What happened in Vegas - Hospitality Design Expo 2018

burt boucock
May 22, 2018
4 min read

Updated: May 24, 2018

This was my 15th year at HD Expo in Vegas, and it was arguably the best. The range of new companies, technologies and products was impressive and inspiring. From 3D-printed faucets to semi-precious stone tables – there was a lot to see and always nice to see old friends and meet new ones! The 'Green' movement shows no signs of slowing: natural materials, handcrafted products, embedded technology were seen everywhere.

HD Sessions

The spa is dead – long live the spa!

Spa menus have moved far from ‘luxuriate’ to current ‘wellness & prevention’. Even the concept of a stand-alone spa is translating into ‘spa-hotel’. Places where the mind, body and soul can rejuvenate and repair, and build up defences for longevity and vitality. This isn’t new - 15 years ago while working with David Murdock on his Westlake Four Seasons, he requested a longevity institute be included into the Spa program.

What’s new is the integration of spa lifestyle into everyday culture. At the request of my kickboxing trainer (heavily influenced by Joe Rogan) I now meditate every morning while listening to Galaxie spa music with Saje ‘tranquility’ essential oils before having a smoothie of grass clippings and moss. A few minutes of yoga stretches and I’m ready for the day. Spa philosophy is now just part of our daily routine.

Forward thinking spas are incorporating an all-encompassing experience into their offerings, and now the fitness center will become a ‘performance center’. At the HD show I saw golf simulators that used sensors to identify areas to improve one's golf swing. These simulators were set up for other sports as well. If you have a sports or fitness facility, be prepared to adopt spa principles of mind and body wellness for complete health and high-performance.

Micro-hotels, Micro-idea?

I had a layover recently at the Vancouver airport; arriving at the hotel at 12:30 AM and leaving a few hours later at 4:30 AM to catch an international flight. I didn’t have time to enjoy the complimentary wine reception nor the pool, let alone any of the hotel amenities - I just needed a clean bed and shower. The Hospitality Industry has responded with Micro-hotels or ‘Pod Hotels’. When ultra-luxury design giant Yabu Pushelberg enter into the Micro-hotel arena with the design of ‘Moxy’ Times Square, you know this trend will be around.

HD Expo

The following is a summary of interesting products and finishes that stood out:

JANUS et Cie

Introduced a number of new outdoor furniture models less ‘wickery’ than previous. Well-proportioned with a variety of materials and design on the softer side of ‘tech’.

This X-frame outdoor table and bench won 'best in show'. They would look great mixed with some Philippe Starck outdoor furniture à la Hotel Delano, South Beach circa late 90’s.

Tuuci

of course the right umbrella is required! If you've never worked with Tuuci before, they are nautical engineers that wandered into umbrella manufacturing, and it shows in the intricate movement of each of their pieces. Years ago I worked with their Engineering department to develop an off-set umbrella that could tilt, so the Owners could enjoy the late afternoon Punta Mita ocean view without the low sun glaring in their eyes.

Kallista

Kohler's Kallista brand launched the 'Grid' series faucet, crafted by 3D printing. Maybe not the best choice for a pot-filler, but pretty cool nonetheless.

https://youtu.be/kMMo9OG7yQU

Interesting video showing the 3D manufacturing technique. They save a view of the faucet in operation until last so you might miss how low the water flow really is!

Nice coordinated suite, also from Kallista. Feels retro yet very 'Judy Jetson' at the same time. it's a prototype not yet in production - at least I could not find it.

Rocky Mountain Hardware

Here's one more fixture - Rocky Mountain Hardware's 'Laguna' round sink in white bronze. Properly lit and mounted on black suede-finish stone would look awesome, although I would have used a wall-mounted faucet.

Also from Rocky Mountain is this cast-bronze stool. Weighs a ton, but gorgeous. I like anything that looks hand-crafted and burnished.

Quality & Co.

I don't know if this shelving system from Quality & Co., a Canadian manufacturer, was inspired by African artifacts or Güiro percussion musical instruments, but It looked great and turns a corner nicely. The wood was unfinished, and there could have been some integrated LED lighting. Quality's booth was award-winning.

Walters Wicker

Walters Wicker Josef Hoffman-inspired barrel furniture and matching screen/bench would be very effective blocking an unwanted view.

Fong Bros. & Modernica

Fong Brothers teamed up with Modernica for this 'Collaborations' series, and showed this eye-catching fiberglass chair. I thought it looked like Murakami's artwork, and checked their website, and sure enough it is. if you were lucky enough to acquire one of this sold-out edition, hang on to it - it will be worth a fortune, if it isn't already.

Artistic Tile

Back to Vienna, these Secessionist-inspired stone tiles have little decorative metal pins inserted. These are from Artistic Tile.

Also from Artistic, these mosaics include semi-precious stones of your choice.

Dal-Tile

A lot of people were looking at Dal-tile's handcrafted-look porcelain. Retro, modern, sausalito handcrafted look - it feels like it could fit anywhere.

Palecek Hospitality

Palecek Hospitality had superb durable commercial-grade versions of their timeless residential classics. Most of the collection is available for outdoor use.

Phillips Collection

Phillips Collection supplied some accessories found at The Petroleum Club in Calgary. Their versions of live-edge, stone tables and natural fibers were very successful.