What The Hotel Design Of The Future Can…
Hotels are closing down across the globe as the COVID-19 containment measures continue. As with every challenge, opportunities present themselves. In this case smaller hospitality establishments find themselves in prime position to take benefit from the situation. Non other has benefitted more than the Airbnb movement. I call it a movement because while it is one brand it is several fragments of accommodation scattered across the globe.
If you are not convinced, here are some numbers to ponder upon from Steve Deane, Senior Consultant at Sagentia Innovation.
How many hosts does Airbnb have worldwide in 2021?
- According to our data analysis, there are 2.9 million hosts on Airbnb worldwide in 2021.
- 14,000 new hosts are joining the platform each month in 2021.
- There are over 7 million listings on Airbnb worldwide in 2021.
- There are 100,000 cities with active Airbnb listings in 2021.
- There are 220 countries and regions with active Airbnb listings in 2021.
How does this affect hotel design going forward?
The COVID-19 pandemic made it “normal” to operate in small secure groups. Hotels are generally designed as several isolated “cubicles” called rooms with some common areas called bars and restaurants where everyone may emerge from their cubicle to often uncomfortably share a common space. Even as we share the common space, we sit in our little groups on tables with those we came with to the hotel anyway. Airbnb changes all that, allowing us to unashamedly operate in our comfort zones What can hotel architectural design learn from this? Plenty! How about having the flexibility of pods that allow the “cubicle” effect to be carried through both in the accommodation and dining experiences? How about having the flexibility to allow for socialization when convenient, and only when convenient, not as a must with forced common activities that may be the social norm, but is it really normal anymore?
The future is pretty much already here!
The future is about more intimacy. The future is about more self-care. The future is about more privacy. The future is about just getting away. The future is about taking life in small bites, even if they are a series of “varied hired experiences”.
Are we ready for it? Are our hotel designs ready for this new client?
Arch Tom Sitati is Board Registered Architect and MCIM Chartered Marketer (UK). The views expressed here are his own. He can be reached via email on: sitati@lexicondesigns.co.ke