A LUXURY BOUTIQUE HOTEL TO HELP IMPROVE THE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH OF BUSINESS TRAVELERS.

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A LUXURY BOUTIQUE HOTEL TO HELP IMPROVE THE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH OF BUSINESS TRAVELERS.

By: Fraida Brogna A thesis submitted in conformity with the requirements for the degree on Interior Design School of Applied Technology Bachelor of Interior Design Humber College © Copyright by Fraida Brogna 2020

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ABSTRACT

This study aimed to explore hotel amenities and features to improve business travelers' overall health while reducing stress and creating a balanced and healthy interior space.

Americans spend over 1.33 trillion dollars on global business travel every year, yet most hotels are not designed or equipped to relieve the expected stresses of travelling. Research demonstrates that business travel typically raises stress levels, affecting physical and mental health (Statistica, 2017). Due to the pressures of travel and work, along with the travel frequency, business travellers often experience issues that impact their executive functioning, such as sleep deprivation, jet-lag, excessive alcohol consumption, high blood pressure, migraines, increased risk of cardiovascular disease, anxiety, and feelings of isolation (Chen, 2017).

This research aimed to explore the correlation between hotel design and business travelers' well-being and present an updated design plan. Research methods included an in-depth analysis of case studies, interviews with professionals in the Hotel Management and the Design/Architecture fields, and literature reviews.

The research illustrated the shared priorities of business travellers, and it demonstrated various techniques to achieve a balanced, healthy interior. Suggestions ranged from holistic to technical approaches, such as Watsu, aromatherapy. yoga, smart home technology, temperature control, and colour theory. Finally, the WELL Building standards, which strive to promote a healthy interior, were thoroughly examined and applied to the research. The study results indicate that a specially-designed hotel, which implements the researched techniques, can significantly impact business travellers' well-being throughout the duration of their travels.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I would like to thank my thesis advisors, Dr. Marilyn Teitelbaum, and Anna Stranks, for your support, encouragement, and guidance. Your direction through this stressful time helped ease the workload. Your constant support and willingness to encourage me through this process meant a lot to me and pushed me to excel through my final academic year. All of the time and effort you put through late nights and early mornings reading through my thesis and giving me feedback guided me throughout the process. I couldn’t have done it without you, and I am grateful for everything you have done.

I am incredibly grateful for having the most supportive parents and sister who helped and guided me through all my schooling, never doubted that I could finish, and encouraged me to do the best I could. You kept me sane throughout this process, listened to everything I had to say, and only had positive and constructive advice and feedback.

Lastly, I would like to express my deepest appreciation to my editor, Hadassa Landau, who put up with the crazy deadlines and always had a positive attitude and energy. I couldn’t have done this without you.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

TABLES ………………………………………………………………………………

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FIGURES ……………………………………………………………………………..

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Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION ………………………………………………………

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1.1

Background of the Design Problem ……………………………………

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1.2

Statement of the Design Problem………………………………………

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1.3

Purpose of the Design Research………………………………………..

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1.4

Rationale and Importance ……………………………………………...

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1.5

Researcher's Personal Rational ………………………………………...

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1.6

Research Questions …………………………………………………….

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1.7

Hypothesis……………………………………………………………...

14

1.8

Scope and Limitation of the Research …………………………………

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1.9

Theoretical Framework ……………………………………………….

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1.10

Conceptual Framework ………………………………………………...

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1.11

Terms and Definitions …………………………………………………

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Chapter 2: REVIEW OF LITERATURE ………………………………………......

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2.1

Introduction ……………………………………………………………

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2.2

Historic View of Hotels ……………………………………………….

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2.3

Current Views of Hotels ……………………………………………….

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2.4

Future Views of Hotels ………………………………………………...

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2.5

Boutique Hotels ………………………………………………………..

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2.6

Business Travel Statistics ……………………………………………...

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2.7

Business Travel Stress Triggers ……………………………………….

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2.8

Standard Hotel Attributes and Amenities ……………………………..

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2.9

Wellness Hotels ………………………………………………………..

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2.10

Floating REST and Watsu ……………………………………………..

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2.11

Yoga ……………………………………………………………………

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2.12

Hotel Suites, Sleep, and Well-being ………………………………...…

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2.13

Smart Home …………………………………………………………….

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2.14

Colour Theory ………………………………………………………….

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2.15

WELL building standards ………………………………………………

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2.16

Summary ……………………………………………………………….

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Chapter 3: RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY ……………………..

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3.1

Research Design and Methodology …………………………………….

3.2

Participant Selection ……………………………………………………

3.3

Ethical Considerations ………………………………………………….

3.4

Data Collection & Recording …………………………………………..

3.5

Establishing Credibility …………………………………………………

3.6

Case Study ……………………………………………………………..

Chapter 4: BUILDING STUDY ………………………………………………….....

4.1

Existing Site Information ………………………………………………

4.2

Current Zoning & Historic Information ………………………………..

4.3

Transit …………………………………………………………………..

4.4

Neighborhood …………………………………………………………..

4.5

Environmental Analysis ………………………………………………..

4.6

Exterior ………………………………………………………………....

4.7

Interior …………………………………………….……………………

4.8

Sun Study ……………………………………………………………….

4.9

Structural Fabric …………………………………………………………

4.10

Vertical Circulation ……………………………………………………...

4.11

Building Systems ………………………………………………………..

4.12

As-Built Drawings ………………………………………………………

Chapter 5: ANALYSIS & FINDINGS ……………………………………………….

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53 54 55 57 57 60 60 63 66 67 68 69 70

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5.1

Introduction ……………………………………………………………..

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5.2

Interview Analysis ………………………………………………………

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5.3

Case Study……………………………………………………………….

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Chapter 6: RECOMMENDATIONS & IMPLICATIONS ………………………..

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6.1

Recommendations and Implications ……………………………………

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6.2

Future Design Recommendations ………………………………………

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6.3

Conceptual approach ……………………………………………………

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6.4

Programming Matrix ……………………………………………………

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6.5

Bubble diagram …………………………………………………………

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6.6

Block planning ………………………………………………………….

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6.7

Staking Diagram …………………………………………………………

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6.8

Test Fits ………………………………………………………………….

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6.9

Programming Matrix …………………………………………………….

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6.10

Parti Diagram ……………………………………………………………

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6.11

Conclusion ………………………………………………………………

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References …………………………………………………………………………….....

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Appendices ……………………………………………………………………………….

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A

Aboriginal Acknowledgments ……………………………………………

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B

Introduction Letter ……………………………………………………….

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C

Free and Informed Consent Form ………………………………………..

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D

Interview Questions ………………………………………………………

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TABLES

Table 1.

Colour Theory associated with gender …………………………………

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Table 2.

Colour Theory associated with age …………………………………….

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Table 3.

Colour Theory associated with education level ………………………..

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Table 4.

Colour treatments ………………………………………………………

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Table 5.

Analysis of Interview Question 3……………………………………….

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Table 6.

Programming matrix ……………………………………………………

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FIGURES

Figure 1. The WELL Building Standards …………………………………………………

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Figure 2. Theoretical framework ………………………………………………………….

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Figure 3. Conceptual Framework …………………………………………………………

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Figure 4. Water therapy, such as Floatation-REST and Watsu, are proven relaxation methods. ……………………………………………………………………….………..

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Figure 5. A spa in Four Seasons Hotel ………………………………………….…………

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Figure 6. Six Senses hotel suite demonstrating good night bulb ….…………….…………

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Figure 7. Map of city ……………………………………………………………….……....

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Figure 8. Eastern Avenue looked like before building …………………………..……..…..

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Figure 9. Historical view of Eastern Avenue ………………………………………….……

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Figure 10. Map of the city ……………….…………………………………………………..

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Figure 11. Stephenson’s Rental center ……………………………………………………….

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Figure 12. A residential neighborhood near Eastern Avenue ………………………………..

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Figure 13. Exterior view of 415 Eastern Avenue …………………………………………….

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Figure 14. Exterior view of 415 Eastern Avenue, new construction …………………………

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Figure 15. Exterior view of 415 Eastern Avenue (showing stairs) …………………………..

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Figure 16. Aerial view of 415 Eastern Avenue (parking) ……………………………………

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Figure 17. Interior view demonstrating floor material ………………………………….……

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Figure 18. View of stairs …………………………………………………………….……….

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Figure 19. Interior wall finish ……………………………………………………….……….

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Figure 20. View of trusses ……………………………………………………………………

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Figure 21. Sun study Summer solstice ……………………………………………………….

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Figure 22. Sun study Winter solstice …………………………………………………….

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Figure 23. Sun study Spring equinox …………………………………………………….

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Figure 24. Sun study Fall equinox ………………………………………………………..

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Figure 25. Brick Construction ……………………………………………………………

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Figure 26. Brick Construction ……………………………………………………………

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Figure 27. Vertical Circulation …………………………………………………………..

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Figure 28. Security Camera ………………………………………………………………

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Figure 29. Exit Signs ……………………………………………………………………..

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Figure 30. Fire Pull Station ……………………………………………………………….

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Figure 31. Sprinkler System ……………………………………………………………...

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Figure 32. Basement Floor Plan ………………………………………………………….

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Figure 33. Main Floor Plan ……………………………………………………………….

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Figure 34. Second Floor Plan …………………………………………………………….

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Figure 35. Sections ……………………………………………………………………….

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Figure 36. Six Senses Hotel Bhutan ……………………………………………………...

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Figure 37. Exterior view of Six Senses Hotel New York …………………………….…..

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Figure 38. View of the fitness center ……………………………………………………..

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Figure 39. View of the pool ………………………………………………………………

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Figure 40. View of the sauna ……………………………………………………………..

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Figure 41. View of the pool ………………………………………………………………

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Figure 42. View of the hotel suite ………………………………………………………..

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Figure 43. View of the bathroom …………………………………………………………

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Figure 44. Conceptual approach, Design recommendations ……………………………..

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Figure 45. Conceptual diagram Design, recommendations WELL building standard…

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Figure 46. Adjacency matrix …………………………………………………………….

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Figure 47. Estimated square footage …………………………………………………….

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Figure 48. Bubble diagram basement ……………………………………………………

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Figure 49. Bubble diagram main floor …………………………………………………..

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Figure 50. Bubble diagram second floor ……………………………………….………..

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Figure 51. Block diagram basement ……………………………………………….…….

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Figure 52. Block diagram main floor ……………………………………………………

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Figure 53. Block diagram second floor ………………………………………………….

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Figure 54. Stacking diagram ……………………………………………………………..

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Figure 55. Test fit ………………………………………………………………………..

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Figure 56. Parti diagram …………………………………………………………………

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CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Design Problem The travel industry is thriving, and travel is no longer an opportunity reserved for leisure alone. In addition to typical vacationers seeking a relaxing getaway, many individuals choose to travel for business-related purposes. Modern business travellers can fulfill essential work-related duties in foreign countries while relaxing and exploring a new environment. In 2015, business travel contributed 282.6 billion American dollars to America’s gross domestic product (GDP), which constituted 28.4 percent of travel and tourism’s total contribution to the country's economy (Statistica, 2017). By 2020, it was predicted that there would be at least 483 American business travellers, in addition to other geographic locations (Statistica, 2017). In addition, Americans spend over 1.33 trillion dollars on global business travel every year (Statistica, 2017).

Hotel managers are grateful for their influx of customers due to this increasingly popular trend, which elevates their financial gains. “Business travelers make up about half or more of all hotel guests around the world,” explains (Nayak, 2013, p. 1). However, the majority of hotels are not equipped to help ease the work and alleviate the stresses of business travellers. In the researcher’s opinion, significant features are not included in the Hospitality Industry, which must change.

Travellers are faced with many stressful challenges, such as work pressures, endless packing needs, restless sleep, and locating misplaced baggage (Chen, 2017). International business travellers typically spend 12 nights abroad per trip, while domestic business travellers’ journey for approximately four nights every time (Chen, 2017). Due to the stresses of travel and work, along with the frequent need for travel, business travellers often complain about issues that

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impact their executive functioning, such as sleep deprivation, jet-lag, elevated levels of alcohol consumption, high blood pressure, migraines, increased risk of cardiovascular disease, anxiety, and feelings on isolation (Chen, 2017). Therefore, hotels must be designed to improve business travellers' well-being while simultaneously easing their bodies and minds.

1.2 Statement of the Design Problem Business travel generally raises stress levels, which subsequently leads to both physical and mental health struggles. Travel is correlated with a negative impact on business travellers’ well-being and mental health, an increased risk of chronic diseases, and decreases levels of longterm productivity and job satisfaction (Chen, S., 2017). It is also proven to influence sleep disorders, sedentary behavior, unhealthy diets, mental health struggles, and infection diseases (Rundle, 2018). Thus, to alleviate these consequences of business travel, hotels should be better designed to increase travellers' comfort while catering to their physical and mental health needs.

Business travellers must remain focused and engaged to succeed in their ambitions.

However, when the traveller is experiencing an overload of physical and mental stressors, it is impossible to achieve this necessary goal. Aside from affecting their lives, the hassle of business travel also prevents companies from reaching their maximum productivity levels on trips.

Business travels are challenging and stressful because hotels are improperly designed for business travelers; this research will focus on creating designs to improve business travellers’ trips.

1.3 Purpose of the Design Research This research explored hotels' design amenities to reduce stress-related triggers and elevate the enjoyment of the overall travel experience. This study determined the ideal design for an ergonomic hotel that can ease the consequences of business travelers' trips. Extensive research

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was conducted through an examination of a case study and interviews with professionals in the hospitality and hotel industries. This study includes a large selection of research that was obtained through interviews with designers in the hospitality industry and hotel managers. By listening to analyses of different problems and potential strategies, this research helps develop a clear understanding of hotel condition improvement. This study aims to clarify updated hotel designs focused on the whole traveller’s well-being, thereby improving both the passerby's physical and mental health. The WELL Building Standard, a framework that focuses on improving people's well-being through design, will be incorporated into this research. As well, other holistic, technological, and therapeutic approaches will aid in the development of a wellrounded thesis.

1.4 Rationale and Importance This study is critical as both medical professionals, and the general population recognize a yearly increase in mental health issues, including suicide, stress, anxiety, and depression (Lambert, 2006). Although business travel can be extremely stressful and unenjoyable, countless individuals travel for business purposes on a frequent basis. Through the addition of relatively simple design strategies specially proven to minimize stress triggers, business travelers' mental and physical health can be changed forever.

1.5 Researcher's Personal Rationale Ever since childhood, the researcher always envied individuals who travelled for business, and she has aspirations to do so in the future. To fulfill this strong desire to engage in business travel, the researcher wishes to open a design firm that will primarily focus on its occupants' well-being while managing international business. As the researcher gradually becomes more educated and aware of current issues, she is beginning to recognize the many

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stresses caused by conducting business in a foreign setting, especially when the hotel is insufficiently equipped for business purposes.

Research demonstrates that over half of international hotel guests are business travellers (Chen, 2013). Nevertheless, hotels are rarely equipped to provide business travellers with an ideal work environment. Instead of relishing the opportunity to travel abroad, business travellers often prefer to avoid extraneous stress by working from their offices and homes (Nayak, 2013).

The researcher believes that many necessary design features are missing from the hospitality industry, and adding these features will subsequently improve the future of business travel.

Even typical vacationers suffer from mild to moderate stress abroad, and they may suffer from some of the above health problems. However, these effects are significantly harsher among frequent business travellers. Therefore, this research was conducted to reduce stress, increase relaxation, and enhance the overall enjoyment caused by business trips.

1.6 Research Questions How can the design of a hotel reduce stress and enhance the well-being of business travelers during their stay? Travelling for business can take a significant toll on one's mental and physical health. Research reveals that the implementation of design features, amenities, and attributes into a hotel can improve its occupants' overall well-being.

1.7 Hypothesis A luxury boutique hotel designed exclusively for individuals on business trips, with specific design features, amenities, and attributes, will help ease the work, reduce stress, and cause the overall travels of business travellers to be more enjoyable. As the issues caused by business travel become more prevalent, it is essential to design a unique hotel plan that counteracts these issues and introduces effective tools.

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1.8 Scope and Limitations of the Study The study that the researcher designed was conducted between September 2020 and November 2020. The research was limited to 14 weeks due to the approval of the Research Ethics Board. Initially, six individuals agreed to participate in an interview. However, only five of the individuals who originally agreed to participate continued the process and signed the consent forms. The interview consisted of 15 questions that focused on hotel design, along with methods to create an environment that maximizes comfort and promotes wellness. The restrictions imposed by COVID-19 limited the diversity of the research, as data was exclusively collected through online research and phone interviews. These limitations may have affected the validity and generalizability of the results.

1.9 Theoretical Framework Many design theories were incorporated into this study and its related research. The primary theory was the correlation between effective hotel design and a reduction in business travel's physical and mental stresses. This topic was developed through various research methods, including research with professionals in the design field and hotel managers, examinations of peer-review articles, and analyses of books. A limited amount of hotel research discussed the occupants’ well-being since most studies concerned the basic needs of leisure travellers. Therefore, alternative studies that focused on general methods to reduce stress were analyzed instead. One of the literature review's focal topics is the WELL Building Standards, which is a framework to help designers and architects create spaces to enhance their occupants' well-being. The WELL Building standards are separated into seven categories, as demonstrated in Figure 1 (Powell, 2019). The literature review will then discuss various holistic approaches to alleviate stress and improve well-being. As shown in Figure 2, specific strategies, such as yoga,

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Watsu, and hotel room design, will also be discussed. This theoretical framework will support the hypothesis and describe the ideal design for a luxury boutique hotel.

Figure 1 The WELL Building Standards (Powell, 2019)

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Figure 2 Theoretical Framework (Brogna, 2020)

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1.10 Conceptual Framework Business travel can be a cause of extreme stress and discomfort. Throughout the research, alternative methods were developed to design a specialized boutique hotel for business travellers, which will increase their overall well-being. The designed hotel spaces will implement a selection of amenities and stress reducers to improve the occupants' well-being. These features include spas and wellness centers that have designated areas for floating REST, Watsu, and yoga They also include hotel rooms designed to reduce stress, smart home features to build an easilyaccessible environment, color palettes to create a calm atmosphere with color theory, and the integration of the WELL Building Standards. View Figure 3 to explore the researched features and the methods through which they will be implemented to create the desired effects.

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Figure 3 Conceptual Framework (Brogna, 2020)

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Wellness Hotels: Wellness hotels focus on occupant’s wellness by incorporating different elements, such as high-quality beds, temperature control, yoga, Watsu, and naturalistic features into design areas. Wellness hotels are a relatively new concept. They are beginning to gain acclaim worldwide as individuals’ awareness of physical and mental health is increasing.

Floating REST and Watsu: Floating REST and Watsu are techniques implemented in the water to reduce the mental and physical discomfort. These techniques are proven through many different studies and are an extremely useful tool to improve various health problems (Feinstein et al. (2016).

Yoga: Yoga is an ancient practice that has recently returned to the American fitness and wellness industry. International hotels are beginning to implement yoga classes into their schedules. Due to its versatility and simplicity, almost anyone can engage in yoga, regardless of age and physical state. Therefore, it is an integral practice for mental health and well-being.

Hotel Suites: Hotel suites are one of the essential elements that influence occupants' well-being.

Extensive research was conducted on every aspect of hotel suites, from the rooms' temperature to the mattress and bedding quality. Ensuring that hotel suites provide comfortable accommodations for their occupants is a foundational requirement to improve travellers' wellness.

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Smart Home Technology: Smart home technology is the use of electronic devices that calm the users through their ability to control and regulate their homes electronically. Appliances, security, and many more areas can be monitored through phone applications and specialized technology.

Colour Theory: Colour Theory refers to the presentation and perception of colour. Colour choices can affect individuals’ emotional states by inducing various emotions, such as happiness, depression, or relaxation. Thus, it is essential for designers to understand the interplay between specific colours and emotional states Lee (2018).

WELL Building Standards: The WELL building standards are a specific framework to design spaces that enhance the well-being of their occupants. There are seven different categories -- air, water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort, and mind -- that each pertain to the enhancement of the occupants’ wellbeing, in specific areas (Garofalo, 2016).

1.11 Terms and Definitions: Amenities: Amenities help to provide comfort, convenience, or enjoyment. (Merriam Webster, 2020).

Anxiety: Anxiety is the apprehensive uneasiness or nervousness usually over an impending or anticipated ill: a state of being anxious (Merriam Webster, 2020).

Attributes:

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A quality or feature regarded as a characteristic or inherent part of someone or something. (Oxford Languages and Google - English 2020) Biophilia: Biophilia is the hypothetical human tendency to interact or be closely associated with other forms of life in nature: a desire or inclination to commune with nature (Merriam Webster, 2020).

Blue Light: Blue light is a color in the visible light spectrum that can be seen by human eyes. Blue light is a short wavelength, which means it produces higher amounts of energy. Blue light can cause eyestrain, fatigue, headaches, and sleeplessness. (What is Blue Light? 2020) Business travel: Business travel is a trip made as a part of one's work (Merriam Webster, 2020).

Boutique: The boutique is a small company that offers highly specialized services or products (Merriam Webster, 2020).

Floating Rest: During Flotation-REST, a person floats inside a quiet and dark tank filled with heated salt-saturated water. Deep relaxation and beneficial effects on, e.g., stress, sleep difficulties, anxiety, and depression have been documented in earlier research. (Jonsson & Kjellgren, 2016) Hospitality: Hospitality is the activity or business of providing services to guests in hotels, restaurants, bars, etc. (Merriam Webster, 2020).

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Hotel: An establishment provides lodging and usually meals, entertainment, and various personal services for the public (Merriam Webster, 2020).

Inn: An Inn is an establishment for the lodging and entertaining of travelers (Merriam Webster, 2020).

Strain Based: "Strain-based conflict occurs when stress arising in one role is carried or transferred to the other role, with the consequent strain symptoms (e.g., anxiety, irritability) reducing effectiveness in the second role� (Strain-Based Conflict, Definition(s) of 2018) Stress: A physical, chemical, or emotional factor that causes bodily or mental tension and may be a factor in disease causation (Merriam Webster, 2020).

Watsu: A form of shiatsu massage that takes place in water. (Oxford Languages and Google English 2020) WELL Building Standards: The WELL Building StandardÂŽ is a performance-based system for measuring, certifying, and monitoring features of the built environment that impact human health and well-being through the air, water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort, and mind. (What is WELL, 2020)

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Wellness: Wellness is the quality or state of being in good health, especially as an actively sought goal (Merriam Webster, 2020).

Yoga: A system of physical postures, breathing techniques, and sometimes meditation is derived from Yoga but often practiced independently, especially in Western cultures, to promote physical and emotional well-being (Merriam Webster, 2020).

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CHAPTER 2: REVIEW OF LITERATURE

2.1 Introduction Travelling can and should be an enjoyable experience, as it provides opportunities to discover, explore, and connect. However, even when individuals are merely seeking a leisurely vacation, travelling can often be a significant cause of physical, mental, and emotional stress. For business travellers, who typically travel for technical purposes, travelling can take an even greater toll on their well-being. Business travellers travel quite frequently, and unpleasant hotel stays can create unnecessary tension and discomfort. Therefore, it is necessary to implement novel ideas to improve the hotels' conditions in which they reside. (Burkholder, 2010) This literature review will discuss research from a diverse range of sources, including the works of Burkholder (2010), Chen (2017), and Rundle (2018). Various strategies will be presented to improve business travellers' psychological and physical health. Many studies concerning the general design of a boutique hotel, along with alternative methods to ease the mind and body during travels, will be incorporated into the review. This review's preliminary sections will analyze boutique hotels' nature, business travel statistics, and triggers caused by travels. Design strategies will then be suggested to improve boutique hotels' future while focusing on business travellers’ best interests. Finally, the WELL Building Standards, and their success in enhancing the users’ wellness through the mind, body, and environment, will be discussed and integrated with the research.

Business travellers should enjoy a pleasant stay in a specialized boutique hotel after each exhausting day of business ventures (Young, 2019). These hard-working individuals can

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anticipate pleasant travels in the future when this interior design research will be applied to improve hotel standards.

2.2 Historic View of Hotels Hotels in the 18th century looked very different than they do today. As more people began to travel, the demand for hotels increased. The majority of travelers resided in lodging houses and private homes (Bowie, 2018). However, there were a small number of inns during this period, and they contained one comfortable room for wealthy customers who owned private coaches. Nevertheless, most coach travellers shared rooms, as this option was more affordable (Bowie, 2018). These inns provided the basic necessities to maintain proper health, including modest food, a bed, and occasionally the ‘luxury’ of running bath water. When the 19th century began, drastic changes occurred as "American hotel building adopted the technology of commercial architecture used in public buildings such as concrete to construct larger hotels, called caravanserai, and incorporated elevators, gaslighting, and plumbing" (Bowie, 2018). The face of hotel design slowly started changing and developing toward the design of a modern hotel.

2.3 Current View of Hotels Tourism and business travel have significantly increased since the 18th and 19th centuries.

The availability of modern technology, such as cars, planes, and trains, increases the ease of travel. The greater number of journeys is correlated with a greater need for hotels. As society advances, there is a significant shift in the physical appearances of hotels, as well as their functions. Hotels are beginning to embrace consumer needs due to their desire for more business transactions. The primary concern of the hospitality industry “is to cater to its customer needs and their desires through personal services" (Nayak, 2013, p. 1). Today, hotel guests have higher expectations than ever before, so hotels must provide sufficient supplies to meet the demands.

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Most hotels offer the basic amenities of a pool, gym, food services, and technology. However, throughout the past few years, there has been a shift with regard to the important values of hotel guests. One major area of change is the interest in sustainable designs, with the approach that "the greener the better" (Villalon, 2017, p. 1). Society is becoming increasingly environmentallyfriendly, as new studies demonstrate the human impact on the environmental decline.

Another recent change that has recently emerged in hotels is the concept of wellness. Koh (2006) explains that the prevalence of illnesses among the global population ensures that "people will desire spaces that enhance their well-being� (Koh, 2006, p. 9). Therefore, many hotels began to incorporate initiatives to improve their guests’ well-being, such as yoga classes, therapeutic mattresses, healthy food, and much more.

2.4 Future Views of Hotels The future of hotels is gradually shifting to adapt to the changing needs of society. Hotels are beginning to direct their design, products, and services toward specific groups, based on their targeted clientele’s lifestyle, which implies that the future of each hotel varies (WittmanWuerzeer, 2019). One obvious change relates to the decreasing popularity of general hotels, as managers are beginning to specialize their hotels toward different clientele, such as business travellers or children (Wittman-Wuerzeer, 2019).

Technology is the next significant change that will impact future hotel designs; the popularity of devices such as self check-ins, automated temperature control, and smart home technology is expected to increase. As new technologies develop and adapt to societal needs at a rapid pace, the centrality of hotel-specific technology will continue to increase (WittmanWuerzer, 2019). Hotels will begin to advertise electronic check-in services instead of the traditional front desk model with customer service representatives. There is already an apparent

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shift toward hotel bookings being completed online, along with extra requests, such as the need for room service. A study conducted by Wittman-Wuerzer, (2019) about technology in the hotel industry demonstrates that information technology is vital to increase employee efficiency by 79.9 percent, increase customer satisfaction by 82.4 percent, and generate a greater revenue by 71.3 percent. An additional study was conducted among a large variety of hotels to analyze the future of hotel rooms by the year 2030. The study utilized an innovation lab, which is essentially a test room to determine whether people react well or poorly to new innovations in hotel rooms.

The results demonstrated that technological innovations are going to cause the greatest changes in future hotel designs. Well-known aspects, such as smart room control and enhanced security systems, along with additional technological advances that are yet to be discovered, will enhance the entire hotel experience. Designers will ensure that they maintain the cozy atmosphere of hotel rooms that cater to the guests’ psychological comfort and well-being, while installing technological advancements that will cater to target groups and individualized preferences (Wittman-Wuerzer, 2019).

2.5 Boutique Hotels Over the past couple of decades, the popularity of boutique hotels has grown dramatically. According to a study conducted by Aggett (2007) concerning boutique hotels in the United Kingdom, many individuals prefer to stay at boutique hotels versus big hotel chains. The research was conducted among boutique hotels that have less than 100 rooms. Instead of merely choosing a hotel as an accommodation, the study stated that clients “are looking at the hotel to provide an experience in itself” (Drewer, as cited in Aggett, 2007, p. 169).

In 1984, Ian Schrager and Steve Rubell opened Morgan’s Hotel in New York. This iconic hotel, known for its unique design and style, was one of the first popular boutique hotels

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(Henderson, 2011). Before this hotel became a success, boutique hotels were little known and overlooked by travellers, who typically chose to reside in well-known hotel chains. However, compared to hotel chains, boutique hotels are smaller and more specialized. One possible reason behind the rising popularity of boutique hotels is the modern world’s increased interest in fine art, history, and culture (Lim & Endean, 2009). The unique characteristics of boutique hotels, such as decorations, leisure facilities, restaurants, homeliness, quality personalization, and unique designs, attract modern travellers to choose these hotels (Lim & Endean, 2009). After all, some travellers don’t simply want a place to sleep; rather, they want to gain an exciting experience.

2.6 Business Travel Statistics Travelling for business has become a more common phenomenon in the twenty-first century, and the number of travellers continuously increases on a yearly basis. As economic globalization -- the international transfer of goods, services, technology, and information -becomes more rampant, so does the need for business travel (Burkholder et al., 2010). Business travel is the crucial foundation to facilitate inter-organization communications and conduct business negotiations, which subsequently improve globalization (Mäkelä, 2015).

Statistics reveal the incredible number of international hotel bookings that are due to business travels. 2006 statistics revealed that over eight-million American citizens travelled for business purposes throughout the year. 61% of those eight-million individuals travelled along, with an average of 4.7 trips and 15.4 nights in international hotels (Burkholder et al., 2010).

Nayak (2013) conducted further research, and he found that more than half of hotel guests worldwide are business travellers. The trends demonstrate that the rampancy of business

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travellers staying in international locations will continue to rise over the coming years, along with the need for improved accommodations.

2.7 Business Travellers; Stress Triggers As stated earlier, business travel can be an extremely stressful, tiring experience.

Burkholder et al. (2010) conducted a study to determine the relationship between the frequency and duration of international business travel and specific health effects. The health risk appraisals of American employees, of whom 2,962 were international travellers and 9,980 were nontravellers, were analyzed and compared. Prior to the study, the two groups demonstrated no statistical differences concerning their smoking habits, diet choices, fitness levels, and job satisfaction. The research concluded that frequent international business travel negatively impacted one’s health. It was correlated with a lower body mass index, lower blood pressure levels, excess alcohol consumption, increased sleep deprivation, and lower confidence and competency levels (Burhkholder et al., 2010). This study demonstrated how frequent business travel could put a lot of stress on the mind and body.

This significant study demonstrated the need for improved travel accommodations to diminish these negative effects. Successful business travel must be catered towards one’s health, safety, and well-being, and the travel arrangements should be designed to allow businessmen “to arrive at the global destination ready to make critical business decisions” (Burkholder et al., 2010, p. 333). The study reinforced that hotel accommodations are not the only cause that negatively affects business travellers’ health, since the stresses of transportation, such as delayed planes, taxis, and long journeys, must be taken into account.

The specific effects of business travel on well-being are typically strain-based, as they decrease one’s physical and psychological health and increase one’s stress levels. Austrian

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business travellers reported that their journeys are correlated with symptoms caused by pressures, including fatigue, tension, irritability, anxiety, and depression (Demel & Maryhofer, 2010). Frustrated travellers reported the exhaustion and irritation caused by delayed planes, overnight travels, time differences, and airline food (Demel & Maryhofer, 2010). While these annoyances affect almost all travellers, their effects are particularly noticeable among frequent business travellers. The consistent results across all the participants in the study demonstrated that business travelling truly takes a toll on one’s well-being, and negatively impacts one’s ability to succeed in the workplace.

2.8 Standard Hotel Attributes and Amenities The amenities offered in hotels can either increase or decrease their popularity and financial success. According to Amenities Definition and Meaning (2020), “hotel amenities include health clubs and conference facilities.” Therefore, choosing amenities is one of the most critical organizational decisions for hotel owners and operators. A limited selection of amenities, or offering the wrong types of amenities, can cause guests to remember a negative service experience. On the other hand, if too many expensive amenities are offered, the hotel can suffer from wasted capital, exorbitant operation costs, and unnecessary service delivery burdens (Dev, 2019).

Most hotels that operate as a branch of a popular chain offer the same traditional amenities and attributes. A recent study investigated the prominence of six different hotel attributes: value, service, rooms, sleep quality, location, and cleanliness. The value was observed through the accommodation price and whether guests believed it was worthwhile; service was observed through the staff’s friendliness and professionalism; rooms were defined through the size, cleanliness, and comfort of the suites; sleep was defined as the temperature of the room,

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mattress quality, and exterior noise; location was defined as the convenience of public transportation, parking, and access to activities; and cleanliness refers to the maintenance of the hotels. Study results demonstrated that individuals primarily focused on the value and rooms of hotels when rating their quality (Rhee, 2015).

Alternative studies, however, identified other attributes as the most significant influences towards hotel ratings. However, not all studies say that the "value" and" room" are the most important features in hotels. Birritteri (1998) concluded that a comfortable, clean bed and technological amenities are the most significant amenities for business travellers.

Many hotels are beginning to introduce novel amenities to decrease the stresses of travelling and increase the pleasantness of business travellers’ hotel stays. Fitness centers, pools, saunas, jacuzzies, tennis courts, personal trainers, treadmills, exercise equipment, and walking paths are becoming a necessity in popular hotels (Birritteri, 1998). As hotel owners become more attuned to business travellers' needs, they are beginning to offer more appealing amenities that increase traveller’s physical and mental health. These factors are crucial to increase hotels' desirability, specifically for business travellers who want to relax and enjoy their stay.

2.9 Wellness Hotels Wellness hotels are yet another popular hotel concept that is catered towards frequent travellers. These specialized hotels are part of the fastest growing segment in the global tourism market, wellness tourism, which aims to improve travellers' physical and psychological wellbeing. By 2022, the popularity of wellness tourism is expected to double, as individuals continue to take heed of the consequences of travelling and seek effective solutions (The Global Wellness Institute, as cited in Obando, 2019). Despite the costs involved in providing extra services, wellness hotels are extremely profitable establishments due to their high demand. These hotels

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have an innovative style, with modern features such as beauty salons, gyms, spas, and treatment rooms. They also feature yoga classes, product choices, a soothing ambiance, diet-friendly food choices, social engagement, and environmental considerations (Young, 2019). Young (2019) emphasizes that wellness hotels are successfully capitalizing on the shift in travellers’ attitudes and health considerations.

There is not much research relating to wellness hotels that are specifically designed for the population of business travellers. However, a study conducted by Rundle et al. (2018), assessed business travellers’ mental health and developed strategies to improve their state and enjoyment during their travels. The researchers’ cross-sectional analysis of de-identified electronic medical records from corporate wellness programs led to their conclusion that more wellness features must be incorporated into these trips. Frequent travellers should be offered accommodations with physical activity facilities, healthy dietary options, relaxing sessions of mind-body practices, and stress management coaching (Rundle et al., 2018). Essentially, stress caused by business travel is a significant issue, and a specially-designed wellness hotel can transform one’s business journeys into an enjoyable, rejuvenating experience.

2.10 Floating Rest & Watsu As seen in Figure 4, water therapy is a newly discovered intervention that is proven to improve one’s state of relaxation and reduce anxiety. Floatation-REST (Reduced Environmental Stimulation Therapy) is one specific form of water therapy that reduces exteroceptive sensory input to the nervous system. Feinstein et al. (2016), confirmed its effectiveness by analyzing the effects of Floatation-REST on 31 participants with high levels of anxiety. After a 90-minute floatation rest session, all participants demonstrated calm dispositions and less stress (Feinstein et al. (2016).

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Watsu is another form of aquatic relaxation, where participants sense weightlessness, receive massages, relax their muscles, and mobilize their joints. The participants focus their minds on bodily sensations, and they subsequently report improved mental health (Zimmerman, 2015). Watsu takes place in a heated, salinized pool, where trained Watsu therapists guide and facilitate these relaxing treatments. Clients typically experience relief in many areas, such as sleep patterns, immune response, less emotional pain, and feeling internally unified. This treatment's specific effects vary depending on each client’s needs and goals (Honigblum, 2007).

Several hotels consistently implement Floatation-REST and Watsu into their spa treatments, and their clients report increased satisfaction levels. Four Seasons Resort Aviara in San Diego and Spa Bellagio in New York City, as seen in Figure 5, are two hotels that are famous for their unique water, massage, and therapy treatments (Chang, 2003; Henry, 2005).

Therefore, a revolutionary water therapy program can be a truly beneficial asset for any hotel, especially those that are designed for frequent business travel.

Figure 4 Water therapy, such as Floatation-REST and Watsu, are proven relaxation methods.

(Tracy, 2019)

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Figure 5 A spa in Four Seasons Hotel (Robert D. Henry, 2005) 2.11 Yoga Yoga is an ancient practice that has recently made a comeback in the American fitness and wellness industry (Johnson, 2017). After the introduction of ancient Yoga to American society in the late nineteenth century by Iowan Perry Baker, it gradually evolved into the stretching routines and relaxation techniques that are well-known today. In the 1970s, the health effects of yoga were analyzed. Researchers suggested that yoga has the potential to relieve stress, improve well-being, treat addictions, decrease lower back pain, lessen the effects of diabetes, and

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decelerate the pace of aging (Johnson, 2017). Yoga is an ideal relaxation activity as anyone can easily practice it, and it is proven to improve overall health and well-being.

Many hotels implement scheduled yoga classes into their spas. Sheraton Grand Hotel, located in Dubai, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, launched a holistic spa “that balances the mind, body, and soul” (C.N. Egypt, 2017). Their biweekly poolside classes are an invaluable feature that attracts many travellers to their establishment.

The CEO of India’s Keys Hotel, Anshu Sarin, endorses the benefits of yoga as the most effective intervention to improve travellers' wellness. She is proud to offer yoga classes at her hotel to refresh the guests and relax their bodies and minds from travel stresses. Ancient yoga is believed to have originated in India, and it is still the dominant relaxation technique today (Keys, 2017). As today’s population is more fast-paced and modernized than past generations, the need for yoga relaxation is more significant than ever before.

2.12 Hotel Suites, Sleep, and Wellness The design of hotel suites greatly influences one’s sleep quality, thereby impacting one’s overall wellness. Since tourists spend a large amount of time sleeping throughout their travels, it is essential to enjoy a healthy, quality sleep to rest the mind, rejuvenate the body, and boost the immune system (Mao et al., 2018). Although sleep is one of the most critical factors for hotel designers to consider, there are very few studies concerning this topic. A variety of different factors influence sleep quality, so Mao (2018) and his team of researchers sought to establish empirical evidence to improve hotel designs. They analyzed the hotel guest satisfaction of hotels around the globe through a survey of the customer reviews posted on TripAdvisor.

Their analysis revealed that business travellers typically report lower sleep quality than the inexperienced leisure travellers (Radojevic et al., 2017). Furthermore, they established that

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sleep quality is greatly related to environmental factors, such as noise, light, temperature, and bedding quality. The most common reasons provided for disturbed sleep quality in hotels included unsatisfactory pillows, overheated rooms, uncomfortable mattresses, poor duvets, street noise, excessive light from the windows, and noise through the ventilation systems (Mao et al., 2018).

Thankfully, these effects can be counteracted through the intervention of hotel managers and employees. Customers reported the most ideal sleep when staying in a cool, dark, quiet, comfortable room, so these conditions should be implemented into hotels. Furthermore, hotel staff should advise travellers to limit caffeine and alcohol consumption while providing tips to manage jetlag and reduce sleep disturbances. Additionally, sleep enhancement services and fitness centers are proven to improve sleep quality (Mao et al., 2018). Education is key to enhancing hotel guests' sleep quality, thereby increasing the popularity and success of hotels.

Wellness hotel managers are experienced at designing hotel suites that improve guests’ sleep quality throughout their stays. The Six Senses Hotel in Thailand researched the issue of sleep quality in hotels, and they began to supply guests with unique technology to improve their visit. Guests are provided with specialized iPads to control air-conditioning and lights, personalized Bluetooth speakers to play relaxing music, and accessible Wi-Fi connectivity (Tan, 2018). Non-technological interventions are also supplied, such as non-allergenic, organic pillows, mite-resistant duvets, and handmade mattresses from organic lamb’s wool and coir fiber. The hotel’s beds and pillows are designed to cater to each guest’s personal comfort, and they invest time and finances to ensure the highest-quality sleep for every individual (Tan, 2018).

Ergonomic considerations, although seemingly simple, can genuinely improve the quality of one’s sleep.

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The Six Senses hotel goes to further lengths to assist guests with the quality of sleep.

Some hotel rooms include “goodnight bulbs,” which are scientifically engineered to eliminate the presence of blue light that is proven to activate the brain and disturb individuals’ sleep (see Figure 6). This novel lightbulb design successfully enhances restfulness by stimulating the body’s natural melatonin production and encouraging the natural sleep cycle to begin. These lightbulbs create a relaxing atmosphere conducive to a night of restful sleep (Bjurstram, 2019).

This worthwhile design element truly improves the guests’ sleep quality, so they can rejuvenate their bodies, refresh their minds, and enjoy productive days throughout their trips.

Figure 6 Six Senses hotel suite demonstrating good night bulb (Lighting Science Partners with Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas, 2018)

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Essential oils are yet another feature that can improve the sleep quality of guests in a hotel. These oils are known to enhance the quality of sleep, alleviate stress, and heighten immune systems. The effects of inhaling a mixture of essential oils on subjects between the ages of twenty and sixty were researched in a study conducted by Lee et al. (2017). The aromatherapy provided in this study was correlated with lower levels of perceived stress, less depression, and better sleep quality. However, it was not associated with changes in the subjects’ actual stress index or immune state. Despite the varying research relating to aromatherapy's specific effects, implementing an essential oil bar into a hotel can improve guests' overall psychological wellbeing (Lee et al. 2017).

2.13 Smart Home Features Smart home technology is a revolutionary concept that is becoming more advanced as the world progresses. There are many advantages when houses are designed with this unique technology. For example, smart home technology can conserve energy, offer convenience and security, save money, and reduce user stress. Research demonstrates that throughout the coming years, “the overall importance of technology will increase as new technologies are being adopted more widely and innovation cycles become shorter” (Wittman-Wuerzer, 2019). Thus, future hotel suites will include the integration of smart home technology, which will provide many benefits for the hotel occupants.

A study was conducted by Srikanth Beldona (2018), to examine the role of smart home technology usage in hotels. The study’s goal was to analyze the home’s influence on hospitality from a socio-psychological perspective while evaluating the impact of hotels’ usage of guest technology (Srikanth Beldona, 2018). Amazon’s Mechanical Turk and Partial least squares, component-based structural equation modeling techniques with Smart PLS 3.2, were used to

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collect data from multiple sources, such as American lodging consumers. The research and trial results indicated that the primary factor affecting hotel guests' satisfaction with technology is whether hotel technology is on a significantly higher standard than their home technology.

Furthermore, the influence of hotel technology satisfaction on customer satisfaction was far stronger in midscale and economy hotels when compared to upscale and luxury hotels (Srikanth Beldona, 2018). These hypotheses confirmed the importance of effective smart home technologies and were tested and confirmed amongst groups of business and leisure travellers.

2.14 Colour Theory: There is a well-known link between colour choices and emotional states. Research strongly suggests the validity of colour theory, which specifies that different colours can influence different emotional states and moods. For example, Lee (2018) connected the color green to positive emotional wellness.

Many more studies were performed to increase the validity of this correlation. One such study applied the qualitative harmony theory, “which is able to define harmonic palettes based on a colour label,� to design preferences (Gonzalez-Abril, n.d.). The study’s participants were separated into different categories and colour preferences based on their gender, age, and education level; see tables 1, 2, and 3. The results of the study indicated that blue is the ideal colour to create a calm environment.

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Table 1 Colour preferences associated with gender (Gonzalez-Abril5)

Table 2 Colour preferences associated with age (Gonzalez-Abril5)

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Table 3 Colour preferences associated with education level (Gonzalez-Abril5) Another recent study examined the effects of colour on health and well-being (Siamionava, 2018). Lightness, chroma, and hue are the most critical factors about colour that influence physiological responses. The study introduced specific colours to hotel settings, and the reactions of hotel guests were observed, as demonstrated in Table 4. The 139 total responses indicated that 38.9 percent of participants selected blue as their favourite colour, while only 12.2 percent of participants selected green. Both the male and female participants implied that blue rooms provided the most relaxing environments for hotel suites. Both male and female participants indicated that blue rooms were the most relaxing and soothing for hotel suites (Siamionava, 2018).

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Overall, the research and statistics reinforced the concept that blue is the ideal colour for hotel rooms, and green is the second-best option. The studies indicated that these two colours created a relaxed environment, which is the ultimate goal that hotel suite designers strive to achieve. This noteworthy research should be implemented into hotel designs.

Table 4 Colour treatments used in the experiment (Gonzalez-Abril5)

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2.15 WELL Building Standards The purpose of this research is to enhance business travellers’ well-being and improve the quality of their accommodations. Therefore, the WELL building standards are an essential concept that must be discussed in the context of this paper. They provide a holistic approach towards environmental behavior, operations, and design (WELL Building Standard, n.d).

The WELL building standards are a framework to design spaces that enhance the wellbeing of their occupants. There are seven different categories -- air, water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort, and mind -- that each pertains to specific aspects of the occupants’ well-being that should be enhanced (Garofalo, 2016). Extensive medical research concerning the effects of environments on physical and psychological health seeks to implement these building standards to the maximum degree in architectural designs.

Throughout this paper, the aforementioned research about boutique hotels, wellness hotels, stress triggers caused by travels, water therapy, yoga, and hotel suites will be incorporated to establish an ideal hotel design for business travellers. The mind, body, and environment all interact with each other throughout the travel experience, and it is integral to ensure that they are all considered when designing a hotel.

Air Air pollution is a problem that is, unfortunately, becoming more prevalent every year, along with a variety of associated health problems. Worldwide, pollution is the primary cause of mortality. In 2016 alone, poor air quality contributed to approximately 100,000 premature deaths in the United States and six million premature deaths globally (Varghese, 2020). When designing a contained space, it is important to note that the pollution concentration can be at least two times

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as high indoors when compared to outdoors. Therefore, WELL v1 established specific design requirements that promote fresh air and reduce the sources of indoor pollution (Varghese, 2020).

Water Water is one of the most important necessities to ensure that humans are alive, healthy, and happy. Therefore, the implementation of state-of-the-art filtration systems is crucial when building a residential structure. According to the Institute of Medicine (2012), women should consume at least 2.7 liters (11 cups), and men should consume at least 3.7 liters (16 cups) of water on a daily basis. If one is dehydrated by even a two-percent difference from the norm, one’s cognitive performance can be impaired (Varghese, 2020). The WELL v1 standards recommended high-quality filtration techniques and routine testing to ensure that drinking water remains safe and clean (Varghese, 2020).

Nourishment It is often a challenge to maintain one’s diet and healthy eating habits while travelling abroad. Thus, it is no surprise that frequent business travel is often correlated with bad eating habits, such as obesity (Varghese, 2020). Nowadays, over half of the world’s adult population is either overweight or obese. Individuals with poor nutrition are far more likely to suffer from preventable chronic diseases, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease (Varghese, 2020).

WELL v1 solved this problem by increasing the availability of wholesome food in hotels while limiting highly-processed ingredients and supporting mindful eating (Varghese, 2020). All WELL-certified hotels contain beautiful kitchens and healthy eating plans, which genuinely improve their occupants' well-being.

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Light Natural or artificial light can have a significant role in helping or harming one’s emotional and physical health. The research presents evidence for a correlation between proximity to windows and productivity levels, especially when the windows have a view of the outdoors. Poor ventilation and lighting negatively impact the body’s circadian rhythm, and they can subsequently increase the risk of many chronic diseases. Obesity, diabetes, and depression are merely a few examples of illnesses that are affected by lighting conditions. WELL v1 provides designers with specific illumination guidelines to enhance productivity, minimize disruptions, and facilitate an ideal sleep quality (Varghese, 2020). Ensuring that hotel guests are in an environment with natural lighting can genuinely be a dealbreaker in the success of a hotel.

Additionally, hotels that include artificial lights without any blue light, such as the Six Senses hotel, can improve guests’ sleep quality and combat the effects of jetlag.

Fitness Physical activity is a foundation to achieve optimal health, by preventing and alleviating many physical and mental health issues. Many chronic conditions, such as diabetes, metabolic syndrome, obesity, and cardiovascular diseases, are correlated with one’s fitness level (WELL, 2020). A recommendation from the American College of Sports Institute (2007), implies that adults should be involved in a minimum of 30 minutes of physical activity, five days a week.

Unfortunately, most individuals are physically inactive, due to the rising popularity of modern transportation, sedentary jobs, and labour saving conveniences. One’s surrounding environment is empirically-proven to impact physical activity, as it has the direct potential to either improve or worsen one’s levels of physical activity (WELL, 2020). Around 90% of people's time is spent

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indoors, inside designed environments, so WELL v1 standards deem it necessary for designers to publicize strategies to promote physical activity (WELL, 2020).

Comfort Ergonomics is a crucial factor that differentiates between an average hotel and a superior hotel, especially when business travellers are involved. Over 2.5 billion dollars of medical costs are lost on a yearly basis to treat work-related musculoskeletal disorders and compensate for diminished productivity levels (Varghese, 2020). Therefore, designing a hotel for maximum ergonomic safety can prevent the physical and financial stress caused by work-related injuries.

Well v1 optimizes indoor working environments by evaluating their thermal, acoustic, ergonomic, and olfactory comfort (Varghese, 2020). Understanding the anatomy and mechanisms of the body, specifically when engaged in work, can increase productivity and reduce the likelihood of health problems. The implementation of ergonomic workstations, therefore, is critical to consider when seeking to provide a comfortable space for hotel guests.

Mind As stated earlier in this paper, business travel is proven to impact one’s mind and emotional well-being significantly. Depression is the primary cause of disabilities worldwide, and mental, neurological, and substance abuse disorders contribute to 14% of global disease statistics (Varghese, 2020). Many environmental features, such as housing, crowding, noise, indoor air quality, and light, can directly impact one’s mental health and well-being (Varghese, 2020). WELL v1 aims to improve the emotional health of buildings’ occupants with the introduction of unique design, technology, and treatment initiatives (Varghese, 2020). When designing a hotel room, factors such as noise levels, air quality, and light must be considered to provide hotel guests with a calm, relaxing environment for the body and the mind.

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2.16 Summary Extensive research demonstrates the negative impact of business travel on one’s physical and psychological health. This literature review covered the features and benefits of a general boutique hotel, along with suggestions to improve the design of hotels. The features of wellness hotels were also discussed and contrasted, along with specific recommendations to construct an ideal hotel for the maximum travelling experience. These recommendations included alternative facilities to complement the traditional spa, implementing water therapy and yoga, hotel suite enhancements, and incorporating the WELL building standards into hotels. These techniques demonstrate that travellers' well-being, especially those who frequently travel for business purposes, can be enhanced through extra consideration of hotel design and architecture. The mind, body, and environment all interact with each other throughout the travel experience, and it is integral to ensure that they are all considered when designing a hotel.

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CHAPTER 3: RESEARCH DESIGN & METHADOLOGY

3.1 Research Design and Methodology The purpose of this study was to obtain data to validate the hypothesis that: A luxury boutique hotel designed specifically for people on business trips, using specific design features, amenities, and attributes, will help ease the work, reduce stress, and increase the overall enjoyment of business travellers’ trips.

This chapter includes a descriptive overview of the different strategies implemented to collect data. Qualitative data was collected with the aim of proving the hypothesis, as stated above. A selection of research methods were used, including the inductive research method and a descriptive case study.

For the interview, professionals in the design field and hotel managers were both interviewed. As the interviewees worked in both the design and the hotel fields, the interviews allowed the researcher to gain a broader understanding of business travellers’ requirements in a hotel. The designers who participated in the interviews specialized in the hospitality industry, which provided invaluable insight into the specifications that hotels should include to cater towards their occupants' wellness truly. Additionally, the interviewed hotel managers worked at hotels whose most frequent customers were business professionals. The interviews were composed of fifteen questions that covered a broad overview of general hotel amenities and attributes, while focusing on the specific needs of business travellers that should be fulfilled by specially-designed hotels.

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The hotel that was chosen for the case study was selected as it fulfilled several criteria. It focused on wellness and maintaining a holistic approach to its amenities and had a similar demographic in location to the building used for this thesis project. The chosen hotel was the Six Senses Wellness Hotel, which is located in New York City, Manhattan.

The study's first limitation was created by Covid-19, which restricted the research to distance interviews via email and phone. An ethnographic study, or any other method that required in-person contact, was impossible to conduct. Instead, much online research was conducted, including the review of case studies and of scholarly articles. The second limitation was the lack of published research about hotels that focused both on business travelers and their occupants' wellness. However, the researcher succeeded in collecting data that focused on improving the general public's wellness, which can be implemented into a hotel's design.

The various methods used to conduct the research, analyze literature reviews, complete case studies, and organize in-depth interviews with professionals were required to reach triangulation. The purpose of triangulation was to investigate the consistency of data. In this case, triangulation was implemented by comparing all the participants' answers and analyzing the consistency of the data. The similarities and differences among all the answers were considered before determining the credibility of the answers. After the fourth interview, the researcher began to recognize parallels and distinctions that differentiated among each interviewee’s responses.

3.2 Participation Selection The participants were selected very carefully for the sake of this research. Different design firms that specialized in the hospitality industry and hotels that primarily focused on the occupant’s well-being were asked to participate in the study. All of the participants were initially

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contacted through a phone call. Once the participants confirmed their willingness to join the research, they each signed a personalized consent form through email. The interview questions were sent by email for review after the participation documents were signed and returned; see appendix B for the introduction letter and appendix D for the interview questions.

3.3 Ethical Considerations All the interviewed participants signed consent forms before proceeding with the process, see appendix C. The terms and conditions were thoroughly read by all participants, and they understood their right to withdraw from the study at any time, without a penalty. The participants also understood that it was unnecessary to answer questions that caused discomfort.

Furthermore, the data coding and lack of gender identification ensured that the participants remained anonymous throughout the entire research process.

3.4 Data Collection & Recording The interviews and their related data were all conducted over email. All of the answered interview questions were carefully signed by the participants to avoid potential confusion. Then, the emails were saved as Portable Document Format (PDF) files and securely stored onto the researchers computer so that no data was misplaced. Finally, the interviews were carefully analyzed and organized in a sequential order to increase the accessibility of triangulation.

3.5 Establishing Credibility All of the research that was collected was thoroughly examined to reach triangulation.

Triangulation is a method used to increase the validity and credibility of the research findings. In order to reach triangulation, researchers must use multiple methods to collect data. Scholarly articles, obtained from peer-review journals, were incorporated to ensure the credibility of all the

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collected data. Furthermore, all research connected to the examination of peer models, along with the content of this paper, was accounted for and referenced in APA6 format.

3.6 Case Study A case study was conducted to gain an overall understanding of the necessary strategies to develop a successfully-designed hotel. As stated earlier, the Six Senses Hotel, which is famous for its focus on its occupants’ wellness, was the focus of this case study. An analysis of the case study can be found in Chapter 5.

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CHAPTER 4: BUILDING STUDY

Appendix A

Land Acknowledgement; Honouring the Land “Humber College is located on Abodigok, known as “Place of the Black Alders” in the Ojibwe Anishinaabe language. It is uniquely situated along GabeKanang Ziibi, the Humber River, providing an integral connection for Indigenous peoples between the northern shore of Lake Ontario and the Lake Simcoe Georgian Bay region. In Honouring the Land, we are walking in the moccasin tracks of our ancestors and leaving our footprints for the future generations to come.” Taken from the Bachelor of Interior Design Course Outline; 2020 Academic Year

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4.1 Existing Site Information This building, which is a total of 15 000 square feet, is currently home to The Rug Company and Avenue Road Showroom. Located at 415 Eastern Avenue, it is situated at the intersection of Eastern Avenue and Mcgee Street, as demonstrated in Figure 7. Eastern Avenue is a significant “east-west artery running parallel and mid-way between Queen Street East and Lakeshore Boulevard� (City of Toronto, n.d.). Since its development in the early twentieth century, this street served as the transitional boundary between a community-oriented residential development at its north side, and a large industrial development, at its south side (City of Toronto, n.d.) The building is currently classified as a group E Mercantile building (OBC, 2012, Div. B-A-3.1.2.1).

Image 7: Map of city: Google maps (2020)

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The design firm that renovated the interior of this building was Yabu Pushelberg, and they successfully created a beautiful, modern, open space. The building's interior fabrics are modern and neutral, which appear to be mismatched to the building's ancient exterior. This inconsistency is due to the building’s official classification as a heritage site. Thus, it is illegal to renovate the exterior of the building, despite the interior design in a unique, contemporary fashion.

4.2 Current Zoning & Historic Information In the 1900s, Eastern Avenue was the heart of Toronto's industrial area. The location of Avenue Road Furniture was originally the home of Consumer’s Gas Company, Station B (City of Toronto, n.d.). The construction of Consumer’s Gas Company, on the southern side of Eastern Avenue, was a large operation that took place between 1908 and 1912. The buildings were constructed from red bricks, that were obtained from the Leslieville Brickyards (City of Toronto, n.d.). Refer to Figures 8 and 9 for pictures of the building site before and after the construction of Consumer’s Gas Company. The heritage exterior fabric of the current building remains similar to the original design, as it is still constructed from red brick.

Eastern Avenue was deemed a Heritage site on June 20, 1973. Since the early twentiethcentury, Leslieville Brickyards has presented a balanced combination of residential and industrial buildings, thereby becoming a well-established area (City of Toronto, n.d). There are some restrictions when designing on a heritage site. The exterior envelope of the building, including the window sizes and shapes, cannot be touched. Overall, the interior does not have many restrictions.

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Figure 8 Eastern Avenue looked like before building

(History and heritage of Avenue Road Neighborhood, n.d.)

Figure 9 Historical view of Eastern Avenue

(History and heritage of Avenue Road Neighborhood, n.d.)

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4.3 Transit The building has direct access to the city streetcars, so it is reasonably accessible from any city landmark, as demonstrated in Figure 10. The building is located in close proximity to the Don Valley Parkway, Lake Shore Blvd E, and the Gardiner Expressway, thereby causing this location to be a perfect destination for anyone traveling by car. A car rental company located directly across the street further improves the accessibility of this location.

Figure 10 Map of the city (Google maps, 2020) 4.4 Neighborhood An upscale residential neighborhood that is composed of many small communities with unique personal characteristics, shown in Figure 12, surrounds the building. In the area, there is construction in both commercial and residential zones. Across the street from the building, there is an industrial equipment rental service, a waste enforcement building, and a beer store, as seen

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in Figure 11. Avenue Road is a lively, vibrant area that contains many popular retail stores. As one walks down Queen Street East, there are many restaurants and bars, including the Rooftop, Nomads Restobar, Opera House Grill & Patio, and Eastern Cuisine.

Since Eastern Avenue Street was deemed a heritage area, the exterior's red bricks are consistent throughout the location, which contributes to the unique appearance of the neighbourhood. The building’s exterior is identical to the original construction due to the building’s noteworthy history, which deems that its fenestration openings must always remain the same.

Mok (2018) explains that Eastern Avenue is re-emerging as a popular neighbourhood. “This industrial street lined with dilapidated, decades-old homes has become the new site for a slew of sprawling projects from west of the Don River to Coxwell" (Mok, 2018, p.1). Therefore, Eastern Avenue is a promising neighbourhood for financial investments and construction projects. The ancient commercial area is gradually transitioning into a well-populated residential community, which is impacting the Toronto design industry. Additionally, many renovations are taking place in the local bars and restaurants. Overall, the neighborhood and buildings are wellmaintained, involve a great demographic, and come along with an exciting history.

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Figure 11 Stephenson’s Rental Center (Google Maps, 2020)

Figure 12 A residential neighborhood near Eastern Ave (Google Maps, 2020)

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4.5 Environmental Analysis There is little vegetation surrounding the building, aside from a few trees that are located on the property itself. However, the building is located in close proximity to Lake Ontario, the beach, and many parks.

4.6 Exterior The exterior of the building is constructed with a red brick-clad, as seen in Figure 13. The facade is currently in fantastic condition and has been up-kept properly. The building has a simple hip roof, constructed from shingles, and a steel door at the front entrance, with minimal signage. As well, the front door displays a beautiful pediment, which truly expresses the building’s heritage, as seen in Figure 13. The top of the building is lined with cornice, which is a common architectural design among heritage buildings. There are many windows throughout the building that have been replaced after their original construction. This is obvious due to the extensive panes of glass, which would have been an overly-advanced development in the early twentieth century. Additionally, the window is branded with the company’s signage.

There is a small area at the back of the building with updated construction that differs from the building’s original design, as seen in Figure 14. The roof is flat, and the area is constructed of grey siding instead of red brick. Additionally, the surface is elevated with four steps that lead to the front door, as seen in Figure 15. The building was not designed with accessibility in mind, and it must be renovated to accommodate the current societal needs.

There are many different views from the buildings’ windows. Primarily, the surrounding neighbourhood is displayed. However, from one side of the building, the C.N Tower and the city skyline are clearly apparent, and they light up beautifully at night-time.

The parking lot, located at the rear of the building, has many parking spots for all the visitors, as seen in Figure 16.

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Figure 13 Exterior view of building (Lily Donald, 2020)

Figure 14 New construction of building (Lily Donald, 2020)

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Figure 15 New construction, showing exterior stairs (Lily Donald, 2020)

Figure 16 Aerial view of parking (Lily Donald, 2020)

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4.7 Interior The building's interior is designed in a modern, neutral palette. The floors are consistently constructed of poured concrete throughout the entire space, as seen in Figure 17. The stairs are built of wood, which creates a natural feel, as seen in Figure 18. An open, light atmosphere is created by the distribution of glass throughout the interior, which allows visitors to view lower levels. There are a few columns situated throughout the interior; however, the exterior walls support the majority of the structure. Most of the walls of the interior perimeter of the building are currently painted white brick, as seen in Figure 19. The other interior walls are either constructed with insulated gypsum board or the curtain wall system. The ceiling is composed of steel trusses that are visible throughout the building, as seen in Figure 20. Both the walls and ceiling are covered in a layer of white paint. Overall, the building’s interior is very open, which implies that there are few walls throughout the area. Aside from the attractive appearance, this design ensures that demolition costs will remain low.

Throughout the interior, including the basement level, there is a plentiful supply of natural and artificial light. A sun study was conducted to visualize how the sun shines on the building; see Figures 21, 22, 23, and 24 for details about this study. The basement has window wells with horizontal window installments to allow for the maximum penetration of natural light.

The artificial light is stimulated by many light fixtures, which consist of track lighting, lighting near the stairwell, recessed lighting, and decorative light fixtures.

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Figure 17 Material of floor in the interior of the building (Lily Donald, 2020)

Figure 18 Interior stairs (Lily Donald, 2020)

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Figure 19 Interior wall finish: white painted brick (Lily Donald, 2020)

Figure 20 Interior of building: steel trusses (Lily Donald, 2020)

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Sun Study The researcher conducted a sun study to examine how the sun penetrates the building to allow for the maximum natural light possible into the building's new configuration. This will help the researcher determine where to layout specific spaces that need a lot of natural light versus areas that require a darker space.

Figure 21 Summer Solstice (Brogna, 2020)

Figure 22 Winter Solstice (Brogna, 2020)

Figure 23 Spring Equinox (Brogna, 2020)

Figure 24 Fall Equinox (Brogna, 2020)

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4.9 Structural Fabric The building's exterior is constructed of red brick cladding that is three stories high, and it provides crucial structural support. Each brick contains three or four bricklayers, also known as wythes characteristics, as seen in Figures 25 and 26. However, the building's ceiling is composed of steel fink trusses and recessed gypsum boards that are exposed from the interior.

The building's interior utilizes post and beam construction techniques, with the installation of steel stud partitions.

Figure 25 Brick construction (Interior Detailing, Humber College, 2020)

Figure 26 Brick construction (Interior Detailing, Humber College, 2020)

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4.10 Vertical Circulation The Avenue Road building requires extensive vertical circulation as it is three stories high. The main areas in need of vertical circulation are the two large staircases. Aside from those prominent staircases, two smaller staircases consist of three to five steps each. The tread height is approximately 5," and the run is 12".

The building also contains a freight elevator, which can only be accessed through a staircase. Unfortunately, this design limits the elevator's accessibility by individuals with disabilities. The interior stairs are in good condition, and they feature a fancy wood finish and guiding lights along the wall, as seen in figure 27. The exterior stairs are finished with concrete.

Another accessibility concern that must be improved is the complete lack of ramps in the structure. An updated design must involve the construction of ramps to enhance the vertical circulation for everyone.

Figure 27 Vertical Circulation (Lily Donald, 2020)

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4.11 Building Systems The building's interior contains concealed HVAC systems, which are aesthetically disguised by dropped ceilings or bulkheads. The building contains exposed sprinkler systems, which are wisely placed along the entire glass wall to prevent the spread of fire and allow the building to be classified as glass-fire-rated, as seen in Figure 28. In case of emergency, exit signs are situated throughout the space, as seen in Figure 29. As additional necessary safety features, fire pull stations and fire alarms are placed throughout the building in convenient locations, as seen in Figures 30 and 31. To ensure the maximum safety of all its residents, the building has an efficient security camera system.

Figure 28

Figure 29

Security camera

Exit sign

(Melanie Vander Vlugt, 2019)

(Melanie Vander Vlugt, 2019)

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Figure 30

Figure 31

Sprinkler system

Fire pull station

Melanie Vander Vlugt (2019)

Melanie Vander Vlugt (2019)

4.12 As-Built Drawings The building structure was laid out in a grid, as seen in Figures 31, 32, and 33. The grid demonstrates the building’s open layout, which creates a spacious feeling upon entrance. The building is above grade, which implies that stairs are required to enter the building. As seen in figure 31, there are no ramps of any kind to get into the structure, decreasing the possibility of access for individuals in wheelchairs. Additionally, as seen in figure 33, the basement and 2ndlevel have a raised floor that does not have a ramp. The building is not up to code, and it requires a lot of work to be defined as an inclusive location.

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Figure 30 As built drawings – basement (Fraida Brogna, 2020)

Figure 31 As built drawings – main floor (Fraida Brogna, 2020)

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Figure 32 As built drawings – second floor (Brogna, 2020)

Figure 33 As built drawings – section (Brogna, 2020)

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CHAPTER 5 5.1 Introduction This chapter will discuss the interview findings, the precedent analysis, and the case study that was conducted. The researcher intended to develop a conclusive answer to the research question and hypothesis, as stated above in Chapter One. The interview questions that were analyzed can be found in Appendix C. The questions were designed to obtain the best solutions to design a hotel that caters to business travellers’ overall well-being and enjoyable travels. The case study that was analyzed aimed to establish a comprehensive understanding of hotels' necessary features, the successes and failures in hotel design, and strategies to design a hotel that is solely focused on its occupants’ well-being.

5.2 Interview Analysis Interview Question 1: What industry do you work in -- Hotel Management or Interior Design/Architecture?

Participants A, B, C, and D worked in the Interior Design/Architecture industry, and they specialized in hospitality (hotels and restaurants). Participant E worked in Hotel Management.

Interview Question 2: From your experience, do you believe that hotels satisfy business travelers' needs?

Overall, all of the participants agreed that hotels satisfy the basic needs of business travelers; however, most hotels are exclusively designed for the leisure travel industry. There should be a significant difference between business and leisure travel hotels, but they typically are designed in a similar fashion. Participant C stated that hotels generally satisfy the needs of business travellers, but a series of detail-oriented improvements, such as universal charging outlets, flexible furniture, and integrated technology, would be a drastic upgrade.

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Participant D believed that business travellers’ needs are satisfied, but only to a certain degree. This participant added that “this is now a growing area of interest more than ever, to ensure that business travelers can use a hotel as if it were a full office. Likewise, the new traveler will need to be able to work while also on vacation with the family.” Thus, even a traditional hotel that is catered towards leisure travel would gain from the inclusion of business travel features. Participant E stated that typical hotels generally fulfill business travellers’ basic needs, but there are many hotels opportunities to excel in this industry if the hotel managers invest the effort to establish additional services for business travellers. In conclusion, all participants agreed that hotels only fulfill the basic minimum of business travellers’ needs, so many areas can and should be upgraded.

However, the research that was conducted through literature reviews disagrees with the participants. Burhkholder (2010) conducted a study to examine the mental health of business travelers. The analysis indicated that travel could cause many negative physical and psychological health problems like a lower body mass index, lower blood pressure levels, excess alcohol consumption, increased sleep deprivation, and lower confidence and competency levels due to the stresses caused by travel. This study demonstrated the need for improved travel accommodations to diminish these negative effects.

Interview Question 3: Do you think that it is important for hotels to include facilities such as spas, massages, and yoga classes, etc. for downtime?

All participants agreed that it is essential to have excellent facilities and amenities for the guests’ usage. Participant A answered that the variety of services should depend on the hotel’s location and target demographics. Especially among hotels in large cities, where business travel is prevalent, leisure facilities are a crucial asset for solo business travellers who have downtime

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to unwind between events. Participant C added that the rising awareness of physical and mental well-being increases the niche that these services will fill. Participant D stated that the need for relaxing facilities is constantly increasing, and gyms are “starting to become a standard requirement in space planning/programs of hotels.” Participant E affirmed the other participants’ opinions by emphasizing the importance of full-service spas, engaging fitness classes, and other recreational activities. While these features are not a necessity, they have the potential to greatly increase the popularity of a hotel among its clientele.

The participants, the literature reviews, and the case study that was conducted all correlate with each other agreeing that implementing spa features is crucial to both the hotel's success and the occupants' overall health. These amenities are beginning to gain popularity worldwide as individuals’ awareness of physical and mental health increases. Many hotels are starting to implement amenities to decrease the stresses of travelling and increase the pleasantness of business travellers’ hotel stays. Fitness centers, pools, saunas, jacuzzies, tennis courts, personal trainers, treadmills, exercise equipment, and walking paths are becoming a necessity in popular hotels (Birritteri, 1998).

Interview Question 4: What technologies do you think are essential for business travelers to have in their private rooms (i.e., Computer, printer, scanner, temperature control, video conference, etc.?

TECHNOLOGY

PARTICIPANT A

PARTICIPANT B

PARTICIPANT C

PARTICIPANT D

PARTICIPANT E

WIFI

YES

YES

YES

YES

YES

PRINTERS

YES

YES

YES

NO

NO

SCANNERS

YES

YES

YES

NO

NO

TEMPERATURE

YES

YES

YES

YES

YES

CONTROL

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COMPUTERS

NO

YES

NO

NO

NO

VIDEO CONFERENCE

NO

YES

NO

NO

NO

UNIVERSAL

YES

YES

YES

YES

YES

YES

YES

YES

YES

YES

NO

NO

YES

NO

NO

NO

NO

YES

NO

NO

NO

NO

YES

NO

NO

NO

NO

YES

NO

NO

CHARGING POWER OUTLETS WITH USB PORTS CAST / MIRROR LAPTOP ON TV USER CONTROLLED AIR PURIFICATION UNITS SMART MIRRORS WITH TV SCREENS EMBEDDED IN THEM SMART HOME TECHNOLOGY

Table 5 Analysis of Interview Question 3 (Brogna, 2020) Overall, all the participants agreed that temperature control, high-speed WIFI, and Universal charging for devices – power outlets with USB ports & power adapters to be provided for international travelers are essential in hotel rooms, as seen in Table 5. The participants agreed that computers are unnecessary in hotel suites as most individuals travel with a personal laptop.

Participant C stated that printers and scanners are unnecessary in private hotel rooms if there is a consistent reception service that can fill office work needs.” However, every other participant agreed that personal printers and scanners could ease the stress of working abroad.

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Participant C pointed out that the special ability to mirror the screen of one’s personal technological device onto the TV in hotel rooms would be a helpful feature. Every additional feature, such as smart mirrors with embedded TV Screens, can cause one hotel to stand out over another. Furthermore, it is worthwhile for hotels to invest in user-controlled air purification units, to combat the effects of the current pandemic. Overall, the participants all agreed that a minimum of basic technological features are a necessity for modern hotel accommodations.

The participants, literature reviews, and the case study that was conducted all correlate with each other. They all agree that implementing advanced technology into hotels are essential.

Interview Question 5: What kind of equipment and furniture do you think is important to help ease business travelers work?

The most common answer that was confirmed by all participants was the recommendation to incorporate a full-size, ergonomic desk and chair into basic hotel suite designs. Participants also agreed that lounge seating for private meetings and alternative workspace options are necessary to include.

Flexible, multifunctional furniture pieces, such as a height-adjustable table and compact consoles that can fold out into larger desk surfaces, should be included in hotel rooms and adapted to users’ needs, especially when the layout is compact.

Convenient amenities, such as self-serve coffee machines, improve the quality of hotels, while other features, such as secure safes, are a necessary safety feature. Participant C volunteered that hotels should provide additional measures to promote health and safety in response to the current pandemic. UV-light sanitizing stations for one’s cell phone, wallet, and keys are an advanced feature that could genuinely improve a hotel's popularity.

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Overall, the participants and the literature review agreed that is important to implement an ergonomic work environment for busines travellers to help eases the work while away.

Interview Question 6: Do you find that most business travellers typically travel alone or with coworkers? If they travel with coworkers, do they usually share a room or rent private suites?

Participant E answered that approximately 70% of business travelers travel alone.

Although many other business travellers frequently travel in pairs, they typically reserve their hotel rooms alone. With the exception of team conferences and large group events, most individuals travel in pairs, yet they choose to reserve separate rooms. All participants agreed that business travelers choose to reserve private hotel rooms, and they refuse to share them with coworkers.

Interview Question 7: What do you think hotels are currently lacking when it comes to enriching business travelers' experience?

Hotels are currently lacking in modern technology, which could truly enrich the experience of business travellers. The priority of business travellers is typically speed and ease, yet hotels traditionally accomplish their operations through inefficient, archaic methods.

Furthermore, all participants agree that hotels should establish an express check-in and check-out system for business travellers. As an additional feature, hotels should design public areas that are designated as multi-functional lounges or coworking areas, so travellers can choose to work independently, mingle with coworkers, or arrange meetings in flexible boardroom schedules. If hotel designers wish to improve the versatility of their features, their meeting rooms can have the option to be transformed into private dining rooms and event venues, thereby maximizing efficiency.

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The participants and the literature review both agree that technology is essential to implement into hotels. As stated in the literature review, in section 2.4, (Wittman-Wuerzer, 2019) conducted a study, the results demonstrated that technological innovations would be the most significant changes to hotel design. Notable aspects, such as smart room control and enhanced security systems, along with additional technological advances that are yet to be discovered, will enhance the entire hotel experience. The research that was conducted validates the interviewee's answers.

Interview Question 8: What do you think is important to provide for a positive experience in private hotel rooms?

To provide a positive experience in hotel rooms, the basic features must be executed flawlessly. These basic requirements include a clean, comfortable sleeping area, bathroom, and work area. As well, lighting options play a significant role in increasing the productivity of a workday and sleep quality of the travellers. Participant C strongly believed that the most crucial aspect that should be incorporated into hotel designs is the atmosphere of comfort and privacy.

Regardless of the purpose of their journeys, guests should be given the opportunity to relax and unwind after every long day.

The interviewee's responses aligned with the case study and literature review that was conducted, which allowed the researcher to reach triangulation. Both the literature review and the case study agree that creating a well-balanced hotel room is essential for the occupant’s wellness. As stated earlier in the literature review, the most common reasons for disturbed sleep quality in hotels included unsatisfactory pillows, overheated rooms, uncomfortable mattresses, poor duvets, street noise, excessive light from the windows, and noise through the ventilation systems (Mao et al., 2018).

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Interview Question 9: Do hotel rooms provide any features to help ease the guest's sleep?

Comfortable beds, sound insulation, temperature control, and blackout blinds were the most common answers. Also, the provision of small items, such as earplugs, eye masks, and welcome kits, can genuinely increase the well-being of travellers and thereby improve their quality of sleep. Participant D believed that the installation of several technologies, including ‘do not disturb’ indicators, low-light fixtures, and night lights can make a significant difference.

Participant E stated that natural interventions, such as soothing teas, pillow mist, essential oils, and sound machines can further improve guests' quality of sleep.

The response from participant E correlated with both the literature review and the case study. Radojevic et al., (2017) conducted a study to examine hotel room design. They concluded that sleep quality is greatly related to environmental factors, such as noise, light, temperature, and bedding quality. The most common factors related to poor sleep quality in hotels included unsatisfactory pillows, overheated rooms, uncomfortable mattresses, poor duvets, street noise, excessive light from the windows, and noise through the ventilation systems (Mao et al., 2018).

Interview Question 10: From your experience, do you think people work better in brighter louder areas or natural and quiet areas?

Overall, all the participants agreed that individuals are most productive in quiet, peaceful areas with natural lighting. However, they also recognized that every individual has unique preferences, so incorporating different work area options into the hotel design is ideal.

Interview Question 11: Do you think people's business trips would be easier and healthier for people's mental health if hotels were explicitly designed for business travelers?

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There are definitely benefit involved in the design of hotels specifically targeted towards business travelers. Business travellers require a balance of work and leisure, and they have the right to feel relaxed throughout their travels. If hotels were only geared towards the business sector, the experience would be very mundane and routine. Participant D publicized the benefits of amenities, exercise facilities, and leisure activities to improve the balanced mental health of business travellers.

Interview Question 12: Do you think business travelers would prefer a coworking environment or private offices attached to their rooms?

Most participants agreed that they would design a hotel with both options, as flexibility is always the ideal solution. Participants A, B, and C all agreed that private offices should be built into the actual design of each hotel suite.

Interview Question 13: With COVID -19, do you think hotel guests would prefer to check-in alone through technology or at a front desk with a person?

Participants A, C, D, and E all agreed that an increasingly greater number of individuals prefer an automated check-in and check-out process. However, it will always remain essential to hire on-site staff members to assist guests who lack technological savviness abilities, require special assistance, or simply prefer to receive help from an actual staff member. The check-in logistics also depend on the hotel classification, as guests expect a higher level of personalized service from a higher-end, luxury hotel. In contrast, mid-tier or business-oriented hotels can integrate more automated procedures for efficiency. On the other hand, Participant B stated that a check-in process without any physical contact is always the preferred option.

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Interview Question 14: Where do you think hotels need to improve the most, and why?

All participants agreed that the services that are provided must constantly improve, since business travelers have high expectations. They also agreed that hotels must enhance the speed and efficiency of their check-in and check-out processes, especially when serving business travellers with tight schedules. Hoteliers should ideally offer a high level of comfort and reassurance towards their travelling guests through thoughtful additions, such as portable hand sanitizers, wipes, face masks, touchless light-fixtures, and hands-free toilet partitions. Participant E added that hotels must rapidly improve their technological offerings and match the speed of updates in the surrounding world. Guests should be able to utilize an app or messaging program to order room service, instead of following the traditional model of communicating with the front desk. Modern travellers are accustomed to a high level of technology in their daily lives -including mobile banking, food services, and same-day delivery -- so hotels should adapt to become even more efficient than societal standards.

Interview Question 15: Do you have any additional comments that you would like to add?

As the world continues along the upward trends related to globalization and international travel, business-oriented hotels should constantly reconsider their services and offerings from an international traveller’s perspective. Universal design principles, such as easy wayfinding, should be discussed, along with the addition of more advanced amenities, such as concierge services offered in multiple languages. This can transform a hotel into an experience.

5.3 Case Study The final section of Chapter Five will include a comprehensive analysis of the Six Senses Hotel. The hotel CEO, Neil Jacobs, escalated the company’s wellness levels by collaborating

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with well-being experts and sleep scientists. The hotel aims to help individuals explore the meaning of physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being, while providing the guests with a soothing, natural environment, as seen in Figure 36.

Figure 36 Six Senses Bhutan (Senses, 2020) The Six Senses Hotel aspired to develop a broad picture of the guests’ wellness through the implementation of different programs. The hotel integrated a technology-based wellness program to non-invasively measure different kinds of biomarkers, such as blood pressure, heart rate, and skin moisture levels. The tests had a duration of approximately five minutes to comprehend each guest’s pre-existing wellness levels fully. After the initial testing process, an experienced physiotherapist, Chinese doctor, or naturopath assessed the information and facilitated positive changes into each guest’s lifestyle (Rauen, 2017). The hotel consultants

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successfully recommended treatments, such as fitness activities, spa sessions, mindset activities, and healthy eating habits, to boost each individual’s overall well-being. Furthermore, they offered specialized technology to track the effects of noise, light, and temperature on each guest’s sleep patterns. After receiving the results, each guest received an individualized consultation with a wellness expert who ensured that every guest would have an ideal stay in the hotel, along with a comfortable night-time routine (Rauen, 2017).

Although the hotel has many locations, the NYC location was chosen for the case study since it has similar demographics to the building that is discussed in the researcher’s thesis. This beautiful hotel located in Manhattan, overlooking the High Line and the Hudson River, was exteriorly designed by the BIG-Bjarkes Ingles Group and interiorly designed by the Parisian firm Gilles & Boisser. The exterior façade, surrounding 908 250 square feet, was constructed with a curtain wall and stone that twists as the building goes up, as seen in Figure 37. The building consists of two structures, of which one is 36 stories, and the other is 26 stories high. Within the complex, there are 236 condominiums and 137 hotel rooms, and development costs exceeded 1.9 billion dollars. Although it is known as a hotel, this unique structure is also the home of some residents who permanently live in a luxurious facility. These residents have access to all the hotel’s amenities, room service, features, and restaurants -- so it is as if they permanently live in a hotel. (club, 2020)

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Figure 37 Exterior view of Six Senses Hotel New York (Club, 2020) The building contains 18,000 square feet of amenities, including a vibroacoustic meditation dome, biohacking updates, a screening room for inspiring lectures by renowned health experts, comprehensive therapies, wellness clinics, an anti-aging centre, a modern gymnasium, a yoga studio, lounges, and many eateries (Club, 2020).

A state-of-the-art fitness center, encased in a 75-foot glass enclosure, wraps around the perimeter of the building and surrounds the swimming pool, cabanas, and hot tub, as seen in Figures 38 and 39. Additionally, a dedicated studio promotes strength training, group classes, and private training for both men and women. Saunas, steam rooms, massage offices, and specialty locations rooms are further examples of the diverse amenities offered by this first-class

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hotel, as seen in Figures 40 & 41. As stated earlier in the literature review and the interview analysis, implementing amenities and features stated above is crucial to the guests' wellness.

Figure 38 View of the fitness center (Club, 2020)

Figure 39 View of the pool (Club, 2020)

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Figure 40 View of the sauna and steam room (Club, 2020)

Figure 41 View of the pool (Club, 2020)

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The hotel rooms at the Six Senses Hotel have been thoroughly analyzed by professionals in the wellness and sleep industry. They established that the handmade mattresses, composed of organic lamb’s wool with coir fiber from organic coconut plantations, offer top-quality airflow.

The quilted, hypoallergenic cotton blankets prevent the presence of bugs, mites, moths, and moisture, and the beds include hypoallergenic, organic duvets and pest-resilient pillows. The latex mattress layer was designed to provide the best orthopedic support. All linen is made of the finest yarns to ensure the maximum levels of comfort and relaxation (Senses, 2020). The bathrooms were also designed for the ultimate luxurious experience, as each guest has access to a private, free-standing tub, as seen in Figure 42. The many small effects that they add genuinely increase the quality of the hotel. The features that were implemented into the Six Senses Hotel suites confirm the literature review and the interview analysis, which allowed the researcher to reach triangulation.

Six Senses Hotel also employs specially-trained sleep ambassadors to assist guests who select the “Sleep with Six Senses� upgrade. When these guests return to their rooms in the evening, their revolutionary turndown service includes illuminating Lighting Science Goodnight lamps, which are proven to improve sleep quality. Guests can select their personalized settings by selecting options, such as reading or ambience lightings (Obesity, Fitness & Wellness Week, 1392., 2018) The colour scheme of the rooms are designed with their occupants in mind. Neutral colours and natural materials, along with light wood floors, charred walls, and stonework, facilitate an aura of tranquility within the room. Simultaneously, guests have a stunning view, from the comfort of their rooms, of the NYC skyline (Senses, 2020). Overall, the interior has an

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open and airy feel, increasing the guests’ ability to refresh and rejuvenate, as seen in Figures 42 & 43.

Figure 42 View of the suite (Club, 2020)

Figure 43 View of the bathroom (Club, 2020)

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CHAPTER 6: RECOMMENDATIONS & IMPLICATIONS 6.1 Recommendations and Implications Extensive research was conducted through literature reviews, case studies, and interviews with professionals in the design and hotel management field. Throughout this concluding chapter, the researcher will summarize the various methods established through the conducted research to design a balanced hotel interior that promotes wellness. Various design recommendations, conceptual approaches, programming, bubble and block diagrams, and testfits will be discussed. Conclusive evidence indicates that hotels must improve their interiors to better suit business travelers' needs and enhance the overall well-being of their guests.

6.2 Future Design Recommendations All the forthcoming recommendations are evidence-based, according to the data collection. Hotels contain many unique inner areas, so the researcher focused on four significant areas within a hotel’s interior that should be improved. Some of the design recommendations to enhance business travelers' well-being include, but are not limited to hotel suites, amenities, restaurants and bars, and lounge areas; see figure 44.

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Hotel Suite

Dedicated work station Light and temperature control Comfortable sleeping arrangements Aromatherapy Smart home Technology

Amenities

Watsu and floating REST Yoga Gym

Restaurant and Bar

Privacy Comfort Nutrition

Lounge

Privacy Comfort

Figure 44 Conceptual Approach, Design Recommendations (Brogna, 2020)

After reviewing all the literature, the researcher concluded that seven main design elements should be implemented to improve its occupants' well-being. These seven elements relate to the WELL Building Standards: air, water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort, and mind; see Figure 45.

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Air

Design should promote and enhance indoor air quality.

Water

Design should promote and enhance water quality.

Nourishment

Design should promote and enhance healthy food options.

Light

Design should promote and enhance the indoor light quality to help with people’s circadian rhythm.

Fitness Design should promote and enhance fitness within the built environment.

Comfort Design should promote and enhance acoustics, ergonomics, and thermal temperatures.

Mind

Design should promote and enhance the interior to help with the reduction of stress.

Figure 45 Conceptual Diagram, Design Recommendations WELL Building Standards (Brogna, 2020) 6.3 Conceptual Approach Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese philosophy that philosophizes about the creation of a balanced, healthy interior to promote well-being from the combination of nature and the five elements: earth, fire, water, air, and wood. The hotel design will be particularly focused on the well-being of its occupants. One of the most important goals of an Interior Design is to develop a

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balanced building interior, which is the primary focus of this project. The design concept will emphasize the relationship between people and space to enhance hotel visitors' overall wellbeing.

6.4 Programming Matrix Adjacency Matrix The programming matrix, seen in Figure 46, represents the potential adjacencies for the hotel's interior. The matrix may change during the design process, as it is preliminary.

Figure 46 Adjacency Matrix (Brogna, 2020)

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Estimated Square Footage An analysis was conducted to determine the recommended size of the area to create a balanced space, as seen in Figure 47. The square footage is likely to evolve as the design process progresses.

LOBBY

500 SQ. FT.

RESTAURANT

900 SQ. FT

BAR AND LOUNGE

540 SQ. FT

MEETING SPACES

900 SQ. FT

FITNESS CENTER

900 SQ. FT

SPA

1500 SQ. FT

GUEST ROOMS

450 SQ. FT. X 8

BACK OF HOUSE

900 SQ. FT

CONCIERGE

50 SQ. FT

LUGGAGE STORAGE

100 SQ. FT

CAFÉ / AROMA BAR

800 SQ. FT

KITCHEN

1000 SQ. FT

MECHANICAL ROOM

900 SQ. FT

HOUSEKEEPING

900 SQ. FT

RESTROOMS

900 SQ. FT

GARDEN

710 SQ. FT

TOTAL:

14,200 SQ. FT

Figure 47 Estimated Square Footage (Brogna, 2020)

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6.5 Bubble diagram The Bubble diagrams, seen in Figures 48, 49, and 50, are a preliminary layout that helped the researcher determine how to structure the interior to create a cohesive interior. These diagrams relate to the programming matrix and the estimated square footage, seen in Figures 46 and 47.

Figure 48 Bubble diagram basement (Brogna, 2020)

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Figure 49 Bubble diagram main floor (Brogna, 2020)

Figure 50 Bubble diagram 2nd floor (Brogna, 2020)

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6.6 Block planning The block diagrams in Figure 51, 52, and 53 were created after the bubble diagrams, which can be found in Figure 48. The researcher created them to improve the organization of the interior space while defining and creating concrete spaces. These diagrams also relate to the programming matrix and the estimated square footage, as seen in Figures 46 and 47.

Figure 51 Block Diagrams (Brogna, 2020)

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Figure 52 Block Diagrams (Brogna, 2020)

Figure 53 Block Diagrams (Brogna, 2020)

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6.7 Staking Diagram Stacking diagrams were created to envision the spatial plan to design a cohesive space; see Figure 54. The researcher developed a clear understanding of movement through the building by constructing the staking diagram.

Figure 54 Block Diagrams (Brogna, 2020)

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6.8 Test Fits Test fits were created to examine potential layouts for the hotel suites. As seen in Figure 55, three different configurations were designed to create a balanced plan. This variation is due to the previously-mentioned studies that related to the varying lengths of business travellers’ trips. The longer the trip is, the most comfort consideration is required - and that is the goal of these designs.

Figure 55 Test Fit (Fraida, 2020)

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6.9 Programming Matrix The researcher created a programming matrix to help with the design process. By creating this matrix, the researcher can work in an organized fashion making sure that allimportant factors are implemented through the design process.

Table 6 Programming Matrix (Fraida, 2020)

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6.10 Parti Diagram A parti diagram was created to help convey the concept. Feng Shui emphasizes the idea of balance and harmony. The researcher used the yin yang symbol with the diagrams related to feng shui to develop the parti diagram, creating a balanced interior space.

Figure 56 Parti Diagram (Fraida, 2020)

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6.11 Conclusion Overall, this thesis aimed to create a balanced and healthy interior space for business travellers. The travel industry is thriving, and travel is no longer an opportunity reserved for leisure alone. Over half of worldwide hotel guests refer to themselves as business travellers, but most hotels are not equipped to help them ease their stress and pressure (Nayak, 2013). The many challenges of travelling often lead to both physical and mental health struggles. Thus, this research explored hotels' design amenities to reduce stress-related triggers and elevate the enjoyment of the overall travel experience. From all of the research that was conducted, the researcher found a few design techniques to stood out. The first design element that will have the most benefit is implementing a Watsu pool into the spa. The second design technique that will make a big difference to the users of the space is the hotel suites. Ensuring that the suites are designed to perfection, from lighting, acoustics to the linen on the bed will significantly impact the users' mental and physical health. This researcher gained a clear understanding of the analyses of different problems and potential strategies, which could aid in the improvement of hotel conditions. These numerous, effective strategies were then implemented into the design of a revolutionary boutique hotel for business travellers.

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Appendix B

Bachelor of Interior Design Program School of Applied Technology, Humber College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, 205 Humber College Boulevard Toronto, ON, M9W 5L7

Dear Participant, My name is Fraida Brogna. I am a fourth-year interior design degree student at Humber College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, and I am conducting a study examining hotel facilities and its relationship with business travelers. My investigation is about the relationship between interior space and the well-being of its occupants.

The purpose of this [call] [email] is to ask if you will be willing to participate in a future call where I will ask 15 questions about your experience with hotel facilities. The call will take less than 1 hour of your time and if you agree will be recorded. Note that your participation in my study will remain anonymous.

The outcome of my interview will aim to substantiate design decisions that will guide the development of my thesis project throughout this academic year 2020/21.

My interview with you is under the supervision of Humber Colleges Research Ethics Board.

Which means, your written consent to interview is requested and I will forward a consent letter shortly. Please sign and return.

Note that all letters are kept in strictest confidence as demanded by our REB board. If you agree to an interview then my next step will be to arrange a date and time that is agreeable to you. I look forward to learning about your experiences in the Hotel industry. Your participation is greatly appreciated. Thank you for your time.

Kind regards, Fraida Brogna 647-767-7464 fraidabrogna1@gmail.com

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Appendix C

Bachelor of Interior Design Program School of Applied Technology, Humber College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, 205 Humber College Boulevard Toronto, ON, M9W 5L7

Informed Consent Form Before agreeing to participate in this research study, it is important that you read and understand the following explanation of the proposed procedures. It describes the procedures, benefits, risks and discomforts of the study. It also describes your right to withdraw from the study at any time.

Purpose of study: To ascertain key design principles and elements for a hotel designed specifically for business travelers.

Procedures involved in the study: In-depth Interview Confidentiality of Research Records: ● Only the researcher has access to contact information and responses ● Your personal identifying information will only be used to contact you. Your responses will be recorded on a form that contains a code number created by the researcher. ● After interviewing you or if you decline to participate, the researcher will take a black marker and cross through your name and information. At the end of the study, the contact sheet will be shredded, leaving no possible way to match code numbers/responses with your name. ● Your personal/individual responses will not be given to the judge or court personnel ● During the study, all data will be kept in a locked, secure, filing cabinet or equivalent container. ● By using code numbers, in the event that the results were subpoenaed, your individual responses could not be singled out Potential Risks and Discomforts: ● No physical, social or economic risks are posed to participants. ● Participating in the study will not affect your current legal status, services provided or status in the related program.

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Potential Benefits: By participating in this study, you will get an opportunity to provide information about how the interior space and amenities impact your well-being and productivity; identify positive and negative aspects of the related facility and potentially improve the services provided. This is a participant's chance to give the design research community feedback on the operations of Programs and environments for Hotels.

Voluntariness & Withdrawal from Study: Your participation in this study is strictly voluntary. If you choose to participate in the interview, you may end the interview at any time.

I have read the material above, and any questions I asked have been answered to my satisfaction.

I understand a copy of this form will be made available to me for the relevant information and phone numbers. I realize that I may withdraw without prejudice at any time."

Respondent’s Signature____________________________________________________

Date ___________________________________________________________________

Kind regards, Fraida Brogna 647-767-7464 fraidabrogna1@gmail.com

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Appendix D

Bachelor of Interior Design Program School of Applied Technology, Humber College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, 205 Humber College Boulevard Toronto, ON, M9W 5L7

Interview Questions: 1. What industry do you work in? Hotel Management or Interior Design/architecture?

2. From your experience, do you feel that hotels satisfy business travelers' needs?

3. Do you think it is important to have facilities like spas, massages, yoga classes, etc. for downtime?

4. What technologies do you think are essential for business travelers to have in their private rooms? (i.e., Computer, printer, scanner, temperature control, video conference, etc.)

5. What kind of equipment and furniture do you think is important to help ease business travelers work?

6. Do you find that most business travelers travel alone or with coworkers? If they travel with coworkers, do they usually share a room or get a private suite?

7. What do you think hotels are currently lacking when it comes to enriching business travelers' experience?

8. What do you think is important to provide for a positive experience in private hotel rooms?

9. Do hotel rooms provide anything to help ease the guest's sleep?

10. From your experience, do you think people work better in brighter louder areas or natural and quiet areas?

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11. Do you think people's business trips would be easier and healthier for people's mental health if hotels were explicitly designed for business travelers?

12. Do you think business travelers would prefer a coworking environment or private offices attached to their rooms?

13. With COVID -19, do you think hotel guests would prefer to check-in alone through technology or at a front desk with a person?

14. Where do you think hotels need to improve, and why?

15. Do you have any additional comments that you would like to add?

Signature____________________________________________________ Thank you for your time.

Fraida Brogna