Forward, consciously
 
Design Hotels
Press Release
Design Hotels™ Virtual Retreat
Thinking inclusively and regeneratively
Berlin, April 15, 2021— As the world prepares for the new shape of physical travel, Design Hotels is further innovating the virtual space by fostering inclusive environments in hospitality that will not only complement real-life encounters, but also enrich them. In its gathering of a curated community of both current and next-generation travel thought leaders, Design Hotels’ Virtual Retreat will pose—and aim to answer—a range of prescient questions. After the success of the first Virtual Retreat in September 2020 (recipient of the Skift IDEA Award), which acted as a transformative four-week journey of communal and personal growth, reflection, and connection for industry professionals around the world, Design Hotels is solidifying its place as a leader in online hospitality with the announcement of its next retreat. www.designhotels.com/virtual-retreat
 

From April 12th to May 6th 2o21, a global network of hoteliers, travel advisors, visionaries, travelers, hotel developers, and students will assemble in a united goal to elevate a collective consciousness and to chart the roadmap for the future of experiential travel. Reflecting the missions of two handpicked nonprofit beneficiaries, Rockhouse Foundation and The Hopenclass, there will be an emphasis on education, learning and belonging.

Co-hosted by Unsettled a global community for remote work and independent living, the retreat’s innovative program features interactive workshops; hotel discussion panels with 20 participating member hotels, including Firmdale Hotels, Troutbeck, Trunk Hotel, Proper and Sir Hotels; connect sessions; one-on-one virtual meetings; and an elevated self-care program offering activities from movement to breathwork sessions with consciousness teacher Lisa de Narvaez

The four-week module, composed of both live and pre-recorded sessions, will also incorporate essential tools sent by mail, allowing for participants across all time zones—from Australia to Argentina—to connect in new ways and to truly shift to a mindset of contribution over consumerism. Furthermore, the Design Hotels Virtual Retreat aims to support and reach into projects that are taking place in the physical world.

With the firm belief that an educational element will become an essential motivation for travel, Design Hotels predicts that learning will soon become an essential component of the ‘before, during and after’ of visiting a destination. This understanding is the impetus for partnerships with Rockhouse Foundation and The Hopenclass, with the goal to amplify their inspiring work in the space of education.  

The full value of tickets sold will be given to Rockhouse Foundation, (a registered charity in the United States and Jamaica), founded by Design Hotels Original Paul Salmon of Rockhouse Hotel. The foundation focuses on giving back to the local community by contributing to the childhood educational system in Jamaica. To ensure equal access,  concessionary tickets are available.

Markus Schreyer, SVP of the Americas and Business Innovation at Design Hotels says, “As we prepare for the return of travel, we aspire to be more unifying and conscious. We want to elevate the virtual experience while tying it back into the physical travel space. We know travel will return soon, but we also believe the virtual space is here to stay. We see the opportunity for these two worlds to complement each other.” 


The retreat coincides with the first anniversary of The Hopenclass, a cultural think tank and digital academic space initially established in Paris, as a global hotline to help the Class of 2020 navigate the pandemic. Design Hotels will offer 10 scholarships worth over $15,000 to The Hopenclass community. Sissi Johnson, founder and president of The Hopenclass says, “Design Hotels’ digital wellbeing retreat aligns with Hopenclass’ credo of transforming traditional education by prioritizing community, accessibility, and soft skills.” 

In the face of screen fatigue, how can digital networks be used to build experiences that are more spontaneous, insightful, and memorable? How can new technologies, from gaming to live-streaming platforms for virtual shopping and cultural programming, be informed and leveraged to create more meaningful experiences both online and offline? How can the serendipity of chance encounters and the discovery of rich and diverse cultures—so essential to hospitality—be achieved in the often scripted and monotonous ‘digital experiences’ we have seen time and time again? Where is purpose found in these virtual escapades? The Virtual Retreat will not only explore a host of actionable solutions to the changing face of travel and the challenges it presents, but will also foster a series of interactions, ideas and collaborations that will continue once the retreat has concluded.

Learn more here:

For travel agents:
www.designhotels.com/virtual-retreat

For consumers & hotel developers:
www.designhotels.com/d-virtual-retreat
 

 

Image download

NOTES FOR EDITORS
For high resolution images and more information on our member hotels, please register on the Design Hotels Virtual Press Office designhotels.com/press.

For additional information, please contact us via email press@designhotels.com or phone at
+49 30-8849 400 70.

For reservations, please refer our website designhotels.com or find the appropriate Design Hotels toll-free number designhotels.com/toll-free-numbers.

ABOUT DESIGN HOTELS

Design Hotels™ represents and markets a curated selection of over 330 independent hotels in more than 60 countries across the globe. More than a collection of hotels, the company is a collection of stories. Each property reflects the ideas of a visionary hotelier, an "Original", someone with a passion for genuine hospitality, cultural authenticity, thought-provoking design and architecture. Each "Original" stands for the individual, aesthetic and service-driven experience that his or her hotel provides.
 
In 2017, Design Hotels™ launched Further, a traveling laboratory for experiential hospitality that transforms hotels across the globe into temporal hubs of thematic exploration. The mission behind Further aligns with the values of the future facing Promad, a new generation of traveler embracing progressive travel and global nomadism. First identified by Design Hotels™ in collaboration with leading futures consultancy The Future Laboratory, the purpose driven, self-actualizing Promadic movement is set to shape the future of hospitality.  
 
Founded by Claus Sendlinger in 1993, Design Hotels™ offers its members insightful travel industry knowledge, from market trend consultancy to international sales representation. The company has its headquarters in Berlin and branches in London, Los Angeles, New York and Singapore. In 2019, Design Hotels™ joined forces with Marriott Bonvoy, enabling its member hotels to have both a greater and more selective reach while offering its Community the benefit of the industry’s leading loyalty program.

twitter facebook instagram instagram
© Design Hotels 2020