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50 Hotels That Didn’t Just Think Outside The Box, They Designed The Box Better (New Pics)
When you’re traveling for business or pleasure, a great place to stay can make or break your entire trip. There are very few things better than feeling truly at home when you’re exploring other cities and countries. However, creating this atmosphere of genuine hospitality is quite challenging.
That being said, some hotel owners go above and beyond the call of duty for the sake of their guests. We wanted to showcase some of their brilliance, so, our team at Bored Panda collected some of the finest, most creative, and coolest hotel design decisions and solutions that people couldn’t help but take a pic of and share online. Scroll down to check them out. And if any hoteliers are here, we hope you’re taking notes!
This post may include affiliate links.
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The global hotel market is phenomenally big. According to Statista, the market is predicted to reach a whopping $443.07 billion by 2025, with a projected spike to $511.91 billion and 1.81 billion users by 2029.
It’s expected that by then, 80% of the total revenue in the hotel market will be generated via online sales.
#4
I Checked In To My Hotel And Joked With The Check-In Lady That As Long As My Room Had A Bowl Of M&m’s With All The Blue Ones Removed, Everything Would Be Great
She laughed and told me about some other crazy guest request. 20 minutes later there was a knock on my door and she handed me this.
Hotel customers are increasingly looking for unique and personalized experiences during their travels.
“They are looking for accommodations that offer more than just a place to stay, but also provide memorable experiences and exceptional services. This trend has led to a rise in demand for boutique hotels, eco-friendly establishments, and themed accommodations.”
In Europe, there have been recent trends toward sustainable and eco-conscious practices in hotels, as well as wellness tourism.
Meanwhile, in Asia, the hotel market is “heavily influenced by the region’s diverse cultures and traditions.” So, many hotels try to be authentic and incorporate local elements into their design, cuisine, and guest experience.
Halfway around the world, in North America, the hotel market is closely linked to overall economic performance in the region. Growing economies mean more disposable income and higher consumer spending on travel and accommodation.
According to McKinsey & Company, luxury hospitality might begin with a signature property and beautiful hotel design, but it also needs stellar service and devoted staff.
"Our facility is our stage, and guests are paying for a performance,” one luxury hotel general manager revealed to the company.
It’s predicted that the luxury segment of the hotel industry may grow at 6% through 2025. This may lead to more competition between high-class hotels, as more businesses enter the proverbial arena.
In the meantime, some non-luxury properties are closing the luxury gap with physical details that may indicate luxury, for example, things like rainfall shower heads and sumptuous mattress tops.
#18
The Shower In My Hotel Room Has A Little Window In The Glass So You Can Grab Your Towel Without Opening The Shower Door
As per McKinsey & Company, the meaning of luxury is actually shifting, too. “Affluent customers increasingly value unique experiences—not just the tangible product—and vibrant atmospheres over opulent formality. Data on consumer spending substantiates the notion that interest in recreational experiences is generally rising while interest in nonessential goods is generally subsiding.”
#19
This Display In A Hotel In Seoul Allows You To Adjust Your Shower Temperature To Within A Fraction Of A Degree
So, with these changes in mind, it becomes more important than ever to create a culture of excellence in order to differentiate yourself from other hotels.
According to McKinsey & Company’s research, the main reason why people become loyal, returning guests is their positive past experiences with a travel brand—not the value, quality, or convenience.
One luxury hotel general manager said that culture isn’t a sign on a wall or something that you’d find in a textbook: “It has to be driven by a leader, 24/7, on good days and bad.”
Some ways to create truly quality, luxury customer experiences, no matter the industry, include:
- Focusing less on price points and more on exquisite, thoughtful, and careful service;
- Promoting a culture of excellence among your employees;
- Empathetic and generous leaders who actively listen to their staff and customers;
- Hiring, investing in, and empowering employees with great personality traits;
- Offering personalized service and going above and beyond to pleasantly surprise your guests.
Which of these hotel design details impressed you the most, dear Pandas? Which ones were so creative and elegant that they genuinely wowed you? What was your best hotel stay like and what things did you appreciate the most?
On the flip side… what was your worst stay like? We’d love you hear your thoughts, so if you’d like to spill the tea, feel free to visit the comments section below.
#29
The Hostel I'm Staying At Uses The Drake Meme Template To Show How The Dishes Are Supposed To Be Returned
#32
The Paradiso Art Hotel In Ibiza Offers One Suite At Zero Cost, But The Room Has Transparent Glass Walls
A glass-walled room in the middle of the hotel’s lobby where the absolute star of the show is you. It’s available for a free night’s stay, art interventions, DJ sets, and podcasts… The possibilities are endless. Would you try it?
#33
Stair Runner Snake Rug I Made
I made 8 of these 25-foot-long snakes for a hotel in San Diego called the Lafayette. These are hand-tufted, made with wool yarn.
#48
At Henn Na Hotel In Tokyo, The Reception Is Staffed By Robots
Henn na Hotel is a well-known hotel in Japan that uses advanced technology - guests check in with dinosaur robots or holograms, making the experience safe and contact-free. Guinness World Records acknowledged it as the first hotel with robot employees.
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What do you think ?
Rika 9 months ago
I stayed at a hotel where different floors/sections were named after capital cities. When you show your ID at check-in, they'll see if there's a room available in your country section. I thought that was pretty cool. (Now, they also offered to rent a goldfish for the night if you felt lonely, and that p*ssed me off. The poor thing shouldn't be in a glass bowl waiting to be carried around.)
Mel in Georgia 9 months ago
We try to stay in unique hotels when we travel. Many are very cool, but some boutique hotel rooms are more about being cool than comfortable or practical. And I can't tell you how many times it takes more than a minute to figure out how the shower works! Keep it simple for us stupid people!!
Rika 9 months ago
I stayed at a hotel where different floors/sections were named after capital cities. When you show your ID at check-in, they'll see if there's a room available in your country section. I thought that was pretty cool. (Now, they also offered to rent a goldfish for the night if you felt lonely, and that p*ssed me off. The poor thing shouldn't be in a glass bowl waiting to be carried around.)
Mel in Georgia 9 months ago
We try to stay in unique hotels when we travel. Many are very cool, but some boutique hotel rooms are more about being cool than comfortable or practical. And I can't tell you how many times it takes more than a minute to figure out how the shower works! Keep it simple for us stupid people!!
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