The acronym HoReCa – Hotellerie, Restaurant, Catering – encompasses all activities related to the restaurant, bar and hotel industry. This term refers to the world of hospitality in all its facets, from the largest format to the smallest equipment.
The Covid-19 pandemic has prompted the entire industry to review its services and strategies, launching a modernisation process that focuses on sophisticated design and advanced technology. Just a few months after the resumption of activities, we would like to review the trends that are driving the sector towards new perspectives.
- Design hotels: the relaunch of the hospitality industry
- The design restaurant
- Innovation in catering: the latest trends
- Lighting in bars
- Professional coffee machines
- HOST trade fair: a look at the future in the 2021 edition
Would you like to learn more about the trends in future applications of the HoReCa sector? Click on the button below and download the free infographics.
Design hotels: the relaunch of the hospitality industry
The pandemic has accelerated the awareness of a need for renewal of the hotel heritage among those working in the sector. Hotels, the key players in the hospitality industry of the future, are committed to upgrading their assets and service standards to move beyond the difficult period and propose new hotel concepts.
This has led to the creation of larger shared areas, rooms with minimalist design furniture and smart technological equipment. These solutions are in line with new travel patterns and the needs of customers, who are looking for multifunctional spaces to stay and work at the same time. The hotels of the future are safe and comfortable places that allow the modern traveller to personalise their stay thanks to adjustable equipment such as heating, air conditioning and lighting systems.
The design restaurant
Just as in the hotel sector, the restaurant industry has also seen the relaunch as a time to re-launch venues, offering design locations to attract and welcome guests back. It has been proven that visual stimuli have the potential to influence the taste experience either positively or negatively, which is why restaurants are increasingly focusing on meticulous attention to furnishings and lighting.
One of the latest trends in design restaurants is the spread of open kitchens: open-air environments to showcase technological and design equipment for the preparation of sophisticated dishes, providing diners with a totally transparent dining experience. The equipment shown, in addition to its innovative functionality, has a particular aesthetic that fits perfectly into the layout of the restaurant. Lighting can help to make them visually appealing - how? There are a number of lighting solutions that can be integrated into the design of food service equipment: from luminous profiles for panels to backlighting of oven knobs, to vandal-proof indicators with a polished brass chrome ring for hobs and dishwashers. There is a wide range of choices, but relying on experts in the field, such as the professionals at SLIM, can help in the realisation of the project.
Are you interested in a lighting solution for professional kitchen equipment? Click below and tell us about your project idea.
Innovation in catering: the latest trends
The entire professional food service equipment supply chain has undergone significant change due to the technological thrust and digitalisation, factors that have had a major impact on the sector. Technology, applied to kitchen equipment, has become fundamental to the management of work in restaurants, to the point that we are talking about Catering 4.0. Innovative and smart tools simplify the processes of cooking and storing food, providing significant help to cooks and chefs. These implementations take place with a view to reducing consumption of all kinds and taking into account respect for the environment. In recent years, eco-sustainable, waste-conscious cooking has become increasingly important.
The professional kitchen equipment of the future is a mix of technological innovation and sustainability, but without forgetting the aesthetic aspect. We at SLIM are ready to support companies in this sector by offering them various tailor-made lighting options for their kitchen equipment. We offer standard and customised LED solutions with low energy consumption and customer-specific product design. Among the solutions that can be integrated into these devices are: micro-LED spotlights, light indicators for panels (standard or vandal-proof) and fibre optic light profiles.
Lighting in bars
Whether it is a restaurant, bar or café, lighting is one of the most important and tricky aspects to define when designing a venue. Every business has its own style and this is also expressed in the choice of equipment, furnishings and lighting.
When defining the lighting design of a bar, the lighting of the bar counter will certainly be the focus. Highlighting the equipment, display cases, surfaces and contours of the bar itself with lighting details creates an aesthetically pleasing and appealing effect for customers.
One of the innovative lighting solutions in this area is the side-emitting light optic fibre. Thanks to its total impermeability, it is the ideal device for installation wherever there is a possibility of contact with liquids and steam. In addition, the flexible sheathing containing the fibres has a homogeneous light output at all points, making it suitable as an aesthetic lighting profile for panels and surfaces of all types.
Professional coffee machines
Displayed on bar counters, or in a corner of your home, the new coffee machines are real high-tech design gems.
This last year has seen an increase in the proposal of professional and semi-professional devices with advanced technological content also for the home segment. The various espresso machine manufacturers have hired skilled designers to develop equipment that symbolises the style of their brand.
This has led to the development of evolved equipment that takes into account ergonomic, but above all, aesthetic aspects. New finishes, new materials and light inserts are mixed to define the personality of the coffee machine. Some prefer a vintage style with warm materials such as wood and sinuous shapes, and others opt for square but compact geometric shapes made from reflective materials such as tempered glass and stainless steel. However, each configuration lends itself to lighting details that can embellish and make the device more functional.
What innovative lighting solutions can be implemented in a coffee machine? Click on the button below and download the in-depth study to find out.
HOST trade fair: a look at the future in the 2021 edition
From 22 to 26 October, HostMilano 2021, the world's leading hospitality exhibition, was back live with the latest innovations in food service equipment, raw materials and design solutions. We at SLIM visited the trade fair and met up with our closest collaborators; it was a very stimulating opportunity for updating and exchanging skills.
What trends emerged at HOST? Technology and sustainability are the keywords driving developments in the sector. The various manufacturers present showed smart machines, with IoT integration, that use remote control to optimise cooking functions, food preservation or coffee dispensing. These are advanced devices that can improve management and help reduce waste.
The equipment on display had a sophisticated design in which the lighting component is no longer just a functional signalling device but has a clear aesthetic purpose.
SLIM develops and manufactures custom lighting solutions for the HoReCa and Household appliance sectors.
If you are interested in a lighting solution click on the button below and submit your request to one of our experts, we will be happy to help you!
