PRESS RELEASE // Hotel Designs launches innovative initiatives to keep the conversation flowing during and after the pandemic

Hotel Designs LIVE, DESIGNPOD and the Industry Support Package were all initiatives launched by Hotel Designs during lockdown in order to support Hotel Designs’ readers and advertisers through and beyond turbulent times.

In addition to publishing the latest news, features and hotel reviews, Hotel Designs, the leading international hotel design online platform that is owned by parent companyForum Events & Media Group Ltd, reacted to the pandemic by launching three new initiatives. These were: 

• Hotel Designs LIVE, a one-day virtual conference to serve the industry with engaging panel discussions and debates 
• DESIGNPOD, a contemporary podcast for all on-the-go designers and architects
• Industry Support Package, a three-month editorial package for all hotel design and hospitality brands 

Hotel Designs LIVE, DESIGNPOD and the Industry Support Package, all of which were concepts born within the chaotic realms of the coronavirus pandemic, have been praised among its readers as meaningful ways to keep the industry connected during and beyond 2020. 

The hospitality sector has been among the worst hit markets during the coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic. According to a report by STR, Europe’s hotel industry reported low performance across the continent in July 2020 vs July 2019, with the United Kingdom reporting the lowest occupancy, ADR and RevPAR in the company’s database.

Pre-empting these statistics – and in order to give the industry a boost during lockdown – in May 2020, Hotel Designs launched its Industry Support Package. The three-month package allowed brands to benefit from Hotel Designs publishing three editorial pieces, with advertising to support, at a fraction of its rate-card costs. Publisher of the brand Katy Phillips explains: “The Industry Support Package was essentially a metaphorical microphone that allowed more than 50 brands working in the hotel design and hospitality industry to amplify their latest products and services via editorial published on our website, which was further shared to our newsletter database and on our various social media platforms.” 

While the Industry Support Package gave exposure to individual brands during lockdown, Hotel Designs LIVE and DESIGNPOD were launched in order to amplify meaningful conversations to keep the industry connected and entertained with engaging interviews and panel discussions. “We have always believed that it is our responsibility to serve the hotel design and hospitality industry with valuable solutions,” commented editor of the brand Hamish Kilburn. “As well as launching as new methods to receive our content, Hotel Designs LIVE and DESIGNPOD allow our readers to access the latest debates around relevant topic that are affecting our industry and shaping its future.” 

In addition to the live interviews and panel discussions with handpicked industry experts – and to ensure that the event is bridging the gap between hospitality suppliers and designers, architects, hoteliers and developers – the conference also included structured ‘PRODUCT WATCH’ pitches around each session, allowing suppliers the opportunity to pitch their products and services in a ‘live’ environment to the hospitality buyers that were tuned in.

The debut Hotel Designs LIVE, which took place on June 23, welcomed Jason Bradbury, the former presenter of The Gadget Show, as headline speaker. The event, which put topics such as technology, public areas, sleep and wellbeing under the spotlight, was described as ‘a real success’, with one PRODUCT WATCH supplier calling it, "a highly recommended mode of marketing that really does work.” Another commented: “We found that the content was relevant and it acted as a great platform to encourage some really interesting Q&A sessions and PRODUCT WATCH sections.”

DESIGNPOD, which is Hotel Designsofficial podcast, co-hosted by Kilburn and interior designer and past president of the British Institute of Interior Design (BIID) Harriet Forde, is due to launch in Q4 of 2020. The first episode ‘choosing your lane’ will welcome guest speaker Constantina Tsoutsikou, former Creative Director of HBA London and founder of Studio LOST, to take the microphone.

For more information, please visit www.hoteldesigns.net. 

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About Hotel Designs

Hotel Designs, owned by parent company Forum Events & Media Group Ltd, is the leading international hotel design online platform. In 2019, the website reached 553, 070 designers, architects, hoteliers, developers and suppliers. In addition to the online platform, the brand also hosts a number of face-to-face networking events and awards, including MEET UP London, MEET UP North and The Brit List Awards. More information can be found at www.hoteldesigns.net.

Notes to the editor

·     The next Hotel Designs LIVE is due to take place on October 13. Click here to book your place in the audience.

·     DESIGNPOD will launch in Q4 2020 

For media enquiries, or more information, please contact Hotel Designs’ editor Hamish Kilburn at [email protected]