Volume I — Foundations of the Investment
The first volume of the guide I'm writing for anyone starting a hotel investment from scratch. 20 articles, from choosing land to feasibility, financing, and the most common mistakes.
Core Articles
How to Invest in a Hotel? A Guide to Building a Hotel from Scratch
The main introduction to Volume I — a summary of the whole process, from land to opening.
What to Know Before Investing in a Hotel
The key questions to ask before making the investment decision.
How to Choose the Right Location for a Hotel Investment
Why location analysis matters in the investment decision.
How to Do a Hotel Feasibility Study
Evaluating revenue, costs, occupancy, pricing, and the investment's economics.
How to Calculate the Cost of a Hotel Investment
Land, project, construction, equipment, decor, opening, and other cost items.
How to Plan Financing for a Hotel Investment
Equity, loans, financing structure, and working capital approach.
Is Hotel Investment Profitable?
Why profitability isn't just about revenue or occupancy.
How to Start a Boutique Hotel
An overview of boutique hotel investment, from idea to operation.
How to Calculate Payback Period for a Hotel Investment
What to weigh when evaluating the investment's payback.
The Most Common Mistakes in Hotel Investment
Wrong investment decisions, poor location, incomplete feasibility, insufficient working capital, and more.
Niche / Search-Focused Articles
What to Consider When Choosing Land for a Hotel Investment
Choosing land is one of the most critical, hardest-to-reverse steps in a hotel investment.
How to Assess Whether a Property Is Suitable for a Hotel
The criteria for assessing whether a property can be converted into a hotel.
How to Define the Concept of a Hotel Investment
A hotel's concept shapes its target guest and the character of the investment.
How to Determine Room Count for a Hotel Investment
Room count is directly tied to the land, budget, and operating model.
Why Occupancy Rate Matters in Hotel Investment
Occupancy rate is the key indicator of a hotel investment's sustainability.
Why Working Capital Must Be Factored Into a Hotel Investment
Insufficient working capital is one of the most common post-opening problems.
Equity or Debt: Financing a Hotel Investment
The balance between equity and debt directly affects the investment's risk.
Why You Should Model the Worst-Case Scenario in Hotel Investment
Investment decisions made without modeling a worst-case scenario carry major risk.
Personal Experience / House Sola
Volume II — Design & Construction
A hotel project's design and construction stage — from architectural planning to interior design, from technical infrastructure to execution. 20 articles.
Hotel Design & Architectural Planning
How to Plan a Hotel Project
How do you plan a hotel project? What to consider in the hotel project planning process, from concept to room count, from architectural design to technical infrastructure.
10 Decisions to Make Before Drawing Your Hotel's Architectural Project
What decisions should be made before a hotel's architectural project is drawn? 10 essential topics, from concept to room count, from the operating plan to technical infrastructure.
How Should Architecture and Operations Be Considered Together in Hotel Design?
How do architectural decisions in hotel design affect operations? A guide to guest experience, staff flow, operations, technical infrastructure, and costs.
How Should a Hotel Room Be Designed? Comfort, Square Footage, and Layout
What should you pay attention to when designing a hotel room? A guide to the right square footage, bed placement, storage, bathroom, lighting, and guest comfort.
The Most Common Design Mistakes in Hotel Rooms
What are the most common mistakes in hotel room design? A guide covering layout, bed placement, bathroom, outlets, lighting, storage, and guest comfort.
Interior Design & Guest Experience
What Should Boutique Hotel Interior Design Look Like?
What should boutique hotel interior design look like? A comprehensive guide to hotel concept, color and material selection, lighting, common areas, and guest experience.
How Do You Build a Concept in Hotel Interior Design?
How is an interior design concept built for a hotel? A guide to the hotel's story, target guest, design language, moodboard, material selection, and the concept development process.
What Should You Pay Attention to When Designing a Hotel Bathroom?
What should you consider when designing a hotel bathroom? A guide to the shower, sink, lighting, ventilation, material selection, water management, and guest experience.
How Should Lighting Be Planned in a Hotel Room?
How should lighting be planned in a hotel room? The core principles of general, reading, work, ambiance, and night lighting that improve the guest experience.
Why Does Guest Experience in Hotel Design Begin at the Project Stage?
Why should guest experience in hotel design be considered at the project stage? Discover the relationship between architectural planning, room design, operations, and the guest journey.
Electrical, Mechanical & Technical Infrastructure
What Should You Pay Attention to When Planning a Hotel's Electrical Infrastructure?
How should a hotel's electrical infrastructure be planned? A guide to guest rooms, outlet placement, lighting, Wi-Fi, low-voltage systems, electrical panels, and backup power solutions.
Where Should Electrical Outlets Be Placed in a Hotel Room?
Where should electrical outlets be placed in a hotel room? A guide to correct outlet planning for the bedhead, desk, minibar, TV, bathroom, and housekeeping.
How Should a Hotel's Air Conditioning and Ventilation System Be Planned?
How should a hotel's air conditioning and ventilation system be planned? A guide to hotel rooms, bathroom ventilation, AC placement, noise, drainage, and energy efficiency.
Why Does Fire Safety in Hotel Design Matter at the Project Stage?
Why should fire safety in hotel projects be planned at the design stage? A guide covering escape routes, technical systems, architectural planning, and investment budget.
The 10 Most Expensive Technical Mistakes to Fix Later in a Hotel Project
The 10 most expensive technical mistakes to correct later in hotel projects. A guide to electrical, AC, plumbing, drainage, ventilation, fire safety, and project coordination.
Execution, Construction & Project Management
How Do You Prevent Budget Overruns in Hotel Construction?
Why do hotel construction budgets run over, and how can you prevent it? A guide to project planning, bid comparison, change management, and cost control.
How Should Architects, Interior Designers, and Engineers Be Coordinated on a Hotel Project?
How should architects, interior designers, and engineers work together on hotel projects? A guide to project coordination, technical clashes, revision management, and a sample room mockup.
Which Decisions Should Come First in the Hotel Construction Process?
Which decisions should come first in the hotel construction process? The right decision order for concept, room count, architectural plan, interior design, technical infrastructure, and execution.
Personal Experience / House Sola
The Decisions We Made While Designing House Sola — and Later Changed
Which decisions change later when designing a boutique hotel? Real project experiences and lessons learned from House Sola's design and execution process.
Looking Good Isn't Enough When Designing a Hotel: What I Learned From House Sola
A hotel isn't well designed just because it looks beautiful. 10 important lessons on guest experience, functionality, operations, and hotel design from the House Sola experience.