at Ennismore . “ Everything we do has to be welcoming to both locals and internationals . We have to attract both audiences .”
In Barcelona , Ennismore added a Detroit-style pizza offering that no other outlet in the city was doing . “ In general , when you add nice little touches that feel special and specific to the area , then it feels more authentic , more timeless , and that ’ s definitely an approach we like to go with every time ,” Ghalleb said . “ If it feels like a hotel geared to tourists , it won ’ t appeal to locals . If it appeals to the locals , it will appeal to travelers . That builds a vibrancy .”
“ It has to be vibrant , feel inclusive and be an extension of what is already in the city … a concept that has timelessness ,” Ghalleb added . “ You don ’ t want to do something new just to do something new .”
North said it is about creating spaces that feel like home , noting that the design of the lobby has to anticipate “ the journey of the customer throughout the day .”
Food and beverage operations in the lobby should overshadow and outshine the reception desks , which previously dominated lobby spaces . “ The reception should be secondary to the lobby spaces , and it should be a little bit out of sight so it doesn ’ t immediately feel like a hotel when you walk in ,” North said . experience , the Grand Geneva is serving up s ’ mores boards for guests to enjoy both inside the lobby , but it ’ s also for them to enjoy in the igloos and fire pits . “ We serve those with our homemade hot chocolates which also can have alcohol added ,” Bulleje said .
In warmer weather , he said , both the drink and food menus are lightened up to match the season .
The whole lobby space at the Grand Geneva has places where
OUTDOOR EXTENSIONS Where possible , lobby spaces can be extended into courtyards and patios – to bring the outside into the hotel . Ennismore does that wherever the properties have space in which to do so . In Scotland , its property has an ice rink outside in winter , and in summer , it has lawn chairs and lawn games .
That ’ s equally important to the Grand Geneva Resort in Lake Geneva , Wisc . “ We have great , beautiful windows in the front , and there ’ s a pool deck out back ,” said Nelly Buleje , director of food and beverage at the Grand Geneva . “ Right now , in winter , we have igloos outside , and we have fire pits , and they ’ re lit up , along with the decorations . It ’ s a way to bring what we do outside , inside as well .”
To match that outdoor-indoor
Jan / Feb 2023 hotelsmag . com 75