusalem and Hotel Café Royal in London – are based locally. Take this hotel, for example, you have one foot in Soho and one foot in Mayfair.”

The latest news is that The House Collective will be joining The Set Collection, which will add a further four properties to the mix. “Like our founding members in Europe and Israel, The House Collective’s properties have made an impact on their market and the luxury traveller’s collective consciousness that is far greater than their relatively small footprint would suggest,” Naret said in a press release that was issued a day before our meeting. “It is a privilege to work with these expert hoteliers, not only to offer them the myriad benefits that being a part of The Set Collection offers but also to learn and grow together in new and exciting markets during these unique times.”

QUICK-FIRE ROUND

Hamish Kilburn: So, you currently have properties in London, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Paris, Beijing, Chengdu, Jerusalem and Amsterdam… If you had to chose one destination answer where you choose to party, live and work?
Jean-Luc Naret: Party in Paris, live in Amsterdam and work in London

HK: Is there such thing as an unachievable guest demand? What’s the most outrageous one you have heard of?
JLN: No. A guest once requested 1,000 rose petals to be floating in an Olympic-size swimming pool

HK: What’s the last item that shows up on your credit card transactions?
JLN: Last night’s dinner with my team.

HK: Number one item you cannot travel without?
JLN: My phone. What would we do without them?

HK: Incredible food with a sleepless night or an incredible sleep with a standard F&B experience?
JLN: Food every time.

HK: Define luxury for you in 2022?
JLN: Luxury is defined by quality service, in my opinion.

Given Naret’s experience working on the operational and management corner of luxury hospitality, I am keen to understand where design, in his opinion, sits when it comes to the new era of luxury travel. “The hospitality businesses that set themselves aside from others, such as Club Med, One&Only, Rosewood and others, will create their own style that will be replicated by other brands,” he says. “Design plays a vital role. Ian Schräger is a fantastic example of someone who challenged what was then the conventional way of designing hospitality spaces. He poured his energy into the public spaces so that the guestrooms and suites were almost secondary, and that completely transformed the hotel market in the luxury sector. In the luxury business, we used to be – dare I say it – boring. Today, people like to do things differently, and have bold ideas for the future of luxury travellers.”

As we wrap up our morning meeting, and Naret prepares to leave for the airport to travel to The States for more meetings, and no-doubt interviews about The Set Collection, I am keen to understand where he sees the next big movement in luxury hotels and hospitality. “For me, I have been keeping an eye on the fashion industry’s launch into hospitality,” he says, “and that’s an interesting concept that I think will further change the landscape.”

Image caption: Fashion meets design. The dramatic courtyard at The Temple House. | Image credit: The Set Collection/The House Collective

Image caption: Fashion meets design. The dramatic courtyard at The Temple House. | Image credit: The Set Collection/The House Collective

Off the record, I am told that The Set Collection, currently with eight properties as members, is not planning on procrastinating, with Naret and his time moving towards the ambitious goal of having 25 – 30 hotels under its umbrella by 2023. Following the destruction the pandemic caused on the independent hospitality sector in particular, it is refreshing to see a brand that is working to celebrate the essence of luxury hospitality by collaborating with hotels that channel deep senses of place and purpose.

Main image credit: The Set Collection

pigeon post bar and eatery with design references to the buildings history

In pictures: Pigeon Post Bar & Eatery, Hilton Cologne

 730 565 Pauline Brettell
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In pictures: Pigeon Post Bar & Eatery, Hilton Cologne

Interior design studio THDP have taken inspiration from the history of the building housing Hilton Cologne to create The Pigeon Post Bar & Eatery, a new restaurant and bar that combines vintage style with modern hospitality…

pigeon post bar and eatery with design references to the buildings history

The Hilton Cologne is nestled in an amazing location in Cologne’s city heart, being a stone’s throw from the most visited attraction in the city, the Cologne Cathedral. The city is also known for its vibrant cultural scene, including numerous festivals such as Cologne Carnival, Cologne Lights, Cologne Pride, Art Cologne, IMM Cologne, Heinzels Winter Fairy-tale: Handbrotzeit and several food festivals, amongst many others. The hotel itself was once home to Cologne’s postal savings bank, a landmark building on the famous Marzellenstrasse. The building’s heritage is the inspiration behind the interior design of The Pigeon Post Bar & Eatery by the THDP design studio, which expresses this vintage vibe, while being considered and contemporary with some fun quirky details.

art and design details in the Pigeon Post reference the buildings post office past

Image credit: Hilton / THDP

The Hilton Cologne lobby, bar and social spaces were redesigned and re-furbished to accommodate a modern, innovative gastronomy concept, and the centrepiece of this, is the Pigeon Post, a combination of restaurant, bar and lounge and social working area. Its unusual name and amusing details are a clear reference to the buildings history as a post office in the early 1950s through to the late 1990s. Later, after a long vacancy, in 2002 it was finally gutted and converted into the Hilton Hotel.

seating area in pigeon post bar with display design detail referencing post office design

Image credit: Hilton / THDP

The Pigeon Post Bar & Eatery invites you to enjoy curated coffee specialties in the morning, after which it becomes the ‘Eatery’, with a separate entrance for external guests. At lunchtime and in the evening, there are à la carte dishes on the menu, while the bar shifts into cocktails and drinks mode from early evening . The optically chic restaurant and bar was built with a total of 110 seats, with a variety of furnishings and seating options which include intimately lit dining areas. A feature central bar dominates the space with a prominent overhead gantry in wood and copper colours. The table tops are in a faux marble, expressing the previous functionality of the building while updating the effect to offer a more intimate but contemporary vibe. Seating options are either at the bar on new Stellar Works bar stools, or in the custom made half moon cozy booths fabricated by Hagenauer, providing private dining in a more intimate space.

Curating the artwork and accessory package sprang from the narrative of the F&B concept, and part of this reference was the choice to reuse obsolete German 70’s office equipment and furnishings and to re-appropriate them in a relevant contemporary way. The overall effect was to convey a sense of heritage with a real 1970’s vibe. Vintage mechanical typewriters, light fittings and objet d’art were curated to give an aesthetic appeal and to be a curio or an ornamental talking point for Pigeon Post guests. With a lovely attention to detail, the typewriters, mounted in glass display cases, each have a love letter being typed. Post boxes and writing counters are positioned to invite guests to pick up a free postcard and write to a loved one or friend, and the hotel then posts them for free.

vintage typewriters become art works in the pigeon post bar & restaurant cologne

Image credit: Hilton / THDP

Artworks were inspired by the buildings history as a post office and represented using various mediums, including mixed media painting, stamp collages , ceramics, wood and digital prints created by local and international artists. Fun, colourful decorative objects, books and curiosities were incorporated for the dressing of the social working area Library. Artworks inspired by collages, typography recalling the graphics of old German post offices, with perching wooden pigeons, screening inspired by typewriter keys were all incorporated to layer the interior.

a curated collection on display in the post boxes at pigeon post bar & restaurant

Image credit: Hilton / THDP

The interior uses a simple earthy colour palette of blue greens, greys drizzled with mustard, and has a unique balance between industrial, vintage and modern styling.

As interior designers on this project, THDP were able to harness its trademark narrative based approach incorporating an inherent creative curiosity, while working closely with local manufacturers, artisans, and talented artists. This interior reflects an experiential guests focused approach which is evident in so many of the details running thought this design.

> Since you’re here, why not check the RG Naxos design project by THDP?

Main image credit: Hilton / THDP

Sonance sound system in the manor house lyndly event space

Case study: Sonance at Manor House Lindley

 730 565 Pauline Brettell
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Case study: Sonance at Manor House Lindley

When it comes to boutique style hospitality at this luxury hotel and wedding venue, this discreet, high performance audio installation by Sonance was really the only option…

Sonance sound system in the manor house lyndly event space

With a blend of high style, distinctive interior design and personal service, the privately owned Manor House Hotel aims to offer its guests the experience of luxury through the quality of its accommodation, communal areas and purpose designed wedding and events spaces. Located at Lindley near Huddersfield, the boutique hotel comprises eleven bedrooms, four individually themed bars and restaurants, a roof terrace and a gym. There is also a discreet wedding and events venue called the Coach House, a versatile space designed to accommodate up to 200 guests and complete with a private musical garden. Making time spent at the Manor House truly memorable, a service-first mentality conveys a strong sense of bespoke hospitality within a range of meticulously curated environments, all of which include the necessity for discreet high-performance audio in sympathy with their design. Installer Smart Synergy was challenged to create a discreet AV installation that made a beautifully boutique experience even more distinctive, and opting for Sonance would fulfil the brief at every level.

“Perfecting the sound at the Manor House was complicated somewhat by the fact that it’s a listed building,” explained Shaun Hawkins of installers Smart Synergy. “So we had to be super sensitive with the design, and not just with the way it looked; we also had to eliminate the transfer of sound from social to private spaces within older architecture. The brief demanded a level of sound quality and design you just can’t buy off the shelf.”

As a result of the detailed specifications, Sonance Pro Series speakers were perfect for the project. The Sonance Pro Series is a range of 70V/100V/8 ohm selectable In-Ceiling, Pendant and Surface Mount Speakers, designed to deliver high fidelity with extremely low distortion, wide dispersion and smooth power response. The range shares consistent voicing, ensuring seamless sonic integration when used together throughout a space. The Pro Series speakers are powered entirely by Sonance Sonamp digital amplifiers.

The outdoor space was as important as indoors, and these areas feature a mix of Sonance Mariner on-wall speakers and Son Array in-ground satellites and subs. AV distribution is through Wyrestorm’s Network HD 400 architecture and hotel security is supported by Dahua, involving five 4MP IP eyeball dome cameras and an eight channel NVR.

“There’s a growing desire for discreet high sound quality within the UK’s luxury hospitality sector,” said Hawkins.” This may come from the US where discriminating customers associate the quality of the venue with its ability to get the audio just right. The advantage for resi CI integrators is that their skill sets have developed to achieve this level of fine tuning.’’ He added: “The Manor House was Smart Synergy’s first boutique hotel install and something of a dream job. We knew the product and the support we’d get from Habitech, and we applied our skills and competences to relatively simple tech for a customer who understood the value of quality and wanted the very best.”

This meeting of the period interiors of The Manor House, with cutting edge technology facilitated by Habitech, along with the creativity of Sonance products which are designed to disappear rather than dominate a space, has created a bespoke sound solution that goes beyond the ordinary to transform a space and the events it is designed to accommodate through attention to detail at every level.

Since you’re here, why not read about how Sonance fitted out the audio inside The Hendrick’s Gin Palace?  

Habitech is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.

Main image credit: Habitech / Manor House Lindley

curio collection hotel in the heart of florence italy

Curio collection by Hilton to debut in the heart of Florence

 730 565 Pauline Brettell
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Curio collection by Hilton to debut in the heart of Florence

Hilton has announced plans to open Anglo American Hotel Florence, Curio Collection by Hilton in autumn 2022, following a full renovation. Here’s what we know…

curio collection hotel in the heart of florence italy

Anglo American Hotel Florence, Curio Collection by Hilton is less than 15 minutes by foot to renowned palaces, churches, and museums — all replete with Renaissance art, including the works of the great masters such as Giotto, Brunelleschi, Botticelli, and Michelangelo, and the beautiful architecture that Florence is famed for. Top nearby attractions include the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Piazza Duomo, the Uffizi Palace and Gallery, the Accademia Gallery, and the Ponte Vecchio, the beautiful bridge spanning the Arno river.

“Anglo American Hotel Florence is a stunning addition to Curio Collection by Hilton, joining almost 50 Curio Collection hotels trading or under development in Europe,” said Patrick Fitzgibbon, senior vice president, development, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Hilton. “Across the continent, we’re seeing growing owner interest in our Collection brands, which allow hotels to maintain an independent look and feel, while benefiting from Hilton’s commercial systems and global customer base. We look forward to welcoming guests in the historic centre of Florence.”

Following an agreement with Westmont Hospitality Group and funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management, L.P., the 115 guestroom hotel, located in the centre of Florence, a renowned UNESCO World Heritage Site, will undergo a full renovation prior to opening. The hotel will feature distinctly local offerings in a stunning setting, exemplifying the Curio Collection flair for authentic, curated experiences. A mere two blocks from the famous Arno River in a tranquil neighbourhood, the elegant hotel reflects the history and the charm of the city, complete with romantic Tuscan shutters and a sun-drenched interior courtyard typical of classic Italian villas.

“We are excited to strengthen further our relationship with Hilton following our highly successful collaborations both in Italy and around the world,” said Westmont Hospitality Group. “Originally built in 1792 as one of the first hotels in Florence that has also hosted Leo Tolstoy and Maria Callas among its former guests, the fully renovated Anglo American Hotel Florence will retain its historic and elegant grandeur while enjoying the added consistency and global recognition of the Curio Collection brand.”

The renovation will follow the parties’ commitment to ESG investment, with a particular focus on sustainability. The main emphasis will be on the restoration of the property in keeping with its architecture and history, and the restoration of original finishes and utilisation of existing materials will make up a key part of the sustainability strategy.

> Since you’re here, why not have a look at The Royal Senses Resort Curio Collection by Hilton?

 

Main image credit: Curio Collection by Hilton

Phono lighting by Chelsom

Product watch: Phono from Chelsom

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Product watch: Phono from Chelsom

As part of the EDITION 27 range, Phono presents table, floor and wall lighting options in an effortless balance of flawless product design with function…

Phono lighting by Chelsom

Since its launch in 2020, the Chelsom EDITION 27 range has been throwing a light onto an extensive and varied range of spaces, places and projects. The range was conceived as a diverse collection that covered an extensive array of lighting options and solutions.

When EDITION 27 first came under the spotlight, we identified some of the stand out designs in the range, and drew attention to the lighting spectrum and solutions included in it, from focussed bedside reading solutions to dramatic statement pieces. Since then, the range has become a firm fixture in designers lighting vocabulary.

More recently we saw the range take centre stage at HIX 2021 when Chelsom were finally able to present the range in person, displaying a selection of the EDITION 27 range on their stand, while showcasing the design trends, materials and finishes incorporated into the collection. Drawing on their vast experience in the industry, designers Will and Robert Chelsom have been able to create products that are wholly suited to the global hospitality and marine marketplaces, expertly fusing function and aesthetics throughout.

“In all my years working within the industry never has there been a more challenging yet exciting time to be designing lighting products,” said Robert Chelsom, Chairman at Chelsom.  “Triggered by fashion cycles, interior trends are moving increasingly faster and in doing so constantly stimulate new design directions when it comes to finishes and materials, which is something we have given careful consideration to. Edition 27 has been a fantastic collection to produce and it’s our most ground-breaking to date. Will and I are proud to be able to say that all product has been designed in- house to create this diverse lighting collection that truly caters for all levels of the hospitality and marine sectors.”

The Phono collection presents designers with a range of design and functionality options. The conical fabric shades fit seamlessly in to spun brushed brass cone holders and emit a beautiful warm light designed to enhance the ambience of any room. Table and floor lamps stand on heavy satin black cylindrical bases. The combination of fabric with the brushed brass provides a warm multi textured fitting with focussed ambient lighting.

Chelsom is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.

Main image credit: Chelsom

Kimpton Kitalay Samui-Villa Kitalay Master Bedroom

Kimpton Resorts arrives in South East Asia

 730 565 Pauline Brettell
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Kimpton Resorts arrives in South East Asia

Kimpton Kitalay Samui, the first resort in South East Asia for IHG Hotels & Resorts’ luxury boutique brand, has officially opened its doors. We take a look at its distinctive design showcasing its take on the Samui way of life…

Kimpton Kitalay Samui-Villa Kitalay Master Bedroom

Located on Choengmon Beach in the northeast of Koh Samui, Kimpton Kitalay Samui will be the island’s newest luxury beachfront resort. Tranquillity and privacy will be easy to find as the resort occupies a quiet cove along the pristine beach, far from the hustle and bustle of Chaweng. The resort’s name is derived from two Thai words: ‘kita’, which means ‘song’ or ‘singing’, and ‘lay’, which translates to ‘sea’ and encapsulates the spirit of the local community. ‘Kitalay’ is thus a joyous ode celebrating the song of the sea.

Kimpton Kitalay Samui view from above

Image credit: IHG/Kimpton Hotels & Resorts

“Koh Samui is renowned for its breath-taking beauty and village living, and this inspires the immersive guest experiences – our take on the return of Samui’s way of life, at the resort,” said Michael Janssen, General Manager, Kimpton Kitalay Samui. “We are also offering Kimpton’s signature perks including a nightly-hosted Social Hour, the brand’s industry-leading Kimpton Pets Programme, and an approachable luxury experience fuelled by a team who champions heartfelt, human connections.”

interior design with traditional thai elements in Kimpton Kitalay Samui

Image credit: IHG/Kimpton Hotels & Resorts

Standing on double-tiered, stilt-suspended platforms, the resort is an enchanting fusion of contemporary design and traditional accents. Local Thai design agency, P49 Deesign integrated rustic wooden elements from repurposed driftwood, nostalgic veranda-style features and timeless accents such as local artwork by Thai artisans. Earthy palettes and wave-inspired terrace furnishings lend a rustic character to the 138 guestrooms and pool villas, complemented by interwoven Thai basketry motifs on the bathroom floors and local artwork upon the walls.

Thai inspired design in guestroom at Kimpton Kitalay Samui

Image credit: IHG/Kimpton Hotels & Resorts

Within the rooms, handwoven ocean blue cotton robes are custom designed by local Samui tailors. An elevated bath experience in the oversized-bathtub awaits with the resort’s signature sea salt and patchouli-scented bath amenities by HARNN including bath bombs, bath salts and milk baths.

With connection and wellness top of mind, Pimãanda by HARNN is the perfect treatment for those seeking to restore balance, with its 14-step spa ritual, or its signature treatment, ‘Paradise of Wondrous Sea’. Apart from a 24-hour gym, guests can also enjoy a refreshing dip in the resort’s outdoor pool, or their own private pools located within the villas, or try Rue Sri Dad Ton, a Thai Hermit’s programme which teaches self-stretching and body manipulation poses that boosts energy and harmonises minds.

traditional woven lampshades in the Lanai Bar at Kimpton Kitalay Samui

Image credit: IHG/Kimpton Hotels & Resorts

First-class food and beverage programmes play a big part in Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants across the world. Kimpton Kitalay Samui is no exception and boasts five distinct and immersive dining venues. The Lanai offers guests a journey of discovery through finely curated coffees including Thai single origin coffee, artisanal teas and locally-produced spirits. Fish House is an elevated all-day beach house dining with its range of classic seafood flavours as well as innovative seafood bao buns or local-inspired spicy nam jim sauce. Guests can also look forward to lounging at SHADES Ocean Lounge and Pool Bar for refreshing poolside cocktails and beach events, dine at the Thai lifestyle café, Boho, or partake in freshly baked fun at HOM Baking Company with its extensive range of creative baked goods, confectionery, specialty teas and cold press juices.

The resort’s lifestyle programming which continues to be part of Kimpton’s DNA, delivers memorable experiences, starting with a morning kickstart experience to Kimpton’s Social Hour, where the brand’s vision to enable human connection comes to life as guests mingle with locals. Not forgetting the furry guests, Kimpton Kitalay Samui’s Pets Programme will delight with special amenities and treats, and even a pet spa experience.

nautical decor in the Kimpton Kitalay Samui Junio Kids Club

Image credit: IHG/Kimpton Hotels & Resorts

Inspired by the buzzing seaside port, Junio is the 500 square-metre, split-level Kids Club at Kimpton Kitalay Samui designed for interaction, creative play and active exploration, Little guests can learn new skills like tie-dye, coconut leave weaving or roll up their sleeves for a day tending to plants and growing their own sprouts at the resort’s Herbs Garden.

The brands debut in this tropical paradise is all about the warmth of human connection and sense of community which are woven into the fabric of an idyllic escape and intertwine into every aspect of the resort through references to the stories and culture of the island’s fishing village.

> Since you’re here, why not check out Kimpton Hotels Australia debut?

Main image credit: IHG/Kimpton Hotels & Resorts

GROHE bathroom featuring Allure brassware in Cool Sunrise

GROHE identifies sustainability and wellness trends

 730 565 Pauline Brettell
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GROHE identifies sustainability and wellness trends

Patrick Speck, Leader LIXIL Global Design (parent of the GROHE brand) shares insights straight from the design studio into the trends that will emerge in 2022 and inform the designs that shape our homes…

GROHE bathroom featuring Allure brassware in Cool Sunrise

As many of us continue to incorporate hybrid ways of working with spending more time at home, and perhaps, sharing more of it on our social media channels, new trends are emerging for 2022. The kitchen and bathroom are leading the way when it comes to creating spaces which are both functional and well designed. Considerations such as sustainability, self-care, wellness, and multi-functionality are all high on the agenda for the year ahead, while style features and design nuances continue to play an important factor in renovation decisions.

Patrick Speck, Leader LIXIL Global Design discusses the trends forecasted for the year ahead while identifying the key factors and influences informing these trends. As more consumers continue to live and work from home, technology and luxury will go hand in hand to create a seamless design experience. At the same time, individualisation continues to reign supreme with different choices of finishes, colours and remaining popular. Impacting on all of this, is the forecast that a sustainable home has become an important priority for consumers and therefore one that all leading brands and designers need to take note of and prioritise.

GROHE bathroom lifestyle shot featuring Grandera shower, tap and bath filler

Image credit: GROHE

Taking these trends straight into the bathroom, it seems some spa-inspired luxury right at home is on all of our wish and search lists. Living through a pandemic, coupled with seeing more of each other’s homes on Instagram Reels and TikTok hacks, means we’re all looking to invite more moments of indulgence and wellbeing into our homes. With searches for ‘freestanding bath’ and ‘slipper bath’ increasing by 228 per cent and 237 per cent respectively in the last year according to Houzz, it’s clear that creating a spa-like bathroom is an ideal first step to inviting luxury into our homes. Think calming scents, greenery and thoughtful design, to Japanese style toilets and step in spa showers at the top end of the scale. Wall-hung units and sanitaryware make for a more streamlined bathroom, ideal for smaller spaces, while metallic-finished brassware and soothing rainfall shower heads add a premium touch.

While relaxing showers, minimalist wet room designs and slim-line taps are growing in popularity, easily sustainable homes have also become a top consideration for us, with our impact on the planet being highlighted more than ever. GROHE continues to enable homeowners to live more sustainably without compromising on design or features, with product innovations which include cold-start taps to help save energy, and technology to reduce water flow across taps and showers without disrupting usage.

GROHE’s flagship Cradle-to-Cradle Certified and Level Gold product ranges have been designed to work towards a circular economy, meaning each component can be broken down and re-used endlessly in future products – helping homeowners’ shop with a conscious.

GROHE Eurosmart kitchen basin mixer with Cradle to Cradle certification

Image credit: GROHE

While we might be saving hundreds of pounds a year forgoing a shop-bought coffee on our morning commute, filtered water to keep refreshed and hydrated throughout the day is a luxury we can keep, without the guilt of buying bottled water. GROHE has also used innovate design to ensure that we don’t miss out on that office cooler convenience as the shift from office to home is clearly here to stay. Swapping the office water cooler for your local tap water may not initially scream sophistication, but with GROHE’s Blue Home water system, the brand is encouraging the reduced use of plastic water bottles while enjoying the most convenient of refreshments. The system, which acts as a filter for tap water, refines the taste as well as offering chilled still, semi-sparkling or sparkling water in an instance. Staying hydrated throughout the day, without compromising on quality, has never been easier.

While both the kitchen and bathroom have always been of utmost importance when it comes to cleanliness, living through a pandemic has perpetuated the need for easy cleaning, and with that the demand for premium, hygiene-focused products. With GROHE’s infra-red taps, people can wash their hands without the need to touch any surfaces; offering efficient cleaning for the hygiene-conscious as it reduces the chance of spreading germs, with added water saving capabilities too. Complete with an adjustable temperature limiter to help save energy and cut the risk of scalding and low-energy electronics, the infra-red solutions are the go-to for those opting for more sustainable choices in the home. Plus, their slim profiles and sleek profiles make them the perfect design feature for smaller bathrooms and cloakrooms.

With the number of people regularly working from home and spending more time indoors continues to increase, coupled with taking inspiration from the home renovation industry’s micro-influencers, individual tastes are expected to be seen aplenty this year, especially in the realm of colour trends. Greens and neutral colours are expected take centre stage in the kitchen to help create the perfect hybrid space, while searches for coloured bathrooms are on the rise too – expect to see black finishes, darker tones and textures being incorporated into the bathroom as it continues to transition from functional room to a space of self-care and wellbeing. Metallic finishes, industrial design features and innovative technology are also on track to be in high demand, with hygiene playing a major part in home decisions for the coming years.

With all these options on the rise, along with the use of technology coupled with a concern for our environment, 2022 looks like it is set to be an interesting one on the design front, full of wellness and sustainability, not to mention some interesting colours and surfaces shifting the traditional kitchen and bathroom palettes into more interesting design territory.

GROHE is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.

Main image credit: GROHE

Hotel Designs Ace Hotel Toronto modern guestroom

Exclusive first look inside Ace Hotel Toronto

 730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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Exclusive first look inside Ace Hotel Toronto

Opening this summer, Ace Hotel Toronto will be housed in a new building in Toronto’s Garment District designed by award-winning Toronto firm Shim-Sutcliffe Architects, in collaboration with Atelier Ace’s interior design team. Editor Hamish Kilburn shares what he knows about Ace’s first foray on the Canadian hospitality scene…

Hotel Designs Ace Hotel Toronto modern guestroom

The opening of the 124-key Ace Hotel Toronto this June will mark the brand’s debut property in Canada. The modern hotel, which has been developed in partnership with Zinc Developments and Alterra Group and designed by Toronto-based design firm Shim-Sutcliffe Architects in collaboration with Atelier Ace’s interior design team, will be housed in a new building in Toronto’s Garment District designed. “Our intention with Ace Hotel Toronto was to make a positive contribution to our city, a welcoming civic space where life happens and memories are made, and where both locals and their guests feel equally at home, Brigitte Shim from Shim-Sutcliffe Architects told Hotel Designs.

Guestroom inside Ace Hotel Toronto with wooden interiors and modern design scheme

Image credit: Ace Hotel Group

The new hotel also features dining from critically acclaimed chef Patrick Kriss, who helms the signature restaurant, Alder, and a yet-to-be-named rooftop bar and lounge debuting later this summer.

Ace Hotel Toronto is adjacent to Queen West, Chinatown, and the Downtown business core, blocks from famed music venues Horseshoe Tavern and Velvet Underground, from the Art Gallery of Ontario and TIFF Bell Lightbox — Toronto International Film Festival’s HQ, and from the Bentway, the city’s artistic, cultural, and recreational public space. The hotel reflects the city’s past through a prismatic and future-facing vantage — preserving its layered legacies and adding texture with considered design and feeling. Intentionally crafted as a civic space, the hotel stands both in homage to and in dialogue with the neighbourhood it inhabits.

“We’ve long admired Toronto, a free-thinking city and international cultural capital, and we are thrilled to open our first Canadian home here,” Brad Wilson, CEO, Ace Hotel Group said. “Ace Toronto is housed in a brand-new building inspired, both in design and ethos, by the electricity and independence of this remarkable place. Along with our brilliant collaborators, including Shim-Sutcliffe and Chef Patrick Kriss, we have created a site that reflects the city’s legacy as a global meeting ground and aims to actively share in its future. We look forward to opening our doors and welcoming everyone — locals and visitors alike.”

Entering Ace Hotel Toronto, guests will be greeted by a suspended lobby overlooking St. Andrew’s Playground Park — site of the city’s first patch of green devoted to children’s play. The hotel’s public spaces are defined by an honest and refined material palette of concrete, clay, copper and wood that is echoed throughout the hotel’s public spaces as well as the guest rooms. Site-specific furnishings and lighting were custom-designed by Atelier Ace and Shim-Sutcliffe Architects to bring tangible comfort to the building’s design, and playfully intermix with vintage furniture sourced locally in Toronto. Original artworks by primarily Torontonian artists will offer reflection and joy across the hotel.

The guestrooms, conceived as urban cabins to offer respite from the city, feature deep-set window benches that invite conversation and closeness, and grant sitters bird’s-eye views of the park below.

Widely regarded as one of the world’s top culinary talents, Chef Patrick Kriss holds the distinction of being awarded the title of “Outstanding Chef” by Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants consecutively from 2017-2020. Relaxed and inviting, Alder aims to be an all-day hangout for Toronto. “For Alder’s menu, we’ve been inspired by the use of earthen and tactile materials in the design of Ace Hotel Toronto,” explained Kriss. “In the same way, our offerings will be direct and elemental. Drawing on elements from the wood-fired grill, we envision a little more olive oil than butter; lightly-treated seasonal vegetables; a selection of crudos, handmade pastas, and charcoal- grilled seafood and meats.”

The restaurant’s keystone is its wood-fired hearth and grill, which offer the simple yet effective preparation methods of open flame and smoke to gently transform seasonal ingredients selected at their peak.

Ace Hotel Toronto will take the Ace into a new territory. The lifestyle hospitality brand also has properties in Seattle, Portland, New York, Palm Springs, Los Angeles, Pittsburgh, New Orleans, Chicago, Kyoto and Brooklyn. Following high anticipation, Ace Hotel Sydney is due to open next.

Main image credit: Ace Hotel Group

Marriott provides insight on 2022 hotel development

 730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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Marriott provides insight on 2022 hotel development

Marriott International, which added 86,000 gross rooms last year and 517 properties, provides Hotel Designs with the latest on its hotel development progress, while also indicating a few emerging travel trends that are currently shaping hospitality development. Editor Hamish Kilburn writes…

Following the lows of the pandemic, 2021 was a surprisingly good year for Marriott International and there was plenty to celebrate about, including opening its 70th hotel in Japan, opening its 100th JW Marriott property worldwide and agreeing the signings of three new hotels in Saudi Arabia.

At the end of 2021, the hotel group’s worldwide system consisted of nearly 8,000 properties and roughly 1.48 million rooms in 139 countries and territories. At year-end, the company had the largest global development pipeline, with roughly 485,000 rooms. The company signed 599 agreements during 2021 representing approximately 92,000 rooms of which slightly more than half are located outside of U.S. and Canada. Rooms falling out of the pipeline remain at historically low levels, despite challenges brought on by the pandemic. During 2021, Marriott added more than 86,000 rooms on a gross basis, growing the system 3.9 percent, including deletions of 2.1 per cent. The deletion rate was 1.2 per cent excluding the exit of 88 Service Properties Trust select service hotels.

“Marriott has the benefit of sitting at the intersection of information and insights from a global community of developers, properties, owners and franchisees, as well as the more than 160 million members of our Marriott Bonvoy travel program,” said Stephanie Linnartz, President, Marriott International. “Our analysis of the prevalent trends in global development is particularly instructive as we continue to recover from this global pandemic. We have been focused on working closely with our valued community of owners and franchisees throughout these unprecedented times. We are pleased with our strong 2021 development results and look forward to continuing to drive value for our owners and franchisees throughout the recovery and beyond with our quality brands, our comprehensive business support systems and industry leading loyalty platform.”

Luxury maintains momentum

Travellers crave leisure luxury travel experiences seeking iconic destinations and undiscovered locations. Marriott is poised to meet this demand with its unmatched portfolio of seven dynamic luxury brands across 476 hotels spanning 69 countries and territories.

In 2021, Marriott International signed 40 luxury hotel deals, representing more than 6,000 rooms, and grew its portfolio of luxury hotel rooms by 4.8 per cent net, with notable additions in prime locations around the globe including Philadelphia (W Hotels), Nashville (W Hotels), Charlotte (JW Marriott), Bermuda (St. Regis), Paris (Bulgari), Rome (W Hotels), Maldives (The Ritz-Carlton), Budapest (The Luxury Collection) and Reykjavik (EDITION).

Hotel Design of W Rome

Image caption: Lobby/lounge inside W Rome. | Image credit: W Hotels

The company continues to expand its luxury footprint and has by far the largest global pipeline of hotels in this important, high fee earning segment, with nearly 50,000 rooms. Marriott anticipates debuting more than 30 luxury hotels in 2022 in destinations from Mexico (The St. Regis Kanai Resort) and Portugal (W Algarve) to Australia (The Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne) and South Korea (JW Marriott Jeju Resort & Spa). Marriott’s industry leading luxury portfolio adds to the power of Marriott Bonvoy, giving members a tremendous choice of experiences around the globe.

The leisure boom continues booming

Leisure demand has led the travel recovery, a trend that is expected to continue into 2022, as travellers continue to embrace multi-purpose trips, mixing remote work and vacation time. Leisure transient global room nights were the first to recover to 2019 pre-pandemic levels in the second quarter of 2021. For some time prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, leisure travel had been growing at a faster pace than business travel, and according to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), all signs point to a continuation of the trend. Marriott’s industry leading resort network includes more than 600 properties in beach, mountain and desert locations around the world that have seen incredibly high demand and have demonstrated impressive average daily rates.

Contemporary public area inside a Marriott Hotel

Image credit: Marriott International

Consumer interest in the very high growth all-inclusive resort segment continues to increase. Marriott intends to therefore capitalise on its strong recent momentum in this area, leveraging its proven brands to drive additional growth in this important segment. Currently, Marriott International’s all-inclusive portfolio spans 28 properties, representing more than 8,000 rooms in locations across the Caribbean, Mexico and Central America. In 2021, Marriott International signed 22 agreements for all-inclusive resorts, marking a company record, including 20 all-inclusive resorts under its Autograph Collection Hotels brand and the first Marriott branded all-inclusive resort agreement in North Africa.

“Marriott’s all-inclusive platform is energising the segment and providing Marriott Bonvoy members, owners and franchisees access to our strong brands,” said Carlton Ervin, Global Development Officer, International, Marriott International. “While our initial all-inclusive growth has been focused in the Caribbean and Latin America, we see tremendous opportunity to expand our all-inclusive platform into additional markets, including the Mediterranean and the Middle East.”

Europe, Romania, Bucharest, The Marmorosch

Image caption: The Marmorosch Bucharest, Autograph Collection. | Image credit: Marriott International

The extended stay segment has always been attractive to leisure travellers and has become even more popular with the increase in remote work and the blending of business and leisure travel. Marriott International is the leader in the extended stay segment, setting the bar with the introduction of its Residence Inn brand almost 40 years ago. In 2021, extended stay accounted for 37 per cent of the company’s rooms signings in U.S. and Canada. Marriott Bonvoy’s extended stay brands – Element Hotels, Residence Inn by Marriott and TownePlace Suites by Marriott – include more than 1,400 hotels, offering stays from a few nights to a few weeks. Notable expected openings in 2022 include Element City Center Doha, Residence Inn by Marriott The Hague City Center and TownePlace Suites Cape Canaveral Cocoa Beach.

With growing consumer demand, Marriott’s extended stay portfolio offers modern design, signature programming​, new food and beverage offerings​, a flexible room mix for leisure and business​ travel and a proven operating model. At ALIS, Marriott will be showcasing Element Hotels, Residence Inn by Marriott and TownePlace Suites by Marriott through its ‘Longer Stay Lounge’, a space where investors, owners and operators can experience the latest in brand programming and designs while networking. The Longer Stay Lounge will present immersive brand vignettes that will allow visitors to learn about and experience each of the company’s longer stay brands.

Modern spa area inside the JW Marriott hotel

Image credit: JW Marriott

“The extended stay segment has been extremely resilient over the past few years and guest and owner demand continues to grow, driven in some measure by the rise in multi-purpose travel,” said Noah Silverman, Global Development Officer, U.S. & Canada, Marriott International. “We are excited for continued momentum around extended stay and to use our presence at ALIS to communicate the strength and possibilities of Marriott’s longer stay category and the impressive value it brings to owners.”

Conversions transform across the portfolio

Conversions are an important driver of rooms growth in any year, but they have been particularly meaningful during more disruptive times. Marriott provides a rich and flexible conversion platform with significant revenue synergies, cost saving opportunities and turnkey access to many of the programs and services that the company provides, including the company’s powerful Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program.

Marriott added more than 18,000 conversion rooms in 2021, accounting for 21 per cent of overall openings. In addition, conversions accounted for 27 per cent of rooms signings in 2021. Interest in conversions into Marriott brands remains high, led by the company’s robust portfolio of collection brands, including Autograph Collection Hotels, The Luxury Collection, and in particular the Tribute Portfolio, which has grown its footprint of open and pipeline hotels by nearly four times in the past five years. In addition, Delta Hotels by Marriott, the company’s flexible full-service conversion brand represented nine percent of signed conversion deals in 2021. Notable expected conversion additions in 2022 include the JW Marriott Hotel São Paulo in Brazil, The Brix, Autograph Collection in Trinidad and Tobago, The Serangoon House, Singapore, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel and a Delta Hotels by Marriott City Center Doha in Qatar.

Strong international growth poised to continue

In 2021, the company signed 256 agreements representing nearly 51,000 rooms in international locations outside the U.S. and Canada. With the company rapidly growing its international footprint, Marriott continues to enter new markets, offering travellers more exciting destinations. In 2021, the company expanded into Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Bermuda, Grenada, St. Lucia and Turks & Caicos. In 2022, the company expects to plant its flag in Albania and Honduras.

Luxury minimalist suite

Image credit: Ritz Carlton/Marriott Hotels

Development activity for well-established brands within the select service space remains another key driver of growth, especially internationally. Comprised of brands including Courtyard by Marriott, Fairfield by Marriott, Four Points by Sheraton, Aloft Hotels and Moxy Hotels, Marriott International’s select brands are increasingly resonating internationally. In 2021, the company opened 107 select service hotels representing nearly 19,000 rooms in 29 countries across its international regions. In China, select brands further expand consumer travel experiences and choices, bringing guests diversified experiences in emerging Chinese destinations. Notable expected openings in 2022 include Element Yangjiang Hailing Island and Moxy Suzhou City Center. In 2021, Fairfield by Marriott continued to make its mark in Japan with the “Michi-no-eki” project, bringing six more hotels to key locations across four prefectures in Japan. The company also launched its new Fairfield prototype in Europe and the Middle East.

Branded residential soars

Marriott’s branded residential business soared in 2021 as evolving lifestyle changes have sparked growing interest in on-demand amenities and services from brands people admire and trust. Marriott continues to lead the branded residential segment with nearly 190 projects open or in development worldwide across 14 of the company’s brands.

Marriott’s branded residential offerings include a standalone residence model with similar elevated services offered at the company’s hotel properties, but without a co-located hotel, which speaks to the power of Marriott’s brands to attract residential buyers in markets around the globe. In 2021, Marriott signed its first standalone residences for the EDITION brand in Miami and for the Autograph Collection Hotels brand in London. The company currently operates 14 standalone residences with 16 in the pipeline. Overall, the branded residential sector continues to grow rapidly internationally, with nearly 80 percent of Marriott’s upcoming projects located outside of the U.S. and Canada. The company expects to debut 14 residential projects in 2022 in destinations from New York City (The Ritz-Carlton Residences, New York, NoMad) and Algarve (W Residences Algarve) to Belgrade (The Residences at The St. Regis Belgrade).

Since you’re here…

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Main image credit: Marriott International

leaflike pink floral ceiling display at rozu restaurant

Case study: Leaflike takes flower power to a whole new level

 730 565 Pauline Brettell
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Case study: Leaflike takes flower power to a whole new level

With Leaflike’s comprehensive and inspiring collection of colourful flora from full blown blooms to a subtle statement moss, no stone is left unturned, and no surface is left unadorned…

leaflike pink floral ceiling display at rozu restaurant

Adding colour and greenery can transform a space and Leaflike can provide a creative solution for almost any space or surface with its statement floral designs. In today’s hospitality design marketplace, restaurants in particular need to stand out visually and provide clients with an experience that is not just about the food but involves all the senses, and of course, all the social media platforms. With clients frequently requesting an instagrammable installation, Leaflike was able to create three spectacular flower walls for three very different restaurants. Despite their differences all three customer requirements were similar; to provide a flower wall in the restaurant that is both photogenic and a statement that will encourage guests to click and like and share! With this in mind, Leaflike took on the brief and created these unique floral and lighting displays.

In Rozu Restaurant, the brief took shape in the form of a floral green wall in the entrance along with dramatic pink floral hangings across the ceiling of the restaurant. Unique in design and well placed for guests to see, the results are all focused on achieving the same desired outcome. Ensuring a floral feature creates a stunning finish inside the venue, showcasing vibrant and colourful wall art, adding atmosphere and ambiance that enhances the guests arrival experience.

Despite their differences all three customer requirements were similar; to provide a flower wall in the restaurant that is both photogenic and a statement that will encourage guests to click and like and share! With this in mind, Leaflike took on the brief to create unique floral and lighting displays.

Image credit: Leaflike

The restaurant Salam also features a floral green wall that greets the clients, and makes the perfect backdrop for a post dinner selfie with its lush tropical ferns and foliage and pops of bright colour that certainly don’t require a filter!

Close up of neon light in flowers

Image credit: Leaflike

The display at Esabella’s becomes a creative backdrop to the branding and signage and its more muted palette adds a note of floral sophistication.

“The transformation is wonderful to see when working with these venues,” said Brandon Abernethie, Head of Design at Leaflike. “To see each display unique to the customer with their colour and style and know we have achieved what the customer wanted, it’s great PR for them via Instagram!”

From moss walls and flower ceilings, to biophilic design and sustainable planting, Leaflike continue to enhance the client experience in hospitality design through the use of creative and design-lead planting and floral displays, .

Leaflike is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our recommended suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.

Main image credit: Leaflike

Minimalist bathroom - with Ideal Standard shower in corner

Product watch: New shower collections from Ideal Standard

 730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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Product watch: New shower collections from Ideal Standard

Ideal Standard, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of bathroom solutions, has expanded and redefined its showering range to help customers easily choose the perfect shower system and guarantee a premium showering experience day after day…

Minimalist bathroom - with Ideal Standard shower in corner

Following the launch of Intellimix, Ideal Standard has expanded its shower collection to enables designers and users to find their ideal combination of comfort, style and performance to complete their space – whether it’s an original design or a renovation of a family bathroom, wet room or en suite. Selected models are also available in a silk black finish, allowing customers to elevate any bathroom with a contemporary alternative to traditional chrome. 

All of Ideal Standard’s thermostatic shower systems are fitted with the brand’s pioneering Firmaflow Therm cartridge, allowing for precise temperature control while providing unrivalled durability and efficiency. Each model also comes with Cool Body technology, keeping surfaces cool to the touch to protect people from scalding. Meanwhile, integrated eco flow regulators help users to save water and energy without sacrificing the showering experience, and all components are smooth and easy to clean.  

The entire collection benefits from Ideal Standard’s selection of Idealrain shower heads, offering a personalised showering experience with a choice of spray modes – from invigorating to relaxing.  

The showering portfolio comprises three offers – Design, Comfort and Fresh – helping users to find their perfect solution, all of which are equipped with Ideal Standard’s innovative, German-engineered technologies that ensure optimum functionality, safety and durability. 

The deluxe showers of Design are characterised by flat surfaces, extra-large shower heads and quality metal handles, making them a statement piece for style-conscious customers. Included in the collection is the new Ceratherm S200, which features a forward-facing controls unit for easy access when adjusting temperature and flow, as well as an integrated shelf of safety glass, adding valuable extra storage space without compromising on aesthetics. 

Shower systems within Comfort have been designed with safety, durability and comfort in mind. Users have a choice of hard-wearing shower heads, and can easily flick between three different spray modes at the push of a button.  

 Fresh blends modern design and must-have technology, with small but important design touches adding extra flexibility and control, such as the raised button on the Ceratherm T25 to enable better grip. With both Comfort and Fresh, a shelf can be ordered separately to create extra storage in the bathroom.  

When it comes to installation, all products come pre-calibrated, with streamlined designs and common connections making set-up hassle-free. EasyMount height adjustable wall bracket fittings also ensure simple installation in almost any location, while Swivel Arm functionality lets installers easily adjust the angle of the shower arm. 

Ashley Smith, UK Product Manager for Brassware at Ideal Standard, said: “Everyone has their own distinct idea of the perfect shower – from temperature and pressure to position and spray mode, not to mention how it looks. We understand how personal it is, which is why we’re offering a different choice for every need with Design, Comfort and Fresh. With a range of styles and features, all backed up by faultless engineering, we’re confident our customers will be able to find the shower with the look and technology they’ll love – day in, day out.” 

Ideal Standard is one of Hotel Designs’ recommended suppliers. To keep up to date with their news, click here. And, if you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips by clicking here.

Main image credit: Ideal Standard

Raffles Boston Back Bay Hotel & Residences, The Secret Garden,

Raffles announces hotel openings expected in 2022

 730 565 Pauline Brettell
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Raffles announces hotel openings expected in 2022

Raffles Hotels & Resorts is continuing its global expansion with new openings in Boston, Macau and Jeddah slated for later this year. Here’s what we know…

Raffles Boston Back Bay Hotel & Residences, The Secret Garden,

Known for transforming landmark properties in storied destinations around the world, Raffles is adding a host of distinguished locations that will continue to set the standard in the luxury hospitality industry. Later this year, Raffles has announced that it will debut flagship locations in Boston, Jeddah and Macau, among others.

Raffles Boston Back Bay Hotel & Residences, Balcony overlooking the city

Image credit: Raffles Hotels & Resorts / Binyan Studios

Raffles Boston will be the brand’s first mixed-use North American venture, featuring both a hotel and private residences. Located in Boston’s prestigious Back Bay neighbourhood, just a block away from Copley Square, the 35-storey building will be a new landmark in Boston’s skyline, with 146 residences, 147 guestrooms, and six restaurant and bar venues, including a sky bar and speakeasy. The property will feature state-of-the-art facilities and amenities. The striking three-story sky lobby, the first of its kind in Boston, will be the centrepiece of the property, complete with a grand staircase spanning the 17th, 18th and 19th floors.

Raffles at Galaxy Macau will be situated within a stunning architectural landmark featuring a glass airbridge that connects the two towers on every floor. Each of the 450 suites draws inspiration from a modern palazzo, with curated artworks and some featuring private pools and gardens. Raffles at Galaxy Macau will be a spectacular addition to the Galaxy Macau, a world-class luxury integrated resort that offers an array of bespoke leisure activities, on-site entertainment and a specialty restaurant helmed by a multi-Michelin-starred Japanese chef.

dramatic glass and marble entrance and lobby to Raffles Hotel Jeddah

Image credit: Raffles Hotels & Resorts

Inspired by the rich history of Saudi Arabia and Jeddah’s old town architecture, Raffles Jeddah will have 181 guestrooms – including a spectacular wedding suite and penthouse suite with in-room entertainment – and 188 branded residences. Alongside six restaurants and lounges, there will be an extensive library, a 1,200 square metre spa with eight treatment rooms and a state-of-the-art fitness club. The hotel’s meeting facilities include a 1,500 square metre ballroom overlooking the corniche and 1,000 square metres of conference rooms.

Raffles Hotels & Resorts has an illustrious history with some of the most prestigious hotel addresses worldwide, starting as far back as 1887 with the original Raffles Singapore. With these properties set to open in 2022 the brand will continue its tradition of luxury in leading cities across the world.

> Since you’re here, why not have a look inside the first Raffles hotel in India?

Main image credit: Raffles Hotels & Resorts

Accor Hotel restaurant and bar design with natural materials and surfaces

Accor steps into boldly into 2022 with 25 new hotel signings

 730 565 Pauline Brettell
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Accor steps into boldly into 2022 with 25 new hotel signings

Accor ended 2021 on a high note with the signing of 25 hotels in northern Europe in December, bringing its total signings in the region to an impressive 89. We take a closer look at its plans and pipeline for the year ahead…

Accor Hotel restaurant and bar design with natural materials and surfaces

Last year saw a strong development across Accor’s Northern European region, which today consists of more than 1,100 hotels across a portfolio of more than 20 brands spanning 31 countries, from Ireland through to Russia.

“2021 was a phenomenal year for signings culminating in a strong year end across the region,” said Camil Yazbeck, Senior Vice President Development, Accor Northern Europe .”Accor has maintained its stronghold on the region with a 39 per cent branded hotel market share in signings. In 2020 development was resilient, in 2021 our signings returned to pre-pandemic levels. Development is future looking and our strong pipeline reflects our and our partners’ strong belief in market recovery.”

Accor hotel lobby in black and white with gold accents

Image credit: Accor

Within the UK, 2021 ended with 13 signings across all of Accor’s portfolio, and added more than 500 guestrooms to the group’s already strong London portfolio. The year closed with the signing of Hyde Paradox Hotel London City, which will be coming soon to the historic location by the Old Bailey in the heart of London. The 110 guestroom property will occupy the 15 Old Bailey, originally known as the Spiers & Pond Hotel. Built in 1874 by architect Evans Cronk and converted to office use in the early 1900’s, the latest re-conversion by Hyde London City owners OB Capital, seeks to return the asset back to the iconic hotel that it once was. This stylish property is expected to open in 2023. Hyde Hotels, Resorts & Residences is part of Ennismore, a joint venture with Accor, formed in 2021.

Accor Hotel guestroom detail with orange sofa

Image credit: Accor

Signings span Accor’s strong spectrum of brands, from economy to luxury, with notable growth in key brands such as the ibis brand family, with 27 signings across ibis, ibis budget and ibis Styles. Mercure saw an additional 15 signings across the leading midscale brand, including one Mercure Living longer-stay brand. Novotel signed a further 7 properties, including two Novotel Living brands, and the new economy and midscale conversion brands, greet and By Mercure, gathered momentum, with 10 signings across the two brands.

Germany, Poland, Russia and the Benelux continued to dominate the brand acquisitions, with strong signings in each region. Eastern Europe remains a strong pipeline for the group with multiple signings in countries including Albania, Croatia, Georgia, Hungary, Moldova, Montenegro and Romania.

Black freestanding bath in Accor Hotel guestroom

Image credit: Accor

Accor boasts an unrivalled portfolio of distinctive brands and has one of the industry’s most diverse hospitality ecosystems from luxury through to economy brands. Its growth moving into 2022 ensures it is set to retain its position on the lifestyle hospitality platform.

> Since you’re here, why not find out more about Accor Masai Mara, Kenya?

Main image credit: Accor

The Retreat inside The Londoner

How The Londoner created a new dialogue between design & wellness

 730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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How The Londoner created a new dialogue between design & wellness

Sitting majestically above Leicester Square, in its very own island site, The Londoner took the design and architecture community’s breath away when it opened in 2021. One year on, Editor Hamish Kilburn meets Rob Steul, the Creative Director of Edwardian Hotels to learn more about the unparalleled design and wellness narrative…

The Retreat inside The Londoner

It was one of the most ambitious architecture and hotel development projects that Leicester Square had ever seen. The plans for the world’s first ‘super boutique’ hotel, The Londoner, designed by Yabu Pushelberg, engineer experts at Arup Associates and artist Ian Monroe, reportedly cost £5 million and included 15-storeys of innovative design and architecture. 

Rob Steul, the Creative Director of Edwardian Hotels, was the puppet master – AKA architect – behind the magnificent and innovative performance. Due to urban planning height restrictions, Steul and his team proposed a 30-metre subterranean series of spaces on six levels, which created the deepest habitable basement in London and among the deepest in the world – a factor that presented a plethora of architectural, structural and engineering challenges for all involved.

As the hotel moves close to its one year anniversary – a milestone in itself considering the unpredictable landscape along with travel restrictions that the hotel opened within – Hotel Designs, in association with AXOR and Hansgrohe, caught up with Steul to understand how, as well as architecture, the hotel has reached new heights (or depths is perhaps more apt) in wellness and wellbeing.

Hansgrohe is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.

Main image credit: Hansgrohe

A modern bathroom with shower and glass screens overlooking skyline of city at night

6 smart bathroom technology products for 2022

 730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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6 smart bathroom technology products for 2022

With evolution of technology in the bathroom arguably out-running any other area of the hotel, Hotel Designs, in association with Plumb It, has identified six savvy and smart bathroom ideas that should be on the radar of all interior designers and architects…

A modern bathroom with shower and glass screens overlooking skyline of city at night

“Technology and water do not mix.” Never has a saying been more inaccurate than it is today when taking a glance at how smart hotel bathroom design is transforming. In fact, following the innovations that we launched at CES 2022, it’s safe to say that the bathroom is currently the epicentre of innovation, with tech influencing an evolution in function as well as form (and sustainable initiatives) in products such as toilets, showers, bathrooms, taps and even smart mirrors.

With new tech, though, comes confusion. This is why we, in partnership with Plumb It, have taken the time to identify six smart bathroom technologies that we believe have the power to challenge the conventional approach to bathroom design.

1) The shower toilet

Image of urban large bathroom

Image credit: Geberit

Although not an obvious nor new piece of technology, it’s remarkable to see how popular the shower toilet has become worldwide. Brands such as Geberit, Toto and Euro Bathrooms are providing a no-hassle, gentle and natural way to clean, which is far more sustainable. Geberit AquaClean products, for example, allow users to save more energy by individually adjusting the product settings, thus giving them the option to reduce their environmental impact even further. In standby mode (economy mode), all AquaClean models, which fulfil the European eco-design requirements (ErP directives), consume less than 0.5 watts of energy in total.

2) The spa bath

There was a lot of hype in Las Vegas earlier this month at CES 2022, where bathroom brand Kohler displayed its Infinity Experience Freestanding Bath, which comes complete with LED lighting effects, and relaxing fog that has been inspired by Japanese hot springs. Well, it seems Kohler is not alone in its predictions that the bathrooms of tomorrow will have an even stronger emphasis on experience. Two years ago, Toto launched its weightless bathing experience. More recently, the whirlpool and airpool system baths by Phoenix Bathrooms takes wellness to new levels by also using sensory design. The Ancona + System 3 luxury bath features underwater, fully rotating colour-kinetic LED lighting, variable three-speed airpool blowers that allow finite and customisable adjustment and an inline heater that maintains a consistent water temperature during bathing.

3) Smart eco showers

Hansgrohe EcoSmart handshower

Image credit: hansgrohe

A smart shower does not have to read you the news or play your favourite playlist while you are washing. For the sake of this editorial, smart means intuitive. The technology inside the hansgrohe EcoSmart happens behind the scenes. The showers and taps equipped with EcoSmart technology consume up to 60 per cent less water than conventional products. This not only means that you use less water, but also need less energy to heat the water – good news for the planet, and good news for your client’s pocket.

4) Mirrored art

The hotel design industry has seen the rise (and arguably the fall) of smart mirrors in the bathroom. When creating a tranquil space that encourages users to ‘switch off’, the idea of a smart TV becomes somewhat outdated. However, with the bathroom being predominantly a practical space, good lighting is an essential element. The Edison mirror by Origins Living, which comes in a variety of sizes, is more like atmospheric wall art than simply a reflective surface. Users can create their individual ambience with colour temperature control from warm to cool white lighting, adding texture and practicality to the bathroom experience.

5) Touchless demands

Even before 2020, prior to when the world become transfixed on hygienic solutions, touchless technology was a common element in public restrooms (in and outside the hotel arena). Since the pandemic, though, consumers’ demands for contactless has sky-rocketed – and brands such as Roca were prepared with resolutions. The Roca EM1 Flush Valve, for example, has been developed as a touchless option for either public or private bathrooms.

Thanks to an integrated infrared sensor, the flush button detects the movement of a hand and activates the flush automatically without contact, avoiding the spreading of viruses and the growth of bacteria. Roca’s EM1 mechanism allows you to choose between full and half flush volumes which can be easily adjusted to flush at 6/4, 4.5/3 or 4/2 litres, helping you to save your annual water usage with no electrical installation needed. It simply works on four AA batteries that provides more than 40,000 flushes.

6) Sustainable & durable baths

Crafted from Biolux, Ashton & Bentley has launched a freestanding bath that has been made from 100 per cent from an eco-friendly alternative to natural stone. The Biome Range is created for the eco-conscious and curated for harmony; a selection of modern classic freestanding baths and complementing countertop basins and freestanding washbasins. Roca’s designs are where engineering meets art – high impact visual statements of sculpted beauty created with Ashton & Bentley’s signature quality and craftsmanship. The gentle silhouettes and organic curves of the Biome Range connect contemporary ergonomic design with nature while nurturing sanctuary and wellbeing.

Plumb It is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.

Main image credit: Kohler

Render of Somewhere Else in The Bahamas, by Pharrell Williams and David Grutman

Pharrell Williams and David Grutman to open hotel in The Bahamas

 730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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Pharrell Williams and David Grutman to open hotel in The Bahamas

The 13-time Grammy rapper, songwriter and producer Pharrell Williams and nightclub entrepreneur David Grutman have announced that they will open a new lifestyle hotel in 2024. Set the be the creative duo’s largest hospitality project, Somewhere Else, will be located on a small island just off Nassau in The Bahamas. Editor Hamish Kilburn writes…

Render of Somewhere Else in The Bahamas, by Pharrell Williams and David Grutman

It’s not the first time celebrities have dipped their toe in the hospitality waters, with the likes of Hugh Jackman, Donatella Versace, Elizabeth Hurley and of course Robert De Niro among A-listers owning hotels. The recent addition to the list includes Pharrell Williams and David Grutman who in 2021 opened The Goodtime Hotel to rave reviews.

Less than a year later, the pair have tasked design and architecture studio Rockwell Group to bring to life their next hotel vision of a design-forward lifestyle hotel in The Bahamas.

“Throughout the resort, there will be a strong emphasis on indoor-outdoor flows with flush, freeform landscaping.”

The new hotel will be situated on Atlantis Paradise Island, in a building that has been, until now, referred to as The Beach – and was the island’s first hotel, originally designed by the late Morris Lapidus who was a leader of the vivacious ‘Miami-modern’ style.

The 400-key hotel, named Somewhere Else, is slated to open its doors in 2024 and will shelter multiple F&B outlets and  bungalows featuring recording studios. Throughout the resort, there will be a strong emphasis on indoor-outdoor flows with flush, freeform landscaping. Williams referred to the project as “tropical modernism” in a recent interview.

The design of the property will be led by Shawn Sullivan, Partner at Rockwell Group. The overall aesthetic will take inspiration from topography of the landscape. The latest renders show a water-coloured depiction of a flamingo pink-trimmed building. On the site, the hotel will feature cascading pools that draw the eye towards the sea and polychrome room concepts with flashes of colour, CNN reports.

Despite this project being Williams and Gutman’s largest and most complex development undertaking to date, the 13-time Grammy winner and the nightclub entrepreneur have previously completed two other hospitality ventures; Miami-based restaurant The Swan and The Goodtime Hotel.

Main render credit: Somewhere Else/Rockwell Group

The House Collective

Weekly digest: Eco hotel openings, tech updates & Vegas developments

 730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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Weekly digest: Eco hotel openings, tech updates & Vegas developments

Roll up, roll up! Editor Hamish Kilburn here with your weekly digest. If you’re drowning in work, hurtling towards deadlines or are unable to scour the net for design and hospitality news, then this is the only article you need to read about the latest hotel openings and news to be stay in the loop…

The House Collective

In this week’s digest, there’s a lot to cover – from technology hit and misses at CES 2022 to Regent Hotels’ debut property Vietnam, and even our feature that follows our cheeky trip to the Harrison Spinks farm. Having looked at the analytics, this month’s news is largely dominated by hotel openings, which come in all shapes, sizes and styles – and this week has been no exception with a number of sneak peeks garnering a lot of attention.

From all the headlines that we have published, here are the most significant.

How the design scene is embracing Net Zero initiatives

coastal bedroom designed using net zero principles and sutainable materials

Image credit: Perkins&Will

With Net Zero fast becoming the buzzword of 2022, along with conversations around sustainability and the importance of working towards a circular economy, and brands such as GROHE, Harrison Spinks and Room2 pledging to become Net Zero, design studio Perkins&Will has published a report which identifies the steps it is taking – and what other design studios could be doing – to create Net Zero projects by 2030.

Read more.

On the farm with Harrison Spinks

Image caption: Each interior design scheme has been themed to celebrate the locality of the farm, such as Fenton, my hut, which is a nod to RAF Church Fenton. | Image credit: Harrison Spinks

Image caption: Each interior design scheme has been themed to celebrate the locality of the farm, such as Fenton, my hut, which is a nod to RAF Church Fenton. | Image credit: Harrison Spinks

In the heart of the Yorkshire countryside – slap-bang between Leeds and York – editor Hamish Kilburn arrived on the 300-acre farm where the Harrison Spinks journey evolved into one that was centred around sustainable and innovative initiatives. From understanding the benefits of hemp to seeing how the bed manufacturer is keeping British manufacturing alive, Hotel Designs was given full access for 48 hours to understand why the bed and mattress manufacturer is commonly referred to as ‘the true bedmakers’.

Read more.

Hard Rock Hotels to transform the Las Vegas strip

guitar shaped hard rock hotel in las vegas

Image credit: Hard Rock Hotels

Hospitality and entertainment company Hard Rock International, has announced its agreement to acquire The Mirage Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas from MGM Resorts International. Having made history in 2019 with designing the first ever guitar-shaped hotel for its Florida expansion, Hard Rock is planning to add to its guitar collection by building  its second guitar-shaped hotel, this time on the famous Las Vegas Strip.

Read more.

The technology products that hit and missed at CES 2022

A stillness bath by Kohler

Image credit: Kohler

Quiet floors, a lack of international travellers and it all coming to close a day early due to the organisers facing pressures from travel restrictions and the Covid-19 crisis: is this really the same CES that dominated the world’s attention every January with the biggest tech show on earth? Well, the answer is ‘no’ but for good and healthy reasons for the hotel technology sector.

Read more.

Regent Hotels to arrive in Vietnam this spring

Regent Phu Quoc villa with swimming pool over looking the lagoon on long beach vietnam

Image credit: Regent Hotels & Resorts

IHG Hotels & Resorts will launch the first resort from its recently acquired, leading luxury brand, Regent Hotels & Resorts this Spring in South East Asia. Situated off the southwest coast of Vietnam, alongside a UNESCO-designated World Biosphere Reserve, Regent Phu Quoc will usher in a new era for this heritage brand, offering guests 176 spectacular suites and 126 spacious villas, set against the serene waterfront backdrop of Long Beach.

Read more.

Nordic Hotels to open Sommerro in Oslo this year

Scandic climate neutral hotel guestroom

Image credit: Scandic Hotels

Nordic Hotels & Resorts has announced that it is bringing one of Oslo’s most iconic buildings back to life as Sommerro – a new luxury hotel set to open its doors in September 2022.

Read more.

The Set Collection adds four new properties to portfolio

fireplace and lounge area in the Upper House in Hong Kong

Image credit: The House Collective

In an exciting marriage of East and West, this the first chapter in an organisation that looks set to disrupt the traditional models of what went before, while doing justice to the reputation and success of the iconic properties present at its start.

“I cannot think of a better group of hotels to be our first new members than The House Collective,” said Jean-Luc Naret, Executive Director of The Set Collection.

Read more.

And one for the January blues: Vibrant, story-telling hotel art for optimistic times

breaking boundaries by Frances Bildner

With coming out of lockdown and the latest omicron fears easing up, it’s time to look forward to some fresh outlooks. Frances Bildner of Frances Bildner Expressive Arts produces and sells dynamic artwork to hotels, other businesses and residences and is no stranger on Hotel Designs‘ radar. Her paintings often tell stories, albeit abstract ones, and enhance interior design schemes by injecting vitality to the environment. Her paintings, described by New York’s Village Voice as being “vital enough to convert even the most jaded of people”, bring life and colour to empty walls.

Read more.

Since you’re here…

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Main image credit: The House Collective

Regent Phu Quoc spa and treatment room

Regent Hotels to arrive in Vietnam this spring

 730 565 Pauline Brettell
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Regent Hotels to arrive in Vietnam this spring

Regent Phu Quoc, with design inspired by the tropical and tranquil surroundings in which it is set, is on track to combine the brand’s trademark luxury with Vietnamese heritage to create a unique and immersive destination resort…

Regent Phu Quoc spa and treatment room

IHG Hotels & Resorts will launch the first resort from its recently acquired, leading luxury brand, Regent Hotels & Resorts this Spring in South East Asia. Situated off the southwest coast of Vietnam, alongside a UNESCO-designated World Biosphere Reserve, Regent Phu Quoc will usher in a new era for this heritage brand, offering guests 176 spectacular suites and 126 spacious villas, set against the serene waterfront backdrop of Long Beach.

Regent Phu Quoc villa with swimming pool over looking the lagoon on long beach vietnam

Image credit: Regent Hotels & Resorts

Designed by BLINK Design Group who were inspired by the island’s tropical abundance and tranquil surrounding, the villas at Regent Phu Quoc showcase panoramic views of the translucent ocean and sky from their private infinity pools. The resort offers multiple accommodation options perfect for both couples and families, from one-bedroom havens to expansive seven-bedroom ultra-villas, including beach pool villas with direct access to the pristine white beach, sky pool villas situated high in the Sky Wing with breathtaking ocean views and lagoon pool villas which overlook the striking vista of the resort’s lagoons.

“Founded more than 50 years ago, Regent Hotels & Resorts changed the face of modern luxury with bold firsts, such as pioneering the private villa with pool concept which have since become luxury hotel standards,” said Juan Losada, General Manager, Regent Phu Quoc. “With the opening of Regent Phu Quoc, a truly visionary resort has been conceived which marries the calming, the imaginative and the extravagant. We look forward to setting new luxury benchmarks through exceptional Vietnamese hospitality and guest experiences which feel simultaneously luxurious and effortless.”

infinity pool at sky villa in Regent Phu Quoc Vietnam

Image credit: Regent Hotels & Resorts

With a design brief of Vietnamese heritage meets minimalist modernity, the resort’s architecture echoes and reflects the traditional Vietnamese vernacular, while its design maximises access to the environment with floor-to-ceiling glass windows framing enchanting ocean views, and inside spaces featuring decadent touches that hint at the tropical surroundings. Guests will be greeted by a modern interpretation of Vietnamese roofs, and a variation of the local traditional wooden truss structural system, known as the Bovi, has been developed into subtle patterns found on screens, carpets and accessories. Another local style, known as Gian Nha, comprising small courtyards within a traditional Vietnamese house, is the inspiration for the layouts in the villa designs. The boundaries of indoor and outdoor areas blur through intelligent zoning across the resort as a homage to Gian Nha, providing privacy within a luxurious setting in this evolution of a traditional way of living.

main swimming pool under a pagoda at Regent Phu Quoc

Image credit: Regent Hotels & Resorts

The Spa at Regent Phu Quoc will offer an innovative approach to wellness, with a curated schedule of contemporary and traditional treatments that go beyond the ordinary. Guests can experience a highly personalised wellness itinerary guided by the resident Holistic Wellness Coach. The resort’s holistic wellness programmes include Acoustic/Vibrational Therapy complemented by the Welnamis System, as well as Psammo Hot Sand Therapy on an exclusive quartz bed designed by Gharieni, one of the world’s leading spa manufacturers. In addition, guests can experience Biologique Recherche treatments, and the Pedi:Mani:Cure concept salon by renowned podiatrist Bastien Gonzalez. alongside all these treatments, the Health Club features a fitness centre, reset meditation studio and rooftop yoga pavilions to recharge and rejuvenate.

Adding to the sense of natural rejuvenation on offer, is the fact that nearly half of Phu Quoc island is a National Park. The northern part of the island is home to  kilometres of lush tropical forest which has been declared as a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, while the southern part of the island is popular for its pristine white sand beaches. With this impressive natural backdrop the resort has kept this as its focus, and maintained a sensitive approach to the design while introducing visitors to a range of immersive destination experiences that showcases all the rustic charm of an idyllic island life.

Main image credit: Regent Hotels & Resorts

Sommerro Hotel art deco designed guestroom

Nordic Hotels to open Sommerro in Oslo this year

 730 565 Pauline Brettell
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Nordic Hotels to open Sommerro in Oslo this year

Before one of Oslo’s most iconic art-deco buildings is restored back to life as new luxury hotel Sommerro, Hotel Designs get a sneak peak into the design that plans to ‘revolutionise’ the city’s hospitality landscape.  Pauline Brettell writes…

Sommerro Hotel art deco designed guestroom

Nordic Hotels & Resorts has announced that it is bringing one of Oslo’s most iconic buildings back to life as Sommerro – a new luxury hotel set to open its doors in September 2022.

With panoramic views of the Norwegian capital, Sommerro is housed in the former headquarters of Oslo Lysverker, the city’s original electrical company, and will be a modern tribute to Norwegian cultural heritage, with a strong focus on eco-conscious experiences. A community in its own right, the 231-key, art-deco hotel, complete with 56 branded residences, will shelter four restaurants and three bars, meeting and event spaces with capacity for up to 150 people, a 100-seat gilded theatre, a gym and wellness space, and the city’s first year-round rooftop pool, sauna, and terrace.

“Sommerro will be an open house for all where visitors and locals can work, sleep, eat, play and recharge.” – Jarle Moen, Managing Director of Sommerro.

“Our vision is to redefine Oslo’s hospitality landscape by creating a new kind of hotel built on Frogner’s classic and creative neighbourhood spirit,” said Jarle Moen, Managing Director of Sommerro. “Made by the local community, Sommerro will be an open house for all where visitors and locals can work, sleep, eat, play and recharge. Together, we are creating an inspiring space where kindred souls and culture-makers can gather in cosy corners or pop by for a range of experiences from intimate gatherings and work meetings to late-night movie screenings and wine tastings in our library.”

Drawing heavily from the building’s magnificent architectural details, Sommerro will pay homage to a fusion of neoclassical contemporary aesthetics with original elements that have been meticulously restored and developed by local firm LPO Architects in collaboration with New York and London based studio GrecoDeco. Notable art deco details include oak parquet flooring, bespoke furnishings upholstered with 1930s Norwegian motifs, and slick bathrooms with custom tiles. Original artwork by celebrated Norwegian artist Per Krohg is featured throughout the hotel, with unique pieces including a giant wall fresco and a ceiling mural that nods to the building’s heritage, highlighting life after the wonders of electricity.

The crown jewel of Sommerro’s social spaces is its year-round rooftop terrace, home to the contemporary restaurant Tak Oslo. The hotel will also offer Lysverker Scene, an alluring 100-seat gilded theatre that will host intimate events open to the public. Vestkantbadet, one of the few public baths left in all of Norway, has been brought back to its former glory and expanded into an 740-square-metre underground wellness paradise – the largest of any city hotel across the Nordic countries. Open to hotel guests and the public, the wellness space will include a series of treatment rooms, restored Roman baths, a gym with an infrared sauna, and cold plunge pool offering a traditional Nordic thermotherapy experience, all with soothing, eco-friendly spa products.

Sommerro spa and plunge pool with art deco design details

Image credit: Sommerro Hotel

Expected to become one of Oslo’s most coveted culinary destinations, the hotel will feature four restaurants, including outposts from local favourites Barramon, a Spanish tapas and wine bar, and Plah, one of the city’s most popular restaurants that features elevated cuisine by Norway’s ‘Best Thai Chef’ Terje Ommundsen. Ekspedisjonshallen, an all-day dining spot located in the former hall where the public once paid their electricity bills, will come to life with regular DJ performances accompanied with brasserie-style cuisine, and the hotel’s central sunken floor will be converted into a lively bar overlooked by the vast Per Krohg wall mural.

Adjacent to Ekspedisjonshallen will be To Søstre, an elegant home for mimosa-fuelled afternoon teas served on decadent cake trolleys and accompanied by regular classical concerts. The sky is the limit on the hotel’s seventh floor at Tak Oslo, a Nordic-Japanese restaurant by award-winning Swedish chef Frida Ronge, where guests can experience hyper-local, seasonal dishes using sustainable Norwegian produce and seafood.

The hotel will invite groups of 12 to 150 people to gather within its dynamic range of meeting and event spaces, which include Sommerrostuene, a collection of four laidback and playful rooms; Salongen, a relaxed interchangeable room; Storstua, a break-out area serving grab and go lunches; Biblioteket, a snug book-filled library layered with whimsical Nordic touches; and Kinoen, an intimate screening room. On the Heritage floor, eight historical rooms outfitted with top technology and again adorned with original ceiling murals from Per Krohg, will also be available to rent.

As the most recent independent venture by Nordic Hotels & Resorts, Sommerro will uphold and enhance the group’s commitment to eco-sustainability through a variety of meaningful on-property practices and amenities, from what dishes are served at each restaurant to the materials used to design and construct the guestrooms and property as a whole. A year-round destination with sweeping views over the Norwegian capital, visitors of Sommerro can explore the local neighbourhood of Frogner while enjoying the curated guest experiences brought to life in this historic building full of inspiring design, and great storytelling.

Main image credit: Nordic Hotels & Resorts

Roca bathroom products specified in Roomzzz aparthotel bathrooms

Case study: How Roca elevated wellness for Roomzzz

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Case study: How Roca elevated wellness for Roomzzz

Global bathroom manufacturer Roca has been selected to provide contemporary bathroom solutions for Roomzzz Aparthotels in a number of premium locations across the country…

Roca bathroom products specified in Roomzzz aparthotel bathrooms

The stylish aparthotel group, Roomzzz, a pioneer in the flexible accommodation trend, offers guests flexible serviced apartments with all the comforts of home within a city living apartment. Situated in ten city locations across the UK, Roomzzz has a service lead approach and a home away from home experience with spacious apartments kitted out with all the mod-cons of everyday living. All of which provide city escapes with more comfort and space than the average hotel room, and more safety and service than usually found in serviced apartments.

In keeping with the brand’s sleek contemporary and sophisticated design, a stylish yet functional bathroom solution from Roca was chosen for the bathroom solutions in  Manchester Corn Exchange, York City and Newcastle City.

“We are delighted to have been selected for a number of locations for the bathrooms at Roomzzz Aparthotels,” said Robert Longstaff, Residential Specification Manager for Roca. “We are very pleased with the end result which offers a stylish and functional bathroom solution for these fantastic apartments which seamlessly integrate with the surroundings of each individual aparthotel city location.”

Roomzzz specified the popular The Gap range to provide a clean and contemporary bathroom space. The Gap range is a versatile collection that enables users to optimise the design and look of any bathroom space. Created by renowned industrial designer Antonio Bullo, the designs showcase modern and stylish lines whilst delivering both a compact and functional bathroom collection. It is also ideal for large scale commercial projects such as this, as it is made from Vitreous china, a material that is easy to clean and extremely hygienic. The Gap’s wide range enables optimisation of any bathroom space and design, making it a long-term and intelligent choice.

Roca Group’s extensive range of bathroom products and iconic collections made the global manufacturer the ideal choice to provide sanitaryware that not only provides functionally, but also a high-quality finish to compliment the sophisticated and contemporary style of the Roomzzz Aparthotels across the country.

Roca is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.

Main image credit: Roca

Scandic climate neutral hotel guestroom

Scandic to open climate-neutral hotel in 2024

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Scandic to open climate-neutral hotel in 2024

Sweden’s Scandic Hotels puts sustainability high on the agenda as it is set to go climate neutral in its latest development. Here’s what we know about the plans for Scandic Sundsvall Central…

Scandic climate neutral hotel guestroom

Scandic Hotels has signed a long-term lease agreement with Skanska for a new 210-key hotel in downtown Sundsvall. The new hotel, located in the city’s harbour area and slated to open in 2024, will be built of wood giving it a very high environmental standard. The hotel will be called Scandic Sundsvall Central and will be ideally located next to Sundsvall’s harbour and railway station.

exterior of proposed new scandic climate neutral hotel

Image credit: Scandic Hotels

“We’ve been developing the hotel together with Skanska for the past two years and naturally, it feels extremely positive to be further strengthening our hotel offering in the city,” said Peter Jangbratt, Head of Scandic Hotels Sweden.

Along with the proposed guestrooms, it will have a restaurant and bar area on the ground floor. One floor up, guests will be able to enjoy the hotel’s spa and wellness facilities, gym and meeting rooms while taking in the spectacular view of the Bothnian Sea. The building’s frame, facade and interior will all be made of wood, meeting the requirements for the high-ranking environmental certification, LEED Gold. With its choice of energy-efficient materials and solar panels on the roof, the new hotel will maintain a very high energy standard and be 100 per cent climate-neutral during its lifetime.

“It is gratifying to now have Scandic as a tenant – a company that shares our values in terms of sustainability and with which we have worked closely in other projects,” added Joakim Åkesson, Regional Manager at Skanska Sverige.

Adding to its existing portfolio of two hotels in Sundsvall, this new addition to the Scandic family will be a modern and attractive meeting place ideally located in an exciting area where the brand has identified a growing demand for hotel accommodations.

Main image credit: Scandic Hotels

The House Collective the atrium in the opposite house beijing

The Set Collection adds four new properties to portfolio

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The Set Collection adds four new properties to portfolio

The House Collective, one of Asia’s most lauded luxury hospitality brands, is joining forces with London based curated hotel portfolio, The Set Collection. Its four distinctive properties will be joining forces with the four founding member hotels of The Set Collection to double the numbers…

The House Collective the atrium in the opposite house beijing

In an exciting marriage of East and West, this the first chapter in an organisation that looks set to disrupt the traditional models of what went before, while doing justice to the reputation and success of the iconic properties present at its start.

“I cannot think of a better group of hotels to be our first new members than The House Collective,” said Jean-Luc Naret, Executive Director of The Set Collection. “Like our founding members in Europe and Israel, The House Collective’s properties have made an impact on their market and the luxury traveller’s collective consciousness that is far greater than their relatively small footprint would suggest. It is a privilege to work with these expert hoteliers, not only to offer them the myriad benefits that being a part of The Set Collection offers but also to learn and grow together in new and exciting markets during these unique times.”

statement chandelier in entrance to The Middle House in Shanghai

Image credit: The House Collective

One of the tenets of The Set Collection is to work only with exceptional and like-minded organisations that truly embody the spirit of their locations, a determination that is exemplified in its properties in four of the world’s great cities; Amsterdam, London, Paris and Jerusalem. Those hotels harness the artistry, combined talent, skills, expertise and flair of their teams to create inspiring environments and individual experiences that feel beautifully composed and the four hotels of The House Collective are similarly uniquely imagined to reflect the soul and aesthetics of their locales.
Whether in the neon cityscape of Hong Kong and London’s vibrant thoroughfares, the fashionable streets in Shanghai and Paris’ majestic boulevards, Beijing’s thriving art scene and Amsterdam’s museums or Chengdu’s monumental past and Jerusalem’s unparalleled history – the hotels of The House Collective and The Set Collection’s could not be better matched.

fireplace and lounge area in the Upper House in Hong Kong

Image credit: The House Collective

The Set Collection has positioned itself as a new luxury brand representation company of like-minded independent hotels, run by hoteliers for hoteliers. It has been designed for owners, investors and management teams seeking an alternative to the traditional representation and distribution service. With an agile and flexible business model, The Set Collection provides a tailored solution to supply only the services that hoteliers need, designed to adapt quickly to continually evolving markets conditions and business needs of its member hotels whilst providing a competitive fee structure. Under The Set Collection, owners and management teams retain their hotel brand and identity alongside the day-to-day running of their property, whilst taking advantage of tailored services to support their operation and existing teams.

the hotels that make up The House Collective portfolio

Image credit: The House Collective

The House Collective by Swire Hotels is a group of highly individual properties that defy comparison. Each uniquely imagined, The Opposite House in Beijing, The Upper House in Hong Kong, The Temple House in Chengdu and The Middle House in Shanghai were designed to create a different, intimate and personalised experience in luxury travel. Each House is a sophisticated, singular piece of design, created by talented architects and designers, that reflect the unique qualities of their surroundings.

“We believe this exciting partnership will further elevate The House Collective reputation in the ultra-luxury hospitality space and help our brands stand out and appeal to the growing number of luxury consumers outside of Asia,” said Dean Winter, Managing Director for Swire Hotels.

The Set Collection is building a portfolio of non-competing hotels whilst providing a platform that will encourage them to work together to achieve their business objectives, and the addition of The House Collective can be seen as an important milestone in this development.

Main image credit: The House Collective

Modern bathroom with high ceilings

Elegance in the bathroom becomes wellness

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Elegance in the bathroom becomes wellness

Gessi believes there is more charm in the bathroom in perfect simplicity than in fussy, overdone design. A touch of elegance can make life easier and much more beautiful, enriching daily life and contributing to enhanced wellness. Eleganza speaks this language…

Modern bathroom with high ceilings

Bathroom brand Gessi has long been respected for its ability to embrace the essential need for beauty and style in everyday living. It’s collections, such as Venti20, Inciso and even the Hi-Fi all reflect this ethos. The latest range to add to this mix is Eleganza, a totally new bathroom collection with refined architectural lines and cleverly conceived function.

A balanced blend of good taste and distinct design, care for substance and meticulous attention to every detail, Eleganza speaks a classy yet contemporary language, which makes the collection fresh and urban rather than retro.

Its classical harmony, reinterpreted in the signature minimalism of Gessi, creates a ‘modern-traditional’ design with insightful aesthetics, and a timeless elegance that transcends styles. Eleganza can be set gracefully in traditional or contemporary interiors.

As with all the Gessi Collections, Eleganza encompasses a large matching set of bathroom fittings, from faucets to accessories, from sinks and tubs to fixtures, all of which preserve the sculptural shapes of Eleganza for a complete Gessi Signature Bathroom.

Refined details characterise each element of the collection, with sophisticated and fresh finishes that stretch far beyond chrome, brushed chrome and gold to add to the personalisation of everyone’s private spaces.

Gessi is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our recommended suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.

Main image credit: Gessi

NOBU Santorini and a birds eye view of swimming pool

Nobu to arrive in Santorini this spring

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Nobu to arrive in Santorini this spring

Nobu Hospitality, the global lifestyle brand founded by Nobu Matsuhisa, Robert De Niro, and Meir Teper, has just announced that its first hotel and restaurant in Greece, the Nobu Hotel and Restaurant Santorini, is scheduled to open in spring 2022. Here’s what we know…

NOBU Santorini and a birds eye view of swimming pool

Situated on the island’s captivating northeast coast, the boutique hotel houses a signature Nobu Restaurant, full-service spa, fitness facility, dual-level infinity pool, and five luxurious pool villas, and offers panoramic views of both the Caldera and Aegean Sea from its unique clifftop location in Imerovigli. Just a short drive to the charming coastal town of Oia and within striking distance of Santorini International Airport, the hotel is well-positioned along the famed Oia-Fira hiking trail that runs between Oia and Fira, Santorini’s cosmopolitan capital.

view of Nobu Santorini looking across pool and out to sea

Image credit: Nobu Hospitality

Nobu Hospitality has entered a long-term management agreement with MonteRock International (MRI), a group with over 25 years of experience in a variety of core industries including hospitality, media, food & beverage, real estate, banking, and industrial technology.

“We are really proud of the rock-solid collaboration we are having with Nobu brand throughout the years, and we are now more than delighted to expand together in the hospitality industry,” said Alfredo Longo, Chief Executive Officer MonteRock International. “In this incredible canvas such as the Island of Santorini, the finest of what Nobu lifestyle and cuisine have to offer would be served in a picture-perfect setting, catering to every need at the highest standards.”

Nobu hotel Santorini at sunset

Image credit: Nobu Hospitality

“We are very excited to be coming to Santorini and to work with the local community on this exciting project,” said Trevor Horwell, Chief Executive Officer Nobu Hospitality. “Santorini is one of the most highly regarded destinations in the world with its rare beauty, famed for its distinctive cuisine, whitewashed architecture set with a backdrop of steep cliffs, and dramatic sunsets lighting the sea and sky. We look forward to inviting locals and international travellers alike to experience the Nobu lifestyle in this special destination.”

Adding to Nobu Hospitality’s European portfolio, the launch of Nobu Hotel and Restaurant Santorini marks the 26th hotel around the world and tenth in Europe. Nobu Hotels are also in development for Marrakech, Rome, Riyadh, Atlanta, Toronto, Atlantic City, New Orleans, San Sebastián, São Paulo, Tel Aviv, Thailand, Hamburg, and Al Khobar, as the brand is strategically focused on further expanding its global portfolio of hotels through a solid pipeline.

> Since you’re here, why not read about Nobu Hotel’s plans for Saudi Arabia?

Main image credit: Nobu Hospitality

Urbancrete from Parkside

Urbancrete by Parkside: An exploration of colour & form

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Urbancrete by Parkside: An exploration of colour & form

Urbancrete is the latest tile collection from Parkside Architectural Tiles, with concrete and stone effects in multiple formats and geometric shapes to create a unique look…

Urbancrete from Parkside

Featuring comfort, a brand-new finish that combines the luxurious feel of a matt surface with R10 anti-slip performance, Urbancrete by Parkside Architectural tiles is a porcelain tile collection designed to excel in commercial environments demanding high-quality aesthetics with the durability and easy maintenance of tiles.

The collection is centred on two basic surfaces that can be used to create multiple combinations – a concrete effect with an urban aesthetic and an original marble design – in standard formats, mosaics and geometric shapes to give specifiers the opportunity to explore combinations in effect, colour and shape. With options for floor and wall, internal and external use and a range of special pieces, Urbancrete can be used to deliver a unique look across a wide range of project types.

Urbancrete is available in comfort, grip (R11) and glossy finishes, and meets all the performance requirements for tiles in indoor environments in 6mm and 10mm specifications, making it suitable in everywhere from hotels to retail, commercial offices and public spaces. In its frost-resistant 20mm outdoor variant, Urbancrete achieves 36+ wet performance under BS 7976 (pendulum slider test).

Made by Florim, a Certified B Corporation, Urbancrete features a minimum 20 per cent recycled content in accordance with the Parkside and Strata Tiles commitment to sustainability. For all new tile collections, Parkside and Strata Tiles have pledged to include ranges with a minimum 20 per cent recycled content. This pledge comes alongside the 40 for 40 partnership with the World Land Trust and a goal set to be Carbon Balanced by the end of the year.

> Since you’re here, why not read more about Parkside’s zero-waste tile?

Parkside is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.

Main image credit: Parkside

breaking boundaries by Frances Bildner

January blues: Vibrant, story-telling hotel art for optimistic times

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January blues: Vibrant, story-telling hotel art for optimistic times

Artist Frances Bildner of Frances Bildner Expressive Arts believes she has the answer to all hotels wanting to add personality into their spaces in the form of vibrant hotel art…

breaking boundaries by Frances Bildner

With coming out of lockdown and the latest omicron fears easing up, it’s time to look forward to some fresh outlooks. Frances Bildner of Frances Bildner Expressive Arts produces and sells dynamic artwork to hotels, other businesses and residences and is no stranger on Hotel Designs‘ radar. Her paintings often tell stories, albeit abstract ones, and enhance interior design schemes by injecting vitality to the environment. Her paintings, described by New York’s Village Voice as being “vital enough to convert even the most jaded of people”, bring life and colour to empty walls.

Bildner’s paintings entitled ‘Let’s Slow Down the World’ and ‘Breaking Boundaries’ are examples of the thoughts that have inspired her. The various cities she has lived in, such as Buenos aires, New York and London have also influenced her in their vibrancy, pace and colour. From her own imagination coupled with her environments, we see emerging bursts of colour, gesture and movement that cover the canvases.

“Environments need fresh and original art, not watered down prints that blend into walls.” – Frances Bildner, artist.

She has recently sold a group original paintings to a large, multinational construction firm in the United States and another group of work to Law Offices in the United States. As well as America, she has sold some work to private clients in London and is contacting hotels and offices continually.

“Hotels that value art make for beautiful surroundings.” – Frances Bildner, artist.

“Environments need fresh and original art, not watered down prints that blend into walls,” she tells Hotel Designs. “Hospitals, for example, should increase the hallways with bold art instead of grey morbid walls that cannot have a good effect on the patients. And it’s the same with hotels, guests want to feel uplifted, especially in public spaces. Ikea prints and cheap anonymous photographs do nothing to encourage a viable workspace or lobby. It can be truly soul destroying to look at the same anodyne images on the wall. Surely this is not good for anyone.”

Art hotels are the most original, fun and exciting places to visit. Their walls and stands are teeming with originality. Sculptures, paintings and ceramics are in full focus. A long way away from some of the large dismal lobbies and hotel bedrooms seen in the past. Hotels that value art make for beautiful surroundings. An atmosphere where guests feel looked after and pampered.

Colour is such an important part of our world, and hotels in particular can completely transform their image through the power of meaningful colour. Cities like Buenos Aires are awash with high-spirited tones. Doors, exterior of buildings are all colourful and bursting with flavour. “It makes for happy times,” adds Bildner. “The Artist Keith Haring, another great inspiration to me, played with colourful images of his graffiti art on New York’s subways and some people used his images for spicing up their kitchens.”

Tension from the pandemic has no-doubt rippled into, and is still felt in, 2022. Covid-19 is becoming part of our lives, and there has been a culture-shift becasue of that affecting how people live as well as experience new spaces. With this in mind, artists such as Bilder are working hard to make art an even more central part of everyones habits – and where better place to start than in the hotel lobby, where first impressions count for everything!

Frances Bildner Expressive Arts, which is the result of many years in the business of providing fine art for public and private spaces, is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our recommended suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.

Main image caption: Breaking Boundaries. | Image credit: Frances Bildner Expressive Arts

biophilic interior reducing carbon footprint

How the design scene is embracing Net Zero initiatives

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How the design scene is embracing Net Zero initiatives

With Net Zero fast becoming the buzzword of 2022, along with conversations around sustainability and the importance of working towards a circular economy, and brands such as GROHE, Harrison Spinks and Room2 pledging to become Net Zero, design studio Perkins&Will has published a report which identifies the steps it is taking – and what other design studios could be doing – to create Net Zero projects by 2030…

biophilic interior reducing carbon footprint

Before we start, all buzzwords in the design sphere need content if they are going to impact meaningfully. So, what exactly is Net Zero and how do we design in a net-zero era? It is a nuanced and, like most things, often subjective topic but, simply put, everything we do generates carbon. For a design brand to achieve Net Zero, it must reach a point of balance between what it uses and what it puts back. To do this we need to first measure how much carbon a company/project is putting into the atmosphere. We then need to reduce these emissions where possible. And finally, the crucial part of process is to then offset the reduced emissions by doing things, such as planting trees, that absorb carbon. If done accurately a net zero balance is achieved and the design is therefore more ethical – but clearly the starting point of measuring a carbon footprint is not only the key, but also the area most open to interpretation – there is no such thing as a perfect science!

To challenge both itself and the industry, interior design firm Perkins&Will has produced a report Net Zero Now. Hospitality. This document is a zero-carbon interiors pledge for its growing portfolio of hospitality projects and is spearheaded by the studio’s director of hospitality and regular Hotel Designs contributor Neil Andrew, who has designed projects for top international hotel brands like Marriott, Hilton, and IHG, he has also created pop-up bars for brands like Heineken and designed a pavilion for New York University.

“We have an obligation to ingrain sustainability into our design process, not only for the betterment of the planet, but also to educate others,” said Andrew. “This does not mean we have to compromise aesthetics. In fact, through applying this rationale to creativity we can produce our best work.”

coastal bedroom designed using net zero principles and sutainable materials

Image credit: Perkins&Will

The document is a detailed discussion that not only looks at the principles of zero-carbon design, but also outlines practical ways for these goals to be put in place across the board in the hospitality design sector. It is about collaboration and concern, imagination and implementation, and in many ways, is a call to arms for designers in the hospitality industry as the company invites designers to  ‘join us on our journey to Net Zero, now’.

Laying its ambition bare, the company boldly pledges that: “By 2030 all of our projects will be net-zero embodied carbon as demonstrated through a Whole Life Carbon Assessment”. The report goes on to say: “The desire to experience new places is deeply ingrained within human nature, but with the alarming acceleration in climate change we must question the impact that travel has on the environment. The hospitality sector needs to urgently adopt a Net Zero, or net-positive approach. Environmentally conscious tourists already seek out eco-friendly holidays, but, as we collectively become more aware of the critical importance of sustainability, all future travellers are going to possess a greater knowledge of their carbon footprint and expect carbon neutral hotels as standard.”

Although there is no hard and fast rule, hotels currently experience soft refurbishments around every five to seven years. This regular cycle of change means that we as an industry must look at how items can be reused, or recycled, and avoid throwing them into a landfill. When refurbishing a hospitality space that has not been designed with the whole life cycle of materials and FF&E in mind, it becomes more of a challenge to repurpose items. At the same time, as designers we must consider the constitution of man-made materials, if natural whether they are sourced sustainably, and the ultimate distance that they are transported over in order to reduce the project’s carbon footprint.

sustainable materials for net zero interior design

Image credit: Perkins&Will

Having launched the Net Zero Now pledge for interiors in October 2020, Perkins&Will has now set targets for hospitality projects which align with the interiors pledge. In practical terms the commitments are as follows. The studio will pledge that:

  • In Q3 2021, it will launch a consultation process with our key contractors, sub-contractors and supplier partners to ensure that its supply chain will meet our net-zero targets.
  • By September 2022, half of its projects will be designed to be 100 per cent circular. By 2025 all of its projects will be designed to be 100 per cent circular.
  • By 2030, all of its projects will be Net Zero embodied carbon as demonstrated through a Whole Life Carbon Assessment.”

These bold statements are inspiring, but we need to look at what practical steps can be taken to set the hospitality industry on this path. The report goes on to list some of the ideas and approaches designers can use to start this journey. “[Perkins&Will] will advise clients to adopt our net-zero approach and inform them about the benefits to the environment. We will reduce the occurrence of required refurbishments. We will design in adaptability of buildings and repurpose existing buildings when possible, rather than building brand new ones. In addition, we will request that clients appoint consultants who also adhere to net-zero practices. Imperative to this initiative, we will work with suppliers for materials on our ‘Now Database’ who meet our sustainability requirements and follow circular design principles and consider dismantling and modularity in our design so that buildings can act as material banks. And finally, we will minimise finishes and source locally when possible.”

sustainable materials moodboard working towards a net zero interior

Image credit: Perkins&Will

“Perkins&Will make it clear throughout this report that this is – or should be – an industry commitment rather than an individual pledge.”

The lifecycle or durability of a product is an area that is often overlooked – it is not only the material and design process that needs to be considered, but what happens after that – can the materials be re-used or re-purposed once the initial service life is over? Not only which materials are used, but how they are used and fixed in place. Operational carbon (the reduction of energy and water used in the running of a building, sourcing of food and beverage produce and OS&E items) is also key. “It is our responsibility to challenge our clients, hotel brands and partner consultants to do better in this area,” states the report. “We will consult with hotel brands to review their brand standards with respect to base build performance.”

Perkins&Will make it clear throughout this report that this is – or should be – an industry commitment rather than an individual pledge, and have added to their list of commitments the promise of a Now Database of approved suppliers to share with other designers. This database will list suppliers that have provided environmental credentials that meet with the goals and ambitions of Net Zero. The Now Database will be an open-source platform for environmentally conscious products.

a conscious use of materials is required when working towards net zero design

Image credit: Perkins&Will

“For real change to happen we need an institutional focus on making improvements throughout the construction industry,” Andrew states in the report. “We need small changes and big changes, from those making large new development plans through to those installing the carpet tiles.”

The report goes on to discuss the ‘four R’s’ – Resell, Repurpose, Recycle and Recover – and how to implement them in a practical way. “With the average renovation of a hospitality property currently being between three to five years, it is clear that designers need to find ways to increase that number, with the obvious solution being the use of high quality and durable finishes,” adds Andrew. “Sweeping into a new project with shiny new ideas and equally shiny new furniture might be a designer’s dream, but renovation and refurbishment are now becoming key to the design process.”

Having read through the report, it is clear that there is no simple design roadmap for a Net Zero journey, interior designers, architecture firms and brands need to consider and cover all eventualities in order to prepare for surprises along the way. Fundamentally, Perkins&Will is not being prescriptive, nor is it setting out definitive answers, in this new document. Instead, it has laid out a clear starting point with some practical solutions from design to operational choices that can be implemented on all stages of the hospitality design journey, in all corners of the industry’s arena.

Main image credit: Perkins&Will

GROHE bathroom featuring Eurosmart basin mixer and Eurosmart single-lever bath-shower mixer

GROHE re-invents an all-time classic with 4th gen of Eurosmart

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GROHE re-invents an all-time classic with 4th gen of Eurosmart

The fourth generation of GROHE Eurosmart offers new and improved bathroom and kitchen product range, launching as the brand’s first two-in-one hybrid bathroom tap that combines a one-handed mixer with hygienic touchless control…

GROHE bathroom featuring Eurosmart basin mixer and Eurosmart single-lever bath-shower mixer

With the relaunch of its best-selling Eurosmart, GROHE reinvents the classic bathroom tap, meeting changing consumer requirements with a range of innovations. The new Eurosmart promises optimal comfort, contemporary design, and easy installation, making it the perfect choice for any bathroom, cloakroom, or en-suite upgrade.

GROHE Eurosmart 2in1 Hybrid basin mixer_

Image credit: GROHE

“Eurosmart evolves with every generation, which is crucial if you want to bring meaningful products to the market. Our environment is constantly transforming, and we need to react to changing needs with new product solutions,” said Jonas Brennwald, Leader LIXIL EMENA and Co-CEO, GROHE AG. “Right now, a global health crisis is forcing the world to rethink hygiene standards. Therefore, we have developed a hybrid version of Eurosmart, which combines hygiene-enhancing touchless and manual operation.

“Another example are the lever variants, which reflect the complexity of different living situations and the fact that every consumer has different requirements. Long levers simplify the daily work of doctors, while loop levers are perfect for children, the elderly and those with reduced or limited mobility. Eurosmart is the perfect proof that innovation is not limited to new lines. Innovating in a relevant way also means reinventing core products. Only these human-centric solutions enable us to create better homes.”

The Eurosmart hybrid offers additional advantages around hygiene, combining the advantages of a manual and touchless tap. Users can decide whether they want to use the manual lever or touchless technology by activating water flow via the integrated sensor. When there is no need to touch the tap when washing hands, the risk of spreading germs and cross-contamination is minimised.

To make things even more convenient, the Eurosmart line is now also equipped with a new safe stop technology. Thanks to an integrated thermostat, the temperature can be limited to help reduce the risk of scalding.

The Eurosmart range has even more to offer: For extra comfort, a pull-out spout offers full flexibility, perfect for washing hair or cleaning the basin. Meanwhile, water and energy-saving technologies integrated in the Eurosmart range support growing efforts to achieve a more sustainable lifestyle. GROHE EcoJoy, for example, reduces water flow while enriching the water with air, ensuring a voluminous flow while saving valuable resources at the same time – a great choice for eco-conscious consumers. Also available are low pressure basin taps and deck mounted bath fillers and bath shower mixers.

Meanwhile, the Eurosmart range has also been updated in the kitchen with a refreshed contemporary look; from models with pull-out hoses to unique wall-mounted taps for the ultimate space saving around the sink area. The Eurosmart kitchen range will comprise of two tap height variants, either low or high to suit a range of kitchen designs, along with a brand-new design, the GROHE Eurosmart kitchen two-handle mixer.

As well a refreshing new design, the Eurosmart kitchen range has been updated with new technologies to suit consumer lifestyles and everyday functionality. The Eurosmart kitchen range comes with easy installation thanks to the GROHE FastFixation Plus system integrated into the tap, offering swift, tool-free installation. The range will also support homeowners looking to make sustainable changes, with the Eurosmart kitchen low-spout models available with GROHE EcoJoy technology for a reduced water flow and energy saving GROHE SilkMove ES cold-start technology.

> Since you’re here, why not read about GROHE’s top products that launched in 2022?

GROHE is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.

Main image credit: GROHE

guitar shaped hard rock hotel in las vegas

Hard Rock Hotels to transform the Las Vegas strip

 730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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Hard Rock Hotels to transform the Las Vegas strip

Following in the footsteps of the worlds first guitar shaped hotel in Florida, Hard Rock Hotels plans to bring the iconic shape to the Las Vegas skyline with its new development in the city…

guitar shaped hard rock hotel in las vegas

Hospitality and entertainment company Hard Rock International, has announced its agreement to acquire The Mirage Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas from MGM Resorts International. Having made history in 2019 with designing the first ever guitar-shaped hotel for its Florida expansion, Hard Rock is planning to add to its guitar collection by building  its second guitar-shaped hotel, this time on the famous Las Vegas Strip. The guitar shape is synonymous with the brand, as, beginning with an Eric Clapton guitar, Hard Rock now owns the world’s largest and most valuable collection of authentic music memorabilia at more than 86,000 pieces, which are displayed at its locations around the globe.

“We are honoured to welcome The Mirage’s 3,500 team members to the Hard Rock family,” said Jim Allen, Chairman of Hard Rock International. “When complete, Hard Rock Las Vegas will be a fully integrated resort welcoming meetings, groups, tourists and casino guests from around the world to its nearly 80 acre centre-Strip location.”

Prior to 2020, Hard Rock International had no previous involvement with the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. HRI purchased the licensing and naming rights for Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas in May 2020 and vowed to bring the iconic brand to the Las Vegas Strip when the right opportunity presented itself.

> Since you’re here, why not check out Hard Rock Hotel New York?

Main image credit: Hard Rock Hotels

Harrison Spinks farm (4)

A night on the farm with Harrison Spinks

 730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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A night on the farm with Harrison Spinks

In the heart of the Yorkshire countryside – slap-bang between Leeds and York – editor Hamish Kilburn arrived on the 300-acre farm where the Harrison Spinks journey evolved into one that was centred around sustainable and innovative initiatives. From understanding the benefits of hemp to seeing how the bed manufacturer is keeping British manufacturing alive, Hotel Designs was given full access for 48 hours to understand why the bed and mattress manufacturer is commonly referred to as ‘the true bedmakers’…

Harrison Spinks farm (4)

If Christmas movies have taught me anything, it’s to never underestimate – or turn down – the opportunity to swap city life for a quieter pace in the winter months. The Harrison Spinks farm, for me this year, was that secret escape; a peaceful staycation in the tranquil setting of the Yorkshire countryside – as far removed from metropolis madness as it gets.

But I was not there to kick back and relax. Instead, I was on a mission to explore how the Harrison Spinks brand developed from a family-owned, small-scale business to one of the leading bed manufacturers in the world, sheltering gamechanging technology, fuelled by innovative methods designed with a conscious mindset towards the local community as well as the environment – there’s no greenwashing here. And, luckily for me, to really understand the brand’s unique ethos, you first have to stay one or two nights on the farm, which the bed manufacturer acquired on its mission to become Net Zero.

After arriving late at night, I was kindly shown to my digs – a newly renovated hut in the middle of, well, nowhere – and, once locked away safely in the cosy confines of my quirky cabin, it didn’t take long for my head to hit the pillow.

Following a much-needed comfortable night’s sleep, I awoke to the soothing harmony of birds chirping and sheep bleating (I’ve had worse wake-up calls). Peeking my head through the curtains, I meet the locals – flocks of them – and, while doing so, captured the most spectacular site of the Yorkshire countryside. As far as the eyes would focus, there was nothing but untouched meadows, which, I am told, is where the story of Harrison Spinks began.

Image caption: The huts frame spectacular views of the Yorkshire countryside. | Image credit: Harrison Spinks

Image caption: The huts frame spectacular views of the Yorkshire countryside. | Image credit: Harrison Spinks

As well as providing a five-star home for the sheep and goats, the venue itself is utilised throughout the year for weddings and events with a total of 42 rooms (from shepherd huts to suites inside the main house). 182 years ago, though, the farm was the bed and mattress brand’s base, where it first operated from.

“The brand’s farmer Liam and  Processing Supervisor John are growing 382 acres of hemp this year.”

Despite consumer demand requiring the brand to modernise and expand– its headquarters moved into a large-scale factory in 1979, just a few miles down the road in Leeds where its premises has been swelling ever since. The farm, meanwhile, is used to house the sheep, goats, lamas (for wool), and hemp plants scattered around the 300-acre plot on the farm that are used for the inner fillings that are used in the manufacturing process.

From farm to factory

The brand’s 360-degree approach and sustainable purchasing process can be seen throughout the manufacturing process, but it is arguably most evident on the farm, where pioneering innovations, such as the harvesting of hemp – a material that the design industry is only scratching the surface of its groundbreaking properties. The brand’s farmer Liam and  Processing Supervisor John are growing 382 acres of hemp this year, which ties up approximately 1,390 tonnes of Co2. The hemp and flax grown is pesticide-free, creating a clean, natural and chemical-treatment-free product. And this, along with many other eco-conscious initiatives, is helping the brand hit a major milestone in 2023, when it will go Net Carbon Zero.

The manufacturing process

When the natural fillings from the farm arrive at the factory in Leeds, they are cleaned in a process that resembles a candyfloss machine and are pressed together and made into sumptuous layers. Bringing weaving back to Yorkshire, the top, bottom and side panels of the beds are cut into size and sewn.

What sets Harrison Spinks aside from other bed manufacturers – as well as being one of the first to grow natural fibres for fillings – is that the brand creates its own springs by taking steel rod to the wire drawing line. The steel is drawn through a series of dies to form an ultra-fine wire which can then be bent and manipulated, by in-house engineers, into robust springs.

Pocket springs form the mattress core. Once these pockets have been cut, a metal frame is then attached to the core before sliding down (literally down a chute) into a different production line, where the mattress continues its manufacturing journey to meet the trained eyes of those who stitch the product together (by hand). Mini springs and natural fillings are then added for comfort and support and tufts are pushed through to keep everything in one place. Tape edging – a process that requires skill and finesse by operating the machine with a knee and guiding it by hand – joins the fabric to the board of the mattress, and this process is the finishing touch.

Following this, each mattress is sent to the brand’s in-house lab where tests on the fillings and mattresses are carried out before being sent out to the customer.

From one night on the farm and a day exploring the factory, stepping inside the world of Harrison Spinks has been an eye-opening experience. Seeing how far brand will go to keep manufacturing local, while also understanding how it plans to go Net Carbon Zero by 2023, has been insightful and inspirational. With unrivalled sustainability credentials, more than 180 years of manufacturing excellence and multiple Queens Awards, Harrison Spinks is living up to its name as ‘the true bedmakers’ by helping the world sleep more comfortably.

Harrison Spinks is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.

Main image: Harrison Spinks

The technology products that hit and missed at CES 2022

 730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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The technology products that hit and missed at CES 2022

From lifelike ‘humanoid’ robots to the latest TV and projector technology – and all the software to convince even the most stubborn technophobes out there that the metaverse era is imminently approaching – the hotel technology unveiled at CES 2022 was a reflection of today’s hospitality scene. Editor Hamish Kilburn reviews the ‘hit’ and ‘miss’ products from the largest technology show on earth…

Quiet floors, a lack of international travellers and it all coming to close a day early due to the organisers facing pressures from travel restrictions and the Covid-19 crisis: is this really the same CES that dominated the world’s attention every January with the biggest tech show on earth? Well, the answer is ‘no’ but for good and healthy reasons for the hotel technology sector.

Regardless of physical numbers – many visitors and exhibitors opted to host or attend virtually – the hardcore travel-sanction-avoiding ‘tech ninjas’ among our community who were able to make the trip to Las Vegas last week were promised great things. And, we would argue strongly that the event delivered a true, somewhat stark, reflection of where hotel technology is heading.

Before we go into the physical robotics and telecommunication devices that hit and missed this year, to paint a clean picture, let’s start by looking at some of the key movements that emerged to the surface throughout the show.

The most obvious trend was the lack of hotel tech. Don’t be alarmed, though, as this was to be expected. For years, modern travellers have demanded for hidden tech within luxury and lifestyle hospitality. More recently, that demand has mutated into insistence for tech-free spaces, amplified somewhat by a rise in wellness trends. Given what was on display at CES 2022, I think it’s safe to say that tomorrow’s hotel will be judged less on the technology it offers and instead more on whether the hotel can support consumer software and hardware.

When it comes to buzzwords, there was one that roared loudest in Las Vegas in early January. The metaverse, which in its currently state is swinging somewhere between impossible and inescapable, is fast transforming from Mark Zuckerburg’s dream into reality. For an industry like hotel design and hospitality that has long strived towards authentic, one-off travel experience, the thought of a 3D, interconnected virtual space that allows users to ‘feel’ the real world is terrifying and seems equally unrealistic. However, so did Facebook once upon a time. If the metaverse does take off, which it looks like it will sooner rather than later, then it will undoubtedly impact the behaviours of modern travellers.

What hit and what missed at CES 2022? 

The new era of hotel TV and projector technology – HIT

Every year at CES, the latest TVs are unveiled, which is always met with a gasp from tech enthusiasts. 2022 lived up to the same expectation, with the likes of LG, Sony, TLC and Panasonic unveiling QD-LED, OLED Evo, micoLED and even miniLED. But, aside from impressive render displays, it was in fact a projector that stole the show. With its compact design that looks more like a spotlight than a portable screen, the Samsung Freestyle is a powerful and compact projector, smart speaker and ambient lighting device all rolled into one lightweight package that weighs just 830 grams. The product would be ideal for hotel guestrooms and suites, transforming F&B spaces into sensory experiences or for last-minute outdoor cinemas.

The space hotel – HIT

With the increased awareness around sustainability and materiality, the days of pop-up hotel have somewhat been erased in hospitality history. However, when it comes to forward-thinking technology at CES, exhibitors have their vision fixed on the future. Looking the farthest forward by a long way this year was Sierra Space, which displayed a series of giant inflatable houses on the moon. It sounds far-fetched (and it is) but the launch of LIFE Habitat got us thinking about folded up hotels that could, if consciously designed, offer an extraordinary travel experience that can continuously evolve.

The smart door – MISS

Render of a Smart Door

Image credit: M-Pwr Smart Door

We are all for hotel concepts that challenge conventional approaches to hospitality here at Hotel Designs. And by our judgement of the smart door, we are not saying that we don’t rate the contactless hotel – we do! However, the idea of a smart door, for us, is one gimmick too far in an era when hoteliers and designers are striving for paired-back approach to technology. Having said that, we can’t argue that the M-Pwr Smart Door is not a clever evolution from the smart doorbell.

Sci-fi baths – HIT

A stillness bath by Kohler

Image credit: Kohler

Kohler is never a brand to disappoint at CES. Following the Amazon Echo shower that was unveiled a few years ago, the bathroom brand that is always ahead of the curve when it comes to hotel and bathroom technology, arrived at CES 2022 with its answer to the future of wellness in residential and hotel design. Available in a variety of sizes, the Infinity Experience Freestanding Bath comes complete with LED lighting effects, and relaxing fog that has been inspired by Japanese hot springs. The bath is surrounded by a hinoki wood base and uses PerfectFill technology that maintains the ideal temperature and water level.

Humanoid robots – HIT and MISS

A surprised robot - CES 2022

Image credit: Engineered Arts/Ameca

Robots have long been a contentious topic among hoteliers globally – Aloft robot butler called ‘Botlr’ that showed up in 2014 threatened taking away the human interaction in hospitality and therefore never really landed. Since then, other robots have tried and failed to takeover hotel technology. Challenging the opinion that robots will never replace face-to-face service is Engineered Arts. The company have launched a new robot called Ameca, which first made contact with the public at CES 2022 with its surprisingly vivid and emotive facial expressions using no less than 17 motors inside its head.

Ameca, with a grey non-human metal and plastic body that is deliberately genderless, has been designed with eerily lifelike mannerisms, but goes down as a ‘miss’ from us as it can’t yet walk or move around, making it null and void for today’s hospitality landscape (phew).

In-room robot vacuums – HIT

Notwithstanding our tasteful dissing of the hotel robot, one android we do believe has a place in at least the boutique hotel environment is the robot vacuum, which has developed extensively since becoming popular domestically in recent years. The S7 MaxV Ultra moves a step close to being sufficient. And with 30 per cent faster charging, reliable coverage, compact docking and detailed 3D mapping, the technology is becoming more and more relevant for hotel commercial use during a time when housekeeping is at a minimum due to social distancing.

The Amigami Ham Ham – MISS

Amagami Ham Ham soft toy with finger in mouth

Image credit: Yukai Engineering

We seem to be the only media platform that is not giving its thumbs-up to Amigami Ham Ham, the cuddly animal robot that ‘melted hearts’ at CES 2022 with its ability to nibble fingers (we are not making this up). The unusual product uses ‘play biting’ as a method of providing comfort.  If we are really pushed to offer some credit, we are impressed by the soft toy’s ability to automatically engage its motor and algorithm (or hamgorithm) so that no bite feels the same. We’ll leave how this would possibly be utilised in a hotel setting down to you.

Since you’re here…

More than 60,000 readers per month enjoy the content we publish on Hotel Designs. Our mission is to define the point on international hotel design, and we are doing that by serving relevant news stories and engaging features. To keep up to date on the hottest stories that are emerging, you can sign up to the newsletter, which is completely free of charge. As well as receiving a weekly round-up of the top stories, you will also access our bi-monthly HD Edit –staying ahead of the curve has never been so easy!

Click here to sign up to our newsletter.

Main image credit: Engineered Arts/Ameca

Rosewood Sao Paulo Exterior

Weekly digest: Hotel openings, wellness trends & colour in 2022

 730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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Weekly digest: Hotel openings, wellness trends & colour in 2022

Hello, sunshine! Editor Hamish Kilburn here to brighten up your day with the weekly digest, which this week contains a Rosewood opening that will blow your mind, wellness and colour trend forecasts for 2022 and beyond, and COMO’s new island-within-an-island resort. Follow me, this way…

Rosewood Sao Paulo Exterior

This week, Hotel Designs recorded its highest pageviews in a day on record (with 3,901 pageviews on Wednesday and more than 10,000 views this week), and we’re not really surprised given the juicy news that’s landed on our desk. From hotel openings to trends of all different sizes and colours, the stories that have dominated the headlines this week include a colour moodboard, case studies and bold moves in hotel development, including one very special exclusive from Kerzner International and interior design studio Atellior.

Here are just some of the stories that we’ve picked out for you:

EXCLUSIVE: Introducing SIRO, the new holistic wellbeing brand from Kerzner International

SIRO Boka Place Rooftop

Image caption: Render of the rooftop that will open in SIRO Boka Place, designed by Atellior. | Image credit: SIRO

Kerzner International has launched SIRO (Strength, Inclusive, Reflection and Original), a new hospitality brand that’s purpose will be to offer a balanced wellbeing experience for guests aspiring to become a healthier, more energised and rejuvenated version of themselves. The forward-thinking aim will be nurtured by SIRO’s engaging environment, supported by experts in a suite of health-related specialisms and made especially memorable by opportunities to experience destinations urban –  from urban jungles to serene countryside – through the lens of fitness.

Read more.

Rosewood arrives in São Paulo

artwork and local crafts in the bedrooms at Rosewood Sao Paola Brazil

Image credit: Rosewood Hotels & Resorts

Centrally located in the heart of the vibrant city near the lively Avenida Paulista, Rosewood São Paulo, which featured in our top 7 hotels on the boards in 2020, is a metropolitan oasis set within the historical enclave of Cidade Matarazzo, a complex of elegantly preserved buildings from the early 20th century that have been carefully transformed into private residences, high-end stores and entertainment venues.

Anchoring the 30,000 square-meter mixed-used lifestyle hub, the hotel occupies the historic former hospital, Matarazzo Maternity, as well as a striking new vertical garden tower. The transformation of the heritage buildings is rooted in sustainability and makes Cidade Matarazzo Brazil’s largest upcycling project, with a focus on celebrating and protecting the country’s cultural heritage and natural environment. Sustainable features executed in the property’s design include a biodiversity program that repopulates the indigenous flora and fauna from the Mata Atlantica rainforest, including 250 trees up to 14 metres in height placed vertically on the Mata Atlantica Tower.

Read more.

COMO expands private island portfolio with ‘island within an island’

aerial view of buildings using natural materials at COMO Laucala island

Image credit: COMO Hotels and Resorts / Trey Ratcliff

COMO Laucala Island offers guests the perfect island escape in a unique and carefully protected ecosystem, and is as much about the signature COMO design as it is about the location and lifestyle on offer. This is a resort where space is luxury: 25 residences, each with their own COMO butler, spread out on private beaches, above lagoons, atop hills and mountains. With a private airstrip, this exclusive sanctuary has been designed to unparalleled levels of luxury living on the northern shore of the island.

Read more. 

Moodboard: Design & colour trends emerging in 2022

Newmor colour palette of bright jewel like colours

Image credit: Newmor

With the arrival of a new year and the ‘colour of the year’ being a hotly debated topic, this is also the time when we would all normally be heading to events and exhibitions such as Heimtextil to share product and trend predictions. Heimtextil 2022, however, has fallen victim to the virus, but the conversation about trends and colours continues undeterred. So, to keep the noise echoing around the industry’s arena, Pauline Brettell caught up with Rose Campbell from Newmor to chat about the predictions for 2022, and to take us through the process in developing these design and colour trends.

Read more.

How MEET UP London plans to tantalise your senses – early bird tickets now on sale!

Meet Up London 2022

On March 24, the team at Hotel Designs – along with a few industry friends – will unveil their interpretation of the theme ‘inspiring creativity’ at the Minotti London showroom in the heart of the Fitzrovia neighbourhood. Long regarding as London’s premium networking event for interior designers, architects, hoteliers, suppliers and developers alike, MEET UP London will pull out all the stops in order to ensure that the ambiguous theme is well and truly captured with meaning.

Read more. 

Wellness trends: The shifting shape of spas and wellbeing

natural textures and surfaces in spa at auberge beach residences

Image credit: TLEE Spas + Wellness

Following our insightful look at the design trends that are shaping hotels and hospitality, we spoke to TLEE Spas + Wellness President and Founder Tracy Lee to dig a little deeper into the trends that are specific to spa design and development, while looking more broadly into how we define and create a sense of wellness in hospitality moving forward into 2022.

Read more.

W Hotels plans to open in Macau

W Hotels, W Macau Studio City

Image credit: W Hotels

Marriott International has signed an agreement with Melco Resorts & Entertainment to bring the W Hotels Worldwide brand to Macau by the end of the year. W Macau – Studio City is expected in 2022 to become an iconic addition to the world-class leisure destination through its detail-driven, unexpected design, and signature whatever/whenever service.

Read more.

Since you’re here…

More than 60,000 readers per month enjoy the content we publish on Hotel Designs. Our mission is to define the point on international hotel design, and we are doing that by serving relevant news stories and engaging features. To keep up to date on the hottest stories that are emerging, you can sign up to the newsletter, which is completely free of charge. As well as receiving a weekly round-up of the top stories, you will also access our bi-monthly HD Edit –staying ahead of the curve has never been so easy!

Click here to sign up to our newsletter.

Main image credit: Rosewood Hotels and Resorts

HOMM Bliss guestroom with calm neutral interior

Banyan Tree Group unveils new HOMM brand

 730 565 Pauline Brettell
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Banyan Tree Group unveils new HOMM brand

HOMM, one of five new brands within the Banyan Tree Group, aims to combine the concept of globally diverse experiences while maintaining a feeling of home. HOMM Bliss Southbeach Patong in Phuket is the first location for the new addition to the groups growing ecosystem…

HOMM Bliss guestroom with calm neutral interior

Blending the essence of Phuket’s tropical beach with the signature Banyan Tree Group’s standards of service, HOMM Bliss Southbeach Patong sits on the quiet southern end of Patong Bay, with unrivalled views of the Andaman Sea along miles of white sand beaches. The newly refurbished guestrooms all have a contemporary beach-inspired feel and are bathed in natural light. The hotel shelters 71 contemporary guestrooms, with 39 of them featuring sea-facing private balconies and terraces or ground-floor plunge pools. Indulgent bathrooms encourage relaxing mornings, while the property’s two outdoor pools, beachfront access and proximity to top tourist attractions provide for exciting afternoons in Phuket.

seaview from guestroom at HOMM Bliss

Image credit: Banyan Tree Group

“With the introduction of our HOMM brand, we strive to provide guests with true ‘sense of home’ comforts that act as a base camp for new experiences and adventures, while simultaneously supporting the local community,” said Chatchaya Jearranai, Hotel Manager of HOMM Bliss Southbeach Patong. “HOMM Bliss Southbeach Patong’s close proximity to Phuket’s culturally rich attractions and coastal region provides global travellers with the ability to fully engage with locals and foster sustainability and stewardship practices through Banyan Tree Group’s world-renowned ‘Stay for Good’ program, a blueprint for future HOMM locations to come.”

Origami art in lobby at HOMM Bliss Southbeach Patong

Image credit: Banyan Tree Group

As part of the group’s larger Stay For Good program, each HOMM property will advocate for a unique endangered species, centrally displayed in the lobby areas via origami art. For example, at HOMM Bliss Southbeach Patong, an origami creation of the Black Billed Gull can be found upon entering the lobby to raise awareness of the native bird generally found in nearby rivers and coastal areas. Waste-reduction initiatives and educational programs for locals will also be implemented, ensuring the holistic wellbeing of each HOMM community.

With its focus on creating a sense of home for its guests, the brand debut of HOMM Bliss Southbeach Patong maintains the groups signature service, along with purpose led sustainable standards of tourism the Banyan Tree is known for. Through destination-specific, immersive travel experiences and locations in key second-tier cities, travellers can engage in the local culture before heading back to their HOMM-away-from-home.

Since you’re here, why not read about The Banyan Tree Group in Mexico?

Main image credit: Banyan Tree Group

LEDS C4 decorative lighting for design studio in barcelona

Case study: LEDS C4 lights up design studio in Barcelona

 730 565 Pauline Brettell
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Case study: LEDS C4 lights up design studio in Barcelona

Under the guidance of the interior designer Isern Serra, LEDS C4 is providing the lighting for the new offices of the 3D design studio Six N. Five in Barcelona, founded by Ezequiel Pini. We take a closer look at this creative lighting project…

LEDS C4 decorative lighting for design studio in barcelona

The project involved refurbishing the street-level premises of the design studio Six N five. Made up of a multi-purpose space, mainly used as an office, but also as a showroom, with an area for presentations, a small workshop for creating small prototypes, a leisure and virtual reality zone, and a café area. All in all, a multidisciplinary space open to the city with small cultural activities, and one which required lighting up to the all of the tasks.

“The diverse spaces to be allocated and the imposing heights made it possible to create a space in the top section to house the workshop and a storage area,” said Iserm Serra, the interior designer on the project. “This mezzanine also enables us to separate the public area from the more private ones.”

The mezzanine can be closed off with curtains at both the top and the bottom, thus making it possible to not only offer different levels of privacy, but also provide an element for dividing the different areas. The space was devised to be a large architectural sanctuary with a strong artisanal feel. Earth colours were chosen to reinforce the idea of materiality, opting for a smooth finish cement floor with building elements, along with walls in the same tone with uneven plasterwork. The lighting brief was to reinforce these elements while providing different levels of lighting appropriate to the defined areas.

With the aim of designing a multidisciplinary space that encourages creativity, the decision was made to show off the reality of construction, leaving all the original structure uncovered while providing warmth and serenity by means of the materials, earthy tones and light. LEDS C4’s lighting, with Atom Track 52 spotlights and Play High Visual Comfort Adjustable downlights, blends into the architecture of the space and helps to create a cosy, relaxed environment. In addition, Cocktail, Simply, Big and Nude light fixtures from the Decorative Collection help to create sources of light in the creative space, while relating to the monochromatic design scheme of the space.

The end result is a serene, harmonious space defined by subtlety and simplicity. The project is functional, yet also draws attention to the materials of the scheme and relates back to the work of Six N Five with an emphasis on technology and space. In this project the lighting is integral to drawing all these strands together to complete the story.

LEDS C4 is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.

Main image credit: LEDS C4

Laucala island swimming pool within the lagoon

COMO expands private island portfolio with ‘island within an island’

 730 565 Pauline Brettell
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COMO expands private island portfolio with ‘island within an island’

COMO Laucala Island, an exclusive retreat in the South Pacific, is the brands newest addition to its private island collection, and shelters an exclusive 25 standalone residences, all surrounded by turquoise-blue sea, white sandy beaches, and the ultimate luxury of space…

Laucala island swimming pool within the lagoon

COMO Laucala Island offers guests the perfect island escape in a unique and carefully protected ecosystem, and is as much about the signature COMO design as it is about the location and lifestyle on offer. This is a resort where space is luxury: 25 residences, each with their own COMO butler, spread out on private beaches, above lagoons, atop hills and mountains. With a private airstrip, this exclusive sanctuary has been designed to unparalleled levels of luxury living on the northern shore of the island.

Laucala island aerial view of buildings using natural materials

Image credit: COMO Hotels and Resorts / Trey Ratcliff

The sympathetically designed spaces have kept the location central to design, both with the emphasis on views as well as the use of materials, and the construction has been carefully considered using local materials where possible. The Residences, all featuring private pools and ranging in size from 3,000 to 4,000 square metres, are built in a South Pacific style, which is blended seamlessly with COMO’s unmistakable contemporary flair. Interiors are softly curved and full of free-flowing shapes, allowing the space to flow freely between indoors and outdoors. Thatched roofs are made from the leaves of sago palms, floors are laid with local timber, and the spaces also feature ‘balabala’ fern stems and a traditional coconut husk weave known as ‘magimagi’.

natural materials and finishes in the villa interior at COMO Laucala island fiji

Image credit: COMO Hotels and Resorts

A first for COMO, the island features a tropical 18-hole David McLay Kidd designed golf-course, along with a wide range of land and water activities, from a fleet of jet-skis, sailing and game fishing boats to horse-riding, mountain biking, nature hikes and tennis. The emphasis throughout is about the heart of the island, its tropical rainforests, volcanic mountains, blue lagoons, mangroves and coconut groves, all fostering a unique habitat that is waiting to be explored by the guests.

COMO Shambhala Retreat, the island’s wellness centre, is the embodiment of COMO’s philosophy for holistic, healthy living. At this nurturing retreat, guests can expect physical fitness classes, yoga, and a fitness centre. Treatments make use of COMO Shambhala’s signature products, as well as the island’s herbs, spices, flowers, and fruits. COMO Shambhala’s signature Asian-inspired massages and body treatments using the island’s river stones, mineral crystals and rich volcanic soils are also provided.

laucala island restaurant designed with natural materials

Image credit: COMO Hotels and Resorts

To minimise its impact on the environment and in line with COMO’s farm-to-table philosophy, the island’s five dining options receive fresh produce from the resort’s 240-acre farm, cultivating a wide range of organic crops and livestock. Fresh seafood supplies are sourced exclusively from local fishermen, contributing to the island’s commitment to sustainability.

COMO Laucala Island joins resorts like COMO Parrot Cay and COMO Maalifushi as the brand continues to expand its signature design and luxury ethos that keeps, at its core, a focus on sustainability and wellness.

Main image credit: COMO Hotels and Resorts

painted ceiling and artwork in the bar at Rosewood Sao Paulo Brazil

Miniview: Rosewood São Paulo, magnificent on every level

 730 565 Pauline Brettell
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Miniview: Rosewood São Paulo, magnificent on every level

Encapsulating the city’s storied past and innovative future, the opening of Rosewood São Paulo marks the entrance of this luxury brand into South America. We took a peek at the transformation from what was a maternity hospital to what it stands as today; a modern hotel that is challenging conventional design at every angle…

painted ceiling and artwork in the bar at Rosewood Sao Paulo Brazil

Centrally located in the heart of the vibrant city near the lively Avenida Paulista, Rosewood São Paulo, which featured in our top 7 hotels on the boards in 2020, is a metropolitan oasis set within the historical enclave of Cidade Matarazzo, a complex of elegantly preserved buildings from the early 20th century that have been carefully transformed into private residences, high-end stores and entertainment venues.

“Sustainable features executed in the property’s design, including 250 trees up to 14 metres in height placed vertically on the Mata Atlantica Tower.”

Anchoring the 30,000 square-meter mixed-used lifestyle hub, the hotel occupies the historic former hospital, Matarazzo Maternity, as well as a striking new vertical garden tower. The transformation of the heritage buildings is rooted in sustainability and makes Cidade Matarazzo Brazil’s largest upcycling project, with a focus on celebrating and protecting the country’s cultural heritage and natural environment. Sustainable features executed in the property’s design include a biodiversity program that repopulates the indigenous flora and fauna from the Mata Atlantica rainforest, including 250 trees up to 14 metres in height placed vertically on the Mata Atlantica Tower.

Rosewood São Paulo exterior and facade with plants and greenery

Image credit: Rosewood Hotels & Resorts

Spearheaded by entrepreneur Alexandre Allard, recognised for his involvement in the renaissance of the House of Balmain, and designed by leading international figures including the Pritzker Prize-winning architect Jean Nouvel and artistic director Philippe Starck, Rosewood São Paulo has been described as a love letter to Brazil, with a majority of the design materials both locally sourced and inspired by the country’s diverse culture. The new hotel is also home to a groundbreaking collection of 450 site-specific artworks, all created in partnership with local artists whose work draws from the multiplicity of the Brazilian experience.

contemporary design inspired by local materials in the Rosewood Sao Paulo interiors

Image credit: Rosewood Hotels & Resorts

Featuring 160 guestrooms and suites along with 100 Private Rosewood Suites available for purchase, the hotel’s luxurious accommodations are spread across the restored Matarazzo Maternity and the vertical garden tower. Rosewood São Paulo has instilled new life into Matarazzo Maternity, which holds great symbolic significance and sentimental meaning to the city as more than 500,000 Brazilians were born there. As both an emblem of the city’s rich history and a beacon guiding its future, Cidade Matarazzo holds a central place in the hearts of many generations of Paulistanos.

“It has been a true honour to help bring such a unique hotel project to life in one of the world’s most dynamic cities,” said Managing Director, Edouard Grosmangin, of Rosewood São Paulo. “The team behind Rosewood São Paulo has spent a decade on this project to ensure it honours and celebrates the heritage of the city while breathing new life into the destination. In doing so we’ve created a hotel that is a true love letter to the city, the nation, and its people. We look forward to welcoming the world to experience São Paulo’s dynamic offerings first hand and provide the place from which a cultural journey can begin and end.”

In line with Rosewood’s guiding ‘A Sense of Place’ philosophy, wherein the distinctive ethos of the destination is woven into the identity of the hotel, Rosewood São Paulo’s design was inspired by its deep Brazilian roots. Under the artistic direction of Starck, 57 Brazilian artists and artisans came together to produce a permanent collection of art featuring over 450 works. Treating the property like a once-in-a-lifetime art project, the team commissioned artists representing Brazil’s wide range of artist expression, from street art to indigenous art, to create site-specific works for virtually every space in the property. The artists were given just one guideline: creativity that respects the past yet points to the future. The result is that the hotel is in effect Brazil’s next great contemporary art museum, one that celebrates the natural beauty, rich history, and diverse culture of its homeland.

artwork and local crafts in the bedrooms at Rosewood Sao Paola Brazil

Image credit: Rosewood Hotels & Resorts

“Artist Rodrigo de Azevedo Saad spent a total of 68 hours hand drawling on the ceiling of Rabo di Galo.”

Throughout the property, art tells different stories of life in Brazil across various mediums including sculpture, paintings, tile work, drawings, textiles and rugs. A striking example can be found in the Rabo di Galo, a jazz bar featuring bespoke libations and classic Brazilian bar snacks alongside live music. The overall design of the bar was inspired by the classic jazz clubs of the 1930s, featuring leather furniture, dark woods and indirect lighting to create an intimate atmosphere. Artist Rodrigo de Azevedo Saad, locally known as Cabelo, spent a total of 68 hours hand drawling on the ceiling of Rabo di Galo, which portrays a certain schizophrenic art resulting in the magical and primitive universe of patterns that repeat themselves.

hand painted ceiling in the Rabo di Galo Bar​

Image credit: Rosewood Hotels & Resorts

Part of a larger culinary renaissance happening in the city, Rosewood São Paulo brings six new dining venues to one of São Paulo’s most vibrant neighbourhoods. Designed for a variety of different occasions, the hotel’s food and beverage offerings present a resounding and memorable combination of world-class gastronomic experiences served in immersive and unique spaces.

Rosewood São Paulo is committed to preserving Brazil’s natural environment with sustainability as one of the development’s guiding principles he property has committed to use 100 per cent renewable energy within a year, including on-site solar panels and renewable-sourced energy. Creating a positive impact on the local community and environment is key to Rosewood São Paulo’s values and goals, and the building has been carefully planned to lessen the footprint wherever possible.

The hotel plans to roll out further facilities and amenities over the course of its first year. Slated to open in 2022, Asaya at Rosewood São Paulo will bring the destination a unique wellness concept that delivers innovative and integrative solutions for personal transformation while encouraging positive growth and self-discovery for a fulfilling life. The opening of Asaya at Rosewood São Paulo will mark the first outpost of Rosewood’s forward-thinking wellbeing concept in the western hemisphere. We look forward to following the story of Rosewood São Paulo as it unfolds.

Main image credit: Rosewood Hotels & Resorts

Hyatt Place Zurich Airport The circle bedroom with views over natural scenerybedroom with vi

Now open: Hyatt Place Zurich Airport The Circle

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Now open: Hyatt Place Zurich Airport The Circle

While the name might not roll off the tongue, Hyatt Place Zurich Airport The Circle is all about ease and convenience. Providing guests with access to the surrounding natural vistas of the Swiss Alps while offering the practicality and convenience of an airport hub, this Hyatt Place is a name worth remembering…

Hyatt Place Zurich Airport The circle bedroom with views over natural scenerybedroom with vi

Hyatt Place Zurich Airport The Circle is the first Hyatt Place branded hotel in Switzerland, expanding the Hyatt Place brand’s footprint globally in markets the brand has identified as being key to the Hyatt Place philosophy which is all about providing seamless comfort and an easy-to-navigate experience for today’s multi-taking traveller. Having brought this opening to your attention in a recent post, we thought we would take a closer look at and step inside this hub hotel.

contemporary art in the Dada Lounge at Hyatt Place Zurich Airport

Image credit: Hyatt

Situated in the Circle destination and directly linked to Zurich Airport, the 300-key hotel is central to one of the most central locations in Switzerland. Guests can conveniently enjoy the business and lifestyle offerings of the Circle, which includes shops, restaurants, a park, airport facilities and The Circle Convention Centre. After a productive day, guests can unwind in the park or take advantage of the great outdoors, as the Swiss Alps and Lake Zurich are nearby.

“As the Zurich Airport and the Circle district continue to be a dynamic destination, we are excited to add to the momentum by welcoming the first Hyatt Place hotel to Switzerland,” said Ines Bruenn, hotel manager at Hyatt Place Zurich Airport The Circle. “With our smartly designed social spaces and guestrooms with separate work and sleep areas, our multitasking, international and local guests can easily accomplish what they need to do while on the road, while both working and relaxing with nature right at their doorstep.”

The hotel shelters 300 spacious guestrooms which cater for all the needs of the guests, from work to play. The guestrooms provide separate spaces to sleep, to work and to play, as well as a ‘Cozy Corner’ sofa where you can relax with a good book or catch up on your emails in comfort. There is a fitness centre on site which is open 24/7, allowing guests to keep on track, irrespective of jetlag or time zone.

communal workspace at Hyatt Place Zurich Airport

Image credit: Hyatt

The hotel offers convenient work and event spaces including a communal table in the lobby and more than 2,800 square metres’ function space at The Circle Convention Centre. The communal working space makes a perfect office on the go, and all the food and beverage facilities are available around the clock in case guests need to fuel their creativity while burning the midnight oil in between flights.

Hyatt Place Zurich Airport The Circle is all about connections. On a literal level it is a short walk from international terminals at Zurich Airport, and on a more esoteric level, it connects guests with all aspects of the surrounding area, encouraging you to connect while on the move and hoping to provide guests with the facilities that will make travel as seamless as possible to routines and lifestyles.

Since you’re here, why not check out more Hyatt’s openings and unveilings from now until 2023?

Main image credit: Hyatt

Desforma verona curved corner sofa

Desforma: Redefining form and function in furniture

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Desforma: Redefining form and function in furniture

Putting seating under the spotlight since its establishment in 1994, Desforma continues to  transform conventional sofa and armchair design with its architectural and sculptural creations…

Desforma verona curved corner sofa

The Desforma brand is led by creative family duo, furniture designer Brigita Marija Spokaite-Norvaise and her father Kestutis Spokas. They work as a team to create the art-like furniture, which not only makes a strong statement, but is also trusted for the quality of its manufacturing, materials and its unique architectural design. The distinctive furniture forms are fuelled by the innovative technology that allows the creation of extraordinary pieces. A spheric construction technology, which was certified in Geneva, provides an opportunity to expand visionary limits of traditional furniture design and to create uniquely carved forms, which are reminiscent of sculptural shapes.

sculptural form of desforma verona sofa in cream

Image credit: Desforma

Desforma’s creations continue to showcase the original aspiration of the brand, which is to transform seating design into sculptural statements, giving everyday furniture edge and elegance. Seating shifts from the functional to centre stage, while becoming the defining point of an interior space. The collection is created from a combination of art and interior design, blending round and soft shapes that allow for optimal comfort while making a strong and sophisticated visual impression.

Its use of technology to support design, allows Desforma free range when creating pieces that, like a sculpture, look good from every angle, no matter where you are in a room. Known for being the only company in the world that is applying the high-end spheric technology, Desforma is able to remain at the forefront of design by focusing on durability, timeless style, lasting elegance, and elevated functionality.

Grounded while always maintaining a sense of luxury, what makes a Desforma design stand out, is the fact that they shape and shift the space they are in, and create a strong visual statement while still maintaining a commitment to functionality. This is seating which can be configured to a range of interiors and is equally at home in a modern private home, smart co-working spaces, to the lobby of a fashionable hotel – whatever the space, a Desforma couch is so much more than a place to sit.

Desforma is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.

Main image credit: Desforma

a hypnos bed in guestroom at billesly manor

Case study: Simply the best for the beds of Billesley Manor Hotel & Spa

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Case study: Simply the best for the beds of Billesley Manor Hotel & Spa

Steeped in history, but with a very contemporary take on luxury, it made perfect sense for Billesly Manor Hotel & Spa to plump for a Hypnos bed when looking for the perfect nights sleep…

a hypnos bed in guestroom at billesly manor

Billesley Manor really is the perfect peaceful sanctuary from the outside world. Each guestroom and suite has been designed with luxury, style, and comfort in mind. So, when it came to selecting the beds, only the best would do, and specifying a Hypnos Bed fulfilled all the criteria.

Recently refurbished, the 16th-Century, four-star Billesley Manor Hotel and Spa boasts 71 beautifully designed guestrooms and sits in 11 acres of magnificent countryside just outside the medieval town of Stratford-Upon-Avon. Combining heritage charm with modern luxury is not the only thing this alluring Elizabethan Manor is famous for. Legend has it that in 1599, Shakespeare penned his comedy ‘As You Like It’ at Billesley Manor, having married Anne Hathaway at All Saints church which sits in the grounds, some years earlier.

four poster hypnos bed at billesley manor

Image credit: Hypnos / Billesley Manor

“As a hotel, sleep is one of the most important components of our guests’ stay, and so it was important that we got it right,” said Stephen Fearnley, General Manager FIH, Billesley Manor Hotel and Spa. “Hypnos Contract Beds were selected and asked to supply their most luxurious mattress, the Lansdowne Cashmere with Classic Divan Bases and Flexi Bases. This specification provides ultimate comfort and luxury for our guests and supports our mission to provide the very best in sleep in the UK.”

hypnos bed with floral headboard in guestroom at Billesley Manor

Image credit: Hypnos / Billesley Manor

“We believe it is incredibly important to opt for natural fibres where possible, said Carolyn Mitchell, Sales and Marketing Director, Hypnos Contract Beds. “Our Lansdowne Cashmere mattress combines wool and cashmere for the highest degree of comfort and luxury. Our mattress design allows independent movement of each pocket spring, meaning the mattress adjusts to the sleeper’s body shape. At the same time the natural fibres help regulate body temperature to create the perfect climate for quality sleep. We are delighted that Billesley Manor chose to provide their guests with the ultimate sleep experience.”

As the go-to name in sleep comfort, Hypnos Contract Beds is trusted to deliver the all-important component for a perfect nights’ sleep at hotels around the world. Hypnos believe in creating comfort with integrity and were the first UK bed manufacturer to become carbon neutral, an accolade achieved over a decade ago. In 2020 Hypnos received the prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise for Sustainable Development.

So whether it’s the season for a midsummer night’s dream, or the winters tale, you can rest assured that this partnership will give you a perfect nights sleep along with everything else on offer at Billesley Manor.

Hypnos is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.

Main image credit: Hypnos / Billesley Manor

newmor colour trends 2022 moodboard

Moodboard: Design & colour trends emerging in 2022

 730 565 Pauline Brettell
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Moodboard: Design & colour trends emerging in 2022

We spoke to Rose Campbell, Head of Product and Creative Development, at Newmor about the design and colour trend predictions for 2022 and how these inform the design process when creating new wallcovering concepts. Pauline Brettell writes…

newmor colour trends 2022 moodboard

With the arrival of a new year and the ‘colour of the year’ being a hotly debated topic, this is also the time when we would all normally be heading to events and exhibitions such as Heimtextil to share product and trend predictions. Heimtextil 2022, however, has fallen victim to the virus, but the conversation about trends and colours continues undeterred. So, to keep the noise echoing around the industry’s arena, I caught up with Rose Campbell from Newmor to chat about the predictions for 2022, and to take us through the process in developing these design and colour trends.

Newmor specialises in commercial quality wide-width fabric-backed vinyl wallcoverings, which are manufactured in its own facility in Wales. Its products can be found all over the world in hotels, bars and restaurants, healthcare, education, cruise, and leisure installations. It is an integral part of the process that the Newmor design team always needs to be ahead of the trends and aware of what people are looking for in interior spaces. We started off by asking Campbell to take us through the thought process in developing design and colour trends.

“There isn’t one particular thing I can pinpoint, as I take inspiration from everything around me,” she told Hotel Designs. We have all gone through so much change in our personal and working lives over the last couple of years. There is a definite nostalgic vein running through our 2022 trends, as we’ve all had time to reflect and adapt. I’m pleased that as a society we are placing greater value on craftsmanship and quality. Rediscovering the sanctuary in our homes and having the confidence to surround ourselves with design and colour has also fed into my trend predication.”

Having identified six very individual trends at Newmor, Campbell talks us through the palettes and points of inspiration.

New Romantics

Newmor new romantics colour palette trend

Image credit: Newmor

“This demonstrates our appreciation of vintage design and our value for enduring quality,” Campbell explained. “Detailed embellishments and mixed textures lift classic designs to dramatic heights. This trend is elegant and moody as off whites, greys, red and ebony play their part in creating this modern vintage vibe.”

Moody Blues

Newmor moody blue moodboard for 2022

Image credit: Newmor

“There is no sign of January blues in this trend,” she said. “Our moody blue trend captures the freshness of the sky on a winter’s morning by the sea. Hues range from retro denims to teals and navy which are enhanced by highlights of pale weathered woods, tan and brass.”

Cocoon

Newmor moodboard for Cocoon colour trend

Image credit: Newmor

“It is no surprise that our desire to create a sanctuary in this crazy busy world continues to play a vital role in 2022,” added Campbell. “Natural materials, simple organic textures and layers of soft colours resulted in developing this palette of nudes, clay tones, off whites and sage.”

Into the Mix

Newmor colour palette of bright jewel like colours

Image credit: Newmor

“This trend is all about celebrating pattern and not being afraid to mix things up,” said Campbell. “Individuality and personality are things to be encouraged, as is our greater awareness of sustainability and a renewed empathy for make do and mend. So, we’ve mixed designs and colours from each end of the spectrum.”

Night Fever

gold glass and black moodboard for newmor 2022 colour trends

Image credit: Newmor

“I am a 70’s child, so could not be happier to include this trend in our 2022 outlook,” beamed Campbell. “Curved geometric designs make their return in sumptuous shades of orange, avocado, brown and mustards. This trend is bold and nostalgic, and I for one love it.”

Protopia

Newmor Protopia metallic moodboard with bright colours

Image credit: Newmor

“Our 2022 trends would not be complete if we did not acknowledge how the digital metaverse impacts our lives,” concluded Campbell. “Although this trend is bold and futuristic, it is also grounded in sustainability and the importance of recyclability. The new pantone very peri makes an appearance, alongside metallics, ombres, pinks, turquoise and silver.”

With this roundup of moodboards and trends it is impossible not be inspired, and it is going to be interesting seeing these colours and textures materialise on the design stage, and of course its walls, as the year progresses.

> Since you’re here, why not check out these designs from Newmor?

Newmor Wallcoverings is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.

Main image credit: Newmor

Meet Up London 2022

How MEET UP London plans to tantalise your senses

 730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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How MEET UP London plans to tantalise your senses

Returning this year by popular demand, the leading London networking event for interior designers, architects, hoteliers, suppliers and developers, MEET UP London will welcome two visionaries who will transform Minotti London into a sensory experience. Editor Hamish Kilburn writes how he and the team are interpreting the theme ‘inspiring creativity’…

Meet Up London 2022

On March 24, the team at Hotel Designs – along with a few industry friends – will unveil their interpretation of the theme ‘inspiring creativity’ at the Minotti London showroom in the heart of the Fitzrovia neighbourhood. Long regarding as London’s premium networking event for interior designers, architects, hoteliers, suppliers and developers alike, MEET UP London will pull out all the stops in order to ensure that the ambiguous theme is well and truly captured with meaning.

And to whet the industry’s appetite even further, Hotel Designs has secured sound and wellness experts, Tom Middleton and Ari Peralta, who will help to transform the Minotti London showroom into an immersive, sensory experience.

Early bird tickets for MEET UP London are now on sale. Click here if you are a supplier to secure your ticket for just £99 + VAT (prices rise to £150 plus vat per person from January 29, 2022*. Click here if you are a designer, architect, hotelier or developer to secure your early bird ticket for just £10 + VAT (prices will rise to £20 + VAT per person from January 29, 2022).*

Image caption: MEET UP London 2019 took place at Minotti London's showroom

Image caption: MEET UP London 2019 took place at Minotti London’s showroom, welcoming more than 200 interior designers, architects, hoteliers, developers and suppliers. | Image credit: MEET UP London

Tom Middleton, an award-winning composer, wellness architect and sensory design technologist, will discuss and demonstrate the mood-enhancing and wellbeing properties of spatial sound, combined with scientifically designed imprinting scents to elevate interior design, and deliver more memorable and meaningful experiences.

Meanwhile, wellness expert and neuroscientist, Ari Peralta, Founder of Arigami, will showcase the power of colour on our emotions using cutting-edge, deep learning technologies and generative graphics. Peralta will unveil an experience at MEET UP London that will reset the senses, with the power of colour and meditation, to ground, relax and replenish the mind.

*Early bird tickets will only be available until the end of the day on January 28, 2022. Please note, there are limited tickets available for MEET UP London. Due to the demand for this event, we anticipate that tickets will sell out and tickets will be issued out on a first-come, first-served basis.

Main image credit: MEET UP London

W Hotels, W Macau Studio City

W Hotels plans to open in Macau

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W Hotels plans to open in Macau

Slated to open in December 2022, Marriott International has announced its plans to bring the W Hotels brand to Macau, which will take the W brand footprint for Greater China to 10 properties. Here’s what we know…

W Hotels, W Macau Studio City

Marriott International has signed an agreement with Melco Resorts & Entertainment to bring the W Hotels Worldwide brand to Macau by the end of the year. W Macau – Studio City is expected to become an iconic addition to the world-class leisure destination through its detail-driven, unexpected design, and signature whatever/whenever service.

exterior render of W Macau Studio City

Image credit: Marriott International

“Macau’s super-charged energy and unique identity as an entertainment hub, together with its mix of Eastern and Western culture, makes it a natural fit for W Hotels,” said Henry Lee, President, Greater China, Marriott International. “In line with Marriott International’s ‘Brand + Destination’ development strategy, we are excited to work together with Melco Resorts & Entertainment to introduce W Macau – Studio City and bring the brand’s luxury lifestyle to Macau.”

Situated in the heart of Cotai, W Macau – Studio City will serve as the buzzing centrepiece for Studio City Phase 2, a multi-complex development that includes indoor and outdoor water parks, cineplexes and state-of-the-art MICE facilities. W Macau – Studio City expects to shelter 557 guestrooms, including 127 suites and wellness facilities, a spa, fitness centre, and an indoor swimming pool. The hotel is also set to include two destination dining venues – one featuring international cuisine with an Asian twist and another with the finest Chinese and Portuguese dishes. Set to be a first in the Greater China region, W Macau – Studio City is slated to feature a W Sound Suite, the brand’s signature, on-site recording studio as well as a WOOBAR where guests can connect. Additionally, the new hotel will offer 1,100 square metres of event and meeting space.

“Melco is thrilled to welcome W Hotels to Studio City and Macau,” said Mr David Sisk, Chief Operating Officer, Macau Resorts of Melco Resorts & Entertainment. “W Hotels is without a doubt one of the world’s most iconic luxury lifestyle brands and we expect the hotel to elevate Studio City’s hospitality offerings to a new level. Together we look forward to bringing new experiences to our guests and further strengthen Macau’s proposition as a world-class leisure destination.”

Marriott International currently operates nine properties and residences under the W Hotels brand across Greater China. W Macau – Studio City is anticipated to mark the brand’s 10th property in Greater China.

> Since you’re here, why not check out W Hotels in Osaka?

Main image credit: Marriott International

natural textures and surfaces in spa at auberge beach residences

Wellness trends: The shifting shape of spas and wellbeing

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Wellness trends: The shifting shape of spas and wellbeing

TLEE Spas + Wellness, a spa development firm with a design led and hospitality-driven approach, shares its insights into the key influences that are shaping its approach to spa development and menu design going forward into 2022…

natural textures and surfaces in spa at auberge beach residences

Following our insightful look at the design trends that are shaping hotels and hospitality, we spoke to TLEE Spas + Wellness President and Founder Tracy Lee to dig a little deeper into the trends that are specific to spa design and development, while looking more broadly into how we define and create a sense of wellness in hospitality moving forward into 2022.

“As a year like no other winds down, 2022 brings much hope in the air for a brighter future as we work our way through the pandemic and maintain focus on the end-user experience,” said Lee. “With a heightened desire to feel nurtured, we feel it’s especially important to double down on what really matters: creating optimal spaces where guests can fully let go and staff can fulfil their mission to fix and heal, delivering service offerings that cut through the clutter, and deliver what really matters while establishing a gracious service culture that supports guests and staff alike through a prism of kindness, empathy, and sensitivity.”

The spa industry has seen a shortage of qualified therapists for many years, which has only been exacerbated by the pandemic. After prolonged closures, false starts and stops, many have left the industry or are focusing on building their private clientele. Other factors, such as compensation and working on their own terms, also weigh heavily. This dynamic has forced both consultants and operators to rethink spa experiences that have been historically driven by therapist-driven services, hence the rise of self-directed rituals and touchless therapies. While TLEE Spas + Wellness is a major proponent of both, the firm sees them as vital accompaniments to the main event: personalised, hands-on treatments that transform our status quo while simultaneously satisfying our innate need for human touch and connection.

outdoor bucket shower by TLEE Spas + Wellness_at Dr. Wilkinson's spa

Image credit: TLEE Spa+Wellness

Despite all the attention that touchless services have garnered, there is no replacement for the power of human touch and the wide-ranging benefits that occur when people come together in shared intention. Driven by a diverse team that is aligned by a culture of passion and purpose, it is the human element and interpersonal relationships that create the most positive change and elevates guests on their path to be the best they can be. In terms of the social and collective aspect, spas should also foster a sense of connection and community, showcasing local healing arts traditions and homegrown talent through partnerships with local resources while celebrating the specialists within their teams.

Harkening back to the pre-digital era when life unfolded in real time at a slower pace, spas should help people downshift to a more mindful state of being where social interaction and meaningful relationships flourish. While technology plays an important role in the modern spa experience, especially as it relates to efficient access and information, it’s best used in the treatment setting as a complement to human intelligence and intuition, rather than the main event. Contact-less services and self-directed experiences certainly have their place and are often more affordable than therapist-provided treatments, but in the overall equation the balance of experience should tilt in favour of the human element.

This dovetails with the shifting notions of luxury, where mindless consumption is being replaced by meaningful experiences that are often made to order. Personalised spaces, access to the best providers and practitioners, and a hyper-customised approach to treatment that targets individual specificity are all part of the new luxury equation.

For many years, the spa industry has tried to dispel the myth that spas are in the business of selling indulgence. Mirroring the rise of the modern wellness movement and the expanded audience, the industry has shifted the messaging and takeaway from relaxation and rejuvenation to mental and physical health, recovery, and performance. While the pivot toward to more tangible benefits and meaningful outcomes is a positive one for the industry, it cannot lose sight of the fact that for most, spa visits are moments of celebration. Wellness, seen as a positive and proactive pursuit, is a practice where efficacy and authenticity can comfortably co-exist with pleasure.

A radically simplified approach to menu design can replace endless variety and choice with a session-based approach that highlights the technical skills and intuitive intelligence of the therapist to deliver truly personalised outcomes with tangible benefits. Moving away from the ‘more is more’ approach, streamlining menus cut through the clutter and confusion and deliver what really matters – including concise offerings with clear focus and frameworks for meaningful customisation; a staffing, training, and service culture that prizes both technical skill and intuitive intelligence; and special events, guest practitioners, and themed retreats to add freshness and diversity to core offerings.

Since you’re here, why not read more about the spa at Equinox Hotel New York, designed by TLEE?

Main image credit: TLEE Spas+Wellness

Boka-Place-Rooftop

EXCLUSIVE: Introducing SIRO, the new holistic wellbeing brand from Kerzner

 730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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EXCLUSIVE: Introducing SIRO, the new holistic wellbeing brand from Kerzner

Kerzner International, the company behind One&Only, Atlantis Resorts and Residences and Magazan Beach & Golf Resort, has announced it is creating a pioneering new hospitality brand designed to sit at the convergence of travel, fitness, health and wellbeing. Here’s what we know about SIRO…

Boka-Place-Rooftop

Kerzner International has launched SIRO (Strength, Inclusive, Reflection and Original), a new hospitality brand that’s purpose will be to offer a balanced wellbeing experience for guests aspiring to become a healthier, more energised and rejuvenated version of themselves. The forward-thinking aim will be nurtured by SIRO’s engaging environment, supported by experts in a suite of health-related specialisms and made especially memorable by opportunities to experience destinations urban –  from urban jungles to serene countryside – through the lens of fitness.

The holistic wellbeing brand’s first property will be located in Boka Place, a new neighbourhood in the luxury marina destination of Porto Montenegro. Combining a 96-guestroom hotel and 144 managed residences, SIRO Boka Place is being designed by London-based design studio Atellior, and is slated for completion by the end of 2023.

“It is always very exciting to create the first property for a new hospitality brand and this is particularly so with SIRO because it is such a forward-looking concept – destinations of excellence forging an approach to fitness and wellbeing that meets the aspirations of modern, global lifestyles,” Una Barac, Executive Director of Atellior, told Hotel Designs. “We are also blessed with one of the most stunning locations in Europe, overlooking the breath-taking Bay of Kotor as well as Porto Montenegro, and with the Montenegrin mountains rising behind.”

SIRO Boka Place Gym cropped

Image caption: Render of the gym and fitness centre that will be sheltered inside SIRO Boka Place, designed by Atellior. | Image credit: SIRO

SIRO Boka Place will provide thoughtful environments for both guests and local residents. The public areas, we are being told, will emphasise the social aspect of wellbeing, providing a fully immersive experience and encouraging social interaction, with an overriding theme of ‘exploration’ and ‘play’ dictating the tempo. Sculptural bleacher seating in the lobby’s Amphitheatre zone will offer an informal and open place for people to relax and work, where leather cushions add comfort to the typical stadium experience and power points are hidden within integrated tables to provide numerous work hubs. The lobby is designed to come to life through sight, touch and sound, encouraging guests to linger.

Since nutrition is central to wellbeing and integral to connecting with the culture of the locality, the restaurant will provide a ‘mindful menu’ – balanced and nourishing cuisine crafted by SIRO dieticians and chefs using ingredients that are sourced locally and harvested seasonally. The restaurant’s design will have an urban vibe, with a grey conglomerate stone-effect floor and exposed service black-painted ceilings with a striking black mesh; a back-lit feature wall will create a dramatic focal point. In the centre of the space, comfortable lounge furniture in hues of grey, black and deep green surrounding low tables will lend themselves to a casual dining experience, whilst other dining tables will flank the perimeter and spill out onto the meticulously landscaped terrace.

> Designer Una Barac has joined several Hotel Designs roundtables. Since you’re here, why not check out the latest one she was involved in, on the ‘art of lighting’?

Adjacent to the restaurant will be another another pivotal feature of the ground floor lobby; the Juice Lab and After Work-Out Bar, where bar tenders will mix healthy and nutritious cocktails, juices and smoothies.

For those seeking a party vibe, a rooftop bar with live DJs will be a glorious rendezvous spot from day into the night. Contemporary furniture in cognac leather hues will occupy the space, offering a  variety of seating arrangements, from bar stools set around tall, communal tables through to comfortable lounge chairs. Striking, bespoke light features, inspired by sports’ physical movements will decorate the walls and hang as pendants. Contemporary outdoor furniture will grace the terrace together with lanterns and ample planting, creating a perfect al fresco experience and offering views across Boka Bay.

By contrast, the guestrooms are being designed as poised sanctuaries where guests can continue their fitness regime, recharge and sleep very well thanks to blackout and soundproof technology. Importantly, the rooms can transform quickly and easily between active and passive mode, pulse and restorative spaces. Each room comes with a range of fitness equipment, including punch bags, yoga balls and dumbbells, and there is plenty of space to work out or meditate. Another unique feature within the guestrooms will be the stretching bars, which form an integral part of the built-in joinery, enabling guests to exercise whilst also achieving a striking design feature. In-room mist showers, innovative furniture design and sustainable materials will work together to create a private retreat for rest, rejuvenation and recovery.

A high-performance fitness club will sit at the heart of the hotel. Featuring signature equipment and studios for workouts, yoga and dance, it will offer ample natural light thanks to the carefully designed see-saw roof, reminiscent of the industrial buildings that previously occupied the site. In addition, there will be the ‘Experience Box’ – an immersive studio with club-style lighting, sound and a large XL screen, and a smart climate-controlled 20-metre pool with a retractable roof which will allow guests to train freely regardless of weather, pausing only to take in the stunning views from the pool’s rooftop location.

Since rehabilitation is an important part of the SIRO experience, a ‘Recovery Lab’ will offer sports rehabilitation, innovative procedures, meditation classes and relaxing treatments. The Lab’s state-of-the-art equipment and procedures will explore new avenues to renewed, improved and harmonious health. Recovery facilities will include a selection of health spa services, ranging from cryo chambers, specialised massage therapies to meditation classes for mindful regeneration.

Igniting guests’ passions for exhilarating pursuits in the great outdoors, SIRO Boka Place will come complete with access to a number of demanding sailing circuits, plus cycling routes of varying intensity. Other outdoor activities will include hiking, boxing, climbing, kite surfing, parkour and, during the winter months, skiing, to name but a few.

SIRO will also be building TEAM SIRO, a team of key athletes from around the world who’ll each play an advisory role as SIRO develops the fitness and wellness elements at the heart of its immersive lifestyle experience. The first ambassador is GB Olympic gold medallist swimmer Adam Peaty – an Olympic, World, European and Commonwealth champion, and a favourite to win gold again at the next Olympics.

“SIRO is a gamechanger.” – Una Barac, Executive Director of Atellior.

Atellior’s aesthetic for the hotel has taken its cue from SIRO’s brand values, reflected in finishes that combine both traditional and contemporary materials such as oak, plaster, stone and aniline leather together with concrete, metal and glass. In this way, the contrast between the active and passive faces of SIRO, the physical as well as the mindful benefits that the experience provides, are expressed. The dramatic landscape background has inspired and defined the colour palette – tan leather and dark green upholstery combined with the softer tones of the warm ivory plaster, pale fabrics and light textured wood. Materials are being specified with great care to ensure they are ISO certified, regionally sourced and, where possible, incorporate elements of recycling within their manufacturing process.

The managed residences will range from studio apartments to three-bedroom duplexes and penthouses designed with a pared-back aesthetic. Clean lines and neutral tones will create an optimal environment for holistic wellbeing. Similar in aesthetic to the hotel guestrooms, they are designed with a calming and neutral palette inspired by the local limestone, with pops of colour in aniline cognac leather and striking artwork. Varying in size from 45 metre-squared to 170 metre-squared, the managed residences will all qualify for Montenegro’s Citizenship by Investment Programme (CBIP).

“SIRO is a gamechanger,” says Barac. “Developing a unique concept with health, well-being and mindfulness at its core has never been more relevant and together we have the opportunity to achieve a benchmark of excellence that will be the bedrock of future SIRO hotels. It is also special to us, as a firm with studios in London and Zagreb, to work in Montenegro with such a forward-looking international team.”

> Since you’re here, why not read about One&Only’s first property in Europe (it’s a stunner)?

Main image credit: Kerzner International

rooftop with pool at The Lana Dorchester

Hottest hotel openings anticipated for 2022 (Q3 & Q4)

 730 565 Pauline Brettell
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Hottest hotel openings anticipated for 2022 (Q3 & Q4)

Keeping the momentum going and following hot on the heels of our list of hotel openings slated for Q1 & Q2, Pauline Brettell takes over, keeping a collective eye glued to the hospitality horizon with a list of openings that are planned for the second half of 2022, which have piqued our curiosity and titillated our design tastebuds…

rooftop with pool at The Lana Dorchester

If, like many, you are unable to schedule your personal life beyond a 24-hour window, looking forward to plans and proposals post-spring of 2022 might seem a little unrealistic. Thankfully, for those who find themselves in this situation, we have identified the movers and shakers on the hotel design stage who are planning for 2022 and beyond.

Despite all the setbacks and slowdowns, there are so many exciting and ambitious hotels on the horizon that is a challenge to narrow it down. However, rising to the task in hand – and following on from our first article in this series that looked at openings this side of the year – here’s a must-read list of some of the VIP arrivals that have caught our attention and which we plan to follow as they unfold in Q3 and Q4.

Locke at East Side Gallery, Berlin – opening in Q3, 2022

Locke at East Side Gallery Berlin

Image credit: Locke

Lifestyle aparthotel brand Locke is to expand further into Europe with two new German openings in 2022. The opening of Locke at East Side Gallery in Berlin plans to continue with the brand ethos by challenging convention, and partnering with unique up-and-coming designers and local food and drink partners to give this location its own distinctive character and style. The 2022 openings continue the rapid expansion of the home-meets-hotel brand, which has established itself as a leader in the hybrid hospitality movement.

Maisons Pariente Paris – opening in Q3, 2022

a new maisons pariente scheduled for Paris Le Marais

Image credit: Maisons Pariente

After Crillon le Brave in Provence, Lou Pinet in Saint-Tropez and Le Coucou in Méribel, Maisons Pariente has chosen the heart of Le Marais for its new five star hotel. Le Grand Mazarin is located in the heart of the action in a buzzing district that’s bursting with creativity and constantly coming up with cutting-edge trends and avant-garde concepts. With its dream location on the corner of Rue des Archives and Rue de la Verrerie near Hotel de Ville, the collection’s first city-centre hotel embodies Le Marais’ signature bold and cosmopolitan eclecticism. Le Grand Mazarin is a place to meet and get together in a sophisticated setting that puts a playful spin on styles and periods. With 61 quirky guestrooms and suites, a spectacular restaurant with all-day service, a chic yet enigmatic underground bar, not to mention the largest private pool in Le Marais, Maisons Pariente are ready to make their mark in the City of Lights.

The Lana, Dorchester Collection – opening in Q4, 2022

Slated to open in the last quarter of 2022, The Lana marks Dorchester Collection’s first address in the Middle East. Taking its name from the Arabic expression ‘for us’, The Lana is a striking 30-storey tower designed by the award-winning architects Foster + Partners that perfectly captures the essence of its destination as an unparalleled luxury experience in Downtown Dubai. With its 225 guestrooms, it will be located in the heart of Dubai, in the Burj Khalifa District and overlooking the vibrant Business Bay area.

Como Le Montrachet  – opening in Q4, 2022

gardens and exterior at COMO Le Montrachet

Image credit: COMO Hotels and Resorts

COMO Le Montrachet will be the COMO Group’s first French property, and is set to bring its signature style and design to the Burgundy region where it will make its home alongside some of the regions most acclaimed wines and vines. Italian designer Paola Navone will be bringing her trademark contemporary touches to the historic 18th-century property in the sought-after Côte-d’Or. Arranged across four heritage buildings, 31 guestrooms and suites will be converted into chic sanctuaries over the course of 2022.

Six Senses New York – opening in Q4, 2022

calm natural tones at six Senses New York

Image credit: Six Senses

Six Senses New York, the group’s first North American property, will be housed in The XI – two unique, twisting towers designed by world-renowned architect Bjarke Ingels in an unparalleled location between Manhattan’s Hudson River and The High Line. Guestrooms and suites designed by Parisian firm Gilles & Boissier will be contemporary in style, while offering every modern convenience in a calm ambiance of natural-hued fabrics and furnishings. Two restaurants will showcase the brand’s popular culinary approach to wellness, while the Six Senses Spa will introduce its layered approach to wellness with treatments that are an intuitive mix of science and human awareness, and where a high-tech and high-touch approach is crafted around the individual.

Nobu Marrakech – opening in Q4, 2022

view over marrakech from planned Nobu Marrakech

Image credit: Nobu Hospitality

Nobu Hotel Marrakech will be the brands debut in the Red City, where it plans to bring its contemporary style to the design while keeping the city’s rich heritage as a reference and backdrop. The hotel will be located in the Hivernage district, steps from the historic heart of the city, souks and vibrant Djemaa el-Fna. Transformed into a luxury lifestyle destination, the hotel will house 71 spacious guestrooms and suites, a selection of dynamic dining venues and rooftop spaces, 2,000 square meters of luxurious spa and fitness centre, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, and meeting and event space.

Ritz-Carlton Arizona – opening in Q4, 2022

Ritz-Carlton Paradise valley

Image credit: Ritz-Carlton

Set in 20 acres of lush, cooling landscape with the grandeur of Camelback Mountain on the horizon, The Ritz-Carlton, Paradise Valley is an exclusive sanctuary and retreat that will evoke a sense of playfulness and escape. Its modern accommodations and luxury amenities include secret gardens and citrus groves, world-class shopping and dining, all underlined by a statement 120 metre pool.

citizenM Chicago – opening in Q4, 2022

facade and exterior of new citizenM Chicago Downtown

Image credit: citizenM

citizenM is planning its first opening in Chicago with a newly constructed hotel that will be part of Sterling Bay’s mixed-use development at 300 North Michigan Avenue, situated between the Riverwalk and Millennium Park. The 280-room hotel sits within the 47-story tower which also includes 289 residential units and 25,000 square feet of retail space. citizenM Chicago Downtown will offer the signature brand experience, with an art-filled living room, 24/7 canteenM and three societyM meeting rooms. The hotel façade will feature a commissioned piece by New York-based artist Nina Chanel Abney, whose artwork will also appear in the entrance.

W Hotel Sydney – opening in Q4, 2022

Render of new W Hotel sydney australia

Image credit: W Hotels

The W Sydney is set to make its debut in the city later this year. It will be the third W hotel in Australia, following the W Brisbane and the W Melbourne. The hotel will mark the re-entry of W Hotels into Sydney, and will be part of ‘The Ribbon’ development The 25 storey build designed by HASSEL, will shelter 539 guestrooms, serviced apartments, along with an infinity pool, all with stunning views of the harbour.

Raffles Resort Sentosa – opening in Q4, 2022

artist impression of proposed Raffles Resort Sentosa singapore

Image credit: Raffles

And finally, ending in style, Singapore is about to get a second Raffles Hotel, this time on Sentosa, 135 years after the original now iconic colonial-style hotel in Beach Road opened its doors. The developers say they are taking Raffles ‘back to the beach’, as the original hotel, which opened in 1887, was conceived as a beach hotel and has long since been engulfed by the bustling city. Each of the 61 villas will feature its own private swimming pool, and will be set in more than 10 hectares of sprawling tropical gardens with beautiful views over the south China Sea.

Singapore Sling anyone…?

Main image credit: Dorchester Collection

A hotel in the middle of the desert - with a pool and unmatched accomodation

Weekly digest: Hotel openings, a review from Paris & trends galore

 730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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Weekly digest: Hotel openings, a review from Paris & trends galore

Peek-a-boo! Editor Hamish Kilburn here, emerging from the Holidays slumber, with your first weekly digest of 2022 – and it’s a big one! Our list of must-read stories this week features an extensive look at significant hotels openings expected between now and June, a hotel design trends special as well as a hotel review, sent with love, from Paris…

A hotel in the middle of the desert - with a pool and unmatched accomodation

And just like that, it was January: a month that crawls by under the shadow of the Holidays. It’s not all dark mornings and freezing evenings, though, as January is a time at Hotel Designs when we put our fortune-telling hats on to explore some of the most significant hotel openings expected over the next 12 months.

Okay, we may not quite qualify as fortune tellers, but we do our best to keep our readers in the loop on all the latest hotel developments, emerging trends and new products – all while providing an entertaining read (and sometimes listen with our podcast) to keep things aptly light.

As important as it is for designers, architects, hoteliers, developers and suppliers to keep their fingers of the pulse, it’s not always the easiest of tasks to do when on-the-go and on site (somewhat of a novelty these days). Therefore, the weekly digest, published (you got it, every week) will include all the most-read and must-read stories. Shall we get started?

Hottest hotel openings anticipated for 2022 (Q1 & Q2)

A render of a modern, contemporary guestroom bedroom with wooden headboard and a colour scheme of blue, brown and cream

Image credit: xenodocheio Milos

Each year, adhering to tradition, we started January on a unique mission: to pinpoint the hottest hotel openings; the game-altering properties that will flex their muscles, challenge conventional approaches to hotel design and effortlessly take hospitality, on an international scale, forward.

If last year was about recovery, then 2022 will be defined by the designers, architects and hoteliers who are willing to put it all on the line for the sake of innovation and creativity – it’s time to show-off as we gather around the crystal ball once more to see which hotel openings of 2022 will make the biggest impact. And we start the two-part series by taking a glance at the hotels that are expected to arrive in Q1 and Q2.

Read more.

Hotel review: Fauchon L’Hotel Paris, where rock & roll meets luxury hospitality

Hotel suite bedroom with pink accents on bed and mosaic floor, in Fauchon L'Hotel Paris

Image credit: Fauchon L’Hotel Paris

Briefed to expect the unexpected, Gareth Thomas sets off on a Parisian adventure – far removed from chichés but still in the beating heart of the action – and checks in and checks out Fauchon L’Hotel Paris, where a bold interior design scheme juxtaposes heritage architecture in the heart of the city.

Read more.

Hilton reveals its list of new hotels for 2022

Cream, blue and gold decor in guestroom at Waldorf Astoria Kuwait

Image credit: Hilton Collection

With more than 75 new hotels planned across Europe, the Middle East and Africa in the coming year, Hilton is sharing its optimism and enticing us with their choices. It is starting to feel like it is time to start planning the next year’s jet-setting adventures. From Morocco to Mallorca, here is a taste of what is to come on the Hilton International agenda.

Read more.

Architecture structure ‘Phase Dance’ wrapped into the natural world

Exterior of PHASE DANCE, an architectural structure in forest in Japan

Image credit:Phase Dance/Koichi Torimura

Nestled in a hilly forested area in Shizuoka, Japan, Phase Dance is an impressive architectural structure, designed by Takeshi Hirobe Architects. But the journey to create this masterpiece was not as effortless as the result itself.

Read more.

7 hotel trends shaping hospitality in 2022

Render of lady in nest-like space in front of an outdoor pool and modern villa

Image credit: SB Architects

As we start look past the crisis period of Covid-19, and start to settle into a ‘new normal’, the definition of hospitality has a new meaning – one of comfort, security and escape. International architecture firm SB Architects has identified which key hotel trends are shaping hospitality design in 2022 and beyond.

Read more.

Dream Hotel Group unveils plans for Miami flagship in 2025

view of Dream Miami Hotel from across the river

Image credit: Dream Hotel Group

A new 165-key Dream Hotel has been planned as a centrepiece to the world-class Riverside Wharf hospitality and entertainment development in the heart of Downtown Miami. Here’s what we know.

Read more.

Product watch: The modern Statement shower collection from Kohler

Matt Black shower in contemporary bathroom. Products supplied by Kohler

Image credit: Kohler

The modern Statement shower collection from global brand Kohler brings a range of unique shapes and various sizes to the shower, breathing new, contemporary life into well-loved standards and marrying the latest in technology with enduring craftsmanship. Innovative sprays elevate the showering experience, and universal compatibility means the system works wherever in the world it is installed. Inspired by iconic furniture and home goods, and defined by soft, approachable designs, the collection carries an underlying familiarity while creating striking aesthetics within the space.

Read more.

Since you’re here…

More than 60,000 readers per month enjoy the content we publish on Hotel Designs. Our mission is to define the point on international hotel design, and we are doing that by serving relevant news stories and engaging features. To keep up to date on the hottest stories that are emerging, you can sign up to the newsletter, which is completely free of charge. As well as receiving a weekly round-up of the top stories, you will also access our bi-monthly HD Edit –staying ahead of the curve has never been so easy!

Click here to sign up to our newsletter.

Main image caption: A render of a resort in the Middle East. | Image credit: SB Architects

Matt Black shower in contemporary bathroom. Products supplied by Kohler

Product watch: The modern Statement shower collection from Kohler

 730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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Product watch: The modern Statement shower collection from Kohler

Complete with unique shapes, finishes and an array of sizes, the Statement shower collection from Kohler breathes new life – and technology – into the bathroom. The modern shower range is inspired by iconic design forms and offers an array of sensory stimuli, as Editor Hamish Kilburn explores…

Matt Black shower in contemporary bathroom. Products supplied by Kohler

The modern Statement shower collection from global brand Kohler brings a range of unique shapes and various sizes to the shower, breathing new, contemporary life into well-loved standards and marrying the latest in technology with enduring craftsmanship. Innovative sprays elevate the showering experience, and universal compatibility means the system works wherever in the world it is installed. Inspired by iconic furniture and home goods, and defined by soft, approachable designs, the collection carries an underlying familiarity while creating striking aesthetics within the space.

“Showering re-envisioned at the most basic level,” is how the brand is describing it. An oblong showerhead results in more enveloping water coverage for the whole body, and seven immersive spray experiences offered within the collection include a ‘deep massage’ spray composed of twisting jets that knead sore muscles and a cloud spray that swathes the body in a warm mist. Other spray options include a full coverage rain, a dense, wide sweep, and ribbon massage that cascades in an angled stream. Additionally, the collection offers an infinity spray – interlaced water streams create three experience zones in a single spray – the droplets closest to the nozzle rinse, while the middle zone massages, and the farthest stream provides coverage. Many components also make use of the gamechanging Kohler Katalyst technology, which enhances every droplet with air for a warm, luxurious cloak of water.

“Showering is so much more than just getting clean. It is a chance to feel rejuvenated, a moment to focus on self-care,” said Lun Cheak Tan, Kohler Vice President of Industrial Design. “A shower should provide a rich experience – through design-forward craftsmanship, meaningful functionality and un-compromised focus on the user.”

The global Statement Collection includes a showerhead, four styles of handshowers, four unique rainheads, and two bodysprays, all available in a range of sizes and shapes to best suit the décor and design environment. Finishes include polished chrome, brushed nickel, matte black, and brushed moderne brass (finish options may vary by region); all are aesthetically arresting and created to yield a natural interplay with other accessories and design elements.

Matt Black modern shower in contemporary bathroom. Products supplied by Kohler

Image credit: Kohler

To add to Statement’s overall ease of use and provide peace of mind to designers and specifiers, the components were designed to be universally compatible. The collection is designed – from thread size to flow rate – to work globally, no matter how different the local codes and standards may be.

Statement represents an evolution in modern showering, one that engages all the senses and elevates the everyday. Its handsome forms are matched by exceptional function that results in an indulgent, customised showering experience.

> Since you’re here, why not read about the latest hotel trends in hospitality?

Kohler is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.

Main image credit: Kohler

Hilton Bahrain outdoor lounge

Hilton reveals its list of new hotels for 2022

 730 565 Pauline Brettell
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Hilton reveals its list of new hotels for 2022

As modern travellers update their wishlists and re-pack suitcases to make up for lost time, Hilton has made it easy to be inspired with its list of new hotels planned across Europe, the Middle East and Africa…

Hilton Bahrain outdoor lounge

With more than 75 new hotels planned across Europe, the Middle East and Africa in the coming year, Hilton is sharing its optimism and enticing us with their choices. It is starting to feel like it is time to start planning the next year’s jet-setting adventures. From Morocco to Mallorca, here is a taste of what is to come on the Hilton International agenda.

Hilton Bahrain – opening summer 2022

As listed in our focus on Hottest hotel openings 2022, Hilton Bahrain is slated to open in June 2022. Located along Al Fateh Highway, the 348-room hotel will feature studios, one- and two-bedroom apartments, all with the brands trademark attention to comfort and luxury, as well as a stunning view of the sea from each unit’s balcony. With six distinct restaurants and lounges, nine meeting rooms and a luxurious spa, the hotel promises an exceptional guest experience.

Conrad Rabat Arzana – opening autumn 2022

swimming pool and terrace at Conrad Rabat Arzana

Image credit: Hilton International

Set to debut as Hilton’s first luxury hotel in Morocco, this hotel promises to offer spectacular ocean views from its elevated waterfront location, overlooking a tranquil lagoon and beach. Guests will be able to experience these breath-taking surroundings while enjoying locally inspired food and beverage at two unique restaurants. The hotel will also offer a fully appointed spa and salon as well as over 600 square meters of event space that includes a grand ballroom and four meeting rooms.

Iceland Parliament Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton – opening spring 2022 

The Iceland Parliament Hotel will be a complex of seven rebuilt and new buildings at the doorstep of the Icelandic parliament – Alþingi. Surrounded by three different squares, close to the cathedral, city hall, and the upcoming harbour area, the hotel will be in a key location within the city’s most high-profile zone, making it the perfect location to start your Icelandic explorations. The hotel will offer state-of-the-art meeting and conference facilities, an executive lounge, a fitness room, a spa area, café, bar and restaurant.

Conrad Chia Laguna Sardinia – opening spring 2022

guestroom at Conrad Chia Laguna Sardinia

Image credit: Hilton International

Conrad Chia Laguna Sardinia will shelter 107 guestrooms, each featuring a private garden or terrace, with the majority offering panoramic views of the entire Chia lagoon. La Terrazza restaurant will feature outdoor seating and iconic views of Chia Laguna. Sa Mesa, meaning ‘the table’ in local Sardinian dialect, will be the hotel’s signature restaurant offering authentic Sardinian cuisine and an extensive selection of local wines from small local producers in an informal trattoria style setting. Bar Bollicine will serve as the hotel’s all-day bar and lounge, where guests can enjoy an extensive collection of champagnes and proseccos, as well as cocktails with a modern twist. The hotel’s Conrad Spa will also offer six treatment rooms, a spa bar, a yoga studio, and a state-of-the-art gym.

Lost Property St. Paul’s London, Curio Collection by Hilton – opening spring 2022

Lost Property St Paul’s London, Curio Collection by Hilton, will open this spring to offer stunning views of St. Paul’s Cathedral and the City of London. Sheltering 145 guestrooms, designed by Rani Ahluwalia, the décor has been inspired by London’s lost stories in history. The six-storey hotel will offer a charming restaurant for guests and close access to some of London’s most visited tourist attractions.

Hilton Dubai Palm Jumeirah – opening spring 2022

beachfront and exterior of Hilton Dubai Palm Jumeirah

Image credit: Hilton International

Located on the iconic Palm Jumeirah, this hotels’ beachfront location makes it a destination of choice for those looking for a relaxing getaway. After waking up to the sunrise reflecting over the serene waters of the Palm, guests can exercise on the mile-long promenade, take a dip on the property’s private beach, enjoy a treatment at the spacious eforea spa, or have a bite at the hotel’s wide range of restaurants, bars and lounges which will include international brands such as Trader Vic’s, Barfly by Buddha Bar, and Claw BBQ.

Hampton by Hilton Doha Old Town – opening in early 2022

Situated in the Old Salata district, Hampton by Hilton Doha Old Town will feature 221 modern guestrooms, an all-day dining restaurant, juice and snack bar, work zone and fitness centre. It will be conveniently located close to Doha attractions such as the corniche, the Museum of Islamic Art, the National Museum of Qatar, and the famous Souk Waqif. It will also be in close proximity to the banking district and the Emiri Diwan Palace.

Sea Breeze Santorini Beach Resort, Curio Collection by Hilton – opening spring 2022

Swimming pool and terrace at Sea Breeze Santorini Beach Resort, Curio Collection by Hilton

Image credit: Hilton International

Sea Breeze Santorini Beach Resort, Curio Collection by Hilton will be Hilton’s first location on the glamorous Greek island of Santorini. The 37-key hotel draws its inspiration from Santorini’s iconic blue and whitewashed architecture and incorporates the island’s rugged natural beauty with stone walls and organic wooden textures. Each room will boast private terraces and a hot tub or pool. Guests can choose from two restaurants and two bars for a relaxed meal or cocktail, with two of the outlets being located on the resort’s private beach. spoiled for choice with swimming pools, a spa, fitness facilities and loungers by the beach, guests can alternate between working up a sweat, getting pampered, soaking up the sun, and cooling off in the water.

Motto by Hilton Rotterdam Blaak – opening spring 2022

Motto by Hilton Rotterdam Blaak will become the first Motto property in the Netherlands, as well as being the first in Europe, when it opens this year. The hotel provides convenient access to some of the city’s top attractions, such as the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Old Harbour, Maritime Museum Rotterdam, and Cube Houses. It’s also just a few minutes’ walk from Rotterdam’s famous Markthal, where visitors can shop and explore nearly 100 indoor food stalls and restaurants.

Waldorf Astoria Kuwait – opening spring 2022

Cream, blue and gold decor in guestroom at Waldorf Astoria Kuwait

Image credit: Hilton International

The 200 luxury guestrooms at the new Waldorf Astoria Kuwait will be just feet away from world-class shopping and dining, thanks to its location in Avenues Mall — a destination with more than 1,100 shops and a movie theatre. The hotel will also be home to the award-winning Japanese restaurant concept ROKA and will feature an exclusive Club Lounge as well as an awe-inspiring 13,560 sq ft Waldorf Spa. Kuwait City Centre, historical and cultural sites, and the Grand Mosque of Kuwait are just a short 15-minute drive away.

Hotel Saski Krakow, Curio Collection by Hilton – opening summer 2022

Set in the centre of Krakow’s old town, adjacent to the historic Main Square, Hotel Saski Krakow is poised to be one of the city’s most celebrated hotels. The property will be ideal for both travellers of leisure and business, offering a swimming pool, spa and fitness centre, a restaurant and bar, as well as a business centre.

Hilton Mallorca Galatzo – opening summer 2022

natural tones and textures in the guestroom at the Hilton Mallorca Galatzo

Image credit: Hilton International

The 208-key Hilton Mallorca Galatzo will join Hilton’s growing pipeline of properties in Spain. Set over 54,000 square metres of perfectly presented gardens, Hilton Mallorca Galatzo will boast three swimming pools and two pool bars, ensuring guests are never far from a cool drink and a dip in the pool to complement the warm Balearic climate. With relaxation and rejuvenation in mind, the hotel will offer a sizeable wellness centre and two distinct dining experiences and is located less than a five-minute drive from the popular beaches of Paguera.

Hilton Rome Eur La Lama – opening autumn 2022

dark blue and green interior at Hilton Rome Eur La Lama_Lounge Bar

Image credit: Hilton International

Hilton Rome Eur La Lama is located in EUR business district, with direct access to La Nuvola Roma Convention Centre. The hotel will include 439 guestrooms, all within an architecturally distinctive structure known as “La Lama” (The Blade). Metro links are just a few streets away, and Euroma2 mall is within a 10-minute drive. The hotel features a rooftop restaurant and terrace, kids’ activities, and a library bar.

Hilton Cairo Nile Maadi – opening autumn 2022
Located in the upscale residential and diplomatic district of Maadi, once complete the hotel will bring 257 keys to Cairo, while also offering direct access to the Corniche El Nile and providing views of some of Egypt’s ancient heritage sites. It is expected to house a business centre, meeting rooms, a health club and spa, and a handful of F&B outlets. Hotel guests will be able to enjoy the spectacular views of the Nile River while sunbathing by the outdoor pool. Perfect for both leisure and business, Hilton Cairo Nile Maadi will feature a large health club and spa, an outdoor swimming pool, two restaurants, an executive lounge, as well as fully equipped meeting and event spaces.

Since you’re here…

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Main image credit: Hilton Bahrain

Artis handbasin in red bathroom colour scheme by Villeroy & Boch

Trend alert: Red shades in the bathroom

 730 565 Pauline Brettell
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Trend alert: Red shades in the bathroom

With two new rich shades of red being added to the Artis range, bathroom brand Villeroy & Boch looks at energising the bathroom with a vibrant colour palette. Red isn’t dead, it seems…

Artis handbasin in red bathroom colour scheme by Villeroy & Boch

Reds are all about vibrant and warm tones. They feel stimulating and exude optimism and energy. With so much focus on transforming our bathrooms into sanctuaries for wellbeing, red shades are a perfect choice for anyone who wants to recharge their batteries and find daily inspiration while brushing their teeth. Admittedly, it does take a little courage, but this is a colour that has the potential to transform your bathroom into a very personal source of energy.

Artis surface-mounted washbasins provide a perfect showcase for strong colours. With their dual-colour look, combining a brilliant white interior with coloured outer surfaces, the washbasins coordinate in any bathroom, even if other ceramic fittings are in a classic white. In 2021, the German-Danish designer Gesa Hansen added two new rich red shades to the Artis colour palette, Bordeaux and Rust. Bordeaux evokes images of the intensive hues of ripe grapes, while Rust is a warm shade with an earthy, natural feel.

artis handbasin in red and peony design

Image credit: Villeroy & Boch

Red is a strong colour that needs a sparring partner to reveal its full effect in the bathroom. Bold combinations, for example, a red basin on a matt black vanity unit, increase the intensity. Another combination with a guaranteed wow effect, is the Artis handbasin in combination with a Finion vanity unit in Peony, a shade again inspired by nature, and the vibrant red of blossoming peonies.

Wood tones and natural shades such as sand or light grey, on the other hand, create a harmonising effect. They offset the vibrancy of red colours and emphasise their warm, cosy character.

And if you aren’t quite ready to embrace the red in your bathroom basin, put it on the wall instead. A red wall will create a strong statement as a contrast to the pure white of the ceramics, and will infuse the room, and your daily routine, with warmth.

Villeroy & Boch is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.

Main image credit: Villeroy & Boch

Hotel suite bedroom with pink accents on bed and mosaic floor, in Fauchon L'Hotel Paris

Fauchon L’Hotel Paris: Where rock & roll, design and luxury hospitality meet

 730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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Fauchon L’Hotel Paris: Where rock & roll, design and luxury hospitality meet

Briefed to expect the unexpected, Gareth Thomas sets off on a Parisian adventure – far removed from chichés but still in the beating heart of the action – and checks in and checks out Fauchon L’Hotel Paris, where a bold interior design scheme juxtaposes heritage architecture in the heart of the city…

Hotel suite bedroom with pink accents on bed and mosaic floor, in Fauchon L'Hotel Paris

Ahhh Pareee! (Paris!) – La Ville Lumiere (the City of Light) – the undistributed home of haute couture, elegant interior design and a historical destination for those seeking that ‘je ne sais quoi’ when it comes to matters of the heart.

While being a traveller in Paris comes naturally to most – people watching from a corner café isn’t exactly a difficult lifestyle to adapt to – operating a hospitality business amongst the city’s backdrop is anything but simple. Any new-kid-on-the-block hotel (even for Fauchon L’Hotel Paris, which is owned by one of France’s most iconic confectionary luxury brands) therefore needs to work hard in order to make a statement in a city littered with luxury hotels. Fauchon L’Hotel Paris shouts loudly, yet elegantly, by aiming to seamlessly harness and blend Parisian fashion cues, confident design aesthetics and even a nod to a rock-and-roll mindset, all housed in a traditional and effortlessly beautiful Haussmanien building.

The hotel’s natural playfulness and signature hot-pink touches are boldly and sensitively injected alongside the original design by renowned architect Richard Martinet who worked together with Atelier Paluel-Marmont. The juxtaposition of ‘new design meets old architecture’ feels intentional, and is further heightened when guests walk through the doors to experience celebrated French artist commissions that are hung throughout the public spaces, by names such as Aristide Najean and Monica Nowan.

Since opening in the summer of 2019 – the last travel season before the pandemic brought global travel and hospitality to its knees – Fauchon L’Hotel Paris unveiled itself as a house of innovation and excellence. The boutique hotel, which has remerged from the pandemic with bounds of character, lives up to its reputation by being a feast for all the senses that capture first impressions.

The sensory mood is set from arrival, within an elegant yet fun library that is complete with roaring digital fireplace and cosy intimate seating arrangements, with those signature hot-pink accents evident throughout. Champagne and delicious macarons – the only cliché, I promise – tantalise the tastebuds. Beyond what you can see, the hotel’s rich, indulgent, and very captivating, bespoke fragrance lingers delightfully in the air, further proving that attention to detail is paramount in the desired aim to deliver on this full sensory experience.

The public areas – from the discreet seating located throughout the public spaces to the exquisite dining room adorned with further art and sculptures that gives guests a more private gastronomic experience away from the elegant but busting Fauchon Café – further help communicate and elevate the brand’s contemporary yet refined hospitality experience.

Each of the hotel’s immaculately designed and decorated 54 rooms and suites frame the classic Parisian city view, with some extending to include a balcony view of the Eiffel Tower – truly la crème de la crème!

The rooms themselves are spread across two interconnected buildings and this is where the triad of fashion, design and unapologetic rock and roll truly meet through the hotel’s defining concept of G.L.A.M:

  • Gourmet – gastronomy is the signature Fauchon experience that is the focal point of the brand experience
  • Location – located in the heart and soul of central Paris, there is no escaping the energy and delights of the city
  • Attention and experiences – bespoke is the name of the game, each room is unique, and each guest deserves a unique and special experience.
  • Mesdames – femininity is celebrated and prioritised at every stage of the hotel design experience.
A Deluxe room inside Fauchon L'Hotel in Paris, with gold headboard

Image credit: Fauchon L’Hotel Paris

Guests checking in to one of the split-level suites on the top floor of the hotel will be provided with a 360-degree living experience. A lower ground-floor bedroom, with queen-sized bed is complete with punches of colour on the linens, which give way to a sizeable and well-thought-out bathroom designed for the discerning traveller in mind, complete with a walk-in shower area with full rain shower experience and complimentary mood lighting around a generous vanity mirror.

Within each room, the sound system is a timeless reminder of what music used to mean. A modest record player sits, harmoniously adding value to the authentic hospitality experience, while creating further texture to the overall design scheme. A selection of classic vinyl albums are also available to either listen to, either in private serenity or while throwing open the multiple balcony doors. There is something aptly satisfying about usurping digital experiences we have all grown accustomed to in favour of an analogue process that is more grounded, more tactile, and more expressive. It may be an obvious reminder of the rock-and-roll personality (depending on which album you select) the hotel presents to its guests – but this particular guest loved every second!

Split-level suite, featuring guitar on the wall and record player

Image credit: Fauchon L’Hotel Paris

The playful quirkiness of the Fauchon brand extends upstairs into the living area of the suite where the famed mini bar is displayed pride of place. Less functional drinks cabinet, more exhibition focal point, the elegant, custom-designed pink armoire installation designed by Sacha Lakic is stylishly graphic on the outside with a metallic multi-faceted finish, whilst the interior houses all the goodies and you would expect from a hotel belonging to the house of Fauchon.

From one memorable gastrnomy experience to another (though tempting to not leave the beautiful suite), The Grand Café Fauchon is a dining spectacle that awaits both guests and loyal Parisian diners and imbibers. Its design and service pays homage to the founder, Auguste Fauchon, whose legacy is celebrated here each day through Fauchon’s passionate commitment to pleasure, quality and fierce dedication to ensuring the quality of the products used and sold are from the best producers in France. These pillars, keeping the hotel relevant in the congested luxury hospitality arena of Paris, are upheld by the culinary mastery of the Fauchon chefs – three of France’s finest: François Daubinet, Head Pastry Chef; Frédéric Claudel, Executive Chef du Grand Café Fauchon and Sébastien Monceau, Executive Chef de la Maison Fauchon.

As day turns to night, the hotel’s restaurant comes to life with an eye-catching chandelier display that seems to dance above diners in what look like fishnets. This area allows guests a more secluded and private eating experience, away from the energetic and bustling public Cafe location. The design of this space reflects that intention with a relaxing yet opulent colour palate with nods to classical design sitting in harmony with the signature Fauchon modern touch.

Fauchon L’Hotel Paris, refreshingly not simply defined by its F&B offerings, is more than a base during your time in this vibrant city. It is a hotel that confidently matches – dare I say even contributes to the energy of – the awesomeness of Paris. The hotel earns its right to be a ‘destination’ in its own regard and cleverly achieves its aim to bring together the worlds of fashion, design and music, collectively which deliver its unique personality. If you are looking for a hotel experience that is distinctly Parisian but at the same time distinctly unique then Fauchon L‘Hotel Paris is for you.

> Since you’re here, why not check out our editorial series on the hottest hotels to open in 2022?

Main image credit: Fauchon L’Hotel Paris

PHASE_DANCE, an architectural structure, combining conrete and timber in Japan

Architecture structure ‘Phase Dance’ wrapped into the natural world

 730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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Architecture structure ‘Phase Dance’ wrapped into the natural world

Nestled in a hilly forested area in Shizuoka, Japan, Phase Dance is an impressive architectural structure, designed by Takeshi Hirobe Architects. But the journey to create this masterpiece was not as effortless as the result itself, as editor Hamish Kilburn discovers…

PHASE_DANCE, an architectural structure, combining conrete and timber in Japan

The sloping location of Phase Dance, in Shizuoka, posed a range of challenges – not least the question of how the building should be positioned on site so that its architectural qualities can be admired while also remaining sensitive to the surrounding typography. To avoid an excessively large and deep foundation, a third of the floor space of the building was designed as an overhang, reducing the contact area with the ground. The basic structure from the basement to the ceiling of the second floor consists of reinforced concrete covered with wood.

Furthermore, the architects at Takeshi Hirobe Architects noticed an orangebark stewartia tree during their site visit. Calculations taking account of building-spacing regulations and other restrictions indicated that the tree stood at the centre of the area in which construction was possible. They decided to leave the tree intact and to design the structure of the building around it – as a tribute to the importance of nature, which – whether they intended or not – instantly created a new layer of the overall design narrative.

While the studio understood the tree to be central point, they were careful to avoid a symmetrical design with uniform angles in order to create unique, generously sized rooms. With that in mind, the architects sought to lend each room a cozy and playful air.

In the bathroom, the clear formal language of the Duravit washbasin from the Vero complete bathroom range blends perfectly into the overall ambience – as elegant as it is durable. The range, which launched in 2001, has found great popularity, especially among architects, thanks to its iconic rectangular character.

Large windows that follow the uneven contours of the walls afford expansive views of the green landscape and bring natural light into the interior.

The upper floor serves as a library and reading area. It has the same floor plan as the lower floor and includes a triangular roof. Although the roof is subdivided into multiple sections, it gives the impression of being a single piece that covers the building.

During the continuous decision-making process, Takeshi Hirobe Architects likened their reactions to the various phases and aspects of the project to a dance – and dubbed the project ‘Phase Dance’, inspired by the dynamics of the song of the same name by guitarist Pat Metheny.

>Since you’re here, why not read about the top bathroom products that launched in 2021?

Duravit is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.

Main image credit: Phase Dance/Koichi Torimura

Sparcstudio designed gym at Champneys Mottram Hall

Fitness trends beyond the treadmill in hotel design

 730 565 Pauline Brettell
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Fitness trends beyond the treadmill in hotel design

It may be a new year, but the noise around wellness and wellbeing is just as loud in 2022 as it has been in recent times. Beverley Bayes, Creative Director at Sparcstudio, takes a look at future fitness trends and how hotel design can be used to direct the new wave of spa and wellness spaces being offered in hotels in 2022 and beyond…

Sparcstudio designed gym at Champneys Mottram Hall

Sparcstudio Design, a specialist studio focused in the design of spa and wellness – and therefore an expert studio to identify fitness trends in hotel design – has long had its finger on the pulse when it comes to the latest fitness trends through its work with destination fitness clubs, such as Third Space, Rise Gym, and Aspria clubs in Europe, as well as substantial fitness facilities that form a key part of hotel spas, such as South Lodge Spa, Champneys Mottram Hall, and Sopwell Cottonmill Club.

Fitness is currently undergoing a post-pandemic revolution, which is set to boom. Many people have tired of working out at home, so are longing for both experience and connection, along with the chance to work out in beautiful surroundings in a social and supportive setting. In a world where ‘health is the new wealth’, people recognise the importance of being fit and active and are beginning to convert to a more wellness-based vacation, become a member of a standalone club, or frequenter of one of the many ‘pay & play’ boutique studio/spin studios. Many are also joining membership waiting lists to aspirational hotel spa and fitness clubs that offer exclusive memberships in a luxury setting. Hotels are therefore perfectly positioned to meet these needs but, in many cases, require a complete rethink in terms of design approach to fitness spaces & offering.

design details at Champneys Spa Gym Mottram Hall

Image credit: Sparcstudio

Experience-led design is spearheading a new wave of design in the spa and wellness space, especially when it comes to gyms and fitness studios. Well-designed fitness offers are moving away from the typical gym set up in a basement with rows of equipment packed into darkened spaces, a concept that originated from the ‘cardio-theatre’ model with equipment ranged around a wall of screens. Cutting-edge fitness design is now much more about wellness spaces with soul, designed with a softer biophilic approach, ideally overlooking and connecting to natural surroundings with outdoor workout facilities.

An optimal gym layout, as seen at South Lodge Spa, designed by Sparcstudio, is open-plan and light-filled, incorporating at its centre a functional training zone for group and social exercise with TRX rig surrounded by zoned spaces for cardio, weights or resistance work. Designed to offer an uplifting experience, the 18.5 square-metre gym was located on an upper level of the spa with full height glazing opening onto a dedicated training terrace, benefitting from views of the South Downs and the spa garden terraces below, complete with natural swim pond at the centre.

People are naturally drawn to nature, and exercising outdoors can form part of the offering at any hotel or gym that has some appropriate and available space. It can be vast, exploring woodland terrain, building outdoor equipment and nature trails, or simply a yoga deck or HIIT terrace that has fresh air and views looking across the landscape. It can add variety to the workout and offer a new experience for many guests.

comfortable seating area in the gym at The spa at South Lodge

Image credit: Sparcstudio

The inclusion of technology is also key to design and it should enable and facilitate in a discreet way rather than translating into clinical, sensory deprived environments. In advanced spaces, some sites are installing recovery areas with 3D imaging machines, locker rooms complete with infrared saunas with big-screen TVs that stream Netflix, and selfie-friendly cryotherapy chamber, while treadmills can be fitted with O2 vaporisers so that you can train to peak performance. For many millennial gym-goers, a trip to the fitness studio will often replace a night out at the pub or nightclub. This is especially true for many young urbanites. New high-end boutique gyms are aiming to cultivate a tribal loyalty and community. Club membership has become a status symbol and savvy urban hoteliers can embrace this, designing their fitness space and offering within to match the needs of this growing subculture.

Third space hot yoga studio designed by Sparcstudio

Image credit: Sparcstudio

Historically, fitness studios are often multi-use, uninspiring, and over-lit spaces. Sparcstudio take more of a bespoke approach based around the experience and how you want to make the user feel. For example we designed London’s first dedicated hot yoga studio, which is a truly sensuous space with pale pink panelling lined with fragrant juniper logs and fitted with state of the art anti-bacterial technology. Members can enter deep stretches and poses, and detoxify through perspiration, in a hot, cleansing environment.

Whereas high energy classes such as spin or HIIT can resemble a night club in terms of their style and delivery with immersive, wraparound lighting and sound. The advent of virtual classes has increased the utilisation of these rooms without the need for additional members of staff. They also tap into the tribe-like following that many have (think Les Mills and Peloton).

The home-meets-hotel concept is growing, as demonstrated by the rapid expansion of Locke Hotels. Developing this one step further, they are taking a private members club-like approach to the offering with an array of experiences ranging from flexible co-working spaces, destination dining, artisan grocer, yoga studio, rooftop cocktail bar, a locally-inspired cultural programme. Niche hotels, and international members clubs cultivate their audience to create a tribe-like following where international wellness travellers expect to turn up in their next destination to find the same level of service, design and experiences, wherever they are in the world. Clever hoteliers have realised this and have created fitness spaces that feed into the need for belonging and collective experience.

Sparcstudio is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.

Main image credit: Sparcstudio

Radisson guestroom with dramatic black and red decor at Radisson RED Rosebank south Africa

Radisson looks back on 2021 as it steps optimistically into 2022

 730 565 Pauline Brettell
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Radisson looks back on 2021 as it steps optimistically into 2022

Following its successful expansion and growth over the past year, Radisson Group is on track to reach its goal of 150 hotels by 2025. To understand more, Hotel Designs hears from senior figures at the Group about how it plans to develop…

Radisson guestroom with dramatic black and red decor at Radisson RED Rosebank south Africa

As Radisson Hotel Group looks towards and sets goals for 2022, it has reviewed the numerous milestones it has achieved in Africa over the past 12 months. These include new hotels and conversions, along with apartments, and places the group in a strong position to move forward. Having set a record on the continent this year with 14 signings to date, adding more than 2,500 rooms to its African portfolio, the Group continues with its plans to grow its footprint in the region.

“In Africa this year, we opened five stunning hotels in bucket-list destinations and in 2022, we’re on track to open at least 11 hotels, starting with the portfolio of three hotels in Madagascar within the first two weeks of the year,” said Tim Cordon, Senior Area Vice President, Middle East & Africa at Radisson Hotel Group. “Continuing the unpredictability of 2020, this year has been a rollercoaster with restrictions easing and tightening and borders opening and closing. Africa in general has commercially performed well, given the situation and in comparison to other international markets, proving its resilience and ever-present dynamism. Our commitment to the continent not only remains but we are looking at deploying further resources as our Group reaches new heights and where our ambitions for growth are only representative of the region’s potential.”

exterior of guestroom at Radisson Blu Resort, Taghazout Bay Surf Village

Image credit: Radisson Hotel Group

10 additional hotels in one of the key African focus countries, Morocco, have been included in the portfolio. These includes the entry into new territories within the country such as Al Hoceima, Taghazout and Saidia. Two new brands have also been introduced to the country with the signing of Radisson Hotel Casablanca Gauthier La Citadelle and Lincoln Casablanca, a Radisson Collection, which has elevated the brands offering in Africa.

swimming pool at Radisson Blu Resort, Al Hoceima

Image credit: Radisson Hotel Group

Numerous new market entries have also contributed to the brands growth. These include the Group’s debut in Djibouti with Radisson Hotel Djibouti, the introduction of the Radisson Individuals brand in Africa with the Earl Heights Suite Hotel, a member of Radisson Individuals in Accra, Ghana as well as the entry into Victoria Falls with Radisson Blu Resort Mosi-Oa-Tunya Livingstone.

“2021 has been a record year of numerous milestones for us in our expansion across Africa, from market entries to further establishing critical scale in key focus markets,” said Ramsay Rankoussi, Vice President, Development, Africa & Turkey at Radisson Hotel Group. “We have led the market share this year in terms of new signings across the industry and those achievements demonstrate our continued focus and the clear execution of our established strategy. In 2022 we aim to leverage this momentum with the same priorities within our identified key markets such as Egypt and Morocco in North Africa; various countries such as Nigeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast and Senegal within West and Central Africa but also reinforcing our presence in South Africa and its neighbouring countries. Our strategy over the next twelve months includes the expansion of our African resort offering and continuing the trend in conversions, while we remain supportive and responsive within our owners community as we look towards the recovery of our industry.”

Hotel conversions have accounted for more than 70 per cent of these signings which provide the Group with a solid pipeline but also highlights the success of the Radisson Hotel Group in providing tailored solutions for existing hotels seeking operational improvement. Five hotels were opened during the year, including Africa’s second Radisson RED in South Africa and the brand’s debut in Johannesburg as well as four Radisson Blu resort offerings in Morocco further demonstrating the growth in leisure demand and the ability for the Group to respond to that trend.

Serviced apartments have continued to show resilience during the pandemic and Radisson Hotel Group has equally grown this segment with two stand alone serviced apartments being added to the portfolio across Africa.

Building on the success of the Group’s five-year expansion and transformation plan, Radisson Hotel Group is clearly ready for the rebound of travel with its positive plan for progress clearly mapped out.

Main image credit: Radisson Hotel Group

Render of lady in nest-like space in front of an outdoor pool and modern villa

7 hotel trends shaping hospitality in 2022

 730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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7 hotel trends shaping hospitality in 2022

As we start look past the crisis period of Covid-19, and start to settle into a ‘new normal’, the definition of hospitality has a new meaning – one of comfort, security and escape. International architecture firm SB Architects has identified which key hotel trends are shaping hospitality design in 2022 and beyond…

Render of lady in nest-like space in front of an outdoor pool and modern villa

SB Architects has released insights into the most significant influences that informed design in 2021, and what trends will pick up even more momentum this year.

“During 2021, when the concept of ‘home’ became synonymous with home office, gym, entertainment centre, and space to retreat and relax, we saw the growing importance of incorporating flexibility in residential design,” explained Scott Lee, President and Principal of SB Architects. “Flexibility also became paramount for hotels and creating a less-defined program – such as multi-purpose public space and reimagined spaces for F&B, lounge, and lobby – will continue to be advantageous in the future. Overarchingly, creating opportunities for people to decompress in urban environments, enhancing physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and social wellness, and quenching a thirst for the outdoors will be key drivers for architects and designers in 2022.”

Here are seven solid trends that are steering hospitality and hotel design, globally, on a new path:

‘Home officing’ 2.0

A hotel lobby/lounge area with armchairs and independent co-working spaces

Image credit: Telegraph Arts/SB Architects

The pandemic and ensuing work-from-home phenomenon sparked new desires for residential design. Dens are no longer to be relegated to the back of units with little or no access to natural light. Instead, residents want these spaces connected to living rooms and acting as integrated offices or flex spaces. Working from home is also changing multifamily design, where a new kind of amenity is taking shape in the form of reservable rooms for work and study, connected to communal meeting spaces where residents can both host team meetings and socialise. The ‘business centre’ model of multifamily residential projects is evolving and will be more marketable if versatile and engaging.

Here to stay: ‘Bleisure’ travel

Render of busy hotel F&B space with block of residential flats next to it

Image credit: Grand Hyatt Limassol/SB Architects

With more employees working remotely, hotels need to cater to a new segment of ‘bleisure’ travellers who are taking advantage of their newfound workplace flexibility by extending vacations that blend work, exploration, and leisure. With guests looking to spend more time in destinations, design that is experiential and deepens connections to the location and its underlying character will be key. Developers and operators will be searching for ways to differentiate their offerings from the many repositioning’s or new openings that are coming online in 2022, and hyper-local environments where guests can immerse themselves authentically into the surrounding locale and have experiences creatively tailored to a specific ethos and set of interests will be the most competitive.

Integrating experiential programming for children and configurations such as two-bedroom suites with kitchens will also help hotels cater to guests booking longer stays and traveling with their families.

Alternative stays/glamping woven into resort destinations

Image caption: A render of a resort in the Middle East, in the desert.

Image caption: A render of a resort in the Middle East. | Image credit: SB Architects

The alternative holiday/travel experience – via treehouse stays, yurts, and glamping – is becoming more and more ingrained into hospitality, and resorts are embracing glamping as an experiential element that can be integrated into the overall offering. Adding these unconventional components to a traditional resort development can deliver the connection to nature that gives guests a sense of emotional and mental well-being, while creating the kind of authentic experience and immersive atmosphere that today’s discerning travellers are craving.

Getting outside

With pandemic-era concerns about indoor air quality and social distancing deeply embedded in our psyches, the outdoors represents an escape and safe haven, and is a key element to mental health. Travellers will seek uninterrupted sightlines to the outdoors, access to fresh air and open space in 2022. Integrating outdoor spaces in urban environments, such as rooftop amenities, will be a big driver for both hotels and residential developments in the future. Rooftop amenities create a sense of escapism in which residents or guests are nestled in an outdoor environment, perhaps with natural elements, but views to a city skyline are within reach.

The rise of the urban resort

Render of busy dining space at Innovation Station

Image credit: Rivana at Innovation Station/SB Architects

Prior to the pandemic, the urban resort concept was on the rise, with brands like Aman Hotels and Six Senses Hotels and Resorts embracing the model as part of their growth strategy, and the trend will continue to grow in 2022, as lines between work and leisure continue to blur and more guests want to experience the decompression and escapism of a resort even when in an urban environment.

By tapping into sensibilities that one might leverage in a horizontal resort environment, and applying them to an urban context, designers can create spaces where people can ‘get away from it all’ while remaining in the middle of it.  Urban resorts deliver immersive experiences through rooftop experiences and iconic, place-defining food and beverage, and although in urban settings, they prioritise connections to nature, seamless transitions between indoor and outdoor spaces, natural light, and, of course, guests’ health and wellness. Special landscaped zones sprinkled throughout sites as places to host events and celebrations, and enhanced wellness experiences where spa and fitness components are sized after those of a destination resort are among the design features trending for urban resorts.

Rethinking the all-day dining concept

The pandemic pushed many (if not all) hotels to adapt their F&B offerings, as under-utilised space in an all-day dining outlet became more apparent during periods of low occupancy. Many new hotels have been breaking down the all-day dining restaurant into multiple ‘micro’ restaurants that can be sectioned or closed off depending on the time of day, to prevent the all-day dining space from being underutilised or only used during breakfast. The traditional buffet style dining that is standard in all-day dining outlets became prohibited due to Covid-19 regulations in many areas, giving rise to alternative strategies such as customised room service for breakfast. Many hotels are leveraging the specialty restaurant or lobby lounge for those seeking a more traditional hotel breakfast experience.

In the future, instead of just serving as a convenient dining outlet for internal guests, more hotel dining outlets will be regarded as valuable revenue-generating spaces independent of the hotel, with unique concepts, menus, and designs that will entice both hotel guests and locals in the community.

Capturing the baby boomer audience 

The Baby Boomer generation is mindful of how precious meaningful life experiences are and have a pent-up desire to reconnect with loved ones since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. Hotels should take note of this affluent, educated, and active audience in 2022. With so many people aged 65 and over fully vaccinated, this group is ready for reunions with family and friends, and they have the time and resources to truly immerse in experiential travel. Boomers are more likely to travel for a week or longer, and their excitement for educational, interactive, and locally inspired experiences as well as activities with multi-generational appeal should not be overlooked.

So, it seems that the pandemic has left its coffee-mug stain on this year’s trends. However, unlike in recent years, it seems as if the industry’s robust strength is ensuring that all trends we are seeing emerge are less about recovery and more about growth, evolution and sustaining unmatched travel experiences.

> Since you’re here, why not check out our editorial series on the hottest hotels to open in 2022?

Main image credit: SB Architects

walk in shower with hansgrohe AirPower shower system

Introducing AirPower by hansgrohe

 730 565 Pauline Brettell
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Introducing AirPower by hansgrohe

AirPower is a unique shower experience, by hansgrohe, that is all about combining the practical needs to meet modern traveller demands, such as reducing water consumption, with stylish indulgence…

walk in shower with hansgrohe AirPower shower system

Bathroom brand hansgrohe, which recognises water is a valuable resource, has put extensive time and research into establishing AirPower technology to help reduce water consumption. The innovative technology enriches each water droplet with air, to produce plump droplets creating a velvety touch on the skin.

When using the shower, air is sucked in through the spray disc that stirs up the water. Enriched with fresh air, the droplets are noticeably lighter, creating more enjoyable showers whilst helping save both water and energy.

The AirPower feature can be found in an extensive range of hansgrohe products including collections Raindance, Vernis, Vivenis and Croma, through basin taps, overhead and hand showers and shower systems. When incorporated in the basin taps, the technology encourages them to work reliably by adding volume to every droplet of water whilst noticeably reducing splashing. The soft water droplets make for a pleasurable washing experience, whether that’s washing hands, washing hair or caring for children’s sensitive skin.

hansgrohe has prioritised developing innovative solutions for kitchens and bathrooms that combine intelligent functionality, outstanding design, and enduring quality. The AirPower joins the range of design led, energy saving solutions that are now an integral part to contemporary design requirements.

hansgrohe is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.

Main image credit: hansgrohe

Atlantis, The Royal in Dubai on The Palm

Hottest hotel openings anticipated for 2022 (Q1 & Q2)

 730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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Hottest hotel openings anticipated for 2022 (Q1 & Q2)

Back with a bang, Hotel Designs starts 2022 with optimism and curiosity; shining the spotlight on the hotel openings and re-openings that will once again shift hospitality and hotel design into a new era. Editor Hamish Kilburn kicks things off with his edit of the hottest hotel openings to bookmark for Q1 and Q2…

Hotel Designs returns with a bang starting 2022 with the optimism and curiosity of online casino players. Following tradition each year, Hotel Designs kicks off January with a unique mission: to identify the hottest hotel openings for online casino read more players. If last year was about recovery, then 2022 will be defined by designers, architects and online casino players who are ready to stake everything for the sake of innovation.
Atlantis, The Royal in Dubai on The Palm

Each year, adhering to tradition, Hotel Designs starts January on a unique mission: to pinpoint the hottest hotel openings; the game-altering properties that will flex their muscles, challenge conventional approaches to hotel design and effortlessly take hospitality, on an international scale, forward.

If last year was about recovery, then 2022 will be defined by the designers, architects and hoteliers who are willing to put it all on the line for the sake of innovation and creativity – it’s time to show-off as we gather around the crystal ball once more to see which hotel openings of 2022 will make the biggest impact. And we start the two-part series by taking a glance at the hotels that are expected to arrive in Q1 and Q2.

xenodocheio Milos in Athens – opening in January, 2022

Within the thriving boutique hotel scene in Athens, xenodocheio Milos will be a place where ‘philoxenia’, the sacred art of making a stranger feel like home, derives from unparalleled taste and world class hospitality. The hotel is located in downtown Athens opposite Old Parliament, an area bursting with history and celebrates the best of Greek heritage, art and cuisine. Elegant and refined, this authentic culinary hotel experience is the very first luxury boutique hotel of the world-renowned Greek restaurant estiatorio Milos, carrying the inspiring story of Milos to its next chapter.Inhabit Queen’s Gardens, London – opening in February 2022 

Lounge area at Inhabit queens park london with natural light filled interior and wooden crafted furniture

Image credit: Inhabit Hotel / Tim Evan Cook

Set across a crescent of mid-19th Century townhouses on a tree-lined square near Lancaster Gate (in London), Inhabit Queen’s Gardens, which we teased late last year, will be an intimate boutique hotel comprised of 159 uplifting guestrooms, along with carefully considered social spaces. Just like its sister hotel, which shares the same city as its home, Inhabit Queen’s Gardens has been created with a passion for wellbeing and living in a way that supports a healthy mind and body, as well as modelling responsible hospitality practices.

Four Seasons Resort Tamarindo – opening in Spring, 2022

Render of the exterior of Four Seasons Tamarindo, nestled within greenery

Image credit: Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts

Located on a private peninsula along the Pacific Ocean in the state of Jalisco, between the towns of La Manzanilla and Barra de Navidad, Four Seasons Resort Tamarindo has been designed by visionaries and experts, who envisioned a resort that blends seamlessly into the peninsula’s unique topography, supports ‘rewilding’ practices, and creates a perfect balance between the comforts of the indoors with the exceptional outdoor opportunities offered on the 3,000+ acres of private natural reserve.

The resort will offer four dining and beverage venues, including an ocean view bar and restaurant, beach bar and grill and golf club restaurant. The grounds will also feature three pools, a full-service spa set amidst a tropical forest and a fitness centre, young adults centre and lounge, water sports centre, tennis courts and more than 370 square-metres of meeting space.

The LaSalle Chicago – opening in March, 2022

Presidential Suite Bedroom inside The LaSalle in Chicago, which includes a modern design scheme with colours of rish blue and brushed gold.

Image credit: The LaSalle Chicago

Expect 1920s glamour, and dramatic interiors, from inside Chicago’s hotly anticipated The LaSalle Hotel, which opens this spring. Located in the heart of downtown Chicago’s Financial District, the hotel is a modern club-like escape that sits on the top five floors of a historically iconic landmark from architect Daniel Burnham. Rich in symbolism encapsulating the essence of time, the hotel pays tribute to The Hour Glass Lounge from the old LaSalle Hotel. The hotel will sensitively honour the building’s history by incorporating the hourglass icon brought to life through guest’s experiences delivering the hotel’s service culture and promise that ‘time at The LaSalle Chicago is time well spent.’

ROOST Apartment Hotel, at Asher, Florida – opening in March, 2022

A rendering of apartment-style hotel with urban, laid-back interior design scheme

Image credit: CG Rendering

Tampa-based real estate development firm Strategic Property Partners, LLC (SPP) has announced the imminent arrival of Asher, a dynamic, highly amenitised new apartment tower at 1050 Water Street in Water Street Tampa. The 56-acre neighbourhood is expected to ‘transform downtown Tampa’ into a walkable urban experience. In addition to offering a collection of rental residences, SPP has partnered with Method Co., to bring Tampa the first Florida location of its high-design extended-stay concept, ROOST Apartment Hotel, at Asher. Pre-leasing at Asher will begin in January with move-ins slated for March, and ROOST Tampa will open in the building in Spring 2022.

Designed inside and out by celebrated architecture firm Morris Adjmi Architects, the building offers a nod to Tampa’s industrial history with oversized divided-light windows that maximise natural light. Asher’s luxury rental residences will be located on the top 15 floors of the building, while ROOST Tampa will occupy the first six residential floors. Asher will offer 490 thoughtfully designed rental residences ranging from studio to two-bedroom homes.

Virgin Hotels Edinburgh and Glasgow – opening in April, 2022

Making headway this year, the Virgin Hotels brand is hopping over the pond to make its mark in the cultural hub of Edinburgh, closely followed by another hotel opening in the neighbouring city of Glasgow. Virgin Hotels Edinburgh will be located in the landmark India Buildings in Edinburgh’s Old Town near The Royal Mile. The new hotel will feature 225 Chambers and Grand Chamber Suites: multiple dining and drinking outlets, including Commons Club, Virgin hotel’s iconic cultural hub. In re-envisioning the building, the design team will work to preserve its notable elements while adding a sense of style and sophistication. The property promises a stunning mix of old and new to fully capture the uniqueness of the iconic city of Edinburgh. Just a few miles away, Virgin Hotels Glasgow will be the brand’s second Scottish hotel. The property will be located at 236-246 Clyde Street, a prime City Centre position. The panoramic river views will be a highlight of this location, as it overlooks the River Clyde in the heart of Glasgow’s shopping area, making it an ideal base to explore the city. The hotel will feature 242 Chambers and Grand Chamber Suites; meeting and event space; and multiple dining and drinking outlets, including the brand’s signature culinary experience Commons Club, a restaurant, bar and modern social club where guests can both work and play during their time at the hotel. The Funny Library Coffee Shop will also be a feature that guests can wind down and socialise. Here, an assortment of whimsical and funny books and games will surely keep guests entertained during their stay.

Atlantis, The Royal, Dubai – opening in April, 2022

Render of Atlantis The Royal The Palm

Image credit: Atlantis, The Royal, Dubai

It’s been a long time coming, but we are finally receiving the signal that Atlantis, The Royal, Dubai – arguably the most anticipated hotel opening in the Middle East this year – is almost ready to open its majestic doors. The hospitality and entertainment destination will span around 63 hectres, and will shelter 795 rooms and suites inside an iconic structure that rises above The Palm.

Lesante Cape – opening in May, 2022

The ebullient family behind the Lesante Collection are continuing in their mission to shine a luxurious spotlight on the isle of Zakynthos with the arrival of Lesante Cape.Located within the historic Akrotiri village, yet uniquely with access to a private beach, the village-style resort will comprise 55 suites and 10 villas inspired by the traditional architecture of yesteryear, whilst neutral colours, natural fibres and local art will be at the heart of the soothing interiors.

Epicureans will, quite literally, get a true taste of traditional fare in one of three restaurants headed by Greek culinary marvel Aggelos Bakopoulos. For those who are seeking complete tranquillity during their holiday, Armonia wellness centre will provide a relaxing refuge for treatments and therapies harking back to ancient Mediterranean healing practices, whilst a dedicated Agora is the heart of the village with its artisanal shops, taverna and cultural museum.

WunderLocke – Sendling, Munich – opening in May, 2022

Opening with the aim to disrupt the Bavarian capital with a hospitality concept unlike any other in the city – and is the first Locke of its kind – WunderLocke will take will feature 360 spacious studio apartments, a large co-working area, meeting and event spaces, workout studio and outdoor heated swimming pool.In addition, the hotel will shelter four food and drink destinations conceived by the founders of revered local Michelin-starred restaurant, Mural. The new concept – Mural Farmhouse – will include an urban farm that will supply fresh herbs and vegetables to a farm-to-table concept, and rooftop cocktail bar with panoramic views of the Bavarian Alps. WunderLocke is also home to several suites, which include roof terraces and large dining areas that can host dinner parties and business meetings.

WunderLocke will be a destination for locals, holidaymakers, and business travellers alike, providing a new creative hub in South-West Munich for the city’s burgeoning undercurrent of artists, creatives, and tech entrepreneurs. WunderLocke has been designed by acclaimed studio Holloway Li, which also completed Bermonds Locke in London, in September 2020. The property’s design-led apartments are peaceful, spacious and leafy, and all feature kitchens and seating areas – a hallmark of Locke design.

Hilton Bahrain – opening in June, 2022

We have been kept largely in the dark about Hilton’s development in Bahrain, but what we do know is that Hilton Bahrain is expected to open its doors this Summer. Located along Al Fateh Highway, the 348-key hotel will feature studios, one- and two-bedroom apartments with what the brand is describing as ‘all the comforts of home’ and a stunning view of the sea from each unit’s balcony. In addition, the hotel will shelter six distinct restaurants and lounges, nine meeting rooms and a luxurious spa.

Main image credit: Atlantis, The Royal, Dubai