Why Hotel Designers Predict Bright Times Ahead
The global hotel industry will in all likelihood rebound quite nicely once things return to some sense of normalcy, according to top architects who specialize in hotel design. Given the current situation, hotels around the world are facing challenges the likes of which they've never experienced. However, the design work seems to be remaining steady, especially with clients that have been planning and budgeting for renovations for years now. While some are phasing to preserve cash flow, it is evident that hotels are committed to being competitive when the industry ticks back up again. Four highly respected designers offer their opinions.
With regards to the hotel industry, how has the current environment affected the design sector?
Clay Markham, Vice President, Global Sector Leader Hospitality, CallisonRTKL: The effect on the design sector has been mixed. Hotel projects that were in planning have been put on hold because no one has any answers. Developers, in most cases, own properties that are now closed and hotel fee developers simply will not be able to find the debt that they would need to move their projects forward. Many projects are moving forward which were previously funded with the developers understanding that this will pass by the time of their property openings. However, the current environment has the design sector thinking about what is next. How can we be problem solvers and find ways to come out of this, not thinking that this will be back to business as usual, but jump forward to new ways of approaching problems that will change the way we design and the way we solve these problems to the advantage of our clients?
