Best Practices for Hotel Renovations

Live from the Wyndham trade show floor, Scott Strickland, Chief Commercial Officer of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, tells #NoVacancyNews about how their smart technology investments are transforming operations, guest experiences, and franchisee support. 🔧 Here’s what you’ll hear: 💸 The inside story on Wyndham’s tech transformation—and why it’s designed to future-proof the business 🤖 How AI is used across guest messaging, franchisee support, and reservations to reduce labor strain and cut costs 📲 Why multi-channel guest communication is key to personalization AND profitability 🛠️ The philosophy behind Wyndham’s build vs. buy strategy—and how early-stage tech partnerships are scaled across thousands of hotels 📈 How piloting, failing fast, and scaling smartly is driving real innovation at the franchise level 👨💻 Plus: How Wyndham is leveraging Salesforce to power a franchisee-facing AI knowledge base—not just tools for guests Whether you're in operations, ownership, or just obsessed with hospitality tech, this episode is packed with insights from one of the industry’s leading CIOs. 🙌 Special thanks to our advertiser: Actabl — Actabl gives you the power to profit. Visit Actabl.com to learn more. #hoteltechnology

Hotels are betting on longevity. Let’s break it down: High-end hospitality is evolving. Guests aren’t just coming for rest, they’re also coming for optimization. The rise of "wellness tourism" means the top hotel brands are becoming centers for diagnostics, recovery, and peak performance. But creating a true health destination takes more than just a "sauna" or "juice bar". Here’s the real model: ✅ 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗴𝗻𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗿 Bloodwork, biological age testing, VO2 max, microbiome kits. Low infrastructure, high insight. It’s the unlock for personalization, and loyalty. ✅ 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝗻-𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 MDs, NPs, and functional health pros alongside movement and nutrition experts. Guests don’t want a list of services, they want a plan that makes sense. ✅ 𝗟𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀 Hormone therapy, hyperbaric, NAD+ IVs, red light, breathwork. From luxury to longevity, this is what turns guests into long-term clients. ✅ 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗲-𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗱 Generic retreats are out. Tailored protocols based on biomarkers and goals? That’s what brings them back. ✅ 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗼𝘂𝘀, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗲𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗶𝗰 Offer re-testing, app-based progress, supplement delivery, remote consults. Guests leave with a roadmap, not just a short-term experience. 🏨 Early movers: → SHA → Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas → Lanserhof Group → Aman → Equinox Hotels The future of hospitality isn no longer just about five-star service. These are places to recharge. Longevity isn’t a trend. It’s becoming the new standard for wellness travel. And the best hotels are getting ahead of it. 👉 Which brand do you think will get there first? ♻️ Repost if you see this shift coming, and follow Delphine Le Grand for more on where hospitality meets healthspan.

From working on dozens of branded hotels, here are 12 design standards that boutique hospitality can borrow from their less ‘hip’ cousins. 1 - Every room should have a full-length mirror, no exceptions. Bonus points for mirrors installed in the public areas/elevators that can provide a last glance before leaving the hotel. 2 - The option to fully black out light is a must! This requires covering the window fully, at the top, the sides, and the middle. Bonus points if you can make all devices in the room have a 'night' or 'dark' mode so they do not emit light if undesired. 3 - Sink separate from bath. This one is 'nice to have'. In some instances, if space permits, this can be an additional sink aside from the bathroom sink. Otherwise, separating the bathroom sink from the toilet and shower is a more comfortable setup when two people share a room. 4 - Include a shaving shelf or bench in the shower. Most hotel guests who shave their legs expect a spot to rest their foot on so they can shave their legs while in the shower. Bonus points for adding a bench either to sit on or to place shower toiletries in places intended for longer stays. 5 - Install the room flooring into the bathroom. This one can be a money-saving option that is seldom used outside branded hospitality. Many people are weary of using LVP or engineered wood for bathroom flooring, but we are seeing this strategy implemented more often without the adverse maintenance effects some would expect. 6 - Real doors on bathrooms (not barn doors). Barn doors belong on barns. They're not cool, they're not functional, and they're most definitely not adequate to enclose a bathroom. If space is tight, a pocket door is a better option. 7 - Favor a small sink with a large counter for more space. 8 - Visible hanging hooks robe & bag height. This is an easy and inexpensive one to provide that makes a significant difference in the comfort of a room. Bonus points for integrating the hooks into the design so the hooks are easily visible (not behind doors or inside wardrobes). 9 - Luggage space/bench. Thinking about and providing a dedicated space for luggage storage is key. A collapsible luggage bench is only so useful if there is no obvious place to put it! 10 - When designing new or remodeling, it is always worth placing shower controls in a way that allows guests to turn on the water without getting wet. This has become a more ubiquitous standard, and guests almost always expect it at hotels. 11 - Quick hot water. Once the water is running, ensuring it quickly reaches the desired temperature is a must! There are several ways to achieve this in new construction and renovations (subject to a separate post). Mentioning this requirement to the project architect/engineer and contractor can go a long way toward minimizing guest complaints. 12 - Use layered lighting with dimmers, bedside control options, and consistent color temperature for a cohesive vibe.

How to make spaces guests actually remember (goodbye copy-paste aesthetics) Most hospitality spaces feel the same. Because we’ve normalized “pretty” over unexpected. But in 1917, literary theorist Viktor Shklovsky introduced a concept called: Defamiliarization His main idea was that the purpose of art is to make the familiar seem strange — to disrupt automatic perception and make people feel the world anew. When applied to design, it turns routine spaces into moments guests notice — and never forget. Here’s how to use defamiliarization in design: To surprise the senses. To shift perception. To unlock deeper emotional connection. 1/ Reposition the ordinary ❌ Don’t place a chair in the corner just because it’s “functional” ✅ Instead: Float it in an open space with dramatic lighting → Suddenly, it’s sculpture. 2/ Break the expected layout ❌ Don’t follow the default “bed, nightstand, dresser” combo ✅ Instead: Rotate the bed, sink it into a platform, or layer rugs under odd angles → Guests pause. They notice. 3/ Reframe everyday objects ❌ Don’t use generic wall art ✅ Instead: Mount antique tools, a shadow box of local soil, or handwritten recipes from past guests → It turns decor into story. 4/ Use contrast where comfort is expected ❌ Don’t keep everything smooth, beige, and safe ✅ Instead: Add something rough, reflective, or asymmetrical → Emotional texture creates curiosity. 5/ Leave room for wonder ❌ Don’t explain every detail ✅ Instead: Add a mystery — a lock with no key, a book with no title, a secret drawer → The brain loves an open loop. And when you use defamiliarization well, Guests don’t just take photos… They start asking questions. They remember the feeling. They carry it home. P.S. What’s one way you’ve made something ordinary feel unforgettable? — ♻️ Repost to help more hosts and designers rethink their spaces. 📌 Want to craft stays people talk about for years? → Save this post ♻️ → Revisit it when you're stuck on your next design decision → Share it with someone building something bold

Wellness retreats have evolved far beyond luxurious aesthetics—today, it's about scientifically engineered environments that actively influence emotional health, stress recovery, and cognitive restoration. 🔊 Did you know that carefully curated natural soundscapes can reduce cortisol (stress hormone) levels by 𝐮𝐩 𝐭𝐨 35%? 🌸 Or that olfactory gardens—designed around scent—can measurably reduce anxiety (𝐮𝐩 𝐭𝐨 30%)  and enhance sleep quality (18% 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫)? 🧠 Neuroscience confirms multi-sensory spaces aren't just pleasant—they stimulate significantly more neural pathways, profoundly enhancing emotional positivity and accelerating stress recovery. Retreats adopting these strategies report guest satisfaction ratings that are 𝐮𝐩 𝐭𝐨 40% 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐞𝐫. 🌳 Sustainable, tactile-rich materials like wood or stone can lower stress biomarkers by 10-15%, while circadian-aligned lighting strategies boost sleep quality by up to 22% and cognitive function by 26%. At Urban A&O, we see wellness architecture as an essential, data-backed tool for creating spaces that not only feel good but deliver measurable wellness benefits. It's wellness architecture that's immersive by design, aligning deeply with net-zero goals and transforming guest experiences. In this week's newsletter, we explore how wellness leaders use neuroscience-driven, multi-sensory design strategies—olfactory gardens, optimized acoustics, tactile intelligence, and circadian lighting—to redefine the wellness experience. 🔍 𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: • Up to 40% 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐠𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 with multi-sensory design. • 20-30% 𝐟𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐥 𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 in sensory-rich environments. • 61-101% 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲  with optimized air quality and natural ventilation. It's time to move beyond superficial relaxation toward meaningful, measurable wellness. 📢 𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧!          How do you see multi-sensory architecture reshaping the future of wellness hospitality? Share your thoughts in the comments below using #UrbanAO. Subscribe to the newsletter to stay at the forefront of wellness and sustainability innovation. #UrbanAO #WellnessDesign #Architecture #Sustainability #WellnessRetreats #Innovation

Hotels used to show off luxury with fancy things like chandeliers and doormen. Now, the best hotels are focusing on a new kind of luxury: making your stay as easy as possible using technology you never see. I call this concept the "invisible hotel." It's all about making your stay feel effortless and personal. Instead of waiting in line, you can check in with your phone everywhere. The lights, curtains, and temperature in your room can adjust automatically to how you like them. The hotel remembers what you liked from your last visit. If you asked for extra pillows or a certain drink, they’ll already be in your room the next time you stay. The technology is built into the room so you don't notice it. Think of smart speakers hidden in the walls or TVs that look like mirrors until you turn them on. This tech also helps hotel workers. It can tell them which rooms need to be cleaned first or if something in a room needs to be fixed, so they have more time to help guests with important matters. So, why don't all hotels do this? It's harder than it sounds, it's also expensive, and they have to be careful not to make guests feel like they're being watched. The goal should be simple: to use technology to take care of the small stuff, so your stay is relaxing and feels like it was designed just for you. #HospitalityInnovation #InvisibleHotel #HotelTechnology #GuestExperience #TravelTech #LuxuryRedefined #CXOPartners

Hotels are no longer just hotels. The ones still acting like they are will be the first to get crushed in the next 5 years. Occupancy rates in the US are projected to hit 63.4% this year, just shy of the 65.8% we saw in 2019. Average daily rates are hovering around $160, and RevPAR is already past $100. Globally, RevPAR rose almost 4% in the first quarter of 2025, driven by strong performance in urban and airport properties. The demand is there. People are traveling, staying, and spending. But if you are still thinking of hotels as single-use boxes with rooms and a lobby, you are already behind. The real conversation right now is the rise of mixed-use hospitality and blended live-work-play developments. The smartest investors and brands are moving away from stand-alone hotels to multifunctional ecosystems that combine hotel rooms, branded residences, co-working spaces, retail, F&B, wellness, and even event venues under one roof. This is not a trend. This is a structural shift. Look at The Social Hub in Europe, Zoku in Amsterdam, or Radisson’s branded residences strategy. These are not just hotels. They are lifestyle hubs where guests can stay, work, meet, eat, and connect. For owners and investors, this model spreads risk, drives higher yield per square foot, and attracts a broader demographic than any traditional hotel ever could. Conversions are accelerating this shift. Underutilized office buildings and residential spaces are being transformed into hybrid hospitality spaces at scale. Marriott is pushing Project Mid in the US to convert office buildings into hotels. In China, nearly half of Hilton’s Hampton hotels are from conversions. This is where the real ROI is right now. It is faster, cheaper, and perfectly aligned with the way people live, work, and travel today. Psychology drives this success. Travelers no longer choose hotels just for a bed. They want experiences. They want flexibility. They want to feel part of something. A hotel that gives them co-working spaces, wellness programs, social interaction, and great dining without leaving the property wins every time. That is why the best-performing assets of the next decade will not be just hotels. They will be multi-functional communities designed for the way people actually live and travel now. If you are an owner, developer, or investor, ask yourself this. How are you repurposing your underperforming spaces to meet this demand? What is your plan to integrate wellness, co-working, and residential elements into your properties? Are you building for yesterday’s traveler or tomorrow’s? Because the future of hospitality is not coming. It is already here. What are your thoughts? Are you seeing opportunities for mixed-use hospitality in your markets?

How to Transform a 200-Room Hotel with AI and Automation AI and Automation are reshaping hospitality, but many hotel leaders hesitate due to concerns about ROI, integration, and guest acceptance. A fictional case study from Shiji Group imagines how The Hanson Hotel might improve efficiency, reduce costs, and create a better guest experience by adopting these technologies. Why Consider AI and Automation? ✅ Cost Savings Automation cuts labor inefficiencies, energy costs, and outdated revenue management processes. ✅ Enhanced Guest Experience Smart rooms personalize stays, and AI chatbots deliver instant assistance, meeting guest expectations. ✅ Sustainability Automated energy systems save costs and appeal to eco-conscious travelers. ✅ Strong ROI Initial investments are often recouped within two years, with long-term annual savings. The Hanson Hotel: A Fictional Blueprint Here’s how AI and Automation could transform operations: 🔹 Labor Savings: Automation reduces routine tasks, saving €90,000 annually. 🔹 Energy Optimization: Smart rooms cut energy costs by €45,000 per year. 🔹 Revenue Precision: AI tools recover €20,000 annually through better pricing strategies. 🔹 Guest Satisfaction: Personalized stays and faster service increase loyalty. While upfront costs may feel steep, the long-term benefits outweigh initial challenges, proving that automation enhances both efficiency and the guest experience. Why This Would Likely Fail Without AI Literacy This case study illustrates what could be but also highlights the productivity paradox of generative AI. While the promise of AI is clear, implementation often fails without the right foundational mindset. AI isn’t just a tool; it requires an AI Mindset. It requires a cultural shift in how teams understand, adopt, and embrace AI-driven technologies. To achieve an AI Mindset, teams must first have AI Literacy. This means: 1️⃣ Understanding the basics of AI capabilities and limitations. 2️⃣ Knowing how to integrate AI into workflows meaningfully. 3️⃣ Aligning team roles and goals with AI tools to drive results. ➡ ➡ ➡ Without AI Literacy, investments in AI and Automation risk being underutilized or misaligned with operational goals, leading to wasted time and resources. Budget for AI Literacy in 2025 Before considering large-scale AI projects like this, hotels must: ✅ Allocate resources for AI Literacy training in their 2025 budgets. ✅ Focus on upskilling staff across all levels to ensure buy-in and readiness for change. ✅ Shift from fear of disruption to embracing AI as a strategic partner. With AI Literacy as the foundation, hotels can confidently pursue transformative projects, unlocking not just cost savings but a truly reimagined guest experience. 💡 AI is only as effective as the mindset behind its adoption. To build an AI Mindset, you need AI Literacy. AI Literacy starts with budgeting for it in 2025. 💡 (Source: Shiji Group Article)

An investor asked us a great question the other day: “How will rising labor costs and distribution challenges change how hotels are physically built?” It made us think about how restaurants responded to the same pressures. Ghost kitchens emerged. Traditional restaurants reconfigured for delivery. Some even built out separate spaces just for pickup. The space itself changed, not just the business model. Hotels are heading there too, but in a different way. We’re probably not going to see ghost hotels lol, but we will see a complete rethink of how space is used. Here’s what we think is coming: • Smaller or dual-use lobbies. Without a front desk, the lobby doesn't need to function like a traditional lobby. It can be a coffee shop, bar, or co-working space. Think Death & Co in the The Ramble Hotel, not the typical Marriot entrance. • More rooms per square foot. Without bellmen, concierge desks, or large check-in areas, that space can be used for additional rooms. • Minimal on-site staff. Select-service hotels will be lean. You might only see housekeeping and maintenance. •Airbnb-style formats. Some hotels will operate more like apartments, with no front desk, keyless entry, remote support, and a mobile-first experience. • No kitchens, no room service. Instead of running a restaurant or kitchen, hotels will partner with delivery platforms. Guests will order from Uber Eats or DoorDash, with secure drop-off areas or lockers replacing room service. •Built for digital performance. Some hotels will be designed around distribution. Think high-converting photos, reliable quality, fast turnover, and strong reviews. Think instagram walls and building a following on socials. These properties are optimized to have a reputation and be well-known before someone even googles "best hotels in X" We saw this shift in food. Hospitality feels like it’s entering that same kind of evolution. Would love to hear what others are seeing—especially folks building or investing in the space.

What if your mobile app became the ultimate key to your entire hotel experience—everything at your fingertips, from check-in to checkout, powered by AI? Imagine walking into your hotel room, and instead of fumbling with wall panels or remote controls, you open your app and seamlessly control everything—from adjusting the blinds and lights to setting the perfect room temperature. No more waiting for room service or calling the front desk for a reservation; it’s all done with a few taps on your phone. Now, imagine adding AI into the mix. The app doesn’t just remember your preferences—it anticipates them. Powered by AI, it learns from past stays, picking up on subtle details about what makes you comfortable. It knows your preferred room temperature, the meals you enjoy, or the time you prefer to check out. The app customizes the entire experience, offering tailored suggestions before you even ask. This vision of a mobile-first, AI-powered hospitality experience would create a seamless, personalized guest journey. It’s not just about offering convenience; it’s about connecting with guests intuitively and naturally. This approach would complement the essential human component of hospitality, which is core to the industry’s success, while also opening new opportunities for collaboration. Think about it: Companies in other industries—like AC providers or curtain vendors—could develop products that integrate seamlessly into this mobile-driven environment. Much like how Nest and Alexa have revolutionized the smart home, suppliers could create products that enhance the guest experience and work in harmony with these intelligent systems. Beyond that, this shift to mobile-first, AI-driven systems could also transform the hospitality workforce. Evolving existing roles and creating new hospitality career tracks focused on technology and data-driven guest experiences would not only upskill employees but also elevate the industry's overall service level. While this is a reimagined future of hospitality, it raises important questions for tech developers and hospitality leaders about how AI and mobile tech can elevate the guest experience. If you’re working on similar solutions or want to explore how such innovations could be implemented, let’s connect—I’d love to offer insights and help shape the future of hospitality tech.