Celebrating culture and craftsmanship
The use of the term ‘smart’ hotels seems to be synonymous with the rise of the IoT (Internet of Things) innovation in the hospitality industry. While there are clear advantages of adapting these technologies towards the operational aspect of the hospitality industry, its impact from a design-led guest experience remains largely unexplored. We explore this issue through the lens of our hospitality design experience at Studio HBA and attempt to offer an alternative interpretation of a ‘smart’ hotel within this context.
WHAT IS A ‘SMART’ HOTEL?
A ‘smart’ hotel generally refers to a hotel which makes use of connected devices that can communicate or interact with one another. This allows guests to control multiple devices from a single control point which can be a remote control, a smart phone, a tablet or a smart speaker. These devices are often also able to find and relay information from the internet, allowing them to interact with guests and respond to requests.
Customised IoT solutions for hotels include devices such as smart lighting which guests can control with an app on their phones or a smart thermostat that guests can programme for maximum comfort during night or daytime. Automated smart door lock is a significant security feature possible in an IoT hotel room. Instead of using a key that could be lost or stolen, the guests staying in a smart room with IoT-enabled door locks can use a secure app on their phone to unlock the door.
From operational perspective, hotel owners and operators benefit greatly from the data collection possible with IoT hotel rooms. For example, IoT-enabled sensors can provide real-time data about individual rooms — data such as occupancy information, lighting and energy consumption, plumbing systems and water usage which can help them optimise operations.
ROLE OF DESIGN IN A ‘SMART’ HOTEL
Along with the change in technology, there has been a rapid change in guest behaviour and their expectations from a hotel. Travellers today are looking to explore and discover authentic expressions of local culture to enrich themselves and foster a deeper relationship with the spaces around them. At the same time, the pandemic has forced people to rethink their views on hygiene, ecology and carbon-laden habits. In the above context, one of the strategies that we, at Studio HBA, use is to think about the guest experience in a holistic manner. This means that we work with all stakeholders to rethink the guest experience at the pre-check-in, check-in and post check-in stages through a design-led narrative. By working with the ownership to develop a Brand DNA for the property, we help establish the core ethos of the hotel property and work cohesively with the graphics team to communicate it clearly with the target demographic.
A great example of this approach is the Port Muziris Hotel in Kochi which is the first Tribute Portfolio Hotel by Marriott in Asia. We worked with the owners and operators to create a meaningful design narrative through our designs to celebrate the local culture, history, materiality and craftsmanship. During check-in, guests can relax in a living room style seating while the hotel staff check them in with a remote tablet and suggest a local itinerary based on the guests’ preferences. To engage the guest with the artworks spread across the property, QR codes are labelled below artworks to give insights about them.
Some of the upcoming hotels designed by us will soon see the use of Augmented Reality to make the artworks even more interactive. Post check-out, guests will be encouraged to browse through the selection of curated hotel artefacts that may become souvenirs of their stay. For eg: custommade toiletries, crockery, cutlery or even a matchbox can be a great keepsake.
Another example of celebrating and reinterpreting the local heritage is the soon-to-be unveiled Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa at Nashik. The modern and contemporary guestroom design is complemented by flourishes of artwork inspired by the Devanagari script which harks back to Nashik’s importance in the Vedic culture. The spa is inspired from the historic rock-cut Pandavleni Caves that sit in close proximity to the property. While the hotel packs in all the modern amenities befitting of the brand, its expression remains rooted to the local craft and culture.
Given that there are so many existing properties that need to adapt to the current times, retrofitting becomes another important tool for creating long-term sustainable solutions. For eg: for one of our upcoming hotel designs, we are reimagining and converting empty guest rooms into places for work. Hotels with larger suite-type guestrooms can convert the existing living space into more of a living/ workplace area, complete with adequate lighting and appropriate, designed backgrounds for video conferencing.
For our latest Tribute Portfolio project in Bangalore, we are creating a 100-key resort by retrofitting existing villa structures to create private suites and villas that get ample natural light and are nestled in beautiful landscape.
In summary, we will witness a rise in technological advancements like IoT as enablers for providing human comfort and exploring sustainable and ecologically sensitive experiences. By combining human-centric design thinking together with technology, rethinking ‘smart’ hotels can bring us one step closer to this objective.
