Philip Almeida, business development manager, projects at Robern, is attending Hotec Design, an annual conference presented by Questex, the parent company of Hotel Management. At the conference—running through June 20 at the PGA National Resort, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.—buyers meet one-on-one with hospitality-focused suppliers to learn about new products and services and to keep up-to-date on emerging trends.
Ahead of the event, Almeida talked about keeping up to date with guest expectations and creating new pieces for hospitality spaces.
1. How has your segment of the industry changed over the past year?
The desirability for customization continues to increase among consumers. We see enormous opportunity to hear what our customers are saying and create new products that enrich their lives & reflect their values. We believe in the power of customizable design and understand that true luxury comes from the autonomy of creation. Our capabilities to be nimble allows us to implement a go-to-market strategy that not only shows customers we’re listening to what they need and want and create products of handcrafted excellence that are timeless and long lasting. We’ve also been taking note from current and prospective customers alike to incorporate task and ambient lighting within our mirror designs, as well as an interest in products that can live beyond the bathroom space. These types of inquiries, just to name a few, provide sustainable scalability for Robern to start weaving its way throughout the entirety of the hospitality space.
2. Can you share some ways you and your company have adapted to these changes?
While we always have a pulse to the evolving, future-facing needs of our customers, there are timely updates and refinements we make on an ongoing basis to optimize our products for the here and now. We’ve expanded our offerings to include modular sconce lighting and incorporating native lighting into our decorative mirrors to provide an all-in-one user experience. By creating statement pieces (our Statuesque mirror), and adapting customizability to our entire product portfolio, we can provide products that have an elevated design aesthetic reflecting their personal identity and that allows them to create moments of well-being within the home.
3. What are some trends you think will have staying power beyond 2024?
We’ve seen a huge, and growing, interest among consumers in a wider range of finishing options, (i.e., brass, pewter, etc.) in the products they’re shopping for. By offering varied finishes for products that have those customizations built in, and continuing to add new options to our collections, we can continue to meet customers where they are, with the products they’re most interested in. Beyond that, we’ll continue to evolve our standard offerings to incorporate more options across large mirrors, decorative mirrors, and lighting in public spaces.
4. What is the biggest challenge you have overcome over the past year?
One of our newest products, Statuesque Lighted Mirror, is a grand, custom lit mirror, designed to reflect customers’ personal expression. By balancing the craftsmanship of an oversized and iterative item, while still delivering superior product quality and exceeding safety requirements, we’ve been able to maintain the luxury experience that comes from specifying Robern products.
5. How have you incorporated environmental, social and governance efforts into your hospitality operations?
Given the rapidity with which environmental, social and governance requirements touch our industry, we have worked to bring a keen sense of agility with intelligent innovation and thoughtful technology. To name a few examples, all Robern products exceed the LEED requirement of a minimum 90 CRI, and all lighted products have built-in dimming functionality. Beyond that, our wood vanities are TSCA certified. By accounting for these types of nuances before we revise—or create—products, we are better suited to shift alongside the evolving regulations that impact our industry with adeptness.
6. What are you most excited about accomplishing over the next year?
One of our goals is to become the number one source of custom design solutions for hospitality across all our product categories. By continuing to build Robern’s network through collaboration among our custom design/engineering team, and hoteliers and interior designers within the hospitality industry, we can continue to fortify the working relationships that span all the way from a product’s infancy, to its installation out in the world.
7. What is the value of meeting hospitality buyers one on one?
At Robern, we’re incredibly passionate about reimagining the space for beauty and wellbeing within the luxury home. As part of that effort, we gain incredible insight into new trends and hospitality design needs by meeting with designers in an intimate capacity. By gleaning perspective and subject matter expertise from designers, we’re able to position our brand as a reputable, trusted source for hospitality brands and designers in need of customizable, modular, and high-end products.
Hotec Design will take place June 17-20 at the PGA National Resort, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.