Following the popularity of Airbnb, accommodations like this boutique are offering invisible service. This means no front desk with staff that aim to be out of sight as much as possible, with an objective "to erase barriers between visitors and their destination" and give guests the experience of living like locals. This speaks to a desire for authentic living and experiential travel -- something valued by many of the millennial generation. Invisible Service also makes visitors feel more integrated in a new neighborhood.
Located in a historical building in Philadelphia's Old City, Lokal Hotel has six apartment units equipped with separate bedrooms, full kitchens, a living area and even washer and dryer laundry facilities. Guests also have access to personalized recommendations regarding restaurants, galleries and more.
Apartment-Mimicking Hotels
Lokal Hotel Provides Invisible Service to Make Guests Feel At Home
Trend Themes
1. Invisible Service - The trend of offering invisible service in accommodations like Lokal Hotel opens up opportunities for disruptive innovation in the hospitality industry, where technology and automation can be leveraged to provide a seamless and personalized guest experience.
2. Authentic Living - The trend towards providing accommodations that offer an authentic living experience, like Lokal Hotel's apartment-mimicking concept, presents opportunities for disruption in the travel and hospitality industry by providing a unique alternative to traditional hotels and accommodations.
3. Experiential Travel - The growing demand for experiential travel, evidenced by the popularity of accommodations like Lokal Hotel, offers opportunities for disruption in the tourism and hospitality industry by creating immersive and memorable experiences that cater to the preferences of modern travelers.
Industry Implications
1. Hospitality - The hospitality industry can disrupt existing service models by adopting the concept of invisible service, as demonstrated by Lokal Hotel, to enhance guest experiences and improve efficiency through technology and automation.
2. Travel - The travel industry can capitalize on the trend of providing authentic living experiences, similar to Lokal Hotel's apartment-mimicking concept, by offering unique and immersive accommodations that cater to the evolving preferences of travelers.
3. Tourism - The tourism industry can embrace experiential travel trends, exemplified by accommodations like Lokal Hotel, to create innovative and memorable experiences that attract modern travelers seeking more authentic and engaging experiences during their trips.