Trends we spotted | Week 29
Here in the Netherlands it looks like we control the #Covid-19 outbreak and we’re trying to get used to the new normal. We wish all those living in areas where all the measurements against the pandemic are still in place to stay healthy and take care of each other.
At horecatrends.com or hospitalitytrends.eu we spot many national and international trends on a daily basis. We pick the most interesting ones to write about, the other trends we use in our weekly column ‘Trends we spotted this week’.
This week, among other links to articles about the opening of the Brooklyn Dumpling Shop, an automated dumpling shop which is offering the first ‘Zero Human Interaction (Z.H.I.)’ restaurant experience ! And Phoenix Arizona will open the first Atari hotel with a video game theme.
Design and innovation firm Teague has developed a way to create an “air curtain” around each passenger for in plains. And at the Seaside Finolhu hotel you can book a ‘Beach Bubble’ on a small island at the Maldives! Sounds like the perfect getaway during the Covid-19 pandemic, although you might need the ‘air curtain’ during the flight to the Maldives!
The Chinese hotel chain Leyeju is perfect place for staying, taking into account the coronavirus. The hotel employs just two members of staff, it operates with an entirely automated experience. Both hotel chains Virgin Hotels and CitizenM also offer ‘contactless stays’ through their apps.
At Cakeland Gallery in Los Angeles, the exhibit called The Beauty War, will open this Friday, July 17, reservations by appointment only and the exhibit will be on view until December 31, 2020.
Click on the title if you like to read the full article. Enjoy reading!
An automated dumpling shop is coming to NYC this summer
Brooklyn Dumpling Shop, an automated dumpling restaurant that is planned to open in the East Village (First Ave. and St. Marks Pl.) later this year, calls itself the first “Zero Human Interaction (Z.H.I.)” restaurant experience, according to its website. Instead of waiters, counter servers, and limited other customers inside the establishment at any moment, diners can use self-cleaning food lockers and contact-free ordering to get delicious dumplings whenever they want.
‘Air curtain’ designed to protect plane passengers from COVID-19
Epidemiologists tell us that social distancing, in addition to wearing masks and washing our hands frequently, is key to helping reduce the spread of COVID-19. However, it is difficult to socially distance in enclosed spaces, such as trains and airplanes. Now, design and innovation firm Teague has developed a way to create an “air curtain” around each passenger. Teague’s innovation, the AirShield, manages cabin airflow to create a barrier around each seat that disrupts the normal circulation of air. Any time a passenger breathes, coughs or sneezes, the AirShield will keep the droplets contained within that passenger’s space and redirected downwards and out of the cabin towards the planes filtration units – all before they have the opportunity to enter the personal space of a neighboring passenger. More on the website of Springwise, the link is in the title.
Maldives hotel to roll out ‘Beach Bubble’ perfect for social distancing
The Seaside Finolhu hotel is spread over four islands in the Maldives and consists of 125 private overwater and beach villas. When it reopens to the public, it will feature a new beachfront villa typology, that of the Beach Bubble. This room type was not specifically designed for social distancing following the coronavirus crisis, but in a lucky twist of fate, it is absolutely ideal for it.
Guests choosing to stay in the Beach Bubble will find their lodgings located on a private sandbank away from the rest of the property, and the guestroom is enclosed in a transparent bubble, from where visitors can take in the epic sunrises and sunsets. The room can be booked overnight, and included in the price (£570 per night), is a private Bubble butler and chef, who will prepare a beachside barbeque and deliver delicious drinks to the secluded enclave.
Chinese contactless hotel employs just two members of staff
A Chinese hotel chain Leyeju is perfect place for staying, taking into account the coronavirus. The hotel employs just two members of staff, it operates with an entirely automated experience. Being a completely contactless, Leyeju Smart Hotel is growing fast, the chain has plans to open between 100 and 150 new hotels in China. Customers make reservations online through the website or app. They check in with facial recognition and are guided to their room by robots.
Once inside, lights, temperature control and water are controlled automatically. The automation allows each hotel to operate with just one or two employees, in case of emergencies. Even the housekeepers are managed remotely – they work part-time and use an app to arrange their schedule. Because there is no concierge, Leyeju Smart Hotels also do not need a large lobby, lowering construction costs and creating additional space for rooms.
Virgin Hotels is the next brand that upgrades its mobile app with contactless features
Virgin Hotels is the latest major hotel brand to unveil an updated version of its mobile app with contactless features in response to the public health crisis. The new and improved app is designed to enable guests to minimize, if not eliminate, face-to-face interactions with hotel staff. The hotel originally launched the app, which it dubbed Lucy, five years ago, as a “personal comfort assistant.”
CitizenM also introduces contactless stays via a free app
As part of the company’s coronavirus-related adaptations of services, guests can now enjoy contactless stays at all citizenM Hotel worldwide locations. Free to download, the citizenM app allows visitors to choose a comfortable level of social interaction. All locations within the business’ portfolio are now cashless, and guests use the app to select a room before arrival. Check-in and check out is completed in-app, and all entertainment and ambient systems in the rooms are controlled via the guest’s smartphone. More at Springwise, link in the title.
Cakeland Gallery Los Angeles in Chinatown
The exhibit called The Beauty War, opens Friday, July 17, 2020, by appointment only and will be on view until December 31, 2020. The exhibit is described as a Cake Labyrinth nestled in the heart of Los Angeles. Visitors will be taken through a series of beautifully crafted cake-inspired rooms that will each spark self-reflection and discovery. More on the website of Foodbeast.
Video game-themed Atari Hotels | First Atari Hotel to Begin Construction in Phoenix in Mid-2020
Atari® — one of the world’s most iconic consumer brands and entertainment producers announced a deal with GSD Group — a leading innovation and strategy agency, led by founder Shelly Murphy and partner Napoleon Smith III — to acquire the rights to build video game-themed Atari Hotels in the United States, with the first location breaking ground in Phoenix, Arizona later this year.
Atari is pioneering an exciting new concept: a unique lodging experience combining the iconic brand with a one-of-a-kind video game-themed destination. Atari Hotels level up hotel entertainment with fully immersive experiences for every age and gaming ability, including the latest in VR and AR (Virtual and Augmented Reality). Select hotels will also feature state-of-the-art venues and studios to accommodate esports events.
