Downtown Design talks to industry influencers Samiha Al Hashimi of S2 Interiors and Omar Ghafour of Lightspace Design about the growth of mid-market hotels in the region
The Middle East has seen a constant growth in the development of mid-range hospitality projects with Dubai alone projecting 100,000 new hotel rooms in time for EXPO 2020. With the number of visitors expected to rise up to 20 million by the end of the decade; hotel operators, architects and designers face the challenge of meeting this growing demand.
Giving birth to new ideas, techniques and design implementation designing for mid-range hotel developments regionally and globally gives rise to different approaches. “Within our practice we see this as an opportunity to showcase our approach to designing spaces centered on the end user experience. Unique and innovative design is born out of solutions to constraints and necessity. Design solutions that not only meet the developer’s budget and guidelines while still managing to maintain the integrity of the desired user experience.” says Omar Ghafour, Founder Principal at Lightspace Design
A constant surge in the need for ‘experiences’ rather than just a standard hotel environment has made it imperative to design every aspect of the hotel with the target consumer in mind giving designers the opportunity to tailor an entire experience.
Samiha Al Hashimi , Managing Director at S2 Interiors says “The challenge for interior designers is to provide an experience to meet the changing demand of forward-thinking customers who want more from their hotel stay. As the mid-range market has seen a substantial increase there is tight competition and a lot of pressure to provide guests with quality of accommodation that will reflect their lifestyle and provide them with different experiences. Sophisticated travelers are increasingly choosing iconic products that define the destination and are able to tell a story.
It challenges designers to be more intuitive and creative in communicating their unique points and pushes up the quality of offering for guests. This means more bespoke, statement features that make hotels unforgettable. Designer that continue to innovate with design techniques and technology help change the hospitality landscape”
The Middle East is well accustomed to luxury in every aspect of hospitality however there seems to be a change towards the attitude of what encompasses luxury in hospitality, how one experiences it and how design affects your entire experience. “There has been a collective shift in consumer values and behaviour where sustainability, simplicity and authenticity have emerged as new driving factors of consumer demand. An excess of choice and lack of control in consumers’ everyday lives are driving a need for simplicity. Though luxury is the trademark in the region, the hospitality industry has started to address these trends; leading to growth in the 3 and 4 star hotel market.” Samiha explains.
Guest bedroom design by S2 Interiors
Dubai has also eased its laws in favour of building mid-scale hotel developments giving landowners and hotel operators exemptions in fees on total revenue in order to cater to the need for business travelers and families on holiday. Omar adds “We believe that mid-range hotels give developers a better opportunity in the market, by allowing them to be more experimental and unique in their offering. This however, requires a level of trust between the designers and the hotel developer to commit to a concept all the way.”
Luxury Residential Design by Lightspace Design, also seen in cover image
Designing for mid-market hotels can offer an exploration into working with different types of materials, products and designers as opposed to high-end hotel projects. With this comes the constant debate between quality, design and cost. Samiha says “Although luxury comes at a cost, practical interior design can be economical and eco-conscious without compromising any quality of standards and design. The trend for mid-range hotels have forced designers to focus on design elements that are greatly influenced by factors such as practicality, low maintenance and cost effectiveness.
Choosing the right balance of design elements is key to achieving a strong brand identity and space while ensuring that quality standards are maintained while spaces are practical and cost-effective. For example, with the right selection of local artwork a hotel can express its own unique identity as well as define significant personality and origin.”
To see more work from S2 Interiors click here
To see more work from Lightspace Design click here
To register to visit Downtown Design click here
More NEWS
