The pandemic has completely altered the hospitality industry. In order for hotels and restaurants to reopen while adhering to WHO safety guidelines, changes must be made to the current hospitality designs as different regions of the world prepare to welcome tourists back to their nations following the pandemic commotion.
The design of hotels needs to be updated in order to accommodate people securely, and many believe that the WHO guidelines on public behaviour during the pandemic may become laws that must be adhered to in both design and construction. As gathering locations for individuals from all over the world, buildings used in the hospitality industry need to adhere to social distancing norms and hygiene standards.
Whether it’s hospitality architecture in Dubai or anywhere else in the world, companies have had to consciously create pandemic-proof designs.
Here are some modifications made to hospitality design as a result of the pandemic:
Points for Contactless Check-in
Counters for Check-In and Reception In hotels and restaurants, counters serve as the initial points of contact. Design experts have suggested creating contactless check-in terminals to reduce potential risks to the public’s health from encounters between workers and visitors. To reduce human interaction, installing hotel applications and smart technologies is advocated. Touchless temperature gauges, smartphone-controlled doors, and other techniques can also reduce involvement.
Hygiene Practices and Perceptions:
Easy-to-clean surfaces can assist in keeping the environment sterile, and it is encouraged to display signage and other reminders regarding cleanliness and public health safety all around hotels and restaurants.
Hard surfaces and quasi-floors, for instance, are simple to maintain. Non-touching functionality is increasingly being used in hotels and restaurants due to automation in interior furnishings and architecture. A touchless, hygienic design is encouraged by automatic sliding doors, sensor-enabled faucets, and other features.
Systems for Pandemic-Ready Airflow:
People’s perceptions about using the HVAC system have changed as a result of the pandemic, especially because the disease is airborne. According to studies, HVAC systems, particularly in enclosed areas like a diner or café, facilitate the virus’s spread from person to person.
Many businesses have already created Pandemic-Ready HVAC outlets that can stop the virus from spreading by controlling the levels of room pressure. High-quality airflow solutions in hospitality buildings may not be cost-effective, but they are safe and will become a recent trend that will guarantee people’s health and well-being.
Useful Outdoor Spaces
Hotels are creating outdoor areas for visitors to utilise securely while adhering to the social distance guidelines. In addition to the indoor sitting options, hotels and restaurants can incorporate outdoor seating areas. It is acceptable to use shade equipment, passive heating and cooling systems, and other approaches to promote outdoor seating areas.
In addition to interior dining rooms, outdoor spaces also can serve as outdoor dining places. Hotels can repurpose outdoor areas into outdoor fitness facilities, socially isolated yoga and dance studios, etc.
To allow structural alterations in existing hospitality industry buildings, designers are bringing up solutions. To prevent traffic in public spaces like corridors, walkways should instruct people to proceed in one direction only. Many well-known designers believe that the “Paternoster Lifts” can replace the current “Closed Lifts” in order to reduce overcrowding since these lifts typically consist of a chain of open chambers that can accommodate one or two persons each.
Availability of work-from-anywhere:
With the pandemic, there has been an increase in “work-from-anywhere” policies for companies across various sectors. This has resulted in staycations and increase in bookings amongst remote workers. Hotels are also making large-scale provisions for the same, within their premises and their rooms too.
Since people are working within the hotel premises, there has been changes to the way hospitality meals are served. Guests can easily access quick meals rather than waiting in line for buffets, and even have them in snack packs that can be eaten anywhere – as they work. Further, hotels are also changing the way they build surfaces, as they cater to the remote workers of today.
To conclude:
Following the pandemic, there will be a significant technological component to hospitality design. For both workers and customers, a secure atmosphere will be made possible through smart technology in hotels and restaurants.
Since contactless service will likely be well-liked by customers in the not-too-distant future, artificial intelligence will be crucial in the layout of hotels and restaurants. Interiors that can be reconfigured easily will benefit hospitality design. Several adjustments to the design codes used in hospitality design may take place after the epidemic.
To eliminate social engagement and interfacing, check-in automation has increased, making the traditional welcome desk obsolete. Check-in, circulation, and public places benefit from contactless involvement. By accepting automation and allowing guests to take on these tasks, critical components like the check-in desk may be removed from the foreground of the arrival experience.
After a year of hardships in the hospitality and hotel industry, change is welcome. Designers and architects are welcoming the challenges to help communities, celebrate heritage, and innovate. As one of the leading architecture firms in the Middle East, we at Prasoon Design will be able to provide you with the right design solutions in a post-pandemic world!