Industry trends
Interior design

The Trend Towards Hybrid Hotels and How to Design for It

March 1, 2023

Hybrid hotel design represents the cutting edge of the hotel industry, integrating co-working spaces with leisure and activity facilities. Hotel designers are required to construct flexible spaces, using building eco-friendly materials that enhance well-being.

Grand Park Hotel Rovinj, Croatia

Grand Park Hotel Rovinj, Croatia

NA, Greenberg Traurig, Sonar, 4000 Tempra, Gensler

How the Hotel Sector Adapts to the Hybrid Hotel Trend

The hotel industry is in a unique position to help facilitate this continuing trend of remote and hybrid working. By rethinking how hotel spaces work, architects can work to design hybrid hotels that balance relaxation with quiet spaces to work without interruption.

This adaptation to the business-leisure tourism boom is reshaping the industry in a range of ways.

The Need for Spaces with More Flexibility

Creating a flexible space that gives hybrid hotel guests the freedom to suit a range of lifestyles requires a reconsideration of hotel design. The demand for flexible, multifunctional spaces requires the materials to give hotel designers the necessary leeway.

Our products, such as Rockfon® Hub and Rockfon® Canva, are specifically designed with a range of installation benefits in mind. They can be easily installed, broken apart, and scaled to allow designers to future-proof hotel interior spaces.

These designs can then be used for a variety of spaces expected by bleisure travellers, including:

  • Closed-off workspaces for focusing on work. These can include a coworking space where remote workers can work without being distracted by hotel noises.
  • Communal spaces for socialising and networking. An informal general lounge area is a great place for remote workers to take time out from work and relax.
  • Hotel rooms that feature optional workspaces. These dedicated workspaces should be separated from the room itself, rather than simply adding a desk in the corner of the room.
  • Accessible on-site meeting and conference rooms. Already a common feature in many hotels, these spaces should be designed with natural light and great acoustic solutions in mind.

A Strong Focus on Acoustical Comfort

Hotels offer a variety of ideal workspaces, from private rooms to meeting and event rooms, as well as common spaces and community areas, for private calls, coworking, or socialising. However, when guests at a hotel are committed to working, they need assurance that their space for concentration will not be disturbed. Our Rockfon Blanka® dB acoustic stone wool tiles allow hotel designers to create comfortable workspaces where bleisure tourists can work in comfort and privacy.

A combination of sound-absorbing ceiling tiles with plenum barriers can block out any unwanted noise from all angles. Additionally, Rockfon’s tiles meet a range of sustainability standards, making them environmentally friendly while creating an acoustically harmonious space.

An Emphasis on Hygiene in Shared Areas

Cleanliness and hygiene have long been a top consideration for holidaymakers. In the post-social distancing world, this awareness has become increasingly heightened. With that said, the usual cleaning and hygiene maintenance habits will not be enough. Shared spaces need to go above and beyond to ensure that no lapses lead to unfortunate health issues for their members.

Our Rockfon CleanSpace® range is designed with easy-to-clean surfaces that are resistant to humidity and mildew. Made from stone wool, our tiles have no nutritional value. That means there’s no need to worry about using fungicides or antimicrobials to prevent mould and bacterial growth.

Creating Stronger Connections With Local Communities

More tourists are planning to stay in one place for a longer time. That means hotel interior design needs to make people feel connected to the destination and its culture. Hotel owners and operators will look for ways to differentiate their hotels. 

Examples can be creating a hyper-local environment that immerses guests in the surrounding location or customising to specific ethos or interests.

Furthermore, in addition to quick, dependable internet, hybrid hotels can help connect travelling guests and local customers in dynamic, centralised locations.

Offering Special Tourism Packages That Cater to Remote Work

The tourism and hotel industries thrive when they adapt to suit the needs of their customers. With the rise of hybrid working and business-leisure tourists, new holiday packages are merging business-centric resources with activities. Restaurants, gyms, and other holiday facilities will help to position hybrid hotels to meet this new demand.