There is a dedicated Crew Room, and there is a meeting and conference facility in the hotel , but the success is in creating a busy atmosphere in an hotel where busy times are unusual given that most traffic is through the night as this is when the freight terminal is at its busiest. The plan of the building is clever, linking the bar to the reception desk in a way first noted clearly as an operational decision at the
Marriott Courtyard in Colombes, Paris. Compact footprint and a central focus for reception creates a busy lobby area, whilst unusually for a Park Inn the free Wifi brings casual business users in for informal meetings also contributing to a busier atmosphere. Even with only half a dozen diners for dinner early evening the compact nature of the area made it feel busier than a more expansive use of space would have done.
The branding is carried through in the use of colour. It is there in the colour of the candle holders and candles - a simple but effective trick. It is carried through the colour detail in the wall decoration. Each floor carries a different colour coding related to the brand colours, and the signage colour suites with it.Only in
Travelodge have I previously seen colour used as effectively as a brand reinforcement, although it is becoming more noticeable in other companies such as the new build Campanile shortly to be Reviewed by HotelDesigns.
Trading at an average 65% - 70% during the week apparently, the hotel is almost silent inside despite being at the end of the runway, due to very effective double glazing. As a business hotel linked to an industry that appears to be still reasonable active insulates its results to an extent from the current 30 - 35% decline in tourist numbers being experienced elsewhere in Belgium.
As an exemplar Liége Park Inn is good - I have seen hotels that have won design awards that are worse designed than this three star. What is also delightful is that this design quality is recognised as important by senior management, and as Park Inn continues its remarkable growth towards its 100th hotel it bodes well for consistency and quality of this powerful new budget brand.
Patrick Goff
First published in the DesignClub on 14th Apr 2009
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