In today’s highly competitive hospitality industry, the look and feel of your hotel’s interior can make or break a guest’s experience. From boutique gems to large luxury chains, the importance of hotel interior design cannot be overstated. It’s more than just aesthetics – your hotel’s decor reflects its brand, creates atmosphere, and sets the tone for your guests’ entire stay.
But how do you know when it’s time for a change?
Over time, even the most meticulously designed spaces can start to feel tired or out of touch. Perhaps guest feedback has taken a dip, or your occupancy rates are falling despite your best efforts. Maybe you’ve noticed peeling wallpaper, worn carpets, or outdated furniture that no longer aligns with your hotel’s vision. These could be subtle, or not so subtle, signs that your hotel is in need of an interior overhaul.
An interior refresh could be just the boost your property needs, reinvigorating your brand and attracting new guests. In this post, we’ll explore the key signs that signal it’s time to revamp your hotel’s interior and how a well-executed redesign can transform both the guest experience and your bottom line.
Why is having an up to date interior important?
Before we share some of the signs that your hotel might need an overhaul, it’s worth discussing why an up to date interior is important.
First and foremost, an up to date interior equates to a hotel business that is innovative and always looking for ways to improve. In addition, when your hotel looks great, guests are more likely to share photos and reviews – boosting visibility of your hotel and subsequent bookings. Finally, an up to date interior is one which considers and integrates modern amenities and facilities, including those that boost the functionality of the hotel.
Signs that your hotel needs an interior overhaul
With all that in mind, here are some of the signs that your hotel might be ready for an interior facelift.
Outdated interiors
By far the clearest sign that it’s time for an interior overhaul is outdated interiors. This means colours and features that are no longer on-trend, for example colour combinations that feel like they were put together for a different decade, and features that lean into tacky rather than vintage.
Carpets are a major offender when it comes to hotels in particular, as they are often overlooked – despite the huge impact they have on the way an interior environment looks. Patterned carpets are often one of the first things we recommend removing and replacing when looking to upgrade a hotel reception or hallway.
Wear and tear
If elements of your hotel look overused and a little tired, this can demonstrate a lack of attention to detail – and this in turn becomes rather uninviting from an aesthetic point of view.
Some examples of worn details include tired looking furniture with scuffed edges, dated décor, and damaged fixtures – not to mention stained carpets and other signs of wear which indicate overuse and a potential lack of maintenance. Unfortunately, despite many of these being unavoidable with a popular hotel and high turnover of guests, they are important details which need to be addressed in order to keep a hotel looking fresh and inviting.
A drop in guest satisfaction
Most hotels rely on a combination of location and interior environment to appeal to guests – with facilities and external features second to the convenience and experience that guests can expect to enjoy during their stay.
Guest satisfaction is a make or break element when it comes to running a hotel, as increasing numbers of guests rely on reviews and testimonials when booking somewhere to stay. Future business relies on impressing present guests, so that they favour and recommend your hotel to other potential visitors.
Any elements that are highlighted in guest feedback as needing improvement should be taken seriously and addressed where possible – forming a starting point for your renovation work.
Brand inconsistency
As a hotel, your branding is what will ensure that you are marketing to and attracting the right calibre of guests – but it doesn’t end with their booking. Once guests arrive at the hotel, it’s important that very element of their experience aligns with the experience you sold to them – through décor, aesthetics, events, and more.
For example, if your branding speaks of a luxury romantic retreat, every aspect of your design needs to reflect that.
Problems with operational functionality
Another sign that your hotel is ready for a design overhaul and interior facelift is a lack of operational structure. Issues such as an inefficient layout, poor lighting, and bad hotel room design can all impact both service and the guest experience – making navigation difficult and details like room service slow.
To ensure a comfortable and enjoyable stay, guests need to have the right mix of private space and communal areas, with opportunities to relax and to engage with the local surroundings and culture.
Competition pressure
Finally, the hotel and hospitality sector is always going to have an element of competition at play – it’s what drives businesses to keep getting better. Competition should be used as a means to continue improving the design and experience that guests can enjoy in your hotel, to keep earning positive reviews and attracting more guests.
Remember that you can only rely on innovation for so long, before you need to start again, making updates to remain fresh and relevant.
Improving Your Hotel from a Design Perspective
At Carroll Design, we work across the hospitality industry – specialising in breathing new life into existing businesses and building new venues from the ground up. With a balanced approach to design and experience, we know what modern hotels need to thrive and to continue attracting guests long after opening weekend – with ideas that bridge your vision with what we know works.
For tailored advice, book a consultation with us today.