Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering IAO
Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering IAO

FutureHotel

Hotel of the future

© gee-ly, Zürich und Fraunhofer IAO, Design: LAVA

»FutureHotel« project

The FutureHotel Showcase located in the inHaus Center in Duisburg as well as the Urban Living Lab in Stuttgart – offer a unique opportunity to combine theoretical research.
© gee-ly, Zürich und Fraunhofer IAO, Design: LAVA

The FutureHotel Showcase at the inHaus Center in Duisburg, Germany

The FutureHotel Showcase brings the vision to life that was conceived in 2008 to conceptualize a hotel room for the year 2020. For the FutureHotel project, the showcase serves as a test bed and demonstration platform that is used to present pioneering ideas for aspects such as automated check-in, lighting technology, etc. It is also a place for evaluating innovative concepts, solutions and products.
© gee-ly, Zürich und Fraunhofer IAO, Design: LAVA

The FutureHotel Showcase at the inHaus Center in Duisburg, Germany

The showcase presents a hotel room for the year 2020, which offers the hotel industry a tool kit for creating future solutions and provides a glimpse at the hotel of tomorrow.
© Bernd Müller © Fraunhofer IAO

Prototype hotel room at Fraunhofer IAO’s Urban Living Lab in Stuttgart, Germany. Automated check-in via smartphone

Hotel guests confirm their identity with the help of their smartphone. The guest’s arrival outside the hotel room is automatically recognized so that the door opens immediately provided the guest has the required authorization. The check-out process is also fully automated.
© Bernd Müller © Fraunhofer IAO

Prototype hotel room at Fraunhofer IAO’s Urban Living Lab in Stuttgart, Germany. Focus is on making the guest’s stay more relaxing and comfortable

Hotel guests can ensure their stay is comfortable and relaxing by tailoring the room to their own requirements. This even extends to adjusting the color and conditions of the lighting.
© Bernd Müller © Fraunhofer IAO

Prototype hotel room at Fraunhofer IAO’s Urban Living Lab in Stuttgart, Germany

The hotel of the future is also conducive to multimedia work – connections for guests’ devices and wireless charging for smartphones are integrated features of the prototype hotel room.
© Bernd Müller © Fraunhofer IAO

Prototype hotel room at Fraunhofer IAO’s Urban Living Lab in Stuttgart, Germany

Intelligent product solutions such as “Sway” – the vibrating bed – are being implemented and evaluated as prototypes in the FutureHotel project.
© Bernd Müller © Fraunhofer IAO

Vanessa Borkmann, FutureHotel project leader

Vanessa Borkmann studied architecture at the University of Stuttgart and ETH Zurich. She initiated the FutureHotel joint research project in 2008 and in 2011 won the Innovation Award for Technology Management for developing the FutureHotel Showcase. Her work focuses on innovative concepts for the hospitality and tourism industries and how to help companies implement them.
© Hotel Schani Wien: FutureHotel Anwendungsplattform

FutureHotel application platform in Vienna

Based on the “Coworking Hotel” study, Hotel Schani Wien integrated a coworking space in its lobby to capitalize on synergy effects.
© Hotel Schani Wien by Arnold Poeschl

FutureHotel application platform in Vienna

Using the results of recent studies and a survey of its guests, Hotel Schani Wien introduced a digital check-in process. Although guests can now check-in independently online, most still enjoy personal contact with hotel staff.
© Hotel Schani Wien by Arnold Poeschl

FutureHotel application platform in Vienna

The day begins at Hotel Schani Wien: breakfast in the lobby while the gallery serves as a coworking space.
© Hotel Schani Wien by Arnold Poeschl

FutureHotel application platform in Vienna

At Hotel Schani Wien, guests can choose the room that best suits their requirements. The idea is based on the way airlines allow passengers to choose their seat. Prior to implementation, a survey was carried out to determine whether guests would welcome such an option.
© Hotel Schani Wien_Haefele by studio-khf.de

FutureHotel application platform in Vienna

At Hotel Schani Wien, guests can choose the room that best suits their requirements. The idea is based on the way airlines allow passengers to choose their seat. Prior to implementation, a survey was carried out to determine whether guests would welcome such an option.
© Hotel SI-SUITES Stuttgart

FutureHotel application platform in Stuttgart

Hotel SI Suites integrated a coworking space into its lobby, complete with lockable storage for its users.
© Hotel SI-SUITES Stuttgart

FutureHotel application platform in Stuttgart

The coworking space enables people to work on their own or in small groups.

The joint research project »FutureHotel«

The FutureHotel project is dedicated to addressing central questions related to the hotel of the future. Together with partners from the hospitality sector, Fraunhofer IAO is researching key developments and their repercussions for the sector. Analysis takes into account the different types of guests and their specific requirements as well as ways of optimizing hospitality management and operations. The researchers are aiming to find new, forward-looking solutions for the various hotel facilities – including not only the guest rooms, but also reception areas and conference facilities. In doing so, they consider technological innovations alongside the economic, ecological and social perspectives.

The »FutureHotel« showcase – implemented in the inHaus2 in Duisburg – is used to showcase and test groundbreaking concepts for hotel rooms.

The demonstration platform is used for research work as part of the ‘FutureHotel’ scenario project. The solutions and prototypes developed in the showcase include diverse innovations centered on the hotel of the future. More than 35 business partners were involved in the design and execution.

The project is open to business partners who are interested in innovative solutions for the hospitality industry.