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the World Of Hospitality
The January Furniture Show 2016
The Importance Of Furniture
And Furnishings In Hotels
Q&A With Mary Merrills
W
ith growing internet sites such
as booking.com and tripadvisor,
consumers are becoming ever more
discerning when it comes to hotels. Here, Mary
Merrills, marketing manager of the January Furniture
Show, tells us why furniture and furnishings have such
an important role in the hotel market and what she
looks for when it comes to choosing the right hotel for
her stay.
Where’s the nicest place you’ve stayed? And
why? Claridges - I’ve been lucky enough to stay there
twice. Everything about it is a joy - the sumptuous
furnishings, the individual character, the history,
the perfect customer service and central location for
everything London. Loved it!
Where do you go to find a good hotel? My first
stop is Small Luxury Hotels of the World, followed by
Booking.com
What are the three items you look for in a hotel
room? Funky, but comfortable furnishings, a kettle so
that I can make tea and a walk in shower.
How can furniture and furnishings set the scene
in a hotel? I love bright colours, interesting art and
modern furniture, especially if put together in an
eclectic mix. I get a little thrill then - like I’ve stepped
Telephone: 020 8387 1270
temporarily into another world. If however a fantastic
lobby isn’t carried through to the rooms I feel cheated.
and efficient customer service and a fun bar serving
interesting cocktails.
What’s the best thing about staying away from
home? Someone else making the bed. Crisp ironed
bedding and fluffy towels.
What do you see as a big trend at this year’s
January Furniture Show for the contract
market? Mixing patterns and textures seems to be
trend coming in - florals combined with geometrics
in fabrics, aged leather combined with woven fabrics
in upholstery, and glass combined with reclaimed or
distressed wood in cabinet.
Where’s the best hunting ground for new
interior ideas? Working in furniture trade shows is
a dream for me. I get very excited seeing all the new
designs, combinations of textures, fabric and colour
trends - and all before they hit the shops. The variety
at the January Show is particularly good and it has
extra buzz because it’s at the start of the year so there
is a level of expectation about how interior trends will
take off that year. I end up wanting everything!
Describe your dream hotel? One that is big
enough to have good facilities but not too large with
endless corridors of boxy rooms, where everything
in them is the same. It would have modern, but
comfortable furnishings, a mix of wacky art and
sculpture. The rooms would be individual with lush
fabric covered, statement headboards, harmonious
bright but warm colour schemes, comfortable beds,
spacious bathrooms, nice smellies, tea/coffee facilities
and of course a nice view - not a car park or an airconditioning unit! All tied together with friendly
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What’s the best thing that’s happened for
hotels in the last 10 years? The obvious answer
is technology - flat screen or now Smart TVs, with
interactive services. But for me as a techno dummy it
is that hotels seem to be catching on that they have to
continually update and refresh their rooms and décor.
We want better luxury than we have at home when we
stay away. That and good customer service make me
return to a hotel.
How could hotels be better? Customer service - it
doesn’t matter how wonderful a hotel looks if the
customer service is lacking guests won’t return.
The January Furniture Show 2016 exhibition will run
from Sunday January 24 to Wednesday January 27 at
Birmingham’s NEC.
WEBSITE: www.januaryfurnitureshow.com