The Prospects of Hotel Construction in 2023

Hospitality Business Review | Monday, May 29, 2023

Hotel construction is changing to meet the demands of guests and owners. Construction and renovation projects demand eco-friendly products, water conservation, and wellness design.

FREMONT, CA: Hotels and ownership groups are looking for ways to increase profitability and attract new travelers. Guest experiences are increasingly valued for their authenticity and quality.

An environment that guests will want to return to requires a deep understanding of their behavior and motivations. Millennials and Gen Z travelers have been helping owners understand what guests value most.

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New construction and renovation trends include water conservation, eco-friendly products, and wellness design.

Here are some hospitality construction trends that hotels are incorporating.

Sustainability continues

Sustainable practices have carried over from 2022, including simpler living and trying to leave a smaller footprint at hotel properties.

Hotel facilities are becoming more eco-friendly by reusing water, installing energy-efficient systems, and following green building guidelines. Hotel owners are incorporating what younger generations value at home throughout their properties. The toilet paper in bathrooms today is recycled, the paper is reusable, and the towels are made from 100 percent organic cotton.

Green trends extend beyond toiletries and are affecting the materials used in construction. Bamboo flooring, reclaimed wood, porcelain, and PET (polyethylene terephthalate) are all sustainable building materials. Materials such as these can last a long time.

Hotel renovations are becoming more eco-friendly with sophisticated curbed or curbless complete shower solutions—especially when replacing old tubs with modern, walk-in showers.

Over 20 million plastic bottles have been recycled into pre-sloped, tile-ready shower pan systems. One hundred percent post-consumer plastic water bottles are used to make lightweight and shatterproof shower pans and panels.

Repurposing existing buildings is another growing sustainable practice. Property owners remodel factories and warehouses to preserve their history while giving them a fresh design that offers a unique experience. Reusing materials from existing buildings saves landfill space by constructing or displaying the rooms in the lobby.

Finish Matching

Matching hardware finishes throughout the bathroom is becoming increasingly popular. There is an emphasis on matching everything in the bathroom—the shower trim, the drains, the faucets, the curtain rods, and the lighting.

Plumbing products with various finish options can offer installers more design versatility when choosing plumbing products. For example, QuickDrain's expanded range of drain covers and finishes complements all major design trends, including mid-century modern, industrial, contemporary, and modern farmhouses.

Various colors include metallics, bold black finishes, and sleek silhouettes. Hotels stay simple with polished or satin chrome for compatibility, or choose matte black for a more sleek look.

Efficient product installation

Hospitality industry standards continue to include tub-to-shower conversions. Hotels are unable to get rid of old bathtubs quickly enough. Bathrooms in hotels are becoming larger, and shower footprints are increasing. It's safer and hygienic as well.

The conversion of these tubs requires a cost-effective, efficient, and customizable shower solution. On-site customization makes it easier for contractors to install tubs in one day instead of two or three.

Universal bathroom design is still a priority in the hospitality industry to ensure visitors with disabilities and the aging population has the best experience. Guests who require safe and accessible showers continue to find curbless showers in their rooms.

Bringing the outdoors inside

The design of hotels is becoming unique, which is helping many of them differentiate themselves. Guests desire an experiential stay, so any novelty factor a hotel can provide is a bonus.

Adding community surroundings to the property is one way to do this. The Hampton Inn, for instance, has added bars to its hotels, which are becoming neighborhood gathering places.

Increasingly, hotels are incorporating outdoor living into their layout and design, allowing guests to experience the outdoors in their rooms. A natural wood color, natural lighting, and greenery are used to achieve this.

Prioritizing Wellness and Self-Care

Hotel guests increasingly rely on certain features and design styles to ensure comfort and reduce stress. Health-conscious travelers are driving this trend.

Hotels offer guests more wellness amenities, whether for mind or body, to keep them healthy on their travels. For example, Equinox, a luxury fitness club in significant cities, opened its hotel chain in New York. Hotel rooms include weight rooms, treadmills, and bikes.

For example, keeping up with the fitness trend, Hilton rolled out an in-room wellness program called "Five Feet to Fitness." Rooms feature exercise bikes, medicine balls, lightweight dumbbells, bands, TRX ropes, yoga blocks, and more.

These hotels are redeveloping their fitness centers and offering a new fitness concept to their guests to modernize the hospitality fitness experience and make it more inclusive. Sticking to the same routine as at home could increase customer satisfaction by giving them freedom of choice.

In the coming years, the hotel industry will grow as more and more people plan to travel. The steady economy lets more people enjoy their PTO, time off, and travel. Hotel stays cost tourists around $830 billion worldwide each year. The construction of new hotels is necessary to satisfy such a demand. 

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