HK’s PolyU Launches Hotel Room of the Future Design Competition

Following the success of the first round of “Tomorrow’s Guestrooms” competition last year, the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has set design as the theme of the upcoming competition.

The “Tomorrow’s Guestrooms Design Competition – The Room of the Future” will be held from 1 September to 31 December 2014.

There is no one-size-fits-all template for design, with the hospitality industry as buoyant as it currently is, the talk always turns to what is next – what is the hotel room of the future?

“We are looking for the design of the room for the future within the confines of a typical Hotel ICON room and are keen to see what the designers of today and tomorrow think it may be,” Mr Richard Hatter, General Manager of Hotel ICON and Co-chairman of the Competition explained. “It’s about balance between managing the cool factor and comfort.”

Professional and young architects, architecture studios and other business in this industry as well as design students from tertiary education institutions from around the world are invited to submit their design proposals individually or as a team for one of the Tomorrow’s Guestrooms at Hotel ICON to imagine the guestroom of tomorrow and showcase their vision of hotel room design for guests of the future.

Entries will be reviewed by an expert panel, and will be judged on functionality in design and creativity in implementation. The winners may have the chance to have their design realised in one of the Tomorrow’s Guestrooms at Hotel ICON. The student winner will be given the opportunity to develop their design during a mentoring internship at Conran and Partners in London.

“Hotel ICON is a true symbol of Hong Kong’s dynamic design talent and expanding arts scene. When we were involved in the original project over three years ago, it was a fabulous opportunity to collaborate with award-winning artists, creative visionaries and the most respected designers that Hong Kong had to offer,” said Ms Tina Norden, Associate Director, Conran and Partners and Co-chairman of the Competition. “We are very much looking forward to continuing this creative process by collaborating with and inviting the competition winner to our London studio.”

An SHTM initiative, the Tomorrow’s Guestrooms were created to facilitate more in-depth research into the application of advanced concepts in the field of hotel management for the advancement of the entire industry.

“Cutting-edge research contributes to the further improvement of and drive for excellence in the hospitality industry,” noted Professor Kaye Chon, SHTM Dean and Co-chairman of the Competition. “We are proud to be in a position to support the industry and tomorrow’s hoteliers in this innovative way.”

Entry to the “Tomorrow’s Guestrooms Design Competition – The Room of the Future” will be accepted from 1 September to 31 December 2014.