BUSINESS
ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN
HOW COVID-19 IS CHANGING THE SHAPE OF HOTEL SPACE
The impact of Covid-19 on lobby space in hotels is currently a hot topic across the hospitality industry.. While there are those who believe the lobby is now a redundant space, there are others who think it remains an important area that must be adapted. Imad Dajani, CEO of FEBC International, shares his observations.
64
HOSPITALITY NEWS ME | OCT-NOV 2020
The lobby has a charm to it, and it can be what makes or breaks a hotel; it’s the first area that guests experience: a place to meet, drink coffee or wait. It is one of those spaces that brings people together. The question is how can we bring people together while maintaining a safe protocol? Our procurement team has debated this topic with some of our clients and held whiteboard sessions that have yielded some interesting suggestions: • More reception desks to speed up the check-in process • In-room check-ins are a must, especially for hotels that attract business travelers
