When it comes to travelling and finding somewhere to stay - travellers (both business and individual) are looking for something different.
In essence they are looking for something smaller, more welcoming, more individual and personal, and somewhere that creates a community, however temporary it may be based on how long people stay.
What is small-scale hospitality?
While there may not currently be any set definition for what precisely small-scale hospitality is - we know that there is a growing demand for smaller places to stay. By this we mean hotels and other temporary accommodation that do not have hundreds of beds and rooms, but which occupy smaller spaces while still providing plenty of benefits.
For some small-scale hospitality means somewhere that feels more like home and less like a generic hotel chain style place to stay. In these places maybe more thought went into the design of the spaces, with an emphasis on comfort and individuality as opposed to just comfort.
Many small-scale hospitality examples are built within their communities, and are designed to grow within them, rather than to supplant them. They may employ local artists to design the buildings inside and out, they may provide space for local artists to share their work, or they may provide venues for local creatives to come together and collaborate and share.
The stand-outs
Even when space may be at a premium many smaller hotels prioritize community spaces and this is what makes them unique, and increasingly so popular. It is not necessarily about a more personal touch, although this is always nice, but about opportunities to connect with others. This may be in a rooftop bar, or it may be in the form of a clubhouse cum café, but travellers are looking for places to stay where they can slot right into a community and create relationships, if only for a few days.
Small-scale hospitality spaces are also mindful of their environmental impact. When it comes to sustainability, smaller is better, and shared spaces even more so. They don’t just naturally take up less space, but by being smaller they use less resources (water, electricity) to make them run.
They also tend to be designed and managed with some degree of commitment to affordability. They want to be accessible to travellers, digital nomads and those curious to see more of the world. They aim to attract a diverse clientele, and allow access to urban centres and international cities at a more accessible price point. They respect and appreciate the diversity of the people who may use them.
What does it look like?
Small-scale hospitality can look like many different things. It is fluid in terms of what it looks like. Small hotels are one example, as are upgraded hostels and shared spaces.
Vonder has opened hotels in some of London’s most central locations - offering the ultimate in small-scale hospitality to visitors of this exciting capital urban centre. Running through their hotels is a commitment to community and connection. They have taken everything that makes their evolved co-living so great and transferred it to their new hotels as well.
