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Today's travelers expect more from their hotel experience than a comfortable place to stay. From immersive environments that reflect the character of a destination to thoughtfully designed spaces that support everyday operations, hotels are rethinking how their properties look, feel, and function.
ADCI's Senior Architect and Vice President of Design, Jason Ryan, joined fellow industry professionals for a panel discussion at the Wisconsin Hotel & Lodging Association (WHLA) conference at Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells. Titled "Beyond the Lobby: Rethinking Spaces for Today's Traveler," the discussion explored evolving guest expectations, emerging design trends, renovation considerations, and the role of thoughtful design in creating successful hospitality environments.
Moderated by Tamra Anderson, General Manager of The Waters of Minocqua, the panel also featured representatives from Steinhafels Commercial Interiors, Spectrum Enterprise, and Great Lakes Finishing Solutions.
Designing for Guests and the People Behind the Experience
One of the growing priorities among hotel operators is creating spaces that improve staff efficiency. While guest-facing amenities and aesthetics remain important, properties are increasingly recognizing the value of design that supports the people responsible for keeping operations running smoothly.
Thoughtful space planning, functional layouts, and intentional design decisions can help streamline daily tasks and create more efficient working environments. Successful hospitality design considers the entire operation, ensuring spaces work just as well for employees as they do for guests.
Creating Experiences Through Design
Today's travelers are looking for more than a traditional hotel stay. Properties are finding new ways to create memorable, immersive experiences by incorporating themes, local history, and elements that reflect the surrounding community.
Jason highlighted the importance of carrying materials, textures, and design elements throughout a property to create a cohesive experience. Rather than treating each space as an individual design opportunity, a more intentional approach allows the overall property to tell a story.
Whether drawing inspiration from a property's history, its location, or a particular theme, these details help establish a sense of place and give guests a more meaningful connection to their destination. “Own what you are and lean into it in a way that makes you unique,” stated Jason when discussing balancing historic charm in modern spaces.
Functionality remains equally important. The most successful spaces bring together visual appeal and practical considerations, ensuring that design enhances the guest experience without sacrificing how a space needs to perform.
Finding the Balance Between Aesthetics and Durability
Hospitality environments experience significant daily use, making material selection an important part of the design process. From busy lobbies and gathering spaces to guest rooms and corridors, each area has different demands.
As Jason discussed during the panel, selecting durable materials isn't simply about choosing the toughest product available. It's about finding the right product for the intended use of the space.
Understanding how an area will function, the level of traffic it will experience, and the desired aesthetic helps guide material selections that balance longevity, maintenance, and appearance.
The goal is to create spaces that continue to look and perform well over time while delivering the experience guests expect.
Looking Beyond the Lobby
The conversation reinforced an important consideration for today's hospitality industry: successful design goes beyond creating attractive spaces. It requires understanding how guests interact with their surroundings, how employees use the building, and how every design decision contributes to the property's long-term success.
At ADCI, we understand that hospitality design requires a balance of creativity, functionality, and thoughtful planning. With nearly 40 years of experience in hospitality architecture and design, our team works alongside owners and operators to create environments that reflect their vision, support their operations, and deliver lasting value.
Because great hospitality design isn't just about what guests see. It's about how every space works together to create an experience worth returning to.
