Furnishing vergarder rooms

What do business hotel users need anno 2023? E.S.T.I.D.A.'s vision of conference and meeting spaces in hotels emphasises the importance of flexibility, inspiration and comfort. Ruth van Toledo, director of design & development: "The hotel should create an inviting environment where guests feel free and can be productive."

When E.S.T.I.D.A designs an overall concept, meeting space is often part of it. This is increasingly a priority for leisure hotels. "In the industry, it can be seen that the difference between leisure and business is becoming increasingly blurred. When companies go 'on location', they are looking for the luxury and atmosphere that a leisure guest experiences. There is also more need for a special place, with a homely feel. The trick for hotels is to offer something that is different." 

According to Van Toledo, the different types of hotels are converging. "For instance, business hotels are becoming less formal. The days of ten rooms with a meeting or cinema set-up are over. Instead, rooms are emerging where people can work in different ways, for example a room specifically for scrumming. People, especially since the corona era, work in a different way, so there is a need for less formal work locations."

What is needed to attract business users? "It's about offering different options, for example by creating from specific rooms. At Carlton President, we created a bright red pressure cooker room in addition to the meeting rooms, for making quick decisions. A room with an atypical living room look is also highly sought after by companies." This is not feasible for every hotel. "Smaller hotels can achieve more with less space through a blend of functionalities. An informal meeting room can also accommodate private dining." 

What basics are necessary for a good business space? "Tasty coffee, total experience and service," laughs the designer. "A good whiteboard, the right acoustics and good lighting are essential. If companies are going to work externally, the meeting facilities need to be good or better than in-house." The furniture has to meet extra high standards. "Many rooms are used in a dynamic way, so it is important that chairs and tables can take a beating and are stackable or foldable, for example. In addition, seating comfort is very important, as meetings often last for hours." 

As an advocate of the overall concept, E.S.T.I.D.A encourages the business space to be included as well. "The furnishing of meeting rooms may well make a statement, as long as it inspires, but does not distract. In a break-out space, again, more is possible. In these spaces, you want to provide different options, to grab something to eat or drink and to sit or stand wherever the user wants. Together, or isolated for a while. That way, as a hotel, you can ensure that there is a place for everyone."

One project E.S.T.I.D.A is proud of is the Hotel Carlton President in Utrecht. "This meeting hotel also receives many leisure guests. Because of the location, we based the concept fairly on Urban Nature. The assignment was to furnish the existing hotel to give it a modern, distinct look, where guests were challenged to meet creatively." Notable in the new hotel interior are the large areas of colour and the consistent use of colour in rooms. Recurring elements include botanical prints, geometric shapes and graphic elements. "In this hotel, we delivered boardrooms, informal brainstorm rooms and a living room. The ground floor is actually the hotel's living room, where meetings can also be held." 

Châteauform Landhuis Mariënheuvel is a hotel aimed purely at business visitors. Yet you don't rent a room here, De Toledo explains. "Instead, you may stay there and use all the facilities during that time. There are living rooms, meeting rooms and plenty of other places to meet in a relaxed manner. Châteauform's vision encompasses hospitality in the widest sense. All spaces are open, food and drink are available everywhere and everyone can take what they need. The look is almost residential, while everything is designed for business use. For instance, we have fitted metal strips where things can be hung up and the whiteboards are subtly hidden. All the preconditions are there." The mansion is an old monastery and this atmosphere is reflected in the hotel. "A lot of international companies come here, so the aim was to emphasise that you are in the Netherlands. The centre building is loosely based on the 17th century, while the 1930s wing also has that atmosphere. There is also a seventies wing. The building is full of exciting places." Entertainment has also been thought of, as there is a (karaoke) bar in the basement. Beers are tapped by the users themselves. "After a day's work, users can retire to their rooms. These have been deliberately kept simple, with no television."

Ruth van Toledo, project engineer at E.S.T.I.D.A, advises making grand gestures with Christmas decorations, rather than focusing on small details. "A hotel is very different from a residential property and requires a different way of decorating. Therefore, opt for big elements. For example, decorate the ceiling with big balls in one colour, in line with the hotel's own concept."