-
Image Credit Hospitality Thailand Conference (HTC2025)
- The 4th Hospitality Thailand Conference (HTC2025) focused on the future of hotel design, emphasizing the importance of meaning, flexibility, and emotional connection.
- Hotels are evolving into multi-purpose spaces, serving as social hubs, wellness centers, and remote work sanctuaries; hybrid design must prioritize purpose over aesthetics.
The 4th Hospitality Thailand Conference (HTC2025), held at the Eastin Grand Hotel Sathorn, convened industry experts to discuss the evolution of hospitality in an era where experience supersedes luxury. Speakers included Christian Noret, CEO of Pirate Girl Co., Ltd., and Drew Anderson, Managing Director of Topo Design Studio, who highlighted the rise of multi-generational travel and the need for interconnected, family-oriented accommodations.
Noret noted that sustainability, community, and design consistency have transitioned from options to expectations. He emphasized that modern hotels must engage not just guests, but also the communities surrounding them. Meanwhile, Anderson challenged hoteliers to rethink the guest journey, asserting that the experience begins when the guest arrives, not in the lobby.
A subsequent panel discussion explored the concept of hybrid hotel spaces and the resulting design challenges. Rory Brett, Managing Principal of Eight Inc., introduced the concept of Return on Experience (ROX), measuring how much time guests spend in a space and how frequently they return. Brett cautioned that designing for everyone often results in something for no one.
All speakers agreed that the future of hospitality involves more than just the physical spaces where guests stay. The focus shifts towards how those spaces make guests feel and who they invite in, emphasizing emotional resonance and practical flexibility. The discussions at HTC2025 underscored the evolving nature of the hospitality industry and its shift towards meaningful, flexible, and emotionally-connected experiences.
Discover more at TDM.
