If you spent more than a few minutes in a hotel lobby, it’s fairly easy to tell what type of clientele they serve. Traditional hospitality, personalized service, a butler and a desk are typically found in high end luxury hotels but keyless check in is more likely to be found in a hotel for a younger demographic where technology is their fulltime concierge. But beyond socio-economics, hotels provide a lot of other clues as to who their owners are and who their customers are. That’s because our design tastes are very much influenced by the time in which we grew up or even what part of the world. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, I broke down the last four generations with a little commentary about
Baby Boomers: Boomers are considered the Post World War II generation. They favored matching furniture sets for the bedroom or living room. They also preferred pieces made of real wood, mainly darker wood, often with intricate edges, legs, and molding. Built to last was their motto, so they were willing to spend extra for better quality materials. They are staying at a well-known brand like Intercontinental, Ritz Carlton or Four Seasons and not a boutique hotel.
- Which hotel they would probably stay at: Firmdale Hotel or St.Regis
- Chair/Sofa of choice: Lucille English Rolled Arm Sofa from McGee & Co
Generation X: X’ers were raised in the mid 60’s to late early 80’s. They grew up in a time just before technology kicked off. Wood paneling and shabby rugs were popular during this time as well as brighter colors and patterns. They weren’t afraid to experiment, even if it was with plaid wallpaper. Eclectic yet functional would be a way to describe the tastes of this generation.
- Which hotel they would probably stay at: Aman or Rosewood
- Chair/Sofa of choice: Modena Chesterfield from Restoration Hardware
Millennials: The tech savvy Millennials were born at the beginning of the 80’s to the mid 90’s. They prefer minimalist and more mid-century industrial designs. Hardwood floors are a must and they prefer cool grey tones and black or silver hardware vs gold. A favorite place to shop among this generation is definitely West Elm , but we can’t rule out Wayfair and Ikea. They are most happy finding an AirBnB vs. utilizing the traditional hotel chain route. However, they’d be apt to stay to a Canopy by Hilton when given the chance.
- Which hotel they would stay at: Canopy by Hilton or Hyatt Centric
- Chair/Sofa of choice: Holmes sofa from Room and Board
Generation Z: Late 1990’s to early 2010’s. This design is all about the latest design trends on TikTok and Instagram. Whether it is faux vines or LED lights bordering their bed or crown molding, they are out to make their space cozy and ready for a social media picture at any time. This generation loves a well furnished, well-equipped place, with plenty of hotel property amenities vs. hotel room amenities.
- Which hotel they would stay at: Evo Hotel or AutoCamp
- Chair/Sofa of choice: Valo Upholstered with ottoman from Wayfair, so they can capture all their influencers shots or ensure their podcast room looks hip!
Which hotel you ultimately decide to stay at depends on what makes you feel most comfortable. Even though you were born in a certain decade, your personal aesthetic could be very different than what is typical. In addition, who you are traveling with and what your budget is, will also influence your choices.