GOING LIT

Latest trends in hotel lighting and its impact on user experience

- SAYLI MOHITE

The hospitality industry seems to be constantly evolving. Looking back now, one can say that the hotelier industry seems to be more rapidly evolving and upgrading with current trends and technology than any other. And one such aspect that has seen a dynamic transformation is hotel lighting. Moving along with times and trends in the market, hotel lighting not only addresses the décor and ambience but also manages well-being and energy savings.

Anil Badan, Principal Architect, Studio B Architects, says, "Hotel design is all about the guest experience. Lighting in hotels establishes a pleasant ambience and defines the guests' mood and experience. In the hospitality sector, especially, luxurious experiences are viewed as simple interventions done exceptionally well. The relaxing and comfortable feeling does not come from the furniture, decor, or design alone but an amalgamation of all with the overhung effect of proper lighting. For example, a well-designed chandelier creates more impact than a dozen light fixtures used throughout the space."

SETTING THE MOOD

The interior landscape of a hotel is all about the visual and experience. The mood of a visitor, as soon as he steps into the hotel, is influenced by two factors - the service and the ambience. And lighting plays a big role in the later. "The entire hospitality industry works around alluring the masses. The factor of lighting in hospitality plays a significant role in deriving the mood and ambience of a space and therefore needs to be treated with utmost care. It can greatly influence and stimulate the human senses, emotionally and physically. As designers, it becomes crucial to design cleverly around lighting to create a positive stimulus for the end-users," says Khozema Chitalwala, Founder and Principal Architect of Designers Group.