EquipHotel 2024: Authenticity and Depth in Hospitality Design

EquipHotel 2024 highlights a shift in hospitality towards sustainable, understated luxury that prioritizes thoughtful design and authentic guest experiences.

November 3 to 7, 2024—-EquipHotel gathers top innovators and the brightest professionals in hospitality. It covers four major sectors: tech and services, design, food and service, and wellness. Here, we can discover how professionals are navigating modern hospitality and catering to the evolving needs of today’s guests. In a roundtable discussion entitled “The Newcomers: New Concepts and Alternative Hospitality”, we learn about a new kind of casual luxury: design and services are intentionally understated to create a sense of refined elegance.

Founder and CEO of Borromées Consulting, Pauline Rouri moderated the discussion. She led guest speakers—Marion Gérent, General Director of La Fondation Hotel; Laure Guillemin, Co-founder of Pampa Lodges; and Natasia Morin, Director of Marketing and Communications at Leitmotiv—in a talk on hospitality through time. They pointed to the long-lasting traditional and conservative approach to hospitality design and how it seems to be changing.

Designers are using a new approach to appeal to a discerning clientele that seeks authenticity and depth in their travel experiences. The smallest details matter, from the scent of a hotel’s entrance hall to the kind of teapots used. It proves that luxury doesn’t have to be flashy. This shift in philosophy toward understated elegance and thoughtful design has inspired a range of innovative projects and products. 

Innovative Initiatives: Cultivating Authenticity and Purpose in Modern Hospitality

At EquipHotel, two award-winning projects in the “New Innovative Initiatives” category highlighted how a commitment to authenticity and depth is reshaping hospitality. Hôtel Sangha Toulouse by Sangha Hôtels offers an Asian-inspired, eco-friendly hotel concept focused on community and mindfulness. Named after the Sanskrit word “Sangha,” meaning “community,” each hotel in this brand seeks to offer guests a peaceful space for reflection amidst the city’s bustling life. This approach emphasizes serenity and connection and invites guests to adopt a philosophy of eco-consciousness and shared values. 

The Pullman Bercy, part of the Accor Group, embodies this theme through its innovative approach to sustainability and community support. In February 2023, it introduced the HopHopFood click-and-collect service, an anti-waste initiative that has provided 2,500 meals to people in need while reducing CO2 emissions by over four tons. This initiative demonstrates how hospitality can authentically respond to social and environmental concerns. It illustrates that true luxury is not just about indulgence but about making a positive impact.

In the Small Details: Thoughtful, Sustainable Product Design Choices

Thoughtful, sustainable design choices can elevate the hospitality experience. The Bistro Table by French brand Dizy, for example, creates striking upcycled furniture. The manufacturers use discarded materials such as recycled wood and shredded banknotes. The Bistro Table offers versatile options in materials, including recycled plastic and certified wood. This piece aligns with what Marion Gérent of La Fondation Hotel said during the conference: 

“The smallest details matter… It all adds to the story.” 

Dienne’s Coupè Sofa Bed also embodies the value of intentional, multifunctional design, especially in smaller urban spaces where every square meter counts. The Coupè Sofa Bed seamlessly converts from a sofa to a bunk bed with a unique mechanism. Laure Guillemin, Co-founder of Pampa Lodges, emphasizes that in small lodges, 

“Customers see everything all at once, making every part of the lodging count.” 

Dienne’s Coupè Sofa Bed fits this need for compact elegance, delivering both practicality and comfort with customizable options. Luxury doesn’t need to be opulent; it can be thoughtful, adapting effortlessly to fit and elevate any space.

Elementi’s fire pit tables capture the concept of casual luxury through their artistic and customizable design for outdoor spaces. Elementi’s offerings like the Metropolis and Bioko fire pit tables bring sophistication and warmth to hotel settings. The Metropolis, crafted from a glass-cement composite with a waxed concrete finish, exudes elegance, while the smaller Bioko provides a subtle yet refined warmth, set on a stone base. These fire pits allow hotels to curate memorable outdoor environments that feel both intimate and luxurious. 

These examples illustrate how thoughtful, high-quality design can create spaces that resonate deeply with guests, adding depth to their overall experience.