Between the Sheets - October Special Edition

It's a great Story

Question Time with Tim Walton

Half rough, half luxury

Between the Sheets with Tim Mutton, Blacksheep

 

It's a great Story

The Story Hotel is nominated for two awards at this years European Hotel Design Awards – Best Restaurant design and Best Conversion of an Existing Building to Hotel Use.

Stockholm’s Story Hotel opened in March 2009 inspired by shabby New York bars and the Bohemian hotels of Paris. Designed by Swedish architectural firm, Koncept, the hotel has kept its historical integrity and kept many of its original features during its comprehensive refurbishment as well as expertly mingling bespoke design pieces throughout.

The hotel exudes a mix of comfort and cutting edge, the stunning period details of the building have been incorporated in all of the 82 rooms to keep the atmosphere alive. Old wooden doors from the building were used as headboards, original wallpaper patterns were uncovered and displayed and the beautiful wood floors were restored and preserved.

The restaurant has received rave reviews since its opening, serving eclectic and modern main courses in a relaxed setting. Located in the old garage entrance where the concrete walls with old and new graffiti and ceilings with installations contrast the refined design elements such as a brass bar, wooden cupboards, super modern furniture and velvet classics. The decoration is a mixture of modern artwork from galleries and classic kitsch from flea markets. A little open air bar in the backyard is built into a crush of New York graffiti and Swedish garden romantic.

The Story Hotel has created an urban sanctuary for the city and well deserves its two nominations for this years European Hotel Design Awards.

www.storyhotels.com

Question Time with Tim Walton

Tim Walton will be speaking on the Development Day of the The Sleep Event Conference 2009, click here to book your place now!

Tim Walton is the Vice President of International Hotel Development for Marriott International and gives us an insight into the their development plans.

What is your favourite aspect of working at Marriott?
It's clear that working for the company with the broadest range of hotel brands in the industry, robust financial health and a long-term commitment to the development function is extremely important and motivating to a hotel development Executive such as me.  However, what's really special about Marriott (and I speak as someone who has worked for other hotel operators), is the company's strong belief in caring for its staff.  While many organisations pay lip service to looking after their employees, care for employees has been a cornerstone of Marriott's culture since the company was conceived in the 1920s.  As a consequence of this (and certain other of the company's firmly held values), it's a terrific organisation to work for and one that engenders an amazing sense of loyalty amongst its staff.

Have you had many obstacles to overcome during the difficult past year, has Marriott’s pipeline been affected?
There's no doubt that 2009 has been a difficult year.  From a trading perspective, conditions haven't been easy anywhere and in respect of development, the lack of available finance for new build hotels has been well publicised.  However, Marriott has responded quickly to the downturn and has focussed this year on controlling costs throughout the organisation.  From a development perspective, the pipeline has slowed but the company still expects to open over 33,000 rooms in 2009.  This is partly as a result of the fact that while new projects are in relatively short supply, the developers and lenders on the 'real' projects still out there are refocusing on those hotel companies that can deliver.  Marriott's brands, systems, global sales, marketing and distribution systems have a proven record in helping hotels to increase RevPAR spreads over competitive properties during periods of difficult trading and this is clearly of significant benefit to potential developers and lenders at this time.

What are Marriott’s development plans for 2010?
Since the 1980s, Marriott's core business model has been to manage and to franchise hotels, rather than to own them, and the focus on the development of new managed and franchised hotels will remain unchanged in 2010.  Marriott takes its development function and pipeline extremely seriously as it remains critical to developing long term shareholder value.  As testament to this fact, as of the end of the third quarter in 2009, the company's worldwide pipeline of hotels under construction, awaiting conversion or approved for development totalled approximately 105,000 rooms.  The pace and profile of new opportunities might change (we anticipate, for example, more conversion opportunities in line with increasing levels of distress in the global hotel market), but the guiding principles that have served the company well for many years will not.

How do you see the industry changing over the next decade?
Whilst it’s not clear when the current market will improve, at some point it certainly will.  At that point, trading margins will be strong due to the cost cutting and efficiency building that has occurred over the recent term.  For those hotel companies that are thinly capitalized or that are encumbered by weak brands and sub-standard product, there may be no future and, consequently, I would anticipate for further consolidation to occur within the business over the mid term.  For hotel companies such as Marriott with great brands, a strong sense of purpose and a robust financial structure, the long term potential remains very positive.

Half rough, half luxury

Rough Luxe is nominated for the Innovation Award at the European Hotel Design Awards and Rabih Hage will be speaking at the Sleep Event Conference, click here to book your place now!

Rough Luxe, opened last year by interior designer Rabih Hage, aimed to offer some interior design originality to the London hotel scene. A little bit of rough in a luxurious London or a little bit of luxury in a rough part of London – the choice is yours, but the basis of Rough Luxe is of a home from home.

It is a new way of looking at luxury as part of time and not just as an object of consumption. Luxury should be an enriching personal experience and not simply the ownership or utilisation of an expensive object.

Rough Luxe is situated in a former Grade II listed home and was transformed by acclaimed international designer, Rabih Hage. The hotel is connected to The Mews, a contemporary art gallery in the courtyard behind the hotel, where there is also a coffee bar and tea room serving delicious sandwiches, pastries and the finest coffee in London.

Within the hotel, torn wallpaper and unplastered walls are contrasted with luxurious soft furnishings and burnished copper bathtubs. A mix of old and new, furniture and art, cheap materials are combined with beautiful fabrics and colours.

Guests at the hotel might share a bathroom or have a small room or a small shower cubicle, but the luxury is in the choice of the wine, the bed linen, the art on the walls and the people looking after you.

A brand new concept in hotels, be sure to leave your preconception of standard luxury hotels at the door…

www.roughluxe.com

Between the Sheets with Tim Mutton, Blacksheep

Blacksheep have designed the bar in the Sleepotel at The Sleep Event Exhibition, click here to register to attend.

Where in the world would you like to build your dream hotel?

I’ve just returned from a trip to Japan, which was very inspirational. I’d love to design a 50-bedroom concept hotel there to rival the likes of the Prada store in Memi-Hoshino, Toyko.

If budget wasn’t an option, what theme would your dream hotel take on?

It would be located on the Malaysian east coast archipelago.  We would create a central location, from where you are transported to your own island.  The accommodation would be an energy-neutral zero Malay house, catering for the contemporary traveller’s luxury wishes, serviced by individual butlers on eco-chic jet-skis.  

Which is the most challenging design of your career so far?

They are all very challenging!  In fact, I would go as far as to say that it’s important for us as a studio to seek to take on work that is difficult and unpredictable.

Which hotel design do you most admire?

Hotel Cipriani – Venice.

Which hotel would you most like to level to the ground?

The Tower next to Tower Bridge. I used to pass this edifice every day and could never understand how it got built.

If you could live in any hotel in the world, which one would it be?

It would have to be two! Hotel Costes in Paris on weekdays and the Taj Lake Palace in Rajasthan at weekends!

Which aspects of your job do you most enjoy?

Working with my wife and the whole Blacksheep team.  We enjoy our clients’ work and the energy this creates is infectious. Building a business and being a creative person is hard work and a constant roller coaster of emotions, but there are few professions where you can take such satisfaction from the end result. We are also incredibly fortunate to work in a culture of hospitality, which ensures we get to spend a lot of time eating, drinking and trying out beds!

What’s the first thing you would do if you were Leader of the World?

I’d insist that everyone on the planet plants a tree to make up for at least 20 years of thoughtless carbon emissions and horrendous waste.

Which living person do you most admire?

Oddly most of the ones that come to mind are dead!!  As I can’t have Johnny Cash or Gandhi, I’ll have to settle for Sergey Brin and Larry Page, the founders of Google.

If you weren’t doing your current job, which other profession would you have liked to have done?

When I was at school and asked what I wanted to be by the school careers advisor I could only come up with flippant answers, which were met with a stern sneer of disapproval. I realised that my next answer had better be serious or I was getting detention and so I said architect – and for some reason I still got a detention!! So I’m pretty happy with what I’m doing – I haven’t veered too far away from my school day aspirations.

Where do you hope to be in 10 years?

Bigger, better and still laughing!

 

Between the Sheets - October

Interview with Patrick Fitzgibbon

Expanding an empire

The Boundary, Shoreditch

Between the Sheets with David Morris, Proof Consultancy

 

Question time with Patrick Fitzgibbon 

Hear Patrick Fitzgibbon speak at The Sleep Event Conference 2009, click here to book your place now

Patrick is responsible for expanding the Hilton Portfolio of Hotel Brands throughout Europe and Africa, heading up a team of over 25 hotel and property development experts.

What is your favourite aspect of working at Hilton that has made you stay for over 10 years?
No two days have been the same or even close. I have been fortunate to travel & work in many parts of the world with industry leading brands like Hilton, Hilton Garden Inn & Conrad to name a few.  The more you see the more you realise how much we can all learn from different cultures and how much amazing opportunity there is.

The hospitality business is evolving at an amazing pace, I believe this pace will continue to grow….more people around the world will travel more often.

Have you had many obstacles to overcome during the difficult past year, has Hilton’s pipeline been affected?
Lending has been tough for a couple of years but with that has come opportunity. We have been able to convert some fantastic existing hotels into our system. This has more than compensated for those hotels where the start of construction has been delayed. 
One of the real upsides today is that land and construction prices are now at levels that make the development of mid-market and budget hotels in many markets truly compelling.

What are Hilton’s development plans for 2010?
We remain very focused on the growth of all our brands across the whole of Europe but particularly in the UK, Russia, Italy, Turkey, Spain, Germany & Poland where we have experienced development teams in place and strong relationships with local partners.
Doubletree by Hilton, Hilton Garden Inn & Hampton by Hilton have a real presence in Europe today and this has been established in a tough market – we are pretty excited about the pace of growth these brands will achieve when the market hots up!
We anticipate the opportunity to convert individual and groups of hotels into our system will be even stronger during 2010.

How do you see the industry changing over the next decade?
Customers will have more choice than ever……consistent delivery to guests will become even more critical – powerful brands that get this right will prevail. In Europe there will be consolidation across the hotel sector. Travel will continue to grow exponentially - there will be plenty of opportunity for my kids if they follow me into hospitality…

 

Expanding an empire

Marcel Wanders is a keynote speaker at The Sleep Event Conference, click here to book your place now

Marcel Wanders is an inspiration to be reckoned with, a larger-than-life designer of recent times. His work has been celebrated on an international scale and his ‘tongue in cheek’ designs make his work instantly recognisable.

His Knotted Chair design, created for Droog in 1996, is now an iconic piece of furniture and since then he has expanded his empire to create high end design label Moooi and more recently the Villa Moda flagship store in Bahrain and the new Mondrian South Beach Hotel in Miami.

Marcel comments, “Unlike product design, interiors are about theater, leading you from one idea to the next and next. You need to breathe life into a space, which is a fascinating process for me”

The Mondrian opened in 2007, was conceived by Wanders as a ‘Sleeping Beauty’s castle.’ Guests step into a magical world, entering a leisurely oasis of gardens that lead to the spectacular interior. The gardens are designed as indoor/outdoor living spaces, with seating areas, an outdoor bar, a hanging chandelier above the glamourous pool, and cabanas for all ages, including  tented play spaces with a sandbox and bouncy toys in the children’s area.

The rooms will resemble theatrical boxes which overlook the gardens below, the apartments are loft-like spaces, flooded with light and flowing seamlessly between the various living spaces using a sophisticated colour palette.

The hotel is furnished with original pieces from his design studio, where he produces everything from lighting to floors, chairs, tables and sofas. Marcel says, “Unlike product design, interiors are about theatre, leading you from one idea to the next and the next. You need to breathe life into a space, which is fascinating process for me.”

Marcel Wanders will be speaking at The Sleep Event Conference on Wednesday 4th November. Click here to see the full programme and to book a place at the conference.

 

The Boundary, Shoreditch

Boundary is shortlisted for the Best Conversion of an Existing Building to Hotel Use award at the European Hotel Design Awards 2009 which take place on 2nd November at the Hilton, Park Lane. Click here to book a table at the event

Boundary, located in Shoreditch within a disused Victorian warehouse, is a joint venture between Terence Conran, Vicki Conran and their business partner, Peter Prescott.

The warehouse, which had been lying vacant for several years, has kept many of its original features during its conversion to hotel, food store and 3 restaurants and bars, including one on the rooftop. The distinctive woodwork, the large sash windows and the industrial design light-wells have been retained, just the layout of the original structure has been altered to incorporate 2 new floors and a rooftop garden.

The hotel incorporates twelve spacious guest bedrooms, each influenced and inspired by legendary designers or design movements that the owners admire such as Bauhaus, Charles and Ray Eames, Le Corbusier and Charlotte Perriand, Josef Hoffman and a number of Young British Designers.

The four duplex suites have been designed by Sir Terence Conran, Lady Conran, Priscilla Carluccio and Polly Dickens, the Creative Director of the Conran Shop. A further double width suite has been designed by Sir David Tang. All of the suites have outside terraces.

With a different design for each room and individually styled bathrooms, the Boundary is a unique concept in the area, where the juxtaposition of old and new is a continuing East London feature.

Terence Conran comments, “Boundary is my first new private venture since the opening of Bibendum in 1987. From finding the site to finalising all of the design details, including selecting the art and designing the garden, it is something that gives me enormous pleasure.”

“One of the most interesting elements has been the developing the individual concepts for each of the seventeen bedrooms. This has allowed me to create spaces inspired by designers and design movements that I most admire.”

 

 

Between the Sheets with David Morris, Proof Consultancy

Hear David Morris from Proof Consultancy at the Sleep Event Conference, click here to book your place now

Where in the world would you like to build your dream hotel?
Ten years ago I would have said the Maldives but I now understand how badly it struggles in the face of diminished resources and terrible waste pollution and dumping, so I’d plum for a hillside location on the West side of Nevis with a view of the southern tip of St. Kitts. Beach cricket, flying fish sandwiches, and conche ceviche.

If budget wasn’t an option, what theme would your dream hotel take on?
A Richard Neutra & Albert Frey inspired Palm Springs-eque ultra modern villa hotel; clinging to a rocky hillside with stunning views across the sea. It would be blessed with an infinity pool, outdoor cinema, sea-view outdoor showers in each bedroom, and a poolside cocktail bar of the highest order. Ben Reed behind the bar, Peter Gordon in the kitchen.

Which is the most challenging design of your career so far?
Usually the projects with the lowest budgets challenge most as you set high targets for yourself and you work twice as hard to get a result (and usually for a lower fee).

Which hotel design (apart from your own) do you most admire?
The Parco Principi in Sorrento by Gio Ponti. It opened in 1962 and played host to the Mediterranean playboys in their AquaRivas; stars like Sellers and Ekland stayed. Ponti designed everything from the building, to the diving board, and even the room telephones. It’s beautifully preserved and still a real treat today.

Which hotel would you most like to level to the ground?
I’ll be careful here but I would say most lazy 4star chain hotels that have been left unimproved for decades; design apathy by large brands is the worst thing. 

If you could live in any hotel in the world, which one would it be?
I’ve always loved the Delano in Miami – I stayed there several nights in the mid 90’s not long after it re-opened with the Schrager/Starck’s facelift and it was other-worldly. I ended up in Dennis Hoppers poolside cigar party. I also have a soft spot for room 24 at Cowley Manor – enough said.

Which aspects of your job do you most enjoy?
1. The big idea – that moment when you give birth to that audacious idea and realise it just might work.
2. Working with and mentoring talented young designers and seeing their confidence grow.

What’s the first thing you would do if you were Leader of the World?
End religion – what humane belief system is worth going to war over? Then I’d tell the Pope to publicly endorse the use of condoms.

Which living person do you most admire?
David Attenborough for his commitment and bringing so much joy to us all over the decades; Tom Yorke and David Sylvian for their uncompromisingly brilliant music; and Hunter S Thompson for having the guts to ‘call time’ on his vivid life.

If you weren’t doing your current job, which other profession would you have liked to have done?
A rock music producer or teaching English Literature at Cambridge.

Where do you hope to be in 10 years?
Alive, healthy, and playing football with my son - anything else will be a bonus.

 

 

Between The Sheets - September

 

Question time with Peter Joehnk

The Future's Bright

New Hotels - The Aloft Hotel, Abu Dhabi

Between The Sheets with Christoph Hoffman

 

Question time with Peter Joehnk

Catch Peter at The Sleepotel at The Sleep Event Exhibition 2009, click here to register for your free place now.

It is 25 years since Peter Joehnk founded his company, JOI-Design, in his native Hamburg. Since then, the company has flourished, working with a number of the major brands, including Radisson, Mercure, Le Meridien, Hilton and Ritz-Carlton, as well as with an array of delightfully diverse independent hotels, from rural retreats in the Black Forest to the extremely stately Grand Hotel Vienna. This year, Peter with his wife and business partner, Corinna Kretschmar- Joehnk, will be bringing their “Organic Trace” concept bedroom to Sleep and will also be launching their new book “Creating Hospitality Design”.

Peter, after a quarter of a century in hotel interior design, what is the continuing fascination for you?

Quite simply – designing hotels is never boring! With almost 200 hotel projects under our belt, I can honestly say that we still have not had the opportunity to copy an existing set of plans and use them for another hotel. Something of a pity financially, but I couldn’t still be fascinated by the work if each project wasn’t different. You see trends come and go and you see people come and go, but when you have to design a guestroom, it always feels like the first time.

How would you describe your company’s design philosophy?

To our mind, design is a hotel’s primary marketing tool. We, as designers, take on the role of brand maker, crafting an identity that makes each brand stand out. This does not mean that, say, a Le Meridien hotel or even a Park Inn, is the same in its design detail the world over, but it does mean that certain values and standards are consistent – appropriate to the particular guest profile and the price point. We believe that the majority of guests today want a customised experience of their hotel interior and that hotels should reflect the trends that are shaping our society. Diversity defines the industry.  

Tell us about JOI-Design itself. Does it reflect the design philosophy?

We are now nearly 40 people but the family culture remains very important to us. We work hard and we also take time to do quite a lot of social things together. Personally, I like to cook, so every Friday lunchtime, if I am not travelling, I cook lunch for the company in the office. We moved to our new offices about two years ago. We are very lucky to be based in Hamburg. On the one hand, there are numerous, very lovely lakes and canals, so it’s a relatively relaxing city; on the other, there’s also a flourishing business centre. Our choice for a new office came down to a shiny new space in the centre or a simpler office directly overlooking one of the canals with lots of natural light and fresh air that is the essence of Hamburg. I think it’s a reflection of JOI-Design’s culture, as well as of our design philosophy, that we chose the latter.

What was the inspiration for Organic Trace?

It’s about the blurring of the lines between work and leisure that is influencing what people want out of their hotels. Today’s business nomads expect to fulfil both their personal and professional needs; equally, leisure travellers often need to remain “plugged in” to their work. Organic Trace seeks to address the yin and yang balance of both types of guest, with an emphasis on healthy and sustainable lifestyles. We conceived Organic Trace as a “wellness island”, integrating a bed, desk and soaking tub into one organically shaped unit. 

And what about the next decade of hotel design?

As our lives become faster, it follows that it is more important to arrive at our destination, quickly. In my opinion, this will translate into a demand for intense and authentic hotel experiences. Intended for short-term usage, hotels will become inspiring temporary homes - places that offer a total contrast from the homogenous global world. Already, hotels are seeking to expand their repertoire of experiences into the arts, music and fashion, and we will see this spectrum grow, requiring new thinking from hotel interior designers and offering exciting new opportunities.

 

The Future's Bright

Hear Chris Sanderson, Strategy & Insight Director of The Future Laboratory at The Sleep Event Conference, click here to book your place now.

Authenticity, individuality and experience are the key attitudes that will shape the hospitality and leisure industry over the coming decade, according to The Future Laboratory’s new Leisure and Hospitality Futures Report.

While contemporary interior design could sell a hotel room a decade ago, tomorrow’s hotels must go the extra mile. Customers will demand value, product confidence, and a feeling of humanity and passion in every experience. It’s time now for strong concepts that speak for themselves, their guests and their local areas.

It is up to the industry to rebuild trust and confidence by appealing to a more private and discerning market. Trusted brands with solid delivery records will prevail. But style and identity do not have to be compromised in the quest for value, and the principle holds for the budget sector as well, where demand for individuality and niche products continues to rise.

Personal attention and service will help businesses generate integrity and soul. To succeed in an era where concepts such as stylish self-catering, holistic hotels and experience holidays enjoy ever greater popularity, the industry must develop a keener sense of who their customers are and what they want. We may once have targeted the luxury consumer, but it is now about targeting the luxury moment within a much broader base of consumers.

Packed with insights from key thinkers, decision makers and influencers in the industry, The Future Laboratory’s Leisure and Hospitality Futures Report is an unmissable guide to the key trends and influences set to affect 21st-century travel. Go to http://thefuturelaboratory.com/download/09_06_03_LeisureFuturesOrderForm.pdf  for more information.

 

 

New Hotels - The Aloft Hotel, Abu Dhabi

The new Aloft Hotel is the first hotel to open at ADNEC, Abu Dhabi’s exhibition centre. Operated by Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, the Aloft will provide the burgeoning UAE capital with 408 additional hotel rooms, making it the second largest hotel in Abu Dhabi in terms of capacity, after the Beach Rotana hotel.

The Aloft brand is shaking up the lodging industry with urban-influenced design, accessible technology, style and a social atmosphere. Stephan Vanden Auweele, Aloft Hotel General Manager has said that ‘It has re-invented the industry by ignoring certain aspects of hotels which have become clichéd and old fashioned in the minds of our target audience. For example, free wireless internet is very important to our customers, but room service and silver service tea lobbies are not. We provide what our customers want and don’t concern ourselves with things that they don’t, this approach reduces our costs and allows to provide the customer with a lower price per room.’

The Aloft Hotel is located 20 minutes away from downtown Abu Dhabi and 15 minutes from Abu Dhabi International Airport. It will be a fantastic addition to the exhibition centre, especially as there is high demand for hotel accommodation as the number of exhibitions at ADNEC is steadily growing. UBM Live, organisers of The Sleep Event, use ADNEC as the venue for their Middle East exhibition, Interiors UAE, so are very pleased that the hotel will now be open for its next edition in March. ADNEC also anticipate that the Aloft will become a regular destination for young affluent residents of the capital searching for new and stylish outlets to discover.

Between The Sheets with Christoph Hoffman

Christoph will be taking part in The Sleep Event Conference's Austerity and Authenticity Debate. Click here to book your place now.

Where in the world would you like to build your dream hotel?

Somewhere big up in the swiss mountains, next to a beautiful lake

If budget wasn’t an option, what theme would your dream hotel take on?

Content and atmosphere are not a matter of money.

Which is the most challenging design of your career so far?

From a business perspective it is the 25hours Hotel by Levis. A dwarfish hotel group with cool brand meets iconic fashion label to cooperate on a unique hotel.

From a private perspective it is the constant design of my own and my family’s way of life.

Which hotel design (apart from your own) do you most admire?

Unpretentious, original, no-fuss mountain-lodges. They show how little it takes to create a perfect accommodation.

Which hotel would you most like to level to the ground?

I long for harmony!

If you could live in any hotel in the world, which one would it be?

Europe:
Widder Hotel in Zurich. Perfect service and almost everything within these old walls gives the feeling of authenticity.

US:
Four Seasons New York – top floor with Central Park view. 
 

Which aspects of your job do you most enjoy?

To have the opportunity to stay in beautiful hotels many days of the year and thus enjoying the adventure of travelling.

What’s the first thing you would do if you were Leader of the World?

Ban Bad Food

Which living person do you most admire?

Paulina (10 years my daughter)

If you weren’t doing your current job, which other profession would you have liked to have done?

Concierge at the Four Seasons New York or
Christiane Amanpour’s job as correspondent of CNN

Where do you hope to be in 10 years?

1/3rd by the sea
1/3rd in the mountains
1/3rd in a beautiful (European) city