How are the hotels going to stay in business when people are not traveling? PriceWaterhouseCoopers UK recently released a report on the declining hospitality and leisure industry offering advice on how to survive the massive downturn. According to the report, the hotels that will survive this economy are budget hotels that can create a “well defined and differentiated brand and proposition” as well as provide the customer with the most “value for money.”
Brand positioning and differentiation is the greatest opportunity for large budget hotel chains right now. Small and luxury hotel brands are going to give way to industry shrinkage leaving market share for less expensive hotels with the best reputations. Investing in branding now and snagging available market share now will position these hotels to be top of mind when the economy rebounds.
One way for budget hotels to invest in branding, or re-branding, while managing base costs is modular interior design. Using modular design elements is a great low cost way to refresh the interiors of budget hotels that will now attract former luxury and business travelers. Modular design is attractive and easy to assemble so a refresh doesn’t have to disrupt the daily flow of business. Additionally modular fixtures can be reconfigured as necessary to spruce up the look of the hotel again and again.
According to the New York Times, “new properties, planned during the early stages of the boom years, continue to open.” The show must go on. However, hoteliers must very carefully manage the costs of these expansions and new constructions so that rates will remain competitive and new customers will be excited about staying. Modular is going to be the way to do it.
Modular Bathroom Design
