HI Connect: The Show!!

It’s been quite the experience! A few bumps in the road, a few last minute build changes—but overall, we’re still happy with how everything turned out in the vignette. And talk about an amazing venue and great networking opportunities!

THE VIGNETTE!

Floor Plan on Request.

THE VENUE!

FROM THE SHOW!

BEFORE THE SHOW OPENED!

MORE TO COME!!!

HI Connect - Family Suite: Unique Products and Guestroom Directories

In our early research for family hospitality suites we learned about some amazing, innovative products and considered some creative activities that could be promoted in hotel guestroom directories to encourage guest interaction and memorable experiences.

PRODUCTS! PRODUCTS! PRODUCTS!

For those that have been able to walk through our vignette, here's a list of the vendors we utilized in our space for your reference (In no particular order. A big thank you to all of our vendors who have worked so hard throughout this process!):

SVT Woodworking: various casegoods throughout space, including the queen room headboard and closet/nightstand units, credenza and dining table.

Interface: our fun and unique carpet tile!

American Leather: chaise sofa sleeper with pull out queen sized bed.

D'Style: living room end tables and accessories.

Trinity Lighting: various lighting needs throughout space, including bunk room reading lights, queen bedroom headboard sconces, living room floor lamps, and ceiling surface mounts.

Hafele: fulfilled all of our hardware needs +additional, unique lighting throughout the space. Cabinet hardware, cabinet strip lighting, cabinet puck lights, sensor lights--these guys were a tremendous help!

Cosentino: the beautiful quartz counters and kitchenette sink.

Richloom Fabrics: all of our fabric needs for bedding, pillows and draperies.

MDC: the great wallcovering throughout, including that amazing accent wall, and the Tabrasa Idea markerboard paint.

Global Allies: the rolling desk chair

Lodging Kit: created an amazing kitchenette package that would allow guests every convenience of home.

Samsung: why, TV's, of course!

Ren-Wil: the unique and beautiful artwork throughout.

Simmons: mattresses for both the queen guest and kids' bunk room.

Supa Doors: the amazing, space saving, pocket and slider doors.

V-Tech: phone system.

TeleAdapt: the fantastic power/media hubs that integrate beautifully into casegoods with a sleek, compact design that allows guests to connect their electronic devices, such as iPod, laptop, game console, digital camera, HD camcorder or portable DVD player to the in-room TV, and enjoy extra power and an Internet access point all at the same time.

Safemark Systems: in room safe.

Delta Faucets: kitchenette faucet.

As well, here are some unique products we didn't get a chance to showcase!

TODDLER BACKPACKS

One suggestion we received from the surveys we sent out to hoteliers/friends/family was to have backpacks available for purchase in the gift shop for kids to haul their gear around while hitting the town with parents. Hotels could then brand the bags with the hotel information as part of their advertising via embroidery or screenprinting. And who could resist cute bags like these? The Skip Hop Zoo Pack Toddler backpacks are BPA, Phthalate and PVC free, with an adjustable side pocket for a sippy cup, easy to clean lining, padded straps, and contain an interior write on nametag. The Eco Snooper character bag has a peel off primate for playtime and comes with a story promoting friendship and environmental awareness.

TOYGAROO for your “Toy and Game Box”

It's like Netflix, but for toys! This fast growing company was first funded by Sharktank. Packages of sanitized toys are delivered directly to you that you’ve preselected from their website. For a variety of age groups and many different package options. Plans range from $24.99/mo to $52.99/mo depending on the number of toys checked out and how many at a time. Due to how quickly kids can outgrow toys, these packages have been shown to save parents up to $1825/year. In a hotel setting, this allows hotels to create a program that would increase profits by allowing parents to pack less.

24" Bosch Axxis Washer Dryer Series

The Axxis series is energy and water efficient. It can be stacked and put in any room due to it's compact size. The most exciting part? The dryer is ventless and requires no ducting. Water is condensed and collects in the compartment shown below. Just empty after each use.

Healthy Vending Options through In Room Plus and Unique Local Flair

There are many companies that offer healthier alternatives and the savvy traveler today is more conscious. Our research showed us that guests are looking for healthier alternatives, as well as, a unique local flair to the treats offered in the guestroom minibars. Minibars can be a troublesome aspect. Usually the pricing that has to be set on items (for a profitable hotel program) creates double/triple markups on everyday snacks. However, guests have mentioned that they would be more willing to pay that higher price tag on items that are harder to come by. Guests can go to the gift shop to find a bag of Doritos or a can of Coke, so why not consider partnering up with some locals to “give a taste” of the area? Small batch/crafted sodas, organic produce from local farms/orchards, handcrafted candies, 3.5oz containers of local ice cream/frozen yogurt, roasted nut varieties from the local farmer’s market–items that reflect the uniqueness of your city that locals would tell visitors, “You have to try ____!”

For those that would prefer someone else creating the packages, why not consider a company like In-Room Plus?

In addition to over 400 products, In-Room Plus can also offer you a wide variety of services that cannot be matched by our competitors. We are the only company completely devoted to minibars. With over 20 years experience, we are familiar with your unique concerns and requirements, and can help you to select best selling snacks and amenities that will make your program profitable. After all, your success is directly related to ours!

In-Room Plus has the ability to develop a unique and customized product line for your minibars; to promote the look of your hotels and to increase your minibar sales.

We provide products that will have your guests feeling good about staying in for the night or having a night cap whether it’s with a tin of Chocolate Covered Almonds or a Passion Kit. If you have an idea for a new kit or products that you don’t find listed please call us! We cannot possibly list everything and if we don’t carry it, we’ll do the work to source it for you. The logo containers we list are also our standard offerings. We encourage you to add labeling & branding to all jars, tins and boxes. We’ll also print boxes to your specs or create something that we think fits your image! If your guests expect things to be straight forward, we’ll call an Intimacy Kit just that… If you want to call it something else let’s get brainstorming.

This company doesn’t have any charge on set up fees, free freight (w/minimum purchase), is a focused hospitality supplier, can manufacture product mixes to your specs (your own trail mix??) and create custom packaging, and has two warehouses for fulfillment. Featured in USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, and Fortune 500 Magazine as “minibar experts”, this company continues to expand, both nationally and internationally.

HOTEL DIRECTORY ACTIVITIES!

Why not offer some family friendly activities at your hotel that could be promoted in the guestroom directories? Here are some fun ideas we gathered from our surveys and research:

• Kids’ Lunch with the Chef!
  Bring the kids to learn how to make pizza with the chef.
• Story Time!
  Go have a date night on the town, or take a break during the day, while our on site daycare hosts a children’s author book reading.
• Voluntourism
  Join up with a local charity or zoo for activities to learn and have fun while giving back.
• Doggy Lounge/Spa
  “Treat your pet as you want to be treated!”
  

HI Connect - Family Suite: Design Concept, Trends, About Event

We are so excited for HI Connect Design 2012!!

March 21 - 23, 2012

We were selected to design the Family Suite at HI Connect Design at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee.

Stay tuned for pictures and details from the show coming up soon!

If unfamiliar with HI Connect and Hotel Interactive, read more about the event at the end of this post.

Prior to design, Judi did quite a bit of research on upcoming trends in Hospitality Design. Here is what we are anticipating for the year ahead:

Hospitality Trends of 2012 by Judi Kieffer, ASID- Kieffer Design Group

• Personalized Service: Hotels are expanding custom service options so guests receive personalized attention with issues such as dietary requirements, culturally appropriate in-room amenities and personal advice for offbeat dining or other leisure-time activities.
• More DIY Opportunities: To help guests create lasting memories, hotels could offer do-it-yourself experiences, such as cooking classes, gardening opportunities and massage instruction.
• Volunteerism: More guests and families are looking for some way to get involved in volunteering in the local community and learning something while doing it- Hotels can offer more creative ways to involve guests and offer fun activities.
• Smartphone apps: Hotels are taking advantage of the proliferation of smartphones by offering downloadable custom apps to order room service, drinks, movies or a local map.
• The modern travelers have adopted a common trait – they want what they want, when they want it. Hoteliers can find more appropriate ways to be marketable in addressing these requests, making the guest feel ultra special and it shouldn’t be found only in the 5 star hotels.
• Amenities that provided added benefits to the guest experience in the past few years are now mandatory. (consider what the current travelers are using in their daily lives- snacks, beverages, items that are used daily and forgotten that can be provided in the guest room without having to call and wait for housekeeping to deliver- it’s a potential money making proposition.)
• The hustle and bustle of the modern life has seen travelers looking for hotel experiences that play on the idea of “Escapism. “ Create a fun experience in the hotel for all ages and types of guests. It might mean spa enhancements, or Family Friendly Suite environment, outdoor activities set up with community businesses, etc.
• Hospitality experts are predicting that green practices and sustainable elements represent the future of hospitality design.
• Today’s trend in hospitality reveals that a more relaxed use of space is the current big thing. Openness is really the trend. People want to see what is happening around them, at the same time choose when to be part of the action.
• More Home-Like designed environments tops the list of trends. Entertainment has also taken a step forward by offering technology and comforts one would find at home.
• Colors: the magic is in the combination and not just the individual colors.
• Molten Orange and taupy gray are our hot picks- with its influence from the earths Red-rock core is becoming a hot new color- its more earthy than the earlier bright orange.
• Many new combinations of color groups that reflect more of earths’ natural elements like the blues of oceans and rivers, and the greens of moss, seaweed, all reflecting the increased interest and embrace of sustainability.
• Taupes, greys and browns balance off well with these new combinations.

• General Guestroom trends:
• Platform beds – (no bedskirts - they never look very well and can be high maintenance.)
• Multi-use furniture and better use of space
• Home like furnishings that are still durable
• In-room Amenities – items that are really needed and desired
• In room controls of the environment like window coverings, vacancy controls no do not disturb signs, etc
• More lighting options so everyone can see! For every task and age of traveler.
• Wood flooring with area rugs or carpet tiles for ease of maintenance, comfort, flexibility.

A big thank you to Laura Foreman, Scott Guthormsen, Lori Brock, Sarah Brock, Jessica Roy, Stacey Roy, Johnna Johnson, and Sheli Gartman for their insights on what they would like to see in a family suite. We have incorporated many of these ideas into our suite and appreciate their thoughts on often forgotten special considerations and amenities.

After doing our research on the trends and gathering input from experienced travelers, we came up with a Family Suite Vignette Design Plan:

Traveling can pose challenges for both hoteliers and guests. Often times a Family Suite has been limited in amenities and special considerations. Sensible alternatives are required to enhance the travelers’ experience and expectations in the immediate and future market. From our extensive survey of various hotels owners, parents, teens and business travelers, we have incorporated smart design solutions that bring answers to create The Ultimate Family/Hospitality Suite, increasing a property’s ROI and increased guest approval ratings!

Our Vignette showcases 2 private sleeping quarters adjacent to an open living/ kitchenette area for family and entertaining, utilizing safe, quality, soft close pocket door and cabinet systems. Toys are not spread everywhere, parents don’t need to mute the TV while kids sleep, teens hang out in their ‘personalized’ space. The 400 sf. room offers high-tech amenities, multi-task lighting, materials that are low maintenance, durable, cleanable and ‘green-conscious--it’s efficient, multi-functional, and fun!

The living-space offers a sofa/chaise/sleeper, movable compact end tables, 4 storage ottomans are also chairs, and a kitchen table used for meals, games and laundry. The efficient, fully stocked kitchen offers all amenities for cooking, fridge/freezer for ‘Jacks ice-cream fettish, MW, storable cooktop, a family-friendly ‘Vending Drawer’ with healthy snacks, ear buds (because kids always loose them), hand wipes, diapers (because parents always run out), AND in-room laundry facilities. All things families need and hoteliers can fulfill while increasing profits.

The Queen bedroom offers a 3-in-one desk/bench/rolling-table, locking storage drawers for timeshares, or blankets/pillow programs. Two nightstands offer drawers with overhead illuminated closets that would otherwise be wasted space. The Bunkroom has open cubbies for kid stuff, clothes, bag storage, two individual closets (with writable surface), collapsible playpen, changing pad, and toy bin, and separate TV.

All encouraging guests to linger longer and wanting to return sooner!

As well, be sure to check out Judi’s interview with HI Connect’s editor in chief, Glenn Haussman, where she discusses further inspiration behind the design.

About HI Connect and Hotel Interactive:

Forget what you know about hospitality trade shows... this is the hospitality experience reimagined, a unique opportunity to interact with environments and products while connecting with the contacts you need!

Enter into an extraordinary world of different vignettes... full scale hotel settings displaying a designer’s vision and the latest products and services interacting with each other, to be experienced firsthand. It’s immersive, imaginative, innovative... and not to be missed.
HI Connect Design has no aisles or booths, just 150,000 square feet of event floor transformed into in a clever ‘neighborhood’ layout of over 50 live constructed hotel spaces. Explore the entire show floor to meet world-renowned designers and learn about the products they’ve incorporated into each vignette.

HI Connect Design is brought to you by Hotel Interactive, the hotel industry’s most insightful provider of original and edgy editorial content. More than just the news; the Hotel Interactive Network is a catalyst, helping lodging pros leverage knowledge to their advantage. Educational and entertaining, Hotel Interactive offers an analytical look at everything hoteliers need to know. With an unequaled audience, the Network has and impressive reach and readership in the hotel community. The Hotel Interactive Network plugs you into more than 90,000 Daily eNews newsletter subscribers.

Hotel Interactive produces SIX world reknowned BITAC™ events each year; BITAC™ Luxury, BITAC™ Purchasing & Design East, BITAC™ Purchasing & Design West, BITAC™ Owners, BITAC™ F&B, and BITAC™ Tech & Operations. BITAC events provide an unparalleled business building forum for prominent executives in the hospitality industry, fostering long-term relationships. These highly acclaimed events have earned a reputation for bringing together the top echelon of purchasing decision makers for an intimate and productive experience.

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