Principal Ron Mitchell explains why the hospitality industry needs to focus the conversation around designing for the modern traveler rather than Millennials.
It has been said many times the future of the lodging industry will greatly be affected by hotels’ ability to appeal to millennials. On the surface, this “millennials or bust” attitude seems like a logical view to endorse. After all, millennials now outnumber baby boomers in the U.S., and millennials are expected to account for 50 percent of the workforce by 2020.
Unfortunately, such statistics are causing tunnel vision within the hospitality industry, leading to certain misguided conclusions being drawn, especially as they relate to the practice of architecture.
Here are a few thoughts on a different approach. Instead of being focused on trying to design hotels for millennials (a demographic), the conversation should be broadened to address how to best design hotels for the modern traveler (a psychographic).
Guests Are All After the Same Thing
Multiple studies agree millennials are looking for the following from their hotel stays: authentic experiences, contemporary design, and seamless connectivity. But really, isn’t that what all generations want?
Consider the following examples of “millennial design trends” that, when examined, arguably appeal to every modern traveler regardless of age:
- Minimizing the presence of front desks in lobbies: Gen Xers and Baby Boomers are now more accustomed to using their smartphones to book airline tickets, schedule Uber rides and pay bills. So it’s not a stretch to assume…
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