44 THE WORLD OF HOSPITALITY
Designing authentic
spaces with flame
Restaurant
There’s no disputing the power of flame. It’s
striking, eye-catching and enticing. Picture a
hotel lobby, bar or restaurant; nothing says
welcome better than the warm glow of a
fireplace. But using flame as a design element
and incorporating it into some spaces can
come with challenges around health and
safety, cost and building regulations, to name
a few.
One way to overcome these challenges is
to use electric flame technology. It provides
the same authentic experience as real flame;
a sense of warmth, comfort and belonging -
adding ambience to a space and making guests
feel welcome. Developed to mimic real flame,
these electric fires can be used in a variety
of ways and offer much more flexibility than
traditional gas or real fires.
One of the most realistic flame effects is
three-dimensional, such as Glen Dimplex’s
Opti-myst, where a smoke effect is created in
addition to the flame. There is a realistic log
bed and the amount of ‘smoke’ varied to create
a truly unique and realistic fireplace.
is part of the AccorHotels group. AccorHotels
UK commissioned a bespoke flame installation
using Glen Dimplex’s Opti-myst technology to
create a warm, welcoming and unforgettable
first impression for their guests.
Joey Goei-Jones, project manager for
AccorHotels, explained his reasons for using
flame: “For the lounge area, we wanted a fire
that would entice guests to linger and enjoy the
hotel facilities. However, a real fire wouldn’t
have been feasible due to health and safety
considerations, not to mention the extraction
required. We’ve received great feedback from
In addition to the flexibility of electric fire guests who clearly enjoy the ambience and
installations, there are also other benefits. lovely effect that it creates.”
There is no requirement for a chimney or flue,
the product is safe because it’s cool to the As Novotel London Canary Wharf is finding,
touch and the technology is energy efficient the lounge area has a big influence on a guest’s
and low maintenance, leading to low running experience of their hotel. In the hospitality
costs. These are some of the reasons why sector there is a trend towards these smaller,
Novotel London Canary Wharf installed flame more authentic spaces rather than vast, open
technology in its hotel lobby. plan, anonymous facades. People are looking for
more intimate and personalised interactions.
The £90-million, state-of-the art, Novotel Electric flame technology is one way to ensure
London Canary Wharf opened in April 2017 and this experience for your guests.
WEBSITE: www.glendimplex.com