Guests increasingly value dining, wellness, fitness, and places to recharge. But hotel amenity planning affects space, structure, building systems, staffing, and operating costs. Developers need to choose the right mix before the hotel design is locked.
Start With the Guest, Not the Trend
Hilton’s 2026 Trends Report found that 56% of surveyed travelers plan leisure trips to rest and recharge. It also found that 86% of traveling families prioritize dining together.
The goal is not to add every popular amenity. It is to choose the right mix for the guest, property type, operator, location, and budget. 
Restaurants Change the Building Plan
CBRE reported that food and beverage revenue per occupied room increased 3.8% among surveyed hotels during the first half of 2025.
Revenue growth does not guarantee that every hotel needs a full restaurant. Kitchen area, exhaust, grease ducts, utilities, service circulation, and back-of-house space can quickly affect cost and usable area.
Pools and Hot Tubs Drive Major Systems
Hilton’s 2026 research shows that 63% of surveyed road trippers consider access to a hotel pool essential. Pools and hot tubs also affect structure, waterproofing, water treatment, HVAC, safety, and maintenance access.
Spas and Fitness Centers Need Different Support
J.D. Power found that 21% of surveyed hotel guests consider a fitness center a “need-to-have” amenity. Spas may require additional plumbing, humidity control, acoustic privacy, laundry, and treatment rooms. Fitness centers may require greater structural capacity, ventilation, noise control, and equipment clearances.
How BASE4 Coordinates Hotel Amenity Design
Why developers work with BASE4.
- Architecture, structural, MEP, and interiors in-house
- Early area and equipment planning
- Hotel MEP design for kitchens, exhaust, plumbing, HVAC, pools, and spas
- Structural review for pools and fitness equipment
- Guest, staff, and service circulation planning
- Back-of-house and maintenance access review
- 100% Revit and BIM coordination
Early coordination helps protect key count, usable area, construction cost, and long-term operations.
Thank you,
Blair Hildahl
BASE4 Principal
608.304.5228
BlairH@base-4.com
