Raddison Blue
Guests enter hotel and to the right you can access bar to the left is check in. Large hotel with large area for guests checking in/out, lift access to all floors at check in area and corridor through to lounge area. Does not have a luxury boutique feel to the space. No seating area in check in space, very practical and boring entrance. Have been into this hotel many times and to me it just says city hotel it is very standard style more a business hotel.
Eden Locke
Upon entering you have the cafe to the left which leads to lifts to access rooms and a small check in desk to the left. Small entrance with not a lot of space if multiple people are checking in with bags entrance could become congested easily, also did not look like a lot of storage space in that area for baggage etc. Area in middle of cafe for laptop usage which had plenty of plugs and created a defined area for this purpose. Lovely space to come down and have breakfast in or a coffee if you are a guest in the hotel.
Tigerlilly
Entered from street and was instantly greeted by a host who offered to show me around which was a lovely touch, Guests walk through the bar in the first picture and around to the check in desk (2nd Image) the check in area has lifts opposite the desk. It was a very small dark area that would become congested if you’re checking in with your bags and people are coming down to the bar etc in the lifts, also in the evenings when the bar is busy it may be quiet annoying entering the hotel and carting your bags through that area. Was a really interesting fun, bright, lively interior to the space and the outdoor smoking area built within the lounge area seemed like a great idea to avoid having people gathering outside on the street blocking new guests etc.
The Cheval
There are many things housed inside this building and I didn’t feel that it was that clear where the hotel was and it didn’t feel that obvious that it was the hotel reception on the ground floor to me, it just felt more like a general reception area, small seating area for you to rest or put things whilst checking in. Great views down from the upper floors, liked the way the carpet was down in the hallways to direct you and how this pattern has also been used on the main floors repeatedly spiralling like the feeling when you look over the balcony.
The W
Entering the W was like a big WOW, lovely big space check in desks to the left and bar for guest to have a tea/coffee when checking in to the right, only downside was 8 members of staff all just standing there which was quiet intimidating, but the all shuffled along to hide behind a pillar at one point to make it less awkward. Love how the artistic decoration on the celling leads you to the check in desk. Lift access to rooms is located in the middle of the checkin side and the coffee bar. As you continue round the is a red cinema style seating built into the wall like a picture which I thought was really cool but practically speaking I’m not sure how often that area would get used as it didn’t really feel like it led anywhere guests would be going, after this was a sort of theatre set up which again felt like a space that may not be used but after speaking to the staff was informed that when there is a large group of people arriving to check in they often take them to this space where they can talk to them all at the same time and this frees up the lobby for other guests checking in. Although apparently they also have staff training in this space and if you are sitting in the back row it is impossible to hear what is being said so I’m not sure this is the best use of the space for “group checkin”.
The Indigo
After entering off the Main Street you are faced with a set of stairs which leads unto the checkin area of the hotel but this wasn’t clearly directed and may not be that straight forward for guest finding there way, overall the space in general felt like lots of stairs or corridors/hallways leading to larger areas which then had big windows and views over Edinburgh. This is clearly an old building changed into a hotel and it definitely had that feel about the space.
The Virgin Hotel
Firstly I loved the outfit the doorman was wearing he led us through the building to where the reception area was situated was quiet a maze but with lots of different interesting areas along the way to keep you interested near reception there was a small lounge/library area with seating and a laptop working space in the corridoor which I thought was cleaverly thought out and designed. The spaces definitely had a sense of luxury but with a fun element thrown into it too.
I found this very useful as had been struggling slightly with the layout of the foyer/reception/lounge areas of my hotel design and this gave me a lot more to think about and to really narrow down what I want my guest journey to be or to experience from the moment they enter the hotel.
