Hotel Formula 1 Bloemfontein revamps

Accor’s budget brand, the one-star Hotel Formula 1, has been rolling out its cleverly designed ‘cocoon’ concept rooms. The latest hotel to revamp is Hotel Formula 1 Bloemfontein. his is the seventh hotel in the group to adopt the new design, which has won the ‘Best Interior Design’ award at the 2008 European Hotel Design Awards and was awarded the “Business Janus” label.

Zahra Peera, CEO of the Hotel Formula 1 Group in South Africa, says, “Times are changing fast and along with that so are the needs of our customers. The Hotel Formula 1 is undergoing a metamorphosis and is currently in its fourth year of a roll out plan of its new ‘cocoon’ concept room. Guests staying at Formula 1 hotels are assured that all their basic needs are catered for, as all our hotels recently received a one star accreditation from the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa, based on the comfort and quality accommodation that we provide.”

This comes at a time when a talk of a double dip recession is rife and business travel is affecting companies’ budgets severely.  For this reason business travellers need to make the right choice and ‘Be smart, Stay smart’. Companies need to be far more discerning with a focus on what the essential needs of business travellers are. Hotel Formula 1 believes in adding value to its guests’ experience without compromising the best value for money, therefore, the group has made the strategic decision to invest in upgrading its hotels as well as develop, innovate and prepare to provide its guests with the best service and product.

The softer, gentler design marks a change in its appearance and appeals to the growing number of female travellers. Taking into consideration the expectations of guests, the teams introduced high technology features that were designed with a strong focus on sustainable development and which are aligned with Accor’s environmental and corporate social responsibility policies. These include:

-        Water efficiency with the introduction of new equipment in the showers and toilets, which are now separated

-        The energy efficient lighting across the hotel creates a calming ambience, which improves the guests comfort and wellbeing

-        An air-conditioning system, which will almost half the power consumption

-        The materials used in the room have been carefully selected and are easily recyclable

“The use of space, based on flexibility, fluidity and well-being underlies the room’s design – its efficient organisation takes into account the various elements of everyday life. The cosy, ‘cocooning’ atmosphere is created by soft, soothing colours and a novel perception of light and materials. All the new state-of-the-stay features introduced in this concept, such as flat screen TV’s, are refreshing the brand’s identity and image and create a superior experience for our guests,” says Peera.

“The new rooms have been positively received by guests who have stayed in the ‘cocoon’ concept rooms. One guest went as far as commenting that the comfort, design, look and feel of the new rooms is better than that of some of the three star hotels that he has stayed at. Other elements that guests provided feedback on include the security offered by the new card systems, the flat screen televisions, climate control offered by the air-conditioners, the new wooden floors, the extra space under the beds for luggage and the breakfast area’s improved design and menu selection. The commitment of Hotel Formula 1 has always been to provide a warm comfortable atmosphere to its guests – hence its slogan “Be Smart, Stay Smart”. “Our guests view the investment made by Accor to renovate the Hotel Formula 1 rooms as a demonstration of our commitment to development in the industry and to our guests. We look forward to introducing these rooms to our customers around the country,” she notes.

As part of its forward thinking approach to business, the group has also launched an online booking service on its South African website, www.hotelformula1.co.za, to facilitate quick and easy reservations for its guests.  For those guests who prefer telephonic reservations, the unique number 0861-Formula1 is still available.

The Hotel Formula 1 Group is the benchmark of low–cost hotels in Africa: “It is out of the ordinary that the extraordinary emerges – therefore change the way you see Hotel Formula 1,” concludes Peera.