NEW RESEARCH FROM OSRAM FINDS HOTEL GUESTS EXPERIENCE POOR LIGHTING

ew Osram research has found that in the majority of more than 350,000 global hotel reviews online which mention lighting, guest reports are criticising lighting quality. The lighting manufacturer suggests hotel managers run a health check of their lighting to avoid further disappointing their guests. Hotels in London were subjected to nearly 10,000 reviews specifically on lighting, with many travellers complaining about dim, bad and sparse lighting in their rooms. European hotels were not spared criticism with visitors comparing lighting in a Copenhagen hotel to that of a waiting room in a railway station and others complaining that they found working in their room impossible because of poor lighting. “Lighting is clearly important to travellers, so much so that they take the time to go online to warn future guests about their bad experience. One recent visitor to London felt that his stay at a fabulous hotel was ruined solely by inadequate lighting in the rooms. This lasting impression remains with them when they re-book in the future, meaning they’ll probably shop around and consider alternative places to stay, comments David Ellis, National Sales Manager, Specification at Osram. Peter Veale, Managing Director at Firefly Lighting Design says, “It’s a shame that travellers are disappointed with the quality and choice of lighting in the hotels they stay in. Interior designers fully appreciate the huge role that lighting can play in creating that ‘wow’ factor but it only makes up five per cent of the entire design project so can unfortunately be overlooked. Veale continues; “There is an excellent range of light fittings on the market for hoteliers and designers to choose from that are both energy efficient and create that ‘wow’ factor. These give them a great opportunity to introduce better quality light at a competitive price and replace halogen with LED. To help hotels across the UK improve travellers’ impressions of its lighting, Osram is sharing its five-point guide for hoteliers to achieve that ‘wow’ factor with lighting. Make sure lighting isn’t an after-thought - urge your design consultant to look at lighting considerations early in any design project Consider cost-effective ways of making a difference with your lighting. For instance, don’t feel you can afford changing all your halogen to LED lighting? Then perhaps invest a small portion of your budget into new fittings, so you can dim your current lights to create different atmospheres in your establishment Don’t blind your guests with new technology they don’t understand how to use - when making a change to your lighting. For instance, if you’re going to introduce new lighting control in the rooms make sure they’re simple for your guests to use Consider simple decorative lighting solutions – these can make a huge difference and make an impact on your guests as they enter your establishment Don’t forget the small lights – guests can become frustrated if mirror lights provide poor light when getting ready or bedside lamps are not bright enough for them to read. As part of its extensive LED luminaires range for hospitality, Osram’s Essentials range will provide hoteliers with the opportunity to update standard lighting systems to more energy efficient and durable LED technology. Compared to standard luminaires they save up to 85% of energy. Hotel designers may look more to Osram’s range of flexible LED light sources for enhancing architectural features or changing ambient and accent lighting.