imm cologne 2017 offers planners and decision-makers in the hotel industry a multitude of new ideas. Exhibitors at the international interiors show present a wide range of the latest products and concepts for hospitality projects. After all, alongside increasing numbers of overnight stays, the demands placed on hotel furnishings are also growing. In the competition for guests, even budget establishments put an emphasis on design considerations.
Every year, many decision-makers from the hotel industry gather information about the latest interior design trends at imm cologne. In addition to new products for private homes, the trade fair presents numerous innovations and market-ready products for the contract sector.
It’s not only the interest in new concepts for home living that is on the rise but also the love of travel. The hotel market, therefore, continues to experience growth. In Germany alone, hotels and other tourism service providers recorded a three-percent increase in revenue in the first half of 2016, compared with the same period in the previous year – according to a recent report from the German Federal Statistical Office. Alongside holidaymakers, there is an increasing number of business travelers amongst these overnight guests. In Germany, for example, staff have never traveled so often before. This trend was identified by the German Business Travel Association (VDR / Verband Deutsches Reisemanagement) in its analysis of business travel over the last year. With a constant stream of new hotels, resorts and other offers of short-term accommodation, the market for holiday travel is experiencing a similar boom.
New Design for Higher Expectations
“Life away from home is becoming increasingly important”, says Dick Spierenburg, Creative Director at imm cologne. “That is why expectations placed on hotels are increasing. The trend in this area is very exciting and closely linked to imm cologne as an interiors show.” At the next event in 2017, over 100 exhibitors will be presenting new products for furnishing hotels, guesthouses, and other tourist services. Due to its international focus and the variety of products featured, the Cologne trade fair is of particular interest for designers in this field. “imm cologne is one of the world’s leading interiors shows”, says Markus Benz, partner and board member at the long-established furniture brand Walter Knoll. “Particularly for northern European manufacturers, it is the most important platform on which to present their new products. As a result, it is a very attractive event for trade visitors, architects, interior designers, and design enthusiasts.”
Increasing Importance of the Contract Sector
High-volume orders and prestige projects, such as the recently opened hotel The Westin Hamburg in the Elbphilharmonie concert hall building, make the hotel market attractive for Walter Knoll and other manufacturers. Establishments providing temporary accommodation are part of the growing contract sector, which is increasingly gaining importance for international furniture brands. Giulio Cappellini, for example, from the famous Italian design label, notes that “the contract business is becoming more and more important to us”. While Cappellini originally began as a company that furnished private homes, the contract sector today makes up a larger share – and hospitality makes a particular contribution. Giulio Cappellini, however, has noticed increasing harmonization between the two sectors: “Today, the aim is to make hotels cozier and more comfortable. Hotels are feeling more and more like home – the contract business and private home sector are overlapping more and more.”
Bespoke Interior Design Concepts
Jens Lewe, Managing Director of the furniture brand KFF has also observed areas where the two markets intersect and consequently sees great potential for imm cologne exhibitors: “The integration of homely elements is a key feature in developments in the contract sector. Materials and design are becoming less technical and are now intended to improve the quality of the user’s stay. There are great opportunities here for anyone who can provide these kinds of non-uniform products.” Sebastian Herkner agrees with the view that interior design is becoming more homely: “Today, hotels should be like a home away from home, places with an ambiance.” The designer, who works all over the world and created the vision of a home living, “Das Haus – Interiors on Stage”, at imm cologne 2016, makes reference to the changing demands on hotel concepts: “Nowadays, the hotel design is all about individualization. Even with hotel chains, the focus is not on identical design, but rather a style that suits the individual location”. More and more exhibitors at imm cologne are therefore offering bespoke interior design concepts for the contract sector. Steffen Reim, the project manager at Dauphin Home, sees this as the greatest opportunity for success: “The two sectors, hotels and guesthouses, are growing. Only a concept-based approach will be successful here; it’s not so much about the individual product.” imm cologne 2017 will feature a range of options. In addition to individual items of furniture, textiles, and other interior products for hotels, tailor-made interior solutions will be showcased at the trade fair – for all segments and requirements.
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