The Lobby

Streaming Success

Music is often credited with bringing people together, so with the world starved of live gigs and festivals for almost two years, hospitality brands have been asking themselves what they can do to connect like-minded travellers whilst restrictions keep them apart. Enter Headstream, a new onsite studio space and record store at Desa Potato Head in Bali, which doubles as a digital streaming platform showcasing the voices, stories and sounds from Indonesia and beyond.

Located at the entrance of the 160-key hotel, Headstream sits beneath The Womb – a 90-metre bamboo archway built by artist Nano Uhero. Remaining firmly on brand, the studio itself is a temple of repurposed materials and has been sustainably designed in collaboration with rising Bali-based architect, Zhi Xiong Chan of ZXC Studio. In all, it comprises 564 kilograms of recycled plastic, making use of discarded bottles collected from across the island. Everything from the wall panels to the flooring – crafted from industrial rubber rejects – has been made from waste.

Seeking to unearth new voices, connect communities and provide a global stage for the archipelago’s many DJs, creatives and musicians, the platform is set to live stream daily from 7am-7pm (Indonesia Central Time) directly from the hotel, occasionally accompanied by contributions from satellite locations such as Jogja, Malang, Jakarta and Bandung.

For the full experience, music lovers are encouraged to tune in to both the audio and visual channels, the latter provided via cameras broadcasting from within the studio and across Potato Head venues. And for hotel guests, a communal space serving Jamu, tea and pour-over coffee neighbours the studio, meaning in-person visitors can immerse themselves in the music while browsing a carefully curated collection of new Indonesian vinyl releases and zines.

Kicking off with 30 artists – including Dea Barandana, DJ Jnett, KiTA, Gabber Modus Operandi, Komang and Mairakilla – who played live from Seminyak and Melbourne, Headstream will soon evolve into a series of documentary films and other surprise progressions, all fuelled by one core notion – to discover new pathways for Potato Head while enhancing its offering of music, art and dialogue. If the opener is anything to go by, then the next track promises to be a good one.

Celebrating in Style

Ever since its foundation, Gucci has been closely linked with the theme of travel, referencing the iconography of luxury hotels and the jetsetters who populated them in the early 1900s. It was reportedly with irony, pride and self-awareness that the fashion house’s founder, Guccio Gucci, introduced these ideas after his first-hand experience. Still very young, he was employed at The Savoy as a luggage porter and liftboy, where he gained direct access to the tastes and desires of travelling customers whilst escorting them from floor to floor. Seeing the luxurious luggage and elegant clothes of the hotel’s guests was a major impetus in his desire to start a leather goods company shortly after returning to Italy from London.

One hundred years on, The Savoy and Guuci are celebrating their shared history, transforming the hotel’s Royal Suite into a voguish reflection of the Guuci world, featuring furniture and ornamental items from the brand’s Décor collection. In addition, art and antiquities from auctioneers Christie’s were carefully selected to complement the aesthetic, which has been conceived to harmonise with the design and heritage of its iconic surroundings.

Spanning the entire length of the fifth floor with views over the Thames, the suite evokes an exclusive showroom feel, with all items added by Gucci and Christie’s available to purchase. And on top of its elegant interiors, the space comes with a dedicated butler, use of The Savoy’s Rolls Royce within a three-mile radius, bespoke inroom amenities and a host of Guuci experiences, which will be rolled out further later this year.

“I’m delighted that we are partnering with Gucci in such a creative way to celebrate its centenary year,” says Franck Arnold, Managing Director at The Savoy. “It’s wonderful to bring our shared history to contemporary audiences, providing them with experiences and service that befit two brands with such global renown.”

Hotel Dynasty

‘Avanti Sempre Avanti’, or ‘Forward, Forever Forward.’ That’s the motto on the Gelardi family crest and is a philosophy that has guided the lives and careers of four generations of hoteliers – Giuseppe, Gustave and Giulio, Bertie and Geoffrey. Having recently stepped down from his position as Managing Director of The Lanesborough after nearly three decades at the helm, Geoffrey has now ventured into the world of publishing, putting pen to paper on a new book that tells the inside story of how he and his ancestry redefined the luxury hotel business. Titled Hotel Dynasty, the tome recalls how Giuseppe managed hotels in his native Italy during the 19th century, before delving into his sons’ success in London at Walsingham House – now The Ritz – The Savoy and Claridge’s to name but a few. Geoffrey also recounts his father’s role working alongside Lord Forte to build the Forte hotels empire – highlighting the acquisition of George V and Plaza Athenée in Paris, Sandy Lane in Barbados and The Pierre in New York – before providing insight into his own career at Hotel Bel-Air in Los Angeles and Hotel Sorrento in Seattle. And if that wasn’t enough, there’s also anecdotes of encounters with royalty, musicians, politicians and film stars, from King Edward VII and Madonna to Benito Mussolini and Sophia Loren.

bdbarcelona.com Little Couture armchair by Färg & Blanche contract@bdbarcelona.com

Behind the Curtain

Interiors embellished with 24-carat gold leaf, 30 different types of marble and a ceiling made from 21,000 Swarovski crystals – the largest of its kind in the world – not to mention a menu offering 17 pillow varieties and duvets filled with eiderdown harvested from abandoned nests in Iceland. These are just some of the luxuries on offer at Dubai’s Burj Al Arab, often billed as the world’s first seven-star hotel. Since it opened in 1999, only paying guests were fortnuate enough to experience the opulence and grandeur firsthand – until now. For the first time in 22 years, the iconic hotel will open its doors to visitors for ‘Inside Burj Al Arab’, a one-of-a-kind immersive experience conceived by Jumeirah Group. In addition to taking in some of the property’s most sumptuous spaces – such as the Atrium and Royal Suite, which have recently been refurbished by KCA International – the 90-minute tour will allow visitors to relive the hotel’s past through interactive augmented reality displays at the Experience Suite. Utilising detailed blueprints from the building’s architect Tom Wright, then Head of Architecture at Atkins, the tour will transport visitors back through time to gain a unique insight into the vision behind the global icon, exploring what makes it a landmark of innovation and how it came to define Dubai’s skyline. “Providing a stunning window into the world of Burj Al Arab Jumeirah, the tour will appeal to those intrigued by its story, not just of the building, but of its people, creativity and ingenuity, as well as its Emirati hospitality, Arabian opulence and world-class service,” explains Ermanno Zanini, Regional Vice President and General Manager of Burj Al Arab Jumeirah. “We are proud to deliver this exceptional experience to the world.”

Slowing Down

“Slow travel is an invitation to explore things at a pace that allows you to absorb your surroundings as you move through them – on terms that are meaningful for both you and the people and places you encounter,” writes John Burns, Editor-in-Chief of Kinfolk, in the latest addition to the publication’s guidebook series: Travel. The self-proclaimed pioneer of slow living, Kinfolk is bringing the concept of slow travel to the masses with a new book that celebrates the idea that an attitude of discovery is more meaningful than any particular action or itinerary.Published by Artisan, the 352-page hardback is divided into three sections – Urban, Wild and Transit – and draws on the magazine’s global community of writers and photographers to offer a roadmap for readers to plan trips that foster meaningful connections with local people and authentic experiences of culture. From museum-hopping in Tasmania to birdwatching in London, the guidebook seeks to transport readers to over 25 locations across six continents through travel tips from natives, thoughtful essays, immersive photography and visuals. “The hope is that Kinfolk Travel can act as a guidebook of a different stripe,” explains Burns. “One that sparks deeper ways of thinking about new journeys and destinations.”

Set to take to the stage at Hix, The Student Hotel explores the role of hospitality in forging togetherness.

Words: Ben Thomas As travellers begin to venture back out into the big wide world, hotels are becoming cathedrals of togetherness, with their lobbies, restaurants and bars enabling people to reconnect with family, friends and colleagues.

Harnessing the power of design and programming to forge these communities is now key to the success of hospitality projects, with today’s guest seeking out places where they can interact with like-minded individuals. So, how can operators create such environments?

That’s the question we’ll be putting to The Student Hotel (TSH) during Hix – a two-day gathering at London’s Business Design Centre, which has been billed as a unique hotel design experience solely dedicated to hospitality.

With a presence in 16 cities across Europe – including new openings in Bologna, Delft and Vienna – TSH adopts a hybrid approach that comprises student accommodation, hotel rooms, co-working and events venues. Focusing not on a single demographic but on a mindset, the group believes its model is not just a passing trend, but a longstanding shift in the way people live their lives.

“We build dynamic spaces that make it possible for a creative community to come together and enjoy the power of a shared experience,” says Jason Steere, Managing Director of Brand & Experience. “We like to think that we’re so far outside the box, we can’t even see it anymore.”

This is evident in Steere’s focus on keeping communal spaces open-plan and flexible, capable of hosting everything from conferences to DJ sets while remaining memorable in design. “We understand what our guests want while inviting them to engage in our unique culture,” he adds. “It’s a collaborative relationship.”

Part of that culture also means creating more than just a place to sleep. TSH is uncompromising on its responsibility as an operator, taking into account the way its properties are built and how they engage with the locale. For Amber Westerborg, Director of Sustainability & Impact, the process has been a steep learning curve. Having joined the company in 2019, Westerborg has now masterminded an ambitious agenda. “We have figured out how we want to leave our mark on the world and what our positive contribution looks like,” she explains. “We’ve gone from ‘if’ to ‘when’, and that’s confirmation of TSH’s commitment to tackling social issues and contributing positively to the environments in which it lives.”

All Together Now

With the aim of having 65 fully operational properties open by 2026, including outposts in Madrid, Florence, Lisbon, Barcelona and Rome, TSH is focused on delivering “one experience, one community, and one team” by moving away from products, overnight stays and buffet breakfasts, and instead offering opportunities to connect, make friends and collect memories.

“One day, TSH won’t be known as a hotel or student accommodation brand,” says Steere on his mission to make the group a household name. “It will be recognised for what it is – a community platform where people can build personal and professional relationships for life.”

Hix hopes to achieve a similar sense of unity, and the session’s sponsor, Swiss bathroom specialist Laufen, is confident it will. “We naturally gravitate to partners who share our values – whether that be on sustainability, design or locality,” says Global Projects Corporate Director, Ilker Hussein. “Where better to reconnect, renew and re-energise than at Hix.”

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