SALES & MARKETING

or debate the issues of the day because they are locals who are inspired to be a part of the Müller-Elmau-designed hotel ’ s essence and experience . With a big restaurant and a great bar to boot , the results have been staggering , according to Müller-Elmau . “ It ’ s food for thought , and maybe good for the soul ,” he adds .

Novotel Amsterdam Schiphol Airport worked with vendors to create workspaces in the lobby for anyone open to exchanging knowledge and skills with other co-workers . Guests and locals can book a seat online from 10 a . m . till 3 p . m . and receive unlimited network contacts , free WiFi and an affordably priced coffee and tea package deal for € 10 ( US $ 11.88 ) per half-day and € 17.50 ( US $ 20.80 ) for

Hox How To has helped activate Hoxton hotel lobbies .

the whole day . Guests are encouraged to stick around after 3 p . m . for drinks .

Another brand responding to this trend is CitizenM , whose lobby space , SocietyM , includes more inspiring work and meeting space .

“ Every decision we made , and continue to make in our hotels , is based around mobile citizens — and their ever-evolving mindset of

Working and meeting space drives the lobby scene at

CitizenM hotels , including this site in Rotterdam .

luxury and value ,” says CitizenM founder and CEO Rattan Chadha . “ That ’ s why our hotels don ’ t have lobbies , they have living rooms , outfitted with technology to make life easier … We ’ ve made it our mission to surround our citizens with the most inspiring contemporary art and design we could find , support local artists and commission established ones .”— J . W .

AccorHotels has launched AccorLocal , a local services

app designed for people to use anytime — not just when they ’ re traveling or staying in an Accor property .

Both hotel brands and Airbnb want travelers to think of them for the entire journey and even in their daily lives . Expect to see more of that this year and beyond .

With AccorLocal , the company is taking advantage of a hotel space , especially the lobby , that is alive 24 / 7 . “ This is a far-reaching , disruptive approach on what a hotel is today ,” a spokesperson told HOTELS . “ Beyond providing accommodations to travelers , hotels are striving to become essential to enhance the daily lives of as many people as possible . Hospitality must evolve towards more flexibility and be able to open the gates to non-travelers for a drink , a yoga course , a fitness room , etc .”

Through strategic partnerships , AccorHotels is offering its expertise in new playing fields . It has a 50 % share in co-working space company Nextdoor . In entertainment , the AccorHotels arena in Paris is one of the world ’ s five largest concert halls and sports arenas . Bringing hospitality services directly at home is also something it is exploring .

16 hotelsmag . com June 2018