The Lobby

Sweet Dreams

In the age of smartphones, smart watches and the neverending pursuit to optimise every aspect of our lives, a standard mattress and bedframe simply doesn’t cut it anymore. In response to the desire for the highly-coveted, but often unattainable, good night’s sleep, Italian furnituremaker Hi-Interiors has carved out a unique position for itself as pioneer of the smartbed. Their latest innovation is HiAm, a hi-tech four-poster bed dreamt up by Italian architect and designer Fabio Vinella. Inspired by the ancient Roman concept of ‘otium’ – meaning leisure – HiAm brings together wellness and entertainment through technology to spark physiological wellbeing and self-improvement. Promising a complete sensory journey, a built-in fragrance diffuser, smart lighting, hi-definition audio system and motorised base allow for customised relaxation, whilst a 70-inch screen and 4K projector enhance the cocoon-effect by creating an immersive entertainment experience. HiAm also functions as a personal sleep coach thanks to integrated IoT sensors. In addition to tracking sleep data, the sensors collect environmental statistics such as air quality and optimum sleep temperature. “Italy is the country of art and beauty par excellence,” explains Vinella. “With HiAm these values take on a new form in an evolved product that, in combining design with technology, leads us to self-discovery, projecting us into a dimension in which leisure assumes an active and extremely positive significance, just as it did in classical antiquity.”

Circle of Life

Radical Innovation announces the winners of its Parc Omega design competition.

With travellers increasingly seeking an escape from the bustle of overcrowded and built-up cities, hotels in rural settings are becoming ever more desirable. With that in mind, Radical Innovation – an initiative that challenges creative thinkers to pioneer compelling ideas in travel and hospitality – launched an extension to its annual design competition, calling for entrants to envision a 120-key hotel for Parc Omega in Quebec, Canada.

The brief was to design a hospitality venue that meets the needs of visitors to the region yet is in keeping with the natural beauty of the 2,200acre wildlife park. Four-star accommodation, restaurants, a bar, swimming pool, wellness facilities and a multi-functional conference centre were amongst the requirements, but ultimately, guidelines stated that it is imperative the hotel’s architecture, interior design and methods of operation be aligned with the park and its core values of sustainability, conservation and wildlife preservation.

“Parc Omega’s mission is to raise awareness about wildlife and local culture by creating a memorable experience,” comments Claire Ruggieri, Chair of Batipart, the park’s owning company. “We’ve been thrilled to follow these fabulous submissions and to work with our esteemed jury to determine the winner and runner-up for the competition.”

A panel of jurors from the fields of hospitality, design and investment evaluated entries based on their originality, creativity, feasibility, viability and impact, with the deciding factors being the best architectural design, best use of land and the best sustainability plan; as a result, they have named Les Cercles du Lac, submitted by Stanislas Cheuvreux of WAW Architectes, as the winner. His concept nestles between the lake and a valley with circular structures that echo the circle of life, an important symbol in Native American culture. The seven circular buildings fan out from a central reception and each provide 360-degree views of the park, while a network of connecting

pathways allow for immersion in nature. With a clear focus on minimising visual impact on the site, Cheuvreux’s design sees a low-rise structure partly concealed beneath the tree canopy, with the recreation centre integrated into the natural slope of the landscape. The architect will be awarded CA$10,000, and there will be further discussions as to the realisation of the hotel.

The competition’s runner up is Samsara Lodge, submitted by Matthew Beerman of 25:8 Architecture + Urban Design, Canada, who will be awarded CA$5,000. Beerman’s concept – named after the Buddhist word for the cycle of death and rebirth – mimics the vernacular of a fallen tree, with the various facilities branching off from a central trunk housing the check-in and gift shop. A sloping roofs pays homage to the rolling hills of the region, allowing for the resort to blend seamlessly into the landscape, while a 25-metre observation tower captures views of the park.

Other entries given an honourable mention include: the nature-driven Seven Tales by Monolab Architects, which takes the dispersed approach to make full use of the site; Quttow House by RHT Advisory, inspired by the longhouses built and inhabited by east-coast indigenous nations; Le Retrainte by Ignacio Fernandez de Castro, evolved from a passion for wood, water and wildlife; Parc Omega Hotel by Bagua + Bhava, designed to explore the relationship between humans, animals and nature; and Park Omega Hill Hotel by Biophilic Architecture, in which the entire building appears to be immersed in the land beneath native vegetation.

“Radical Innovation discovers and spotlights creative thinkers from around the world with ideas to propel the hospitality industry forward,” explains John Hardy, founder of Radical Innovation and CEO of The Hardy Group. “We were pleased to add this new design competition to the Radical family and are excited to congratulate the winners of the competition.” Les Cercles du Lac (above left) by Stanislas Cheuvreux of WAW Architectes has been named winner of the Parc Omega design competition, with Samsara Lodge (above) by Matthew Beerman of 25:8 Architecture + Urban Design coming in second place

Island Life

W London teams up with artist Georgia Tucker to create a virtually immersive island getaway in the heart of the West End.

With countries both near and far constantly moving between green, amber and red travel lists in the UK, the idea of an island getaway feels more and more like a pipe dream. Luckily, W London has brought the island to us with the help of immersive technology artist Georgia Tucker.

Set within the hotel’s signature WOW Suite, Tucker has created the Advena Island Escape as a way to break free from the monotonous everyday and explore the meaning behind a ‘sustainable resort’, all without having to catch a flight. A paradisal landscape of tropical fauna, colourful architecture, opalescent orbs and warm beaches, Advena integrates the virtual with the physical, creating an immersive experience through a mixture of projections and vinyls, brought to life via a VR headset.

Those looking to fully immerse themselves within Tucker’s installation can opt for the Advena Island Escape package, designed to be enjoyed from the comfort of the W’s luxury rooms and suites. Guests will be welcomed with The Escapist cocktail and Tropical Rocks dessert, before being taken to their room where they will be greeted with a VR headset and soundscape. From there, visitors will be transported to the balmy beaches of the tropics without leaving the hotel room, with the virtual holiday soundtracked by lapping waves and swaying palms to provide the ultimate escape. As international travel gradually begins to resume, the Advena experience will seek to explore the ecological and social impact of tourism, in addition to provoking conversation around what travellers now seek from their holidays and if the need for ‘Instagrammable’ moments and experiences has eclipsed the desire for the destination itself.

“I want people to find a sense of escapism within this space and a sense of playfulness,” explains Tucker. “But I also want it to start a conversation – leading people to question why it is they travel, and the effect Instagram has played on this.”

Pink Palace

Champalimaud Design reintroduces a sense of Old Hollywood glamour to The Beverly Hills Hotel’s legendary poolside cabanas.

For over a century, the swimming pool at The Beverly Hills Hotel has been the place to see and be seen. On any given day, guests could catch the likes of Joan Rivers learning to swim freestyle or Katherine Hepburn diving in after a tennis lesson – fully-clothed. But after countless A-list parties and secret trysts over the years, the poolside was due a refresh. Tasked with restoring the legendary hotel’s 11 private cabanas was Champalimaud Design, who were asked to create an inviting residential atmosphere whilst paying homage to the property’s iconic design elements.

“What distinguishes The Beverly Hills Hotel from all others is its magical history,” reveals Alexandra Champalimaud, founder and President of the New York-based firm. “Through time it has been the destination of movie stars and socialites, kings and queens.”

Champalimaud’s scheme sees pink-andwhite striped interior awnings complemented by a feature wall of banana leaf wallpaper made by CW Stockwell, who delved into the archives to reintroduce a colourway that complements the original green of the hotel’s interiors. With its distinctive hues and vibrant prints, the wallcovering remains intrinsically linked to the hotel, even developing its own celebrity status amongst both designers and guests.

The atmosphere surrounding the poolside retreats is established through details such as terrazzo coffee tables and basket weave seating, while locally sourced peach pink tables perpetuate the palette. Although a trip to the Pink Palace’s pool is undoubtedly all about socialising and people-watching, topiary walls act as space dividers, creating a sense of privacy.

“Vivacious and brimming with life, there is a particularly strong culture around the swimming pool and cabanas,” notes Champalimaud. “The cabanas hold prime seats to a mesmerising show of beautiful people wading in clusters, chatting in groups as laughter permeates the air.”

IHIF’s new pop-up event asks hospitality innovators how to get the best out of the most testing period in the sector’s history.

Words: Ben Thomas Out of adversity comes opportunity,” as the saying goes, and never have the words of Benjamin Franklin been more relevant than today, with the pandemic forcing hospitality businesses to rethink every aspect of their operations from the ground floor up.

So what lessons has the industry learnt over the past 18 months? What changes are for the better? And where are the new opportunities for growth? These were just some of the questions put to panellists at the International Hospitality Investment Forum (IHIF) in September.

IHIF has long been at the forefront of the changing hospitality landscape and this year was no different, with a new pop-up event tapping into the rise of adjacent spaces – from

For Zoku, a brand that was arguably ahead of its time, this shift towards a more nomadic way of thinking feeds nicely into its work-meetsplay concept. As such, Meyer spoke of how the group has tripled its portfolio with openings in Copenhagen and Vienna, both of which are now renting out floors to businesses looking to unite their workforces for days and weeks at a time. “What we’ve learnt is that the square-metre we normally allocate for just one role can be used for multiple,” he reflected. “Our mission is to connect people, so while there may be challenges ahead for offices, we can be part of the solution.” Similar growth has taken place at Edyn, which launched Cove earlier this year in response to the growing demand for flexible living. With sites

How Not to Waste a Good Crisis

co-working to serviced apartments – during the crisis. Exploring investment beyond the hotel room, the programme invited owners, operators, architects and designers to share knowledge, exchange ideas and shape the next generation.

Fittingly, three of those with experience in dreaming up forward-thinking concepts – Hans Meyer of home-office hybrid brand Zoku; Stephen McCall from Edyn, parent group of design-led aparthotel brand Locke and newly launched serviced apartment brand Cove; and Serdar Kutucu of hospitality collective Slow – were trusted with rounding out the pop up’s proceedings, delving into how their companies have capitalised on the events of late, why they are ensuring that lessons are not wasted, and how they will approach the next step of recovery.

Though social distancing and PPE were deemed as simply serving a purpose, plenty of takeaways were discussed as having promising prospects for the industry in years to come, none more so than the ability for people to work from anywhere. already acquired in Liverpool, London and The Hague, McCall reiterated the need for hoteliers to react quickly to the market: “Horizons are getting shorter and today’s world is unpredictable, so we must keep ourselves nimble and open-minded.”

And for Slow, a brand that was already in the incubator pre-Covid with properties in Ibiza and Tulum, a more conscious approach to travel sparked by the crisis is one that should stick around for the long-term. “The pandemic hasn’t changed the world, it has accelerated the longneeded correction of many values and mindsets,” explained Kutucu, adding that Slow will aim to educate guests on the movement at Marina Marina – a creative campus that it will debut in Berlin’s Rummelsburg neighbourhood next year.

The answer to what the future holds for hospitality isn’t straightforward, and the road to recovery will be a winding one, but as Charles Darwin once said, “it is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent; it is the one most adaptable to change.”