What is hotel lobby design?
Hotel lobby design is the practice of creating a welcoming, functional and beautiful hotel entrance that enhances both the guest’s first impression of your hotel and their overall experience.
A hotel lobby is the main entrance and central space where guests are welcomed, can spend time to relax, and be checked in.
What is the purpose of a hotel lobby?
A hotel lobby is the entrance and hub of a property. It’s where guests are welcomed and checked in, and it also serves as a transitional space for guests who are exploring the local area.
Hotel lobbies tend to be comfortable and stylish, with seating areas, concierge services, and sometimes amenities like bars, cafes or lounges, which turn the area into a social hub too.
In this guide we’ll take a closer look at hotel lobbies, to understand why they’re so important, and how to plan and design yours.
What is the importance of hotel lobby design?
Hotel lobbies form a guest’s all-important first impression of your hotel. A beautiful, functional and unique hotel lobby ensures that the first impression is a good one, and that it lasts. When a guest thinks about where they’d like to go for their next trip, or if a loved one asks for a hotel recommendation, your property will be front of mind.
In this way a hotel lobby can be seen as a compelling branding opportunity. By featuring your brand colours, and by placing your hotel logo in a prominent location, you can make your hotel more memorable to guests.
Then there’s the experience that you offer in your lobby. By making the space a social hub through shared amenities like cafes and bars, you increase the opportunities for your guests to have a memorable experience in the space.
Enhance your customer experience with SiteMinder
A well designed lobby sets the scene for a great stay and the best technology helps drive it home. From guest engagement to key integrations, SiteMinder ensures that you can deliver.
Hotel lobby design ideas: How should a hotel lobby be planned?
Hotel lobby design projects demand careful consideration. A quality space will offer beauty, functionality and uniqueness, all while reflecting the character of your hotel. Here are a few key design considerations:
Reflect brand identity in lobby design
Hotel branding can be incredibly powerful, so it’s important that you invest in developing your logo and colour palette, which you can feature prominently in your lobby to make it more memorable. You can then go a step further, reflecting your brand in the furniture, décor and signature scents that you choose. You might even consider commissioning bespoke art pieces that align with your brand.
Create the right mood with colour psychology
Think beyond your brand colours, to how colour alters how a guest perceives your lobby. Soft neutrals like beige and grey are welcoming and relaxing. Deeper hued accents, like navy or emerald green, can add sophistication. Brighter touches, like yellow and orange, can make the space feel positive, energetic and fun.
Achieve a high-end look on a budget
High-end design doesn’t need to come with a high-end price tag. You can lift the look and feel of the entire space by carefully selecting a few high-quality focal pieces, from art to furniture, then using strategic lighting and more affordable luxury materials to decorate the rest of the space.
Consider thoughtful wall design
Your walls are a canvas, you’re the artist. Choose art that aligns with your brand and the broader feel of your hotel. Consider local pieces that showcase the culture and history of your area. Replace plain wall paint with texture, or install touch screens to create interactive walls that offer maps, information or entertainment to guests.
Design for efficiency to enhance guest flow
Good hotel lobby design allows guests and staff to move effortlessly through the space, while reducing congestion, queues and wait times. Clever lighting and floor design can subtly guide guests to where they need to be. Provide clear signage for guests, including dedicated luggage drop-off areas that keep pathways clear. Place your check-in desk in a prominent location.
Incorporate tech for better guest experience
Consider adding self-check-in kiosks to reduce congestion, queues and wait times. Wall-mounted digital displays can offer key guest information, and can help you upsell guests by highlighting key hotel services. Smart lighting systems, meanwhile, can adapt to changing natural light throughout the day, to ensure the lobby always feels welcoming.
Hotel lobby design requirements: What should be included in a hotel lobby design?
What does a quality hotel lobby look like? Consider the following elements:
Hotel entrance lobby design
Lobbies tend to form the main entrance of a hotel, so you should aim to create a welcoming first impression. Provide a clear layout (signposted where necessary) with easy access to check-in areas. Automatic doors and a wide entryway can ensure the smooth flow of guests.
Hotel lobby ceiling design
Clever ceiling design, such as coffered ceiling panels and suspended lighting, can create a sense of space and sophistication in your lobby. Sound-absorbing materials can enhance the acoustics to create a quieter and more comfortable environment.
Hotel lobby wall design
Your lobby walls should reflect the character and style of your hotel through elements like artwork, textured finishes and embedded or wall-mounted tech. This is a high traffic space, so choose durable materials.
Hotel lobby sofa design
Comfortable, stylish, durable sofas give guests a nice place to relax or wait. Arrange your sofas in social clusters capable of hosting large groups. Aim for a layout that encourages guests to socialise and grants easy movement through the space.
Hotel elevator lobby design
The elevator lobby should have clear signage and lighting to guide guests efficiently to lifts, minimising wait times and confusion. Incorporating seating near the elevators and mirrors for added light can make the space feel spacious and comfortable.
Best hotel lobby design trends: How to design a welcoming hotel lobby
Looking for the latest in lobby design? The following trends ensure your hotel looks incredible and provides a warm welcome to guests.
Simple hotel lobby design
Minimalist lobbies aren’t just cost-effective – they’re fashionable too. Uncluttered layouts, neutral colour palettes and functional furnishings make guests feel at ease. Plants and natural lighting can add warmth and make your space more inviting.
Luxury hotel lobby designÂ
Luxury lobbies place an emphasis on elegance. High-end materials like marble and velvet offer an opulent look and feel, while plush seating and statement decor add comfort and interest. Emanate exclusivity and sophistication through rich colour schemes and carefully curated artwork.
Modern hotel lobby design
Modern lobbies are all clean lines, open spaces and innovative technology. Bold accent colours and creative lighting choices can make the space pop, while digital check-in kiosks add convenience for guests.
Boutique hotel lobby design
Boutique hotels are defined by their designs, though these can vary dramatically from hotel to hotel. The focus should be on unique and eclectic design and decor that reflects the character of your hotel.
Beach hotel lobby design
Beach hotel lobbies feature light and breezy decor. Blues and whites tend to dominate the colour palette, while natural materials like timber and rattan bring the outdoors indoors. Large windows, airy layouts and plenty of tropical foliage can add to the relaxed feel.
No matter the space you have to work with, the theme of your hotel, or the guests you hope to attract, the goal of your hotel lobby remains the same: maximise customer satisfaction.Â
But in reality the physical building can only enhance the guest experience by so much – the rest is up to the team that works inside. And their job is made so much easier when they’re armed with the right tools.
Case in point: SiteMinder.