The typical hotel bar lost it’s appeal sometime a couple of decades ago. Hotels have struggled since then to figure out how to best utilize that space — and they don’t usually have much luck.
The independent hoteliers are leading the way, of course, but at least someone is doing it. There is a shift in what hotel guests are looking for, and these innovative business owners are recognizing it and taking advantage of it.
Link: USATODAY.com – Hotel bars morph into stylish multitaskers.
Hoteliers have noticed that younger travelers use hotel bars differently than in the 1990s. They like to eat a light breakfast, hold small business meetings or work alone on laptops in the afternoon.
"In the past, the bar was a place where people went to drink and socialize," says Omni’s Stephen Rosenstock. "Today, it’s also to conduct business and also to be entertained."
In talking about one particular hotel, the article said:
The space will include a bar, sofas, library, business center,
restaurant and wireless Internet. Mueller sees it as "a 24-hour meeting
place."
Granted, this is happening in larger, more progressive markets, and it won’t work for just any hotel — BUT, the trend has always been for a business idea to be tried and tested elsewhere and then make itself known here in Richmond.
This sounds very plausible, and exciting. I can’t wait to see it make headway and start transforming some of that dead space.
Bar 2.0
I’d love to see more hotels invest in creative and flexible works spaces like that. When I’m on the road, I often find the need to work on the laptop with clients/co-workers in a relaxed social setting (and by that I mean we can drink and work at the same time).
Investing in open wireless networks and setting up areas that accomodate flexible seating for collaboration would be welcomed.
Do you know of any hotels in Richmond offering that type of environment? If not, what hotels do you think would do it?
Tripp:
I don’t know of any that do as of yet. That doesn’t mean that there aren’t any, though.
I would hope that even if none others pick up on the trend, that the hotels near the airport and the convention center would be all over it.
Im glad to see this. I think it could be an attraction point not only for hotels’ patrons, but for other peopel as well. A comparatively quiet place with food and drink available where informal and/or small meetings could be help would be highly attractive. Many restaraunts are capitalizing on this, there is no reason the hotel could not become a contender in that arena, drawing persons off the street and building their name.
Chains would benefit the most, since it is likely that if I have regular meetings and like the environment at the local Marriott, for instance, it stands to reason that I would stay in a Marriott when I travelled, seeking the same thing. One can only make the bedroom at a hotel so nice, and the service can only be so good. There needs to be another means of attraction. A business oriented move like this could revolutionize the hotel world, and the first chain to jump on board and implement it well will likely see a strong increase in overall market share.