Close Menu
Hospitality InteriorsHospitality Interiors
  • News
  • Articles
    • Interviews
    • Opening Shots
    • Products
    • Profiles
    • Projects
    • Resources
    • Trends
  • Magazines
    • Design Destinations: April 2025
    • Issue 118 – March/April 2025
    • Design Destinations: Feb 2025
    • Issue 117 – Jan/Feb 2025
    • Issue 116 – Nov/Dec 2024
    • Issue 115 – Sept/Oct 2024
    • Issue 114 – July/August 2024
    • Issue 113 – May/June 2024
    • All Recent Issues
  • Sponsored Content
  • Email Newsletters
  • About Us
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
LinkedIn X (Twitter) Instagram
Hospitality InteriorsHospitality Interiors
Subscribe to Magazine
  • News
  • Articles
    • Interviews
    • Opening Shots
    • Products
    • Profiles
    • Projects
    • Resources
    • Trends
  • Magazines
    1. Design Destinations: April 2025
    2. Issue 118 – March/April 2025
    3. Design Destinations: Feb 2025
    4. Issue 117 – Jan/Feb 2025
    5. Issue 116 – Nov/Dec 2024
    6. Issue 115 – Sept/Oct 2024
    7. Issue 114 – July/August 2024
    8. Issue 113 – May/June 2024
    9. All Recent Issues
    Featured

    Design Destinations: April 2025

    14 April 2025
    Recent

    Design Destinations: April 2025

    14 April 2025

    Hospitality Interiors: Issue 118 – March/April 2025

    24 March 2025

    Design Destinations: February 2025

    20 February 2025
  • Sponsored Content
  • Email Newsletters
  • About Us
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
LinkedIn X (Twitter) Instagram
Subscribe to Magazine
Hospitality InteriorsHospitality Interiors
Interviews

In conversation: BBGM

Katie SherryBy Katie Sherry12 August 20154 Mins Read
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn

From the design of an eight-story, 400-key, five-star hotel on the bank of the Potomac River, to the luxury renovation of a boutique hotel in Georgetown, Washington DC-based architecture and interior design firm, BBGM has no lack of exciting projects both under its belt and in the pipeline. Here, Alfred H. Gooden III, director at BBGM, gives his observations on current trends in guest room design …

What for you is the most critical element of an effective guest room design?

The hotel industry always is looking for new services and amenities to attract guests, but it is the room itself that serves as the primary source of revenue and ultimate attraction for first time guest and the dominate reason for repeat guest.

Hoteliers are focusing in on what makes their guestroom stand out from the hotel across the street, and looking to respond to the desires and needs of their guests.

Though there are similarities, the challenge is different if the guest is a business traveler or a recreational traveler. The old adage; “It should feel like a home away from home” really is not what either traveler wants, after all they are traveling AWAY from home!

For me, it really is about having the things I always wanted at home, I want to be personally be pampered. So it is critical to bring in those personal touches.  The room has to be intuitive and easy to personalize and most importantly RELAX.

What would you say are the top three trends influencing guest rooms?

The number one request is integrated technology. WiFi internet connection is a must and it must be free! Hotels are providing large monitors and wireless keyboards for the traveler to connect their laptops.

Guests are also looking to have individual control of the room environment. Touch pad devices that enable guests to control temperature, light levels and sound systems are becoming an attractive feature to make the personal experience exactly that, personal.

The actual sleeping area of the room is getting smaller and less cluttered to make room for the bathroom getting bigger.  This is the real room of personal pampering. The floors are heated; showers are larger, open and either have a rain head, pulsating wall head and a wand, or all three.

When there is a tub it is a soaking tub. European norms are becoming American standards. The bathroom is more of a personal spa. The integrated toilet or bidet toilet seats are a common feature in suites especially in attracting international guest.

There are simple steps being made to respond to green initiatives in services (sheet changes towel use, reclaiming soaps, etc) but also in the decor and finishes used in the rooms.

Hotels are marketing the recycled content and the sustainability of the finishes in the rooms and throughout the hotel.  For Gen X-ers to millennials, sustainable living is a way of life, and expected to be part of their travel experience.

How do you ensure your project stands out in such a fast-paced and heavily populated sector?

As for the decor, a look for ‘authenticity’ is being sought after. The traveler is looking for the hotel to be a representation of the city it is located in, and not merely a replication of the same style from a national brand regardless of where it is in the world.

This has translated to the term boutique. It used to refer to the size of the hotel and the number of rooms. Today it refers to uniqueness and individuality of the hotel.

Having a personalised style that reflects the culture of the location and maintains a quality level of the brand is the goal. That theme is carried from the public amenity spaces to the corridors and through the guestrooms.  The guestrooms can be personalised with varying colour schemes with the same fabrics, furnishings and accessories.

The trend is not to be trendy, not to follow the crowd, but personalise and have your guestrooms be a signature of your brand and the community your hotel is in.

What would you say is the most memorable/unusual guest room you’ve worked on and why?

The renovation of the Watergate Hotel in Washington DC is unique because of the history, and the unique shape of the building requires that no two rooms are the same.

Have you got any new projects on the horizon you’re able to share with us?

Cannot talk about it by name, but this will be a unique boutique hotel that has a working art studio incorporated in the public spaces.

Previous ArticleBernardi’s restaurant to launch in September
Next Article Mr Fogg’s Tavern to open this Autumn
Katie Sherry

Read Similar Stories

Casey Scalf – Director of The Society

8 January 2025

Beverley Bayes, Co-Owner and Director, Sparcstudio

12 December 2024

Martin Goddard and Jo Littlefair, Directors and Co-Founders, Goddard Littlefair

2 December 2024
Latest Content

Amtico at CDW 25: Three days of floorled inspiration (and a little fizz)

Clerkenwell Design Week 2025

Redefine guest bathroom experiences with timeless, refined enclosures from Majestic London

Sponsored Content

Amtico at CDW 25: Three days of floorled inspiration (and a little fizz)

13 May 2025

Redefine guest bathroom experiences with timeless, refined enclosures from Majestic London

12 May 2025
Get in Touch
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Subscribe
© 2024 Lewis Business Media. All Rights Reserved.
Lewis Business Media, Suite A, Arun House, Office Village, River Way, Uckfield, TN22 1SL

Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy | Terms & Conditions

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “ACCEPT ALL”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
Cookie SettingsREJECT ALLAccept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-advertisement1 yearSet by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin, this cookie is used to record the user consent for the cookies in the "Advertisement" category .
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics1 yearSet by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin, this cookie is used to record the user consent for the cookies in the "Analytics" category .
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional1 yearThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary1 yearSet by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin, this cookie is used to record the user consent for the cookies in the "Necessary" category .
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others1 yearSet by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin, this cookie is used to store the user consent for cookies in the category "Others".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance1 yearSet by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin, this cookie is used to store the user consent for cookies in the category "Performance".
PHPSESSIDsessionThis cookie is native to PHP applications. The cookie is used to store and identify a users' unique session ID for the purpose of managing user session on the website. The cookie is a session cookies and is deleted when all the browser windows are closed.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
CookieDurationDescription
_ga2 yearsThe _ga cookie, installed by Google Analytics, calculates visitor, session and campaign data and also keeps track of site usage for the site's analytics report. The cookie stores information anonymously and assigns a randomly generated number to recognize unique visitors.
_gat_gtag_UA_31822138_191 minuteSet by Google to distinguish users.
_gid1 dayInstalled by Google Analytics, _gid cookie stores information on how visitors use a website, while also creating an analytics report of the website's performance. Some of the data that are collected include the number of visitors, their source, and the pages they visit anonymously.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
CookieDurationDescription
OAID1 yearThis cookie is set when an AdsWizz website visitor have opted out the collection of information by AdsWizz service or opted to disable the targeted ads by AdsWizz.
SAVE & ACCEPT
Powered by CookieYes Logo