by Chris Vidal

My passion is the ‘ Evaluating a Hotel Lobby’ - to enable an Indulgence of time, beauty and comfort to suit women in our Sixties. To be honest, I cannot afford the luxury of paying the huge cost of a room in a luxury hotel, so I do the next best thing; spend time in the lobby!

There are many designs but I choose the elegant, comfortable sometimes outrageously decorated foyer which takes me to an indulgence in time. One must not be in a hurry, on the contrary we are there to spend time, lots of time! Warmth and comfort are two prime values of a first class hotel foyer….  and then the rest follow!  For us in our Sixties, we don’t want to walk into a sparse foyer which is so modern, there is nowhere to sit!

‘A foyer should be a window to the interior of a hotel, to its heart!’

High Class Foyers are for us, in our Sixties, to sit comfortably, to people watch, appreciate the decor, pause and breathe in an exotic environment, evaluate how one feels, plan ahead, make an acquaintance and fill ourselves with wonder!

When I walk in, I survey the scene as to where would be the best place to sit. At a comfortable sitting for two perhaps, by a window, maybe on a high bar stool but wherever, the view must be open to the whole foyer.

Here is a list to focus on while lounging in a Hotel Foyer….

Firstly, does it have a striking first impression?

Sofas and arm chairs

Carpets

Windows - huge glass?

Colouring -walls, fabrics, wood,

Ceiling Lighting- chandeliers

Table lighting - lamps

Stand lamps

Flower decorations - size, colour, wow factor, local flowers

Plants - size, colour, condition, leaves, colours, real or fake?

Trees - real or fake, inside or outside windows?

Furniture

Cushions

Accessories - bowls, flower vases,

Paintings - size, local, representing the hotel..

Photographs - of the hotel in time gone by, notable dignatries,

Screens

Coffee table books

Crockery - cups & saucers, glasses, napkins,

Added biscuits, cookies, chocolates etc

Straws - plastic or biodegradable?

Sugars - brown, crystals, white/

Salt & Pepper - designs - do they work well, have they been filled up?!

A reading corner- newspapers, magazines, books

Spacing of furniture, layout

Information - history, function, biographies,

Staff-attitude, smiles, attention,

Wooden/Cart - coffee, sweet treats, savouries, ice cream/

A Bar - serving wine, a wine display

Electrics - can you charge your iPad, iPhone etc

Internet - is it accessible, free to non guests?  Wifi free?

Music - are they playing any, is it pleasurable…to loud?

Live Music - is there a musician playing an instrument - piano, harp?