The project centered around a modest 20-bedroom hotel, purposefully attached to an educational facility to enhance hands-on teaching and learning in hotel operations. Hospitality Associates had been invited to a design meeting alongside architects and consortium members working on the hotel school initiative, envisioned as a future center of excellence.
Meeting Details
– Location: Design Office – Hotel School Project
– Project: 20-bedroom training hotel facility
– Theme: Blueprint meets real-world function
-Attendees:
- Mr. Tetteh – Lead Architect
- Ms. Boateng – Associate Architect
- Dr. Mensah – Hotel School Director (Consortium Representative)
- Mr. Kwesin – Funding Officer (Consortium Representative)
- Mr. Aanani – Operations Consultant, Hospitality Associates
- Ms. Yawa-Attah – Design & Training Advisor, Hospitality Associates
- Mrs. Akune – Project Manager
All attendees were seated around the project table, with floor plans displayed on monitors. The meeting began with a brief round of introductions. Mrs. Akune, the Project Manager, welcomed the group with a warm smile.
Mrs. Akune: Thank you all for making time to be here. As outlined in the agenda, today’s focus is to refine the core design direction for the 20-bedroom facility. Since this space will anchor practical learning for our students, it must not only be aesthetically pleasing—but also fully operational. I’d now like to invite Mr. Tetteh to walk us through a brief presentation of the design proposal.
Mr. Tetteh, Lead Architect, nodded and began his presentation.
Mr. Tetteh: As discussed in earlier sessions, we’ve proposed a three-level structure designed to optimize teaching, guest experience, and service flow. The ground floor will house public zones—including the reception lobby, restaurant, lounge, and administrative offices. Guestrooms will be distributed across the first and second floors, ten per level, arranged in L-shaped wings to enhance natural lighting and plumbing efficiency.
Ms. Boateng, Associate Architect, added, “We’ve also introduced zoning separation to ensure guest privacy. At the same time, students will have supervised access through dedicated service pathways—allowing practical exposure without compromising comfort.”
Mr. Aanani, Operations Consultant at Hospitality Associates, leaned forward.
Mr. Aanani: The design intent is clear, and the zoning logic is commendable. That said, one immediate concern—Are the corridor widths sufficient for housekeeping trolleys and guest movement to coexist smoothly? We’ve seen layouts where narrow corridors slow down housekeeping turnover, particularly during peak check-out times or when groups are moving through.
Mr. Tetteh: They’re currently one meter wide, which meets the basic standard. Are you recommending an increase?
Mr. Aanani: Yes—ideally, 1.2 meters. That extra buffer allows trolleys to maneuver without obstructing guest traffic. Also, be cautious with sharp turns near service areas. They may look elegant on drawings but often become operational bottlenecks.
The discussion continued, with Ms. Yawa-Attah, Design & Training Advisor at Hospitality Associates, inquiring about climate controls, light switches, and socket placements.
Ms. Yawa-Attah: Have these been positioned according to actual guest usage patterns? We’ve encountered setups where sockets end up hidden behind pillows or switches are tucked behind artwork—confusing for guests and frustrating for staff.
Dr. Mensah, Hotel School Director, nodded thoughtfully.
Dr. Mensah: That’s insightful. Would Hospitality Associates be willing to compile a checklist of design flaws based on operational experience?
Ms. Yawa-Attah: Certainly. We’ll include feedback from housekeeping managers and floor operators. The goal is to shape rooms that support both guest satisfaction and staff efficiency.
Dr. Mensah: Since our curriculum covers facility management and operations, could parts of the hotel be designed as live case studies? For example, might the laundry and kitchen areas include observation points for students?
Mr. Tetteh: Absolutely. We can incorporate glass partitions or designated walkthrough paths that allow viewing without compromising hygiene or privacy standards.
Mrs. Akune: Thank you all for your valuable input. Before we adjourn, let’s recap action items:
– Hospitality Associates will provide a design checklist based on operational experience.
– Architects will revise corridor widths and room layouts accordingly.
– We’ll schedule a follow-up meeting to review updates.
Next steps will be communicated via email. Appreciate your collaboration. This meeting is adjourned.
To be continued. What innovative solutions will the team discover to enhance the guest experience and student learning?
Disclaimer: This story is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
