Boutique hotel experts Mr & Mrs Smith reveal their travel trend predictions for 2014, and nominate the newest hotels that are set to make waves worldwide…

Destinations to distract

With the World Cup kicking off in June, 2014 will be the year of Brazil. Beyond Rio, we love the melting pot of Bahia for its forested interior and stylish seaside resorts, like the Uxua Casa Hotel & Spa; or, head to Ponta dos Ganchosin Santa Catarina for some beach-combing and jungle roaming. We predict the southern half of the United States is on the up, so watch out for Austin with hip and contemporary Hotel San José and the understated but sophisticated Zero George Street in Charleston. We’re excited about Japan, too: look east to cool kid on the block Claska in Tokyo or Beniya Mukayu in Kanazawa. And don’t neglect Sri Lanka – we love Paradise Road Tintagel Colombo and Casa Colomboin the capital.

Hot hotels to hanker for

The minimalist masterpiece that is Fogo Island Inn in Newfoundland, Canada, is set to make a big impact on the hotel scene as its soul-stirring location, incredible interiors and community ethos came out triumphant when it was named Best Newcomer at the Smith Hotel Awards in November. In 2014, keep eyes peeled for the opening of Grace Marrakech (Morocco), The Pig Near Bath (UK) and new Alila Hotels in India (Alila Fort Jaipur) and Oman (Alila Jabal Akhdar) which will all be receiving undercover Smith reviewers soon, so watch this space…

Seriously social

Like it? Tweet it. Seen it? Instagram it. The social savvy are here to stay, and hotels are getting wise to marketing via mobile – so much so in fact, that some have even been built specifically with social media in mind. Take 1888 Hotelin Sydney, where the design was mapped out to maximise Instagrammability, and some of the Melia group hotels, where specialist concierges respond to guest requests via Twitter. Hotels are going to get even more switched on to social in 2014 and beyond. Don’t miss our own #Smithday Fridays, when individual hotels take over our @smithhotels Instagram account and share a #smithstagram series showing a day in the life there.

Multi-generational

We’ve seen our fair share of boutique hotels for couples (we have to admit we know that scene rather well); now it’s time for the emergence of unique boltholes that cater not just for adults but for tots and teens too. But this isn’t about 2.4 children: 2014 will witness the rise of relatives travelling in any number of multiples. World Travel Market identified the rise of travelling Professional Aunts with No Kids (PANKS) in the USA, so we say 2014 will see even more hotels with interconnecting rooms, playful pull-out beds and flexible family sleeping space. Le Jardin des Douars, Essaouira (Morocco) offers quirky built-in bunk beds, whereas Almyra in Paphos (Cyprus) is well known for its impressive open-plan suites with interconnecting rooms and separate lounges, though watch out too for more child-friendly services like free milk and biscuits at bedtime.

Experience is everything

Hotels are increasingly offering more than a bed for the night. Drawing at dawn? Pizza-making in the PM? You got it. The James New Yorkprovides yoga on the roof, at the Viceroy Bali you can sign up for Balinese dancing classes and The Wheatsheaf Inn in the Cotswolds will send you clay-pigeon shooting. Spas are getting bigger and better – check out the new and improved Wellness Centre at the Grand Hotel Central, Barcelona. Experiential travel is here to stay; 2014 will be all about making every moment count.

Live like a local

It’s out with the expected and in with the unforeseen as we predict the rise and rise of doing it like a local. Whether it’s a lunch cooked up by residents of the neighbouring Berber village (see culture-peddling Fellah Hotelin Marrakech) or a DJ set in the members’ club at Brody Housein Budapest (free access if you’re staying on site), 2014 is the year that hotels will really introduce you to the neighbours.

Good mixers

Rather than simply serving as somewhere to sleep, hotels are taking socialising to the next level. The Ace Hotel New York, winner of the Hottest Hotel Bar prize at the inaugural Smith awards in November, and The Zetter Townhouse, London, fizz with convivial scenes. And while a great cocktail lounge can put a hotel on the map, lobbies and libraries are jostling for recognition, too – swing by the photobooth in the lobby at the Ace Hotel & Swim ClubPalm Springs or up in Shoreditch Rooms for fun mementos.

Room service: shaken and stirred

2013 was the year that the New York Hilton stopped offering breakfast in bed for any of the residents of its 1,980 rooms in favour of an express grab ’n’ go service, so we predict ever more innovative approaches to in-room snacking. Public Chicago and Oddfellows in Chester leave a breakfast bag at your door, while Hôtel Americano (New York), The Upper House (Hong Kong) and Dormy House (the Cotswolds) do it in hi-tech style – guests can order from tablet devices. We think next year will see even more innovation in bedroom banqueting.

This time it’s personal
With a mass of anonymous and impersonal hotel-booking mega sites out there, travel (like other retail sectors) is seeing a growing demand for expert curation and trustworthy, tailor-made service. As people’s time away becomes ever more precious, discerning travellers are turning to concierge services and travel specialists with the expertise to matchmake the right hotels and holidays to their tastes, dates and budgets. Smith has just restructured its Travel Team accordingly, to offer seven-day service and bespoke itinerary planning, so you can be sure of expert personal holiday-planning whenever, wherever and whoever you are.

For more information on individual hotels and destinations or to match more hotels to specific trends or images, contact Mr & Mrs Smith PR manager Elizabeth Rhodes: elizabeth.rhodes@smithhotels.com / 020 8987 6980.