Laura Chico Arias was a delegate at TOPHOTELWORLDTOUR London 2020. Photo by Rahul Venkit.
PDP London’s Business Development Director Laura Chico Arias tells us why she foresees 2020 as the year to focus on good F&B concepts in hospitality.
In a globalised world where amazing design can be executed from anywhere, it is important to differentiate your service offering to stay ahead of the competition. PDP London’s Business Development Director Laura Chico Arias spoke exclusively to TOPHOTELNEWS on the sidelines of TOPHOTELWORLDTOUR London 2020 to explain how PDP keeps ahead of the curve.
What are the biggest challenges facing hotel designers today?
Laura: Competition. It’s fierce. It’s everywhere. You can work at home, you can work out of a corner in a bathroom, at a co-working spot or any office. So, easy and immediate access to amazing designers all over the world makes the competition really difficult. But if you keep up with trends, continue growing your own authentic brand, and know how to listen to clients, no matter where you are, you should be fine.
What trends do you see dominating hotel design this year?
Laura: F&B it’s a huge market. I’ve noticed that hotel owners are looking to generate more revenue from their F&B areas. And as long as you have a trendy upcoming brand, it doesn’t have to be high-end or budget. If you’re offering a trendy spot, that’s keeping up with millennials etc., you can go very far attracting both local and international clients. It’s a win-win situation. I would certainly bet on outstanding F&B concepts in hospitality.
What drives PDP’s design philosophy for hospitality?
Laura: Perhaps breaking through stereotypes by analysing what would work for alternative types of brands and making sure it adapts to local tastes. Keeping up with local trends is key. Another important factor is sustainability. We work hard to keep up with the latest eco-minded advancements, making sure that our team members are always up to date, offering clients the best solutions possible.
How has PDP London’s service offering evolved with the times?
Laura: PDP London has always been known for prime and super prime residential developments. But over the past few years, we’ve been meeting both client and market demands, breaking into new sectors such as hotels or offices. Additionally, we recently launched our very own interior design department.
What impact has this had on how your design business operates?
Laura: We’ve noticed that clients tend to appreciate the duality of the service. But most importantly, it has also opened the door for more sectors, giving us access to alternative housing as well – co-living, student accommodation and so forth. So whereas you could add a lot of value in architecture, interior design, there’s always that bit of creativity. You can basically run it remotely — any office from any place, as long as you have the right people with the right mindset; the right teams. It’s very interesting.
Laura Chico Arias was a delegate at TOPHOTELWORLDTOUR London 2020.
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