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In a world where the bottomline is always an influencing factor, can design be a tool that influences profits? Hotelier India gets three leading Indian architects to scope out the truth behind the role of design in the hospitality scenario.

Can you indeed, ‘profit’ from your hotel’s design?
PREM NATH: Yes, hotel designs can be one of the factors of profit element. A good design can lead to efficiency in space planning, utilities and service management, which cuts down maintenance cost. Bad design will lead to inefficiency, frequent break-downs and recurring cost of replacement, all heading to dissatisfaction.

ABHAY KULKARNI: Hotel design in totality has various aspects and all of them are equally important, iconic design can be used as a marketing tool as well as to impress guests.

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It is primarily visual information that the guest absorbs. The second factor is comfort of the guest, whether it is the lighting, the furniture or the amenities, which make the guest feel comfortable. The third factor is service, which is important for the guest experience that is directly dependent on the quality of service.

RAJIV KHANNA: Profit is two-fold: first comes customer satisfaction and second is energy efficiency. Hotel design is a synergy between the following elements – spatial, which includes front zone, the back office, public and private areas, service and aesthetics. One can indeed profit by synergising these elements in the right format.

What are the challenges you face?
PREM NATH: I will be voicing the opinion of not just myself but all architects and owners of projects, that the biggest challenges are pertaining to rules, regulations of various sanctioning departments, NOCs, clearances etc. Restrictions and limits put by excise department, health department and many more can become real impediments.

These days, new challenges lie in maintaining a top notch security in the hotel to make the guest comfortable. The rising global terrorism issues are a big threat.

ABHAY KULKARNI: The main challenge would be to get a good consultant who has the right amount of exposure to the culture of the location, is very creative and knows how to handle the operational part of things to make a good product.

Also, in urban areas, especially tier one and two cities, there are constraints on land size. Getting land is a challenging process.

RAJIV KHANNA: Challenges lie in optimisation of the previously mentioned elements vis a vis the local by-laws and financial inputs.