GOING BEYOND SLEEP

With the help of some expert commentary, we reveal how to make your hotel bedrooms unique whilst providing an exceptional stay suited to a range of guests.

Despite hotels often being seen as ‘somewhere to sleep’, due to consumer demand, bedrooms go much further than simply providing a place to rest. The room itself is often the pinnacle of a guest’s stay and, therefore, making a hotel bedroom unique can be a great way to set your venue apart from the competition and provide an unforgettable experience for your guests.

Ultimately, your role is to provide a temporary home to those who visit you and, with such a rise in the travel industry, the hospitality scene is seeing a spike in new competitors which is only fuelling the race. The focus has now shifted to that of the crucial design details and adding amenities that can capture guests’ attention and deter them from choosing a competing venue.

The conclusive factor in this power struggle is the bedroom at the hotel itself and how to make it welcoming in a way that will stick at the forefront of your visitors’ minds.

When the bedrooms were designed at the French hotel, Crillon le Brave, it was important that they could provide modern comforts such as high-quality bedding as well as offering a sense of place.

General Manager of Crillon le Brave, Dagmar Lombard, said: “The choice of materials, as well as lighting and art decoration, are in balance with our historic Provincial Houses and these are elements which make our rooms memorable.”

Dagmar recognises that, yes, a bedroom must have an inviting aesthetic, but also must be functional for the guest and there should be a logical sense of movement in the room. In line with this, he believes that the position of the bed is important: “The guest should not have the view of the toilets while lying in bed. The basics are always the same, no matter the guest.”

Measures can be taken ahead of a guest’s arrival to ensure their bedroom is right for them during their stay, and Dagmar sees that, at the time of booking, it is important to question the guest about the occasion, the number of people travelling, the specific needs or expectations they have and whether they have any health issues.

When a guest books a luxury hotel, the standard is already dictated with the star rating. The amenities provided meet what the guest is expecting. Dagmar recognises that a guest chooses a property because they correspond with the style and personality of that hotel.

“On the other hand, the in-room amenities are chosen to meet a broad range of guests, to provide comfort, whilst also being in total harmony with the hotel’s character.” Dagmar concluded.

Mollie’s Motel & Diner Bristol and Oxfordshire have worked tirelessly to refine every detail, from the design and technology to the product. They have carefully considered the key touchpoints to try and make every visit to Mollie’s memorable, premium in feel but reasonable in price point.

Darren Sweetland, Managing Director of Mollie’s Motel

& Diner Bristol and Oxfordshire, explained how the venue has partnered with some great brands, such as Conran furniture, Dyson Hairdryers, ghd Hair Straighteners and Cowshed wash products to really elevate guests’ experience.

“For us, simplicity was key in terms of creating the best guest experience. We wanted to move away from kettles in-room, so our motel has high quality water taps on each floor offering ambient, chilled and hot water where guests can enjoy Mollie’s own artisanal house coffee blend in their room or lounge space.”

In terms of actions which can be taken prior to a guest’s arrival to ensure their bedroom is right for them during their stay the Mollie’s app provides a number of benefits for guests looking for digital convenience. Darren explained:

“Guests can check in when it’s right for them before arriving. Guests can pick up their room key via their phone and, once they get to the room, Netflix and other TV services are automatically paired, enabling visitors to use their phone as a TV remote.”

Another way to really leave a mark amongst staying guests is by ensuring your in-room amenities suit a range of visitors. Mollie’s ‘budget luxe’ rooms are a masterclass in affordable luxury, featuring Soho Home and Conran lighting, natural oak and terrazzo finishes, chrome details, handcrafted Hypnos mattresses by Soho Home, Egyptian cotton bedding, climate control, contactless room access, smart TV with casting and Cowshed natural products.

In the opinion of many, there’s no better way to welcome a guest to their stay than including fresh florals in their space. Flowers are the pinnacle of luxury when traveling. After planes, trains, and taxis, arriving to a freshly cut arrangement feels like someone is truly thinking of you and taking care of you.

Flowers create a calming moment of natural beauty, just like they might keep in their own homes. Especially if a guest is celebrating a particular occasion — an anniversary, birthday, or wedding — welcoming a guest with their favourite flower is the meaningful touch that most hotels miss out on.

Vice President of Commercial at FLOWERBX, Otto Laghzaoui, said: “Flowers need to be chosen, and they need care to stay fresh: guests feel that extra thoughtfulness upon their arrival. Every flower is inherently unique — the ones in your room are not the ones in anyone else’s, or that you’ve had in any other stay. If guests have a particular floral preference, hotels can raise the bar even higher by including their favourite flowers, making it a welcoming experience unlike any other. When flowers are specially selected for you and refreshed throughout your stay, it really feels like a hotel is raising the bar on luxury.”

Despite recognising that it can be challenging to find flower arrangements that suit every guest’s needs and preferences, Otto recommends that the venue finds a signature look that suits the style of the building and design, and the hotel’s philosophy, and tailor that look to guests once you’re able to understand their tastes.

FLOWERBX helps hotels understand and develop their floral style to help deliver beautiful floral arrangements that flatter the environment and that any guest would be truly delighted to encounter.

Bedrooms at Hotel Indigo Bath are designed with the curious guest in mind, with three different room themes reflecting stories from the local neighbourhood of Bath: Romance and Mischief, Architectural Beauty, and Literary Hideaways. No two rooms are the same in the 166-bedroom hotel, making it easy to find a suitable room to match guests’ needs.

Nicola Fender, General Manager at Hotel Indigo Bath, explained: “Reception teams call every guest prior to their arrival to identify any specific requirements they may have. This helps them allocate a well-matched bedroom to the guest whilst creating a warm, initial first impression for them.” Gestures like this always guarantee happy guests, so it is well worth putting a little bit of extra time into doing this to boost your venue’s reputation.

By implementing these ideas told by our experts, along with other creative strategies, you can create unique and memorable experiences for your guests that will keep them coming back for more.