We know there's competition in the hospitality industry. That's why creating the right hotel design can set you apart from those competitors. Whether guests realize it or not, they choose where they stay by aesthetic, and presentation DOES matter.

With the right hotel interior design, you can:

• Target the types of guests you want
• Highlight the amenities and features your hotel has to offer
• Inspire guests to book events at your hotel
• Convey your brand's message

It's not just about a sleek look and expensive finishings. The hotel interior is much more than that. Here are 6 steps to guide you in the right direction for your hotel design and set you up for design success. Learn the importance of upkeep on hotel interior design and how the most minor changes can make a big difference.

STEP 1: Develop your hotel's story 

When beginning the design process, you must first provide an overall concept of your hotel and its unique identity. Your hotel must have an identity to convey the story you want your hotel to be and what you want your guests to experience. Having a visual identity contributes to your hotels' perceived value, and the images of your hotel should advertise for themselves. This visual identity will develop and extend into your hotel's brand's future and the content you will create later on.

Try creating an engaging and long-lasting story that defines the role of your hotel. Your story will ultimately convey why guests should stay and keep coming back, much more than just a room to stay in.

Step 2: Create an Outline

The first step of the design process is to map out what you want to accomplish. Create "the big picture" of what you untimely want your hotel to represent. Account management can help you better understand the scale of the project when upgrading guest rooms, furnishings, or renovating an entire building. Create a budget, authority, timing, and needs for you to finish.

Step 3: Hire the Pros to help

Interior design is complicated. You shouldn't have to do it yourself. That's why getting the right interior designer to help you can create limitless possibilities for your space. Hire a designer whose work you can relate to your hotel and who has knowledge of hospitality and designing around a brand message. Once you find the right person, start working together on ideas about your space to take it to the next level.

Step 4: Development Design for the Space

When you have architectural drawings, your design team here at Vogue Hospitality can plan what your space will look like and the goals of the plan. Our designers will take this page to develop how they will design your specific layout to show off your space in the best way. By finding the proper utilization of the area, the designers will create drawings for your interior design to set you up for success. This includes all the FF&E products you will need.

Vogue Hospitality offers a wide range of selections for your interior design such as case goods, furniture, lighting, bath accessories and more,  

Furniture, fixtures, and equipment (FF&E) refer to movable furniture, fixtures, or other equipment that have no permanent connection to the structure of a building.

Using our proven FF&E products and concepts, we can create an interior design to elevate and adapt for your needs to shape the project to achieve a conceptual guest experience.

Step 5: Construction Documentation

Once the design is approved, the next step is how the construction team will provide you with everything you need. Think about contractors you need for carpentry, plumbing, tile, and electricity. By having the interior design set, you can properly execute all your needs. By working with the general contractors and FF&E manufacturers you will have a fully realized designed concept that will work best for your guest’s needs.

Developing the right hotel plan is not easy. From conception to maintenance and upkeep, hotel development requires a clear vision and strategic planning. That's why Vogue Hospitality is here to help with all your interior design needs to meet your ultimate vision and set your guests up with a happy and memorable experience.

Contact Vogue today to discuss all your FF&E requirements and needs. 

Here are four must-have trends for midscale hotels this year.

Create an open space atmosphere

Open spaces are a great way to keep a trendy hotel that guests will want to keep coming back
to. By making your lobby an open space, your guests will feel comfortable and want to spend
their time there. This concept allows guests to have a communal area available to them with
flexibility. Having an open concept design allows you to make a public space that's an easily
accessible and lightweight environment.

Open areas will let guests have the opportunity to connect and mingle with other travelers. Like-
minded individuals can join in these spaces and have a positive and unique experience.

Millennials are a new generation of travelers

Millennials have a significant impact on hospitality trends. Your hotel aesthetic should
incorporate a more youthful design, with bold colors and modern finishes. Include contemporary
furniture that meets functionality to accommodate the new age of travelers. This new age of
travelers pushing for aesthetic changes is the reason behind investments in hotel technology.
Millennial travelers rely on great Wi-Fi and cloud access to do their jobs and ensure they can
power up all their devices conveniently.

Showcase local amenities

By maintaining a local spin on your midscale hotels, you can set yours apart from others.
Hospitality design has highlighted local artists for their wall discord, filling up space with pieces
from regional art galleries around them for display.

By showcasing artwork, murals, or additional wall displays related to your community and local
amenities, your guests can feel they have a personalized experience. By doing this, you can
create an experience for your guests based on your hotel's city culture.

Health and wellness opportunities

Health and wellness offers are a must-have for today's health-conscious travelers. Though you
might think this trend is just a fad, think again that healthy living is more important than ever and
not going anywhere. Ensuring hotel guests are equipped with accessible gym equipment is a
great way to get valuable guests wanting to come to stay at your hotel. Go even beyond that of
health and offer healthy and vegan options on the menu. Guests will note that you have
amenities that others don't, for whatever your dietary needs.

If you’re looking for an Integrated Solution for Hotel FF&E Design, Manufacturing, and
Purchasing contact Vogue Hospitality and get started today!

Now, you don't always need to make massive renovations to spice up a hotel room. You can simply boost the room's decor with a bit of effort and some clever techniques. Here are some ways you can upgrade your hotel rooms without having to completely break the bank. 

Modern chairs are a small investment and provide a big design impact 

Most hotels follow the classic concept of furniture, a bed, two nightstands, a closet, and of course, a reliable chair-sometimes more than one. If you feel like the chair you currently have needs an upgrade, it probably does.  

Your hotel should feel worth staying at, and guests want to feel like they can wind down in their hotel room after a long day of travel. That is why a comfortable and modern chair is essential. Designers suggest natural fibers should be used whenever possible, along with mixing textures. When shopping for a chair, make sure that you find something that is functional and practical and attractive, and conceptual to everyone. The best part about getting new chairs is that it's pretty inexpensive and an excellent investment worth the time and money. 

When shopping for chairs, mix and match colors and styles throughout the rooms as long as they fit a neutral and soft-color story. 

Remove any stale or dated artwork and upgrade

If there are dated pictures on the walls that look relatively cheap, you should remove them and decide what new artwork you want on your modern hotel walls. Guests want to experience your hotel and all that it provides, unique and contemporary. The artwork on the walls says a lot about the overall concept of your hotel and what you want guests to know about their stay here. 

Try finding unique pieces, replace old prints for local art that has a more impactful response. You could even find vintage pieces that help tell the story of your hotel and its surroundings. 

Change the linens to keep the room fresh and modern 

Often hotels offer beds with tacky patterned linens or ones that provide nothing to the room's design. Your guests want to feel like they are sleeping in quality sheets, and the images that show off your hotel linens will be the factor if those people want to stay there. You want to impress your guests with online photos of new and updated rooms. 

If you are on a budget, swapping out the old linens with new ones is a great way to update the room without much cost. Stick with solid colors neutral colors to keep a modern and comfortable flow throughout your rooms. 

The quality of the linens you purchase will impact the guests' stay significantly. Choose linens made with natural fibers over synthetic ones. This is inexpensive, and the small investment will be worth the outcomes you'll get from positive customer reviews. 

Give the room a fresh coat of paint

Often hotels just need to freshen up their space by painting the walls to make a room feel fresh and vibrant. Sometimes this is a must for updates, but it's not very expensive, and it will give your hotel a total makeover. Get rid of any soft yellows or dated wallpaper patterns and go for pale pastels and neutral tones. 

Keep your hotel chic and modern with a warm paint color that can be welcoming and relaxing to your guests. 

Rearrange the room layout 

Make sure your hotel rooms don't have a dated layout concept. Catch travelers' attention with online photos of your rooms that have a unique layout space. Not only is this a way to freshen up a dated room style, but it's the most inexpensive option. 

Move sofas and chairs around, so they are not cornered against a wall. Provide a suite-like atmosphere by placing the chair and desk against a window or moving the sofa across from the bed. 

First thing, the bed 

The bed is an effective part of the room's design for a couple of different reasons. The bed is where your guests will spend much of their time and is the room's focal point when thinking of design elements. Your guests will depend on getting a good night's sleep in their hotel suite, so the first task to carry out is that the bed is of excellent quality and comfortable. Invest in a quality bed frame, mattress, sheets, duvet, and pillows. 

Luxury is key 

It's vital to make luxury a top priority in your hotels' design because your guests are looking for that 5-star hotel experience. Mixing the feeling of being at home with the sense of something "extra special" is key to your interior hotel room design. 

Of course, we don't want to go overboard with the term "luxury" as we still want guests to maintain an affordable stay and feel they are in a comfortable environment. We want them to feel special but also not entirely out of their comfort zone. 

Luxury products like oversized chandeliers and expensive art products are not always what you need. You can still offer luxury by adding a few beautiful throw pillows and other small accents to the room. Things like fabrics can also add to this luxurious aspect, blankets, throw rugs, and other upholstery can create a richness to the room. 

Always use neutral colors and lots of textures

When decorating hotel rooms, you want to optimize simplicity to please guests of all ages and backgrounds. Neutral colors for all elements in the room will avoid guests feeling out of their element. That being said, you can still achieve originality in your room by using natural colors.

Making a natural connection between different rooms can be done using similar color patterns, shades, and textures. By adding fewer patterns in your design and more color and texture, guests have something they can feel. This results in a more memorable experience by utilizing and exploring the senses and embracing textures instead of patterns. 

Lighting creates a certain mood 

Lighting can be a powerful tool in interior design. It's important to carefully consider your lighting options when designing a hotel room. The room should be well lit; think accent lightings to establish a mood and atmosphere within the room. Your lighting should be calm and inviting. Make sure it's easily accessible to guests by adding technology to easily adjust lighting settings. Use lighting effectively; don't put a tea station in a dark corner or low table. Make sure there are no dark corner areas that should be lit up. Put lighting somewhere that also makes sense, and guests don't have to rearrange things for their comfort. 

Furniture must-haves 

Functionality and design are intertwined in that you'll need both in the hotel room's furniture. The essentials include;

• A wardrobe

• Bedside table

• Desk

• Chest of drawers

• TV stand

• Mini fridge

Vogue Hospitality has custom furniture options for you to choose from. Learn more about how you can build your project HERE. 

Balance creates comfort 

When considering the role of balance in your room, think about symmetry and asymmetrical balance, which is key to hospitality interior design. This room depends on its style and things should equally distribute themselves within the visual of the room. Balancing is not only about center points but the shapes of the furniture and the decor as well. 

Use certain elements as a focal point 

Each room must have a central element that will attract attention when considering a modern hotel design. Whether it is a piece of art, fireplace, or special technology, showcase an object to make the room feel unique. Providing a focal point or "soul" to a room lets visitors feel they are leaving a story behind and leaving print when they travel. Inspiring a sort of story element to your guest's stays at your hotel. 

Art can be versatile 

Hospitality design is essential to think about the art decor and put on our walls. The art on the walls is what your guests first notice when they enter a room and will give the whole perception of your hotel's aesthetic. 

Everyone has a different perspective of art, so it's important to stay neutral in this area. The key is to bring out the common elements that show some sort of experience to share with others. You can still be creative with the art pieces by still staying in that neutral lane to make all your guests feel comfortable. 

Try using local art when decorating. More hotel designers are using local art in their designs to improve guests' perceptions and create a unique experience for them. Small sculptures, photography, large-scale pieces, by integrating an art project into your hotel's image will be successful. 

Stay away from stale art like floral paintings that tend to make your hotel space look dated and unfresh. 

After several months of being quarantined at home during the pandemic, there's considerable evidence of travel demand. According to Forbes, 70 percent of people are already or about to start planning their 2021 vacations. However, many are still hesitant about traveling again, and hotel managers need to adapt to meet consumers' changing expectations.

Here are our top post-pandemic travel trends to encourage visits by making consumers feel more safe, comfortable, and confident.

Hotel chains are offering on-site COVID-19 tests

Since the CDC's latest rules on international travelers, hotel chains like Marriott, Hilton, and Hyatt are offering on-site COVID-19 tests. 

Since the protocols were put in place, major hotel chains are trying to create options for guests to take the necessary precautions to achieve the safest and healthiest options for guests to travel and stay comfortably. 

Hyatt has just announced its 19 resorts located in Latin America will now have COVID-19 for travelers, including accommodations for guests to make sure all their needs are met for future travel situations and maintaining protocols. This includes helping guests make their testing appointments as well as providing transportation for those appointments.  

Hotels are providing a New Standard of Cleanliness

Hotels are establishing a new standard of cleanliness, with new health guidelines for staff and guests, from when first checking in to when they check out. Hotels like Hilton are working with brands like Lysol and Mayo Clinic to set a standard of hygiene guidelines following specific instructions to reduce the effects of COVID-19.  

The goal is to create awareness, manage leadership programs, and educate everyone involved on science-based research to reduce the spread of COVID-19. 

• Hilton CleanStay Room Seal: Add an extra measure of assurance by placing a room seal on doors to indicate to guests that their room has not been accessed since being thoroughly cleaned. 

• 10 High-Touch, Deep Clean Areas: Extra disinfection of the most frequently touched guest's room areas – light switches, door handles, TV remotes, thermostats, and more. 

• Contactless Check-In: Hilton will double-down on its award-winning Digital Key technology for guests who desire to have a contactless arrival experience. Guests can check-in, choose their room, access their room with a digital room key, and check-out using their mobile devices through the Hilton Honors mobile app at participating hotels. Hilton will continue to expand its Digital Key capabilities to common doors and access points throughout the hotels.  

• Innovative Disinfection Technologies: Hilton is exploring the addition of new technologies, like electrostatic sprayers – which use an electrostatically charged disinfecting mist – and ultraviolet light to

 Click here to see the Hilton Standard of Cleanliness Full list. 

New year, New COVID-19 Policies

Though the recent pandemic has shaken the hospitality industry, hotels are taking the steps they need to exceed travelers' expectations and overall safety. Not only are these hotels creating new cancellation policies and improving cleanliness procedures, but taking those next steps to properly adapt to new COVID regulations. 

Here are policies based on hotel websites that are taking a step towards a safer and brighter future in 2021. 

• Social distancing: Specific policies that ensure the appropriate social distance between guests in common areas.

• Rooms blocked: Policies that ensure that guest rooms are not accessed for a specific number of days between reservations or after cleaning by staff. 

• Low contact check-in/out: Features such as mobile check-in and express check-out minimize contact between guests and staff.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE FULL LIST 

• Hotels need to determine a plan of action to deep clean all hotel rooms and public spaces that goes over and beyond the daily housekeeping service

• Hand sanitizer stations need to be provided in several locations of the hotel

• Fitness rooms and pool areas should be carefully monitored to make sure that effective social distancing is maintained

• Check-in and check-outs should be performed virtually

• Number of guests in the elevators should be limited to one party each time

Hospitality brands should announce and release Cleaning and Safety standards on their websites and portals to meet challenges presented by Covid-19.

Here are some new developments:

1. Four Seasons Hotels is now collaborating with Johns Hopkins for real-time guidance on Covid-19

2. Hilton Grand Vacations has recently introduced its Enhanced Care Guidelines to provide guests and its team members with protocols in response to the Covid-19 pandemic

3. IHG Hotels & Resorts is now offering a “fresh take on clean” and launched Clean Promise by partnering with the Cleveland Clinic, Ecolab, and Diversey

4. Marriott International launched Global Cleanliness Council to promote higher standards of cleanliness that includes electrostatic sprayers and disinfectants

5. Hyatt Hotels plans to have at least one person on property trained as Hygiene Manager who will be responsible to implement new health and safety protocols

6. Best Western Hotels & Resorts implemented We Care Clean program that also ensures the use of Best Western Mobile Concierge Platform through streamlines check in and check out process & removal of “unnecessary items” from the guestrooms like decorative pillows, bed scarves, paper notepads, and pens.

7. Choice Hotels is also enhancing their Cleanliness protocols by partnering with Ecolab to ensure that franchisees have the right infection prevention training to prevent the spread of Covid-19

One can only hope that in the age of the new normal, the Hospitality industry will show its resilience and promise to combat this pandemic by implementing safety standards and guidelines. And while we may not be able to go back to the old normal, we will need to learn to live and thrive amidst this challenge, and hopefully we will be better for it.