I think that a great “design” in the hospitality industry is the hostel. They are extremely popular around the world, but less so in the United States. Having stayed in hostels many times myself, I am a huge fan. They encompass many aspects of sustainability. For example, sharing rooms and having hall style bathrooms saves energy. Hostels often also often have community spaces and kitchens, encouraging conversation and new friendships. They also often have organized events for guests, such as bar crawls and city tours. Unfortunately, hostels are often only seen as spaces for young people or something you would only use to save money.
I think it would be really awesome to see hostels become more mainstream. I realize that it’s going to take a lot to get adults to share rooms with others, so maybe not that aspect of hostels. However, I think that even just having hotels that have more common spaces that encourage community would go a long way, in my opinions. A lot of hostels have private rooms, but still value that shared space. Hotels are often seen as just a place to stay while on vacation or a business trip, but I think that the industry is missing something. A hotel that focuses on building community into their experience, while still providing a great standard of service, would be a welcome addition to the hospitality industry. So, to put it simply, take the community building and resource sharing properties of a hostel and add them to the high service standards of hotels.
How would this look like as an actual design construct? Maybe it’s a marketing campaign that advertises shared spaces in hotels and encourage community. I think that a campaign that says “we’re more than just your place to sleep” would be a great idea. It could focus around the idea that one major part of traveling is meeting new people and making connections. In the age of technology and social media, another option could be an app! There could be an app designed to connect people staying in the same hotel/area.