As the world continues to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic and adapt to these unprecedented times, HD is checking in with members of the hospitality industry around the globe to find out how their businesses are being impacted and what they anticipate will change down the line.
Nina Cooke John, Studio Cooke John
What are the biggest challenges you’re facing?
The most challenging part of dealing with the coronavirus pandemic has been the uncertainty. Not knowing when things would get back to normal and not knowing what that new normal might look like was really unsettling. It is clear now that things will likely never again be like the old normal, and what that new normal will look like is still unknown. Clients are more hesitant to proceed with projects because of this uncertainty.
What is your current work situation?
My company shares space with two other small companies. We have all been out of the space since mid-March, though we plan on moving back in once we get the okay to do so. My entire family—husband and three kids—is working from different areas of our house. I had three people who worked for me in different capacities, and their hours have been significantly reduced. My team has been reduced to just me, for now, until the work starts moving again, and I’m still busy between administrative and business development work.
What are some of the positive effects of working in these new ways?
I’ve learned new tools for visual collaborations online. It’s amazing how easy it is to sketch over drawings to illustrate ideas remotely. Integrating old-school sketching on paper with sketching on screen has been a gamechanger for virtual collaborations and client meetings.
What is your pulse on the industry?
A few projects that were close to completion are finishing up now, as non-essential construction work has restarted. Many projects that were pre-construction were put on hold. As New York and New Jersey enter phase two of reopening there is a lot more positive energy. I try to check in on my clients’ general wellbeing to make sure that they are all okay, while giving everyone the space they need to decide how and when their project will start up again.
What does this mean for the future of hospitality?
Hospitality won’t be the same, but I am optimistic that there will be new ways for the industry to operate safely and make it even more enticing to go away and stay in a new place.
Lastly, share some good news! Have you done anything to stay busy in these crazy times?
The Black Artists + Designers Guild has been holding weekly support sessions to share COVID-19-related resources with the design community. The idea for a concept house emerged from one of those meetings, and I’m now collaborating with another architect on the design of the house, which will feature different interior designers for each room in a completely virtual format. It will be a fully immersive online experience launching in October.
Griz Dwight, GrizForm Design Architects
What are the biggest challenges you’re facing?
Separation from my team and losing direct day-to-day, hour-to-hour, minute-to-minute communication with our colleagues has been the biggest challenge. Our team is a diverse group of extremely talented people and we all see life from a different angle. Normally, we can twist those views into something unique, but now I worry that we are getting stuck in our own bubbles.
What is your current work situation?
We are playing this as smartly as we can while our entire staff continues to work remotely. Our health and safety is the priority, and I have been going to the office solo to troubleshoot any technical/connection difficulties. So far, we have been fortunate to be able to maintain the entire staff and hope to be able to continue to do so as we transition to the new normal. We’ve applied for and received a loan under the PPP, which will help us carry through the next few months.
What are some of the positive effects of working in these new ways?
Since we cannot walk over to a colleague’s desk with a pen and a piece of trace with the intent to sketch out a solution to a problem, we are all in on technology. Our collaborative software is working well and everyone has their home office set up, which is allowing us to be productive despite working remotely. I know that owners of office space do not want to hear it, but we are going to be able to work remotely in the future if we need or want to, and we’re not going to need a big office.
What is your pulse on the industry?
It’s tough and a little scary. Restaurant design is our specialty and covers most of our book of business and, as everyone knows, restaurants are not doing well these days. We had projects in the early stage of design go on hold and others that were ready for construction have done the same. About a third of our work went away in March and April, but we are carrying through with what we had on the boards. The phone is not ringing as much as it did a few months ago, but we remain optimistic and are supporting our clients as best as we can. I’ve been focusing my takeout choices to our clients’ restaurants and have worked with many to create reopening seating plans.
What does this mean for the future of hospitality?
Buckle up and keep your washed hands inside the vehicle at all times, it’s going to be a wild ride. We don’t just go out to dinner for the full experience. The transformative designs, the buzzy crowd, the unexpected encounter, it’s all part of why we go out. Restaurants will still be places to gather but without compromising employee and guest safety. We will initially see all kinds of solutions, including individual dining pods, mannequins to fill seats, increased patio size, and robot servers. Restaurants will try it all.
Ultimately, we will return to a style of dining that’s similar to 2019, but with a few subtle changes. We will see more booth seating with high backs to keep groups isolated—screens will stand guard around tables, finishes will include more cleanable surfaces, and restaurants will employ enhanced cleaning protocols. We will have to share more personal information for contact tracing, and restaurants will have to operate with limited seating, which could potentially lead to a scaled-down menu. Walk-up takeout windows will be part of new designs, too. We will get there because social distancing doesn’t need to mean disconnection.
Lastly, share some good news! Have you done anything to stay busy in these crazy times?
The loss of commuting time (and perhaps the lack of boss oversight) has freed up time to dust off some old hobbies. Team members are pulling easels and paint out of their closets, cutting minutes off of their regular running route times, and learning to bake bread. This extra time has allowed us to slow down to regroup and recharge so we can come out on the other end with attitudes that are ready to go.
Sara Duffy, Stonehill Taylor
What are the biggest challenges you’re facing?
My first concern when the pandemic hit was the staff, both physically and mentally. Not only have I made a point to check in with my team on video chats and phone calls, but the office as a whole has initiated numerous ways to stay in regular contact. For starters, we have a weekly image board, where we post thematic photos that capture the creative ways our staff is adapting to the quarantine—whether it’s artwork they’ve made or a glimpse into their work-from-home setting. It’s proven to be a great way to bond and catch up.
On the day-to-day side, it’s been challenging to not be able to sit in a conference room and brainstorm new ideas and review materials as a team. We have an extensive materials library in our office, and if we’re missing something, we have it delivered to our desk or meet in person with the vendor. Now, we have to request multiple samples for multiple destinations. Before we send them to our clients, we typically have a video call to review them internally. This process takes more time for our team and our vendors, but it ensures that we’ve carefully vetted everything.
What is your current work situation?
I am remotely managing roughly 30 interiors professionals (Stonehill Taylor numbers about 75). Thanks to Zoom and GoToMeetings, the team is communicating daily. As I mentioned, the greatest challenge is reviewing material palettes—to pivot during this crisis, I have even ventured outside a colleague’s nearby apartment with my dog in tow to review samples on the sidewalk.
What are some of the positive effects of working in these new ways?
I have noticed that the team is operating with even greater efficiency. I’ve also found that because I’m more productive, I’m able to take advantage of the extra time and spend it with my daughters. In many ways, the team’s creativity has received a boost, which encourages new and exciting ways of thinking about our projects.
What does this mean for the future of hospitality?
The travel industry will surely rebound, slowly but steadily. We will first see a growth in regional tourism with travelers opting for nearby destinations to which they have easy access. Growth will expand from this starting point, with business travel similarly looking for venues closer to home for conferences and meetings. As hospitality designers, we will have to respond to the new needs of travelers, who will want to take advantage of every moment and appreciate every experience more than ever. We’re looking at ways to integrate connectivity and create spaces that allow people to take a moment of respite.
Lastly, share some good news! Have you done anything to stay busy in these crazy times?
My garden is a big part of how I keep busy. We have a roof deck where my family is constantly planting, puttering, weeding, and making lots of noise.
Related stories:
4 Creative Forces on Hard Decisions and What’s Next
3 Designers on Teamwork and Forging Ahead
4 Designers and Architects on the Future of Hospitality
For more COVID-19-related news and stories from HD, click here.
