Editor Hamish Kilburn has been confirmed to host ‘Designing for Bleisure’ on the Hotel Vision Stage at Independent Hotel Show Amsterdam on May 8…
As a proud media partner of the Independent Hotel Show Amsterdam, Hotel Designs has announced that it will take an active role in the two-day exhibition that takes place on May 8 – 9 with its editor, Hamish Kilburn, is now confirmed to moderate a unique and engaging panel discussion.
Title: Designing for Bleisure
When: Wednesday May 8 Time: 17.00 – 17.45 Where: Hotel Vision Stage, Amsterdam Rai Hall 5 Moderated by: Hamish Kilburn, Hotel Designs Panelists: Hans Meyer, Zoku and Rob Wagemans, Concrete
Summary of session
Whether travelling for business or leisure, humans are seeking great experiences from their hotel stay. Kilburn will moderate the session ‘Designing For Bleisure’ and will ask important questions such as how we should define a bleisure guest while also confronting whether or not the hospitality and design community is reacting well to this need by designing spaces for ‘bleisure’.
“In order to nail consumer demands so that we can then go on design better hotels and better cities, it is vital to put this topic under the magnifying glass,” said Kilburn. “Designing for bleisure is not about designing separate areas for different types of guests, but more around designing flexible spaces that are timeless, which I look forward to discussing live on stage at the Independent Hotel Show in Amsterdam.”
To resister for the show in order to secure your place in the audience at the Designing For Bleisure session, please click here. In addition to partaking in the speaker programme, Hotel Designs will also be exhibiting at the show on stand no. F64.
Hotel Designs was proud to be a media partner of Independent Hotel Show 2018, which proved to be a huge success ahead of the show’s arrival in Amsterdam next year…
Flawlessly bringing together the UK’s best independent hoteliers with premium and innovative suppliers, delivering insightful seminars and creating a myriad of opportunities to network, the seventh Independent Hotel Show, presented by James Hallam Insurance Brokers, has been heralded a great success.
“We were delighted to see the first-class and visionary quality of the show exceeding all expectations once again,” said Event Director Miranda Martin. “The UK’s most talented hoteliers, industry stalwarts, innovative entrepreneurs and influential media attended in droves, whilst an impressive number of exhibitors rebooked for next year (15 &16 October) on the spot. The feedback about the design features has been amazing and comments from visitors about their experience are evidence of yet another great show for the sector.”
Inspiring new features were found in every corner of the show at Olympia London on 16 and 17 October, including live installation ‘The Hotel Room of the Future’ created by Two’s Company Interiors.
Providing a glimpse into the near future, the Hotel Room of the Future buzzed with excitement and conversation over the two days. The room offered intuitive tech to enhance the guest experience, rather than to taint it with confusing switches and screens, the bed incorporated tech, scent and science for a night of deep sleep, while the futuristic design of the bathroom provided the essential instagrammable feature.
Many hoteliers headed for The Dyson Meeting Space designed by Galapagos to take part in facilitated speed networking sessions. Offering a ‘conversational menu’ as a prompt for peers to share views and experiences on various themes and topics such as ‘The Future is Female’, ‘Multiple Site Operators’ and ‘Future Leaders’, this new feature at the show was a success for encouraging interaction and making new contacts.
Conducive to further networking was The Lobby, designed by Capellini. Located at the heart of the show with a range of seating options and tables, warm lighting and vibrant green foliage, it provided a calm space for conversation.
Over the two days, thought leaders from across the industry discussed a range of hot topics – from service and staffing to technology, design, loyalty, marketing and wellness – in front of packed audiences at the Business Theatre, in partnership with Sky and designed by sofa.com and the Innovation Stage, in partnership with eviivo, designed by Elli Popp.
Over in the Business Theatre, Hotel Designs’ editor Hamish Kilburn moderating an engaging panel with leading figures such as Emma King (Head of interior design at IHG, europe), Chris Hill (Hotels Operations Director, House of Daniel Thwaites), Anant Sharma (CEO, Matters of Form) and Jonathon Slater (Owner, Oddfellows Management).
Panelists in The Great Service Debate 2018, led by EP Business in Hospitality and Penshee, delved deep into the subject of service – attributing good service to five key pillars – low effort (installing systems to allow staff to attend to guests), personality, adaptability, empathy and authenticity.
Recruitment was hot topic at the Business Theatre with HR consultant Claire Elston joined by Adam Rowledge of Georgian House, Sarah Powell of Soho Farmhouse and Babington House and Dee Smith of Springboard, who gave invaluable advice on how to inspire and engage the workforce.
On the Innovation Stage, ‘The Hotel Room of the Future’ was discussed by Gilly Craft, BIID President and Partner & Designer at Two’s Company Interior Design and Rodney Hoinkes, Chief Insight and Innovation Officer, Fresh Montgomery, who talked through the journey of the room, from research to reveal.
“The talks, panel discussion and power breakfast gave us lots to think about and actions to put in place back at our hotel” – Hoteliers Julia and Nick Davies, Owners of The Cottage in the Wood.
UK Hospitality’s CEO Kate Nicholls gave an overview of UK Hospitality and talked about strategies to address the industry’s labour shortage by making it an appealing place to work. Nicholls said work was underway to convince the Government that the sector is not a low-skilled one, but a semi and soft-skilled one and to promote the sector as an attractive and viable place to build a career.
Other events at the show included a rare chance to hear former Waterside Inn Maître D’ Diego Masciaga reveal what it was like to front the three Michelin-starred restaurant for 30 years. Diego shared his service tips in a keynote interview with Peter Hancock, Chief Executive of Pride of Britain Hotels.
Throughout the show, esteemed speakers, VIP hoteliers, show partners and their guests were invited to visit The Suite designed by Valdivian. Bold colours, striking patterns and beautiful furniture set the scene for networking, meetings or simply catching up.
Consistent with every year of the Independent Hotel Show, hoteliers, returning and new exhibitors alike were impressed with the high standards and calibre of opportunities and leads.
“We loved the Independent Hotel Show,” said hoteliers Julia and Nick Davies, Owners of The Cottage in the Wood. “The talks, panel discussion and power breakfast gave us lots to think about and actions to put in place back at our hotel. We met with key suppliers that we were looking for as well as new ones too. The Hotel Room of the Future was fascinating and gave us lots of ideas for our upcoming rooms refurbishment.
Barry Stuart, UK Sales Director Key Accounts, ADA International, whose company also fragranced the show, said: “The Independent Hotel Show 2018 has been one of the best exhibitions I’ve been to in a decade. Our stand was at its best and the footfall has been brilliant with the quality of attendees high.”
Thibault Gence, Co-Founder of tech provider Hotelhero: “This year was our first time exhibiting at the Independent Hotel Show and I have been impressed by the design of the Show and quality of stands. It’s more personal and on-point than other trade shows I’ve been to and is the best one for independent hotels – it’s not just about business, or branding, but about everything relevant to hoteliers.”
Nina Tarnowski, Director and Designer, Woodchip & Magnolia, the Show’s wallpaper partner, said: “Our business has only been going for 18 months, so being at the Show has been about brand recognition as well as connecting with hoteliers. Previously, we’ve only exhibited at design shows. The response we had to our mural in the foyer was amazing, so we’re thrilled to have been able to show our work in key places as well as have a stand.”
The Independent Hotel Show Awards for Independent Hotelier and Outstanding New Hotel were given to Adam Rowledge, general manager of Georgian House, and Another Place, The Lake.
Editor of Hotel DesignsHamish Kilburn will host ‘Power Hour’ at this year’s Independent Hotel Show next month on October 17 2018…
As a proud media partner for the Independent Hotel Show, the editor of Hotel Designs, Hamish Kilburn, will lead a unique panel discussion, exploring how hotels can help better brand their business.
The ‘power hour’ workshop named ‘Designs For Life’ will detail how to use design to create an authentic and individual hotel brand. From typefaces to toilets, cutlery to cocktail lists, and special events to chef’s specialities, here’s how you create an appealing and memorable hospitality environment.
On the panel, a number of leading industry figures will join Kilburn to discuss how hotels can create an appealing and memorable hospitality environment.
Also on the panel
Chris Hill – Hotels Operations Director, House of Daniel Thwaites
Anani Sharma – CEO, Matters of Form
Jonathon Slater – Owner, Oddfellows Management
Emma King – Head of Interior Design, IHG
“We are very proud media partners for the Independent Hotel Show, and this is such a fitting way for us to be involved with the show,” said Kilburn. “I am really looking forward to exploring this topic with such incredible names.”
Hotel Designs’ editor Hamish Kilburn reflects on the weeks headline stories…
The sun setting on August means only one thing in the international design world: London’s show season is in sight! As we prepare for Decorex, designjunction, 100% Design and the Hotel Tech & Spa Live, this week has lifted the lid on a number of milestone headlines. Here are my top five stories of the week.
Concluding our month of focusing the lens on Hotel Concepts, I put Ronald Homsy under the spotlight to learn more about how he plans to make the world see luxury hotels for the experiences they shelter…
“Manchester is a shrinking violet,” said no designer, ever! With hotel design in the north enjoying a major moment, I checked in to the design-led King Street Townhouse, to marvel over Manchester from a totally unique perspective…
While only 6.8 per cent of hotel reviews mention sustainability, the ones that do are almost exclusively positive. This in turn leads to customers who frequently return to the hotel and advertise it to friends via word of mouth and social media. With shifting attitudes and a need for a socially conscious eco-hotel image, designing for sustainability is a smart business move. Lower running costs also mean potentially higher profits margins. It’s not all about the money though. A medium-sized hotel switching to renewable energy can expect to reduce its carbon footprint by 68,500kg per year. This is crucial to preventing catastrophic climate change. Therefore, many would argue that the focus in hotel design should be to create a hotel around customers’ needs and desires, by creating an eco-hotel that really stands out from the competition.
Earlier this month, the Independent Hotel Show (IHS) let the cat out of the bag that it will launch the inaugural IHS Amsterdam next year. Considering it’s the first time that the show has taken the concept abroad from London, we caught up with the show’s director Miranda Martin to find out why now is such an important time to recognise Amsterdam as well as London is a prominent design hub of the world.
The winners of the Independent Hotel Show Awards, in association with Sky – Independent Hotelier and Outstanding New Hotel – were revealed this week.
Paul Bayliss MBE, manager of Carden Park in Cheshire took the Independent Hotelier of the Year crown while Bath-based property No.15 Great Pulteney was given the Outstanding New Hotel of the Year award.
Bayliss MBE told the gathered crowd: “Well done to all the nominees, I am elated to win award. This really is a nice surprise, and a big surprise as I’ve only been in the hotel industry for nine years.”
“Thank you, on behalf of everyone at No. 15 Great Pulteney, we are truly delighted to win the outstanding new hotel award – this is the one we wanted to win,” Jonathan Walker, managing director of No.15 Great Pulteney, said.
Independent Hotelier shortlist:
Claire Randall, Lucknam Park
Neil & Zoe Kedward Grove of Narbeth,
Justin & Charlotte Salisbury Artist Residence
Nicholas Dickinson Congham Hall
David & Charlotte Reilly Yorebridge House
Paul Bayliss MBE Carden Park
Outstanding New Hotel shortlist:
The Painswick
The Pig at Combe
Foxhill Manor
No. 15 Great Pulteney
King Street Townhouse
Brocco on the Park
Independent Hotel Show has built up a reputation for offering high-quality, focussed and insightful seminars during the two days of the event. This year’s edition has been no different.
Hotel Designs picks out the highlights from Tuesday and Wednesday’s programme…
UK Independent Hotels
This ‘state of the industry’ address featured vital intel on the health of the hospitality sector right now.
Thought Leader Forum George Titlow hosted a panel featuring some of the finest hospitality minds, as they interpreted the over-arching trends from the show’s in-house expert’s landmark presentation.
I’m With the Brands: Partnerships ‘Brand partnerships’ – that’s shrewd hook-ups with other like-minded businesses are an excellent way to accelerate the growth of your brand identity.
The Guest Journey: Stairways to Heaven
The ‘guest journey’ refers to your customers’ sensory experience, and its consistent presence during their stay from the satisfying crunch of the gravel on the driveway to the cosy glow of the bedside…
Oh! What a Lovely Brexit! Tourism is one British industry that actually could benefit from the infamous referendum result and with hotel bookings from abroad up, it actually already is.
The New Era of F&B
Formal hotel dining is a thing of the past, and while Britain may be leaving the EU cosmopolitan, continental dining habits will thankfully be sticking around.
Instagram 1.01
The hot photo-sharing application is considered the lifestyle sector’s most powerful social media tool. But it can be harder to have a ‘lit feed’ than it first appears…
What makes the ‘perfect hotel bedroom’? New for this year’s show – the Independent Hotel Show is trying to determine exactly that.
Having commissioned a survey of consumers to find out their preferences and tastes, they assigned the design of the perfect hotel bedroom, which is to be presented by Chic Retreats.
Questions in the survey revolved around the design of the room, bedding, lighting, technology and many other factors.
The results formed the basis of a report which dictated the design of the room – being carried out by Harriet Forde Design Studio – and can be seen in person at this year’s show.
Some of Hotel Designs’ clients that contributed and supplied to the project include Hypnos Beds, Vaughan, Chelsom and Hamilton Litestat.
This year’s Independent Hotel Show, the most comprehensive and best loved business event on the market for the luxury, boutique and independent hotel sector, is now open!
With record hotelier attendance in 2016 and 66% of exhibitors already booked into their stands for 2017, the buoyancy of the industry is clear and the organisers are thrilled to provide a means to support this exciting and flourishing sector year on year.
According to the Tourism Alliance, the numbers of international travellers to the UK are rising. A weaker pound will drive an increase in staycations, and now more than ever, hoteliers need to invest in their properties to ensure they keep up with the competition.
Moreover the growth of the number of hotel rooms in the UK shows no sign of slowing. With 11,400 regional and 7,200 London rooms due to be added to the hotel supply chain in 2017 alone, the business opportunities are vast.
Comprised of a curated exhibition of over 300 suppliers, a complimentary programme of educational seminars, multiple networking opportunities and the Independent Hotel Show Awards; the Independent Hotel Show is proven to bring thousands of hoteliers together to share ideas, do business and network.
You can join Hotel Designs at our stand on M5 at this year’s show. . .
2017 has exceeded performance expectations and 2018 is currently on track to be even better for independent hoteliers according to new research from Guestline.
The optimistic view also sees many planning to increase investments in technology and refurbishment throughout their properties to deliver growth in the year ahead.
This is according to research published today by leading global hospitality software provider, Guestline, ahead of this week’s Independent Hotel Show taking place at London’s Olympia. Nearly two thirds (60 per cent) of those surveyed confirmed that they think 2018 will be a better year than 2017.
Almost a quarter of those researched (24 per cent) advised that the year to-date has exceeded expectations, whilst nearly half (45 per cent) felt that 2017 has performed in line with their expectations. Likewise looking ahead to the remainder of the year there is a strong excitement and commitment to developing key areas of hotel operations. This includes refurbishment for over a quarter (27 per cent) and technology both for bookings and property management software (PMS) (20 per cent) and guest technology (13 per cent).
Growing direct guests is a key part of hotelier’s plans for 2018 with nearly half of those researched (47 per cent) identifying it as one of their key challenges for the next 12 months. This is followed by planning for challenges around Brexit and technology (13 per cent each). A focus on staff and attracting talent will also be key for one in ten owners and operators.
Investment looks set to be a key trend as in light of this optimistic view many areas can expect to see a commitment to spend and improve. Bedrooms have been identified as a key area for investment by nearly half of respondents (47 per cent), followed by design and décor (20 per cent) and technology (17 per cent). Over a third (37 per cent) also stated they expected to invest more in technology in 2018 compared to this year, with over three quarters (77 per cent) confirming that having a PMS that is easy to integrate to other software services was essential.
Commenting on the findings, Emma Johnstone, VP business development, Guestline said: “It is exciting for the hospitality sector to see that hoteliers are optimistic about the next 12 months and that the market mood is buoyant. Certainly it is has been an interesting year but the fact that hotel owners and operators are making a firm commitment to investment across all areas of operation, including technology and staff as well as property refurbishments indicates that not only is the sector confident there is also strong potential for growth. The sector continues to evolve apace and we look forward to supporting our existing and potential new clients in navigating their way through this changing landscape so they are equipped with the technology and insight they need to realise this growth.”
Guestline this year celebrates its 25th year of offering accommodation providers revenue-generating solutions, and its technology suite is now relied on by companies in 20 countries across five continents. The company will be showcasing the potential of its market-leading software to the hospitality industry at the Independent Hotel Show (Olympia London, 17-18 October, stand number 63).
Vaughan will be launching some stylish new additions to their range at the Independent Hotel Show 2017, Stand 19.
Highlights from the collection include the Beauchamp bouillotte ceiling light in cast brass finished with a large linen shade with stitch leather binding. The hanging shade has been designed for elegant living & dining areas.
The Liston bathroom wall light in nickel is a fabulous new addition to the Vaughan bathroom range, this decorative wall light is IP44 rated and has an opaline glass hurricane shade and nickel finial and backplate.
The Shoreditch ceiling pendant with cylindrical opaline glass is encased with a circular band of brass or bronze. Pictured here in bronze, this contemporary design can be hung individually or in groups to create a stylish statement.
The Bamboo lantern made of solid brass is inspired by an antique from the Vaughan archives. This stylish hand-crafted design has been made using the lost wax casting process. This traditional method highlights the exquisite detail of the brass, creating a bamboo finish.
The hotel industry’s biggest issues and hottest trends will be put under the spotlight at this year’s Independent Hotel Show in partnership with James Hallam.
Returning for its sixth year at Olympia London, the Show on 17th and 18th October will provide a hotbed of ideas and inspiration for those working in the hotel industry.
Thought-provoking and inspiring seminars will take place over both days in three areas: The Business Theatre, The Innovation Stage and Gymnasium for The Mind by Shape with more than 100 hotel professionals speaking in 30 seminars and workshops covering areas such as design, recruitment, technology, marketing and health and well-being.
On Wednesday 18th October head to the Innovation Stage to find out about the latest design innovations in Design Forum 2107 before visiting Gymnasium for The Mind to hear Hotel Designs editor Daniel Fountain and fellow experts discuss how technology is shaping design.
The show embraces this year’s strongest design trends: natural and individual combined with clever lighting.
Benedict Wilhelm, who is designing the Show’s main networking area – The Lobby – this year, says hotel design now includes a stronger emphasis on combining more tactile, natural, raw materials with carefully designed details.
Harriet Forde, founder of Harriet Forde Design, who will create a live version of The Perfect Hotel Bedroom – a new feature for this year – agrees that the use of natural materials as well as clever lighting have become an integral part of hotel bedroom design.
“Lighting… can make a huge difference to the ambience of a bedroom,” she says. “Meanwhile, natural materials in hotel accommodation is increasing, with wooden floors gaining popularity as well as the use of marble and coloured glass.”
Other hotel trends highlighted and discussed in more detail at #IHS17 include an emphasis on sourcing more local produce, personalised marketing, mindfulness and smarter staffing.
Ahead of the Independent Hotel Show in October, Hotel Designs caught up with the event director Miranda Martin to get her thoughts on this year’s edition…
Hotel Designs: First off, how is everything going with the show planning? Miranda Martin: We have a simply brilliant team of people here at Independent Hotel HQ. We’re super committed to delivering great experiences for everyone who attends the show. Every detail matters and a huge amount of effort has gone into making this edition remarkable. I’m confident that this year will truly be the best yet. We’re lucky because we’re confined by a finite space in the halls so when the stands sell out we get to focus on making the rest of the show even better.
One of the key tasks for this year was to focus on turning the heat up on design. Our exhibitor list is reflective of the hard work the team have put into researching and discovering brilliant brands to bring value and inspiration to our audience of luxury and boutique hoteliers. And the designed features at the show are the ‘pièce de résistance’. I can’t wait for people to see them.
HD: Could you tell us what familiar features of the Independent Hotel Show guests can expect this year, but also anything new with this year’s edition we can look forward to? MM: As always, guests can expect a strong line up of speakers revealing trends and practical solutions, together with a fully relevant collection of exhibiting companies showing the latest products and services available for hoteliers today.
New for this year’s event we have introduced ‘The Perfect Hotel Bedroom’ thread in partnership with Chic Retreats. We conducted a consumer survey to help generate answers around what makes the perfect hotel bedroom. And Harriet Forde Design studio is bringing that to life at the show. We propose to bring you ‘The Perfect Hotel Bedroom’ at the Independent Hotel Show. Come tell us what you think!
The Gymnasium for The Mind is a new concept too. Taking on board mindfulness and wellbeing trends as well as the need to mix up the format of the ‘stuff to do’ at the show, we’ve introduced a workshop area where guests will be encouraged to remove shoes and coats, sit on gym balls, and get stuck in; exercising their minds in an unusual format. Workshop topics will include design, artificial intelligence, cyber-crime prevention and spas for men….
HD: What are the key things you hope guests come away with from the show? MM: The discovery of something they’ve never seen before; connections and relationships that will change their businesses forever; inspiration and motivation to make change and having had a terrific experience.
HD: Just how important are shows like IHS to the industry? MM: We strive to serve and support independent hoteliers from across the land to help them stay current and deliver unforgettable experiences for their guests whilst optimising profitability and efficiency.
Consumer demand changes at a rapid pace and so must the hotel industry if it wishes to keep up. We offer an annual touch point where hoteliers can network with likeminded people, see the latest products and hear future forecasts and trends. It’s the industry’s show. It’s a great show. It’s a great opportunity. You never know what connections you could make in a face to face environment. Done right, business events of this kind are invaluable.
HD: Thinking about the wider industry, how do you see Brexit affecting the independent/boutique market? MM: Occupancy reports from this quarter have been hugely positive with an increase in inbound tourism and staycations. I don’t think hoteliers need to fear for a lack of demand
Of course staffing issues will arise but I see this as an opportunity for hoteliers to reimagine their recruitment and training processes, perhaps creating better opportunities in hospitality careers. I think people are going to have to up their game to make their businesses attractive places to work.
Attend our talk ‘Oh! What a Lovely Brexit!’ at the show to find out how Tourism can benefit from a new 21st century ‘Brand Britain’.
HD: And what trends are you seeing coming to the fore in this market? MM: Mindfulness is everywhere, infiltrating many industries and led ultimately by a widespread consumer interest, hence our introduction of the Gymnasium for the Mind.
People are the priority. In a Brexit landscape, there are natural concerns about our workforce thus there’s a push on recruiting, training and creating an attractive career proposition for domestic staff. The show this year will focus heavily on this in our role of supporting independent hoteliers.
A focus on sustainable and seasonal menus, a continuation of a trend we’ve seen growing every year of the show, with a strong focus on grow-your-own, locally sourced, authentic propositions that are becoming increasingly supplier-led. Brand extensions – clever and strategic partnerships to engage the right type of consumer with your brand and widen your marketing message.
HD: Lastly, what does the future have in store for IHS – is expansion on the horizon? MM: We have big plans. Not for this small but perfectly formed London edition… watch this space!
The Independent Hotel Show, presented by James Hallam Hospitality & Leisure, returning to Olympia London on 17 and 18 October, is now open for registration.
Now in its sixth year, the Show is the only UK business event dedicated to the independent, luxury and boutique hotel sector and returns with new feature areas, a stimulating list of industry experts, business seminars and key note sessions, as well as a feast of ideas, inspiration and insight.
A carefully-curated list of over 300 exhibitors – from guest room amenities to interior design agencies and technology suppliers – will be present, informing visitors about the latest products and services for the independent hotelier while over 100 industry professionals will speak in more than 30 seminars covering design, marketing, branding, social media, recruitment, wellness and more across three stages – Business Theatre, Innovation Stage and The Gymnasium for the Mind.
For the first time, attendees will be able to find out what makes The Perfect Hotel Bedroom after the results of a survey, carried out in partnership with Chic Retreats, determined consumer preferences in lighting, soft furnishings, storage and more.
The Perfect Hotel Bedroom, created and built to scale by Harriet Forde Design, will be a key feature, with products from the Show’s exhibitors used to furnish the room and visiting hoteliers, journalists and industry thought-leaders invited to get “in bed” to share opinions about it.
The show will also feature the celebrated Independent Hotelier and Outstanding New Hotel Awards which will recognise those which have made a significant contribution to the industry over the past year.
Miranda Martin, Event Director at Independent Hotel Show said: “The 2017 Independent Hotel Show offers everything the independent, luxury and boutique hotelier needs to help inspire and develop their business. As with previous years we have secured an exceptionally strong line-up of industry experts and exhibitors, proving how invaluable the show is to all areas of the sector. We are particularly excited to be revealing such an insightful and potentially controversial feature in The Perfect Hotel Bedroom and look forward to feedback from visitors”
For more information on the Independent Hotel Show 2017 and to register to attend for free, visit www.independenthotelshow.co.uk.
Lucy Mortimer, director at Galapagos Designs – a design partner with this year’s Independent Hotel Show – talks about how an individualistic approach and the use of heritage-inspired furniture continues to be a big trend in the world of hotel design…
Hotels are eschewing a uniform look and are taking a more individualistic approach to design to help mark them out and convey a sense of warmth, that’s certainly what we’re seeing our clients come to us for.
A good example of that is The Ned in London which is looking back to an Art Deco styling to create a very eclectic and individualistic look across the rooms. Hotels are no longer applying that ubiquitous, formal look to rooms, but are making them more warm and inviting with a heritage angle. Mixing a bit of old and new in together helps add more depth of character to a room.
We are certainly seeing design being used to reflect the personality of the business more. Even when hoteliers have a new-build property, they are seeking out a more individual edge. There’s less use of ubiquitous artwork and more of a focus on sourced products rather than something that is bought. Of course, it all depends on the hotel and the target audience. This look might be less appropriate for a business hotel but certainly there’s a cluster of hotels catering for high-end business customers who want to provide something other than just great Wi-Fi and room service.
We’ve been working on a big hotel project recently which combines the vintage mid-century stuff we produce with newly-made classic-style furniture. We are finding more and more customers are approaching us for a similar style.
Overall, hotels want to create an inviting space, so the type of material used is gaining importance. A lot of velvet is being used now by our customers – the term we use is ‘layering’ which is bringing more than one dimension to a room. You can do that with touches, maybe through old furniture, more accessories or using more classic style lighting over the beds, which can look really lovely rather than just a standard lamp.
Heading into the future, I think we’ll see more of this. Every hotel project we’re working on is using a mix of velvets with more British heritage fabrics like Bute Fabrics. Good, strong, old brands which have a sense of history.
This thoughtful approach to putting together a room is something that will continue. Now, we’ll almost always supply products to hotels that, even if they aren’t vintage, look vintage. That heritage look is quite a strong trend and that’s what we’ve got with the range of furniture we’ll be showcasing at this year’s Independent Hotel Show at our stand and in the VIP Lounge.
We’ve launched our Heritage Collection in partnership with a brand called Howard Keith, or HK. It was a huge brand in the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s and supplied all the furniture to the QEII Officers’ lounge and royal residences. They closed in the noughties, but we have partnered with them under licence to bring back some of their furniture under a heritage collection which is made exactly the same as the 1950s models but mixed today with fabric featuring cutting-edge designs from Japanese designers. That mixture of old and new is what you’ll find in our chairs and what you’ll find us showcasing more at the show.
Galapagos Designs is one of the design partners at this year’s Independent Hotel Show, taking place at Olympia, 17 & 18 October. Galapagos is designing the Suite for VIPs and select partners to use. Lucy says: “We’ve chosen to marry luxury fabrics and furnishings with a slightly wild, colonial feel for the Suite – the theme is Hot House Jungle, so expect a lot of tropical planting and sumptuous chairs you’ll sink into lush green velvets and singing hot colour accents from our fabric partners ROMO, Linwood and Designers Guild, and some beautiful metallic accents in the lighting and accessories from Pooky Lighting and Rockett St George. We’re making the space into a real retreat, where hoteliers can take 10 minutes away from the crowds to recuperate or send a few emails, or have a private meeting in comfort.”
Previewing at the Independent Hotel Show, Signature is the latest addition to Wilton Carpets’ growing portfolio of striking tufted carpets.
Available in eight on-trend colour combinations, the contemporary design is headlining at the Olympia event, and once again underlined Wilton’s ability to match looks and performance in its carpet creations.
The new Signature Collection uses a modern colour palette to produce a prominent linear design that is ideal for hotel and hospitality spaces looking to add a contemporary twist. From bright pinks on a neutral backdrop and mustard yellow in combination with blue, to variations on the monotone theme, Signature is set to be a major hit among designers and hotel owners alike.
Falling within Wilton’s tufted stock portfolio so available for immediate delivery, Signature is made from durable 80% wool and 20% nylon to ensure lasting good looks, is rated suitable for heavy contract use and arrives in a four-metre width.
“Our prime reason for exhibiting at events such as the Independent Hotel Show is to demonstrate to visiting interior designers and hotel owners how Wilton Carpets can deliver a carpet solution for any environment,” comments Andrea Evans, Marketing Manager, Wilton Carpets.
“We already enjoy an enviable reputation for our woven axminster capabilities, but shows such as IHS allow us to display our growing portfolio of tufted lines. The success of other recent additions, including Harris Tweed, has opened up new doors for the company and following initial reactions we fully expect Signature to be equally as popular.”
For a brochure or samples, contact Wilton Carpets on 01722 746000 or sales@wiltoncarpets.com
