Manon, Maëlle, Élodie, Jorane, and “ChaCha” explored EquipHotel in Paris together.
A day to see, touch, try, and meet people… but also to exchange perspectives and gather ideas for Agence Amevet’s hospitality projects. A rather rare opportunity to explore the leading trade show for the hospitality and restaurant industries as a group. And to witness a shift: beyond products and materials, it’s increasingly the uses, sensations, and lived experiences that take center stage.
Show less, create more experiences
For both Maëlle and Manon, this is one of the major trends at this year’s show.
The products aren’t disappearing, but they’re increasingly integrated into displays designed to be experienced. Visitors no longer simply look at a bedroom, a piece of equipment, or a piece of furniture—they step into a whole world.
In the wellness area, for example, massage therapists bring the facilities to life, and the saunas are actually in use. Elsewhere, a capsule room appeals to different senses. The same is true of “L’Atelier Rouge,” dedicated to the world of cocktails, where preparations, infusions, and gestures usually hidden behind the bar become elements of a true theatrical presentation.
“You can sense that interior architecture is increasingly moving beyond the visual aspect. What matters is perception, emotion—what each person will experience, ” Maelle summarizes.
“Experience bubbles”
Light, materials, colors, sounds, sensations… Maëlle even refers to a form of “augmented architecture.”
Some spaces seek to create a break from everyday life—a respite, and sometimes a return to calm and to oneself. These “experiential bubbles” are particularly interesting in the hospitality industry, where what the guest experiences matters just as much as what they see.
There is, however, a limitation: when translating a spectacular concept designed for a trade show into a real-world setting, one must navigate practical considerations, technical constraints, and budgets.
The goal, therefore, is not necessarily to replicate these installations, but to draw inspiration from an idea, a sensation, or a principle that could inform a future project.
And the color is back!
Another observation as we walked through the booths: color is making a strong comeback.
Bordeaux, blue, green, mustard yellow, purple… The all-white, gray, and minimalist schemes are giving way to bolder choices. Furniture, textiles, and set designs play with color to catch the eye, create rhythm in spaces, and give them a distinct identity.
This trend reflects a broader pursuit of emotion and personality.
See, touch, try
Some of the brands and products showcased at EquipHotel were already familiar to the team; in some cases, they had even been specified for ongoing projects. But seeing an armchair on a screen and actually sitting in it are two different experiences.
Touching a material, appreciating a finish, testing the comfort of a seat, comparing options, or speaking directly with a manufacturer allows us to confirm—or sometimes reconsider—a choice.
EquipHotel thus allows you to move from the image to the actual product, but also to meet suppliers and put faces to the brands the agency works with.
Seeing together to imagine together
EquipHotel is also about the encounters. Some build on conversations that began at other trade shows, particularly RIHM. Others are completely unexpected. All of them are inspiring!
Finally, visiting EquipHotel as a group of five changes the way you view the show. An installation catches Manon’s eye, a material catches Jorane’s attention, Élodie and ChaCha test out some furniture they’ve spotted for a project, Maëlle pauses to look at a display… and impressions start flowing immediately.
“Being together like this lets us discuss what we see. One discovery leads to another; we talk about it, and that can spark a new idea, ” concludes Manon.
Beyond the joy of sharing this day, that was the whole point of this group trip: to make market research a team effort.
