IHS INSIDER’S GUIDE: HOTEL ROOM OF THE FUTURE
WHAT WILL THE HOTEL ROOM OF THE FUTURE LOOK LIKE?
… designed by Two’s Company for the Independent Hotel Show 2018
Two’s Company Interior Design has created a stunning Hotel Room of The Future for the innovative stand at The Independent Hotel Show, October 16 and 17, 2018 independenthotelshow.co.uk. It has worked with leading soft furnishing suppliers, furniture designers and cabinet makers to create luxe elements throughout to bring the showstopping Hotel Room of The Future to life.
Founders of Two’s Company, Nick Sunderland and Gilly Craft, President of The BIID, talked to industry pioneers, specialists and futurists to determine what the ideal Hotel Room of The Future should encompass. An immersive representation and report, the concept for the room incorporates trends and schemes that the designers predict will be key for the boutique hotel industry. Its aim is to inspire, excite and educate hoteliers to offer ideas to improve the guest experience.
The room has an interconnected lounge area, bedroom and bathroom where guests will be surrounded by intuitive design. There is an abundance of carefully chosen, sumptuous interior features; from British designed sofas and chairs to a stunning headboard and lashings of top-quality fabrics.
“The future of hotel interior design will continue to have the luxe factor with opulent fabrics taking centre stage,” says Nick Sunderland. “Customers are wanting to experience 6* comfort. Hoteliers tell us that it’s all about the detail for their guests, be it stunning sofas and chairs, beautiful curtains, baby soft towels or sumptuous linen, all these aspects have to be considered.”
Stylish sofas and chairs from Knightsbridge Furniture
The recently launched ultra-modern Nexus range will be featured in the Hotel Room of The Future from award-winning British furniture designers and manufacturers, Knightsbridge Furniture. The sleek range has been designed with a stylish wire frame available in satin black, powder coated gold, chrome and a variety of bespoke colours. It includes the Nexus Armchair and the Nexus two-seater settee, both with a higher back and generously cushioned seat for guest comfort and style.
The beautiful collections are perfect for the hospitality sector and celebrate stylish, British design.
Fabulous fabrics from JAB
Fabric designers and manufacturer, JAB Anstoetz has worked with Two’s Company on the furnishing materials – seen in the curtains, sofa, chair, headboard and bed cover – for the Hotel Room of The Future. The new JAB Contract collection, Hideaways, features in the room and comes in 11 flame retardant and easy-care fabrics available in 91 colours. These textiles embrace “back to earth” concepts pulling on nature’s colour palette for inspiration. Shades range from creamy Dune Sand, to limestone Birch Grove and walnut Driftwood. Strong grey shades are shown in Stormy Sky, whilst Deep Sea is a silvery azure, Grape Harvest a deep rosé and Herbal stream a delicate sage/ olive green. Matt optic fabrics look like linen or wool and the dry grip make the fabrics uncomplicated. Discreet wave motifs and ikat optics come together with a mélange yarn and surfaces as soft as wool.
Bespoke cabinetry from Waites… and fabrication from mrf design and Corian®
Simon Waite from Waites Furniture worked on bringing the design concept from Two’s Company for the outstanding, quality cabinetry in the room, including the media wall, to fruition. With Two’s Company, Waites skilfully designed a piece of furniture that could house the technology; supremely functional but beautiful to look at. The fabrication of the integrated headboard was by MRF design. A combination of a full height, faux-leather full bed width, it has two Corian® side panels which feature wireless Corian® Charging Surface technology that enables smart devices to be powered up directly through the table top.
It’s all in the detail… well designed lighting can really set the tone of any hotel room, creating an ambience that can instantly soothe a guest’s frayed nerves. Two’s Company chose elegant, brushed antique brass and satin black light fittings from the Veletto range by Heathfield & Co. The statement lights with brushed brass tone shades are pre-programmed, but can be adjusted by the guest. Cloud soft duvets, high thread count bed linen and the softest bath towels from The Fine Cotton Company and beautiful carpeting from Cavalier add the extra premium finishing touches for the ultimate guest experience.
THE NEWEST TECH SEEN IN THE HOTEL ROOM OF THE FUTURE
The room will have a lounge area, bedroom and bathroom with all three spaces interconnected with clever tech elements throughout for a seamless, stress-free stay. Guests will be surrounded by intuitive design, multi-channel connectivity, sensor-led sleep support and in-room systems. From checking in to their sumptuous super- luxe room using thumb recognition or their phone, to being able to order room service via simple touch pads, or buy any item they like in the room with a quick tap on a nearby screen, the features bring to life what the future could look like in hotel design.
“Creating a room with 21st century technology, luxury, comfort and outstanding service for the guest are the challenges of today’s hotelier,” says Nick Sunderland of Two’s Company. “Research shows that technology is important on both sides but should not be invasive or difficult to use. It should be intelligent and responsive, integrated into the room. Seamless use of technology, in automatically updating housekeeping with individual requirements, for example, and a front of house that responds without intrusion or delay, is the aim. In addition, the guest requires comfort, elegance and style that is unique and individual.”
Subtle tech …. from Crestron, Smartcomm
… linked guest services at a touch of a keypad
Leading integrated technology experts Crestron and Smartcomm have developed the innovative features for this state-of-the-art hotel room. – no dials or knobs on walls, just discreet one-touch keypads for simple operations or the central touch screen to make bespoke adjustments for guests to control heating, lighting, air conditioning and much more.
Bed tech – the ultimate night’s sleep is a given with tech, scent and science incorporated into the design. The Simba bed has a six-axis motion base, amber lights in its footing that encourage the ‘alpha brainwave’ state preceding sleep, plus inbuilt lavender scent diffusers and air purifiers. Its pre-settings include ‘zero gravity mode’ where the guest’s legs are raised above the level of the heart for improved circulation and to relieve pressure on the lower back. The integrated headboard by MFR incorporates two Corian® side panels which feature wireless Corian® Charging Surface technology that enables smart devices to be powered up directly through the table top.
Entertainment – within hotel rooms is ever evolving. IP TV content is now standard across global hotels delivering content based upon geographic location, plus other popular global channels. BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) is now the norm, so the Hotel Room of The Future is set up so that content can be displayed on the TV and audio system via two screens.
The media wall – built by Simon Waites from Waites Furniture faces the bed with a Samsung 49inch TV and Sonos bar linking to individual devices and enabling access to all services in the hotel with a single tap. The media wall reverse creates a private seating area and again houses a 49 inch Samsung TV and Sonos sound bar. A minibar, and safe from A3 Solutions and a Nespresso coffee system is hidden in the unit and a pull-out desk creates a flush system. Built into the side is another control panel accessing all room and hotel services. It overrides the TV to integrate the room with front of house and housekeeping and gives access direct to the concierge for any guest requests. The whole process linking services has been set up by Crestron and Smartcomm on three levels of programming. Luxe lighting by Heathfield in elegant brushed antique brass and satin black, is pre-programmed but can be adjusted by the guest.
The whole concept for the technology within the room enables guests to have as little or as much interaction with the room as they wish. The aim; to create a calming, no-hassle room that a guest can feel right at home in and truly relax for the ultimate hotel experience with the most efficient yet discreet hotel service.
The room tech could provide:
- Welcome/Good morning with one touch to control lights, TV, audio
- Good night – all media can be turned off, primed for next day – alarms set
- Entertainment mode – dim lights, all audio off, curtain closed
- Good bye – all off and primed for return
- Or Standard mode as above with no requirement from the guest to make changes
- Preference settings / pre-stored for regular guests, room profile already set up on check in
- Turn down/ yes or no option, and also what time
- Room health check and re-set within hidden menu
- Check in / out via touch screen or iPad
- Air con / heating control and scheduling for personal preferences
- Beside controls, curtain control
- Water temperature control, Smart glass control/ walk in bathroom glass dims
- Television custom displays
- Wall panel device same as guest iPad
- Concierge contact, room service, do not disturb
- Cleaning request service, over and above the standard cleaning schedule
The smart hotel app from DL AP TAP … what a good idea!
A great opportunity for hoteliers to offer guests add-on experiences, the DL AP TAP (Design Life App) is a new concept. Guests often want to buy luxury interior products they see and use whilst staying at a hotel. This clever App will make that a possibility, with sales handled via the App. By using near field communication (NFC) newly available to iOS devices, hotels can now brand their own App and start selling luxury items to their guests straight away. Guests can simply use their iPhone to tap the items they want and place them in their basket to checkout in-app or pay upon checking out. Plus, this App can be white labelled to the hotel’s own name and corporate identity.
WOW factor bathroom … with Smart Glass Switchable Privacy Glass and backlit panels by CD UK – Corian® and ALL LED
The state-of-the-art bathroom with its Splinterworks Hammock bath and eco Axor Philippe Starck taps has its own subtle tech incorporated too for a totally luxe effect. A stylish, Switchable Privacy Glass panel from Smart Glass International can be adjusted by the guest from transparent to opaque in less than 0.01 seconds. They can appreciate the sheer beauty of the cool bathing area from their room, then switch to the privacy setting when they want to step in for a peaceful dip. The entire space is enhanced with translucent bathroom panels from CD UK – Corian®. Leading LED lighting technology specialists, ALL LED worked its magic by backlighting the panels to create a luminous glow throughout the space.
Speed and efficiency – with facilities it’s all about speed and efficiency; the quicker a room can be turned around the faster it can be occupied again. Management want and need to understand their guests more; what they’re doing whilst at the hotel, what they’re using and why, and, of course, what they’re spending their money on. With the use of this seamless, inspiring technology all these things can be achieved in hotel rooms of the future.
THIS IS THE BATHROOM OF THE FUTURE
The ultimate bathroom experience
The bathroom, with its incredible centrepiece – a floating Hammock Bath by Splinter Works – can be seen from the bedroom and lounge area through a stylish, Switchable Privacy Glass panel from Smart Glass International. The panel can be adjusted by the guest from transparent to opaque in less than 0.01 seconds, so you can appreciate the sheer beauty of the cool bathing area from your room, then switch to the privacy setting when you want to step in for a peaceful dip.Pioneering eco-friendly taps are by design legend, Phillippe Starck for the AXOR Starck Organic Collection, and the entire space is enhanced with translucent shower and bathroom panels from CD UK – Corian®. Leading LED lighting technology specialists, ALL LED worked its magic by backlighting the panels to create a luminous glow throughout the space. The latest Ceramic Rock tiles from British Ceramics complete the room
The definitive bath by Splinter Works
The beautifully designed Hammock Bath from Splinter Works, is the ultimate vehicle for total escapism. This show-stopping floating bath has literally elevated the immersive comfort of soaking in a hot tub by combining it with the peaceful experience of kicking-back in a hammock for the ultimate bathroom experience for guests. Unlike most bath tubs, with flat bottoms and steep backs, the continuous curved surface of the hammock bath gives an unprecedented level of comfort that encourages long, luxurious bathing. Made in England from carbon fibre, which is incredibly strong and stays completely rigid even when fully loaded, the Hammock Bath is designed for use in a wet room. It is suspended from the walls, doesn’t touch the floor and is filled using a floor standing tap with waste water released to a floor drain beneath the tub. The hammock bath can be specified at any length between 2.6 and 3.0 metres.
Eco designer taps by Philippe Starck AXOR for Hansgrohe
The AXOR Starck Organic bathroom collection has been developed in collaboration between AXOR, the designer brand of Hansgrohe SE, and design legend, Philippe Starck. “In the 20 years we’ve worked together, Philippe Starck has inspired us again and again to come up with radical ways of challenging established patterns of thought, behaviour and design,” says Olivier Sogno of Hansgrohe SE. Focusing on the essence of things is what gave Starck the inspiration for this sculptural collection with unique, organic-minimal design reminiscent of shapes we see in nature. “A new intuition came to me,” says Philippe Starck. “It was more a question: What is life, what is the energy of life? And I started to work from that viewpoint with the same subject of the minimum.” The company’s spray research laboratory has developed a new kind of water spray which consists of 90 individual outlets, each producing countless gentle drops of water. This extremely efficient shower spray uses water and energy intuitively, ergonomically and economically.
Beautiful back-lit panels from Corian®, E Wilson & Co & All Led lighting
Creating a relaxing ambience in the bathroom has been achieved with beautiful Corian® panels in the luxurious new shade, Grey Onyx. These were installed by EWC Fabrications, specialists in turning this beautiful material into something really special. Two’s Company wanted to show the Corian® to its best advantage; it’s a material that is very hard wearing and can be worked in the way same as wood; it can be carved, inlaid and backlit. The panels are backlit with ALL LED lighting to make the most of their ethereal translucency. The adaptability of the Corian® meant that a seamlessly integrated basin was created directly into the wall.
Make sure you catch the Hotel Room of the Future at the Independent Hotel Show on October 16 and 17, 2018: independenthotelshow.co.uk