Hotel Design Trends | Insights from Colorado’s Industry Leaders

What’s next for the world of hotel design?

Joining an expert panel – Tobias Strohe, Partner at JNS Architecture + Interior Design, Stephanie Gearhart, Principal at DLR Group, and Cynthia Steinbrecher, Principal at Davis Partnership Architects – Bruce Wright, Managing Principal, engaged in a discussion about ‘Hotel Design: Emerging Trends’ at the Colorado Real Estate Journal’s Hotel Summit & Expo.

Moderated by the Principal of EDSA, Brent Lloyd, the panel discussed the latest developments in hotel design and looked to the future for any emerging trends.

We sat down with Bruce to learn his key takeaways:

• Soft, boutique brands continue to experience growth as larger corporate entities develop their collections of unique, locally inspired properties.
• Location remains a crucial factor in driving both occupancy and rates. The Rocky Mountain states – Utah, Colorado, Idaho, and Montana – garnering interest.
• Developers are still bullish on renovation and new builds that cater to the growing demand for experiential and wellness-oriented hospitality.
• Airlift and drive-to destinations with distinctive attributes are becoming key factors in driving market rates.
• Alternative hospitality concepts, such as luxury tent accommodations, are gaining popularity as part of larger, traditional resorts. Adding an immersive aspect to the destination, and benefitting operators by combining staffing and operations, reducing costs.
• While the hospitality sector continues to face challenges, there’s cautious optimism in the air as the sector demonstrates a more resilient performance compared to others.
• The much-anticipated interest rate reductions are expected to provide a welcome signal that the recent rate hikes have peaked and will likely continue to decline in 2025. While not returning to the low rates of 2020/2021, a potential 3% range could indicate that interest rates won’t soar higher, paving the way for significant capital investments. This development is expected to drive hotel sales activity and greenfield development as early as Q1 2025.