Effective interior architectural design can bring more than just pleasing and stylish elements to a major project – it can also bring measurable added value in commercial terms. Such is the experience of the new Renaissance Hotel project in Kiev.
The new Renaissance Hotel, currently under construction in the historic city centre of Kiev, will become Marriott International’s first step into the growing Ukrainian hospitality market. The striking Renaissance-style building – formerly the Leipzig Hotel – is a well-known landmark that provides the ideal back-drop for the intimate luxury of the Renaissance brand.
UK-based design consultancy, Alexander James International, was commissioned to produce the interior design scheme for the hotel’s refurbishment and extension. As with many projects for leading hotel groups, the scheme was to be developed according to clearly-defined key principles that define the brand values. However, by challenging the initial layouts provided, Alexander James has unlocked commercial opportunities in a number of ways.
The most noticeable is the creation of a new Presidential Suite on the top floor, in a space that was previously allocated to a plant room. The projected potential revenue from this suite alone will recover the full cost of the interior design work within a matter of months.
A number of other value-added initiatives demonstrate how commercially-oriented design and planning can unlock significant potential. An additional guest area – which will be dressed as a library – will occupy space originally allocated for toilets, while a reworked approach to the private dining area will allow the space to be alternatively used as an overflow from the main restaurant.
This approach has been achieved alongside the core design characteristics, which reflect the client’s brand values and utilise the property’s grand ceiling heights wherever possible. Alexander James International has introduced small design details that are stylish, distinctive and reflect the location of the hotel.
