This year’s BDNY / HX conference was packed with design trends you need to know going into 2018! Couldn’t catch the show? We’ve got you covered. Get caught up with our review of the biggest trends showcased this year in New York.

Share a Local Experience with Your Guests

Localization has been a growing trend within the hospitality industry and there’s no sign of it slowing anytime soon. As one presenter at this year’s Hotel Experience put it, “When I’m in Philadelphia, I want to feel like I’m in Philadelphia. That means more than just getting a cheese steak.”

Providing an authentic local experience makes your business a hotspot for travelers and a touchstone for locals. Best of all, there are countless ways to bring a splash of local color to your property: your menu, your decorating, even your color palette and furniture. That makes it easy to find a solution that fits your space and your budget.

The Style of Sustainability

The hospitality industry is making a huge push to increase sustainable practices. Restaurants are filling their kitchens with local, organic ingredients and hotel groups like Marriott are getting recognized for working to achieve the United Nations latest sustainable development goals.

At this year’s BDNY, it became clear that increasing sustainability is now a part of design decisions just as much as it’s a part of corporate responsibility. Designers showcased new looks inspired by nature that stretched from lobby decor to table settings and everything in between. Look for this wave of environmentally-focused features to be one of the next biggest trends in the hospitality industry.

Ease, Comfort, and More through Technology

As always, the latest trends in tech are influencing the environments they fit into. Restauranteurs at this year’s conference touted the crucial role technology is playing both in streamlining their backend systems and helping to provide an unforgettable experience for guests.

At the same time, hotel owners are embracing high tech solutions to nearly every step of a guest's visit. Hoteliers shared their visions for the future of the industry and pointed to advances in AV systems, artificial intelligence, and a wider adoption of smart device integration as some of the next big steps in what hotels offer.

Designing for the Solo Flyer

Two years ago, the Global Business Travel Association predicted that business travel around the world would account for $1.6 trillion by 2020. With 2018 right around the corner, their crystal ball is proving to be pretty accurate.

Industry experts from hotels and restaurants stressed the need for designs and services that cater to solo-flying guests just like this. Hoteliers and restauranteurs are offering quiet, comfortable spaces where business guests can dine, work, and relax alone without having to sequester themselves in their hotel rooms. Look for an increase in built-in charging stations, secluded seating areas, and even more of a push behind the fast-fine dining movement that’s swept through the industry in the past few years.

Bold, Textured, Signature, You

If there was any trend that stole the show at this year’s event it was this: bold statements in design are the new way to craft a signature in the hospitality industry.

Designers at BDNY showcased a huge diversity of styles and inspirations this year, enough to suit the taste of any manager and any brand. Throughout them all, however, there ran a thread of bright, textured features that drew the eye and (in many cases) a crowd.

Position these signature design elements throughout your space alongside more subdued tones to highlight them even more and craft a look that’s uniquely your own.