Redefining Hotel Design with Virtual Reality
With a footprint spanning 115 countries and territories, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group (www.carlsonrezidor.com) currently has 1,400 hotels in operation and under development with more than 220,000 rooms, and more than 190 hotels in operation and under development in the Asia Pacific region. With a brand portfolio that includes Quorvus Collection, Radisson Blu, Radisson, Radisson Red, Park Plaza, Park Inn by Radisson, and Country Inns & Suites by Carlson, we keep guests and partners at heart by challenging ourselves to discover new and meaningful ways to excite and delight them. Technological advances as a global hospitality group are no exception, beginning earlier this year with the launch of “BluPrint,” a new interior design program for Radisson Blu’s global portfolio of hotels.
Providing the foundation of a new design scheme for guest rooms, social spaces, meetings and event areas, BluPrint is a vehicle of Radisson Blu’s organic evolution of the brand’s heritage and DNA of sophisticated contemporary design. A perfect fusion of form and function, it also benefits owners and investors in providing distinctive and localized styling across interior design and refurbishments with a multi-functional guideline that allows inventory flexibility in terms of materials and color scheme. Implementation has begun and it will form an integral component of the brand’s comprehensive renovation and refurbishment program.
To augment and bring this design scheme to “life,” the free-to-download BluPrint app was developed and is available on iOS and Android platforms. Consumers can visit the website, print out a “trigger” card and enjoy a 3D experience and a sneak preview of a BluPrint city or resort room.
Most recently, Carlson Rezidor’s commitment to technology and innovation extended to an investment in Virtual Reality (VR) where a globally renowned design visualization studio was engaged to produce virtual experiences for the Radisson Blu and Radisson RED brands.
Carlson Rezidor’s technological edge seeks to redefine the design process by providing owners and investors the ability to provide on the spot feedback through a practical and portable tool, with virtual walk-throughs. The strategy also opens fresh dialogue and delivers a new world of personalized, experiential engagement and a sensorial appreciation of Carlson Rezidor’s brands. In doing so, the company remains nimble and flexible in its drive to stay ahead of changing guest expectations and capture new audiences to ensure stronger returns for owners and investors.
Carlson Rezidor is now moving into the next phase of its VR exercise, with plans to increase product differentiation knowledge through the visualization of rooms, meetings and event spaces of other brands. Corporate clients will have the ability to experience their function areas before making an important MICE booking and for couples, VR provides them an immersive opportunity to experience potential ballroom wedding setups, prior to making a major decision on the event of a lifetime. With augmented reality attributes and customer engagement abilities, VR offers many benefits for the hospitality and travel market.
Carlson Rezidor’s focus on emerging technology and innovation underscores its drive to stay ahead of changing guest expectations while captivating new audiences and ensuring even stronger returns for owners and investors. This technological edge will also help propel the evolution of the Radisson Blu brand, which has been built on iconic and innovative design, sophistication and style.
What was your first job?
Delivering newspapers at 14
Who inspires you?
Bill and Melinda Gates. They use knowledge and fortune for the good of mankind, which is far and beyond what most people do.
What technologies excite you?
Technologies that facilitate the human element rather than exclude it. They include modern transport such as evacuated tube transport technologies, efficient air and ground transport/tube trains that embrace sustainable technologies to enable us to see things in a different light and help the hospitality industry grow at the same time.
Sage Advice:
Think differentiation not commoditization.
What is one other job that you would like to try?
Being an artist, a ranger, a job in the creative field.
What is one goal that you would like to achieve in your life?
Getting my golf handicap below 20.
Providing the foundation of a new design scheme for guest rooms, social spaces, meetings and event areas, BluPrint is a vehicle of Radisson Blu’s organic evolution of the brand’s heritage and DNA of sophisticated contemporary design. A perfect fusion of form and function, it also benefits owners and investors in providing distinctive and localized styling across interior design and refurbishments with a multi-functional guideline that allows inventory flexibility in terms of materials and color scheme. Implementation has begun and it will form an integral component of the brand’s comprehensive renovation and refurbishment program.
To augment and bring this design scheme to “life,” the free-to-download BluPrint app was developed and is available on iOS and Android platforms. Consumers can visit the website, print out a “trigger” card and enjoy a 3D experience and a sneak preview of a BluPrint city or resort room.
Most recently, Carlson Rezidor’s commitment to technology and innovation extended to an investment in Virtual Reality (VR) where a globally renowned design visualization studio was engaged to produce virtual experiences for the Radisson Blu and Radisson RED brands.
Carlson Rezidor’s technological edge seeks to redefine the design process by providing owners and investors the ability to provide on the spot feedback through a practical and portable tool, with virtual walk-throughs. The strategy also opens fresh dialogue and delivers a new world of personalized, experiential engagement and a sensorial appreciation of Carlson Rezidor’s brands. In doing so, the company remains nimble and flexible in its drive to stay ahead of changing guest expectations and capture new audiences to ensure stronger returns for owners and investors.
Carlson Rezidor is now moving into the next phase of its VR exercise, with plans to increase product differentiation knowledge through the visualization of rooms, meetings and event spaces of other brands. Corporate clients will have the ability to experience their function areas before making an important MICE booking and for couples, VR provides them an immersive opportunity to experience potential ballroom wedding setups, prior to making a major decision on the event of a lifetime. With augmented reality attributes and customer engagement abilities, VR offers many benefits for the hospitality and travel market.
Carlson Rezidor’s focus on emerging technology and innovation underscores its drive to stay ahead of changing guest expectations while captivating new audiences and ensuring even stronger returns for owners and investors. This technological edge will also help propel the evolution of the Radisson Blu brand, which has been built on iconic and innovative design, sophistication and style.
What was your first job?
Delivering newspapers at 14
Who inspires you?
Bill and Melinda Gates. They use knowledge and fortune for the good of mankind, which is far and beyond what most people do.
What technologies excite you?
Technologies that facilitate the human element rather than exclude it. They include modern transport such as evacuated tube transport technologies, efficient air and ground transport/tube trains that embrace sustainable technologies to enable us to see things in a different light and help the hospitality industry grow at the same time.
Sage Advice:
Think differentiation not commoditization.
What is one other job that you would like to try?
Being an artist, a ranger, a job in the creative field.
What is one goal that you would like to achieve in your life?
Getting my golf handicap below 20.
