Functionality seems to have taken a backseat to design in the recent movement towards all things trendy and cool. Here’s a list of hip hotel trends –
– Ultra cool rooms without alarm clocks OR alarm clocks that are hidden OR invisible OR impossible to figure by a rushed traveler! Time is money and it’s important to keep it simple!
– Trendy furniture placed awkwardly around the room – a hotel I stayed at recently, had a couch in an alcove surrounded by walls while a window overlooking the airport had a vacant area. Unconventional but not exactly functional?
– Bathrooms with transparent glass walls – what about the business traveler and their need to conduct meetings in the room?
– Expensive marble shower stalls without soap racks – Unusual but inconvenient.
A design that enhances the guest experience will not only outlast fads but also redefine expectations, thus serving its true purpose.