When it comes to choosing a hotel to stay in when away on business you want to find a hotel that offer all the creature comforts you would find at home. The typical “boutique hotel” will have a modern artistic cutting-edge design and tick all the boxes regarding amenities.

Boutique hotels are intimate, luxurious or quirky hotel environments. They are different to the larger chain hotels as they provide a more personalised accommodation and facilities.  Typically they are smaller than branded hotels and quite often are furnished on a theme.  Boutique hotels are stylish, warm, and anaesthetically pleasing.

Businessmen who travel on business are not looking for a hotel with restaurant, bar, gym or spa as many business men or women rarely have time to use them.  Staying in a hotel when you’re in town on business for just work commitments is not the same as when on holiday, unless you intend of mixing business with pleasure.  You’re in your room for a small period of time; really you just want a base with comfortable bedrooms equipped with quality bedding, heating and air conditioning.  A reliable power shower with constant hot water is a must as is in-room coffee and tea facilities.

Some other facilities you might be looking for are free wifi broadband internet connections, flat screen TVs, ipod dock and the option of using UK or EU power plugs.  What an Ethernet cable connection for internet access is also desirable.  With many modern business meetings being conducted using web conferencing technology having this facility is handy. Also what would be useful is a dual-line telephone with personal voicemail, speakerphone. Read the rest of this entry »

A discipline that takes care of the creation of a perfect ambience for the guests is widely known as hotel design. It is basically designing a place where clients touch base after tiring journeys, or a hard day’s work, for which the host is paid money. Even though designing a hotel comprises of a mere 15% of the total budget, it accounts for a whopping 70%of its income. Hotel designs have come a long way from their erstwhile days, with specialized architects, builders, interior designers, contractors and suppliers pitching in their share. Today, hotel design includes building specialized buildings with the required amenities for the purpose of attracting clients, or renovating an old hotel building, or converting other structures such as palaces and forts into a hotel. But, despite there being no consensus upon the ideal hotel design, the fact remains that a good location and an efficient structure are the main ingredients of an attractive design.

Hotel design vis a vis its functions

A hotel is divided into a number of segments some of them being, restaurants, bedrooms, suites, reception, entry lounge, laundry area etc. It is of utmost importance that the smooth functioning of one area does not interfere with that of the others. The noise or the movement of people in one area should not disturb both the people working, and the guests in other areas. For this reason, hotels are designed inside out. This ensures good functionality.

Decide upon the theme of the hotel

Before starting to design the interiors, give a second thought to the prevalent theme that your hotel would adhere to. There are many new trends emerging in the design industry. Boil down your choice to a select few, and then zero in upon the final choice. The look can vary anywhere between grunge, international, chic, boutique, urban or classical, but since a hotel offers a formal setting; a grunge theme would be too bold a statement.

Adventure in design

Clients worldwide have become more demanding. They want aesthetically and creatively appealing designs, better technology to have everything at their fingertips, and facilities that allow them to indulge, like a good swimming pool, an in-house gym, or a relaxing spa massage, just a call away. Also, gone are the days of heavily formal designs in hotels. The new breed of adventurous designers and travelers has made the hotels rethink their set beliefs about guest service. Business travelers have also contributed towards the adventurous design trends in the hotel industry. They want to be surprised or wowed each time they walk in. The reason for a more casual ambience in hotels can also be attributed to the need of frequent travelers to feel at home. A formal setting definitely comes in the way of it. Read the rest of this entry »