Airport hotels rival its downtown sisters to give travellers more than just 40 winks in between flights
By FMT staff
After some intense focus, a look of admiration drew upon James McDermott’s face as he admired the piece of artwork in front of him. With the exhibition brochure clutched in his hand, he slowly made his way around the cosy gallery, finally finding the curator to discuss the possibility of purchasing a displayed piece.
The scene is no different than that which takes place countless times across art galleries all over the world. The difference is, this one is on the fifth floor of Hilton Melbourne Airport, a hotel mere minutes’ away from the runway.
Melbourne Hilton Airport joins a growing list of airport hotels worldwide that have shed yesterday’s cookie-cutter demeanour as humdrum abodes. The Radisson Blu Hotel Zurich Airport has 330 rooms including a presidential suite that has coconut chairs by George Nelson, a bathtub by Philippe Starck and Bisazza mosaics in the bathroom. Not to be outdone is Chicago’s 556-room InterContinental O’Hare hotel with its 275-seat live music venue. The best part about all this? Travellers can check out and check in at their gates in just minutes.
And no one welcomes the change more than business travellers.
Says McDermot, who hails form Texas: “I’ve been travelling for the past 20 years, wrestled with the most unimaginable airport hotel rooms that I’d rather spend the night in the terminal!” The new change in design and direction of airport abodes, he says, has made his travels more pleasant. “And about time, too!”
According to Bjorn Hanson, head analyst at the hospitality division of US PricewaterhouseCoopers, "Business-oriented hotels need to respond to the wants and expectations of business travellers." This means anticipating their needs and providing them a seamless hotel experience. While the art gallery and live music theatre may be seen as a welcome perk, other services, such as express check-in/check-out that allow guests to register and take off in a moment’s notice, or real-time, ‘glance-and-go’ airline flight information displayed at the lobby, provide guests a seamless travel experience. Particularly for business travellers that often fly in and out of a city in a moment’s notice.
Even leisure facilities such as a 24-hour fitness centre and extra touches such as ambient rooms with mood lighting help the jet-lagged traveller in finding their circadian balance. Singapore’s Crowne Plaza Hotel at Changi Airport offers soothing, pre-loaded tunes on the iPod while the Moodpad rooms at CitizenM Schipol Airpot Hotel in Amsterdam lets guests create different room environments to suit their, well, mood.
But it’s not all about hi-tech and groovy gadgets with airport hotels. Luxe touches, once the quintessence of luxury resorts, are now a distinct airport hotel character. At Regal Airport Hotel Hong Kong, guests can dip in a choice of outdoor or indoor pool and, with a landscaped garden that can rival a beach sanctuary, it’s easy to forget the runways are just next door.
Airport hotels have come a long way since the boom of the industry in 2007, when it ranked second only behind luxury hotels in the United States. Capital investment spent on existing properties then was an estimated at US$5.5 billion. Today, the present global economic slowdown ceases to curb the enthusiasm of industry players, with many instead responding to the trend in hotel makeover for a changed itinerary and design. Novotel recently announced its US$43.5 million work-in-progress for Auckland Airport. Slated to open in time for the Rugby World Cup in 2011, the hotel will have subtle references to New Zealand culture and heritage as its core design.
Regal Airport Hotel Hong Kong too is busily expanding its property. The hotel announced a US$5 million investment to upgrade its property to include an additional 67 guest rooms, providing a total of 1,171 rooms, with two duplex suites that boast of a nine-metre ceiling, a relaxing lounge, study and dining areas with a full kitchen. Says general manager Richard Hodges, “These new suites are true luxurious and contemporary with full facilities providing a unique and perfect experience for business travellers with high expectations.”
Airport hotels are themselves becoming real destinations. Who needs to go downtown when all the perks are just a stone’s throw away from the arrival gate?
-FMT Staff
