Engaging customers with themed hospitality experiences
Designing experiences for emotional outcomes is not a new idea, but harnessing the best in hospitality concepts for accessing those emotions has recently become a growing trend with established brands. Tesla is planning a 24-hour diner in Los Angeles with a drive-in theater. FILA and Hello Kitty are teaming up with Hyatt to open themed hotels in China. Porsche Design and Steigenberger are building 15 luxury lifestyle hotels in Germany. Ralph Lauren has opened a café in Malaysia. Elle, the fashion magazine, will open a boutique hotel in Paris and expand to 15 hotels soon. In the meantime, Bulgari and Armani are also expanding their footprint in the hotel industry.
Why are the automobile, sportswear and fashion sectors entering the hospitality industry and using it to entice new customers and create loyalty? There are several reasons, all heavily rooted in the shift in perception of what constitutes a meaningful service-based purchase.
The hospitality industry’s DNA is rooted in hosting, entertaining and, quintessentially, an exchange based on human interaction. From hosting foreign pilgrims and travelers to entertaining royalty and nobles, the notion of hospitality signifies safety, relaxation, comfort, courtesy and entertainment.
The Hotel Yearbook 2023 - Annual Edition
As we have embarked on 2023, it is evident that the hotel industry has made a robust recovery from the
pandemic.
Occupancy and pricing have returned to their pre-pandemic levels. However, the future of our
industry is contingent
on how nimble the hospitality sector can be in adapting to ongoing innovation, changing market
conditions, evolving
consumer preferences, new staffing challenges, and sustainability realities. These uncertainties are
the new normal
in an unpredictable world.