Flooring for Hotels – Reception & Lobbies
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Solutions & Applications · Flooring for Reception Areas — Receptions & Lobbies
A visitor forms an impression of a hotel within seconds of entering — and the floor is one of the first things they see and walk on. The lobby is both the brand’s showcase and the busiest area of the building. The flooring here must achieve two difficult things at once: it must be visually striking and withstand thousands of footfalls, wheeled suitcases and constant cleaning — without looking worn.
The Four Requirements of a Lobby Floor
| Requirement | Why It Is Crucial in the Hospitality Industry |
|---|---|
| Design customisation | The flooring reflects the brand’s identity — unique designs, colours and logos on the floor |
| Resistance to heavy traffic | The busiest area of the hotel — resistance to wear and tear, castors, knives |
| Pathway guidance | The floor plan discreetly guides visitors towards the reception, lift and bar |
| Easy to clean | Continuous cleaning on a 24-hour basis, with minimal maintenance costs |
Flooring as a Tool for Direction and Identity
In a lobby, the floor does not merely cover the surface — it serves a purpose. By changing the colour, pattern or material, it creates invisible ‘pathways’ and zones without walls or signs:
- Reception area: a more formal, premium design that catches the eye at reception.
- Circulation routes: a robust design that withstands maximum footfall and guides the flow — a linear, directional pattern (e.g. Style Elle-type linoleum) acts as a subtle ‘compass’ pointing towards the space’s focal points.
- Relaxation areas (lounge / bar): a warmer, more comfortable design that encourages guests to linger.
Modular vinyl tiles (modular LVT) are available in a wide range of shapes and dozens of colours, allowing for floorcraft compositions — ranging from geometric patterns to a brand logo on the reception floor. Thus, the same material creates all the zones within the lobby, with a uniform technical basis and uniform maintenance, but a different aesthetic for each space.
Which Material for Which Zone
| Zone | Requirement | Indicative Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Entrance & reception | Impression + maximum durability | Modular LVT / Floorcraft composition |
| Corridors & main circulation routes | Heavy traffic, easy to clean | Commercial-grade homogeneous or heterogeneous vinyl |
| Lounge / bar / seating areas | Thermal comfort, acoustic comfort | Acoustic vinyl tile or wood-effect LVT |
| External entrance | Moisture and pollutant retention | Anti-slip / entrance system |
Completing the Reception Area
- Acoustic ceiling: lobbies with high ceilings and hard surfaces have significant reverberation. A sound-absorbing suspended ceiling keeps the space quiet despite the activity — crucial for a sense of luxury.
- Skirting & finishes: they integrate the floor and wall and provide the finished look that visitors expect in a hospitality setting.
- Dry construction: reception desk, partitions and concealed lighting using plasterboard — the architecture of the reception area.
In a lobby, a shortcoming is not merely technical — it affects the image. A worn floor in the entrance hall undermines the entire impression of the hotel. We specify the flooring on a zone-by-zone basis according to actual footfall, and integrate it with acoustic treatments and finishes so that the reception area functions as a cohesive whole.
At ARGYNET, we draw up specifications for the entire reception area and calculate materials per m².
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