2019 FORECAST
Rachel Johnson – Senior Vice President and Studio Director, Wimberly Interiors London
In 2019… The hospitality industry will… witness the rise of independent hotels that capture the imagination of guests. Guests are searching for a differentiated product that is not confined by a brand, and hoteliers that are courageous enough to experiment with new amenities and service offerings. Meanwhile, the large hotel companies will continue to invest in research and technology to anticipate consumer behaviour and facilitate bookings through predictive analytics.
“Beautiful design does not
The most significant hospitality design trend will be… There is a juxtaposition emerging, in which guests perceive travel experiences as aspirational, an opportunity for escapism from the fastpaced nature of their daily existence. At the same time, there is a growing desire for hotels and resorts to look and feel more residential; travellers want to relax and are seeking comfort. Aesthetically, colour, patterns, and textures will take centre stage to bring warmth to the interior.
need to be expensive, the challenge will be prioritising and rationalising the budget between the developer’s investment objectives and
The trend we’ll likely bid farewell to is… Rose gold, copper finishes, teal, and pink.
the operator’s vision, while inspiring the guest”
The biggest challenge will be… setting the trend rather than chasing them. Beautiful design does not need to be expensive, the challenge will be prioritising and rationalising the budget between the developer’s investment objectives and the operator’s vision, while inspiring the guest. I’m most looking forward to… designing projects that embrace risk, with a distinct point of view. Regardless of whether we are designing a hostel or a luxury hotel, we enjoy articulating the guest journey, and are hyper-aware of how guests feel, interact and utilise the spaces within the property. www.watg.com/wimberly
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