In the first episode of Spaces that Speak by U Interior Design, Laura Huerta, Interior Design Director at U Interior Design, spoke with Llanos Espinosa, Investment and Hotel Operators Consultant. During the talk, the great challenges in the creation of hotel projects were explored, highlighting the dynamic and constantly evolving nature of these spaces.
Llanos Espinosa shared a deep reflection on the design process and the feeling that remains when a project comes to an end. Although completing a hotel can be a rewarding experience, it also leaves a feeling of emptiness, a kind of nostalgia for the creative process. With so many projects going on year after year, there is not always time to stop and reflect on every detail, but the emotional attachment to the work done is undeniable.
However, in the hotel world, a project is never really finished. Often, operators come back with new ideas and needs, such as adding unexpected details. This underlines the idea that hotels are living things, constantly changing beings, always offering something more to do.
One of the most fascinating aspects of hotel design work is the opportunity to see how a space evolves over time. Laura Huerta stressed the importance of visiting a hotel one or two years after its opening to assess how the design has aged, which aspects have worked well and which have not. This direct observation is crucial to improve and apply those learnings in future projects. Although the paper supports any idea, only the operation and day-to-day use really reveal the success of a design.
In addition, the fast pace of industry and the constant emergence of new materials and technologies do not always allow for a thorough evaluation of their durability or suitability. Only with time and experience can it be determined whether a design choice was the right one, which adds another layer of complexity to this work.
In answering a question from the community about the differences in repositioning a hotel with more or less stars, Llanos Espinosa clarified that, although all projects should aim for very high quality, the category of the hotel influences the allocated investment. This not only affects the magnitude of the project, but also the expectations and the focus given to each detail.
If you are passionate about hotel design or simply want to delve deeper into how these spaces come to life and evolve, we invite you to watch it here.