Skift Take

Today, we know better than to treat design like a last-minute top coat on a finished project. Instead, design must become an integral part of how hospitality brands do business, how they interact with consumers, and how they leave their mark on the world.

This sponsored content was created in collaboration with a Skift partner.

We’re publishing a new Skift Trend Report in partnership with Accor Group: The Transformative Role of Design in Hospitality, that takes a close look at design’s principal role in hospitality and its future.

Get the report

If the word “design” gives you tunnel vision toward visual elements and built spaces, prepare to expand your perspective. In today’s world, design is so much more than an aesthetic discipline. This is particularly true in the hospitality industry, where design strategies impact the guest experience, both online and offline, throughout the entire travel journey. Design influences the way consumers understand and perceive brands across physical and digital touchpoints. It impacts the way they experience and evaluate their journey and the way they feel — not only about the hotel brands they interact with, but about themselves as people.

Today, successful design requires a holistic approach. Design thinking is what guides travelers from their couches to far-flung destinations and keeps them coming back for more, from booking and checking into a hotel, to eating, drinking, and exploring a new destination and then heading home. And taking this bird’s eye view of design’s influence on hospitality makes it clear to see how every element of design can coincide and contribute to the bigger picture.

There has been a fair amount of industry discussion about how the leading travel and hospitality brands are thinking about design today. But how should the industry evolve to be prepared for future shifts? Where is consumer demand heading? Why does design matter at all, and why should it matter for travel and hospitality?

This report provides:

  • A look at hospitality’s role in the future of design
  • A deep dive into the ROI of design
  • A look at designing for business impact vs. human emotion
  • Insights from designers and design leaders about the design principles, strategies, and trends

Get the report

This content was created collaboratively by Accor Group and Skift’s branded content studio, SkiftX.

Have a confidential tip for Skift? Get in touch

Tags: accor, Accor 2019 Year In Review, art, arts and culture, design, food and beverage, hospitality, hotels, lifestyle branding, lifestyle hotels, restaurants, Visual Storytelling

Up Next

Loading next stories