With the hotel sector bouncing back amid the UK ‘staycation’ boom, one figure which has stuck with me is that a single poor hotel review can result in up to 30 lost reservations.

 

Figures like this show how closely hospitality relies on guests’ experience, linking closely with our ongoing insights series, Designing Healthy. This series of reports has studied the views of over 500 architects and M&E contractors on healthy building design, including those working in hotel construction. The findings within them make for interesting reading, and will feed into a number of reports on different building types. The first two are already available, with the second focusing specifically on hotels.

 

In particular, our surveys have identified a number of trends – chief among them that architects and specifiers must prioritise the customer experience and preferences when designing hotels. The competition is fierce, as hotels vie for bookings post-COVID. Indeed, research of the UK market finds that guest numbers will return to ‘normal’ levels no sooner than 2022, with most businesses expecting slow trade well into 2023.

 

The latest figures show a healthy pipeline for new hotel construction, with 718 in development across the UK. However, our research has exposed concern with regard to wellbeing being ‘value-engineered’ out of these buildings later on in the construction process. 

 

Our research found that over half (52%) of architects and contractors surveyed believe wellbeing is ‘value engineered’ out of projects later on in the build. This is a troubling figure, especially when, post-COVID, concerns such as this need to become absolute priorities, not just fringe concerns.

 

Consequently, hotels must adapt according to their location and the unique business demands brought on by the coronavirus. Yet there are a range of design challenges and factors that must always be faced to provide a great guest experience, regardless of current events. These include temperature control, water provision, acoustics and sustainability, which are addressed in our report findings. 

 

Indeed, at 59%, the majority of architects and contractors we surveyed believed the need for acoustic performance had increased over the last five years. The sustainability of materials is also a design priority expected to increase the most over the next 10 years. These issues are synonymous with REHAU’s ‘healthy by design’ approach to hotel construction, and specifically how high-quality building services can help futureproof structure performance, raise sustainability and improve the guest experience. 

 

The advisory firm Deloitte points out firms must “reimagine the customer experience for the realities of a ‘new normal’” and provide a space which alleviates health-related concerns and leaves nothing to chance. The worry is that hotels that fail to adapt to these new conditions and overlook design considerations will struggle in the hospitality market’s highly competitive conditions.

 

In conclusion, it is clear that the built environment faces a range of challenges, including the legislative pressure to reduce carbon emissions, ensure good building design and specify quality materials. With this in mind, M&E solutions developed with healthy design principles in mind must be a driving factor for hotel construction as the hospitality sector moves forward.

Designing Healthy Hotels is the second in a series of REHAU reports to spotlight on the challenges and opportunities to improve the UK’s commercial buildings by sector.  If you’re interested in reading more, you can download the full document here