Hilton Hotels & Resorts Introduce New Lobby Design
“A lobby should be a place you feel like occupying,” stated Dave Horton, Global Head of Hilton Hotels & Resorts, as he addressed hospitality media last week in McLean, Virginia.
As CruiseTravelDesign editor, I was one of those outlets invited to get an inside look at Hilton Hotels & Resorts new lobby design. Writers traveled to McLean, Virginia, home of Hilton Worldwide Headquarters to meet the personalities behind this amazing new change for Hilton Hotels & Resorts.
I arrived just after midnight after taking a late flight to the Washington, DC area and was impressed as soon as I walked through the doors of Hilton McLean Tysons Corner, the site of the initial design reveal. This atrium style hotel features a lobby that isn’t just an area to sit and meet people, but it provides a variety of purposes, no matter what a guest’s needs. It’s a space that made me want to just hang out and work on my computer instead of holing myself in my hotel room.
This open lobby area provides a guest-friendly access for any need. I was able to place my eyes on seating area, reception, technology lounge, lobby bar, and restaurant easily. This new lobby design makes it stress free to get a feel for all the hotel amenities, instead of wandering around aimlessly searching for a place to print a boarding pass, get a snack, or any other of the most basic needs.
Think with a global mind. Act with a local heart. That’s what makes Hilton special. ~ Dave Horton
I enjoyed listening to the design team as they explained the thinking behind each element of the design process. Of course, my Here’s a video and some images of my tour of the new lobby design, along with a sneak peek of how Hilton Hotels & Resorts is upgrading their guest rooms in the future.
Here’s the official statement from Hilton Hotels & Resorts:
MCLEAN, Va. – A new lobby design introduced by Hilton Hotels & Resorts reflects the brand’s commitment to exploring the latest design and technology innovations, ensuring the lobby is an engaging environment relevant for today’s global travelers and offering flexible solutions for hotel owners. Accessible technology, contemporary food and beverage offerings and an adaptable environment for community engagement are three hallmarks of the Hilton lobby design approach.
The new experience, created as part of a three-phase $40 million renovation of Hilton McLean Tysons Corner in the United States, offers a flexible layout with a living room feel that encourages a social atmosphere where guests can interact, work, and collaborate. The centerpiece of the lobby is an 18-hour bar that evolves throughout the day serving coffee, select grab ‘n go specialties, shared plates and specialty cocktails. A dedicated Technology Lounge, integrated into the lobby experience, updates the traditional business center concept, bringing the space front and center, with PC and Mac workstations, and communal work table. The check-in experience has also been transformed with pod-style front desks allowing Hilton Team Members and guests to interact more directly with personalized service.
Special thanks to Hilton Hotels & Resorts for hosting my visit and inviting me to get a first look at this exciting reveal so that I could share this with TravelingMamas.com readers.
