As travel evolves, not only are the destinations and preferences of travellers changing, but so are expectations of accommodation. Travellers are not only looking for comfort and quiet, but are increasingly paying attention to the ecological aspects of their stay. In response to the growing demand for sustainable solutions, hotels face the challenge of adapting their offerings to what environmentally conscious guests need.

Travel is evolving a great deal, keeping up with society’s changing needs and values. While traditional business trips and vacations are still an important part of life, they are no longer what they used to be a while ago.

In the post-pandemic era, there is less business travel, but those who do travel for business are more and more conscious when it comes to choosing accommodation, trying to extend their stay and use this time to meet with clients or work remotely in local co-working spaces, especially when the hotel furniture available on the spot makes it possible. The rapid growth of remote work makes it possible to combine travel with business and work from anywhere in the world.

Travel doesn’t have to be an ordinary two-week trip for a much longed-for vacation anymore. Short trips are more and more common, becoming a way to maintain mental balance, improve one’s well-being, and experience something new. Wellness tourism and cultural tourism have been flourishing as of late. Travel inspiration often comes from social media, and boutique, designer hotels provide the backdrop for creating visually appealing, eye-catching content. New generations put experiences over things. For those who want to escape from the hustle and bustle of the city and tech, local mountains, forests, and beaches become the destinations of choice.

One of the major recent travel trends is green travel, meaning travelling in a way that minimises the negative impact on the environment. More and more people choose to vacation on organic farmsteads, in eco-friendly hotels or on solar boats. By choosing destinations labelled “sustainable travel, travellers want to harmonise their trips with the principles of environmental responsibility and seek authentic, genuine, conscious experiences.

The key element of such travel style is proper accommodation. Eco-friendly hotels are adopting a variety of solutions — such as renewable energy, water conservation, waste reduction, and promoting local products and services, and the approach applies also to hotel furniture. Eco-friendly furnishings play a very important role here. Hotels can minimise their negative impact on the environment by:

• designing the space in line with the principles of minimalism, going for less but better thought-out and more durable furniture,
•  choosing hotel furniture made from sustainable or recycled materials,
•  working with local furniture suppliers to minimise transportation-related emissions,
•  choosing hotel furniture that comes with environmental certifications or awards for sustainable design.

Here are some examples of heavy-duty furniture that has been manufactured in a sustainable way and will be perfect for eco-friendly hospitality facilities:

VANK_RING - sofas, armchairs, lounge chairs for hotels

This is one of the few market-available soft seating collections designed according to the Cradle-to-Cradle principle and with recycling in mind. All components can be easily separated, and the seats are filled with post-production industrial waste — shredded polyurethane foam.

 This new comfortable lounge chair has been designed in response to the need for relaxation reflection or concentration, which makes it an ideal choice when it comes to hotel furniture. It features a unique resilient seating system and a base on a round plate. The comfortable rocking mechanism lets the user recline and rock freely. The high loft-styled backrest additionally provides privacy and acoustic protection.

Other armchairs and poufs for relaxation areas rest on circular-shaped metal modernist bases. The series features also high sofas and a table for informal gatherings, as well as new barstools. The RING collection can be arranged in lobbies, bars, and hotel rooms. Chairs with soft backrests will work great in conference rooms.

Interiors of Archicom in the MidPoint71 office building in Wrocław, designed by 3XA Architects, photos: Stanisław Zajączkowski

Interiors of Bouygues Immobilier Polska in the Rondo 1 office building in Warsaw, designed by BIT Creative Barnaba Grzelecki

VANK_PEEL - lounge and standard chairs, desks and coffee tables for hotels

 The ‘reduce’ plywood seat of VANK_PEEL lounge chairs and armchairs is manufactured with the application of an innovative technology that makes economical use of natural wood. Thanks to a special mesh, it is possible to make use of even the smallest scraps of natural veneer and at the same time achieve sinuous roundness of the surfaces. The ‘reduce’ plywood can be stained with ecological water-based varnish in oak, bleached beech, orange or green.

A desk with a PEEL chair for work or a PEEL lounge chair with a coffee table will be a great match for existing hotel furniture and work great in many different hospitality settings. They will also be a perfect addition to reception areas or lobbies of eco-friendly lodging facilities.

VANK_LONG - lounge armchairs and sofas for hotels

 It’s a line of eye-catching industrial-style furniture designed with rest and relaxation in mind. The distinctive line of semi-cylindrical cushions refers to the minimalist aesthetics of the Bauhaus. The collection of modular lounge chairs with footrests uses textile industry waste and limited End of Series natural leather products. This reduces demand for new animal hides and translates into significant project budget savings — of even up to 50%. At the same time, it makes it possible to create eclectic, unique, one-of-a-kind lounge areas, which is an additional advantage if the hotel furniture considered needs to be both eco- and wallet-friendly.  The semi-cylindrical cushions are filled with organic latex originating from the sap of rubber trees. The seat is fixed to the frame so that it too can be easily separated and recycled after use.

VANK_PANEL - acoustic wall panels for hotels

 VANK acoustic panels are a combination of pro-environmental values and every individual’s need for well-being. Our proprietary technology makes use of renewable, recycled, bio-based materials and produces shapes that provide sound attenuation and. The acoustic panels can be freely arranged by designers to become inspiring finishes for lobby walls as well as unique bed headrests in hotel rooms. There are 5 variants of 3D panels to choose from. They can be used as acoustic reliefs of 160×240 cm or 240×160 cm, ready to be ordered and fitted in reception areas, hotel corridors and, of course, rooms - instead of paintings.

BIO panels displayed in the Brisbane-based Instyle Interior Finishes showroom in Australia

VANK_DIAMOND panels as a hotel bed headboard

VANK_CUBE - desk and tables for hotels

 A system of cubes made of biomaterial (flax, hemp) that makes it possible to put together eco-friendly furniture forms anywhere. These cubes can be used like building blocks to shape and reshape the space and arrange and rearrange the furniture as necessary. The system can be: a desk with a pouf, a storage unit, a shelf or a bedside table in a hotel room, a reception desk or counter in a lobby, a lectern in a conference room, as well as a co-working table in a co-working or event room — a much-welcome addition to any hotel furniture set. The product was awarded the German Innovation Award 2023, nominated for British Mixology North 2023, is number 10 on Office Roxx German magazine's TOP 100 list for 2024.

VANK_LORIA - chairs for hotel rooms

 The earthy grey LORIA chairs features 50% of recycled industrial plastic waste and 50% - of consumer waste. It’s an eco-friendly solution for guest rooms, meeting rooms, restaurants, and hotel bars.

The collection includes chairs with two types of seats - a bucket–type seat, enclosing the user on three sides, and a narrower seat without armrests; both are optionally available with an upholstered cushion. These recycled plastic chairs can be used freely outdoors because the material they’re made of is UV-resistant and retains its colour for many, many years. This means it will be a great complement to the less outdoor-suitable hotel furniture.