Details of creating a hotel design project

The success of a hotel today largely depends on its design project, which should take into account a number of factors, including the ratio of the number of rooms, public spaces, and technical premises. We will tell you how to design a hotel so that it is presentable and attractive for guests in this article.

First of all, when preparing the property, it should be taken into account that hotels of each category have their own specifics:

• Chain hotels. In the design project of hotels of this type, you must comply with the requirements of the chain (this can be both color solutions, special layout, and certain furniture that is used in all the properties of the hotel operator).
  «”However, it is worth mentioning that the global hotel market is now moving away from the standardization of design in favor of localization and customization. If earlier the guest liked to repeat his best experience, now he wants to get a new one every time. Even major hotel chains such as Accor and Marriott International have started creating different hotel lines depending on their local characteristics. Of course, some General details of the corporate identity are repeated, but the subject matter is changing,” said Vitaly Shvaltsvalder, co-founder of Imla, a company that designed and supervised the construction of some projects of the Ribas Hotels Group.
• Independent hotels. The design project of such hotels is created individually, while taking into account the customer’s wishes, trends, local colors, etc. (for example, if the hotel is located outside the city, near the forest, the actual solution would be to make its design in an eco-style). In such cases, hotel design becomes an important part of positioning: the interior of the rooms and the hotel’s exterior and interior styling help emphasize the atmosphere of the location and distinguish the property from its competitors.
• Redesign of the interior of a functioning property. It is provided for updating the interior, exterior and functionality of the existing hotel. Redesign may include not only renovation and finishing of the hotel but also reworking the layout of specific areas, updating the lobby, creating a new design for guest rooms, and refreshing the hotel’s brand style.

Stages of creating a hotel design project

Both when developing a mini-hotel design and a standard hotel, the stages of work on a design project do not differ. The process includes:

• defining the hotel concept;
• design development of all premises;
• preparation of working documentation.

Defining the hotel concept

Work on the design project of the hotel begins with the design of the technical task. At this stage, the target audience of the hotel is being studied, as well as the nuances of designing all areas of the object, the functionality and needs for its provision are described in detail. As a rule, the terms of reference are developed by the hotel operator who will manage the hotel. This is the stage where the future style of the hotel’s interior and exterior is defined, acceptable materials are determined, comfort level requirements are set, and guest behavior scenarios that must be considered are identified.

Design of all rooms

Next, a planning solution is being created based on the technical task. This stage also includes the development of effective ergonomics. This is when you perform:

• measurements of all rooms and create their plans;
• create a furniture layout;
• plan the ceiling heights and placement of wall partitions;
• select color solutions;
• select furniture, equipment and decorative items;
• create a lighting scheme.

“The most important thing to consider at this stage is the ratio of the number of rooms, public spaces, and technical premises. A successful design project begins with a competent hotel layout,” – the architect shared.

The interior of each hotel must be complete, that is, designed in the same style. At the same time, the hall should be given the greatest amount of attention, since it has a responsible mission – to create the first impression of the hotel among guests. A hotel lobby with a carefully considered design creates a visual anchor for the brand: it conveys the overall hotel design, atmosphere, service level, and the quality of the property’s finishes.

After the lobby, you should think about the design of the rooms. It is not necessary that all of them should be identical in decoration and furniture. It is only important that their interior belongs to the same style. In practice, this means that a hotel room design project must account for functional zoning (sleeping, working, storage, leisure), lighting scenarios, and the overall concept, while the interior of a hotel room may vary in décor or accents depending on the room category.

Furniture certainly plays an important role in design. Incorrect selection and placement can significantly affect the hotel sales. You should pay attention to the ergonomics of the selected furniture, it is better to give preference to multifunctional items.

Also, you should not forget about lighting. When choosing lighting devices, you should be guided, first of all, by the economy. So, LED lighting is a good option. Also, to save money, you should develop a rational layout of lamps. A well-designed hotel interior includes multiple lighting scenarios — general, accent, and decorative — both in guest rooms and in public areas.

After the work is completed, the designers create a 3D visualization that allows the customer to study the interior and exterior of the hotel in detail.

The final stage is the preparation of all necessary documentation. It should be noted that the development of a hotel design project can be handled by both a designer and a project Manager specializing in the development of HoReCa concepts. In the case of a redesign, the papers are transferred directly to the Studio, which will continue working with the project. The complete package includes layout drawings, wall elevations, hotel finish schedules, and furniture and equipment specifications — everything required to implement the hotel design project on site.

How much does a hotel design project cost?

The cost of a hotel design project always depends on the size of the property, the future hotel’s level, the complexity of layout solutions, and the number of non-standard elements. The format also affects the price: a project for a small hotel will differ from that of a large hotel complex with extensive infrastructure. Therefore, it is most accurate to discuss the cost after forming the concept and the basic technical brief.

Story of the Bortoli hotel design project in an unusual building

«The development of the design project of the Bortoli hotel, which is located in Odessa, was quite difficult. This is due to the fact that the hotel is located in an old building, in the premises of a former dry cleaner. The last repair was carried out there in the 70s of the twentieth century. From the point of view of economic feasibility, we had to put 10 rooms there, which was very difficult because of the small area. As a result, we made very small rooms – about 14.7 m2. However, the trick is that none of the guests have yet complained that they are small. The fact is that we identified the most unused space in the rooms – this is the space above and below the bedside tables, and came up with the idea to place cabinets on both sides of the bed instead of cabinets, in the lower part of which we hid a mini-bar, and also put two sockets there. As for the table, we made it by extending the window sill. In this way, we have released the maximum free space in the room. It is noteworthy that the design of this hotel has a lot of positive reviews from guests. Its successful operation is also facilitated by the fact that there is a public area that creates a good added value. Guests spend their time there, drinking coffee, talking and taking photos. This space makes the hotel even more interesting for guests.»

– said Vitaly.

Design is an important aspect, the quality of it affects the successful operation of each hotel. For such work, you need to choose professionals, because the construction process and the success of the subsequent work of the hotel will depend on the competence of the designers. Experienced hotel design project specialists help align the architectural concept, interior design, and operational requirements so that the property is beautiful, convenient, and economically efficient at the same time.

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